OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with high-normal blood pressure (HNBP).

METHODSThis study included 120 men with HNBP and another 120 with normal blood pressure (NBP) as controls. We analyzed the scores of the two groups on the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction 5 (IIEF-5).

RESULTSThe ED prevalence in the men with HNBP was 25.8%. After controlling for age, nationality, occupation, education, income, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, obesity, fatty liver, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood uric acid, the incidence of ED was 25.8% in the HNBP group, significantly higher than 14.2% in the NBP group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of ED is higher in men with HNBP than in those with NBP.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activators ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glucokinase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Conformation ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Sulfones ; pharmacology ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and pathological implication of transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in intraacinar pulmonary arterioles of children with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension (HP).

METHODSForty-one children with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease were studied including 25 cases of HP (group A), 16 cases without HP (group B) and 10 children without congenital heart disease as the contols (group C). Expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and ET-1 mRNA in intraacinar pulmonary arteriolar (IAPA) was studied using in-situ hybridization and image pattern analysis of their absorption values (A value). Changes of the intraacinar arterioles and lung tissue were studied by elastic fiber staining and electronic microscopy respectively.

RESULTS(1) There was a significant difference in the amount of intraacinar pulmonary arterioles (partial-muscular and muscular) counted in either group A or B in comparing with that of group C (F values 149.96 and 142.01 respectively, P < 0.01); (2) Electronic microscopy demonstrated endothelial proliferation of the small arteries, thickening of arteriolar wall, increased density of collagen fibers at adventitia and increased thickness of the capillary basal membrane; (3) The A value of TGF-beta1 mRNA expressed in the pulmonary arterioles of groups A and B by in-situ hybridization were 0.1988 +/- 0.0498 and 0.1098 +/- 0.0428 respectively, however, the expression was weak in group C (A value: 0.0578 +/- 0.0096). There were all significant between each two groups (F = 45.95, P < 0.01). The expression of ET-1 mRNA was markedly increased as well in the endothelial cells of pulmonary arterioles in both groups A and B, with A values of 0.1692 +/- 0.0205 and 0.1004 +/- 0.0140 respectively, whereas the expression was weak in group C (A value of 0.0746 +/- 0.0119). There were all significant between each two groups (F = 139.996, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe number of intraacinar pulmonary partial-muscular and muscular arterioles in patients with left-to-right shunt congenital heart defect is drastically increased, along with marked restructuring of the pulmonary vasculatures. In addition, there seems a correlation present between the overexpression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and ET-1 mRNA in intraacinar pulmonary arterioles and the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with congenital heart disease.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endothelin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Infant ; Lung ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Linzhou, the high prevalence area of Henan province.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 52 cases of primary SCC of esophagus.

RESULTSGains in part or in whole of chromosome 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, 20q and losses of 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p, 8p were detected frequently in SCC (> 20%). Gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q were all significantly correlated with pathologic staging (P < 0.05). Gains of 8q, loss of 4p were linked to nodal metastasis (P < 0.05). Gains of 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter were associated with distant organ metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese observations suggest that 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, and 20q may contain SCC-related oncogenes; 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p and 8p may contain SCC-related tumor suppressor genes. It is likely that gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q are the genetic aberrations critical for the development of esophageal carcinoma, whereas gains of 8q, 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter are considered later events associated with tumor progression and are thought to confer metastatic potential to esophageal carcinoma. Furthermore, nodal and distant organ metastases involve different genes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on MGC-803 human gastric cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSMGC-803 human gastric cancer cells were treated with 5-ALA at various concentrations followed by laser irradiation. The cells were also treated with 5-ALA at the same concentration before laser exposure at various doses. PDT-induced phototoxicity of the cells was determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSAfter laser exposure of the cells at the same dose (25.0 J/cm(2)), the cell survival rates decreased significantly with incubation of the cells with 5-ALA at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mmol/L, respectively (F=266.39, P<0.001), but 2.0 and 4.0 mmol/L ALA showed no significant difference in lowering the cell survival rates (P>0.05). Following treatment with the same 5-ALA concentration (1 mmol/L), the cell survival rates decreased in response to increased laser doses (at 6.25, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0, and 100 J/cm(2), respectively, F=226.31, P<0.0001). Without laser exposure, the survival rate of the cells did not significantly change for different 5-ALA concentrations (F=0.79, P=0.5383), nor did it undergo obvious variation in response to different laser doses without 5-ALA incubation (F=0.61, P=0.6551).

CONCLUSIONSThe damage of MGC-803 cells by PDT increases with 5-ALA concentration within a relative lower range and is proportional to the laser doses delivered. Without 5-ALA treatment, the laser at the chosen dose cannot produce photodynamic effect and ALA itself is nontoxic. ALA-mediated PDT appears to be a promising therapy for gastric cancer.

Aminolevulinic Acid ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Lasers ; Photochemotherapy ; Photosensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Jinleng undershorts on the elevated scrotal temperature induced by varicocele as well as on other clinical symptoms of the disease.

METHODSFifty-one varicocele patients received the treatment of wearing Jinleng undershorts for 30 min twice a day for a course of 90 days. Comparisons were made between the scrotal temperatures and other clinical symptoms of varicocele before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter 90 days of treatment with Jinleng undershorts, the left scrotal temperature of the varicocele patients was significantly reduced from (32.16 +/- 0.79) degrees C to (31.53 +/- 0.77) degrees C (P < 0.01), and the right scrotal temperature decreased from (31.91 +/- 0.73) degrees C to (31.81 +/- 0.63) degrees C (P > 0.05). Compared with pretreatment, significant improvement was found in such symptoms as wetness, fever and swelling of the scrotum, backache, headache, dizziness, fatigue and anxiety (P < 0.05), as well as in testicular pain (P < 0.01) and IIEF-5 score, which was increased from 15.89 +/- 6.13 to 20.04 +/- 3.87 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJinleng undershorts can be used for the treatment of mild and moderate varicocele.

Body Temperature ; Clothing ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Scrotum ; Varicocele ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profiles of chromosome imbalance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) from the high incidence area in Henan.

METHODSChromosomal aberrations of 37 samples of SCC and 30 GCA were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

RESULTSIt was found that the most frequently detected gains were on chromosome arm 8q (78%), and followed by 3q, 5p, 6q and 7p. The most frequent loss was found on 3p (57%), and followed by 8p, 9q and 11q in SCC. For GCA, the most frequent gain was found on chromosome arm 20q (43%), and followed by 6q, 8q and 6p. The most frequent loss was on the chromosome 17p (57%), and followed by 19p, 1p and 4p.

CONCLUSIONThe present findings demonstrate that gains of 8q, 3q and 5p, and losses of 3p, 8p, and 9q are characteristic profile of chromosome imbalance in SCC, and the gains of 20q, 6q and losses of 17p, 19p and 1p are characteristic profile of chromosome imbalance in GCA, which provide important theoretic information for identifying and cloning novel SCC/GCA-related genes.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Cardia ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of intraoperative continuous nimodipine infusion on cerebral vasospasm during intracranial aneurysm surgery.

METHODSThirty consecutive patients under-going intracranial aneurysmal surgery were prospectively randomized into two groups: Isoflurane (group A, n = 15) and nimodipine (group B, n = 15). The patients in group A were maintained with 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane anesthesia during the whole procedure. The patients in group B were given nimodipine infusion continuously (20 microg.kg(-1).h(-1)) after induction of anesthesia and anesthetized with 1 MAC isoflurane. S100B levels in cerebrospinal fluid were determined before aneurysm clipping and 0, 2, 4 h after aneurysm clipping by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Assessment of mean blood flow velocity of parent arterial and arterial branches were performed before and after aneurysm clipping.

RESULTS(1) S100B in cerebrospinal fluid was increased significantly at 4 h after aneurysm was clipped in group A (F = 4.11, P < 0.05). However, S100B in cerebrospinal fluid was stable in group B in the whole procedure. (2) Mean arterial flow velocity of parent vessels in group B was lower significantly than that in group A (t = 2.08, P < 0.05). However, mean arterial flow velocity of distal vessels in both groups has no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONIntraoperative nimodipine infusion may prevent cerebral vasospasm during intracranial aneurysm surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Inhalation ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; Intraoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Isoflurane ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine ; therapeutic use ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use ; Vasospasm, Intracranial ; prevention & control

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR).Methods:A total of 154 PAR patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,78 cases in the treatment group received acupuncture at meridian points,while 76 cases in the control group received acupuncture at non-meridian points.The treatment was done every other day,3 times a week for a total 4 weeks.The total nasal symptom score (TNSS),the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS) and the rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) were measured before the treatment and after 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment,as well as 1 month and 3 months after the treatment to compare the clinical effect between the two groups.Results:After 4 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate in the treatment group was 92.3％,versus 76.3％ in the control group,showing a statistically significant difference (P＜0.05).Intra-group comparisons of TNSS,TNNSS and RQLQ scores after 4 weeks of treatment showed statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05).Between-group comparisons of TNSS,TNNSS and RQLQ score after 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up visits showed statistically significant differences (all P＜0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture is effective for PAR,and acupuncture at meridian points can produce a better effect than acupuncture at non-meridian points.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances in esophageal cancer (EC) with or without family history in Linzhou, Henan Province of China.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 13 cases with positive family history of EC and 32 cases with negative family history of EC. RESULTS DNA copy number gains on chromosome 10q was observed only in the cases with postivie family history of EC (30%), and none in cases with a negative family history (P<0.05). DNA copy number losses on chromosome 15q were significantly higher in cases with postivie family history (38% vs 6%, P<0.05). The frequency of DNA copy number gains in 3q, 5p, 7p, 8q and DNA copy number losses in 3p, 19q, 9q were similar in the two groups (both beyond 20%) (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFrequent DNA copy number gains on chromosome 10q and losses on chromosome 15q in EC casers with postivie family history indicate that these chromosome sites may harbor the genes related to high susceptibility to EC. Such chromosomal sites as 3q, 5p, 7p, 8q, 3p, 19q, and 9q may contain important genes related with the environmental risk factors of esophageal carcinogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Chromosome Disorders ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged