OBJECTIVETo study the expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe established the model of prolactinoma in 20 male Westar rats by peritoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and treated the control rats with normal saline (n = 10) or sterilized arachis oil (n = 10). After 8 weeks, we performed the apomorphine test and measured the weight of the pituitary gland and the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) to confirm the successful construction of the prolactinoma-induced ED model. Then we determined the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue by immunohistochemistry and examined the ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernosum under the transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThe prolactinoma-induced ED model was successfully established in 15 rats. The weight of the pituitary gland was significantly increased in the rats treated with DES as compared with the normal saline and sterilized arachis oil controls ([46.7 ± 15.5] vs [11.7 ± 2.4] and [12.4 ± 2.3] mg, both P < 0.05). The level of serum PRL was markedly higher while that of T remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups ([1,744.9 ± 304.5] vs [11.5 ± 2.4] and [10.6 ± 1.9] ng/ml, both P < 0.0l; [1.54 ± 0.46] vs [3.11 ± 1.08] and [3.04 ± 1.11] ng/ml, both P < 0.05). The rate of penile erection was significantly reduced in the prolactinoma-induced ED model rats in comparison with the normal saline and arachis oil controls (16.7% vs 100% and 87.5%, both P < 0.05), and so was the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue (0.024 ± 0.011 vs 0.066 ± 0.019 and 0.058 ± 0.021, both P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy manifested significant ultrastructural changes in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the cavernous tissue in the prolactinoma-induced ED models.

CONCLUSIONThe ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernous tissue and the reduced expression of nNOS in penile tissue may be the most important mechanisms of prolactinoma-induced ED in rats.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; Carcinogens ; Diethylstilbestrol ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; ultrastructure ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; enzymology ; ultrastructure ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; complications ; Prolactin ; blood ; Prolactinoma ; chemically induced ; complications ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of prostate cancer in urban Qingdao and provide some theoretical evidence for the scientific prevention and treatment of the disease.

METHODSWe performed a hospital-based matched case-control study in Qingdao Municipal Hospital. The cases and controls were matched in age, gender, nationality and the place of residence. All the subjects were interviewed face to face in the hospital using a questionnaire, and the data analyzed by the conditional logistic regression method.

RESULTSAccording to the 258 valid questionnaires collected, the prostate cancer risk was significantly higher in the cases with a family history of cancer than in those without (OR = 2.58), and so was it in the men with the first spermatorrhea at the age of < or = 15 years than in those at the age of > or = 18 years (OR = 2.27). A decreased risk of prostate cancer was found among the men with the first experience of sexual intercourse between 25 to 30 years of age (OR = 0.76). An increased risk was shown in those with sexual intercourses > or = 4 times per week before 35 years old (OR = 2.57), masturbations > or = 3 times per week (OR = 2.30) and a drinking history (alcohol > or = 150 g/d) of > or = 10 years (OR = 2.83).

CONCLUSIONPositive family history of cancer, earlier age of the first spermatorrhea, sexual intercourses > or = 4 times per week before 35 years old, frequent masturbations, and heavy drinking for more than 10 years are risk factors for prostate cancer.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To explore the changes of functional connectivity of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in online game addicts during the resting state,and to analyze the function of ACC in the pathogenesis of online game addiction from a perspective of resting-state functional connectivity.Methods Seventeen online game addicts treated in our hospital from March 2011 to October 2011 were recruited as addiction group and 17 healthy controls at the same period were recruited as HC group.The baseline characteristics of all 34 subjects were investigated and compared between the addiction group and the HC group.All fMRI data were preprocessed after a resting-state fMRI scan,and then,the left and right anterior cingulate cortexes were selected as regions of interest (ROIs) to calculate the linear correlation between the ACC and the entire brain to compare the differences between the online game addicts and normal controls.Results Obvious differences between the addiction group and HC group were noted in hours and days of online game using and degree of thirst to play online games (P＜0.05);within the functional connectivity of ACC during the resting state,in contrast to the controls,the online game addicts showed increased connectivity with posterior cingulate,medium cingulate,midbrain,nucleus accumbens and supplementary motor area,but reduced connectivity with prefrontal cortex,temporal lobe and occipital lobe (P＜0.05).Conclusion Altered functional connectivity of the ACC reflects the dysfunction in ACC of online game addicts,which may be linked to the forming and maintaining of the online game addiction.