OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) combined with finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

METHODSThis study included 32 patients with recurrent hematospermia, with the disease course of 3 months to 4 years. After administration of finasteride at 5 mg/d for 2 weeks, the patients underwent TUSV for both exploration of the causes and treatment, followed by medication with finasteride at the same dose for another 2 weeks. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for observation of the outcomes and complications.

RESULTSTUSV was successfully accomplished in all the 32 cases, which revealed 16 cases of seminal vesiculitis, 10 seminal calculi, 1 seminal vesicle cyst, 2 seminal vesicle polyps, and 3 seminal vesicle abscess. The operative time was 20 to 51 (31.0 +/- 5.2) minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 case of acute epididymitis and 3 cases of breast discomfort within the first 4 weeks. No incontinence, urethral stricture, rectal injury, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction occurred postoperatively. All the patients but 1 were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. Twenty-nine of the cases were cured, and 2 experienced recurrence.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride is safe and effective for the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Finasteride ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemospermia ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of embryonic dermal signal on the hair-inductive capacity of neonatal mice dermal cells which have been amplified in vitro.

METHODSEmbryonic mice dermal cells of embryonic day 14 were added to a chamber on the back of nude mice with neonatal mice dermal cells which had been amplified in vitro for 3 days and freshly isolated neonatal mice epidermal cells. The hair regeneration was compared between the groups with or without embryonic mice dermal cells. Meanwhile, chambers with following cells respectively were constructed as controls: embryonic mice dermal cells + neonatal mice epidermal cells; freshly isolated neonatal mice dermal cells + neonatal mice epidermal cells; amplified neonatal mice dermal cells only; embryonic mice dermal cells only; freshly isolated neonatal mice dermal cells only; neonatal mice epidermal cells only.

RESULTSThe number of regenerated hairs with the aid of embryonic mice dermal cells (207 +/- 15. 948) was significantly higher than that (67 +/- 8.963) in the group without embryonic mice dermal cells (n = 3, t = 7.653, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONEmbryonic dermal signal can enhance the hair-inductive capacity of neonatal mice dermal cells which have been amplified in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Hair ; physiology ; Hair Follicle ; surgery ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology ; embryology

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of external obturation with cotton ball in treatment of digestive tract lip shape fistula. Methods A prospevtive randomixed controllde study was conducted in 30 patients with digestive tract lip shape fistula admitted from January 2001 to November 2007,which were divided into experimental group ( 15 patienets) and control griup ( 15 patjients). The control group received traditional fistula mouth continuous drainage,with fastomg or part enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition. The experimernal group received external obturatiion with cotton ball,with controling spills of oineteatinal fluid and resuming normal eating and activetes, The patients general information, fistuala mouth sixe, volume, weight, albumin, determinstic operation time, postoperative complications, hospital, signficantly reduced fistula, flow, postoperative compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group , significantly redced fistula, flow, postoperative complivations and cost, increased wdighe and albumin,as well as shortened operation time and hospital stay were found oin the experimetal grou. Conclusin External obturation with cotton ball is safe effective methde in treatment of digestive tract lip shape fistula, obviusly shortening the course of disease, redcing patients'cost and pain, and rapidly improving patients nutritional status.

Objective To provide an anatomical basis for endoscope-assisted presigmoid-retrolabyrinthine keyhole approach to the petroclival region. Methods Ten formalin-fixed adult cadaver heads were used in this study. A C-shaped postauricular skin incision about 6 cm in length was made to expose the anatomic structures, which were observed under microscope and endoscope. Results The distance from the anterior margin of the sigraoid sinus to the most posterior point of the posterior semicircular canal was 9.1±1.3 mm on the right and 9.6±1.8 mm on the left side. With appropriate adjustment of the endoscope and the angle of the microscope, the presigmoid-retrolabyrinthine keyhole approach allowed good exposure of the important structures in the petroclival region with also clear display of the cranial nerves and the adjacent blood vessels. Conclusion The facial and vestibulocochlear nerves and the posterior orifice of the internal auditory canal can be used as the landmarks for localization of the peroclival region and its surrounding structures.

