OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of salidroside on hypoxia-induced apoptosis of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) in rats.

METHODSRat CCSMCs were cultured in vitro by the enzyme digestion method and identified by immunofluorescent staining of anti-alpha-SMA and anti-Desmin. The non-toxic dose of salidroside was determined by MTT assay. Low-oxygen mixed gas (1% O2, 5% CO2, and 94% N2) was piped into a modular incubator chamber to induce hypoxia. The CCSMCs were divided into a normal, a hypoxia, and a 32 microg/mL salidroside intervention group. The apoptosis of the CCSMCs was detected by flow cytometry and the expression of the caspase-3 protein determined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe majority of the CCSMCs were positive for alpha-SMA and Desmin at immunofluorescent staining. Salidroside at < 32 microg/ml produced no obvious toxicity to CCSMCs. Compared with the normal control group, the rates of early and late apoptosis of CCSMCs were both increased significantly in the hypoxia group ([12.77 +/-1.41]% vs [18.69 +/- 1.29]%, P < 0.01 and [14.63 +/- 2.00]% vs [21.03 +/- 1.530]% , P < 0.05). Western blot showed a markedly increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.01). Intervention with 32 microg/ml salidroside significantly reduced hypoxia-induced early apoptosis of CCSMCs ([13.46% +/- 1.87]%, P < 0.01) and decreased the expression of cleaved caspase-3 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSalidroside can reduce the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and inhibit hypoxia-induced apoptosis of CCSMCs in rats.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Penis ; cytology ; drug effects ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of low-dose once-daily tadalafil combined with Shuganyiyang Capsules in the treatment of mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSNinety patients with mild-to-moderate ED were equally randomized to groups A, B and C to receive Shuganyiyang Capsules, tadalafil, and tadalafil + Shuganyiyang Capsules, respectively. The scores of the patients on IIEF-5 and SF-PAIRS (15-Item Short Form of Psychological Interpersonal Relationship Scales) were recorded before and at 1 and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTSThe IIEF-5 scores of groups A, B and C were 10.13 +/- 1.55, 11.00 + 1.60 and 10.73 +/- 1.91 before treatment, and 13.77 +/- 2.11, 17.77 +/- 2.13 and 17.17 +/- 3.84 at 1 month after treatment, significantly higher in B and C than in A (P <0. 001) , but with no remarkable difference between B and C (P =0. 411). At 3 months after treatment, the IIEF-5 scores were 15.77 +/- 2.05, 18.07 +/- 2.24 and 19.37 +/- 3.76 in the three groups, dramatically higher in B and C than in A (P <0.001) as well as in C than in B (P<0.05). The scores on sexual self-confidence, sexual spontaneity and time concerns in SF-PAIRS were 3.90 +/-0.80, 8.67 +/- 1.94 and 14.43 +/- 1.92 before medication, 5.83 +/- 1.02, 9.90 +/- 1.75 and 11.17 +/- 1.68 at 1 month and 6.73 +/- 0.98, 11.07 +/- 2.08 and 10.67 +/-1.60 at 3 months after medication in group A; 4.17 +/- 0.87, 9.37 +/-1.43 and 14.47 +/-1.57 before medication, 6.47 +/-0.78, 10.83 +/- 2.18 and 10.20 +/-1.56 at 1 month and 6.83 +/-0.91, 11.30 +/- 1.88 and 9.47 +/- 1.57 at 3 months in group B; and 4.23 +/-0. 94, 9.50 +/- 1.89 and 14.67 +/- 2.91 before medication, 8.03 +/- 1.67, 13.43 +/-1.10 and 9.70 +/-1.21 at 1 month and 8.93 +/- 1.78, 14.70 +/- 1.26 and 8. 87 +/- 0. 97 at 3 months in group C. Compared with the baseline, the SF-PAIRS scores of the three groups were all significantly improved after treatment (P <0. 05) , and markedly higher in C than in the other two groups (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow-dose once-daily tadalafil combined with Shuganyiyang Capsules is obviously effective in the treatment of mild-to-moderate ED, which not only improves the patients'erectile function, sexual self-confidence and sexual spontaneity, but also reduces their time concerns.

Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; CD56 Antigen ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; pathology ; Male

According to the requirements of the regulatory authorities, degree of modification (DP) should be included in the characterisation of the PEGylated protein drug substance, and is one of the critical quality attributes for quality control. In this study, based on the fundamental assumption that the refractive index (RI) signal and the ultraviolet (UV) signal of PEGylated protein are equal to the sum of the corresponding signal produced by the polyethylene glycol (PEG) and protein parts of the conjugates in their uncoupled state, we developed a method to determine the DP of PEGylated recombinant human growth hormone (inpegsomatropin). In this method, 20 μL of 1 mg·mL^-1 human growth hormone (hGH) standard, 2 mg·mL^-1 PEG reference substance and 1 mg·mL^-1 drug substance solution were each injected to size exclusion chromatographic (SEC) column for separation, detected with ultraviolet and refractive index (UV-RI) detectors in series. Finally, the DP was calculated as the formula derived from the fundamental assumption. The developed SEC-UV-RI method showed good specificity, repeatability (RSD = 0.63%, n = 9) and accuracy, with a recovery of 100.0%, compared with the result obtained from the simultaneously established classical acid hydrolysis method, demonstrating pretty handleability and accessibility, and is appropriate for quality control test of DP for this drug substance.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lipoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; metabolism ; pathology

Corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells are the main functional component of the corpus cavernosum penis, whose phenotypic modulation is the key initial step in the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells. Therefore, an insight into the mechanism of the phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells and its influencing factors is important for the prevention and management of penis erectile dysfunction. Smooth muscle cells are generally divided into contracting (differentiated) and composing (undifferentiated, proliferated or dedifferentiated) types. It is found that TGF-beta, transcription factor E2F1, BTEB2 and insulin may affect the phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells. This paper presents an overview of the progress in the researches on the phenotypic modulation of corpus cavernous smooth muscle cells and its influencing factors.
Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; classification ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Penis ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of Narcotrend (NT) monitor in monitoring the depth of anesthesia in severely burned patients with target-controlled infusion (TCI) of remifentanil hydrochloride and propofol during perioperative period.

METHODSEighty patients with severe burn hospitalized from February to November 2011, to whom eschar excision was performed within one week after injury, were enrolled. They were classified into II to III grade according to the American Society of Anesthetists classification, and their total burn area ranged from 31% to 50%TBSA, or full-thickness burn area from 11% to 20% TBSA. Patients were divided into trial group (monitoring depth of anesthesia with routine method and NT monitor) and control group (monitoring depth of anesthesia with routine method) according to the random number table, with 40 cases in each group. All patients received TCI of remifentanil hydrochloride and propofol to induce and maintain anesthesia. During the operation, the anesthesia level of NT monitor used in the trial group was maintained from grade D1 to E0, while the fluctuation of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate of patients in control group was maintained around the basic values within a range of 20%, and on the basis of which, concentrations of two narcotics were adjusted. Concentrations of remifentanil hydrochloride and propofol during maintenance of anesthesia were recorded. The duration from drug withdrawal to waking from anesthesia (including the duration from drug withdrawal to eye opening by calling and the duration from drug withdrawal to orientation recovery) of patients was recorded. Values of MAP and heart rate at admission into the operation room, loss of consciousness, 2 min after intubation, before operation, 2, 15, and 30 min after the beginning of operation, and the end of operation were recorded. The prediction probability (P(k)) of NT stage (NTS) and NT index (NTI) in trial group, and that of MAP and heart rate in control group for two durations from drug withdrawal to waking form anesthesia were recorded. The administration of vasoactive drugs and intraoperative awareness of patients in two groups were recorded. Data were processed with t test, analysis of variance, and chi-square test, and the relationship between NTS, NTI, MAP, heart rate and their corresponding P(k) for the duration from drug withdrawal to orientation recovery was processed with Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTSMaintained target effect-site concentration of remifentanil hydrochloride and target plasma concentration of propofol of patients were obviously lower in trial group [(2.62 ± 0.35) ng/mL, (3.84 ± 0.22) µg/mL] than in control group [(2.95 ± 0.21) ng/mL, (4.16 ± 0.31) µg/mL, with t values respectively -5.113 and -5.324, P values all below 0.01]. The duration from drug withdrawal to eye opening by calling and the duration from drug withdrawal to orientation recovery were obviously shorter in trial group [(10.2 ± 0.7) min, (11.1 ± 1.0) min] than in control group [(11.3 ± 1.0) min, (13.1 ± 0.7) min, with t values respectively -5.740 and -10.806, P values all below 0.01]. The MAP (except for 2 min after intubation) and the heart rate of patients in both groups were lower at the time points from loss of consciousness to the end of operation than at the time of entering operation room (with F values respectively 12.074, 36.425, P values all below 0.01 in trial group and F values respectively 21.776, 35.759, P values all below 0.01 in control group). The statistically significant difference between two groups in MAP level was only observed at the time of loss of consciousness (t = 3.985, P < 0.01). MAP level was close in two groups at other time points. Heart rates of patients in two groups were close during perioperative period. P(k) values of NTS and NTI for the duration from drug withdrawal to eye opening by calling (0.937 ± 0.025, 0.899 ± 0.049) were obviously higher than those of MAP and heart rate for this duration (0.579 ± 0.057, 0.536 ± 0.039, F = 900.337, P < 0.01). P(k) values of NTS and NTI for the duration from drug withdrawal to the orientation recovery (0.901 ± 0.031, 0.868 ± 0.046) were significantly higher than those of MAP and heart rate for this duration (0.532 ± 0.060, 0.483 ± 0.044, F = 890.895, P < 0.01). NTS, NTI, MAP, and heart rate were respectively negative, positive, positive and positive in correlation with their P(k) values for the duration from drug withdrawal to the orientation recovery (with r values from -0.734 to 0.682, P values all below 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in administration of vasoactive drugs. No intraoperative awareness occurred.

CONCLUSIONSApplication of Narcotrend monitor in monitoring the depth of anesthesia in severely burned patients during perioperative period with TCI of remifentanil hydrochloride and propofol is beneficial to reducing dosage of narcotics and shortening duration of recovery from anesthesia, and it can accurately predict the level of consciousness of patients at the time of withdrawal of anesthesia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Burns ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; instrumentation ; methods ; Piperidines ; Propofol ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the complication rate and survival rate of the patients whose graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) less than 0.8% following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

METHODSThere were 92 consecutive LDLT patients from January 2001 to December 2007 in West China Hospital, Sichuan University. There were 85 males and 7 females aged from 18 to 65 years old (averaged, 42 years old) and among which 89 patients were involved in the study. There were 15 patients whose GRWR less than 0.8% (group 1), while other 74 recipients were in group 2. Comparing the two groups' complication rates and survival rates and finding out the potential influencing factor of small-size-graft recipients' survival rate.

RESULTSThe survival rates of group 1 and group 2 were 73.3% (11/15) and 71.6% (53/74), respectively. The grade II-V complication rates of group 1 and group 2 were 46.7% (7/15) and 48.6% (36/74), respectively. There were no difference in survival rates (chi(2) = 0.058, P = 0.811) and complication rates (chi(2) = 0.000, P = 1.000) between the two groups. Ascites volume of group 1 and group 2 were (1532 +/- 322) ml and (1466 +/- 110) ml, respectively (t = 0.234, P = 0.815). The condition of the graft's middle hepatic vein had significant influence on small-size-liver recipients' survival rates (chi(2) = 6.821, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONSGRWR < 0.8% is not the limitation of the living donor liver transplantation but the outflow tract of the graft must be unobstructed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of a community-based intervention project among men who have sex with men (MSM) after two-year implementation.

METHODSComprehensive interventions among MSM in 18 cities of seven provinces were conducted. The pre-intervention questionnaire was conducted in September 2006 and 5178 subjects were investigated through snowball method. In May 2007, post-questionnaire was conducted and 5460 subjects were investigated through snowball or accompanied recommendation method. For each subject, a questionnaire was completed, including basic information, HIV/AIDS knowledge, behaviours and intervention status. At the same time, 5 ml intravenous blood sample was collected to detect HIV infection and evaluated the intervention effect.

RESULTSAfter two-year implementation, the awareness rate of HIV/AIDS knowledge increased from 76.0% (3933/5178) in 2006 to 90.5% (4943/5460) in 2008 (chi(2) = 451.786, P < 0.001); the rate of condom use in the last anal sex with males increased from 58.0% (2382/4105) to 76.7% (3643/4750) (chi(2) = 215.491, P < 0.01); the rate of consistent condom use in the last six months increased from 28.2% (1163/4118) to 44.5% (2114/4753) (chi(2) = 264.606, P < 0.01); the proportion of MSM receiving HIV antibody test increased from 18.8% (973/5170) to 39.1% (2136/5454) (chi(2) = 530.181, P < 0.01); and the HIV infection rate increased from 2.3% (118/5178) to 5.0% (271/5427) (chi(2) = 47.613, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe MSM community-based intervention project achieved some good results after two-year implementation and contributed to an increase in HIV/AIDS knowledge and safe sex.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Community Health Services ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Risk-Taking ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapeutic protocol of electroacupuncture combined with active-blood-and-dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training for cerebral infarction.

METHODSA multi-center randomized controlled trial was done, three hundred and twenty cases were divided into four groups: electroacupuncture combined with active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training group (group A), electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation training group (group B), herbs combined with rehabilitation training group (group C) and rehabilitation training group (group D), 80 cases in each group. The following two groups of acupoints were used alternatively in electroacupuncture treatment: the first group including Vasomotor Area, Jianyu (LI 15), Biguan (ST 31), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3); the second group including Motor Area, Quchi (LI 11), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Shenshu (BL 23). 20 mL Xiangdan injection and 250 mL 5% glucose injection or 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection were used by intravenous drip in herbs treatment once a day. The rehabilitation training was performed by the professional physical therapist. Each group was treated with corresponding treatment protocol. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by index of the mortality or disability rate 3 months after the onset of disease. The intention to treat analysis (ITT) was used in data.

RESULTSThe mortality or handicap rate 3 months after the onset of disease of four groups were 17.5% (14/80) in group A, 22.5% (18/80) in group B, 40. 0% (32/80) in group C, and 31.3% (25/80) in group D, respectively. The group A has a best therapeutic effect (vs group C, group D, both P<0.05), and there was no adverse event.

CONCLUSIONThe combined application of electroacupuncture, active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training is a better treatment for cerebral infarction in clinic.

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged