Pruritus is one of the common side effects of intrathecal or epidural injection of opioids. The aim of this study was to test the antipruritic effect of acupuncture and its possible mechanism. We used electroacupuncture (EA), toll-like receptor (TLR)2/4 antagonist sparstolonin B (SsnB), and TLR2/4 agonist peptidoglycan (PGN) to precondition female wild-type BALB/c mice, and then prepared a morphine-induced pruritus model. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-12, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α in serum were measured by ELISA assays. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the ratio of M1-phenotype to M2-phenotype macrophages. Our results showed that EA preconditioning improved pruritus; reduced the expressions of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB both at the mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05); reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α; and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (P<0.05). EA promoted M2-phenotype macrophage differentiation. Moreover, these results showed no significant difference between the SsnB group and the EA+SsnB group (P>0.05), but showed a significant difference between the PGN group and the EA+PGN group (P<0.05). Therefore, we propose that EA may be involved in the remission of pruritus in morphine-induced pruritus model mice through the TLR2/4-MyD88-NF-κB pathway. EA is a potential therapeutic treatment for pruritus.

The aim of our study was to initially investigate the necessity of monitoring nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity testing (NPTR) for three consecutive nights in the forensic identification of men's sexual dysfunction. 120 cases of forensic patients were collected in our outpatient department from December 2009 to April 2017. The NPTR test time of all patients was more than 5 hours per night for 3 consecutive nights. 66 patients, the mean age was 38.9 years old (ranges from 18 to 68 years old), had no effective erection occurred in the first two nights. The non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test was used to test for differences of three nights’ NPTR test parameters, including tumescence activated units (TAUs), rigidity activated units (RAUs), average rigidity, average durations in minutes of erectile episodes with rigidity >60%, numbers of effective erectile episodes. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among the 120 patients, the mean age was 36.8 years old (ranges from 17 to 68 years old), 36 patients (30%) had at least one effective erection on the first night after NPTR test. 18 patients (15%) had effective erections on the second night, and 9 patients (7.5%) showed effective erection only on the third night. There were 66 patients without effective erection in the first two nights, and the results of the first night, the second night and the third night were compared with each other. The parameters of tumescence activated units (TAUs), rigidity activated units (RAUs), average rigidity, average durations in minutes of erectile episodes with rigidity >60% was no significant difference. But Statistical significance was found for numbers of effective erectile episodes between the first and the third night, and also the second and the third night (P = 0.01).

Background:This randomized clinical trial (October 2012-December 2013) compared extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and a vacuum erectile device (VED) for management of erectile dysfunction (ED).Methods:Consecutive Chinese patients (20-55 years) with ED, abnormal nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR), and international index of erectile function-5 items (IIEF-5) score <22 were randomized to receive ESWT or VED (twice weekly, 4 weeks). Primary outcomes were treatment efficacy and success rate 4 weeks after completion of therapy. Secondary outcomes included changes in IIEF-5 score, sex encounter profile (SEP) score, erection hardness score (EHS) and NPTR assessments 4 weeks post-therapy. All enrolled patients (n=30 per group) completed the study. At baseline, age, IIEF-5 score, SEP score, EHS, and NPTR assessments were similar between groups.Results:Four weeks post-therapy, IIEF-5 score increased in the ESWT (15.033.00 vs. 11.60 +/- 2.28) and VED (15.10 +/- 3.06 vs. 11.53 +/- 2.27) groups, as did SEP score, EHS, and NPTR measures (all P<.05). Efficacy in the ESWT and VED groups was excellent in 10% and 13.3%, respectively, and moderate in 63.3% and 53.3%, respectively. Treatment success rate in the ESWT and VED groups was 73.3% and 67.7%, respectively.Conclusion:VED use and ESWT have comparable efficacies in the treatment of ED in Chinese patients.

In order to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and type 2 diabetic erectile dysfunction (T2DED), we analyzed the characteristics of gut microbiota in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with T2DED. Thirty-five SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n=15) with normal diet, and experimental group (n=20) with construction of T2D model. Faecal and serum samples were collected at 2nd and 8th week after establishment of T2D model, respectively. Faecal samples were used for analysis of gut microbiota, and serum samples for detection of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and inflammatory factors like interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-2, IL-10, and monocyte chemoattractantprotein-1 (MCP-1). The main compositions of gut microbiota were Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level, and Oscillospira, Allobaculum, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, SMB53, Prevotella, Coprococcus, Sutterella and Blautia at the genus level with relatively higher abundance in all SD rats. The relative abundance of Enterococcus, Corynebacterium, Aerococcus, Facklamia (opportunistic pathogens in most case) increased, and that of Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, Anaerotruncus (beneficial bacteria) decreased in T2DED group as compared with that at 2nd week after establishment of T2D model (T2D2 group). The serum contents of TMAO, LPS, IL-1, IL-2, IL-10 and MCP-1 in T2DED group were significantly higher than those in control group. The gut microbiota of T2DED rats was inhibited. The gut microbiota of T2DED rats had changed, as the relative abundance of beneficial bacterium was decreased while that of opportunistic pathogens was increased. The variations of gut microbiota might lead to inflammation and prompt the emergence of erectile dysfunction in the rats with T2D. TMAO might play an important role in the formation of T2DED.

Background: Phenotypic modulation within corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED), yet little is known regarding the effects of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) on CCSMCs phenotype. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of PDGF-BB on phenotypic modulation of CCSMCs. Method: Cell viability was measured by the MTS assay. For cell cycle analysis, cells were stained with propidium iodide and analyzed by cytometry. Wound healing assay were performed to detect the PDGF-BB-induced CCSMCs migration. The expressions of phenotype-associated genes were determined by immunoblotting and Western blotting. Result: PDGF-BB significantly promoted the cell growth and migration capability of CCSMCs. The levels of phenotype-associated genes showed a significant change in PDGF-BB-induced CCSMCs, which was in concordance with Western blot analysis. Conclusion: These findings indicated that CCSMCs switched their phenotype from a contractile to a proliferative state in response to the stimuli of PDGF-BB.

Objective To introduce our experience in diagnosising and treating two types of rare erectile dysfunction (ED).

Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is a clinical syndrome characterized with aging and declined serum testosterone levels. Sexual symptoms are also essential for the diagnosis of LOH. Testosterone replacement therapy is used widely to treat LOH. However, the side effects of it should not be ignored, such as fluid retention, hypertension and spermatogenic suppression. Therefore, alternate treatment modalities have been pursued. Herbal medicines used widely in China have achieved satisfying results with little side effects. Nonetheless, there are few pharmacological researches on them. In this study, 24-month-old mice were used as LOH animal models to explore the pharmacological effects of a herbal medicine, saikokaryukotsuboreito (SKRBT), on serum testosterone levels and sexual functions. Furthermore, the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, a kind of rate-limiting enzyme of testosterone synthesis, was also examined. As a result, SKRBT improved the serum testosterone levels of these mice at a dose of 300 and 450 mg/kg. Multiple measures of sexual behavior were enhanced. The expression of StAR was also increased. Therefore, this study suggested that SKRBT can improve the serum testosterone levels by activating the expression of StAR and might be a viable option to treat sexual symptoms caused by LOH.

Objective To culture and identify rat adipose-derived stem cells in vitro, and provide the available seed cells for erectile dysfunction therapy. Methods Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated and cultured from the inguinal region of SD rat. The expressions of CD31, CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90 and CD105 in the isolated stem cells were arrayed by flow cytometry. The fourth passage cells were induced and identified by their direct differentiation capacities to the adipogenic, osteogenic, myogenic and endothelialcells. Results The growth curve of the fourth passage cells presented typical reversed“S”. The cultured cells expressed CD73, CD90 and CD105, lacked CD31, CD34 and CD45. The differentiated adipogenic, Osteogenic, Myogenic and endothelial differentiation cells were identified by Oil Red staining, Alizarine Red staining, α-SMA expression and vWF expression, respectively. Conclusion Rat adipose-derived stem cells have been successfully isolated and cultured, and could be used as autogenous adipose-derived stem cells for erectile dysfunction therapy.

Background: Dysfunction of early endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) is currently considered as a critical factor for the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). CXCR7 is recently found as a ...

Objectives To evaluate the association between the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods Relevant studies published for the time range 1992-2012 were searched thoroughly in Medline. Abstracts regarding the main epidemiological evidences on the association between the risk factors for CVD and ED were conducted to briefly review. Results A growing number of consistent epidemiological evidences suggest CVD and ED share substantially plenty of the same risk factors (OR: 1.93; 95%CI: 1.48-3.27, P < 0.05), which include age, hyperlipidemia, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, depression and smoking. The pathogenesis of both CVD and ED has been shown to be common conditions of endothelial dysfunction. They were linked through decreased expression and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) occurring with ageing. ED may be an early symptom of underlying systemic vascular disease especially coronary artery disease (CAD) rather than itself. Approximately 50-70% of men with CAD have ED. ED can arise before CAD is symptomatic with a time window of 3–5 years. Conclusions These reviews reveal that ED is beginning to be considered as an early manifestation of underlying CVD. It is a potential risk predictor for the subsequent development of CVD.

Objective To evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the spinal cord in the maintenance of diabetic neuropathic pain in rats.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2 months,weighing 180-200 g,were used in the study.Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) 60 mg/kg and confirmed by blood glucose ＞ 16.7 mmol/L on day 2 after STZ injection.Twenty diabetic rats were randomly allocated into diabetes mellitus group (DM group,n =10) and L-NAME (non-selective NOS inhibitor) group (LN group,n =10).Another 10 age-matched normal rats served as control group (C group).On 21 days after STZ injection,L-NAME 10 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 7 consecutive days in LN group,whereas the equal volume of normal saline 5 ml/kg was given instead of L-NAME in DM group.Paw withdrawal threshold to yon Frey filament stimulation (PWT) was measured before STZ infection and on 7,14,21 and28 days after STZ injection.The rats were sacrificed after the last measurement of PWT and the lumbar segments of spinal cord were removed for determination of NO content and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression (by Western blot analysis) in spinal cord tissues.Results Compared with C group,PWT was significantly decreased on 14,21 and 28 days after STZ injection,and the NO content and nNOS expression in spinal cord tissues were increased in DM and LN groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with DM group,PWT was significantly increased on 28 days after STZ injection,and the NO content and nNOS expression in spinal cord tissues were decreased in LN group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion NO in the spinal cord is involved in the maintenance of diabetic neuropathic pain in rats and the mechanism is related to the enhanced function of nNOS.