Shang Ring versus disposable circumcision suture device in the treatment of phimosis or redundant prepuce / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To compare the clinical efficiency of Shang Ring with that of the disposable circumcision suture device (DCSD) in the treatment of phimosis or redundant prepuce.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2013 to March 2015, we treated 320 patients with phimosis or redundant prepuce using Shang Ring (n=158) or DCSD (n=162). We compared the operation time, intra-operative blood loss, incision healing time, postoperative complications, postoperative satisfaction, and treatment cost between the two groups of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparison between the Shang Ring and DCSD groups showed that the operation time was (5.6±1.3) vs (5.4±1.2) min, intra-operative blood loss (1.2±0.8) vs (1.3±0.9) ml, postoperative delayed hemorrhage 3.16% (5/158) vs 4.32% (7/162), incision healing time (16.1±7.2) vs (7.5±2.3) d, wound infection 15.82% (25/158) vs 7.41% (12/162), 1-month postoperative incision edema 29.11% (46/158) vs 9.26% (15/162), overall postoperative satisfaction rate 63.92% (101/158) vs 90.12% (146/162), and treatment cost (1121.2±15.6) vs (2142.6±10.8) RMB ¥. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in the latter five parameters (P<0.05 ), but not in the first three (P>0.05 ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The DSCD has an obvious superiority over Shang Ring for its relatively lower complication rate, shorter incision healing time, and better cosmetic appearance.</p>

Gap junctional protein connexin 43 in rat detrusor muscle with unstable bladder / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Unstable bladder is one of the common clinical dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract. Gap junctions (GJs) are the plaques of aqueous channels that facilitate electrical and metabolic communication between the intracellular compartments of adjacent cells, exchange of nutrients and ions between connected cells and transfer of electrical signals. In the present study we investigated the quantitative alterations of the GJ in the rat detrusor muscle and its functional changes related to the developing of unstable bladder (USB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirteen female Wistar rats (study group) with obstructive unstable bladder as determined by urodynamic study and 10 sham-operated rats (control group) were sacrificed at 6 weeks after surgery. Cystometric investigation, and the content and distribution of the GJ protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in the detrusors which were taken from the bladder of the rats were studied by Western blot and laser confocal microscopy with a double label immunohistochemistry technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of Cx43 was found adjacent to the detrusor with the laser confocal microscopy. The Cx43 expression increased markedly in the study group (pixel density 29.5 +/- 13.9, staining size (17.9 +/- 8.8) microm2) compared with the control group (pixel density 14.2 +/- 2.2, staining size (5.7 +/- 3.1) microm2, P < 0.05). Western blot analysis demonstrated that Cx43 in the study group (the average gray level was 31.066) was significantly higher than in the control group (the average gray level was 11.701, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of GJ leading to a intercellular excitatory communication is one of the important mechanisms related to developing unstable bladder.</p>

Lipid peroxidation affects serum T and Bcl-2 expression in the testis of aging male rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of lipid peroxidation on testosterone (T) in the serum and bcl-2 expression in the Leydig cells of aging male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The D-galactose-induced subacute aging male rat model was established and 20 SD rats were randomly divided into two groups of equal number: a D-galactose (D) group and a control (C) group. The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined by spectro-absorptiometer, the expression of bcl-2 by immunohistochemical method, and the concentration of serum T by radio-immunity technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The activity of SOD in the testis of the D group was (116 +/- 18.09) U/ mg x prot, significantly lower than in the C group [(156 +/- 31.02) U/mg x prot (P < 0.01)]. (2) The level of MDA in the testis of the D group was (1.77 +/- 0.41) nmol/mg x prot, significantly higher than in the C group [(1.19 +/- 0.15) nmol/mg x prot (P < 0.05)]. (3) Serum T in the D group was (2.39 +/- 0.90) nmol/L, significantly lower than in the C group [(8.95 +/- 2.53) nmol/L (P < 0.01)]. (4) The expressions of bcl-2 in the leydig cells of the D and C groups were (35.1 +/- 3.6)% and (49.6 +/- 7.4)% respectively, with statistical difference between them (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lipid peroxidation affects the concentration of serum T and the expression of bcl-2 in the Leydig cells of aging male rats.</p>

The testosterone mimetic properties of icariin / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the testosterone mimetic properties of icariin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats at the age of 15 months were randomly divided into four groups with 12 rats each: the control group (C), the model group (M), the icariin group (ICA) and the testosterone group (T). The reproductive system was damaged by cyclophosphamide (intraperitoneal injection, 20 mg/kg x day) for 5 consecutive days for groups M, ICA and T, at the sixth day, ICA (gastric gavage, 200 mg/kg x day) for the ICA group and sterandryl (subcutaneous injection, 5 mg/rat . day) for the T group for 7 consecutive days, respectively. The levels of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), serum bone Gla-protein (BGP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in serum (StrACP) were determined. The histological changes of the testis and the penis were observed by microscope with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP-X nick end labeling (TUNEL), respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Icariin improved the condition of reproductive organs and increased the circulating levels of testosterone. (2) Icariin treatment also improved the steady-state serum BGP and might have promoted bone formation. At the same time, it decreased the serum levels of StrACP and might have reduced the bone resorption. (3) Icarrin suppressed the extent of apoptosis of penile cavernosal smooth muscle cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Icariin has testosterone mimetic properties and has therapeutic potential in the management of hypoandrogenism.</p>