The sensitivity difference between the glans penis and penile shaft in primary premature ejaculation

The penis is a vital organ of perception that transmits perceived signals to ejaculation-related centers. The penis consists of the glans penis and penile shaft, which differ considerably in both histology and innervation. This paper aims to investigate whether the glans penis or the penile shaft is the main source of sensory signals from the penis and whether penile hypersensitivity affects the whole organ or only part of it. The thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were recorded in 290 individuals with primary premature ejaculation using the glans penis and penile shaft as the sensory areas. The thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes of SSEPs from the glans penis and penile shaft in patients were significantly different (all P < 0.0001). The latency of the glans penis or penile shaft was shorter than average (indicating hypersensitivity) in 141 (48.6%) cases, of which 50 (35.5%) cases were sensitive in both the glans penis and penile shaft, 14 (9.9%) cases were sensitive in the glans penis only, and 77 (54.6%) cases were sensitive in the penile shaft only (P < 0.0001). There are statistical differences in the signals perceived through the glans penis and the penile shaft. Penile hypersensitivity does not necessarily mean that the whole penis is hypersensitive. We classify penile hypersensitivity into three categories, namely, glans penis, penile shaft, and whole-penis hypersensitivity, and we propose the new concept of penile hypersensitive zone.

[Expressions of ERK and p-ERK in advanced prostate cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p-ERK in benign and malignant prostate tissues, and whether it can be used as a marker for the prognosis of advanced prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS

Using immunohistochemical Envision, we detected the expressions of ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 in 20 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 40 cases of advanced PCa and analyzed their correlation with PCa metastasis, Gleason score, PSA level, and prognosis.

RESULTS

The expression of ERK1/2 was remarkably higher in the advanced PCa than in the BPH cases (82.5% vs 55%, P<0.05), which was not associated with cancer metastasis, Gleason score, PSA level, or survival time of the patients with advanced PCa, and so was that of p-ERK1/2 (75.0% vs 35%, P<0.05), which was not associated with the Gleason score or PSA level of the PCa patients, either. The expression rates of p-ERK in the metastasis, non-metastasis, survival >5 yr, and survival ≤ 5 yr groups were 61.9%, 89.5%, 57.9%, and 90.5%, respectively, with statistically significant differences among these groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 proteins are highly expressed in advanced PCa and p-ERK1/2 is associated with the metastasis and prognosis of advanced PCa.

[Expressions of JNK and p-JNK in advanced prostate cancer and their clinical implications]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expressions of JNK and p-JNK in advanced prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their implications.

METHODS

Using immunohistochemistry, we detected the expressions of JNK and p-JNK proteins in 40 cases of paraffin wax-embedded PCa and 21 cases of BPH tissues and analyzed their relationships with advanced PCa and BPH as well as with the pathologic features of advanced PCa.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were not found in the positive expression rate of the JNK protein between BPH and PCa (42.86% vs 52.50%, P>0.05), non-metastatic and metastatic PCa (53.85% vs 51.85%, P >0.05), Gleason ≤7 and Gleason >7 (58.82% vs 47.82%, P >0.05), PSA ≤20 μg/L and PSA >20 μg/L (57.14% vs 51.52%, P >0.05), or survival >5 yr and survival ≤5 yr (60.00% vs 45.00%, P >0.05), nor in the expression level of p-JNK between BPH and PCa (33.33% vs 35.00%, P >0.05), non-metastatic and metastatic PCa (30.77% vs 37.03%, P >0.05), Gleason ≤7 and Gleason >7 (35.29% vs 34.78%, P >0.05), or PSA ≤20 μg/L and PSA >20 μg/L (43.75% vs 10.93%, P >0.05). However, the expression of p-JNK was significantly higher in the survival >5 yr than in the survival ≤5 yr group of the PCa patients (50.00% vs 20.00%, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

PCa patients with highly expressed p-JNK have a longer survival time and the high positive rate of p-JNK is associated with the prognosis of PCa.

Giant hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction: A rare case report, and a review of the literature

The hydronephrotic kidney, resulting from a ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), presents commonly as a clinical condition, with the presence of usually no more than 1–2 liters in the collecting system, but a very small number of cases of giant hydronephroses (GHs) has been reported in adults. A GH is defined as the adult renal pelvis containing >1 liter of urine, or at least 1.5% of the body weight. In the majority of cases, the range of the hydronephrotic kidney remains restricted to the renal area. However, the patient described in the present case report had a range for the hydronephrotic kidney which occupied almost the entire abdominal cavity (~24 l), and cases such as these are rarely presented; therefore the aim of the present case study was to document a clear case of GH resulting from UPJO, also accompanied by a review of the current literature.

