Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a clinical and bio-chemical syndrome associated with advancing age in males and seriously affects the quality of life of some of the patients. A classical therapeutic option for LOH is testosterone supplementary treatment (TST). Its effectiveness has been verified, whereas its long-term safety remains to be further evaluated. With deeper insights into LOH, many new therapeutic strategies have been proposed, which include the treatments with gonadotropins, testosterone precursors (such as dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]), non-aromatizable androgens (such as dihydrotestosterone [DHT]), antiestrogens (such as aromatase inhibitors and estrogen receptor antagonists), and Chinese medicine. Meanwhile, studies on the transplantation of Leydig stem cells, selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), and selective estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) agonists have shed new light on the treatment of LOH.
Humans ; Hypogonadism ; drug therapy ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use

Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Dystrophin ; genetics ; Exons ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; genetics ; Mutation

Arsenic Poisoning ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a most common inherited renal disease, about 50% with a family history, although the exact etiology not yet clear. To date, ADPKD, a multisystem disorder without effective preventive and therapeutic means, has been shown to be detrimental to human health. Recent studies show that severe oligoasthenozoospermia, necrospermia, immotile sperm, azoospermia, epididymal cyst, seminal vesicle cyst, and ejaculatory duct cyst found in male ADPKD patients may lead to male infertility, though the specific mechanisms remain unknown. Structural anomaly of spermatozoa, defect of polycystin, mutation of PKD genes, and micro-deletion of the AZF gene could be the reasons for the higher incidence of abnormal semen quality in male ADPKD patients. Assisted reproductive techniques can increase the chances of pregnancy, whereas the health of the offspring should be taken into consideration. This article presents an overview of reproductive issues concerning infertile male ADPKD patients from the perspective of the morbidity, pathophysiological mechanism, diagnosis, and management of the disease.
Cysts ; pathology ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

Saw palmetto fruit extract (SPE), as a herbal product, is widely used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Recent studies show that SPE also has some therapeutic effects on chronic prostatitis, prostate cancer, sexual dysfunction, and so on. This article presents an overview on the application of SPE in the treatment of BPH, prostate cancer, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, with a discussion on its action mechanisms.
Chronic Disease ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pelvic Pain ; drug therapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Diseases ; drug therapy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Syndrome

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual disorder with an incidence rate of 20-30%. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), as the first-line drug for erectile dysfunction (ED), can improve ejaculatory function probably by acting on the peripheral and central adrenergic nerves. The possible action mechanisms of PDE5i may involve lessening of the central sympathetic output, modulation of the contractile responses from the vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and urethra, induction of peripheral analgesia, and prolonging of the total erectile duration, increasing the confidence of ejaculation control, and reducing the post-ejaculation refractory time. This review discusses the possible mechanisms and clinical application of PDE5i in the treatment of PE.
Ejaculation ; drug effects ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Premature Ejaculation ; drug therapy ; Seminal Vesicles ; physiology ; Vas Deferens ; physiology

BACKGROUND: MyoD gene is one of family members of muscle transcription factors. Transfection MyoD gene can switch on the procedure of differentiation of muscles, and transit non-muscle cells into muscle cells.The MyoD gene only expresses in skeletal muscles. Based on the same contractive structure in myocardial cells and skeletal muscle cells, it is imagined that the conversion from exogenous MyoD gene-induced fibroblast in local myocardium into skeletal muscle cells that had contractive function may become another method in the treatment of congestive heart failure on clinic.OBJECTIVE: To construct and identify a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying MyoD gene for further studies on the recovery function of MyoD gene in myocardial injury.DESIGN: Single sample experiment.SETTING: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University between September 2004 and September 2005. MyoD gene and non-replicating form expressive vector of adenovirus were taken as research materials.METHODS: MyoD cDNA fragments were extracted from plasmids pEMSV-MyoD with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and PCR was used to clone the whole-length gene of MyoD. After adding CACC sequence at 5' end, MyoD gene was cloned by orient topology into transfer ventor, pENTR/D-TOPO. Objective gene was transferred into adenoviral expression vector DNA via pENTR/D-TOPO vector. The recombinant adenoviral vectors transfected into HEK293A cells by using lipofectamine were packaged and amplified.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of PCR and DNA sequencing were used for confirming the size of segment and correctness of rank of MyoD cDNA and detecting the titre of virus.RESULTS: MyoD recombinant adenovirus contained target segment with precise length confirmed by PCR and DNA sequence that was correct. The titre of virus was 1.3×1011 pfu/mL.CONCLUSION: The recombinant adenoviral vector carrying MyoD gene is constructed successfully.

Objective We conducted a study using MRI and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(ABPM) to determine whether an inapporpriately low nocturnal blood pressure,or an excess fall in nocturnal blood pressure,might be responsible for lacunar infarct.Method ABPM and Casul blood pressure(CBP) were examined in 35 hypertentives with lacunar infarct( LI） and 33 hypertentives without lacunar infarct as control group.Results There is no significant difference of CBP between two groups.But the mean nighttime systolic blood pressure(nSBP) and diastolic blood pressure(nDBP) in patients with lacunar infarct were significantly smaller than in patients without lacunar infarct.The ratio of nSBP/dSBP and nDBP/dDBP in SI were smaller than in control group respectively.Conclusions The results indicate that an inappropriately low nocturnal blood pressure,or an excessive fall in nocturnal blood pressure,is associated with lacunar infarct.It is necessary not only to controlhigh blood pressure but also to pay attention to circadian changes of blood pressure during the course of anti-hypertensive treatment.

Objective To evaluate the role of TCD examination in diagnosis of the early cerebrovascular diseases in aged diabetic patients.Methods 179 cases of aged type Ⅱ diabetic patients were divided into three groups(PDR,BDR and NDB)according to their retinopathy.TCD and retina examination were performed in all patients and the data be analysed. Results (1)The systolic peak flow velocity(Vp) of MCA、ACA、ICA and BA were significant increased in diabetic pa- tients than in normal control group(P

Objective To study the prediction value of C-reactive protein (CRP) level to ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS),the most widely used activity score in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods A total of 386 patients with AS were enrolled and divided into 2 groups by CRP≥3.5 mg/L (n =266) and CRP ＜ 3.5 mg/L(n =120).ASDAS-CRP was evaluated in patients with CRP below the normal range (3.5 mg/L) in different subgroups.Three methods were used to test the consistency between ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).Results The ASDAS-CRP showed a good correlation with the ASDAS-ESR when CRP level was ≥ 3.5 mg/L (r =0.899,P =0.000).In the group of CRP ＜ 3.5 mg/L,ASDAS-ESR showed better consistency with ASDAS-CRP when CRP level was below 1.5 mg/L(intra-class correlation coefficient 0.902;kappa coefficient 0.70).By the evaluation of variant gradient matrix,CRP 1.5 mg/L coincided with disease activity states.Conclusion There is good consistency between ASDAS-CRP and ASDAS-ESR.When CRP level is below the normal range,1.5 mg/L could be a cut-off value to calculate the optimal ASDAS-CRP score.