The concept of cell transplantation by tissue engineering has provided numerous possibilities for tissue reconstruction in andrology. Application studies of tissue engineering have been made in such aspects as Leydig cells, testicular prosthesis, penile corporal and penile prosthesis in order to improve, restore or replace the existing tissue function. Although most reconstructive efforts still remain at the experimental stage, several techniques have been applied to clinical practice with satisfactory results. This article briefly reviewed the applications of tissue engineering to andrology.
Andrology ; Animals ; Cattle ; Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering

Objective To investigate the relationship between the imbalance of suppressors of cytokine signaling 1(SOCS1)/SOCS3 and abnormal activation of monocytes/ macrophages in children with acute-phase asthma, and explore the molecular mechanism of chronic inflammatory process on airway.Methods The present study enrolled 20 asthmatic children and 20 age-matched normal children. Dual-color flow cytometric analysis was performal to detect the percentage of CD_ 80 、CD_ 86 expressing on CD_ 14 ~+ cell. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and real-time PCR were used to analyze SOCS1,SOCS3 expression in monocytes/ macrophages.Results The proportions of CD_ 80 ,CD_ 86 expressed on CD_ 14 ~+ cell in children with asthma were significantly higher than those in control subjects(CD_ 80 :7.0% vs 1.70%),(CD_ 86 :11.37% vs 2.03%),all P

OBJECTIVETo discuss the intervention effect of ligustrazine on ox-LDL-induced foam cells from the perspective of reverse cholesterol transport.

METHODRAW264.7 cultured in vitro was induced with 20 mg x L(-1) ox-LDL to establish the foam cell model, and intervened with ligustrazine. The lipid accumulation in cells was observed by the oil red O dyeing. The changes in total cholesterol and cholesterol ester in the cells were detected with the colorimetric method. The fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA expressions of PPARgamma, LXRalpha and ABCA1.

RESULTLigustrazine could reduce total cholesterol and cholesterol ester in foam cells, inhibit the lipid accumulation, and increase the mRNA and protein expressions of PPARgamma, LXRalpha and ABCA1.

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine can promote the reverse cholesterol transport by increasing the gene expressions of PPARgamma, LXRalpha and ABCA1.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Foam Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: In lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with severe osteoporosis, screw is easily loose and pul s out during reposition, or loss of reduction and internal fixation failure easily occur after repair. Therefore, it is very important to elevate the intensity of pedicle screw fixation during repair. At present, few studies concern application of bone cement screw enhancement technology in lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of augmented pedicle screw with polymethylmethacrylate for lumbar spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis. METHODS: From June 2009 to June 2011, 27 patients suffering from lumbar spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis were included in this retrospective study. These patients received augmented pedicle screw with polymethylmethacrylate. The levels of disability and pain were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale. The internal fixation and fusion were evaluated by radiological findings. Al complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Al cases were fol owed up for 15-37 months. Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale scores were significantly better in final fol ow-up than that pre-treatment (P < 0.05). Imaging results revealed that bone cement tightly connected to bone interface. The position of screw and bone cement was good. Symptomatic bone cement leakage was not found. No fixation failure was detected during final fol ow-up. Al patients achieved interbody fusion. These results suggested that polymethylmethacrylate bone cement could increase the gripping force of the pedicle screw in osteoporotic vertebral body. It is safe and effective to treat spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis with augmented pedicle screws. Satisfactory fixation stability and interbody fusion can be obtained.

The incidence of prostatic cancer rises with increasing age and early diagnosis rate of the disease keeps increasing at the same time. Early diagnosis provides opportunities for radical prostatectomy to cure prostatic cancer. However, the problem of erectile dysfunction (ED) post operation puzzles urologists and exerts negative impacts on the patients life quality. Study on the prevention and treatment of peri-operational ED is of great importance to dwindle the occurrence rate of ED and is the key to improve the life quality of such patients.
Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVESTo compare PSAD, PSAD-TZ, PSA, FPSA/TPSA detection used in diagnosis of prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and prostatic cancer(PCa).

METHODSFourty-three cases of BPH and twenty cases of PCa with PSA < 20 micrograms/L were chosen, then compared PSA, PSAD, FPSA/TPSA, PSAD-TZ between BPH and PCa.

RESULTSThe mean PSA in BPH and PCa is (10.47 +/- 6.25) microgram/L and (13.92 +/- 3.20) microgram/L respectively with no statistic difference (P > 0.05). The mean PSAD in BPH and PCa is (0.15 +/- 0.12) microgram/L and (0.24 +/- 0.13) microgram/L respectively with statistic difference (P < 0.05). The mean FPSA/TPSA in BPH and PCa is (0.58 +/- 0.42) microgram/L and (0.26 +/- 0.17) microgram/L respectively with statistic difference (P < 0.05). The mean PSA-TZ in BPH and PCa is (0.26 +/- 0.22) and (0.51 +/- 0.28) respectively with obviously statistic difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest PSAD, FPSA/TPSA, especially PSAD-TZ could be used to distinguish BPH and PCa.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to investigate the osteogenic potential and possibility of combination application of mimetic osteoinductive periosteum with tissue-engineered bone.

