Platelets, small pieces of cytoplasm with biological activity, split and fall off the megakaryocytes and mature from the bone marrow. After stimulated, platelets produce nitric oxide to inhibit their own activation and aggregation. Pathologically, the injury of endothelial cells activates platelets and changes their functions. The release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines induces and enhances the development and progression of atherosclerosis, and thereby promotes the occurrence of erectile dysfunction. Besides, platelets and their related functional parameters may serve as important indicators in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Platelet Activation

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a disease associated with a variety of factors such as age, psychological factors, physical conditions, and lifestyle, and it severely affects the patients quality of life. In the past, some non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) transcribed by genes but not translated into the protein were regarded as the "waste" in the process of gene expression. But in the recent years, ncRNAs have been found to play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and its products, which may affect penile erectile function. This review focuses on the recent progress in the studies of the relationship between ncRNAs and erectile dysfunction.
Erectile Dysfunction ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; RNA, Untranslated ; physiology

Objective To review the causes of exudative retinal detachment(ERD),indications of vitrectomy for ERD and its outcomes.Design Retrospective case series.Participants 57 patients with ERD received vitrectomy in EENT Hospital,Fudan Uni- versity.Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical records were conducted.Main Outcome Measures Etiology,vitrectomy indica- tions and its outcomes.Results 57 cases(62 eyes)with ERD received vitrectomy.The disease distribution of vitrectomy were Coats dis- ease in 23 cases(45.2%),familial exudative vitreoretinopathy in 8 cases(12.9%),uveitis in 7 cases(11.3%),retinal hemangioma in 7 cases(11.3%),bullous retinal detachment in 6 cases(9.7%),endophthalmitis in 4 cases(6.5%)and pit of optic nerve in 2 cases(3.2%). Severe ERD and proliferative change were major indication for treatment with vitrectomy.During follow-up period,most patients gained useful vision in early stage.Follow up rate of 6 months or more was 64.9%.The recurrence of ERD was 5.4% and most patients also gained useful vision.Condusion Coats disease is the prominent cause of being treated with vitrectomy in ERD.When proliferation or vitreous hemorrhage happens or macula is involved,vitrectomy should be performed.Most patients can gain useful vision after vitrecto- my.(Ophthalmol CHN,2008,17:52-55)

Penile vascular endothelial damage, vasomotor dysfunction, and blood flow deficiency are the major causes of erectile dysfunction (ED). Current management of ED mostly depends on selective phosphodiesterase type 5- (PDE5) inhibitors, which fail for some ED patients. For Peyronie's disease-induced ED, surgical and physical therapies are used in addition to PDE5I medication, but frequently it is difficult to achieve satisfactory results. Recent studies show that the low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy can promote angiogenesis and improve blood flow to the penis, which promises to be a novel effective therapy for ED and Peyronie's disease.
Erectile Dysfunction ; therapy ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Induration ; therapy

Erectile dysfunction (ED) results from the interaction of many pathological factors. Studies show that a high incidence of ED is associated with chronic diseases of various systems, and its pathogenesis is not fully understood. This article outlines the progress in recent studies on the impact of chronic diseases on erectile function.
Chronic Disease ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology

Penile erection (PE) is a physiological phenomenon involving complex mechanisms. PE may occur as reactive erections, psychogenic erections in the conscious state and spontaneous erections during the sleep. Sleep-related PE refers to the erections occurring spontaneously during the sleep with rapid eye movement. Studies have shown a correlation between sleep and PE as well as between sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction but not yet revealed the exact mechanisms. This paper updates the relationship between sleep and erectile function.
Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Sleep ; physiology ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; complications ; Sleep, REM ; physiology

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have been used as the first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) in recent years. However, with the increased clinical application of PDE5i, the incidence rate of PDE5i-induced adverse reactions is on the rise, which may involve the cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Most of the adverse reactions are mild to moderate, occasionally with serious or rare complications. The probability and severity of the adverse reactions are associated with the dosage and frequency of medication as well as with individual differences. Therefore individualized medication is necessitated and, for the patients with cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, psychosis, or anaphylactic conditions, PDE5i should be cautiously given or avoided. This review provides an overview of PDE5i-induced adverse reactions and countermeasures in the treatment of ED.
Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a large class of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins, regulate gene expressions multifacetedly, and influence the metabolism, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells as well as the occurrence and progression of tumors. Some of the ncRNAs act as cancer genes, such as miR-19a, miR-125b, miR-616, miR-7, miR-221, MALAT-1, and PRNCR1, which are upregulated in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) tissues or cell lines, and promote the development and progression of CRPC, some act as tumor suppressor genes, including miR-185, miR-342, miR-15, miR-16, and miR-146, which are downregulated in CRPC tissues or cell lines and inhibit or delay the occurrence of CRPC, and still others, such as miR-7, miR-19a, miR-125b, miR-221, and MALAT-1, are differentially expressed in the serum or tissue and can be used as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of CRPC. This article presents an overview on the roles of ncRNAs in the occurrence, progression, diagnosis, and prognosis of CRPC and advances in their studies.
Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; genetics ; RNA, Untranslated ; genetics

Objective To observe the interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interhukin-2(IL-2)levels of Th1 cytokine and IL-4、IL-10 levels of Th2 cytokine in serum and culture supernatants of splenic cells of the rats in the prevention of experimentaI autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU)by oral tolerance. Methods 72 Lewis rats were randomly divided into EAU group,oral tolerance group(which including 10 μg、100 μg、1 mg、10 mg of S antigen group respectively)and control group,12 rats in each group.The animal model of EAU was induced by immunization with S antigen(50 μg)and Freund's complete adjuvant.Oral tolerance 10 μg、100μg、1 mg and 10 mg group were fed with 1 ml mixture of 10 μg、100μg、l mg、10 mg S antigen and 1 mg trypsin inhibitor respectively by intuhation,once the other day,totally 7 times,and then induced EAU according to above methods;control group was fed with 1 ml mixture of phosphate buffered saline and 1 mg trypsin inhibitor,once the other day,totally 7 times,and then induced EAU.The clinical manifestation of EAU in the eye were recorded,the eyeballs were enucleated at the peak of EAU,followed by pathological grading.Meanwhile the serum was colleced;splentic cells were separated and cultured to collect the supernatant.Cytokine levels of IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4 and IL-10 in serum.cultured supernatant of splenic cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results Compared with EAU and control group,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2(Th1 eytokine)in the serum in 100 μg and 1 mg group were decreased while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10(Th2 eytokine)were inereased,the diffefences were statistically significant(F=51.9,68.8,35.7,7.5,P＜0.01).Compared the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the serum in 10 μg,10 mg group with EAU and control group.the differences were not statistically significant.In 100 gg、1 mg group,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2(Th1 cytokine)in the culture supernatant of splenic cells were decreased while the Ievels of IL-4 and IL-10(Th2 cytokine)were increased,compared with EAU and control group,the differences were statistically significant(F=57.1,15.6,33.1,167.7,P＜0.01).Compared the levels of Th1 and Th2 eytokine in the culture supernatant of splenic cells in 10 μg、10 mg groups with EAU and control group,the difference are not statistically significant. Conclusions In the process to prevent EAU by oral intake,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 (Th1 cytokine)were decrease while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10(Th2 cytokine).Oral administration with tOO high or low dose of the antigen can not prevent EAU as well as the cytokine levels do not change obviously.Cytokines has played an important role in the prevention of EAU.

Objective To observe the efficacy of the anti-tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibody(TNF-α MCAb)in the treatment of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU). Methods EAU animal models were induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein(IRBP)R16 peptide with immunization.The rats were divided into 2 groups according to the injection times.TNF-α MCAh was administered intravenously on day 6 or 4,6 and 8 post-immunization respectively,and then to observe the clinical expression by slit-lamp microscope.Meanwhile,take the rats which did not accept TNF-α MCAb as conttol group.Delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH)responses were measured on day 13 postimmunization of IRBP R16;the rats were killed on day 14 post-immunization of IRBP R16,and then enucleated the eyes for histopathological examination.To detect the cytokine level of IFN-γ,IL-4 in serum and IFN-γ in aqueous humor by enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)on day 14 postinjection.The hyperplasia responses of antigen specific lymphocyte of draining lymph node cells were detected. Results The TNF-αMCAb group had mitigated ocular inflammation and decreased pathological grades compared with the control group;the IFN-γ concentrations in aqueous humor and serum were decreased,IL-4 was increased in serum;DTH responses were decreased;the hyperplasia responses of draining lymphocytes to IRBP R16 peptide were decreased,all the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).The rats accepted TNF-α MCAb thrice had much better curative effect than the rats injected once(P＜0.05). Conclusions Injection of TNF-α MCAb can inhibit ocular inflammation and specific immune cells of EAU remarkably and change the Th1/Th2 balance.Many times injections of TNF-α MCAb were more effective than once.