Expressions of cystathionine-beta-synthase and cystathionine-gamma-lyase in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle of castrated rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expressions of cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle of castrated rats and their roles in erectile dysfunction after castration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly assigned 40 eight-week-old male SD rats to groups A (2-week sham-operation), B (4-week sham-operation), C (2-week castration) and D (4-week castration). We determined the level of serum testosterone (T) and the expressions of CBS and CSE in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle of the rats after operation using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The T level was significantly decreased in groups C ([11.85 +/- 6.73] nmol/L) and D ([1.96 +/- 1.23] nmol/L) as compared with A ([89.65 +/- 17.13] nmol/L) and B ([106.75 +/- 19.68] nmol/L) (P < 0.05). CBS and CSE were expressed in all groups of rats, but the relative expressions of CBS and CSE mRNA were significantly lower in groups C (0.93 +/- 0.14 and 0.87 +/- 0.20) and D (0.79 +/- 0.17 and 0.71 +/- 0.12) than in A (2.13 +/- 0.65 and 1.93 +/- 0.15) and B (2.07 +/- 0.53 and 1.89 +/- 0.45) (P < 0. 05), so were the optical density values (IA) of the CBS and CSE proteins, 130.35 +/- 23.56 and 93.56 +/- 36.64 in group C and 80.29 +/- 29.65 and 58.56 +/- 19.95 in group D, as compared with 310.57 +/- 130.56 and 269.56 +/- 116.76 in group A and 349.68 +/-112.35 and 298.35 +/- 100.76 in group B (P < 0.05). The androgen level was positively correlated with the expressions of CBS and CSE in the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle of the rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Androgen regulates erectile function via the expressions of CBS and CSE.</p>

Value of B-type ultrasound in management of patients sustaining craniocerebral injury in Wenchuan earthquake / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the value of B-type ultrasound during and after operations in patients sustaining craniocerebral injury in Wenchuan earthquake. Methods The patients with suspected multiple intracranial hematomas due to intraoperative acute encephalocele were referred for B-type ultrasonic examination. After the operation, B-type ultrasonic examination was performed at the cranial defects or the site of cranial drilling by horizontal coronal or sweep scanning. Results Open cranial surgery was performed in 58 cases of craniocerebral injury resulting from the earthquake. Intraoperative B-type ultrasound was used in 24 cases, and intracranial hematomas or hemorrhage in different brain regions were found in 18 cases. Hematomas in the injured hemisphere were found in 2 cases, and ultrasound-guided hematoma clearance was performed in 14 cases. In 28 cases, postoperative B ultrasonic examination was carried out along with CT scanning, and the results demonstrated basic agreement between the two medalities. Conclusions Intraoperative B-type ultrasound may help accurately localize multiple intracranial hematomas and can be crucial to identify the causes of intraoperative acute encephalocele. Postoperative sweep scanning with B-type ultrasound at the cranial defect can accurately identify delayed hematoma to allow timely management and improve the operative SUCCESS.