OBJECTIVETo explore the procedures of dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) and their application in the diagnosis and classification of venous erectile dysfunction (VED).

METHODSThis study included 103 ED patients, aged 20 to 43 years, highly suspected of VED, with disease courses of 4 months to 6 years. DICC was performed and analyses were made on the results, especially the parameters of flow-to-maintain (FTM) and pressure decay (PD) in the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSBased on the parameters of FTM and PD, 21 of the patients were normal, 5 were suspected of VED, 39 had mild VED, 25 had moderate VED, and 13 had severe VED. Penile subcutaneous hematoma was found in 4 of the patients, all recovered after 3 to 5 days, with no other complications.

CONCLUSIONDICC is a reliable, safe and minimally invasive method for the diagnosis and classification of VED.

Diagnostic Techniques, Urological ; adverse effects ; Hematoma ; etiology ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; classification ; diagnosis ; Male ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Veins

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of dosing transdermal fentanyl patch by patient-controlled intravenous anal-gesia (PCIA) with fentanyl to treat opioid-naive patients suffering from cancer-related pain. Methods:In this open non-controlled trial, 30 patients with moderate to severe cancer pain were enrolled in the study. Titration conditions, pain score (NRS), and pain of life im-pact scores were assessed and recorded during four periods of treatment, as follows:before fentanyl-PCIA;during fentanyl-PCIA treat-ment;during Duragesic with fentanyl-PCIA treatment;and during Duragesic treatment. Adverse reactions were assessed and recorded during the two periods of treatment (the period before fentanyl-PCIA and the period after fentanyl-PCIA). Results:A total of 20 cases of titration were a success, whereas 10 cases failed. The general pain score, the most serious pain score, activity pain score, resting pain score, and the pain of life impact scores were all significantly reduced during fentanyl-PCIA treatment, during Duragesic with fen-tanyl-PCIA treatment, and during Duragesic treatment compared with the period before fentanyl-PCIA treatment (P<0.05). Nausea was the only adverse reaction that occurred during treatment. Obvious muscle rigidity, loss of consciousness, cough, respiratory depres-sion, and bradycardia were not observed. Conclusion:Dose titration of transdermal fentanyl patch with fentanyl administrated by PCIA for opioid-naive patients provides an effective and convenient method for pain relief treatment.

Objective To investigate the effect of hypert riglyceridemia on vascular endothelial function. Methods With high-resolution ultrasound, flow and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation of the brachial artery were determined in thirty hypertriglyceridemic patients and thirty healthy subjects as controls. Serum lipid and plasma endothelin (ET) were determined. Results In patients with hypertriglyceridemia,flow-induced vasodilatation was much reduced compared with that in the control subjects[(2.7±2.0)% vs (15.0±8.0)%, P<0.001］.However, vasodilatation in response to nitroglycerin were similar in both groups［(15.0±5.0)% vs (16.8±9.0)%, P>0.05].Plasma ET level in the hypertriglyceridemic group was significantly higher than that in the control group［(106.22±19.16) μg/L vs (72.37±14.06) μg/L, P<0.001].ConclusionEndothelium-dependent vasodilatation was impaired in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

To investigate the antitumor activities of the immunoconjugates composed of anti-type IV collagenase monoclonal antibody Fab' fragment and lidamycin (LDM) prepared with different linkers. The immunoconjugates were prepared by linking Fab' to lysine-69 of LDM apoprotein by SPDP, LCSPDP, SMBS or SSMPB as the intermediate drug linkers. Immunoreactivities of the conjugates were determined by ELISA. The cytotoxicities of the conjugates were examined by clonogenic assay. In vivo antitumor effects of the conjugates were evaluated in nude mice bearing subcutaneously implanted HT-1080 tumor. ELISA assay showed that the conjugates retained part of the immunoreactivity of 3G11 against the antigen. The cytotoxicities of the Fab'-SMBS-LDM and Fab'-SSMPB-LDM to HT-1080 cells were significantly potent, compared with Fab'-SPDP-LDM, Fab'-LCSPDP-LDM and free LDM. In animal models at the same condition, free LDM, Fab'-SPDP-LDM and Fab'-LCSPDP-LDM inhibited the growth of HT-1080 tumor by 70.9%, 74.8% and 72.3%, while Fab'-SMBS-LDM and Fab'-SSMPB-LDM reached 78.0% and 87.7%, respectively. The median survival time of the mice treated with free LDM, Fab'-SPDP-LDM and Fab'-LCSPDP-LDM were prolonged by 71.9%, 82.2% and 107.5%, respectively, compared with that of untreated group. Whereas, the median survival time of Fab'-SMBS-LDM and Fab'-SSMPB-LDM were prolonged by 145.2% and 165.8%, respectively, indicating that Fab'-SSMPB-LDM was more effective than Fab'-SMBS-LDM in tumor suppression and life span prolongation. Fab'-SSMPB-LDM has more marked selective antitumor efficacy and lower toxicity, and might be a novel candidate for cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of left varicocele (VC) and varicocelectomy (VCT) on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the levels of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) in the rat testis.

METHODSWe randomly divided 60 adolescent male SD rats into four groups of equal number: sham operation control, VC model 1 (VC1), VC model 2 (VC2), and VCT. We determined the semen quality and levels of NO and IL-1 in the testis tissue, detected the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells by TUNEL, and compared the indexes obtained among different groups.

RESULTSAn experimental VC model was successfully established by partially ligating the left renal vein of the rats. Sperm concentration and motility were significantly decreased in the VC1 ([1.54 ± 1.16] x 10⁶/ml and [44.23 ± 15.46]%) as compared with those in the sham operation group ([2.80 ± 1.62] x 10⁶/ml and [72.34 ± 12.62]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the VCT ([1.82 ± 1.34] x 10⁶/mI and [51.21 ± 12.62]%) than in the VC2 group ([1.04 ± 1.21] x 10⁶/ml and [39.23 ± 13.21]%) (P < 0.05). The levels of NO and IL-1 in the left testes were markedly elevated in the VC1 ([0.172 ± 0.030] ng/ml and [1.468 ± 0.080 ] mg/ml) in comparison with those in the sham operation group ([0.134 ± 0.021] ng/ml and [0.782 ± 0.079 ] mg/ml) (P < 0.05), and significantly higher in the VC2 ([0.198 ± 0.020] ng/ml and [1.994 ± 0.090] mg/ml) than in the VCT group ([0.141 ± 0.010] ng/ml and [0.781 ± 0.036] mg/ml) (P < 0.05). However, the NO and IL-1 levels in the right testis showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups, and the two levels were positively correlated (r = 0.492, P < 0.01). The rats of the VC1 group exhibited remarkable apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the bilateral testes, with significant differences in the apoptosis index ( AL) between the two sides (P < 0.05) as well as in the same side in comparison with the sham operation group (P < 0.01). The Als of spermatogenic cells in the bilateral testes showed statistically significant differences in the VCT (P < 0.05) but not in the VC2 group (P > 0.05), and those in the same side manifested dramatic differences between the VCT and VC2 groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele induces changes of the NO and IL-1 levels in the testis tissue and increases the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, which might be one of the causes of testis damage and spermatogenic dysfunction.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Germ Cells ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interleukin-1 ; analysis ; Ligation ; Male ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; chemistry ; Varicocele ; complications ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects and complications of subinguinal microscopic ligation, laparoscopic transperitoneal varicocelectomy, laparoscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy, open retroperitoneal high ligation, and interventional embolotherapy in the treatment of varicocele.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study that included 632 varicocele patients treated by subinguinal microscopic ligation (group A, n = 79), laparoscopic transperitoneal varicocelectomy (group B, n = 120), laparoscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy (group C, n =137), open retroperitoneal high ligation (group D, n = 283), and interventional embolotherapy (group E, n = 13). We compared the baseline and 3-month postoperative semen parameters, postoperative complications, and pregnancy rate among the five groups of patients.

RESULTSThe operation time was longer in groups A ([2.02 ± 1.25] h) and E ([2.17 ± 1.02] h) than in the other three groups, while the postoperative hospital stay was the shortest in group E ([1.1 ± 0.1] d). Intestinal injury or incision bleeding occurred intraoperatively in 2 cases in group B and 1 case in group E. Postoperative scrotal edema developed in 3.7, 17, 10, and 19% of the patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, but not in group E. The rate of 1-year recurrence was the lowest in group A (1.6%) and highest in group E (22%). Sperm concentration and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm were improved postoperatively in all the patients (P < 0. 05), but there were no statistically significant differences among the five groups either in the above three parameters or in the postoperative pregnancy rate (P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONIn the surgical treatment of varicocele, laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach involves short operation time and few complications, subinguinal microscopic ligation has the advantages of little injury, rapid recovery, and few complications but requires specialized microsurgical techniques, and interventional embolotherapy leaves no incision scar and needs only local anesthesia and 1-day postoperative hospital stay, which is uitable for those with a contraindication to anesthesia.

Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Ligation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Recurrence ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Count ; Urogenital Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of sodium ferulate (SF), an active component of Radix Angelica, on lung damage induced by ozone (03).

METHODSMice model of lung injury was induced by ozone inhalation and treated with SF. The level of lipid peroxide and microviscosity in alveolar epithelial cell membrane of the mice was determined, and the structural change of lung cells was observed by microscopy.

RESULTSOzone could increase the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the microviscosity in alveolar epithelial cell membrane, and induce inflammatory changes in morphologic structure. These abnormal changes were improved after SF administration, which was manifested as alleviation of heightened microviscosity, increase of membrane fluidity, as well as the basically normalized pulmonary cellular structure under microscope.

CONCLUSIONSF has a preventive effect against oxidized pulmonary injury induced by ozone, the action of which could be through scavenging oxygen free radicals, reducing lipid peroxide production, increasing membranous fluidity and mitigating inflammatory changes in cell structure. sodium ferulate, ozone, malondialdehyde, membranous fluidity, morphology

Animals ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacology ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Membrane Fluidity ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Ozone ; toxicity

Andrology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Physicians

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a common chronic intestinal inflammation and one of the modern diseases that are difficult to cure effectively.Increasing attention is paid on UC based on metabonomic and microbe analysis. In this article, we review the recent advances in endogenous metabolites including amino acid, energy metabolism and lipid metabolism, intestinal bacteria including Firmicutes, Bacte-roidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria as well as covariation between metabolites and intestinal bacteria in UC.Short chain fatty acid and tryptophan are used as examples to ecaborate on the important functions of metabolism of nutrients and intestinal bacteria in diseases and illustrate the contributions of intestinal bacteria to diseases.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of memantine on the regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in dichlorvos-poisoned rat brain, and to understand the mechanism of its role in organophosphate poisoning.

METHODSSD rats were administrated dichlorvos (25 mg/kg, ip) then three groups were treated with memantine at doses of 5, 15 and 45 mg/kg respectively. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and binding capacity of NMDA receptor with [(3)H]MK-801 were determined 16 h after dichlorvos injection.

RESULTSThe time of onset of toxic symptoms in 15, 45 mg memantine treated groups [(18.40 +/- 1.14) and (21.40 +/- 1.52) min respectively] was higher than that in dichlorvos alone group [(16.75 +/- 1.62) min]; the intensity of muscle fasciculation (1.60 +/- 1.14 and 0.80 +/- 0.84, respectively) was less than that in control group (2.85 +/- 0.37); the total score of poisoning symptoms (8.80 +/- 1.79 and 9.00 +/- 2.24 respectively) was also less than that in dichlorvos group (14.60 +/- 1.70). The AChE activities both in blood and brain of memantine treated groups were not significantly different from those in dichlorvos alone group. The affinity (Kd value) and density (Bmax value) of brain NMDA receptor in dichlorvos exposed rats [(75.55 +/- 7.87) nmol/L, (0.46 +/- 0.06) pmol/mg pro respectively] were higher and lower respectively than those in control group [(37.37 +/- 4.17) nmol/L, (0.62 +/- 0.04) pmol/mg pro respectively]. Lower level of memantine (5 and 25 mg/kg) could antagonize the dichlorvos-evoked down-regulation of [(3)H]MK-801 binding to NMDA receptor in rat brain [Bmax value: (0.55 +/- 0.07) and (0.64 +/- 0.07) pmol/mg pro; Kd value: (38.68 +/- 4.54) and (32.58 +/- 3.90) nmol/L respectively] while higher dose of memantine (45 mg/kg), the Bmax (0.45 +/- 0.06) pmol/mg pro and Kd (22.88 +/- 4.42) nmol/L of NMDA receptor were significantly decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMemantine in certain dose range could protect against the down-regulation of NMDA receptor in rat brain, and alleviate organophosphorus poisoning symptoms to some extent. The recovery of AChE activity inhibition wasn't involved in the treatment with memantine on dichlorvos poisoning, therefore, atropine and a proper AChE reactivator (an oxime) should be used clinically.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dichlorvos ; toxicity ; Dopamine Agents ; pharmacology ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Memantine ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism