BACKGROUND:The incorporating of zeolites or porous fillers into polymer membranes can improve the pervaporation separation properties of membranes.But the effect mechanism of zeolites or porous fillers on membrane properties needs to be further studied.OBJECTIVE:The study was designed to prepare ZSM-5 zeolite incorporated chitosan membrane by solution blending method to investigate the effecIs of zeolite on membrane pervaporation properties.DESIGN:A controlled observation.SETTING:Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences.MATERIALS:This study was performed at the Laboratory of New Type Membrane Separation Technology,Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences in May 2006.Chitosan,with deacetylation degree of 75%-85%,was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Company,USA;Dimethyl carbonate(DMC),with purity of 99%,was purchased from Fluka Chemical Company,USA:ZSM-5 zeolite was kindly supplied by Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,China;Methanol,with purity＞99.5%,were purchased from Shenyang Lianbang Chemical Company,China.METHODS:ZSM-5 zeolite incorporated chitosan membranes were prepared by solution blending method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:①Swelling and sorption of ZSM-5 zeolite-incorporated chitosan membranes in the DMC/methanol mixture.②Effects of zeolite content in the membrane and operating temperature on pervaporation properties.RESULTS:Scanning electron mieroscope demonstrated that zeolite was uniformly distributed in the membrane matrix and the membranes were free from possible defects.The separation selectivity of dimethyl carbonate(DMC)/methanol mixtures was dominated by solubility selectivity rathcr than diffusivity selectivity.Swelling degree increased and the permeation flux of the membranes increased significantly with the zeolite content increasing.From the temperature-dependent permcation values,the Arrhenius activation parameten were estimated.CONCLUSION:The pervaporation results indicated that the membranes incorporated with the ZSM-5 zeolite exhibited better separation properties for DMC/methanol mixtures comparing with homogeneous chitosan membranes.

ObjectiveTo explore the expression and clinical significance of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac-1) protein and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in breast cancer and their relationship with tumor stage, node metastasis status and hormone receptor status. MethodsImmunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of Rac-1 and HIF-1α protein in 139 specimens of breast cancer,combined with their clinical pathological characteristics and hormone receptor status for statistical analysis.Results The expression of Rac-1 and HIF-1α in breast cancer tissue were 64.75 ％ and 65.47 ％,respectively.The levels were related with the stage of TNM and histological grade (P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01).There was no significant correlation between these two proteins'expression and the age of patient,primary pathological location, histologic type and menstruation status of breast cancer patients(P ＞ 0.05). The expression of Rac-1 and HIF-1α had no statistical significance between triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)and non-triple negative breast cancer (NTNBC) patients (x2 =1.1229,x2 =0.1786,P ＞ 0.05); The expression level of Rac-1 was positively correlated with HIF-1α in these breast cancer specimens (rs =0.414,P ＜ 0.01).ConclusionThe expression of Rac-1 is positively correlated with HIF-1α level in breast cancer.The relationship between Rac-1 and HIF-1α might be as a new important marker to estimate the invasion,metastasis extent and prognosis in breast cancer.Blocking the regulation between Rac-1 and HIF-1α might be a new treatment target in breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of soybean isoflavone on histology and uhrastructure of benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats.Methods Male SD rats were injected subcutaneously testosterone propionate for 28 d to induce prostatic hyperplasia,and the rats were divided into 5 groups:control group,model group,and 3 test groups with SI in a dose of 60 mg/(kg·d),120 mg/(kg·d) and 240 mg/(kg·d),respectively.The wet prostate weight,prostatic index,morphological,uhrastmetural and morphometrie changes of the prostatic shndular and interstitial tissues were observed.Results The prostate wet weight,prostatic index and prostatic volumes in all dose groups were significantly lower than those in the models.In comparison with the model group,height of prostatic epithelial cells,glandular average diameters,volumes and surface areas in unit volume,as well as glandular circumferences,glandular relative total volumes and interstitial relative total volumes were all significantly decreased.Glandular counts,density,ratio of glandular surface area to volume,and glandular average curvature were all increased.Conclusions Soybean isoflavone can inhibit prostatic hyperplasia in rats.

Objective To assess the causes of sildenafil failure and the feasibility of successfully rechallenging non-responding patients. Methods A total of 126 consecutive erectile dysfunction (ED) patients from Jan 2009 to Dec 2009 who claimed poor response to sildenafil (sildenafil 100 mg on demand, at lease 4 epiodes) were enrolled into the study. All patients received sexual reeducation and were treated with sildenafil, taken on a daily dose of 50 mg for 4 weeks. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Rigiscan, serum testosterone or penile Doppler were used to evaluate ED and the cause of on-demand sildenafil failure. End point efficacy of rechallenging was evaluated using the IIEF-5 and the sexual encounter profile (SEP) 'Were you able to insert your penis into your partner's vagina?' and 'Did your erection last long enough to achieve successful intercourse?'. Results The recruited patients comprised of 41 cases with psychological ED, 39 cases with hypogonadism ED, 28 cases with diabetes mellitus ED and 18 cases with vascular ED. Compared with pretreatment and on-demand sildenafil baseline, daily administration of sildenafil significantly enhanced all efficacy outcome variables. The IIEF-5 was significantly improved after daily sildenafil (12.3 ± 2.9 vs18. 8±4.4, P＜0.01), 78 patients responded to daily sildenafil. The overall salvage rate was 61.9%(78/126). Conclusions Sexual reeducation and daily administration of sildenafil may be able to salvage many patients with ED who were sildenafil non-responders.

Objective To estabalish a new conception, Erectile Dysfunction-no sexual life (ED-NS), so as create an evaluating questionnaire, Self-estimation Index of erectile function-No sexual life (SIEF-NS) so as to investigate its clinical reliability. Methods The conception of ED-NS was identified and the SIEF-NS questionnaire was established. Patients who complained of ED-NS and normal controls were enrolled into the research and assessed the erectile function was assessed with SIEF-NS.The SIEF-NS includes 12 questions, such as sexual libido, general erectile function, nocturnal penile erection, erectile function during foreplay, erectile function during audio-video sexual stimulation,confidence, depression, etc and each question has 5 point scales. Results Sixty-one ED-NS patients and 57 controls were enrolled into the study and assessed erectile function with SIEF-NS. The mean score of each question and integral score of SIEF-NS in ED-NS patients were significantly different from normal controls (P＜0. 05). When the integral score was 35 points according to the ROC curve of integral score, the sensitivity of SIEF-NS was 88.5% and specificity was 96. 5%. Conclusions ED-NS is a new conception to define patients who have erectile dysfunction without sexual life. SIEFNS is suggested to be a useful method for the evaluation of ED-NS patients.

ObjectiveTo assess the cause of tadalafil failure and the feasibility of successfully rechallenging nonresponding patients.Methods A total of 80 consecutive erectile dysfunction ( ED ) patients who claimed poor response to tadalafil were enrolled into the study.A self-administered tadalafil-use questionnaire composed of eight questions was applied to assess how they had used tadalafil.Subjects were given thorough instruction based on individual answers and four doses of tadalafil 20mg.After a 2-week follow-up,end point efficacy of rechallenge was evaluated using the sexual encounter profile (SEP),which was recommended by international advisory panel in 2004.ResultsA total of 45 subjects had one or more areas of major suboptimal use of tadalafil:21.2％ did not know that sexual stimulation was necessary for tadalafil to work,87.5％ attempted to use tadalafil less than four times,57.5％ took a maximal dose less than 20 mg,and 84％ felt nervous or anxious.Of the 65 patients undergoing tadalafil rechallenge,30 patients answered “yes” to SEP2 and SEP3.The response rate to rechallenge was 46.2％ ( 30/65 ).ConclusionsInappropriate use of tadalafil was major cause of tadalafil non-pesponse.The efficacy of tadalafil could be improved to a better extent by education of patients.

Objective:To describe a method based on analysis of the histogram of intensity values pro-duced from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)for quantifying the degree of fatty infiltration. Methods:The study included 25 patients with dystrophinopathy.All the subjects underwent muscle MRI test at thigh level.The histogram Mvalues of 250 muscles adjusted for subcutaneous fat,representing the degree of fatty infiltration,were compared with the expert visual reading using the modified Mercuri scale.Results:There was a significant positive correlation between the histogram Mvalues and the scores of visual reading (r =0.854,P <0.001).The distinct pattern of muscle involvement detected in the pa-tients with dystrophinopathy in our study of histogram M values was similar to that of visual reading and results in literature.The histogram M values had stronger correlations with the clinical data than the scores of visual reading as follows:the correlations with age (r =0.730,P <0.001 )and (r =0.753, P <0.001);with strength of knee extensor (r =-0.468,P =0.024)and (r =-0.460,P =0.027) respectively.Meanwhile,the histogram Mvalues analysis had better repeatability than visual reading with the interclass correlation coefficient was 0.998 (95% CI:0.997 -0.998,P <0.001)and 0.958 (95%CI:0.946 -0.967,P <0.001)respectively.Conclusion:Histogram Mvalues analysis of MRI with the advantages of repeatability and objectivity can be used to evaluate the degree of muscle fatty infiltration.

Objective:To report thigh muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)tests of four Chinese patients with dystrophinopathy with edema changes in adductor longus muscles that mimics adductor en-thesopathy.Methods:Four boys,who were from four unrelated families and aged from 5 to 11 years, were investigated because of the clinical manifestations including myalgia or muscle weakness or the inci-dental findings of elevated serum creatine kinase levels,and were diagnosed with dystrophinopathy by gene test of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Their creatine kinase levels were increased from 4 087 IU /L to 32 700 IU /L (Normal range:75 -175 IU /L).The muscle biopsy of three patients all demonstrated a dystrophic pattern including necrosis,regeneration,hypertrophy,atrophy and connective tissue proliferation,with different proportions of dystrophin-negative muscle fibers.The gene test of DMD showed an out-frame deletion of exons in three of the four patients,involving either exons 45 or exons 49 -52 deletion or exon 62 duplication,and c.2665 C >T with nonsense mutation in the other one. Muscle MRI tests of the bilateral thighs were performed with T1 weighed sequence and slow tau inversion recovery sequence.The degree of fatty infiltration changes was scored.Results:MRI of the thigh mus-cles showed mild to severe fatty infiltration changes in T1 weighed sequence with the total scores from 2 to 13.The most severe fatty infiltration changes were in the long head of biceps femoris and adductor mag-nus.Obvious hyperintensities appeared mainly in the adductor longus muscles on slow tau inversion re-covery (STIR)images in all the patients without any abnormal signals in the attachment of the ligament, indicating edema changes of the adductor longus muscles which mimiced adductor enthesopathy.Two of the four patients presented with edema changes in the bilateral adductor longus muscles,while the other two were with only unilateral changes.Furthermore,other thigh muscles,including adductor magnus, semitendinosus,sartorius and rectus femoris muscles,could also have mild edema changes in two of the four patients.Conclusion:Dystrophinopathy can manifest as edema changes in the adductor longus mus-cles in thigh muscle MRI tests,which is a typical lesion in adductor enthesopathy.The adductor longus muscles in the dystrophinopathy patients may be easy to be impaired due to traction injury during sports.

Objective To compare the circumferential approach and suprapubic approach for correcting the concealed penis. Methods Thirty-four patients received circumferential approach (group A,18 cases)or suprapubic approach(group B,15 cases)randomly for the concealed penis.The length of penis without erection before and after surgery treatment,patients'satisfaction and surgical complications were evaluated.All the patients were followed at least 6 months after operation.Results The penile length before and after surgery in group A were(1.78±0.41)cm vs(3.97±0.47)cm,the length of the postoperative penis was significantly longer than that of the preoperative penis(P<0.01).83%of those in group A(15 cases)were satisfied with the cosmic results.The length of preoperative and postoperative penis in group B were(2.07±0.53)cm vs(4.05±0.81)cm respectively,the length of the postoperative penis was significantly longer(P<0.01).Satisfaction was 87%(13 cases).The postoperative penile length between the 2 groups was not different(P> 0.05).Prepuce edema was reported to Occur in 56%and 13%in group A and group B and spontaneously disappeared within 3 months.Fat synchysis occurred in 2 of group B. Conclusions The cosmic effect of the 2 surgical approaches is similar,but circumferential approach is simpler.There is no serious complication in those receiving circumferential approach.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of microvasoepididymostomy for the treatment of obstructive azoospermia. Methods Ninety-eight patients were confirmed as obstructive azoospermia by infertility investigations.The mean (range) age was 31 (20-43) years.The mean duration of obstruetion was 4 years.All patients were seen by the surgeon for a complete history and physical examination.Semen analyses proved azoopermia,serum levels of sexual hormone were normal and testicular function for production of sperms were normal certified by biopsy.All patients with suspected epididymal or vasal obstruction were offered scrotal exploration.The decision for microvasoepididymostomy was made during surgery,based on the pateney of the vas towards the abdomen documented by saline and sperm fragments containing in the epididymal fluid on intraoperative light-microscopic examination.Microvasoepididymostomy was performed in 58 patients documented epididymal obstruction The initial semen analysis was then done after usually 3 months postoperatively.Patency was arbitrarily defined as＞10 000 sperm/mL in ejaculate in at least one semen analysis after surgery.Postoperative patency rate and postoperative impregnation rate were followed. Results Fifty patients were followed up for 3-29 months,8 cases lost.Sperm was found by semen analysis in 36 patients.Sperm density was 4×104-2×108 sperms/ml and motility was 2%-70%.Semen analysis reveals azoospermia in 6 patients and the patients were counseled to undergo further testing to determine the ultimate outcome of the procedure.Natural conception occurred in 14 patients followed for more than 12 months.The overall pateney rate was 72%(36/50).Among patients with a follow-up of＞6 months,the natural paternity rate was 28%(14/50).The median time to achieve a natural pregnancy was 6.6 (4.0-10.0)months. Conclusion A more favourable patency can be achieved using microsurgical intussusception vasoepididymostomy and a part of patients with obstructive azoospermia can be cured by this means.