METHODSThe three-dimensional construction of tissue-engineered bone was made by implantation of adipose derived stromal cells (ADSCs) into rhBMP-2 mediated bio-derived carrier, and mimetic periosteum was constructed by loading ADSCs into Cs-Col-beta3-TCP with rhBMP-2. 10 mm defects of right radiuses were established in adult New Zealand rabbits, group A was transplanted by tissue-engineered bone with mimetic periosteum, group B was implanted by tissue-engineered bone, and group C was implanted by mimetic periosteum, group D was transplanted by bio-derived compound bone as blank scaffold. X-ray, histology, immunohistochemistry stain, dural energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations were performed at different periods.

RESULTSGroup A played a predominant role in process of new tissue regeneration and mature bone reconstitution, defect completely healed at 12 weeks. Group B showed primary repair, group C also existed in modeling stage. While, group D displayed retard regeneration with poor osteogenic capacity. DEXA result showed that group A had statistical significance over control group according to data of BMC and BMD ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEnhanced osteogenic potential can be obtained by using tissue-engineered bone with mimetic osteoinductive periosteum. Defect can be healed with concord pattern of osteoinductive and osteopromotive and osteoconductive effects.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Male ; Periosteum ; Rabbits ; Radius ; pathology ; surgery ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo determine the plasma level of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) DNA in children with EBV associated diseases, and to investigate the dynamic changes of EBV DNA level after initial infection as well as the relationship between EBV DNA level and the diseases severity.

METHODSThe subjects consisted of 73 children with primary EBV infection (infectious mononucleosis, pneumonia,etc.) and 18 children with severe EBV-associated diseases (chronic active EBV infection, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, etc.). The plasma EBV DNA level was detected by a real-time PCR assay.

RESULTSThe plasma EBV DNA level decreased with the infection time in children with primary EBV infection. Two weeks after infection, plasma EBV DNA was almost undetectable. The positive rate of plasma EBV DNA in children with severe EBV associated diseases increased significantly when compared with that in children with primary EBV infection (89% vs 16%; p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of EBV replication may be reduced with the infection time. Dynamic determination of blood EBV DNA is useful for the evaluation of disease severity in children with EBV infection.

DNA, Viral ; blood ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; virology ; Humans ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; virology ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; virology ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupoint sticking on clinical symptoms and life quality in patients with bronchial asthma.

METHODSMulticenter randomized double-blind clinical trial was done, one hundred and eighty-eight cases were divided into a medication acupoint sticking group (125 cases) and a placebo group (63 cases). Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Tiantu (CV 22), etc. were selected in both groups. The medication cakes were made of grinding pepper, brassica alba seeds, asarum, etc. into fine powder mixed with ginger oil and ginger juice, applied on acupoints in the acupoint sticking group. While another compound cakes made of powder of red rice, black rice, maize mixed with small amount of ginger juice, were used in the placebo group. Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire(AQLQ), symptom scores during the day and night, scores of self effect, and the value of lung function were observed.

RESULTSThe value of daily behavior and environmental factors of AQLQ, total scores of AQLQ, daytime symptoms and scores of self effect in the medication acupoint sticking group, were significantly improved compared to those of placebo group (all P<0.05). The lung function of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second in predicted value (FEV1/FVC) had no significant diffrence between two groups (both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint sticking therapy can significantly improve clinical symptoms of patients with bronchial asthma, and can improve life quality of the patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and compare the effect of naso-intestinal tube decompression and octreotide in conservative management of early post-operative inflammatory ileus (EPII).

METHODSFrom March 2005 to January 2009, forty-five patients diagnosed with EPII, who failed to improve with conventional conservative management including nasogastric tube decompression, were enrolled in this study. All patients were prospectively nonrandomized into naso-intestinal tube group (n = 23) or Octreotide group (n = 22). The outcomes were compared between nasogastric tube, naso-intestinal tube and Octreotide groups.

RESULTSAll the forty-five patients with EPII refractory to conservative management with nasogastric decompression were treated successfully with the naso-intestinal tube decompression or octreotide in 3-12 days. Compared with the Octreotide group, the first passage of flatus was earlier [(4.7 +/- 1.9) d vs (6.7 +/- 1.6) d] and abdominal circumference recovered faster [(90.4 +/- 2.0)% vs (95.1 +/- 1.3)%] in the naso-intestinal tube group (P < 0.05). But the volume of cumulative and daily gastrointestinal decompression were more in naso-intestinal tube group than those in Octreotide group [(4037 +/- 1155) ml vs (3316 +/- 1038) ml; (890 +/- 181) ml vs (492 +/- 83) ml; P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSPatients with EPII could be safely and effectively managed by naso-intestinal tube decompression or octreotide. It is possible for those patients to avoid second laparotomy. Naso-intestinal tube decompression and octreotide are associated with faster recovery and less fluid loss respectively.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Decompression ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; etiology ; therapy ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Octreotide ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult