Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; Radiation Injuries

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) combined with finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

METHODSThis study included 32 patients with recurrent hematospermia, with the disease course of 3 months to 4 years. After administration of finasteride at 5 mg/d for 2 weeks, the patients underwent TUSV for both exploration of the causes and treatment, followed by medication with finasteride at the same dose for another 2 weeks. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for observation of the outcomes and complications.

RESULTSTUSV was successfully accomplished in all the 32 cases, which revealed 16 cases of seminal vesiculitis, 10 seminal calculi, 1 seminal vesicle cyst, 2 seminal vesicle polyps, and 3 seminal vesicle abscess. The operative time was 20 to 51 (31.0 +/- 5.2) minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 case of acute epididymitis and 3 cases of breast discomfort within the first 4 weeks. No incontinence, urethral stricture, rectal injury, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction occurred postoperatively. All the patients but 1 were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. Twenty-nine of the cases were cured, and 2 experienced recurrence.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride is safe and effective for the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemospermia ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the dose-effect relationship between premature chromosome condensation induced by Calyculin A and irradiation dose.

METHODSThe human peripheral blood was irradiated by (137)Cs gamma radial. The irradiation dose included 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 Gy. The premature chromosome condensation induced by Calyculin A was observed, and dyed by centromeric banding.

RESULTSThere was the quadratic relation between the total aberration, fragment, dicentric+centric ring (dic+r) ration and irradiation dose.

CONCLUSIONPremature chromosome condensation induced by Calyculin A can be used as a biodosimetry.

Cell Line ; Chromosome Aberrations ; radiation effects ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; radiation effects ; Male ; Oxazoles ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the restoration of erectile function by reconstructing cavernous nerves (CN) with small intestinal submucosa (SIS) grafts.

METHODSWe prepared SIS grafts, established rat models and divided the models into a CN ablation, a sham-operation and an SIS graft group. The CNs at both sides were severed with 1 cm ablated in the first group, and 0.5 cm removed in the third, followed by reconstruction with the SIS grafts. Three months after surgery, the apomorphine test was performed to evaluate the erectile function, and then all the rats were sacrificed to detect the expression of nNOS in the penis.

RESULTSPenile erection was observed in 72.73% (8/11) of the rats for (1.07 +/- 0.89) times within 30 min in the SIS graft group, as compared with 0% (0/11) of the rats for (0.00 +/- 0.00) times in the CN ablation group (P < 0.01), and 90.91% (10/11) of the rats for (2.19 +/- 1.17) times in the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). The number of nNOS nerve fibers was significantly larger in the SIS graft than in the CN ablation group (70.36 +/- 10.09 versus 22.09 +/- 4.76, P < 0.01), but both were significantly smaller than that of the sham-operation group (90.81 +/- 5.69, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe SIS grafting technique contributes to the recanalization of the severed CN and restoration of erectile function in rats after surgical injury.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; surgery ; Intestinal Mucosa ; transplantation ; Intestine, Small ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Nerve Tissue ; injuries ; surgery ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; innervation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVESTo study the relationship between promoter methylation and mRNA expressions of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 genes in human glioma, and to analyze the regulation mechanism of promoter methylation in the progression of glioma.

METHODSThe promoter methylation of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 was studied by a methylation specific PCR in 88 primary astrocytoma, 10 normal brain tissues and 2 glioma cell lines. The mRNA expressions were detected by real-time PCR in 30 primary glioma and 10 normal brain tissues. The correlations of their promoter methylation, mRNA expressions and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. The promoter methylation were also detected in U251 and SHG-44 cell lines.

RESULTSThe promoter methylation of EMP3 was detected in 42 tumors (47.7%) and the methylation of PCDH-gamma-A11 was detected in 76 tumors (86.4%). Their mRNA expressions were all significantly decreased in different pathological grade astrocytomas compared to the normal brain tissues (P < 0.01). Their expressions were suppressed but could be reactivated by 5-aza-deoxycytidine in U251 and SHG-44 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONSThe promoter methylation of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 genes may lead to the down-regulation of their mRNA levels in glioma. The promoter methylation and mRNA expressions of EMP3 and PCDH-gamma-A11 are closely related with the malignant development of glioma. The promoter methylation of the two genes may provide clues to evaluation of glioma malignancy as well as its prognosis. It also gives us an insight for future glioma medical therapy with a demethylating agent.

Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; Cadherins ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Glioma ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

To investigate the prevalence of drug-resistance mutations, resistance to antiretroviral drugs, and the subsequent virological response to therapy in treatment-naive and antiretroviral-treated patients infected with HIV/AIDS in Henan, China, a total of 431 plasma samples were collected in Queshan county between 2003 and 2004, from patients undergoing the antiretroviral regimen Zidovudine + Didanosine + Nevirapine (Azt+Ddi+Nvp). Personal information was collected by face to face interview. Viral load and genotypic drug resistance were tested. Drug resistance mutation data were obtained by analyzing patient-derived sequences through the HIVdb Program (http://hivdb.stanford.edu). Overall, 38.5% of treatment-naive patients had undetectable plasma viral load (VL), the rate significantly increased to 61.9% in 0 to 6 months treatment patients (mean 3 months) (P＜0.005) but again significantly decrease to 38.6% in 6 to 12 months treatment patients (mean 9 months) (P＜0.001) and 40.0% in patients receiving more than 12 months treatment (mean 16 months) (P＜0.005). The prevalence of drug resistance in patients who had a detectable VL and available sequences were 7.0%, 48.6%, 70.8%, 72.3% in treatment-na(1)ve, 0 to 6 months treatment, 6 to 12 months treatment, and treatment for greater than 12 months patients, respectively. No mutation associated with resistance to Protease inhibitor (PI) was detected in this study. Nucleoside RT inhibitor (NRTI) mutations always emerged after non-nucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations, and were only found in patients treated for more than 6 months, with a frequency less than 5%, with the exception of mutation T215Y (12.8%, 6/47) which occurred in patients treated for more than 12 months. NNRTI mutations emerged quickly after therapy begun, and increased significantly in patients treated for more than 6 months (P＜0.005), and the most frequent mutations were K103N, V106A, Y181C, G190A. There had been optimal viral suppression in patients undergoing treatment for less than 6 months in Queshan,Henan. The drug resistance strains were highly prevalent in antiretroviral-treated patients, and increased with the continuation of therapy, with many patients encountering virological failure after 6 months therapy.

Adult ; Female ; Hamartoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; complications ; Spleen ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; methods ; Splenic Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between DNA repair in vitro and in vivo after irradiation, and to describe the curves of DNA repair which can improve the accuracy of radiation dose estimation.

METHODSThe DNA double-strand break in lymphocytes of human and mouse was detected using neutral single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) after radiation and the curves of DNA repair individually were estimated, which were compared later.

RESULTSAlong with the time lapsing, the DNA repair of human peripheral blood and mice increased significantly and the residual damage decreased gradually, which showed significant time-effect relationship. The curve of DNA repair in vitro of human lymphocytes presented the same log model as that of mouse DNA repair in vivo. The curve showed as followed respectively: Mice: Y(TM) = 55.8256 - 10.792 lnX (R(2) = 0.629, P < 0.01) and Y(OTM) = 25.4173 - 4.5273 lnX (R(2) = 0.661, P < 0.01); Human: Y(TM) = 30.242 7 - 7.383 6 lnX (R(2) = 0.686, P < 0.01) and Y(OTM) = 17.9772 - 3.9125 lnX (R(2) = 0.752, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe curve of DNA repair in vitro of human lymphocytes could be considered in biodosimetry estimation because the process of DNA repair in vitro could display the repair level and speed of DNA double-strand break in vivo.

Animals ; Cell Survival ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; radiation effects ; DNA Repair ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Radiation Dosage ; Single-Cell Analysis

OBJECTIVEGua Sha and Blood-letting at the acupoints were Chinese traditional therapies for heatstroke. The purpose of present study was to assess the therapeutic effect of Gua Sha on the DU Meridian and Bladder Meridian combined with Blood-letting acupoints at Shixuan (EX-UE 11) and Weizhong (BL 40) on heatstroke.

METHODSAnesthetized rats, immediately after the onset of heatstroke, were divided into four major groups: Gua Sha group, Blood-letting group, Gua Sha combined with Blood-letting group and model group. They were exposed to ambient temperature of 43 °C to induce heatstroke. Another group of rats were exposed to room temperature (26 °C) and used as normal control group. Their survival times were measured. In addition, their physiological and biochemical parameters were continuously monitored.

RESULTSWhen rats underwent heatstroke, their survival time values were found to be 21-25 min. Treatment of Gua Sha combined with Bloodletting greatly improved the survival time (230±22 min) during heatstroke. All heatstoke animals displayed and activated coagulation evidenced by increased prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), D-dimer, and decreased platelet count, protein C. Furthermore, the animals displayed systemic inflammation evidenced by increased the serum levels of cytokines interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Biochemical markers evidenced by cellular ischemia and injury/dysfunction included increased plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were all elevated during heatstroke. Core temperatures (Tco) were also increased during heatstroke. In contrast, the values of mean arterial pressure were signifificantly lower during heatstroke. These heatstroke reactions were all signifificantly suppressed by treatment of Gua Sha and Blood-letting, especially the combination therapy.

CONCLUSIONGua Sha combined with Blood-letting after heatstroke may improve survival by ameliorating systemic inflflammation, hypercoagulable state, and tissue ischemia and injury in multiple organs.

Animals ; Blood Coagulation Disorders ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Complementary Therapies ; methods ; Cytokines ; blood ; Heat Stroke ; physiopathology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Ischemia ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study whether the porcine alpha1, 3 galactosyltransferase gene siRNA targeted heterozygous hepatocyte negatively expresses GT mRNA and resists to the cytotoxicity of nature antibody in human serum.

METHODSThe porcine alpha1, 3 galactosyltransferase gene siRNA targeted vector (pPNTloxPGTsiRNA) were construct with pPNTloxPGT and pMXSV/U6 vector. Positive-negative selection was used to produce a heterozygous pPNTloxPGTsiRNA knockout (+/-) clone. The GT mRNA expressions were detected with northern blot. Complement-mediated NAb cytotoxicity after incubation of hepatocytes with NAbs and complement was determined using 3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium(MTS, tetrazolium salt) colorimetric assay.

RESULTSThe pPNTloxPGTsiRNA targeted porcine hepatocyte (+/-) negative express GT mRNA. Only 14% to 18% cytotoxicity can be detected at the highest serum concentration. The pPNTloxPGT targeted porcine hepatocyte (+/-) express GT mRNA just as the wild type porcine cells and the cytotoxicity are 77% to 83%.

CONCLUSIONThe porcine a1, 3 galactosyltransferase gene siRNA targeted heterozygous hepatocyte (+/-) negative express GT and resisted to nature antibody in human serum.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; genetics ; Galactosyltransferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Gene Targeting ; methods ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Heterozygote ; Immune Tolerance ; genetics ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Mutation ; RNA, Small Interfering ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Swine ; Transfection