OBJECTIVETo study the accumulation of fluoride in rat hippocampus and its effect on cholinesterase activity.

METHODSRats were subchronically exposed to NaF, and fluoride concentration and cholinesterase activity in rat hippocampus were determined.

RESULTSFluoride concentration in rat hippocampus was significantly correlated with the dosage of fluoride, and there were significant differences among high dosage group [(13.03 +/- 1.79) micro g/g], low dosage group [(9.83 +/- 0.92) micro g/g] and control [(8.27 +/- 1.11) micro g/g], P < 0.01. Acetylcholinesterase activities among three groups [(0.111 +/- 0.031) micro mol/mg, (0.143 +/- 0.025) micro mol/mg, (0.183 +/- 0.027) micro mol/mg] were also significantly different (P < 0.01), which was negatively correlated with fluoride concentration in rat hippocampus (r = -0.700, P < 0.01). The activity of butylcholinesterase in high dosage group [(0.041 +/- 0.010) micro mol/mg] was different from that of control [(0.067 +/- 0.025) micro mol/mg, P < 0.05], but the activity was not significantly related with fluoride concentration in rat hippocampus (r = -0.317, P = 0.094).

CONCLUSIONFluoride may go through the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in rat hippocampus, and inhibit the activity of cholinesterase.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Butyrylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Fluoride Poisoning ; metabolism ; Fluorides ; pharmacokinetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo construct a convenient, reliable and visual model of hair follicle development to test the hair-inductive potential of follicular cells and investigate the molecular mechanism regulating hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling.

METHODSAn open chamber was transplanted into the nude mice dorsal skin, dermal and epidermal cells isolated from newborn C57BL/6 mice skin were mixed at a specific ratio and then injected into the chamber together, 1 week after transplantation, the chamber was removed, and then, hair formation and regeneration after hair plucking was observed.

RESULTS1 week after cells implantation, the wound was moist without apparent contraction and among that pink and translucent tissue was formed. 2 weeks after implantation, the wound healed completely. 3 weeks after implantation, black hair grew from the skin was observed. 4 weeks after implantation, thick and black hair grew from the skin vertically. Completely developed structure of hair follicle was observed with paraffin section and HE staining. 1 week after plucking, new hair had regrown. The ratio of cell component was varied, whereas the other component was fixed at 1 x 10(7) cells. When the number of epidermal cells was reduced to 1 x 10(6) cells, the efficiency of hair follicle reconstitution was mostly unchanged. On the other hand, the density of newly formed hair was diminished considerably by reducing the number of dermal cells to 5 x 10(6) cells or lower. Neither epidermal cells nor dermal cells transplanted alone formed hair follicle.

CONCLUSIONSNewborn mice skin cells transplanted by chamber method can construct a complete model of hair follicle development, which can be used to test the hair-inductive potential of follicular cells and investigate the molecular mechanism regulating hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Hair ; physiology ; Hair Follicle ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology

Adult ; Aged ; Chylothorax ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of insulin on the proteolysis of cultured rabbit skeletal muscular myotubes in vitro, and their possible mechanisms.

METHODSMuscles of lower limbs of juvenile rabbits were isolated for tissue-block culture. After passage, myoblasts were formed and fused into myotubes. Then the protein in myotubes was radiolabelled with L-[ 3,5-3H] tyrosine. The myotubes were cultured in DMEM medium containing 100 nmol/L insulin (n = 24, group B) , 100 nmol/L dexamethasone (n = 24, group C) , 100 nmol/L insulin and 100 nmol/L dexamethasone (n = 24, group D) , no insulin or dexamethasone (n =24, group A), respectively. Twenty-four hours after culture, the L-[3,5-3H] tyrosine content in culture medium and cells were determined, and the degradation rates of protein were calculated. The mRNA expressions of ubiquitin and protease C2 subunit were determined by Northern blot.

RESULTSThe degradation rates of myotube protein in group A(0. 38+/-0.04) was obviously lower than that in group C (0.50+/-0.03, P <0.01), but it was obviously higher than that in group B(0. 35+/-0.03, P <0.05). Though the degradation rates of myotube protein in group D (0.41+/-0. 03) was evidently lower than that in group C ( P < 0.01) , it was still higher than that in group A( P < 0.05 ). The mRNA expressions of ubiquitin and protease C2 subunit in group A ( the scale: 2. 4 kb ubiquitin was 0. 82+/-0. 15, 1. 2 kb ubiquitin was 0. 60+/-0. 10, C2 subunit was 0. 75+/-0. 16) was obviously lower than that in group C ( the scale: 2.4 kb ubiquitin was 2. 15+/-0. 23, 1.2 kb ubiquitin was 1.50+/-0. 14,C2 subunit was 1.50+/-0. 13 , P <0. 01) , but it in group D was lower than that in group C (the scale: 2. 4 kb ubiquitin was 1. 25+/-0. 17, 1. 2 kb ubiquitin was 0. 85+/-0. 09, C2 subunit was 0. 90+/-0. 15, P <0. 01) , and it was similar to that in group B (the scale: 2.4 kb ubiquitin was 0. 85+/-0.07, 1.2 kb ubiquitin was 0. 65+/- 0. 12, C2 subunit was 0. 76 +/-0. 09, P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe effects of insulin on the activity of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the proteolytic rate in normal myotubes were relatively weak. However, insulin can significantly inhibit the effects of dexamethasone on the gene expressions of ubiquitin system and the proteolytic rate in myotubes, but the mechanism needs further research.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Ubiquitin ; metabolism

This study is to determine age-specific prostate-specific antigen (PSA) distributions in Chinese men without prostate cancer (PC) and to recommend reference ranges for this population after comparison with other studies. From September 2003 to December 2006, 9 374 adult men aged from 18 to 96 years agreed to participate in the study. After all cases of PC were excluded, 8 422 adult men participated in statistical analysis and were divided into five age groups. Simple descriptive statistical analyses were carried out and quartiles and 95th percentiles were calculated for each age group. The age-specific PSA reference ranges are as follows: 40-49 years, 2.15 ng mL(-1); 50-59 years, 3.20 ng mL(-1); 60-69 years, 4.10 ng mL(-1); 70-79 years, 5.37 ng mL(-1). The results indicate that the ethnic differences in PSA levels are obvious. The currently adopted Oesterling's age-specific PSA reference ranges are not appropriate for Chinese men. The reference ranges of this study should be more suitable to Chinese men.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; blood ; ethnology ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Wuzhuyu Tang is a classical formula for treating migraine, but its' pharmacological ingredients is unclear yet. Present study employed the everted intestinal sac model to collect the absorption samples of 10 kinds of Wuzhuyu decoction, and then analyzed the contents of 9 ingredients in Wuzhuyu Tang and absorption samples quantitatively or semi-quantitatively by HPLC-DAD method. Reserpine was used to establish the mice model of migraine, and then the contents and activities of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, dopamine, nitric oxide and nitricoxide synthase in brain tissues and serums were determined respectively after oral administration of Wuzhuyu Tang. Using the partial least squares regression method to correlate the total absorption quantity of 9 ingredients and pharmacodynamics. The result shows that limocitrin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, rutaevine, limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine are the main ingredients influenced the effects in absorption samples in everted intestinal sacs, especially ginsenoside Rg1, rutaevine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine among them have obvious improving effects to most pharmacodynamics index, might be the pharmacological ingredients influenced the therapeutical effects of Wuzhuyu Tang treating migraine.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Migraine Disorders ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar