In order to study of etiology, pathogenesis, and therapy of endometriosis(EM) through animal models, we review the literature on rodent and primate models of endometriosis, including establishment of models and their applications.We hope that animal models provide useful tools for the studies of endometriosis.

Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a clinical and bio-chemical syndrome associated with advancing age in males and seriously affects the quality of life of some of the patients. A classical therapeutic option for LOH is testosterone supplementary treatment (TST). Its effectiveness has been verified, whereas its long-term safety remains to be further evaluated. With deeper insights into LOH, many new therapeutic strategies have been proposed, which include the treatments with gonadotropins, testosterone precursors (such as dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]), non-aromatizable androgens (such as dihydrotestosterone [DHT]), antiestrogens (such as aromatase inhibitors and estrogen receptor antagonists), and Chinese medicine. Meanwhile, studies on the transplantation of Leydig stem cells, selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), and selective estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) agonists have shed new light on the treatment of LOH.
Humans ; Hypogonadism ; drug therapy ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use

Saw palmetto fruit extract (SPE), as a herbal product, is widely used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Recent studies show that SPE also has some therapeutic effects on chronic prostatitis, prostate cancer, sexual dysfunction, and so on. This article presents an overview on the application of SPE in the treatment of BPH, prostate cancer, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, with a discussion on its action mechanisms.
Chronic Disease ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pelvic Pain ; drug therapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Diseases ; drug therapy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Syndrome

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual disorder with an incidence rate of 20-30%. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), as the first-line drug for erectile dysfunction (ED), can improve ejaculatory function probably by acting on the peripheral and central adrenergic nerves. The possible action mechanisms of PDE5i may involve lessening of the central sympathetic output, modulation of the contractile responses from the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and urethra, induction of peripheral analgesia, and prolonging of the total erectile duration, increasing the confidence of ejaculation control, and reducing the post-ejaculation refractory time. This review discusses the possible mechanisms and clinical application of PDE5i in the treatment of PE.
Ejaculation ; drug effects ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Premature Ejaculation ; drug therapy ; Seminal Vesicles ; physiology ; Vas Deferens ; physiology

ObjectiveTo construct human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) modified with human preproenkephalin (hPPE) gene.MethodshPPE gene fragments were obtained from recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1( + )/hPPE by using restriction endonuelease Hind Ⅲ and Not Ⅰ.Homologous recombination of lentivirus and hPPE gene was produced by using recombinant DNA technology.HEK293 cells were then transfected with the recombinant lentivirus vectors.The expression of hPPE gene in HEK293 cells was detected by Western blot.ResultsThe results of DNA sequencing indicated that the positive clone of recombinant lentivirus was completely consistent with sequencing of hPPE in Genebank.The titer of the concentrated virus was 2.07 × 108 TU/ml.GFP fluorescence was not seen in HEK293 cells transfected with the lentiviral vector under fluorescence microscope.A strong fluorescence was seen in HEK293 cells transfected with Ubc-GFP-L.V.empty viral vector.Positive expression of hPPE was demonstrated in HEK293 cells transfected with lentiviral vector by Western blot.Conclusion HEK293 cells modified with hPPE gene were successfully constructed and the target gene hPPE was stably expressed in HEK293 cells.

This paper aims to develop a method for the determination of aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion and study the pharmacokinetic properties of four anthraquinones in rat plasma after oral administration of gardenia and rhubarb decoction. The plasma concentrations at different time points of four anthraquinones were determined by HPLC-FLD method. Plasma samples were extracted with liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Plasma samples were separated on a C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 μm), using 0.2% acetic acid and methanol as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1) with gradient elution. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 430, 525 nm, respectively. DAS 2.0 software was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. The results showed four anthraquinones can be absorbed. The main parameters of aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion were as follows: C(max) for aloe-emodin was (0.085 ± 0.058), (3.772 ± 1.152), (0.464 ± 0.267), (0.028 ± 0.008) mg x L(-1) respectively; t(max) for rhein was (1.042 ± 0.510), (0.805 ± 0.307), (1.167 ± 0.283), (0.616 ± 0.162) h respectively; t½ for chrysophanol was (3.557 ± 1.250), (6.879 ± 1.126), (5.196 ± 2.032), (4.337 ± 1.816) h; AUC(0-t) for physcion was (0.504 ± 0.130), (9.558 ± 1.106), (2.545 ± 1.554), (0.052 ± 0.018) mg x h x L(-1). This paper developed a selective, accurate and sensitive HPLC-FLD method for the simultaneous determination of four anthraquiones in rat plasma.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a most common inherited renal disease, about 50% with a family history, although the exact etiology not yet clear. To date, ADPKD, a multisystem disorder without effective preventive and therapeutic means, has been shown to be detrimental to human health. Recent studies show that severe oligoasthenozoospermia, necrospermia, immotile sperm, azoospermia, epididymal cyst, seminal vesicle cyst, and ejaculatory duct cyst found in male ADPKD patients may lead to male infertility, though the specific mechanisms remain unknown. Structural anomaly of spermatozoa, defect of polycystin, mutation of PKD genes, and micro-deletion of the AZF gene could be the reasons for the higher incidence of abnormal semen quality in male ADPKD patients. Assisted reproductive techniques can increase the chances of pregnancy, whereas the health of the offspring should be taken into consideration. This article presents an overview of reproductive issues concerning infertile male ADPKD patients from the perspective of the morbidity, pathophysiological mechanism, diagnosis, and management of the disease.
Cysts ; pathology ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the intraoperative opioid-sparing effect of different frequency transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in the patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic pneumonectomy.Methods Eighty patients,aged 40-64 yr,weighing 50-90 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective thoracoscopic pneumonectomy under general anesthesia,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table:control group (group Con),stimulation on Lieque (LU7)-Quchi (LI11)-Neiguan (PC6)-Hegu (LI4) at 2/100 Hz group (group 2/100 Hz),stimulation on LU7-LI11-PC6-LI4 at 2 Hz group (group 2 Hz),and stimulation on LU7-LI1 1-PC6-LI4 at 100 Hz group (group 100 Hz).The patients in group Con had the electrodes applied,but received no stimulation.In 2/100 Hz,2 Hz and 100 Hz groups,the patients received 2/100,2 and 100 Hz TEAS on LU7-LI11-PC6-LI4 acupoints ipsilateral to the surgery site,respectively,starting from 30 min before induction of anesthesia until the end of surgery,and the intensity was the maximum current that could be tolerated.Anesthesia was induced with iv midazolam,propofol,sufentanil and cisatracurim,and maintained with target-controlled infusion of remifentanil and propofol,continuous infusion of cisatracurim,and iv boluses of sufentanil when necessary.The target plasma concentration of propofol was adjusted to maintain BIS value at 40-60 during operation.The initial target effect-site concentration of remifentanil was 1 ng/ml,and adjusted to 4 ng/ml at skin incision.The concentration of remifentanil and consumption of sufentanil were adjusted to maintain Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) at 50-70.When the concentration of remifentanil was increased to 4 ng/ml,ANI was still less than 50,and then 0.1 μg/kg sufentanil was given.The duration of operation and intraoperative consumption of remifentanil and sufentanil (the consumption of sufentanil was converted to the consumption of remifentanil producing the equivalent effect by 1:10) were recorded.Results The intraoperative consumption of remifentanil was significantly reduced in 2/100 Hz group as compared with Con,2 Hz and 100 Hz groups.There was no significant difference in the intraoperative consumption of remifentanil between Con group,2 Hz group and 100 Hz group.Conclusion The use of 2/100 Hz but not 2 and 100 Hz TEAS on LU7-LI11-PC6-LI4 significantly reduces intraoperative opioid consumption in the patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic pneumonectomy.

0.05). Conclusions The high expression of GATA3, a Th2 inducer, may correlate with the disease acti vity of SLE, while T-bet, a Th1 inducer, may not correlate with the disease acti vity.

Objective To regard the implication of viruses particularly herpes in pemphigus vulgaris,and assess and compare the level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2),cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with pemphigus vulgarisand healthy people.Methods In this study,23 patients with pemphigus vulgaris and 26 healthy individuals comprised the experimental and control groups,respectively.Serum samples were taken from both groups;the levels of IgG antibodies against HSV1,HSV2,CMV and EBV were measured using ELISA.Results Immunoglobulin G titer was higher for all four viruses in the patient group in comparison to the control group.This difference was significant for anti-EBV,anti-CMV and anti-HSV2 (t=2.16,P＜0.05;t =4.76,P＜ 0.01;t=3.75,P＜0.01),respectively,but not significant for anti-HSV1 (t=0.52,P＞0.05).Conclusion Viruses including EBV,CMV,and HSV2 probably play a role in the pathogenesis of pemphigus in addition to the effects of genetics,toxins and other predisposing factors.In this study,no statistically significant relationship was observed between HSV1 and pemphigus vulgaris.More studies must be done in this regard.