Arsenic trioxide inhibits viability and induces apoptosis through reactivating the Wnt inhibitor secreted frizzled related protein-1 in prostate cancer cells

Background

Growing evidence suggests that arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor cell growth in prostate cancer (PCa), although details of the mechanism are still inconclusive. We investigated the antitumor effect of As₂O₃ in human PCa cell lines LNCaP and PC3 and the underlying mechanisms by focusing on the Wnt signaling pathway.

Methods

The effect of As₂O₃ on the viability and apoptosis of PCa cells was investigated by cholecystokinin-8 and flow cytometry. The expression of the related proteins in the Wnt signaling pathway and the downstream target genes of the Wnt signaling pathway was examined by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR assay. The methylation status of the SFRP1 gene promoter was assessed by bisulfite sequencing.

Results

As₂O₃ inhibited the viability of PCa cells and induced apoptosis of PCa cells in a dose-dependent manner. The protein level of phosphoglycogen synthase kinase-3β was upregulated, whereas the protein level of β-catenin and the mRNA levels of c-MYC, MMP-7, and COX-2 were downregulated in a dose-dependent manner in PCa cells treated with As₂O₃. In addition, As₂O₃ upregulated the protein and mRNA levels of secreted frizzled related protein-1, and increased the demethylation of the SFRP1 gene promoter.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that As₂O₃ may inhibit cell viability and induce apoptosis through reactivating the Wnt inhibitor secreted frizzled related protein-1 in both androgen-dependent and -independent human PCa.

Effect of dietary Bacillus subtilis on proportion of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in swine intestine and lipid metabolism

The ratio of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes bacterial groups in the gut can affect the ability to absorb nutrients. We investigated the effect of probiotic Bacillus subtilis supplementation of diets on growth performance, fat deposition, blood lipids, copy numbers, and percentage of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in cecal contents, as well as mRNA expression of key lipid metabolism enzymes in the liver and adipose tissue of finishing pigs. Twenty-four Duroc x Meishan crossbreed 8-week-old pigs (10.28 ± 0.59 kg) were randomly allocated to two dietary treatments: maize-soybean meal-based diets with B. subtilis (probiotic group) and without B. subtilis (control group). The probiotic diet led to a significant increase in the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio of pigs weighing 10 to 110 kg. The mean backfat depth was increased while leaf lard weights were decreased by probiotic supplementation. Ingestion of probiotics decreased the serum triglyceride and glucose concentrations, but did not change the levels of total cholesterol and free fatty acids in the serum. The mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACCα) in the liver were down-regulated by the dietary probiotic supplement. Conversely, the gene expressions of FAS and ACCα in the adipose tissue increased. The probiotic diet decreased the copy numbers and percentage of Bacteroidetes, while it increased the percentage of Firmicutes in the cecal contents. We conclude that the addition of B. subtilis improves growth performance and up-regulates lipid metabolism in subcutaneous fat of finishing pigs. We conclude that B. subtilis affects lipid metabolism through regulation of the proportion of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in the gut.

Ground simulation of the G-excess illusion

Objective. To observe the subjects' perception of orientation following certain head movements or change of simulator cab attitude in hypergravity (HG), and assess the feasibility of simulating G-excess illusion on the ground by a centrifuge-like Spatial Disorientation (SD) simulator. Method. 1.6 G force field was generated by planetary rotation of the simulator. Perception of orientation of the cab were collected from twelve male pilots' report following their heads pitch movements in pitch plane or cab attitude changes in roll plane under 1.6 G. Result. While making a pitch-up head movement, the pilots experienced a 63.8 degrees +/- 48.3 degrees pitch-up attitude change of the cab in pitch plane, and when the cab was tilted left 20 degrees, pilots experienced a tilt-left perception of 48.6 degrees +/- 39.4 degrees in roll plane. Conclusion. Although there's strong Coriolis effects onboard the SD simulator under 1.6 G, most pilots experienced the G-excess illusion. It demonstrated that it was feasible to use the centrifuge-like device to generate this kind of illusion on the ground.

The psychophysiological assessment method for pilot's professional reliability

BACKGROUND

Previous research has shown that a pilot's professional reliability depends on two relative factors: the pilot's functional state and the demands of task workload. The Psychophysiological Reserve Capacity (PRC) is defined as a pilot's ability to accomplish additive tasks without reducing the performance of the primary task (flight task).

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that the PRC was a mirror of the pilot's functional state. The purpose of this study was to probe the psychophysiological method for evaluating a pilot's professional reliability on a simulator.

