Objective To investigate the value of CT and MRI in diagnosing facial nerve neuroma. Methods The CT and MRI findings of facial nerve neuroma proved by surgery and pathology in 6 cases were retrospectively analysed. Results Four of the six facial nerve neuroma only affected intratemporal segment of facial nerve (labyrinthine segment 1, tympanic segment 2, mastoid and tympanic segment 1), one involved the cerebellopontine angle(CPA) cistern, internal anditory canal(IAC) and intratemporal segment and last one involved both the intratemporal segment and the intraparotid gland segment. The imaging manifestations of the tumor depended on its location and extension. On CT, the tumors of intratemporal segment showed enlargement and destruction of facial nerve canal, soft tissue mass in the middle ear and /or in the mastoid, erosion of the aterior surface of the petrous bone at the level of the geniculate ganglion fossa, and extension to the middle cranial fossas and intraparotid gland. One neuroma arising from IAC and cisternal segments demonstrated a mass in the CPA, widening of the IAC, enlargement of the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve canal, and extension to geniculate ganglion fossa by CT and MRI. Conclusion CT and MRI are accurate to describe the extent and location of facial nerve neuroma. CT is better to demonstrate the osseous destruction in detail, whereas enhanced MRI evaluates the tumor itself more accurately.

Objective To study the imaging manifestations and clinical significance of simple cochlear nerve canal(CNC)stenosis. Methods The HRCT findings of 14 patients(1 7 ears)with simple CNC stenosis diagnosed sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL)were retrospectively analyzed.The width of CNC and internal auditory canal was measured and compared with the normal ears,the data were statisti-cally analyzed by SPSS1 6.0.Thin-sliced MRI of internal auditory canal (axial and oblique sagittal position)was performed in 8 cases. Results HRCT displayed obvious CNC stenosis in all 14 patients(1 7 ears),2 ears with cochlear nerve canal atresia.Width of CNC and internal auditory canal was (0.5±0.3)mm and (4.6±1.0)mm,it was (2.1±0.2)mm and (5.1 ±1.3)mm in normal ears (1 1 ears),the width of CNC was of significant difference between normal ears and ears with SNHL,and there was no statistical sig-nificant difference in width of internal auditory canal.12 ears(from 1 7 ears with simple CNC stenosis)were lacking of fissure in the cribriform area,1 1 ears(normal ear)were existence of fissure in the cribriform area;cochlear nerves were not shown in 8 patients with MRI examination.Conclusion CNC stenosis can be isolated from internal auditory canal stenosis,MRI could display cochlear nerve dysplasia(CND).

AIMTo investigate the expression and distribution of the members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel members of TRP melastatin (TRPM) and TRP vanilloid (TRPV) subfamilies in rat prostatic tissue.

METHODSProstate tissue was obtained from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to check the expression of all TRPM and TRPV channel members with specific primers. Immunohistochemistry staining for TRPM8 and TRPV1 were also performed in rat tissues.

RESULTSTRPM2, TRPM3, TRPM4, TRPM6, TRPM7, TRPM8, TRPV2 and TRPV4 mRNA were detected in all rat prostatic tissues. Very weak signals for TRPM1, TRPV1 and TRPV3 were also detected. The mRNA of TRPM5, TRPV5 and TRPV6 were not detected in all RT-PCR experiments. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that TRPM2, TRPM3, TRPM4, TRPM8, TRPV2 and TRPV4 were the most abundantly expressed TRPM and TRPV subtypes, respectively. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry indicated that TRPM8 and TRPV1 are highly expressed in both epithelial and smooth muscle cells.

CONCLUSIONOur results demonstrate that mRNA or protein for TRPM1, TRPM2, TRPM3, TRPM4, TRPM6, TRPM7, TRPM8, TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV3 and TRPV4 exist in rat prostatic tissue. The data presented here assists in elucidating the physiological function of TRPM and TRPV channels.

Animals ; Clusterin ; genetics ; physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; TRPV Cation Channels ; genetics ; physiology

Objective To design and manufacture a multifunctional cushion for venous thrombosis prevention of lower extremities, which can be also applied to the low extremities needing raising. Methods The cushion was made of anti-rust, low-weight, undeformable and easy-to-clean stainless material, which was composed of a pad and a massage apparatus. The pad had its height regulable from 16 to 30 cm and telescopic inclination from 30 to 70° to adapt the cushion to sizes of patients. There were 6 independent air chambers and tubular circulating pipes around the blanket wrapping the chambers so that extremity massage and temperature-controlled heating could be executed based on setting up pressure, time and temperature of the electromagnetic air and water pumps. Results The cushion simulated the functions of the muscle pump, which formed step-by-step-increasing pressure changes by driving the chambers to be inflated and discharged continuously to execute extremity massage, temperature-controlled heating etc. Conclusion The cushion gains advantages in flexible composition, patient comfort etc, solves the problems in fixing angle and height, constant time for pump inflation and discharge as well as temperature-controlled heating, and thus is worthy promoting clinically.

OBJECTIVETo compare the impacts of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUEVP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on male sexual function.

METHODSWe identified randomized controlled trials on the influence of TURP, TUEVP and HoLEP on the sexual function of BPH patients, and performed meta-analysis on the included data using Revman 5.0.25.

RESULTSNine randomized controlled trials involving 1 050 BPH patients were included in the meta-analysis. The baseline of the study was comparable. TURP affected erectile function less than TUEVP (P = 0.04), but the two had no significant difference in their influence on ejaculatory function. Nor was any significant difference found between HoLEP and TURP in their influence on either erectile or ejaculatory function at 12 and 24 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONTUEVP induces a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than TURP, but its influence on ejaculatory function is not significantly different from the latter. HoLEP and TURP have no significant difference in their influence on erectile function and ejaculatory function.

Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of andrographolide on immune functions and the immune mechanism of its clinical application.

METHODThe amounts of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-8 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) culture supernatants deal with by different concentrations of LianBiZhi (LBZ) injection made of andrographolide were detected by biological activity test or ELISA in vitro. The effects of LBZ injection on macrophage phagocytotic function and natural killer cells cytotoxicity were examined by means of macrophage to phagocytize cock erythrocyte and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity released from the damaged cells, respectively.

RESULTThe LBZ injection could promote IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha inductions of PBMCs, but had no effect on IL-8. At the same time, the LBZ injection could not only enhance the phagocytosis activity of peritoneal macrophage from guinea pig to phagocytosis cock erythrocyte, but also augment the cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer cells from PBMCs to damage the K562 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONAndrographolide is an immunostimulant agent which can modulate both antigen specific and nonspecific immune function by means of its natural killer cells and macrophage and cytokines induction.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Chickens ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Injections ; Interferon-alpha ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Atria ; diagnostic imaging ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myxoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Vimentin ; analysis

AIMTo determine whether adenoviral gene transfer of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to the penis of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats could improve erectile capacity.

METHODSTHE STZ diabetic rats were transfected with AdCMV-betagal or AdCMV-IGF-1. These rats underwent cavernous nerve stimulation to assess erectile function and their responses were compared with those of age-matched control rats 1 to 2 days after transfection. In control and transfected STZ diabetic rats, IGF-1 expression were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and histology. The penis beta-galactosidase activity and localization of the STZ diabetic rats were also determined.

RESULTSOne to two days after transfection, the beta-galactosidase was found in the smooth muscle cells of the diabetic rat penis transfected with AdCMV-betagal. One to 2 days after administration of AdCMV-IGF-1, the cavernosal pressure, as determined by the ratio of maximal intracavernous pressure-to-mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) and total intracavernous pressure (ICP), was increased in response to cavernous nerve stimulation. Transgene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR, Western blot and histology.

CONCLUSIONGene transfer of IGF-1 significantly increased erectile function in the STZ diabetic rats. These results suggest that in vivo gene transfer of IGF-1 might be a new therapeutic intervention for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in the STZ diabetic rats.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; prevention & control ; Genetic Therapy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reference Values ; beta-Galactosidase ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effect of long-term microwave radiation on the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR),brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and related molecules in signal pathways in the hippocampus of rats.Methods Fifty male Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation at an average power density of 0,5,10,20 and 30 mW/cm2for 6 min/time,3 times/week,and for 6 weeks,which were sacrificed and the hippocampus was quickly removed at 14 d and 28 d after exposure.The changes in NMDAR (NR1,NR2A,NR2B),postsynaptic density protein(PSD)-95,cortactin,BDNF and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) in hippocampal neurons of each group were detected by Western blotting and image analysis techniques.Results Compared with the control group,the expressions of related proteins did not change significantly after microwave irradiation of 5 mW/cm2 at each time point.After 20 mW/cm2 microwave radiation,the expression of NR1 was increased at 14 and 28 d (P ＜0.05),the expression of NR2A was increased at 28 d (P ＜ 0.05),but the expression of NR2B was decreased at 14 and 28 d (P ＜ 0.05).At a average power density of 30 mW/cm2,the expressions of NR1,NR2A and PSD-95 and the expression of NR2B were decreased at 14 and 28 d(P ＜0.05),and cortactin,BDNF and TrkB were increased at 14 d after irradiation (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of different dosages of long-term microwave radiation on the proteins of NMDAR and its signal pathway related molecules is different.Microwave radiation may affect the NMDAR of postsynaptic information transmission through the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathways,which might play an important role in the impediment of learning and memory function caused by microwave radiation.