OBJECTIVETo evaluate the erectile and ejaculatory function of sacral tumor patients after sacral nerve root resection and investigate the relationship of erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction (EED) with the level of sacral nerve injury.

METHODSThis retrospective study included 47 male patients aged 16 to 63 (32.6 +/- 6.8) years treated by sacral tumor resection between January 2008 and August 2013. According to the levels of the sacral nerve roots spared in surgery, the patients were divided into four groups: bilateral S1-S3 (n=16), unilateral S1-S3 (n=21), unilateral S1-S2 (n=6), and unilateral S1 (n=4). The patients were followed up for 12 to 41 (27.2 +/- 10.9) months by questionnaire investigation, clinic review, and telephone calls about their erectile and ejaculatory function at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery and in August 2013.

RESULTSIn the bilateral S1-S3 group, the incidence rates of EED were 31.25% (5/16), 25% (4/16), and 12.5% (2/16) at 3, 6, and 12 months respectively after surgery, with recovery of erectile and ejaculatory function in August 2013. The incidence rates of EED in the unilateral S1-S3 group were 85.71% (18/21), 71.43% (15/21), 52.38% (11/21), and 42.86% (9/21) at 3, 6 and 12 months and in August 2013, respectively; those in the unilateral S1-S2 group were 100% (6/6), 83.33% (5/6), 83.33% (5/6), and 66.67% (4/6) at the four time points; and those in the unilateral S1 group were all 100% (4/4). No statistically significant differences were found in the incidence rate of EED among the patients of different ages or tumor types (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of postoperative EED in male patients treated by sacral tumor resection is closely related to the mode of operation. Sparing the S3 nerve root at least unilaterally in sacral tumor resection is essential for protecting the erectile and ejaculatory function of the patient.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; injuries ; surgery ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

0.05). Compared with model group, levels of DA and DOPAC in striatum reduced in Xieqing group (P

AIMTo investigate the radiosensitizing effect and mechanism of action of staurosporine (STP) in human colon carcinoma HT-29 and breast cancer MCF-7/ADR cells.

METHODSThe effect of STP on the cytotoxicity of X-ray was determined by clonogenic assay. The effect of STP on cell cycle arrest induced by X irradiation was studied in two cell lines by using flow cytometry, Western Blotting was performed to indicate the changes of cyclin B1 and cdc2 protein levels.

RESULTSSTP sensitized the two cell lines to X-ray by clonogenic assay. STP potentiated the cytotoxicity of X-ray by 2.10- and 2.09-fold in HT-29 and MCF-7/ADR cells. Flow cytometry assay showed that exposure of HT-29 and MCF-7/ADR cells to X-ray caused cells arrest in G2 phase. The percentage of arrest G2 phase cells were 56% and 52.7%, respectively. The addition of STP after irradiation resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of G2 phase arrest induced by X-ray. Furthermore, the results showed that STP blocked decrease of cyclin B1 expression induced by X-ray, while mitotic index measurement indicated that X-ray-irradiated cells treated with STP entered mitosis. The data suggested that the potentiation of cytotoxicity of X-ray by STP is associated with the suppression of cyclin B1 expression, which result in the abrogation of G2 arrest, before the cells entered into M phase, they had not enough time to repair.

CONCLUSIONSTP is a potent G2 checkpoint abrogator and markedly enhanced the cytotoxicity of X irradiation in the p53 mutant cancer cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cyclin B ; biosynthesis ; Cyclin B1 ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; G2 Phase ; drug effects ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Mitotic Index ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Staurosporine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Ibuprofen/ethyl-cellulose (EC)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) sustained-release composite particles were prepared by using supercritical CO2 anti-solvent technology. With drug loading as the main evaluation index, orthogonal experimental design was used to optimize the preparation process of EC-PVP/ibuprofen composite particles. The experiments such as encapsulation efficiency, particle size distribution, electron microscope analysis, infrared spectrum (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in vitro dissolution were used to analyze the optimal process combination. The orthogonal experimental optimization process conditions were set as follows: crystallization temperature 40 degrees C, crystallization pressure 12 MPa, PVP concentration 4 mgmL(-1), and CO2 velocity 3.5 Lmin(-1). Under the optimal conditions, the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of ibuprofen/EC-PVP composite particles were 12.14% and 52.21%, and the average particle size of the particles was 27.621 microm. IR and DSC analysis showed that PVP might complex with EC. The experiments of in vitro dissolution showed that ibuprofen/EC-PVP composite particles had good sustained-release effect. Experiment results showed that, ibuprofen/EC-PVP sustained-release composite particles can be prepared by supercritical CO2 anti-solvent technology.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Ibuprofen ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Particle Size ; Povidone ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of new model for tuberculosis (TB) control and management, and provide a scientific basis and justification for making TB control strategies in rural communities.

