Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and ?-smooth muscle actin(?-SMA)in the lungs of mice with intra-amniotic endotoxin priming and exposed to 60% hyperoxia after born in order to elucidate the possible relationship with bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).MethodsFifty C57 pregnant mice were divided into 2 groups:lipopolysaccharide(LPS,40 ?g/L)group and saline solution group,and then received an intra-amniotic injection of corresponding solution on E15.The neonatal mice of each group were randomized to be set in 60% oxygen exposure or in room air.So there were 4 subgroups,LPS+air,LPS+hyperoxia,saline+air and saline+hyperoxia groups.On days 1,3,7,10 and 14 after birth(8 rats each time point),the lung histological changes was assessed with hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining for radial alveolar counting(RAC).The expressions of TGF-?1 and ?-SMA proteins were detected by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining,and the expressions of TGF-?1 and ?-SMA mRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).ResultsIn the LPS+hyperoxia group and saline+hyperoxia group,RAC began to decrease on day 3,and then further declined in a time-dependent manner.Compared with saline+hyperoxia group,LPS+hyperoxia group had significantly lower RAC(P

Adult ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; surgery ; Genital Diseases, Male ; surgery ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; adverse effects ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; Male ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Urethra

Mild-symptom erectile dysfunction (MSED) is commonly seen in clinical practice, but receives inadequate attention from both the patients and clinicians. Increasing researches have indicated that MSED is associated with not only unhealthy living habits and psychological factors but also the early progression of endothelial, metabolic and endocrine diseases. The diagnosis and treatment of MSED should be based on the relevant guidelines, with consideration of both its specific and common features. The therapeutic principle is a combination of integrated and individual solutions aimed at the causes of the disease. Drug intervention should be initiated if psychological therapy fails. Negligence of MSED may affect the quality of life of the patients and their partners, and what's more, might delay the management of some other severe underlying diseases. Adequate attention to the early diagnosis and treatment for MSED is of great significance for a deeper insight into the etiology of ED, the prevention of potential cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and the improvement of the overall health of males.
Attention ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life

Seven terpenoids and three sterols were isolated from the methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Ricinus communis by chromatography methods and their structures were identified by spectra analysis as ficusic acid( 1), phytol(2), callyspinol(3) , lupeol(4), 30-norlupan-3beta-ol-20-one(5) , lup-20(29)-en-3beta,15alpha-diol(6) , acetylaleuritolic acid( 7), stigmast4-en-3-one(8) , stig-mast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one(9) , and stigmast4-en-3,6-dione(10). Compounds 1-3 and 5-10 were obtained from this species for the first time and 5 and 6 showed significant inhibitive activity and good selectivity against 11beta-HSD of mouse and human in vitro. [Key words] Ricinus communis; terpenoids; sterols; 11beta-HSD
11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Mice ; Ricinus ; chemistry ; Sterols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Terpenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the imaging features of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of liver (PEComa),and to improve the diagnostic level of the disease. Methods A retrospective analysis of imaging manifestations was performed on 11 cases of hepatic hemangioma confirmed by surgery and pathology. All patients underwent CT and MRI examination before PET/CT examination ,then received operation. Results Eleven cases were solitary hepatic lesions ,10 of which were located in the right lobe of the liver ,and 1 in the left. The lesions were round or quasi-circular and the diameter ranged from about 13.5cm to about 1.8 cm,with an average of 5.7 cm. CT plain scanning showed that the liver was slightly lower density ,with clear boundary. The smaller lesions were homogeneous density,while the larger ones were not,and the lower density area was visible. Enhancement of peripheral lesions in the arterial phase was enhanced. The lesions in the portal vein were not uniformly enhanced , and visible separation was found in large lesions. In the delay phase ,the lesions were significantly decreased or slightly lower. MRI plain scan showed the lesion T1WI showed moderate signal or slightly low signal ,and large lesion signal was not uniform,and T2WI lesions showed slightly high signal while DWI lesions high signal and the enhanced features were similar to those of CT. PET/CT examination showed that visible radioactive uptake of abnormal concentration or uneven concentration were found in lesions with diameter larger than 3.0 cm,and the maximum SUV value ranged from 12.2 to 3.6,with an average value of 5.7. Lesions with diameter less than 3.0 cm showed a slight concentration of radioactive uptake and the highest SUV value was 4.7,with an average value of 2.9. The only 11.8 cm lesion showed no significant radioactivity ,which was as the same as that of normal liver tissue. Delayed PET/CT imaging(1 hour)showed that SUV values of all lesions were decreased in varying degrees. Conclusion PET/CT imaging of perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of liver has its characteristics. The combina-tion of PET/CT imaging and routine imaging examination will benefit the improvement of diagnosis level obviously.

Objective To choose proper proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(~1XH-MRS) parameters to fit for practical femoral marrow cavity and to produce short-timed,well-repeated and excellent ~1H-MRS images.Methods The tentative study of ~1H-MRS on the normal femoral bone marrow in 26 volunteers was performed with a 1.5 T MR after the informed consent.The single-voxel spectroscopy and stimulated echo acquisition mode were used for ~1H-MRS collection.~1H-MRS parameters for 12 volunteers were 128 acquisitions,1 cm?1 cm?1 cm volume of interest(VOI)size and repeatedly 2—3 times within the same location.~1H-MRS parameters for another:14 volunteers were different numbers of acquisition (128 and 256 times,respectively)and different VOI sizes(2 cm?2 cm?2 cm and 1 cm?1 cm?1 cm, respectively).Results For ~1H-MRS with 1 cm?1 cm?1 cm size of VOI and 128 times of acquisition with the full width haft max of water≤8—12 Hz,the base-line was steady and the signal-noise ratio was high up to 11.31.~1H-MRS was different in the different femoral locations showing the maximum peak sites at near 0.90 ppm(?10~(-6))or 1.65 ppm,but~1H-MRS within the same location was always same or similar with different VOI sizes(1 cm?1 cm?1 cm or 2 cm?2 cm?2 cm)or different numbers of acquisition(128 or 256 times).~1H-MRS acquisition time was not related with the size of VOI but with the numbers of acquisition.128 and 256 times of acquisition cost 199 s and 391 s,respectively.Conclusion With the technique of small size of VOI(1 cm?1 cm?1 cm)and decreased numbers of acquisition(128 times),it is propable to get well-repeated and excellent ~1H-MRS within less time.It is also more practical for clinics to achieve ~1H-MRS of the femoral marrow with the proper technique.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the patterns of serum soluble CD14 (sCD14) and C-reactive protein (CRP) alterations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and investigate the correlations of sCD14 variation to the etiology, clinical symptoms, and the number of mononuclear cells in these patients.

METHODSThis study involved 246 CHF patients stratified according to their etiology and clinical symptoms, with 107 normal individuals serving as the control group. Blood samples were collected from these patients the next day after admission and also from the control subjects for measuring serum sCD14 and CPR levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and rate nephelometry, respectively.

RESULTSThe CHF patients had significantly higher serum levels of sCD14 and CRP than the control subjects (P<0.01). In the CHF patients, serum sCD14 and CRP levels differed significantly in the patients with clinical symptoms of different severities (F=3.787, P=0.024), and those with moderate and severe symptoms had significantly higher levels than the asymptomatic patients (P<0.05). The difference in etiologies also resulted in significant difference in sCD14 levels (P<0.05), which were significantly lower in coronary artery disease group than in hypertension group (P<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between sCD14 and the CRP levels in the CHF patients (r=0.227, P=0.018) and between sCD14 level and the clinical symptoms (r=0.206, P=0.001), but sCD14 level was not correlated to the absolute or relative number of mononuclear cells.

CONCLUSIONSSerum sCD14 and CRP levels are significantly elevated in CHF patients, but this condition may vary as the etiologies and clinical symptoms differ. Increased mononuclear cells do not contribute to the elevation of serum sCD14.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of sertraline and vardenafil in the treatment of patients with concomitant erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSSixty patients with concomitant ED and PE received at our clinic of andrology were randomly divided into a vardenafil group and a sertraline group. The vardenafil group received flexible doses of vardenafil from 10 mg to 20 mg and the sertraline group 50 mg daily, both for 2 months. The differences in IIEF-5 before and after the treatment were recorded and compared, and the results of ED treatment evaluated. Intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) was recorded to evaluate the outcome of PE treatment.

RESULTSIn the vardenafil group, 24 patients had their ED improved and the efficacy rate was 80%, as compared with 27% in the sertraline group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Twenty patients had their PE improved in vardenafil group, with an efficacy rate of 67% as compared with 40% in the sertraline group. The difference was significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). In both of the two groups, a significantly higher rate of PE improvement was found in patients with improved ED than in those without. Only mild side effects were recorded, and none withdrew from the treatment.

CONCLUSIONTo patients with concomitant ED and PE, the key to the treatment is to improve their erectile function, and for this purpose, vardenafil works better than sertraline.

Adult ; Ejaculation ; drug effects ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Sertraline ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; therapeutic use ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

Objective To analyze changes of three periodical circulation systems,erythrocyte sedimentation rate and bone marrow cell morphology in children with malaria.Methods The routine tests of hematology by Sysmex KX-21 Counter, erythrocyte sedimentation rate by Westergren method and bone marrow cell morphology were analyzed. Results In 22 cases of malaria the ratio of Hb level below 110 g/L,WBC below 4?10~9/L and PLT below 100?10~9/L was 68.2%, 41.0%, and 77.3%,respectively. The ratio of children with all three parameters (Hb, WBC and PLT) abnormal was 36.4%, with two parameters abnormal was 63.6%. Ninty-five point five percent of malaria children′s erythrocyte sedimentation rate was abnormal. Fifty-nine point one percent of malaria children had hyperplasia anemia bone marrow morphology, 77.3% secondary thrombocytopenia and 54.5% with both of two bone marrow morphology.Conclusions Three periodical circulation systems of malaria children alter notably, especially in PLT and Hb. The majority has erythrocyte sedimentation rate abnormal, and bone marrow cell morphology shows hyperplasia anemia and thrombocytopenia.

The Treatment Satisfaction Scale (TSS) has been developed to assess various concepts related to erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment satisfaction in patients and their partners. The self-report questionnaire consists of 4 modules: unmedicated patient, medicated patient, unmedicated partner, and medicated partner modules, measuring a range of sexuality concepts considered important by ED patients and their partners including six domains: "Confidence", "Ease with Erection", "Erectile Function Satisfaction", "Pleasure from Sexual Activity", "Satisfaction with Orgasms", and "Satisfaction with Medication". The TSS is an internationally valid, psychometrically sound instrument to assess patient and partner satisfaction with ED therapy. In a recent double-blind, multicenter, parallel arms, flexible dose clinical trial, the TSS was used to compare patient and partner's satisfaction with vardenafil and placebo therapy. The results demonstrated that vardenafil significantly improved not only erectile function, but also confidence, ease of erection, pleasure, and satisfaction with erectile function, orgasm and medication in men ED and their partners. These attributes are considered to be essential in the acceptance and continued use of PDE5 inhibitor therapy for ED.
Double-Blind Method ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Patient Satisfaction ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Sexual Partners ; psychology ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; therapeutic use ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride