Multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography of internal pudendal arteries: imaging and value / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility and value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) in 3D imaging of internal pudendal arteries and their branches.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using 64-slice spiral computed tomography, we performed hypogastric CTA for 156 twenty to seventy years old males without vascular diseases. We assigned them to groups A (n = 83, 20 to 55 yr old) and B (n = 73, 56 to 70 yr old), and included 7 male patients with arterial erectile dysfunction (AED) aged 43 to 70 years in group C. We conducted maximum intensity projection (MIP), volume rendering (VR) and vascular analysis on the internal pudendal arteries and their branches, divided the MIP and VR images into 3 levels according to the resolution and continuity of the internal pudendal arteries and their branches for blind evaluation, and measured their diameters at various positions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VR images of the internal pudendal arteries and their branches revealed significant differences between groups A and B (P<0.05), but not MIP images (P>0.05). There were no dramatic differences between MIP and VR in displaying internal pudendal arteries and their branches (P>0.05), nor any remarkable differences in the diameters of bilateral internal pudendal arteries and their branches at different levels in groups A and B (P>0.05). VR and MIP showed the 7 AED cases at grade III, and clearly revealed the degree and position of stenosis and occlusion in the internal pudendal arteries and their branches.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTA can display clear 3D images of internal pudendal arteries and their branches, and has a valuable role in the diagnosis and treatment of ED induced by internal pudendal artery diseases.</p>

Effect of gene transfection at different time on bone mineral density and strength of newly formed bone in mandibular distraction gap in rabbit / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of gene transfection at different time on bone mineral density and strength of newly formed bone in mandibular distraction gap in rabbit, so as to explore the optimal time for gene therapy and enhance the therapeutic effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>48 New-Zealand rabbits were employed to receive mandibular osteotomy and implantation of distraction devices bilaterly. Then the rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups as group A, B and C and D. The animals in group A, B, and C were transfected with recombinant plasmids pIRES-hBMP2-hVEGF165 via electroporation-mediated approach at latency period, distraction period, consolidation period respectively. Group D was used as control group without gene transfection. After 3 days of latency period, the distraction devices were activated at the rate of 0.8 mm per day for 10 days. Three rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 1 wk, 2 wk, 4 wk and 8 wk of consolidation respectively. The mandibles were harvested and the left mandible received X-ray examination for bone healing, and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) dectection for the bone mineral density (BMD) of newly formed bone in the distraction gap. The biomechanical properties of the new generation bone at 4 th and 8 th week of consolidation in each group were detected by three point bending test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The bone mineral density and the biomechanical strength of newly formed bone increased along the length of consolidation in each group. After 1 week of consolidation, there was no significant difference in BMD among group A (83.43 +/- 9.96), group B (92.29 +/- 11.25), group C (89.93 +/- 14.15), P > 0.05. But the BMD of group A, B and C was higher than that of group D (70. 31 +/- 3.30), P < 0.05. After 2wk, 4 wk and 8 wk of consolidation, the BMD of group B (137.54 +/- 7.20,492.93 +/- 17.57, 790.48 +/- 12.19) was significantly higher than those of group A (121.44 +/- 9.27, 396.15 +/- 15.70, 603.39 +/- 16.46), C (125.06 +/- 7.24, 464.15 +/- 15.45, 764.15 +/- 17.28), and D (98.86 +/- 8.13, 336.45 +/- 11.95, 577.89 +/- 18.43), P < 0.05. The biomechanical parameters were also higher in group B than those of group A, C and D after four and eight weeks of consolidation (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is better to transfect gene at the beginning of distraction (distraction period) than at other stages of DO. In this way, more remarkable effect could be obtained on new bone formation. It suggests that the distraction stage is the optimal time for gene therapy.</p>

The effect of electroporation mediated gene therapy on bone mineral density and strength of new-formed bone in mandibular distraction gap in rabbit / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of electroporation mediated gene therapy on bone mineral density and strength of new-formed bone in mandibular distraction gap, so as to enhance the osteogenesis and shorten the distraction term.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>New-Zealand rabbits were employed. The distraction began after 3 days of latency period at the rate of 0. 8 mm per day for 7 days. After distraction, the rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups to receive injection in the distraction gap with recombinant plasmid 2 microg (0.1 microg/microl) pIRES-hVEGF165-hBMP2 in group A, with recombinant plasmid pIRES-hBMP2 in group B, with recombinant plasmid pIRES-hVEGF165 in group C, with pIRES in group D, and with normal saline (NS) in group E. After injection, electroporation was performed in all the groups. After 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of consolidation, all the animals underwent X-ray and quantitative computed tomography (QCT). The new-formed bone in distraction gap was selected as regions of interest (ROI) to measure the bone mineral density(BMD). Then the rabbits were sacrificed and the new-formed bone samples were harvested to detect 3-point crushing strength.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BMD of newly formed bone in group A, B and C was markedly higher than that in group D and E (P < 0.01). After 2 weeks of consolidation, BMD in group A was much higher than that in the other groups, but there was no difference between group B and C. After 4 weeks of consolidation, BMD in group A and B was markedly higher than that in group C, D and E (P < 0.01). After 8 weeks of consolidation, BMD in group A was markedly higher than that in the other groups. While the BMD was not significantly different between group B and C, but the BMD in group B and C was higher than that in group D and E (P < 0.01). After 4 weeks of consolidation, the 3-point crushing strength of newly formed bone in group A was markedly higher than that in group B,C, D and E (P < 0.01), which was still the same after 8 weeks of consolidation. And the crushing strength in group B was higher than that in group C, D and E (P < 0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Electroporation-mediated transfection of recombinant plasmid pIRES-hVEGF165-hBMP2 could greatly enhance osteogenesis and calcification. A combination of VEGF and BMP may promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis simultaneously, so as to magnify the effect of each growth factor, resulting a synergetic effect.</p>