METHODSAmong those townships with low TB service accessibility by the county TB control institute in Guangxi Xingye county (population of 679 thousands), four townships with total population of 152 518 and inconvenient transportation, were selected as the experimental group to conduct a new model research project.Based on the accessibility for community services, setting diagnosis and treatment management centers in township hospitals, employing family treatment supporters to supervise the treatment process. The TB cases of the base-line and the project expiration of the experimental group were 44 and 117. Meanwhile, three townships including Dapingshan, Longan and Gaofeng in the county with the similar condition and total population of 133 303 were selected as the control group. The control group conducted the provisions of national TB control program in the county TB clinic management. The TB cases of the base-line and the project expiration of the control group were 56 and 110. By double-direction comparison method, the effect of the new model was evaluated through TB patients detection, treatment outcomes and TB control management data. SPSS 13.0 statistical software was adopted and Chi-square test was used for analyzing technical data.

RESULTSAfter two-year project research implementation, in the experimental group the detection rate of new smear-positive TB patients increased from 16.39/100 000 (25/152 518) to 51.14/100 000 (78/152 518) (χ(2) = 27.281, P < 0.01), the cure rate of new smear-positive cases increased from 71.4% (15/21)to 91.1% (51/56) (χ(2) = 4.812, P < 0.05), and the completing treatment rate in newly diagnosed smear-negative cases improved from 23.5% (4/17)to 71.4% (15/21) (χ(2) = 8.622, P < 0.01); the loss rate of newly diagnosed smear-positive cases dropped from 23.8% (5/21) to 0.0% (0/56) (χ(2) = 10.608, P < 0.01), and the loss rate of newly diagnosed smear-negative cases decreased from 64.7% (11/17) to 4.8% (1/21) (χ(2) = 15.624, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the cure rate of new smear-positive cases in the experimental group, 91.1% (51/56), was higher than the control group, 72.0% (36/50) (χ(2) = 6.531, P < 0.05). The loss rate of newly diagnosed smear-positive cases in the experimental group (0.0% (0/56)) was lower than the control group (16.0% (8/50)) (χ(2) = 7.534, P < 0.01). During the project implementation, in the experimental group the on time rate of taking medicine, 91.5% (107/117) and receiving medicine, 100.0% (117/117), the reexamining sputum ratio, 83.6% (98/117) were higher than that in the control group: 81.8% (90/110), 92.7% (102/110) and 64.5% (71/110). The differences were statistically significant (χ(2) = 4.589, 8.820 and 11.005, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe new management model had been proved effective. It can improve TB case detection and cure rates, reduce the loss rate of patients, and improve patient treatment and management conditions as well.

China ; Communicable Disease Control ; methods ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Rural Health ; Tuberculosis ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate serum levels of soluble matrix lysin 2 (sST2) in patients with different stages of heart failure and its relationship with prognosis. Methods Data of 300 patients with heart failure of stages A, B, C and D were included in this study. Thirty-three cases of healthy elderly population for physical examination were used as control group. The general information, echocardiography and related biochemical tests containing sST2 and NT-proBNP were collected in the two groups. The survival periods of patients were evaluated according to the Seattle heart failure mode (SHFM). Patients were followed up for 1 year to record the occurrence of adverse events. Results The sST2 level was higher in heart failure group than that of control group. The sST2 level began to increase in stage B, and which increased with the development of cardiac function staging. The sST2 levels were significantly higher in stages B, C and D than those of stage A, and which were significantly higher in stage D than those of stages B and C (P<0.05). There were significantly higher incidence rates of adverse events, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the patients with high sST2 level than those of patients with lower sST2 level (P<0.05). Values of sST2, NT-proBNP, LVEDD and LVMI were significantly higher, and values of LVEF and SHFM life expectancy were significantly lower, in patients with adverse events than those of patients without adverse events (P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between sST2 and LVEF, and positive correlation between sST2 with NT-proBNP, LVEDD and LVMI (P<0.05). The size under ROC curve, which was used to predict the cardiovascular endpoint events judged by sST2 was 0.665 (95％CI:0.574-0.757, P<0.01), and the one by NT-proBNP was 0.790 (95％ CI: 0.731-0.848, P<0.01). The best cut-off value of predicting the clinical adverse events was 139.27μg/L by sST2 and 855.35μg/L by NT-proBNP. Conclusion The serum level of sST2 is early indicator of heart failure, which not only reflects the severity of ventricular remodeling but also is one of indicators to estimate the prognosis of heart failure in one year.

Objective This study is to investigate the set-up accuracy of thermoplastic mask used for immobilization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients being treated by Intensity Modulated Radia- tion Therapy (IMRT).Methods Nineteen patients with early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T1- T2N0M0),treated by fractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy,underwent repeated CTs during their 6-week treatment course.We evaluated their anatomic landmark coordinates in a total of 85 repeated CT data sets and respective x,y and z shifts relative to their position in the 19 treatment-planning reference CTs.Results The translation in x,y,and z-axes with their mean value derived from both positive and negative set-up errors was-0.84 mm(x-axis),+0.65 mm(y-axis) and +0.01 mm(z-axis).Mean target isocenter translation was (0.89?0.69) mm,(0.82?0.79) mm,(0.95?1.24) mm in x,y and z-direc- tions,respectively.The mean total magnitude vector and 95% CI of isocenter motion were 1.87 mm and 4.65 mm.The data measured over the 6-week fractionated course of treatment revealed a slight deterioration of isocenter accuracy.The 95% CI,considered by us to be a valuable parameter for characterizing the sys- tem,of 4.17 mm for measurement within the first 3 weeks increased to 5.12 mm in the last 3 weeks of treat- ment.Conclusions The sequential CT scanning is a pronounced valuable method of evaluating the quality of departmental specific patient positioning procedures.The thermoplastic mask is eyed as well suited tool for immobilization and repositioning of NPC patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of a new method,axis-line-distance technique(ALDT),in scoliosis measurement.Methods Thirty cases with idiopathic scoliosis were measured on two separate occasions by six observers with the Cobb technique and the ALDT on PACS workstation.The interval time between two measurement occasions were three weeks.The data were analyzed statistically with the paired-sample t-test.Results(1)Concerning intraobserver variance in two measurement occasions,the minimum variance,the maximum variance and the average variance were 0, 24.00?,5.71??1.54?for Cobb technique and 0,12.00 mm,(1.95?0.58)mm for ALDT.There were significant measurement differences for four observers with Cobb method 39.00??10.69?versus 36.50?? 10.63?,31.73??10.96?versus 37.30??9.65?,32.03??7.49?versus 27.86??9.00?,29.77??8.87? versus 34.20??7.26?,all P0.05].(2)Concerning interobserver variances in six observers,the average measurement variance was 5.07??0.35?for Cobb method,and(2.32?0.26)mm for ALDT. There were significant measurement differences for every observer using with Cobb method(36.63??10.30? versus 33.27??10.10?,39.00?10.69?versus 31.73??10.96?,32.03??7.49~ versus 29.78?? 8.87?,36.63??10.30?versus 39.00??10.69?versus 32.03??7.48?,39.00??10.69?versus 32.03?? 7.49?,all P

Objective To investigate the prevalence of adolescent scoliosis in Guangzhou for development of effective prevention and treatment program to the disease. Methods From November2007 to July 2009, 30 142 students between 7 to 20 years old in primary and junior middle schools received physical check-up for detection of scoliosis through physical and radiographic examination.Results 211 cases were diagnosed as scoliosis (Cobb angle≥10°) , with the prevalence rate as 0.70%. 192 patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) were detected, accounting for 91.00%. There were 19 cases of congenital scoliosis, accounting for 9.00%. Sex ratio of scoliosis was 180/31. The prevalence of scoliosis was significantly lower in boys than that in girls (x2= 112.332, P＜0.001 ).Conclusion The crude prevalence of adolescent scoliosis was 0.70% in Guangzhou with majority of idiopathic scoliosis. Investigation on scoliosis among school-age population seemed to be important for the purposes of early diagnosis, selection of effective prevention and treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Astrocytoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Brain Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Brain Stem ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed