OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) on penile erection after reconstruction of cavernous nerves using sural nerve as an interposition nerve graft in rats.

METHODSTwenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats (3-4 ms of age and 300-400 g in weight) were randomly divided into 2 groups: nerve graft group and GH group, each electrostimulated to determine the erectile potency 2 and 4 months after nerve graft (followed by hypodermic GH injection). The nNOS-positive nerve fibers in the corpora cavemosa were examined by streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry technique (SP method). Image analysis was used to calculate the area stained in pixel.

RESULTSElectrostimulation at 2 months produced 31.25% of erections in the GH group but none in the grafted rats. There was a significant difference in the erection rate produced by electrostimulation between the two groups at 2 months (P < 0.05). The pixel of the expression of nNOS-positive nerve fibers in the GH group (38971 +/- 7692) was also greater than that of the graft group (16538 +/- 3179, P < 0.05). At 4 months, 43.75% of the graft group and 75% of the GH group produced erections upon electrostimulation, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The pixels of the expression of nNOS-positive nerve fibers were 79276 +/- 12,021 and 91348 +/- 18965, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGH can accelerate the regeneration of cavernous nerves after bilateral nerve grafting, and GH administration may present a new physiological approach to the treatment of erectile dysfunction after radical pelvic surgery.

Animals ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; enzymology ; innervation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sural Nerve ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects on erectile function of transplanted major pelvic ganglion into the corpus cavernosum of adult male rats undergoing transection of bilateral cavernous nerves.

METHODSTwenty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (3 - 4 month-old and 300 - 400 g/each) were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (transection of bilateral cavernous nerves and transplantation of left ganglion into left crus of penis, n = 16) and control group (transection of bilateral cavernous nerves only, n = 10). Erectile function was measured by injecting APO, and intracavernous pressure was measured 1 and 3 months afterwards by electric-stimulating the right major pelvic ganglion or the left crus. Half animals in each group were sacrificed 1 and 3 months afterwards for detecting nNOS-containing nerve fibers of corpus cavernosum. Electron microscopy of the implanted area was performed to assess neuronal survival.

RESULTSBoth of the two groups have no erectile response to APO injection. Electrostimulation on the right major pelvic ganglion and left crus failed to produce erection in experimental group. The mean pressure changes in the two groups, measured by stimulating the left crus, were (9.41 +/- 3.20) and (4.16 +/- 2.58) cmH(2)O 1 month afterwards, and (13.67 +/- 4.18) and (5.09 +/- 2.74) cmH(2)O 3 months afterwards, respectively (P < 0.05). An increased number of nNOS-containing nerve fibers in left crus was detected in experimental group 1 and 3 months later, compared with control one (218.7 +/- 24.5, 18.0 +/- 3.7; 183.2 +/- 19.7, 19.0 +/- 3.8; P < 0.05). Ultrastructure examination by transmission electron microscope confirmed the survival of the implanted ganglion.

CONCLUSIONMajor pelvic ganglion can survive in the corpus cavernosum, and it has significant effects on the number of nNOS-containing nerve fibers and the alteration of intracavernous pressure.

Animals ; Autonomic Denervation ; Celiac Plexus ; surgery ; Ganglia, Autonomic ; transplantation ; Graft Survival ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; innervation ; surgery ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of D-galactose, especially in the structural and functional changes of the immune system in aging.

METHODSSerum levels of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) were determined by ELISA method. Ultra-structures of thymus and spleen were detected by transmission electron microscopy. MTT method was used to determine the lymphocyte proliferation. IL-2 activity was determined by bioassay. Northern blot was used to detect the IL-2 mRNA levels.

RESULTSSerum AGE levels of D-galactose- (P < 0.01) and AGE-treated (P < 0.05) mice (n = 8) were increased significantly. The ultra-structures of thymus and spleen in D-galactose- and AGE-treated mice showed regressive changes similar to those in the aged control group. The lymphocyte mitogenesis and IL-2 activity of spleen were also decreased significantly (P < 0.01, n = 8). The change of IL-2 activity shown by Northern blot resulted from the change of mRNA expression. The AGE plus aminoguanidine group, however, showed no significant change in these parameters in comparison with the young control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, n = 8).

CONCLUSIOND-galactose and AGE lead to a mimic regression change of aging in the immune system in vivo.

Aging ; drug effects ; immunology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Galactose ; pharmacology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Spleen ; drug effects ; immunology ; ultrastructure ; Thymus Gland ; drug effects ; immunology ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo explore the awareness on sever acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and public health emergencies among general publics.

METHODSA cluster sampling method was implemented in Harbin and Jiagedaqi district of Daxinanling of Heilongjiang province. Research subjects were divided into three groups as city, township and rural areas and were given questionnaires to fill in. Data was analyzed with Epi-data and SPSS.

RESULTS2003 available questionnaires were collected. The general publics well understood the knowledge on public health emergencies and the SARS with the whole recognition rate more than 60 percent. During the epidemics, people in city, town and countryside were calm (71.7%). The rates of attitude towards the government were significantly different among the subjects living with the city, town or rural areas. The city group expressed the highest favor to the government and media, 71.8% of them gave the credit on the control of SARS to the effective method taken by the government and 65.0% of them showed that they had enough confidence on the governmental ability of dealing with crises while the countryside group trusted the hospitals and relative specialists the most.

CONCLUSIONIt is essential for the government to interact and communicate with the publics through media, medical and related institutions when confronting with the public health emergencies. Publicity on health knowledge and coping system on emergency should play key roles in the development of an effective public health system while the government should lead the battle.

China ; Data Collection ; Emergencies ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Public Health ; Rural Population ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibiting effects and mechanism of achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (ABP) and lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on nonenzyme glycation in D-galactose induced mouse aging model.

METHODSSerum AGE levels were determined by AGE-ELISA, MTT method was used to determine lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 activity was determined by a bioassay method. Spontaneous motor activity was used to detect mouse's neuromuscular movement, latency of step-through method was used to examine learning and memory abilities of mouse, colormetric assay was used to determine hydroxyproline concentration in mouse skin, pyrogallol autoxidation method was used to determine superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of erythrocytes.

RESULTSDecreased levels of serum AGE, hydroxyproline concentration in mouse skin and spontaneous motor activity in D-galactose mouse aging model were detected after treated with ABP or LBP, while lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 activity, learning and memory abilities, SOD activity of erythrocytes, were enhanced.

CONCLUSIONSABP and LBP could inhibit nonenzyme glycation in D-galactose induced mouse aging model in vivo and ABP has a better inhibiting effect than LBP.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Galactose ; chemistry ; Learning ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Memory ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Motor Activity ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and to compare the merits and demerits of laparoscopic and endoscopic approach in removing common bile duct stones in patients with gastrojejunostomy after gastrectomy. METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2016, 25 patients with common bile duct stones after gastrojejunostomy received laparoscopic or endoscopic treatment in our centers. They were divided into laparoscopic group and endoscopic group based on treatment approaches for common bile duct stones, including 15 patients in laparoscopic group and 10 in endoscopic group. The clinical characteristics and outcomes between the two groups were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 25 patients with gastrojejunostomy, the method of reconstruction was Billroth II in 21 patients and Roux-en-Y in 4 patients. Six patients received laparoscopic or endoscopic treatment during the acute cholangitis state. Among the laparoscopic group, 5 patients with stones more than 1 cm, 7 patients with multiple stones, while in the endoscopic group, 3 patients with stones more than 1 cm and 4 patients with multiple stones. Fourteen patients in the laparoscopic group with coexisting gallbladder stones, and 6 of their common bile duct stones were successfully removed by transcystic approach without T tube drainage. Stone removals were successful in 4 patients of the endoscopic group by a single performance, including 3 patients with single small stone and one patient with multiple small stones. Two patients in the laparoscopic group were converted to open surgery for severe adhesion and one patient in the endoscopic group turned to laparoscopic operation for failing of finding papilla in the Roux-en-Y anastomotic status. The median hospital stays were 12 d and 10 d, respectively in the laparoscopic and endoscopic group. There were 3 patients with postoperative complications, including one patient with paralytic ileus in the laparoscopic group and 2 patients with biliary pancreatitis or bacteremia in the endoscopic group, and all of them recovered uneventfully with conservative treatment. CONCLUSION Both laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches are feasible for removing stones in the common bile duct in patients with gastrojejunostomy after gastrectomy, and they complement each other. In addition, both techniques are difficult to conduct, and a technical competence should be considered in selection of each method.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Common Bile Duct ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic transcystic drainage and common bile duct exploration in the treatment of patients with difficult biliary stones. METHODS: Between April 2020 and December 2021, eighteen patients with difficult biliary stones received laparoscopic transcystic drainage (C-tube technique) and common bile duct exploration. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were retrospectively collected. The safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic transcystic drainage and common bile duct exploration were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the eighteen patients with difficult biliary stones, thirteen patients received traditional laparoscopic transcystic drainage, and the remaining five received modified laparoscopic transcystic drainage. The mean surgical duration were (161±59) min (82-279 min), no bile duct stenosis or residual stone was observed in the patients receiving postoperative cholangiography via C-tube. The maximum volume of C-tube drainage was (500±163) mL/d (180-820 mL/d). Excluding three patients with early dislodgement of C-tube, among the fifteen patients with C-tube maintained, the median time of C-tube removal was 8 d (5-12 d). The duration of hospital stay was (12±3) d (7-21 d) for the 18 patients. Five C-tube related adverse events were observed, all of which occurred in the patients with traditional laparoscopic transcystic drainage, including two abnormal position of the C-tube, and three early dislocation of the C-tube. All the 5 adverse events caused no complications. Only one grade one complication occurred, which was in a patient with modified laparoscopic transcystic drainage. The patient demonstrated transient fever after C-tube removal, but there was no bile in the drainage tube and the subsequent CT examination confirmed no bile leakage. The fever spontaneously relieved with conservative observation, and the patient recovered uneventfully with discharge the next day. All the 18 patients were followed up for 1-20 months (median: 9 months). Normal liver function and no recurrence of stone were detected with ultrasonography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). CONCLUSION Laparoscopic transcystic drainage combined with common bile duct exploration is safe and feasible in the treatment of patients with difficult biliary stones. The short-term effect is good. Modified laparoscopic transcystic drainage approach may reduce the incidence of C-tube dislocation and bile leak.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures/adverse effects* ; Gallstones/etiology* ; Drainage/methods* ; Laparoscopy/adverse effects* ; Common Bile Duct/surgery*