OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in erectile dysfunction (ED) induced by androgen deficiency.

METHODSWe randomly divided 30 eight-week-old healthy male SD rats into six groups: 2-week control (A), 4-week control (B), 2-week castration (C), 4-week castration (D), 2-week castration + androgen replacement (E), and 4-week castration + androgen replacement (F), those in groups E and F subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (TP) at the physiological dose of 3 mg/kg per day after castration, while those in the other groups with isodose oil instead. At 2 and 4 weeks after operation, we determined the level of serum testosterone (T) , intracavernous pressure (ICP) , mean carotid arterial pressure (MAP) of the rats, measured the concentration of H2S in the plasma and corpus cavernosum tissue, and detected the expressions of cystathionine-P3-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSThe serum T level was significantly lower in group C ([0.63 +/- 0.15] nmol/L) than in A ( [ 16.55 +/- 4.17] nmol/L) and E ( [ 18.99 +/- 4.62] nmol/L) (P <0.05), as well as in group D ([0.70 +/-0.22] nmol/L) than in B ([15.44 +/-5.18] nmol/L) and F ([20.99 +/-6.41] nmol/L) (P <0. 05) , and so were ICP/MAP after 5 and 7 V electrical stimulation of the pelvic ganglia (P <0. 05) , H2 S concentration (P <0.05), and the expressions of CBS and CSE (P <0.05). The expressions of CBS and CSE proteins were also significantly decreased in group C as compared with D (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe reduced expressions of CBS and CSE may inhibit the H2 S signaling pathway, which might be one of the mechanisms underlying androgen deficiency-induced ED in rats.

Androgens ; deficiency ; Animals ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; metabolism ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; metabolism ; Erectile Dysfunction ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Penis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of embryonic dermal signal on the hair-inductive capacity of neonatal mice dermal cells which have been amplified in vitro.

METHODSEmbryonic mice dermal cells of embryonic day 14 were added to a chamber on the back of nude mice with neonatal mice dermal cells which had been amplified in vitro for 3 days and freshly isolated neonatal mice epidermal cells. The hair regeneration was compared between the groups with or without embryonic mice dermal cells. Meanwhile, chambers with following cells respectively were constructed as controls: embryonic mice dermal cells + neonatal mice epidermal cells; freshly isolated neonatal mice dermal cells + neonatal mice epidermal cells; amplified neonatal mice dermal cells only; embryonic mice dermal cells only; freshly isolated neonatal mice dermal cells only; neonatal mice epidermal cells only.

RESULTSThe number of regenerated hairs with the aid of embryonic mice dermal cells (207 +/- 15. 948) was significantly higher than that (67 +/- 8.963) in the group without embryonic mice dermal cells (n = 3, t = 7.653, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONEmbryonic dermal signal can enhance the hair-inductive capacity of neonatal mice dermal cells which have been amplified in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Hair ; physiology ; Hair Follicle ; surgery ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology ; embryology

The biological activity of ADCC by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody was determined by BioGlo™ Luciferase Assay System using Jurkat/NFAT-luc+FcγRIIIa cell line as effector cell and WIL2-S cell line as target cell. The developed method was verified for specificity, precision and accuracy. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody showed a dose-response mode by the developed method, and the determination result complied with the following four-parameter equation: y = (A-D)/[1 + (X/C)(B)] + D. The optimized parameters of the method were determined including the antibodies diluted concentration (18,000 ng·mL(-1)), dilution rate (1:5), the ratio of effector cell and target cell (6:1), and induction time (6 h). The values of eight independent tests have passed a statistical test for curve regression analysis, linear or parallelism, which showed the method possessed good specificity. Four different dilute groups of recovery rates sample were determined for 3 times, and the result showed mean relative potencies of (44.39±3.93)%, (72.74±2.78)%, (128.28±7.01)% and (168.19±2.70)% respectively, with a variation coefficient of less than 10%, and the recoveries of (88.78±7.85)%, (96.99±3.70)%, (102.63±5.61)% and (112.12±1.80)% respectively. A novel reporter gene method for determination of biological activity of ADCC by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody was successfully developed, which showed strong specificity, good reproducibility and high accuracy, and might be used routinely.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; pharmacology ; Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rituximab

Abstract: Objective - - To establish a pre column derivatization high performance liquid chromatography method for detecting Methods dimethyl sulfate (DMS) in workplace air. DMS in workplace air was collected with mercaptopyridine impregnated （ silicone tube. The derivative of DMS and mercaptopyridine was eluted by mobile phase phase A: water, phase B: acetonitrile, ∶ the volume ratio was 40 60) , and separated with a C18 column, then detected with diode array detector and quantitated by a Results - standard curve. The linear range of DMS was 0.17 40.00 mg/L, with the correlation coefficient of 0.999 95. The detection limit and the lower limit of quantitation were 0.05 and 0.17 mg/L respectively. The minimum detection concentration and minimum quantitation concentration were 0.02 and 0.04 mg/m³, respectively (air sample volume of 4.5 L, 1.0 mL sample - - - solution). The average desorption efficiency was 98.40% 102.00%. The within run and between run relative standard deviations - - were 0.61% 3.92% and 1.71% 6.00%, respectively. The samples could be stored at room temperature for at least 14 days. Conclusion This method can be used to detect DMS in workplace air.

OBJECTIVETo develop a follicular unit-like construct with allogeneic hair, evaluate its histocompatibility and long-term stability after transplantation, and explore the possibility of its clinical application.

METHODSHuman hair and medical polypropylene was processed according to the structure of follicular units and prepared into hair prostheses for transplantation. The histocompatibility of polypropylene and human hair in New Zealand rabbits was observed by HE staining and scanning electron microscope, and the loss rate of the hair was recorded to evaluate the long-term result of transplantation.

RESULTSMild inflammatory cell infiltration around polypropylene and human hair was observed early after the transplantation, accompanied with local epithelial cell proliferation. The prosthesis mimicking the follicular units still showed good histocompatibility one year after the transplantation without degradation of the hair. The loss rate of the hair was averaged (4.1∓4.0)% at one year after the transplantation, and the total appearance of the prosthesis remained satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONAllogeneic human hair and polypropylene in the hair prosthesis show good histocompatibility in rabbits. The prosthesis allows good cosmetic effect after transplantation with low rate of hair loss, demonstrating its potential in clinical application.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Female ; Hair ; transplantation ; Hair Follicle ; transplantation ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Polypropylenes ; Rabbits

AIMTo explore the synthetic methods of polypeptides containing new heart of kidney imaging agents.

METHODS AND RESULTSFive new target chelators--2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-(N'-2"-N",N"-diethylethylamine) phenylpropamide (MPNE), 2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethyl acetyl) amino-(N'-2"-N",N"-dimethylethylamine) phenylpropamide (MPNM), 2-N-(2's-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-3-methyl-(N'-2"-N",N"-dimethylethylamine) butyramide (MVNM), 2-N-(2'-s-triphenyl methylacetyl) amino-3-methyl-(N'-2"-N",N"-diethylethylamine) butyramide (MVNE), 2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-(N'-acetylglycine) phenylpropamide (MPG2)--were synthesized through five steps with mercaptoacetic acid as primitive materials, all of which were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data, such as IR, 1HNMR, MS or elementary analysis. The protection of the mercapto group was improved and the relatively new reaction condition of active ester with amino acid is developed. All the chelators were labeled with Technetium-99m and their biological activities in mice given in ID values was tested to explore new heart imaging agents, where ID is the percentage injected dose per organ. The ID was determined by in vivo biodistribution study. Tc-99m complexes 0.1 mL was injected into the laterial tail vein of 3 anaesthetised rats. At 2, 5, 10, 30, 60 min post-injection, rats were sacrificed by decapitation, bled from the neck and dissected. Organs were removed at dissection. The radioactivities in various organs were determined in an automatic twin crystal gamma counter.

