OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect and safety of circumcision stapler in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe treated 120 patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis using circumcision stapler and another 60 by conventional dorsal-incision circumcision. We observed intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative pain, wound healing time, cosmetic appearance of the penis, and postoperative complications and compared them between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSStapler circumcision showed obvious advantages over the conventional method in intraoperative blood loss ([2. 3 ± 1. 3] vs [15.6 ± 2.9] ml), operation time ([7.1 ± 1.4] vs [22.6 ± 4.6] min), wound healing time ([12.0 ± 2.9] as [16.3 ± 3. 1] d), postoperative pain score (1. 9 ± 1. 3 vs 5. 2 ± 1. 7), incision edema, and cosmetic appearance of the penis (all P <0. 05). Besides, stapler circumcision exempted the patients from stitch-removal pain. However, the incidence rate of postoperative local ecchymosis was significantly higher in the circumcision stapler group than in the conventional circumcision group (20. 8% vs 8. 3% , P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCircumcision stapler, with its advantages of easier manipulation, shorter operation time, better cosmetic penile appearance, less pain, and fewer complications, is superior to conventional circumcision in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ecchymosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Phimosis ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Surgical Staplers ; adverse effects ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Gengnianchun Recipe (GNC) on bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanical parameters and serum lipid level in the bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) rats and to explore the prophylactic and therapeutic action of GNC on ovariectomy induced osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia.

METHODSOVX SD rats, 10 - 12 months old, were divided into different groups and fed with GNC 2 g/d, GNC 1 g/d and Nilestriol 0.125 mg/week, respectively for 4 months to observe the change of BMD and bone biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae, and the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and to compare the effect of the two drugs on the morphology of the uterus.

RESULTSThere was marked reduction in BMD and biomechanical parameters in lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.01) and increase of serum TC and LDL-C levels (P < 0.01) in rats after OVX. GNC or Nilestriol significantly improved the decreased BMD and biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and reduced the serum TC and LDL-C levels (P < 0.01). In the Nilestriol group, the wet weight of uterus got increased obviously (P < 0.01), the number of uterine glands increased, uterine columnar epithelium thickened, and the mitotic figures in the epithelial stroma and myointimal cells augmented. But no such effect in wet weight and morphology of uterus was found in the GNC group.

CONCLUSIONGNC could increase the BMD and biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae, reduce the serum TC and LDL-C levels, yet produce no adverse reaction in stimulating proliferation and hypertrophy of uterus.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Estriol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lipids ; blood ; Ovariectomy ; Quinestrol ; analogs & derivatives ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Uterus ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Purified Xuefu Capsule (PXC) on ultrasonographic figures in patients with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS).

METHODSNinety-two patients with CAS were randomly divided into two groups, the 45 patients in the treated group were treated by conventional western medicine with additional PXC, the 47 patients in the control group were given conventional western medicine alone. One month's treatment was regarded as one course, and three courses of treatment were given successively to both groups. Carotid ultrasonography was performed before and after treatment, and the figures were compared.

RESULTSThe thickness of endangium, average number of plaques, plaque scores, plaque volume index and length of the biggest soft plaque or mixed plaques, stenosis rate of vascular area, and the resistant index of blood vessels were decreased after treated with PXC for 3 months in the treated group. The differences of these indexes in the treated group before and after treatment, and that between the treated group and the control group after treatment were significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPXC can improve hemodynamics and eliminate atherosclerotic plaque to a certain degree, so it has definite effect for prevention and treatment of CAS.

Aged ; Capsules ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Carotid Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color

In this article, the items from 1999 to 2003 of pharmaceutics of Chinese medicine accepted and supported by subject of traditional Chinese medicine, No.9 department of life science, national natural science foundation of China (NSFC) have been reported, in several aspects, such as extracting process, preparation, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetic, etc. The problems in these items have also been analyzed briefly.
Biopharmaceutics ; China ; Dosage Forms ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Pharmacokinetics ; Research ; Research Support as Topic ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

Twenty five new beta-aminoalcohols containing nabumetone moiety were prepared via the reduction of potassium borohydride with a convenient and efficient procedure, starting from beta-aminoketones that have been synthesized by our group. Their chemical structures were determined by IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HR-MS and antidiabetic activities were screened in vitro. Preliminary results revealed that the antidiabetic activity of most beta-aminoalcohols were better than that of the corresponding beta-aminoketones. Although most compounds showed weak antidiabetic activity, the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of compounds 5hd(1) and 5id(2) reached 74.37% and 90.15%, respectively, which were superior to the positive control. The relative peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor response element (PPRE) activity of five compounds were more than 60%, among them compound 5ca possessed the highest activity (112.59%). As lead molecules of antidiabetic agents, compounds 5hd(1), 5id(2) and 5ca deserve further study.
Amino Alcohols ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Butanones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors ; agonists ; metabolism ; Response Elements ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D is regarded as one of the major nutrients that significantly influence bone metabolism. This study aims to look at the effect of supplementary vitamin D on bone mineral density (BMD) in female osteoporosis patients. METHODS: The retrospective hospital record review was performed on 282 patients who were diagnosed with osteoporosis and treated with selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) between January 2015 and December 2016. Of these patients, 151 were treated with SERMs only while 131 were treated using both SERMs and vitamin D supplements. The BMD and any occurrence of osteoporotic fracture episode were investigated after one year. The result of two groups was compared to find the significance of vitamin D. RESULTS: Overall, improvement in BMD score was observed in 76% of the patients. The BMD of the SERMs only group improved by 3% in spine and 1% in the hip while that of the SERMs with vitamin D group improved by 6% and 1% respectively. Statistical significance was noticed in the spine only. One distal radius fracture and one single level vertebral fracture occurred in patients of SERMs group while two distal radius fractures occurred in SERMs with vitamin D group. There was no occurrence of around hip fracture in both groups. CONCLUSION: The result of the current study suggests that additional vitamin D may have some additive effect on improving BMD of the spine. Further study with the larger study population and the extended study period is recommended.
Bone Density ; Female ; Hip ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Radius Fractures ; Retrospective Studies ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Spine ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

