Effects of androgen treatment in impotent men with normal and low levels of free testosterone

The relation between sexual function and serum free testosterone (fT) levels, which represent the active fraction of circulating testosterone, was evaluated. Two groups of impotent male subjects with mild hypogonadism were treated with oral testosterone undecanoate (TU); these men presented with tT/luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio and tT levels at the lower limits of normal. The first group had serum fT below 6.6 ng/ml, considered the lower normal value, according to our laboratory method, whereas the second group had normal fT limits. Administration of TU improved sexual function only in impotent men with low fT levels, but not in subjects with normal fT levels, even though the tT levels and the tT/LH ratio of the two groups were not significantly different. The results of our study suggest the presence of a minimun serum fT threshold, lying near the lower normal range, which determines the male sexual function. Moreover, serum fT levels were a more sensitive index than tT for identifying impotent men who can be successfully treated with androgens.     

从自由基生物学角度评价鸡肉质量的实验研究

本文把外观健康和非健康的活鸡各20只分成两组,宰后测其肝、腿肌中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量和脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)水平,发现两组中上述指标值差异显著(P<0.050 ;同时对两组实验鸡胴体在宰后4小时做了感官鉴别,也判断出其品质存在差异。提示体内SOD活性和MDA水平可以反映鸡肉质量,比感官鉴别更具敏感性,同时也可以反映宰前鸡的健康状况。     

High resolution electron paramagnetic resonance imaging of biological samples with a single line paramagnetic label

The application of electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) to obtain information from biological samples has been limited by the lack of ideal single line radical labels. The commonly used nitroxides exhibit multiple lines causing either hyperfine-based limitations in the maximum obtainable image resolution or hyperfine-based artifacts in the reconstructed image. The use of a novel single-line triarylmethyl paramagnetic label that enables marked enhancement in image quality and resolution is reported. This label exhibits a single line EPR spectrum that is sharp (linewidth ～60 mG in the absence of oxygen) and relatively stable in tissues. The potential of this label in enabling high resolution EPR imaging of biological samples was demonstrated in a series of phantoms and isolated biological organs such as the rat kidney. The images demonstrate that resolutions better than 100 μm could be obtained at L-band on samples of up to 20 mm in size.     

异搏定对胰腺腺泡细胞内游离钙离子浓度的影响

目的:探讨细胞内钙超负荷在急性胰腺炎(AP)发生发展中的作用.方法:使用140只SD大白鼠胆胰管逆行加压注射4.5%牛磺胆酸钠制成AP模型,用荧光指示剂Fura-2/Am测定游离胰腺腺泡细胞内游离钙离子浓度([Ca~(2 )]i).结果:注射后2小时和3小时胰腺呈急性出血坏死性炎症早期改变,制AP模型后AP组[Ca~(2 )]i较对照组明显增高(P<0.001),AP组胰腺腺泡细胞内[Ca~(2 )]i增高值与胰腺病理变化程度呈正相关关系(r_s=0.9727,P<0.001),异搏定治疗可明显提高病鼠生存率和改善胰腺组织出血坏死程度和腺泡细胞超微结构损害.结论:胰腺腺泡细胞内钙超负荷在胆汁性急性水肿性胰腺炎向出血坏死性胰腺炎转变中起明显作用,钙通道阻滞剂异搏定可明显阻止胰腺细胞内钙离子超负荷,是其治疗急性胰腺炎的主要机理之一.     

Effects of 5-Hydroxytraptamine on Aggregation,Release Reaction and Mobilization of Cytosolic Free Calcium Concentration in Rabbit Normal and Washed Single Platelets

In rabbit platelet rich plasma (PRP), 5-hydroxytraptamine (5-HT,0.03～3μmol/L) induced decrease in light transmission (DLT) dose-de pendently with centralization, as revealed by electron microscopy. However, 5-HT did not induced platelet aggregation and release reaction. 5-HT-induced DLT was inhibited by methysergide (0.3～30μmol/L), indomethacin (0.3～10μmol/L) and PGE_1 (0.01～0.3μmol/L) in a dose-dependent manner, but not EGTA(0.3～3mmol/L). Collagen(Coll), arachidonic acid (AA), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and a stable thromboxane A2 analoge(STA_2) also induced DLT before aggregation by themselves, which was also inhibited by PGE_1, but not inhibited by EGTA except for Coll However,Coll-, AA-, STA_2-and ADP-induced DLT were reduced by pretreatment of PRP with 5-HT dose-depen-dently. The duration of DLT by Coll and AA were decreased from 151.4±5.93 sec and 15(?)38±0.60sec to 45.44±4.04 sec and 9.00±1.25 sec respectively ((?)±s(?) P<0.01), but not by ADP and STA_2, 3μmol/L of ADP-and 0.3μmol/L of STA_2-induced aggregation which was not accompanied with release reaction were enhanced by 5-HT pretreatment, but in those (Coil 5μg/ml, AA 100～200μmol/L and STA_2 1～3 μmol/L) with release reaction, the amount of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)were suppressed significantly (P<0.001) by 5-HT pretreatment without the effect on the magnitude of aggregation, The mobilization of cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca~(2+)]i) was observed after 5-HT treatment in single washed platelet, the results indicated that the basic level of [Ca~(2+)] i was 64.78±3.24nmol/L and this level was increased dose-dependently and significantly at 30 sec after administration of 5-HT and the time of peak value of [Ca~(2+)] i was at 90～100 sec.The similar time courses of suppression of ATP released during aggregation, in cases of Coll(5μg/ml), AA (200μmol/L) and STA_2(3μmol/L), by 5-HT were also found in the present experiment.     

兔眼后房型人工晶体置入后房水内丙二醛测定

应用ＴＢＡ荧光法检测了兔眼单纯晶体囊外摘除后和晶体囊外摘除并后房型人工晶体置入后房水内丙二醛含量，这二种手术后房水内丙二醛含量比正常眼显著增高（Ｐ＜０．００５，Ｐ＜０．００１）。结果提示前房内发生了脂质过氧化反应，这一发现有利于对眼内后房型人工晶体表面细胞反应及前膜形成进一步认识。     

兔心肌挫伤心功能障碍与心肌细胞内Ca2+和线粒体ATP酶的变化

目的：探讨心肌细胞内游离钙([Ca^2 ]i)和心肌ATP酶变化在心肌挫伤（MC）后心功能障碍发生机制中的意义。方法：随机选取兔36只，分为6组：正常对照、伤后2、4、8、12、24h，每组6只。经右颈总动脉插管至左心室测左室压力。采用BIM-II型生物撞击机致成MC模型。在上述时相点测定左室压力，并测定心肌细胞内[Ca^2 ]i和心肌匀浆组织及线粒体ATP酶活力。结果：心脏收缩/舒张功能受到损害，心肌细胞内[Ca^2 ]i升高，心肌匀浆组织及线粒体ATP酶下降，相关分析表明心功能障碍与心肌细胞内[Ca^2 ]i含量升高呈明显负相关，与ATP酶活性降低呈明显正相关。结论：MC后心脏功能下降，心肌细胞内[Ca^2 ]i含量升高和ATP酶活性下降可能是其原因之一。     

1 108例终末期肾脏疾病血液透析病人原发疾病构成及相关因素分析

目的 回顾性研究终末期肾脏疾病（end stage renal disease，ESRD）血液透析病人原发疾病构成及其相关因素。方法 收集ESRD血液透析病人1108例，分析其原发疾病构成、年龄、性别、透析治疗持续时间、转归、生存率和死亡原因。结果 301例病人透析时间超过3个月，其中43．9％仍在进行血液透析治疗，最长者已存活13年；13．0％病人已行肾脏移植；19．9％转至外院治疗；7．3％改为腹膜透析；1．3％因经济困难放弃治疗；14．6％病人死亡。ESRD维持性血液透析病人1年生存率为93．53％，3年生存率为68．92％。5年生存率62．51％。死亡原因为心血管事件占54．5％，脑血管意外占20．5％。结论 本组病人以中、老年为主，男性多见。ESRD血液透析病人主要原发疾病为慢性肾小球肾炎，主要死亡原因为心血管事件和脑血管意外。     

Nephrology and renal replacement therapy in Romania--transition still continues (Cinderella story revisited).

INTRODUCTION. This report describes the current status of nephrology and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Romania, a country with previously limited facilities, highlighting national changes in the European context. METHODS: Trends in RRT development were analysed in 2003, on a national basis, using the same questionnaires as in previous surveys (1991, 1995). Survival data and prognostic risk factors were calculated retrospectively from a large representative sample of 2284 patients starting RRT between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001 (44% of the total RRT population investigated). RESULTS: In 2003, RRT incidence [128 per million population (p.m.p.)] and prevalence (250 p.m.p.) were six and five times higher, respectively, than in 1995. The annual rate of increase in the stock of RRT patients (11%) was supported mainly by an exponential development of the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) population (+600%), while the haemodialysis (HD) growth rate was stable (+33%) and renal transplantation made a marginal contribution. Renal care infrastructure followed the same trend: nephrology departments (+100%) and nephrologists (+205%). The characteristics of RRT incident patients changed accordingly to current European epidemiology (increasing age and prevalence of diabetes and nephroangiosclerosis). The estimated overall survival of RRT patients in Romania was 90.6% at 1 year [confidence interval (CI) 89.4-91.8] and 62.2% at 5 years (CI 59.4-65.0). Patients' survival was negatively influenced (Cox regression analysis) by age >65 years (P < 0.001), lack of pre-dialysis monitoring by a nephrologist [P = 0.01, hazards ratio (HR) = 0.8], severe anaemia, lack of erythropoetin treatment (P < 0.001, HR = 0.6), and co-morbidity, e.g. cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001, HR = 1.8) and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001, HR = 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of increase in RRT patient stock in 1996-2003 in Romania was the highest in Europe, the prevalence remained below the European mean. As CAPD had the greatest expansion, followed by HD, an effective transplantation programme must be set up to overcome the imbalance. The quality of RRT appears to be good and survival was similar to that in other registries. Further evolution implies strategies of prevention, based on national surveys, supported by the Romanian Renal Registry.     

Early assessment of renal resistance index after kidney transplant can help predict long-term renal function.

BACKGROUND: Color Doppler ultrasonography of intrarenal arterial resistance index (RI), performed early after kidney transplant, has proven to reliably predict short-term allograft function. The aim of this study was to assess whether it could also predict long-term renal function. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 76 kidney transplant patients who underwent RI assessment within 1 month after the transplant, subdivided into two groups according to RI values, lower (group A) or higher (group B) than its median value (0.635). RESULTS: Compared with group A subjects, the patients of group B were older at the time of transplant (42 +/- 9 vs 35 +/- 8 years; P = 0.001), the donor age was also older (41 +/- 16 vs 33 +/- 13 years; P = 0.02) and had a slightly higher proteinuria (0.54 +/- 0.5 vs 0.32 +/- 0.2 g/24 h; P = 0.02). Serum creatinine, ciclosporin or tacrolimus trough level, arterial blood pressure, number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches, anti-hypertensive medications and incidence of delayed graft function were not significantly different between the two groups. By univariate analysis, RI turned out to directly correlate with the recipient age, donor age and daily proteinuria (P = 0.007, P = 0.0007 and P = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that only donor and recipient age maintained their independent predictive value on RI. Kaplan-Meier analysis, considering a serum creatinine increase >50% as the endpoint of the study, showed a statistically significant different graft survival in the two groups (log-rank test = 5.489; P = 0.01). The univariate relative risk of deterioration of graft function among patients with higher RI was 3.77. Proteinuria and recipient age increased the risk as well. CONCLUSIONS: Our data seem to suggest that early determination of RI can help predict long-term graft function in kidney transplant recipients.