Urology is an ancient academic discipline, and its rapid development is due to the combination between medicine and engineering. The development of urology in China is an example of the combination of industry-academia-research based on the progress of science and technology. This paper mainly summarizes the recent advances of interdisciplinary combination between medicine and engineering in urology.
Regulatory T cells (Treg) are critical for regulation of tolerance, control immune responses to self-antigens thereby preventing autoimmunity, and limiting responses to foreign antigens thereby minimizing T cell-mediated immunopathology. Recent data indicate that suppression of organ-specific autoimmunity is dependent on the antigen specificity of Treg. An emerging model of Treg action is that organ-specific Treg acquire suppressive activity through activation by dendritic cells expressing specific antigens. Thus, the efficacy of Treg-based therapy should be increased by using antigen-specific Treg rather than polyclonal Treg. It is necessary to identify relevant antigens and to expand antigen-specific Treg from polyclonal populations. Here, we discuss recent techniques for expansion of antigen-specific Treg, function and antigen specificity of Treg and the therapeutic potential of Treg in controlling autoimmune disease and inducing transplant tolerance.
Objective To investigate the effects of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDCAi) on expression of E-cadherin gene and invasiveness of cholangiocarcinoma cell. Methods According to different treatment, the QBC939 cells were divided into four groups: blank control group, hydralazine group, valproic acid group and hydralazine and valproic acid combined group. After 48 h, the expression of E-cadherin was evaluated by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), mehtylation specific PCR (MSP) and Western blot, the invasiveness of QBC939 cells was evaluated by Transwell method. Results There was no expression of E-cadherin mRNA and protien in blank control group and valproic acid group. The expressions of E-cadherin mRNA and protien in hydralazine and valproic acid combined group were higher than those in hydralazine group ( P ＜ 0.01), while the invasiveness of QBC939 cells of hydralazine and valproic acid combined group was much lower than that of blank control group, hydralazine group and valproic acid group ( P ＜ 0.01). Conclusion DNMTi and HDACi can synergistically re-express E-cadherin gene and weaken the invasiveness of QBC939 cell, which plays an important part in treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
Objective To investigate the expression of caspase-3 in xenograft that was treated with targeted therapy with magnetic nanoparticles in nude mice. Methods QBC939 cell lines were injected into nude mice subcutaneously to establish the model of human cholangiocarcinoma xenograft. After two weeks of tumor inoculation, the animal models were divided randomly into 4 groups: group A received placebo (sodium chloride), group B were treated with magnetic nanoparticles (250 mg/kg), group C were treated with magnetic nanoparticles (150 mg /kg) combined with inner-stent, group D with magnetic nanoparticles (250 mg /kg) combined with inner-stent (the inner-stent was used to generate the magnetic targeting effect). The 21th day after treatment, expression of caspase-3 in tumor cells of each groups were measured with histochemical method and RT-PCR. Results The quantity of caspase-3 in tumor cells that were treated with magnetic nanoparticles (250 mg/kg) combined with inner-stent was the most (P＜0.05), and the quantity of caspase-3 in cells of group C was significantly more than that of the other two groups (P＜0.05). While the quantity of caspase-3 in group B was more than that of the control group(P＜0.05). Conclusion The use of magnetic nanoparticles combined with inner-stent may increase the expression of caspase-3, and the expression is dose-dependent with magnetic nanoparticles.
Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of doxorubicin preconditioning in providing ischemic tolerance for rats abdomen island flaps. Methods Twenty-four healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats, 12 males and 12 females, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8): control group (group A), ischemic preconditioning group (group B), and doxorubicin preconditioning group (group C). After the abdomen island flap (6 cm × 3 cm in size) based on the superficial inferior epigastric neurovascular bundle was prepared, group A had no further treatment; group B was given a 10-minute ischemia followed by a 10-minute reperfusion for 4 times; and group C was given pretreatment with doxorubicin (1 mg/kg) by injection of the inferior epigastric vein. After 24 hours, the inferior epigastric vessels were blocked by vascular clamp for 4 hours, followed by reperfusion 2 hours to prepare ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury model. The rat survival was observed after operation; at 0, 8, 12, 24, and 30 hours after I/R injury, the malonyldiadehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured. At 7 days after I/R injury, the survival rate of flap were calculated and the flaps were harvested for histological observation. Results During experiment, 5 rats died (1 rat in groups A and B respectively, 3 rats in group C) and were added. The survival rates of the flap in group A (10.10% ± 0.43%) was lower than those in group B (91.63% ± 1.76%) and in group C (92.75% ± 1.48%) at 7 days after I/R injury, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups B and C (t=0.29, P=0.77). Significant difference was found in MDA level and SOD level between group A and groups B, C after 8 hours (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). Histological observation showed that inflammatory cells infiltration was more obvious and hyperplasia of fibers was weaker in group A than in groups B and C. Conclusion Doxorubicin preconditioning can provide ischemic tolerance for rats abdomen island flaps and protect flaps from the I/R injury. The possible mechanism may be related to that doxorubicin can induce endogenous protections.
Objective To optimize the in vitro culture system of C57/BL6 marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and to investigate the effect of alcohol and acetaldehyde on MSCs. Methods The MSCs were isolated from the femur marrow of C57/BL6 mice and were cultured in the optimized system, so that highlypurified MSCs were harvested and identified by immunohistochemistry. Then, MSCs were cultured in the medium containing alcohol or its metabolic product acetaldehyde, with the following concentration groups: alcohol 5.7，17.0，50.0，100.0 and 150.0 mmol/L; acetaldehyde 4.5, 0.9, 0.18, 0.036, 0.007 2, 0.001 44 , 0.000 28 mmol/L. MSCs were cultured with α-MEM as the control group. After 3 days, their proliferation activity was measured by the MTT method. Results MSCs within 6 passages had a good stability and a high proliferation activity. They were identified to express CD90 but no CD34. The MTT assay showed that alcohol at the concentration greater than 100.0 mmol/L and acetaldehyde at the concentration greater than 4.5 mmol/L could inhibit proliferation of MSCs(P＜0.05) . But the proliferation activity might rise with an increase in the acetaldehyde concentration smaller than 0.18 mmol/L(P＜0.05) . Conclusion Theoptimized culture system can effectively isolate and culture MSCs. Both alcoholand acetaldehyde can inhibit proliferation of MSCs but toxicity of acetaldehydeis more serious.
Objective To compare and assess the efficacy of ventral/dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty in the treatment of urethral stricture. Methods We searched pertinent English literature via MEDLINE (1966 to 2007), EMBASE (1977 to 2007) and The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2007) for the use of ventral/dorsal graft urethroplasty in the reconstruction of urethral defect associated with urethral stricture. Data were extracted by two reviewers independently and analyzed by SPSS 13.0 software. Results A total of 50 studies involving 1 264 patients were included. Ventral onlay graft urethroplasty was used in 751 patients with a success rate of 82.6%, while dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty was used in 513 patients with a success rate of 86.9% (ventral vs. dorsal, χ2=4.432, P=0.035). Oral mucosa graft had the highest success rate (88.1%) of all grafts, and the success rate of free skin graft onlay urethroplasty was associated with the location of graft placement (ventral vs. dorsal, P=0.016). Concerning the location of stricture, urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture achieved the best results, with a success rate of 87.7%, which was also associated with the location of graft placement (ventral vs. dorsal, P=0.025). Conclusion Dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty is better than ventral onlay. It is better to place the free skin graft in the dorsal part of urethra. Bulbar urethral stricture is more suitable for graft onlay urethroplasty than penile urethral stricture.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of increasing water intake for the prevention of urinary calculi and its recurrence. Methods We defined the searching area, which included Medline, Embase, Cochrane CCTR and CBMA, and found the relevant materials by computer search and document search. At least two reviewers assessed trials quality and extracted data independently. Results A total of 4 studies met the inclusion criteria (I RCT, I CCT and 2 prospective cohort studies). Meta-analysis’ results showed that the aggregate OR and 95%CI of the effect of increasing water intake for the prevention of urinary calculi were 0.64 and 0.53-0.77; the aggregate OR and 95%CI of the effect of increasing water intake for the prevention of recurrence were 0.56 and 0.37-0.84; increasing water intake can prolong the recurrence interval (P=0.016). Each result had statistical significance. Conclusion Increasing water intake can prevent urinary calculi and its recurrence. Increasing water intake can prolong the recurrence interval.
目的 将下眼袋和鱼尾纹同时解决，改善颞部和面中部皮肤老化，不增加额外瘢痕，改变采用传统面部除皱术时所产生的头皮瘢痕、脱发、创伤较大、恢复时间长的缺点。 方法 对2010年3月－2012年12月收治的23例患者利用眼袋切口将眼轮匝肌瓣固定于眶外侧缘的骨膜上，然后再通过颞部除皱切口皮下潜行分离，导针埋线悬吊固定于颞侧颅骨骨膜上，将松垂的皮肤及筋膜上移、提紧。 结果 对23例随访6个月～2年，瘢痕不明显，无脱发等并发症均取得医患双方满意的效果。 结论 此方法简单易行，可在门诊患者局麻下进行；创伤轻，恢复较快。颞部切口减张缝合，瘢痕轻微，可预防脱发。
目的 研究质子泵抑制剂在反流性食管炎维持治疗的临床疗效。 方法 将2009年3月-月门诊及住院的121例反流性食管炎并胃镜证实病灶已愈合，且停药1周内症状又复发者，随机分为A、B、C 3组，3组均选用兰索拉唑。A组为兰索拉唑15 mg，1次/d，早餐前服；B组为兰索拉唑15 mg，1次/d，晚餐前服；C组兰索拉唑15 mg，2次/d，餐前服。3组疗程均为4周。疗程结束后进行临床症状疗效评定，并予复查胃镜，评价3组胃镜下总有效率，并观察3组不良反应。 结果 三种方案有效率分别为77.5%、95.0%、92.7%。 结论 晚餐前15 mg 1次/d的兰索拉唑为反流性食管炎较佳维持治疗方案。