ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was performed to examine the treatment of erectile dysfunction by use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles-labeled human mesenchymal stem cells (SPION-MSCs) transplanted into the cavernous nerve injured cavernosa of rats as monitored by molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each: group 1, sham operation; group 2, cavernous nerve injury; group 3, SPION-MSC treatment after cavernous nerve injury. Immediately after the cavernous nerve injury in group 3, SPION-MSCs were injected into the cavernous nerve injured cavernosa. Serial T2-weighted MRI was done immediately after injection and at 2 and 4 weeks. Erectile response was assessed by cavernous nerve stimulation at 2 and 4 weeks. RESULTS: Prussian blue staining of SPION-MSCs revealed abundant uptake of SPION in the cytoplasm. After injection of 1x10(6) SPION-MSCs into the cavernosa of rats, T2-weighted MRI showed a clear hypointense signal induced by the injection. The presence of SPION in the corpora cavernosa was confirmed with Prussian blue staining. At 2 and 4 weeks, rats with cavernous nerve injury had significantly lower erectile function than did rats without cavernous nerve injury (p<0.05). The group transplanted with SPION-MSCs showed higher erectile function than did the group without SPION-MSCs (p<0.05). The presence of SPION-MSCs for up to 4 weeks was confirmed by MRI imaging and Prussian blue staining in the corpus cavernosa. CONCLUSIONS: Transplanted SPION-MSCs existed for up to 4 weeks in the cavernous nerve injured cavernosa of rats. Erectile dysfunction recovered and could be monitored by MRI.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Contrast Media/pharmacology , Dextrans/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Erectile Dysfunction/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Magnetite Nanoparticles , Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Monitoring, Physiologic/methods , Penis/innervation , Peripheral Nerve Injuries/complications , Suspensions , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The seminiferous tubules merge and connect with the tubuli recti that form the spaces known as the rete testis. Cystic ectasia of the rete testis is a rare benign testicular lesion. We report the cystic ectasia of the rete testis in a 66-year-old man.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Dilatation, Pathologic , Rete Testis , Seminiferous Tubules , TestisABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We performed a comparative analysis of the plasma levels of antithrombin (AT) III, plasminogen, fibrinogen, and D-dimer among patients with and without clinically localized prostate cancer to investigate the clinical significance of the coagulation profile in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed in which plasma levels of AT III, plasminogen, fibrinogen, and D-dimer were assessed in patients before they underwent prostate biopsy. According to the results of the biopsy, the patients were categorized into the cancer group or the control group. Levels of the four coagulation factors were then compared between the cancer and control groups. Also, levels of the four coagulation factors were correlated with tumor stage and grade in the cancer group. RESULTS: The cancer group had significantly lower levels of AT III activity and higher plasma D-dimer levels than did the control group (p=0.007 and p=0.018, respectively). Within the cancer group, no significant differences were observed in the levels of AT III, plasminogen, fibrinogen, or D-dimer between those with a pathological Gleason score of > or =7 and otherwise. Regarding pathologic stage of prostate cancer, the subjects with organ-confined disease and those with extraprostatic extension of a tumor demonstrated no significant differences in the preoperative levels of the four coagulation factors analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that plasma levels of AT III and D-dimer are altered in patients with prostate cancer. Further study is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism and clinical significances of such a phenomenon among patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antithrombin III , Biopsy , Blood Coagulation Factors , Blood Coagulation Tests , Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products , Fibrinogen , Neoplasm Grading , Plasma , Plasminogen , Prospective Studies , Prostate , Prostatic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
Irritative urinary symptoms may suggest the possibility of bladder cancer. We report a case of metastatic bladder cancer that was discovered during a workup for urge incontinence in a 65-year-old woman with a history of stomach cancer. She had a medical history of gastrectomy due to stomach cancer 4 years previously. The patient complained of urgency unresponsive to anticholinergic therapy. Cystoscopy revealed the presence of suspicious bladder mucosal lesions that were biopsied. The pathology was consistent with metastatic signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma. This case suggests that irritative urinary symptoms can be the first clinical manifestation in patients with bladder cancer.