CONCLUSIONThe bio-distribution results in mice indicate that 99Tcm-MVNM have higher heart uptake (ID = 8.40%/g, 2 min post-injection) and quicker blood clearance (ID = 4.3%/g, 60 min post-injection); 99Tcm-MPNE and 99Tcm-MPNM also have fairly high heart uptake and quick blood clearance; 99Tcm-MPG2 has better kidney accumulation and higher activity ratios of kidney to blood (about 4).

Amides ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Peptides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Sulfides ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Tissue Distribution

AIMTo look for new heart or kidney imaging agents. Five new target chelators--2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-(N'-acetyl glycine) isovalericamide (MVG2), 2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-[N'-acetyl-(N"-butylacetaminde)] isovalericamide (MVGT), 2-N-(2'-s-tri-phenylmethylacetyl) amino-[N'-acetyl-(N"-cyclohexanylacetaminde)] isovalericamide (MVGH), 2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-[N'-acetyl-(N"-butylacetaminde)] phenyl propamide (MPGT) and 2-N-(2'-s-triphenylmethylacetyl) amino-[N'-acetyl-(N"-cyclohexanylacetaminde)] phenylpropamide (MPGH) were synthesized as primitive materials to explore the synthetic methods of polypeptides.

METHODS AND RESULTSAll target chelators were identified on the basis of the spectroscopic data, such as IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and elementary analysis. Different active esters with mercaptoacetic acid as primitive materials were used to explore the biodistribution of Technetium-99m labelling chelators in mice. The chelators were labeled with Technetium-99m and further tested for the biological activity in mice. Values given in ID which is the percentage injected dose per organ was tested to explore new heart imaging agents. The ID was determined in vivo by biodistribution study. Tc-99m complexes 0.1 mL was injected into laterial tail vein of 3 anaesthetised rats. At 2, 5, 10, 30, 60 minutes post-injection, rats were sacrificed by decapitation, bled from the neck and the organs were removed. The radioactivities in various organs were determined in an automatic twin crystal gamma counter. Five new target chelators were labeled with Technetium-99m in high yield (> 95%). The bio-distribution resulted in mice indicate that 99Tcm-MVG2 has high kidney uptake, good retention, quick blood clearance and high activity ratios of kidneys to other tissues. 99Tcm-MVGT, 99Tcm-MVGH and 99Tcm-MPGT have better heart accumulation, but shorter retention, slower blood clearance and lower activity ratios of kidneys to other tissues. They were mainly metabolized through liver and kidney.

CONCLUSION99Tcm-MVG2 will be a new potential renal function imaging agent and 99Tcm-MVGT, 99Tcm-MVGH and 99Tcm-MPGT will be new potential heart function imaging agents if their structure and activity relationships are further studied.

Animals ; Chelating Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Technetium ; pharmacokinetics ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of guanylin in colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe expression of guanylin was examined by RT-PCR and semiquantitative analysis in 20 cases of colorectal cancer, and its relationship with clinical characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive expression of guanylin in normal tissue (80%, 16/20) was significantly higher than that in tumor tissue (35%, 7/20) (P<0.01). The same result was found in the semiquantitative analysis of 14 cases with differential expression. Differential expression of guanylin in colorectal cancer was associate with TNM stage (P<0.05), not with sex, Borrmann type and degree of differentiation (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is differential expression of guanylin in colorectal cancer, and this kind of differential expression is associated with tumor TNM stage.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptides ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo introduce the technique of transarterial interventional embolization treating for arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in the face.

METHODSFrom April 1998, 17 patients have been treated with this method. Seldinger's maneuver was used in this series. Of them, 11 cases received only interventional embolization; 6 cases received both interventional embolization and surgical resection.

RESULTSThe interventional embolization was effective in all the 17 cases, which was confirmed by immediate angiography. Their clinical symptoms were gradually relieved. Interventional embolization obviously decreased hemorrhage during surgical resection.

CONCLUSIONSInterventional embolization provides a new way for the treatment of AVM. Preoperative embolization can lower the surgical risk as it obviously decreases hemorrhage during the surgical procedure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Child ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Face ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography, Interventional

Elbow Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Young Adult