Penile vascular endothelial damage, vasomotor dysfunction, and blood flow deficiency are the major causes of erectile dysfunction (ED). Current management of ED mostly depends on selective phosphodiesterase type 5- (PDE5) inhibitors, which fail for some ED patients. For Peyronie's disease-induced ED, surgical and physical therapies are used in addition to PDE5I medication, but frequently it is difficult to achieve satisfactory results. Recent studies show that the low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy can promote angiogenesis and improve blood flow to the penis, which promises to be a novel effective therapy for ED and Peyronie's disease.
Erectile Dysfunction ; therapy ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Induration ; therapy

OBJECTIVE:To introduce the research progress of biliary tract prosthesis,to analyze the reason of complication following stent implantation,and to explore the biocompatibility of various biliary tracts and host. METHODS:We retrieved Medline database (1989/2009) and CNKI (1989/2009) using the computer. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria,the literatures were screened by the first author,and the data were collected,and the quality was evaluated. We described and arranged the treatment progress of biliary tract prosthesis implantation,complication of stent implantation and biocompatibility of biliary tract prosthesis to investigate treatment state,complication and biocompatibility of the biliary tract prosthesis. RESULTS:The literatures were summarized. The bilitary tract prosthesis contains plastic stent,mental stent,silica gel tract stent and degradable polylactic acid stent. The complications of stent implantation included transudation,hemorrhage,perforation and stenosis. Among various stents,the biocompatibility of plastic stent was poor,easy to be blocked,but the price was low,and easy to be taken out. The diameter of mental stent following distension could reach 7-10 mm,with long unobstructed time,but the price was higher compared with the plastic stent. The biocompatibility of silica gel tract stent was good. The silica gel tract had strong decay resistance and pliable texture,which could extend tumor excision range and elevate curative effects. Moreover,complications did not occur such as infection and stenosis of the biliary tract. Biocompatibility of nickel-titanium alloy biliary ducts was significantly better than the stent products,without complications. With the exception of price factor,the biocompatibility of degradable polylactic acid stent was the best,but further studies were needed to observe and study the formation of biliary sludge,stent displacement and blockage,stent degradation products. CONCLUSION:Biliary tract prosthesis implantation can be an important treatment method for stenosis of biliary tract. During treatment,enough preparation is needed prior to implantation according to various clinical symptoms to select suitable stent type. Indications are followed strictly to avoid the occurrence of complications. The biocompatibility of silica gel stent and Ni-Ti alloy stent is good,but the biocompatibility of other stents should be enhanced.

Objective To compare the effect and safety of digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy and per-cutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal calculi. Methods Clinic data of 105 cases with kidney stones were analyzed retrospectively, including 53 cases with digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (group A) and 52 with minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (group B). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, stone-free rate, complications, average hospitalization time were compared. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, stone size, stone surface area, average operative time, stone-free rate and complications between two groups. Significant differences were found between group A and group B in terms of intraoperative blood loss and average hospitalization time. Conclusions Digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy has similar effect as minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the treatment of kidney stones about 20 mm in terms of average operative time, stone-free rate, and complications, but excels minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy in intraopera-tive blood loss and average hospitalization time. Digital flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy can be the first choice for the treatment of kidney stones about 20 mm.

AIM: To screen the lentiviral vector carrying siRNA with higher efficiency of suppressing the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1P2) gene expression in the primarily cultured corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).METHODS: SHR and SD rats (n=5 each) were used for primarily culturing corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells.The cells were randomly divided into 6 groups: SHR siRNA-1, SHR siRNA-2, SHR siRNA-3, SHR GFP, SHR control (SHR non-transfection group), and SD control (SD rat control group).Each group had 5 samples with 1.0×105 cells of each sample.At 72 h after transfection (MOI=60) with lentiviral vectors carrying S1P2 siRNA into the SHR corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells, the expression of GFP was observed under fluorescence microscope.The protein expression of S1P2, ROCK1, ROCK2 and eNOS in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells, and the mRNA expression of S1P2, ROCK1 and ROCK2 were determined by by Western blot and RT-PCR.RESULTS: The transfection efficiency of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in SHR siRNA-1, SHR siRNA-2, SHR siRNA-3 and SHR GFP groups were>80%.Compared with SHR control group, the mRNA levels and the protein expression of S1P2, ROCK1 and ROCK2 in SHR GFP group showed no remarkable changes, while those in SHR siRNA-1, SHR siRNA-2, SHR siRNA-3 and SD control groups were significantly lower than those in SHR control group (P<0.05).The protein expression of eNOS in SHR siRNA-1, SHR siRNA-2, SHR siRNA-3 and SHR GFP groups were not significantly changed as compared with SHR control group, but that in SD control group was significantly higher than that in SHR control group.CONCLUSION: Three groups of siRNA lentiviral vectors targeting S1P2 inhibit the expression of S1P2 in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells of SHR, and by silencing the S1P2 expression, the expression of ROCK1 and ROCK2 is inhibited.Among them, siRNA-1 has the highest inhibitory efficiency.

Objective To evaluate the value of Multi-slice spiral CT angiography for spinal cord vessels.Methods 11 adult subjects with suspected of myelopathy were performed with Multi-slice spiral CT angiography,An iodine contrast agent was injected at 3.5 ml/s,for total 100 ml.The parameters were axial 16 slice mode,0.625 mm slice thickness,0.8 s rotation,delay time depending on smartprep (15—25 s), multi-phase scan.The coronal and sagittal MPR and SSD were generated on a workstation compared with spinal digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to analyze normal or abnormal spinal cord vessels.Results Normal findings at spinal CTA and digital subtraction angiography in six adult normal subjects and spinal cord vascular malformations( 1 intradural extramedullary AVF,4 dural AVFs) in five cases,Recognizable intradural vessels corresponding to anterior median (midline) veins and/or anterior spinal arteries were show in six adult normal subjects.Abnormal intradural vessels were detected in all five spinal cord vascular malformation with CT angiography ,in comparison with digital subtraction angiography these vessels were primarily enlarged veins of the coronal venous plexus on the cord surface,radiculomedullary-dural arteries could not be clearly shown in four dural AVF,only one anterior spinal artery was detected in one patient with intradural medullary AVF,which direct shunt between anterior spinal artery and perimedullary vein with tortuous draining vessel.Conclusion Multi-slice CT angiography is able to visualize the normal or abnormal spinal cord vessels.It could be used as a noninvasive method to screen the spinal cord vascular disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yangfei Ziyin Decoction (YZD) on symptoms, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and aquaporin-5 (AQP-5), and pathology of Sj6gren's syndrome (SS) model mice.

METHODSTotally 60 mice were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the model group, the normal control group, the high, medium, low dose YZD groups (administered with YZD at 36.7, 18.4, 9.2 g/kg, 0.2 mL/10 g), the Chinese patent medicine group [CPM, administered with total glucosides of paeony at 0.6 g/kg], 10 mice in each group. All intervention was performed for six successive days in a week, with an interval of one day, a total of 50 days. Body weight, salivary secretion, food and water intake were measured at day10, 20, 30, 40, and 50, respectively. At day 50 blood was collected. Submandibular gland, thymus, and spleen were weighed. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and AQP-5 were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes of submandibular gland were observed. Results Compared with the normal control group, there was no change in water intake of mice in the model group, but with reduced salivary secretion (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Thymus/spleen/submandibular gland weight and index increased in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group at the same time point, salivary secretion increased in the CPM group and 3 YZD groups (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, thymus/spleen/submandibular gland weight and index decreased in the CPM group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Thymus/submandibular gland weight and index decreased in the low dose YZD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Thymus/submandibular gland weight and index, and spleen index decreased in high and medium dose YZD groups (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). Levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 decreased, but AQP-5 level increased in the CPM group (P < 0.05). AQP-5 level increased in high and medium dose YZD groups (P < 0.01 , P < 0.05). In the model group alveoli and duct of salivary gland were destroyed, alveoli and duct were irregular, epithelial cells were degenerated, necrotic, and desquamated. Mild-to-moderate lymphocytic infiltration occurred around submandibular gland. Pathological changes were alleviated in the CPM group and 3 YZD groups.

CONCLUSIONYZD could improve clinical symptoms, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, AQP-5, and pathological changes of SS model mice.

Animals ; Aquaporin 5 ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glucosides ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Paeonia ; Salivation ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Submandibular Gland ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective To investigate the effects of microRNA-155 (miR-155) inhibitor on JAK/STAT1 (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator transcription 1) signaling pathways in the injured lung tissue induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Methods One hundred and twenty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group (n =40),LPS group (n =40),and inhibitor + LPS group (n =40).LPS group and inhibitor + LPS group were made by injection of LPS 20 mg/kg intra-peritonealy,whereas equivalent volume of normal saline was given instead in the control group.The 80 mg/kg of miR-155 inhibitor was injected into caudal vein 24 h before LPS injection in inhibitor + LPS group.Mice were sacrificed at 6 h,12 h,24 h,and 48h separately after LPS injection,and lung tissue were collected.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) of lung tissue were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Using histopathological examination,the injury of lung tissue was evaluated.The expressions of miR-155,STAT1 mRNA,SOCS1 mRNA in lung tissue were assayed by fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Results The miR-155 expression induced by LPS increased at 6 h,12 h,24 h and decreased at 48 h.The miR-155 expressions in LPS group were (8.52 ± 1.12) at 6 h,(11.04 ±0.99) at 12 h,(15.84 ±0.80) at 24 h and (4.03 ± 2.55) at 48 h.In the inhibitor + LPS group,the expressions of miR-155 were lower compared with LPS group,showing significant differences at 12 h (t =6.08,P ＜ 0.01),and at 24 h (t =23.64,P ＜ 0.01).STAT1 mRNA and SOCS1 mRNA both reached peak levels at 6 h after LPS injection.The levels of STAT1 mRNA in LPS group were higher than those in inhibitor + LPS group,showing significant differencesat6h (t=4.41,P＜0.01),12h(t=2.69,P＜0.05),and24h (t=3.62,P＜0.01).The levels of SOCS1 mRNA in inhibitor + LPS group were higher than those in LPS group,showing significant differences at 6 h (t =4.55,P ＜0.01),12 h (t =4.12,P ＜0.01),24 h (t =2.38,P ＜ 0.05).TNF-α reached its peak value at 6 hours and IL-10 reached its peak value at 48 hours.Both TNF-α and IL-10 were higher in LPS group than those in inhibitor + LPS group showing significant differences at 6 h,12 h,24 h (P ＜0.01).The pathologic examination indicated the lung injury in inhibitor + LPS group was milder than that in LPS group.Conclusion The miR-155 increased in lung tissue of endotoxemic mice.miR-155 inhibitor may suppress JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway and protect the lung tissue.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Dislocation ; therapy

Objective: To Evaluation the effect of PD-1 inhibitor Nivolumab on the proliferation and cytotoxicity of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CD19-CAR-T) in vitro. Methods: Five patients with high PD-1 expression in peripheral blood and five healthy volunteers were selected. These peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used as the source of T cells to prepare CD19-CAR-T cells. Different doses (72, 36, 18 μg/ml) of Nivolumab was added on day 8 to the culture medium. Patient T cells incubated with 72 μg/ml Nivolumab and CD19-CAR-T cells of healthy volunteers were used as controls. CCK-8, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay and ELASA were used to detect the proliferation capacity, the specific cytotoxicity and the inflammatory factor secretion. Results: ①T cells from patients with high expression of PD-1 as the source of CD19-CAR-T cells did not affect transfection rate compared with that of healthy volunteers [(32.80±7.22)% vs (35.10±5.84)%, t=-0.554, P=0.593]. ②Incubation of CD19-CAR-T cells with 72 μg/ml Nivolumab did not affect CD19-CAR-T cell proliferation, but its cytotoxicity was significantly higher than that of CD19-CAR-T cells alone or patients’ T cells +72 μg/ml Nivolumab (all P<0.001), there was no significant difference in the killing activity between the 72 μg/ml and 36 μg/ml Nivolumab treated CD19-CAR-T cells on Pfeiffer cells (P=0.281, 0.267, respectively), and they were all higher than those of 18 μg/ml Nivolumab treated CD19-CAR-T cells (all P<0.001). ③Different doses of PD-1 inhibitor Nivolumab combined with CD19-CAR-T cells does not affect the secretion of IFN-γ and IFN-α (all P>0.05). Conclusion Combination of 36 μg/ml PD-1 inhibitor and CD19-CAR-T cells could reduce the drug toxicity and enhance the cytotoxicity.