Laparoscopic colonic anastomosis using a degradable stent in a porcine model

AIM: To explore the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic colonic anastomosis using a degradable stent in a porcine model.METHODS: Twenty Bama mini-pigs were randomly assigned to a stent group(n = 10) and control group(hand-sewn anastomosis, n = 10). The anastomotic completion and operation times were recorded, along with histological examination, postoperative general condition, complications, mortality, bursting pressure, and the average anastomotic circumference(AC).RESULTS: All pigs survived postoperatively except for one in the stent group that died from ileus at 11 wk postoperatively. The operation and anastomotic completion times of the stent group were significantly shorter than those of the control group(P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in bursting pressure between the groups(P = 0.751). No obvious difference was found between the AC and normal circumference in the stent group, but AC was significantly less than normal circumferencein the control group(P = 0.047, P < 0.05). No intestinal leakage and luminal stenosis occurred in the stent group. Histological examination revealed that the stent group presented with lower general inflammation and better healing.CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic colonic anastomosis with a degradable stent is a simple, rapid, and safe procedure in this porcine model.

Antitumor effects of human interferon-alpha 2b secreted by recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine on bladder cancer cells

Objective:Our objective was to construct a recombinant bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine(rBCG) that secretes human interferon-alpha 2b(IFNα-2b) and to study its immunogenicity and in vitro antitumor activity against human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and T5637.Methods:The signal sequence BCG Ag85B and the gene IFNα-2b were amplified from the genome of BCG and human peripheral blood,respectively,by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).The two genes were cloned in Escherichia coli-BCG shuttle-vector pMV261 to obtain a new recombinant plasmid pMV261-Ag85B-IFNα-2b.BCG was transformed with the recombinant plasmid by electroporation and designated rBCG-IFNα-2b.Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood(PBMCs) and stimulated with rBCG-IFNα-2b or wild type BCG for 3 d,and then cultured with human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and T5637.Their cytotoxicities were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay.Results:BCG was successfully transformed with the recombinant plasmid pMV261-Ag85B-IFNα-2b by electroporation and the recombinant BCG(rBCG-IFNα-2b) was capable of synthesizing and secreting cytokine IFNα-2b.PBMC proliferation was enhanced significantly by rBCG-IFNα-2b,and the cytotoxicity of PBMCs stimulated by rBCG-IFNα-2b to T24 and T5627 was significantly stronger in comparison to wild type BCG.Conclusions:A recombinant BCG,secreting human IFNα-2b(rBCG-IFNα-2b),was constructed successfully and was superior to control wild type BCG in inducing immune responses and enhancing cytotoxicity to human bladder cancer cell lines T24 and T5637.This suggests that rBCG-IFNα-2b could be a promising agent for bladder cancer patients in terms of possible reductions in both clinical dosage and side effects of BCG immunotherapy.

A new plastic surgical technique for adult congenital webbed penis

Yue-bing CHEN, Xian-fan DING, Chong LUO, Shi-cheng YU, Yan-lan YU, Bi-de CHEN, Zhi-gen ZHANGt;, Gong-hui LIt; （Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China） ~＇E-mail： Zhigenzhangsrrsh@gmail.com; ligonghui1970@hotmail.com Received Apr. 14, 2012; Revision accepted July 29, 2012 Crosschecked Aug. 21,2012 doi： 10.1631/jzus.B 1200117 Document code： A CLC number： R697＋.11

Early channel transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with urinary retention after brachytherapy

Objective： It is recommended that transurethral resection of the prostate （TURP） after brachytherapy should not be performed at an early stage after implantation. Herein we report our experiences and the results of channel TURP （cTURP） within six months post-implant for patients with refractory urinary retention. Methods： One hundred and ninety patients with localized prostate cancer of clinical stages Tlc to T2c were treated by brachytherapy as monotherapy at our institution from February 2009 to July 2013. Nine patients who developed refractory urinary retention and underwent cTURP within six months after brachytherapy were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results： The median interval between prostate brachytherapy and cTURP was three months （range 1.5 to 5.0 months） There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications and no incontinence resulting from the surgery. All urinary retention was relieved per the American Brachytherapy Society urinary symptom score. With a mean follow-up time of 16 months （range 6 to 26 months） after cTURP, no patient experienced biochemical recurrence. The mean serum prostate-specific antigen （PSA） of the patients who underwent cTURP was 0.42 ng/ml （range 0.08 to 0.83 ng/ml） at the end of their follow-up. Conclusions： Early cTURP was found to be safe and effective in relieving urinary retention after brachytherapy and could be performed without compromising its therapeutic efficacy.