Effects of varicocele and microsurgical varicocelectomy on the metabolites in semen.

The influence of varicocele and microsurgical varicocelectomy on semen quality remains unclear. Few studies have investigated the relationship between semen metabolism and the abnormalities in reproductive function caused by varicocele, however, there is no study on the changes of semen metabolism after microsurgical varicocelectomy. Here, we used the non-targeted and targeted metabolic analysis to investigate the different metabolites in seminal plasma within normal, varicocele, and varicocelectomy groups.

Reproductive outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using testicular sperm and ejaculated sperm in patients with AZFc microdeletions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Studies have explored the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes of Y-chromosome azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletions, but the effect of sperm source on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) remains unknown. To determine the ART results of ICSI using testicular sperm and ejaculated sperm from males with AZFc microdeletions, we searched Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis. The first meta-analysis results for 106 cycles in five studies showed no significant differences in the live birth rate between the testicular sperm group and the ejaculated sperm group (risk ratio: 0.

Obstetric and Gynecologic Outcomes after the Transvaginal Repair of Cesarean Scar Defect in a Series of 183 Women.

Study Objective: To analyze retrospectively the effect of hysteroscopy combined with transvaginal repair on the cesarean section diverticulum (CSD) and explore the clinical significance of this procedure.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital and a gynecology hospital.

Rce1 expression in renal cell carcinoma and its regulatory effect on 786-O cell apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Ras and a-factor-converting enzyme 1 (Rce1) is located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is thought to be responsible for endoproteolytic processing of the vast majority of CAAX proteins. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays an important role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, the expression and role of Rce1 in RCC have not been extensively studied. We aimed to investigate the expression of Rce1 in RCC tissues and its molecular mechanism in ERS-induced apoptosis in RCC 786-O cells.

Evidence for the Role of Mast Cells in Cystitis-Associated Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain Research Network Animal Model Study.

Bladder inflammation frequently causes cystitis pain and lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) such as urinary frequency and urgency. Although mast cells have been identified to play a critical role in bladder inflammation and pain, the role of mast cells in cystitis-associated LUTD has not been demonstrated. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and debilitating inflammatory condition of the urinary bladder characterized by the hallmark symptoms of pelvic pain and LUTD.

Overexpressed Rce1 is positively correlated with tumor progression and predicts poor prognosis in prostate cancer.

Ras and a-factor-converting enzyme 1 (Rce1) have been reported to play a key role in the proteolysis processing of Ras proteins. The present study investigated the prognostic significance of Rce1 in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). The expressions of the mRNA and protein of Rce1 were analyzed in 12 pairs of PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively.

YAP is closely correlated with castration-resistant prostate cancer, and downregulation of YAP reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis of PC-3 cells.

Yes-associated protein 65 (YAP65) has been implicated as an oncogene, and its expression is increased in human cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that alterations in YAP activity may result in tumourigenesis of the prostate. With androgen deprivation therapies becoming progressively ineffective, often leading to life‑threatening androgen‑resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Methylation‑associated inactivation of LATS1 and its effect on demethylation or overexpression on YAP and cell biological function in human renal cell carcinoma.

Large tumor suppressor 1 (LATS1) gene is one of the key factors in Hippo signaling pathway. Inactivation of LATS1 by promoter methylation was found in colorectal cancer (CRC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), astrocytoma, breast cancer and it was proved to be a tumor suppressor. However, its role is unclear in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

YAP is overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and its knockdown reduces cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been reported to be an oncogene in a number of malignancies. It constitutes an important regulatory mechanism for the Hippo pathway, a key regulator of cell growth and apoptosis. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and the role of YAP in the development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

M-ds-P21 induces cell apoptosis in bladder cancer T24 cells through P53 independent pathway.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of M-ds-P21 on the apoptosis of bladder cancer T24 cells and its potential mechanism.

Materials And Methods: Effect of M-ds-P21 on T24 cells were assessed by cell morphology and Western blot. Apoptosis was quantified by Annexin-V flow-cytometry analysis.

Isolation and enrichment of PC-3 prostate cancer stem-like cells using MACS and serum-free medium.

Prostate cancer stem-like cells (PCSLCs) are considered to be the 'seed' of prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to confirm that the PC-3 cells, which we isolated and enriched from PC-3 cells through magnetic bead cell sorting (MACS) and serum-free medium (SFM) culture, were PCSLCs. Combinations of MACS, flow cytometry (FCM), SFM and immunocytochemistry (ICC) were used to ensure the positive expression of CD133 and CD44 on PC-3 and sphere-forming cell membranes.

[Expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha in EPS and its significance].

Objective: To detect the mRNA and protein expressions of MIP-1alpha in EPS and determine their significance in the sub-typing of chronic prostatitis.

Methods: We collected samples of expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) from 50 cases of chronic prostatitis, including 16 cases of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), 23 cases of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) (11 CPPS IIIA, 12 CPPS IIIB), and 11 cases of type-IV asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis (AIP). Another 15 healthy volunteers were included as normal controls.

Patency rates of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy for patients with idiopathic obstructive azoospermia: a prospective analysis of factors associated with patency--single-center experience.

Objective: To evaluate the factors that might be associated with the patency rates of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy for idiopathic obstructive azoospermia.

Methods: From January 2009 to July 2010, we evaluated the data from 73 men with obstructive azoospermia who had undergone longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy. The mean age was 30.

[Expression and regulation of androgen receptor in the androgen-independent conversion of prostate cancer cells].

Objective: To investigate the expression and regulation of androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer cells from androgen dependent to androgen independent.

Methods: LNCaP cells were cultured in charcoal-stripped serum for 6 months to establish androgen-independent celline (LNCaP-AI). Proliferation of LNCaP-AI was assayed by cell viability.

Intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide inhibits acute and chronic bladder inflammation in transgenic experimental autoimmune cystitis models.

New animal models are greatly needed in interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) research. We recently developed a novel transgenic cystitis model (URO-OVA mice) that mimics certain key aspects of IC/PBS pathophysiology. This paper aimed to determine whether URO-OVA cystitis model was responsive to intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and if so identify the mechanisms of DMSO action.

Recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) expressing interferon-alpha 2B enhances human mononuclear cell cytotoxicity against bladder cancer cell lines in vitro.

Purpose: The proper induction of cellular immunity is required for effective bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy of bladder cancer. It has been known that BCG stimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) leads to the generation of effector cells cytotoxic to bladder cancer cells in vitro. To improve BCG therapy, we previously developed human interferon (IFN)-alpha 2B secreting recombinant (r) BCG (rBCG-IFN-alpha).

RDP58 inhibits T cell-mediated bladder inflammation in an autoimmune cystitis model.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the urinary bladder with a strong autoimmune component. Currently, the major challenge in IC treatment is the development of effective therapies. RDP58 is a novel d-amino acid decapeptide with potent immunosuppressive activity.

Urinary bladder epithelium antigen induces CD8+ T cell tolerance, activation, and autoimmune response.

The effort to explore the specific autoimmune mechanisms of urinary bladder has long been hindered due to a lack of proper animal models. To better elucidate this issue, we developed a novel line of transgenic (Tg) mice, designated as URO-OVA mice, that express the model Ag OVA as a "self"-Ag on the bladder epithelium. URO-OVA mice are naturally tolerant to OVA and show no response to OVA stimulation.

Effects of icariin on erectile function and expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in castrated rats.

Aim: To investigate the effect of icariin on erectile function and the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in castrated rats.

Methods: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into one sham-operated group (A) and three castrated groups (B, C and D). One week after surgery, rats were treated with normal saline (groups A and B) or oral icariin (1 mg/[kg.

[Effects of icariin on the erectile function and expression of nitrogen oxide synthase isoforms in corpus cavernosum of arterigenic erectile dysfunction rat model].

Objective: The study the effects of oral administered icariin on intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and on expression of the nitrogen oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in corpus cavernosum (CC) of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction (A-ED) rat model.

Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 rats: shame operated group (group A) and three A-ED model groups (group B, C and D). The internal pudendal arteries were isolated and ligated with 7-O nylon thread at both the main trunk and the penile branches to establish the A-ED model.

Sexual function of premature ejaculation patients assayed with Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation.

Aim: To assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE).

Methods: The sexual function of 167 patients with and 114 normal controls without premature ejaculation (PE) were evaluated with CIPE. All subjects were married and had regular sexual activity.

[Peroxisome proliferator-actived receptor-gamma ligand troglitazone induces apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma].

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-actived receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma)and the inducement of apoptosis by PPAR-gamma ligand in renal cell carcinoma(RCC)-derived cell lines.

Methods: RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to determined the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA and protein in two RCC derived cell lines(786-O and A498) and two normal kidney(NK)-derived cell lines(HK-2 and HMCC). Two RCC cell lines were treated with 50 micromol/L troglitazoned for and evaluated for the effects of antidiabetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on the cells apoptosis by fluorescence microscopy and DNA ladder assay.

[Male reproduction related genes and their function].

With the proceeding of the human genome program(HGP), new genes related to male reproduction have been cloned continuously by different methods. However, investigation of the gene function is still at the rudimentary stage. In spite of the advances in the common methods of studying gene function, some special methods have yet to be developed concerning the study of the genes related to male reproduction.

Effect of renewed SS-cream on spinal somatosensory evoked potential in rabbits.

Aim: The effect of a renewed SS-cream (RSSC) on the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) was evaluated and compared with the original SS-cream (OSSC).

Methods: Sixty male white New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.5 kg-3.

[Seminiferous tubule scores used for quantitative assessment of spermatogenic function of patients with azoospermia].

Objective: To investigate the clinical reliability of quantitative evaluation by seminiferous tubule scores on spermatogenesis dysfunction, using the testis tissues of azoospermia patients for analysis of histological changes.

Methods: One hundred and twelve Chinese patients with azoospermia underwent open testicular biopsy and their testicular biopsy specimens were evaluated by 10-score (on testicular biopsy) and 5-Grade (on seminiferous tubule spermatogenesis) scale. The 112 patient, 22 to 46 years old [(29.