The genital organ is innervated by autonomic and somatic nerve. The former is both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve and the later is comprised by sensory and motor fibers. The symptoms of male sexual dysfunction are sexopathy, erectile dysfunction, disorder of ejaculation and orgasm, and pianism. Not only different symptom but the same symptom can be induced by different injured nerve. The relationship between peripheral nerve injury and male sexual dysfunction should be understood correctly.
Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Parasympathetic Nervous System/injuries* ; Pelvis/innervation* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves/anatomy & histology* ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/etiology* ; Spinal Cord Injuries/complications* ; Sympathetic Nervous System/injuries* ; Trauma, Nervous System/complications*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on macrophages expressing TNF-alpha related apoptosis induced-ligand (TRAIL) and its relation to apoptosis of HepG2 cell line.

METHODSMembrane-bound TRAIL (mTRAIL) was measured by flow cytometry; soluble TRAIL in supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent sandwich assay (ELISA); cytotoxicity of TRAIL to HepG2 cell line was measured by chromium release assay, and apoptosis of HepG2 cell was confirmed by Annexin V staining.

RESULTSLPS only slightly increased membrane-bound TRAIL expression of macrophages. On the other hand, soluble TRAIL in the supernatant was increased with LPS stimulation, and the optimal concentration of LPS was 100 ng/ml (sTRAIL value 67.40 ng/ml+/-5.08 ng/ml). The soluble TRAIL in the supernatant was cytotoxic to HepG2 cells, and this activity can be blocked by TRAIL neutralizing antibodies.

CONCLUSIONLPS increases the expression of soluble TRAIL in macrophages, and soluble TRAIL is toxic to HepG2 cells. All of our results indicate that TRAIL may play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the complications of surgical treatments for femoral intertrochateric fractures using dynamic hip screw (DHS).

METHODSFrom Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2007, sixty-nine patients with intertrochanteric fractures were treated by dynamic hip screw fixation included 27 males and 42 females,with an average age of 72.9 years ranging from 53 to 96 years. According to Evans classification there were 10 cases in type I ,21 in type II, 22 in type III, and 16 in type IV, of which 51 patients (73.9%) suffered from systematic diseases preoperatively.

RESULTSFifty-seven patients were followed up for 8 to 70 months (41 months on average). Four patients died, 17 cases occurrenced systematic complications postoperatively. Internal fixation related complications occurred in 12 patients. There were 8 cases with mechanical failure of DHS including 4 of screw loosen,3 of cutting-out of device through femoral head and neck and 1 of plate breakage. Five patients had a coxa vara, and delayed union occurred in 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONUnstable fracture pattern produced high percentage of mechanical failure. In such cases DHS should not be the first choice for treatment. The appropriate treatment should be in relation to pre-operative fracture stability and osteoporosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

The pharmacokinetics of a long-circulating PEGylated Radix Ophiopogonis polysaccharide (ROP) was investigated in rats following i.v. or s.c. administration at three dose levels (9, 20, 50 mg x kg(-1)). A moderate coupling reaction between the hydroxyl-activated ROP and the amino-terminated mPEG was chosen to produce PEGylate ROP. The grafting degree of the prepared conjugate was 1.03, and the molecular mass of mPEG used was 20 kDa. High-performance gel permeation chromatorgraphy with fluorescein isothiocyanate prelabeling was established to determine levels of the conjugate in plasma. The results showed that the elimination half-life of the conjugate following s.c. administration was basically identical to that after iv administration. An accurate linear correlation was observed between administration doses and areas under the curve of plasma conjugate level vs. time profile, regardless of the administration route. The absolute bioavailability of the conjugate following sc administration was approximately 56%, and the mean in vivo residence time was 52.1 h, increased 2.4 times compared to those of iv administration. In general, linear pharmacokinetics was observed for the conjugate within the dose range studied, and sc should be a promising administration route for the conjugate.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Drug Carriers ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Half-Life ; Injections, Intravenous ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of the amino acids between 551 and 565 in the cytoplasmic domain of glycoprotein (GP) I b alpha in the VWF binding to GP I b alpha.

METHODSThe VWF binding to GP I b alpha induced by ristocetin was analyzed by flow cytometry, in three GP I b-IX-expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines 1b9, delta 565 and delta 551, adhesion of above cells on VWF by flow chamber analysis at shear rate of 200 s(-1). The spread of GP I b-IX-expressing cells were stimulated with botrocetin on VWF-coated coverslips by confocal microscope.

RESULTSThe VWF binding to GP I b alpha was higher in delta 565 cells stimulated by ristocetin than in delta 551 or 1b9 cells. The number of delta 565 cells adhered on the VWF-coated-chamber was more than that of controls at shear rate of 200 s(-1). Moreover, the surface spreading areas of delta 565 cells were greater than that of the controls on VWF-coated coverslips.

CONCLUSIONSThe amino acids between 551 and 565 in the cytoplasmic domain of GP I b alpha regulates the VWF binding to GP I b alpha.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Female ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex ; genetics ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To observe the apoptosis in penile corpus cavernous after neurotomy. METHODS: After neurotomy, 78 SD rats were randomly assigned to experimental and normal control groups at day 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 time point. The quality was measured by DNA Ladder and the quantitation was measured by TUNEL. The location of apoptosis was detected by dual stained with immunohistochemistry and TUNEL. RESULTS: After transaction of cavernous nerve, dorsal never, and both nerves, the apoptosis in experimental and control group showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.0046); however there was no statistically significant difference after bilateral dorsal nerve transaction alone (P>0.0046). There was a statistically significant difference in apoptosis between cavernous smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Cavernous nerve transection induces apoptosis in smooth muscle cells of the rat penis, but nor does dorsal nerve transaction alone. There is no statistically significant difference in apoptosis between cavernous nerve injury alone and combination injuries of cavernous nerve and dorsal nerve.
Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology* ; Autonomic Denervation ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth/pathology* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Penis/pathology* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDSural neurofasciocutaneous flap has been popularly used as an excellent option for the coverage of soft tissue defects in the lower third of leg, ankle and foot, but its free transplantation has been rarely reported. The objective of our work was to investigate the operative technique and clinical results of repairing the soft tissue defects of hand and forearm with free peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap.

METHODSBetween May 2006 and March 2007, 10 patients including 7 men and 3 women were treated. Their ages ranged from 22 to 51 years. They presented to emergency with large soft tissue defects of 16 cm x 7 cm to 24 cm x 10 cm in size in hand and forearm after injured by motor vehicle accidents (2 cases) or crushed by machine (8 cases). Thorough debridements and primary treatments to associated tendon ruptures or bone fractures were performed on emergency. And free peroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flaps were transplanted when the wound areas were stable at 5 to 7 days after emergency treatment. The flaps were designed along the axis of the sural nerve according to the shape and size of the soft tissue defects, with the peroneal perforator above the lateral malleolus as the pedicle and along with a part of the peroneal artery for vascular anastomosis. Then the flaps were harvested to repair the recipient sites with the peroneal artery anastomosed to the radial (or ulnar) artery and the peroneal veins to one of the radial (or ulnar) veins and the cephalic vein respectively. The flap sizes ranged from 18 cm x 8 cm to 25 cm x 12 cm. The donor areas were closed by skin grafts.

RESULTSAll of the 10 flaps survived after surgeries. Marginal necrosis occurred in only 2 cases. The skin grafts survived entirely in the donor sites, and no obvious influence on the donor legs was observed. All of the transplanted flaps presented favourable contours and good functions at 9 to 12 months' follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSPeroneal perforator-based sural neurofasciocutaneous flap has favourable appearance, constant vascular pedicle, reliable blood supply, large size of elevation, and minimal influence on the donor site. The free transplantation of this flap offers a satisfactory alternative for repairing the large soft tissue defects of forearm and hand.

Adult ; Female ; Forearm Injuries ; surgery ; Hand Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; innervation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the therapeutic effect and toxicity of second line Hycamtin for lung cancer patients.

METHODSTen of these 21 patients had been treated with operation. All these 21 patients received second line Hycamtin treatment; given at the dose of 1.2 mg/m(2) per day, four consecutive days as one cycle and 21 days as one course. A total of 1 - 4 courses were given according to the patient's tolerance. Four of these 21 patients also received combination of cisplatin.

RESULTSAmong the 13 un-operated patients, two patients showed CR, six showed PR, three SD and two PD, giving an effective rate of 62%. Among the 8 operated patients, seven showed SD but one developed distant metastasis. The 1-year survival rate was 88%.

TOXICITYleukopenia I-II degree 14 (66.7%), leukopenia III-IV degree 5 (23.8%), thrombocytopenia III-IV degree 1 (4.8%) and one patient died of high fever and neutocytopenia. Nausea 8 (38.1%), vomiting 3 (14.3%) and diarrhea 2 (9.5%) alopecia 4 (19.1%). Were the other side-effects.

CONCLUSIONHycamtin is indicated for second line therapy for lung cancer giving tolerable toxicity.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Topotecan ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Material properties and hygroscopicity were determined. Principal component analysis and partial least squares regression were applied to evaluate relationships between material properties and hygroscopicity of Chinese medicine raw materials. The results showed that hygroscopicity was correlated with water content, particle size distribution, water soluble characteristic and cohesion. Balanced moisture content was positively correlated with water content, particle size distribution, water soluble characteristic and cohesion. Moisture absorption velocity was negatively correlated with particle size distribution, protruding degree and positively correlated with water soluble characteristic and cohesion. Moisture absorption acceleration was positively correlated with water content, particle size distribution and negatively correlated with water soluble characteristic and cohesion. Hygroscopicity of Chinese medicine raw materials is interpreted in terms of physics.
Absorption ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Multivariate Analysis ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Solubility ; Water ; analysis ; Wettability

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and treatment of ovotesticular disorders of sex development (DSD) in children.

METHODSWe reviewed the clinical data of 9 cases of ovotesticular DSD admitted in our department from 1988 to 2007.

RESULTSThe patients ranged in age from 9 months to 9 years, 7 raised as males and 2 as females. As for the karyotype, 4 cases were 46,XX, 2 were 46,XX/46,XY, 1 was 46,XY, and the other 2 had no karyotype data. All of them presented with obscure external genitalia: perineal or penoscrotal hypospadias with or without cryptorchidism in males and hypertrophy of the clitoris in females. They were diagnosed with ovotesticular DSD by gonad biopsy and underwent genitoplasty.

CONCLUSIONThe gender assignment of the ovotesticular DSD patient was chiefly based on the development of external genitalia, dominant gonad, karyotype and the parent's will. Laparoscopic technology is recommended in gonad biopsy and orchiopexy during the treatment of ovotesticular DSD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disorders of Sex Development ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sexual Development