Effects of quercetin on intracavernous pressure and expression of nitrogen synthase isoforms in arterial erectile dysfunction rat model.

OBJECT: Oxidative stress involved in the regulation of arterial erectile dysfunction (A-ED). Previously report have indicated that quercetin have an antioxidant effect. In the current study, we have established the rats' model for study the therapeutic effect of quercetin on A-ED and further investigated the molecular mechanism of action. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into sham group, A-ED group, A-ED group with low dose of quercetin, and A-ED group with high dose of quercetin. Intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MBp) are two important indicators used for evaluation the A-ED. The changes of ICP and MBp were determined by cavernous nerve electrostimulation after treatment of quercetin at indicated doses. The expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) subtypes was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Our results indicated that ICP was significantly reduced in A-ED rats model compared with sham group, and was significantly increased after quercetin treatment (P < 0.01), while no significant effect on the MBp. The data also showed that sGC inhibitor ODQ and NOS inhibitor LNNA can significantly inhibited the ICP which induced by quercetin. These results suggest that NO-cGMP signaling pathway plays a crucial role in A-ED. Then, we found that the mRNA and protein levels of eNOS were significantly reduced in A-ED group compared with sham group. After treated with quercetin may cause the eNOS RNA and protein were significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01), showing a dose-dependent effect. iNOS expression have a certain degree of increased after quercetin treatment. nNOS expression was not significantly increased before and after treated with quercetin. In a word, quercetin can improved the A-ED by up-regulated ICP, which related to up-regulation of NO-cGMP signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results of this study suggested that quercetin protected expression and function of eNOS in cavernous endothelial cells, and restored part of normal function of NO-cGMP pathway in the process of penis erection.

Screening high-grade vesicoureteral reflux in young infants with a febrile urinary tract infection.

BACKGROUND: The lack of good evidence for improved outcomes in children and young infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) after aggressive treatment for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has raised doubts regarding the need for routine voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and the appropriate imaging evaluation in these children remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: This prospective study aimed to determine whether abnormalities found on acute dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan and ultrasound (US) can help indicate the necessity of voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in young infants. METHODS: For 3.5 years, all infants younger than 3 months presenting with first febrile UTI were prospectively studied. All infants were hospitalized and investigated using US (<3 days after admission), DMSA scan (<5 days after admission), and VCUG (7-10 days after antibiotic treatment) after diagnosis. The association among findings of US, DMSA scan, and VCUG were evaluated. RESULTS: From 220 infants, there were abnormal results in 136 (61.8%) US and in 111 (50.5%) DMSA scans. By US, ten infants (4.5%) with abscess or structural abnormalities other than VUR were diagnosed. High-grade (III-V) VUR was present in 39 patients (17.7%). The sensitivities for high-grade VUR of renal US alone (76.9%) or DMSA scan alone (82.1%) were not as good as that of the "OR rule" strategy, which had 92.3% sensitivity and 94.3% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: To screen high-grade VUR in young infants with febrile UTI, US and acute DMSA scan could be performed first. VCUG is only indicated when abnormalities are apparent on either US or DMSA scan or both.

Usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in pancreatobiliary abnormalities in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an innovative and noninvasive technique for evaluating the biliary tree and pancreatic duct in children. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of MRCP as a noninvasive method to evaluate the biliary system in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients undergoing MRCP between October 2002 and May 2007 for suspected biliary system abnormalities. MRCP findings were compared with other imaging modalities, operative findings, and clinical endpoints. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 60 patients (35 girls, 25 boys; mean age 2 years, 33 children less than 1 year old). Ultrasound was performed in all 60 patients. Twenty-two patients had choledochal cyst, and 19 had a thin or invisible gall bladder. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was done in two patients. The sensitivities and specificities of MRCP for diagnosing choledochal cyst and biliary atresia were 100.0% and 100.0% and 86.7% and 100.0%, respectively. Surgery was performed in 37 patients, including 21 with a choledochal cyst, 14 with biliary atresia, and 1 with a pancreatic duct stone. CONCLUSION: MRCP is useful method for evaluation of the pancreaticobiliary system in pediatric patients. It yields a high degree of accuracy in the diagnosis of biliary atresia and choledochal cyst.

Scrub typhus in children in a teaching hospital in eastern Taiwan, 2000-2005.

Scrub typhus is an endemic disease in eastern Taiwan. We conducted a study of scrub typhus cases among hospitalized pediatric patients. Twenty-eight pediatric cases were confirmed to be scrub typhus (either by immunofluorescence assay or polymerase chain reaction) from 2000 to 2005. The medical records of these patients were reviewed for demographics and clinical manifestations. The majority of the children (60.7%) diagnosed with scrub typhus were male. Approximately half the patients were < 5 years old and the mean age (SD) was 6.1 (3.66) years. Patients were more likely to live in rural rather than urban areas. The greatest number of cases was seen in the spring and summer. The primary clinical symptoms included fever (100%), cough (50%), eschar (50%), rash (35.7%), poor appetite (42.9%), lymphadenopathy (42.9%), headache (39.3%), and hepatomegaly (35.7%). AC-reactive protein (CRP) was elevated in 100%, an aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was elevated in 100%, an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was elevated in 91.3%, hypoalbuminemia was found in 88.9% and proteinuria in 50%. The mean (SD) duration of antibiotics was 11.0 (2.68) days and the mean (SD) duration for fever resolution after treatment was 2.8 (2.51) days. Meningoencephalitis was noted in 6 patients. Our case series had no mortalities. These results suggest that a diagnosis of scrub typhus should be suspected in children with fever and laboratory evidence of liver dysfunction who live in rural eastern Taiwan.

Screening young children with a first febrile urinary tract infection for high-grade vesicoureteral reflux with renal ultrasound scanning and technetium-99m-labeled dimercaptosuccinic acid scanning.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of renal ultrasound scanning and 99m-Technetium-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy for high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in young children with a first urinary tract infection (UTI). STUDY DESIGN: The medical records of children who had been examined with renal ultrasound scanning, DMSA scanning, and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) were reviewed. The findings of renal ultrasound scanning, DMSA scanning, and their predictive values were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 699 children, high-grade VUR (grades III-V) was diagnosed in 119 (17.0%). Signs of renal hypodysplasia (OR, 16.15), cyclic dilatation of pelvicaliceal system (OR, 11.73), hydroureter (OR, 4.00) with renal ultrasound scanning, and renal hypodysplasia (OR, 8.78), acute pyelonephritis (OR, 2.76) with DMSA scanning were associated with high-grade VUR. The sensitivities for high-grade VUR of ultrasound scanning alone (67.2%) or DMSA scanning alone (65.5%) were not as good as that of a both-test strategy, which had a sensitivity rate of 83.2%. The negative predictive value of the both-test strategy was 91.5%. CONCLUSION: Renal ultrasound scanning and DMSA scanning both should be routinely performed in children with a first febrile UTI. VCUG is only indicated when abnormalities are apparent on either ultrasound scanning or DMSA scanning or both.