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

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

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

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

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 explore the effect on effect of combined use of Y27632 (ROCK II inhibitor)and TDZD-8(GSK-3β inhibitor)on axonal regeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in neogenetic rats. Methods All the thoracolumbar DRGs of two neogenetic Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats(<5 days)were harvested under the stereopsis raicrostat,and then the DRG neurons were cultured,purified and indentified.Fifteen adult female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,ie,complete paraplegia group(5 rats),sham operation control group(5 rats)and normal group(5 rats)respectively.The T8-10 spinal cord extracts (SCEs) were harvested in the complete paraplegia group,sham operation control group and normal group respectively at day 7 after spinal cord injury.The experiment was divided into group A(DRG neurons + PBS),group B(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE),group C(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE + different concentration Y27632),group D(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE + different concentration TDZD-8)and group E(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE + proper concentration Y27632 and TDZD-8).The average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at distal end of neuronal axons were observed after two days of co-culture respectively in intro. Results (1)The average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone in the group B were significantly shorter and weaker than that in the group A,with statistical difference.(2)In the group C,the average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubulln βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone in 5-10 μmol/L Y27632 treatment groups were more than that in the group B but lower than that in the group A.The average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubuhn βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone in 20-50 μmol/L Y27632 treatment group were longer and stronger than that in the group A and the group B,especially the group B.Among different concentration Y27632 treatment groups,there was a longest average axonal length and strongest expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ in 30 μmol/L treatment group.(3) In the group D,there was a longer average axonal length in 0.5-3 μmol/L TDZD-8 treatment group than that in the group A and the group B,with the longeat average axonal length in l μmool/L TDZD-8 treatment group.In 5-25 μmol/L TDZD-8 treatment groups,the average axonal length showed no difference compared with the group B but wns shorter than that in the group A.In all different concentration TDZD-8 treatment groups,the expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone was significantly stronger than that in the groups A and B.(4) In the group E,although the average axonal length was increased in the group E,there was no statisilcal difference compared with the group A,30 μmol/L Y27632 treatment group and l μmol/L TDZD-8treatment group.There was a significantly longer average axonal length in the group E than it in the group B and the expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone was stronger in the group E compared to the group A,30 μmol/L Y27632 treatment group and l μmol/L TDZD-8 treatment group.Conclusion The complete paralysis SCEs obviously inhibits DRG axonal growth,induces axonal retraction and growth cone collapse.High concentration of Y27632 can more obviously promote the axon growth compared with the low concentration,while the low concentration of TDZD-8 can obviously promote the axon growth.Combined use of appropriate concentration of TDZD-8 and Y27632 can promote the axon growth and induce the axons branching,as facilitates the formation of the axon circuit.

Fura—2 was used as a Ca~(2+) indicator to determine the intracellular calcium ion concentra-tion(〔Ca~(2+)〕i)of rat peritoneal macrophages(RPM?s),and APAAP enzyme immnoassay was ap-plied to detect the expression of Ia antigens on RPM?s.The results showed that norepinephrine(NE,10~(-9)mol/L)could markedly increase the〔Ca~(2+)〕i of the RPM?s(p

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