METHODS

The PRC Comprehensive Evaluating System (PRCCES) which was used in the experiment included four subsystems: a) quantitative evaluation system for pilot's performance on simulator; b) secondary task display and quantitative estimating system; c) multiphysiological data monitoring and statistical system; and d) comprehensive evaluation system for pilot PRC. Two studies were performed. In study one, 63 healthy and 13 hospitalized pilots participated. Each pilot performed a double 180 degrees circuit flight program with and without secondary task (three digit operation). The operator performance, score of secondary task and cost of physiological effort were measured and compared by PRCCES in the two conditions. Then, each pilot's flight skill in training was subjectively scored by instructor pilot ratings. In study two, 7 healthy pilots volunteered to take part in the experiment on the effects of sleep deprivation on pilot's PRC. Each participant had PRC tested pre- and post-8 h sleep deprivation.

RESULTS

The results show that the PRC values of a healthy pilot was positively correlated with abilities of flexibility, operating and correcting deviation, attention distribution, and accuracy of instrument flight in the air (r = 0.27-0.40, p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with emotional anxiety in flight (r = -0.40, p < 0.05). The values of PRC in healthy pilots (0.61 +/- 0.17) were significantly higher than that of hospitalized pilots (0.43 +/- 0.15) (p < 0.05). The PRC value after 8 h sleep loss (0.50 +/- 0.17) was significantly lower than those before sleep loss (0.70 +/- 0.15) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that a pilot's PRC, which was closely related to flight ability and functional state, could partly represent the pilot's professional reliability. It is worthwhile to further research using a pilot's PRC as a predictor of mental workload in aircraft design.

Effects of hyperosmotic medium on hepatocyte volume, transmembrane potential and intracellular K+ activity

Hepatocyte transmembrane potential (Vm) behaves as an osmometer and varies with changes in extracellular osmotic pressure created by altering the NaCl concentration in the external medium (Howard, L.D. and Wondergem, R. (1987) J. Membr. Biol. 100, 53). We now have demonstrated similar effects on Vm by increasing external osmolality with added sucrose and not altering ionic strength. We also have demonstrated that hyperosmotic stress-induced depolarization of Vm results from changes in membrane K+ conductance, gK, rather than from changes in the K+ equilibrium potential. Vm and aKi of hepatocytes in liver slices were measured by conventional and ion-sensitive microelectrodes, respectively. Cell water vols. were estimated by differences in wet and dry weights of liver slices after 10-min incubations. Effect of hyperosmotic medium on membrane transference number for K+, tK, was measured by effects on Vm of step-changes in external [K+]. Hepatocyte Vm decreased 34, 52 and 54% when tissue was superfused with medium made hyperosmotic with added sucrose (50, 100 and 150 mM). Correspondingly, aKi increased 10, 18 and 29% with this hyperosmotic stress of added sucrose. Tissue water of 2.92 +/- 0.10 kg H2O/kg dry weight in control solution decreased to 2.60 +/- 0.05, 2.25 +/- 0.06 and 2.22 +/- 0.05 kg H2O/kg dry weight with additions to medium of 50, 100 and 150 mM sucrose, respectively. Adding 50 mM sucrose to medium decreased tK from 0.20 +/- 0.01 to 0.05 +/- 0.01. Depolarization by 50% with hyperosmotic stress (100 mM sucrose) also occurred in Cl-free medium where Cl- was substituted with gluconate. We conclude that hepatocytes shrink during hyperosmotic stress, and the aKi increases. The accompanying decrease in Vm is opposite to that expected by an increase in aKi, and at least in part results from a concomitant decrease in gK. Changes in membrane Cl- conductance most likely do not contribute to osmotic stress-induced depolarization, since equivalent decreases in Vm occurred with added sucrose in cells depleted of Cl- by superfusing tissue with Cl-free medium.

Norwalk virus genome cloning and characterization

Major epidemic outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis result from infections with Norwalk or Norwalk-like viruses. Virus purified from stool specimens of volunteers experimentally infected with Norwalk virus was used to construct recombinant complementary DNA (cDNA) and derive clones representing most of the viral genome. The specificity of the clones was shown by their hybridization with post- (but not pre-) infection stool samples from volunteers infected with Norwalk virus and with purified Norwalk virus. A correlation was observed between the appearance of hybridization signals in stool samples and clinical symptoms of acute gastroenteritis in volunteers. Hybridization assays between overlapping clones, restriction enzyme analyses, and partial nucleotide sequence information of the clones indicated that Norwalk virus contains a single-stranded RNA genome of positive sense, with a polyadenylated tail at the 3' end and a size of at least 7.5 kilobases. A consensus amino acid sequence motif typical of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases was identified in one of the Norwalk virus clones. The availability of Norwalk-specific cDNA and the new sequence information of the viral genome should permit the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and studies of the molecular biology of the virus.