[Platelet-derived growth factor-BB induces phenotypic transformation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells in SD rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) on the phenotypic transformation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMC) in SD rats. METHODS: CCSMCs were primarily cultured in the modified tissue sticking medium and subjected to immunofluorescence assay. The cells were divided into a blank control and four PDGF-BB groups, the latter exposed to 5, 10, 20, and 40 ng/ml of PDGF-BB, respectively, for 24 hours, and the cells in the 20 ng/ml PDGF-BB group treated for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The the relative expressions of α-SMA, SMMHC, calponin, and OPN mRNA were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: The α-SMA positive rate of the CCSMCs was over 95%. Compared with the blank control group, the expression levels of α-SMA, SMMHC, and calponin mRNA were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while that of OPN mRNA remarkably increased (P < 0.05) in the PDGF-BB groups. The 20 ng/ml PDGF-BB group also showed significantly downregulated expressions of α-SMA, SMMHC, and calponin mRNA (P < 0.05) and upregulated expression of OPN mRNA (P < 0.05) at 24, 48, and 72 hours. CONCLUSION: PDGF-BB can induce the transformation of the phenotype of CCSMCs in SD rats from the contractile to the synthetic type.

[Complications of minimally-invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence and management of complications following minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL). METHODS: The data of 4326 cases of MPCNL from January 2001 to February 2006 were reviewed, including 2451 male cases and 1875 female cases. Their age ranged from 4 to 82 years with a mean of 42 years. Of 4326 cases, 1221 cases had simple nephrolithiasis, 1735 staghorn nephrolithiasis, 386 upper ureterolithiasis, 90 serious stone street after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and 894 residual calculi after open surgery. RESULTS: Among the 4326 cases of MPCNL, complications occurred in 445 cases (10.3%). Of the 445 cases, 20 had massive hemorrhage, 13 pleural injuries, 1 colonic perforation, 343 fever attacks (T > 38 degrees C), 13 septic shocks, 16 perinephric urinoma, 9 perinephric abscess, 26 renal perforating injuries, 1 guide wire misled into inferior vena cava, 3 died. CONCLUSIONS: MPCNL is a minimally invasive operation. However, serious complications would occur if the procedure were ignored. The improvement in the prevention and management of complications can promote the application of this procedure.

[Endoluminal therapy for bilateral malignant ureteric obstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the endourological technique in the treatment of bilateral malignant ureteric obstruction. METHODS: The data of 43 patients (totally, 70 cases) with bilateral malignant ureteric obstruction treated with endoluminal therapy were reviewed retrospectively. Of 70 cases, 38 were treated by retrograde double-J stenting, 24 by minimally invasive percutaneous nephrotomy (MPCN) and 8 by antegrade double-J stenting. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for an average of 12 months. The retrograde double-J stenting, MPCN and antegrade double-J stenting was successfully performed in 50.0% (19/38), 100.0% (24/24) and 62.5% (5/8), respectively. Technical failures in placing retrograde double-J stent were too difficult to identify the ureteric orifice (13/38) or failing to cross the obstruction site because of severe extraluminal compression (6/38). Failure in placing antegrade double-J stent was due to severe extraluminal compression (3/8). Dislodgment of nephrostomy tubes (11/19) was the major factor which limited the application of MPCN. CONCLUSION: It is safe and effective to treat malignant ureteric obstruction with endourological technique, and suggested initially with retrograde double-J stenting. If malignant ureteric orifice occlusion or a severe extraluminal compression is showed in the imaging, MPCN or antegrade double-J stenting may be selected according to the site and the extent of obstruction.

Corrigendum to "Combination of low-energy shock-wave therapy and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to improve the erectile function of diabetic rats" by Hai-Tao Shan et al.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.184271.].

Combination of low-energy shock-wave therapy and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to improve the erectile function of diabetic rats.

Stem cell transplantation and low-energy shock-wave therapy (LESWT) have emerged as potential and effective treatment protocols for diabetic erectile dysfunction. During the tracking of transplanted stem cells in diabetic erectile dysfunction models, the number of visible stem cells was rather low and decreased quickly. LESWT could recruit endogenous stem cells to the cavernous body and improve the microenvironment in diabetic cavernous tissue. Thus, we deduced that LESWT might benefit transplanted stem cell survival and improve the effects of stem cell transplantation. In this research, 42 streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were randomized into four groups: the diabetic group (n = 6), the LESWT group (n = 6), the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation group (n = 15), and the combination of LESWT and BMSC transplantation group (n = 15). One and three days after BMSC transplantation, three rats were randomly chosen to observe the survival numbers of BMSCs in the cavernous body. Four weeks after BMSC transplantation, the following parameters were assessed: the surviving number of transplanted BMSCs in the cavernous tissue, erectile function, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and penile immunohistochemical assessment. Our research found that LESWT favored the survival of transplanted BMSCs in the cavernous body, which might be related to increased stromal cell-derived factor-1 expression and the enhancement of angiogenesis in the diabetic cavernous tissue. The combination of LESWT and BMSC transplantation could improve the erectile function of diabetic erectile function rats more effectively than LESWT or BMSC transplantation performed alone.