Objective To explore the features of transsphenoidal microsurgical treatment of male pro- lactinoma and to evaluate the sexual function before and after transsphenoidal microsurgery.Methods A se- ries of 23 cases male prolactinoma were analysed combined with retrospective and prospective study.9 casese with sexual disfunction had finished the International Index of Erectile Function with 15-item questionnnaire (ⅡEF-15) before and after the surgery.Results 8/10 cases treated with dopaminergic agonist combined with surgery achieved complete remission,while only 4/13 cases achieved complete remission with surgery on- ly(x~2=5.490,P=0.036).Aecoding toⅡEF-15,sexual function improved after surgery in 9 cases(paired- sample) t test,P＜0.05).Conclusion Transsphenoidal microsurgical treatment of prolactinoma may im- prove the male sexual functions.Dopaminergic agonist combined transsphenoidal microsurgery may achieve a better outcome.

BACKGROUND: The application of mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord cultured in serum-containing medium has some obstacles. OBJECTIVE: To establish serum free medium system for primary culture of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS: Wharton’s Jel y was isolated from umbilical cord, minced, 1-3 mm3, and subsequently incubated in either serum containing medium or serum free medium. Some cells were harvested on days 11, 14 and 17 for some detection. Based on the minimal criteria established by the International Society for Cel ular Therapy in 2006, mesenchymal stem cells were assayed with colony forming unit-fibroblast. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mesenchymal stem cells grew rapidly in serum free medium condition compared with serum containing medium. On day 11, the number of colonies was larger in serum free medium condition than that in serum containing medium. Thus, serum free medium could maintain properties of mesenchymal stem cells and provide possibility a credible alternative to serum containing medium for primary culture of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

The optimization on liquid fermentation and purification of the fibrinolytic enzyme from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(DR-929) was investigated.The results showed the best fermentation are amidulin 2.0%,soya flour 1.0%,yeast extract 0.5%,NaCl 1.0%,CaCl2 0.02%,MgSO4 0.05%,inoculum of 36 hours,fermental time 4d,initial pH 8.0 or 9.0,temperature 25℃,volume of media 30ml,volume of inoculum 5% or 6%.The purification process includes the following steps: removing cells by the centrifugation,25%~70% saturation ammonium sulfate precipitation,HIC with Phenyl FF(high sub),IEC with Q-Sepharose FF,gel filtration chromatography with Superdex 75.SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was used to examine the purification effect,and the results indicated that homogeneous strap in SDS-PAGE and has a molecular weight around 28.3kDa.The purification factor and activity recovery of the fibrinolytic enzyme are 271.5 and 24.5%,respectively.

OBJECTIVETo provide a theoretical basis for designing of lumbar intervertebral disc prosthesis by collecting the data of the lumbar endplate morphology.

METHODSA total of 100 healthy adults were measured about the following parameters: lumbar lordosis, the Cobb angle of each segment, the concavity depth (ECD) of the endplate, the location of concavity apex (ECA) of the endplate. And a correlation analysis on lumbar lordosis and ECD, ECA was made, respectively.

RESULTSIn total, 100 volunteers were measured. The mean age of the volunteer was 40 years (range 20 - 50 years); the average depth of ECD was (2. 37 ± 1. 42) mm, the average location of ECA was (52. 21 ± 9. 70) %; the average depth of ECD of inferior endplate (IEP) was (2. 81 ± 1. 52) mm (0. 54 - 7. 60 mm), and the parameter of the superior endplate (SEP) was (1. 94 ± 1. 16)mm(0. 39 - 6. 10 mm). The average depth of ECD of the IEP was bigger than of the SEP for each lumbar vertebral body. Most of the location of ECA was at the back of the intervertebral body, the average location of ECA of IEP was (49. 60 ± 8. 78) % (22. 57% - 75. 58%), and the parameter of the SEP was (55. 03 ± 9. 90) % (16. 03% -75. 58%); the mean angle of lumbar lordosis was 39. 760 11. 25°(13. 8° - 72. 00°). There was no obvious correlation between the lumbar lordosis and the ECD (r -0. 193, P =0. 195), neither was the location of ECA(r =0. 080, P =0. 592).

CONCLUSIONMost of the location of ECA is at the back of the intervertebral body, the average depth of ECD is 2. 37 mm, the average location of ECA is 52. 21%.

Adult ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; Lumbosacral Region ; anatomy & histology ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Reference Standards ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

We introduce in this paper a novel design of the lithium-ion battery automatically-charging circuit used in portable wireless electronic stimulation therapeutic apparatus for urinary incontinence, including its working principles, structure and characteristic.
Electric Power Supplies ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Urinary Incontinence ; therapy ; Wireless Technology

OBJECTIVEEndothelial apoptosis plays an important role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. It would be useful to clarify whether activation of non-neuronal muscarinic receptor (NNMR) could prevent endothelial apoptosis and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of NNMR activation on regulating rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) apoptosis induced by homocysteine, an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis, and further studied its molecular mechanism.

METHODSRAECs were incubated using homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L for 36 h. RAECs were also pre-treated with carbachol or arecoline to examine their effects. RT-PCR was used to assess changes in the gene expression related to cell apoptosis.

RESULTSIncubation of RAECs with homocysteine at the concentration of 2.7 mmol/L resulted in morphologic changes, such as cellular shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation and margination. These could be attenuated by pretreatment with carbachol and arecoline at the concentration of 10 micromol/L for 12 h. Homocysteine induced apoptosis in RAECs and the molecular mechanisms were associated with the regulation of fas, fas-L and caspase-8 in the death receptor pathway, bcl-2, bcl-xL and bax in the mitochondrial pathway, caspase-12 in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway and caspase-3, caspase-6 and p53 as downstream effectors. Carbachol and arecoline attenuated the effects of homocysteine on genes in the death receptor pathway, in the mitochondrial pathway and in the downstream pathway. Atropine could reverse all of the effects of arecoline.

CONCLUSIONActivation of NNMR by carbacol and arecoline inhibits homocysteine-induced endothelial cell apoptosis mainly through regulation of death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway and downstream effectors.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Arecoline ; Carbachol ; Cell Cycle ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Homocysteine ; adverse effects ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; metabolism

Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating vascular homeostasis. Over the past years, it has become clear that endothelial dysfunction is a key event of pathophysiological changes in the initiation and progression of injuries induced by extreme environmental factors. The present review summarizes current understanding of vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by hypoxia, cold and heat, and provides the information for prevention and treatment of environmental exposure injuries.
Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Environment ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Temperature ; Vascular System Injuries

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Extraction and Processing Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Petroleum

Objective To evaluate the dose distribution in clinical target volume (CTV) and organs-at-risk (OARs) in three dimension therapy plans in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue receiving postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or conventional radiotherapy (CRT) by dosimetric study. Methods Thirty-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue were divided into CRT group(n=17) and IMRT group(n=18). All patients underwent head-and-neck immobilization with a thermoplastic mask and planning CT scan, and target volume and OARs were contoured. Dose calculation and plan optimization were performed. All three dimension plans passed quality assurance before treatment. The dosimetry of therapy plans with IMRT or CRT in target volume and OARs dose distribution was compared by dose-volume histogram (DVH), conformity index (CI) and homogeneous index (HI). Results There were significant differences in D95 (isodose line to cover 95 percent target volume), CI, HI, minimum dose and maximum dose in CTV of therapy plans between patients with IMRT and CRT(P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference in mean dose of CTV(P > 0.05). The radiation dose on salivary glands (both parotid glands and contralateral submandibular gland) in patients with IMRT was significantly lower than that in patients with CRT(P < 0.01). Conclusion Compared with dose distribution of CRT plans, there are more advantages in improving dose distribution at the target volume and sparing salivary glands in IMRT therapy plans in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.

Objective To quantify aqueous flare and cells in the eyes of healthy subjects and to evaluate the effect of age and sex on the blood aqueous barrier. Design Prospective case series. Participants Four hundred and forty-two eyes of 221 healthy sub- jects. Methods Aqueous flare and cells of 442 eyes were evaluated with FC-2000 laser flare cell meter (LFCM). Main Outcome Mea- sures Aqueous flare and cells. Results The mean flare values of all of eyes was 4.7?2.9 pc/ms, it was 3.1 pc/ms in the age group of less than 10 years, 3.8 pc/ms in the age group of 40-49 years and 11.0 pc/ms in the age group of 80 years or over. The mean flare val- ues in the age groups of 50 years or over were significantly higher than that in the age group of 40-49 years (P