Adult ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qubi Recipe (QR) on the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha in rats with type II collagen-I induced arthritis (CIA), and to explore its therapeutic roles and mechanism.

METHODSTotally 72 male SD rats of SPF grade were recruited. Twelve were randomly selected as the blank control group. The CIA model was established in the rest 60 rats by subcutaneously injecting type II collagen of bovine emulsion from the tail root and induction of incomplete Freund's adjuvant. On day 15 after primary immunization rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the CIA model group, the Tripterygium Glycosides (TG) group (at the daily dose of 9.68 mg/kg body weight), the high dose QR group (at the daily dose of 6.66 g/kg body weight), and the low dose QR group (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg body weight), 15 in each group. Corresponding medication was given to rats in all groups by gastrogavage once daily for 4 successive weeks. An equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the blank control group and the CIA model group by gastrogavage, once daily for 4 successive weeks. The swelling degree of the joints was measured. Rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment. Plasma levels of SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were measured with colorimetric method. The expression of HIF-1alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the CIA model group, the swelling degree of the joints was significantly alleviated in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and it was obviously milder in the high dose QR group than in the TG group (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the CIA model group, the activities of GSH-Px could be obviously elevated and activities of MDA lowered in the TG group, the high dose QR group, and the low dose QR group (P < 0.05). Plasma activities of SOD could be obviously elevated in the high dose QR group and the TG group (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the CIA model group, the expression of HIF-1alpha obviously decreased in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.05), and it showed a decreasing tendency in the low dose QR group with no statistical difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQR could markedly alleviate the swelling degree of ankle joints in CIA model rats. Its therapeutic efficacy was superior to that of TG. Its mechanism might be achieved through down-regulating expression of HIF-1alpha in the joint, and regulating activities of SOD, MDA and GSH-Px in the plasma.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Joints ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

BACKGROUNDThe application of pulmonary valved conduit to reconstruct the continuity between right ventricles and pulmonary artery is one of the major surgeries. This study aimed to establish an in vivo model of in situ implantation using pulmonary valved conduit in large animals under off-pump condition to validate the long-term effects of artificial pulmonary valved conduit.

METHODSDomesticate juvenile male sheep and tissue-engineered porcine pulmonary valved conduit were used for the experiment: 30 sheep, weighing (15 ± 3) kg (range 13 to 17 kg) were randomly divided into two groups which were all operated under general anesthesia by off-pump surgery (group 1) and left thoracotomy (group 2). Two different off-pump surgical methods were used to perform cannulation in sheep pulmonary artery to replace part of sheep pulmonary artery with pulmonary valved conduit which will work together with sheep pulmonary artery and valves. During the experiments, animal survival, complication rates, operating time and blood loss were recorded to compare the results between groups and to establish a surgical method with minimal invasion, simplicity, safety, and high success rates.

RESULTSIn group 1, a total of 15 cases of surgeries were performed, in which two sheep died; the operative mortality was 13.3% (2/15). In group 2, a total of 15 cases of surgeries were performed, and the surgical mortality rate was 0 (0/15). The operation time and blood loss in group 2 was significantly better than that in group 1. The postoperative echocardiograms showed that, after the surgeries by these two methods, the blood flows were normal, and the valves can open and close freely. Autopsy after 6 months showed that the inner wall and the valves of pulmonary valved conduit were smooth with no thrombus formation.

CONCLUSIONThese two off-pump methods are feasible and safe with fewer traumas; but the second method is better and particularly suitable for the establishment of a juvenile animal model.

Animals ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve ; Sheep ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants with the truncated C gene.

METHODSThe HBV mutants with the truncated C gene were constructed by molecular cloning and PCR-based deletion in vitro. The replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants were investigated by Southern blotting, PCR and real-time fluorescence PCR respectively after transfecting the HBV mutants plasmid into HepG2 cells by using liposome.

RESULTSThe C-truncated HBV mutant vectors were constructed successfully and confirmed exactly by clone sequencing and enzymes digestion. The C-truncated HBV mutants were replication defective, however, all types of HBV DNA could be detected positive in the cytoplasm and supernatant after co-transfecting the C-truncated HBV mutants plasmid and the helper constructs into HepG2 cells. The C-truncated HBV mutants were proved to produce 3-40 folds more progeny DNA than that of the wild-type HBV by DNA quantitative assay.

CONCLUSIONThe C-truncated HBV mutants are replication-deficient and could not replicate and encapsulate in the hepatocytes when transfected solely, however, the progeny HBV-variant viruses are encapsidated more effectively to secrete into supernatant when co-transfected with the helper construct which lacks part of 5 prime-proximal HBV RNA packaging signal Epsilon.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; Virus Replication