Publications by authors named "Heng-Jun Xiao"

Background: Ureteral stents, including internal stents and stentless techniques, are commonly employed in urological procedures such as urinary stone management and deformity correction. However, their use in radical cystectomy for bladder cancer remains relatively limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of internal stent, external stent, and no-stent treatments for ureteroileal anastomosis in laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) combined with ileal orthotopic neobladder (IONB).

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder in men and lacks effective treatment. Stem cell (SC) possess the potential in self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation, and secrete a variety of active substances. Stem cell therapy, as a promising option for the treatment of ED, is a focus in regenerative medicine research.

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Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a well-known complication of diabetes, affecting up to 75% of diabetic men. Although the etiology of diabetic ED is multifactorial, endothelial dysfunction is considered to be a pillar of its pathophysiology. Endothelial dysfunction is caused by the harmful effects of high glucose levels and increased oxidative stress on the endothelial cells that comprise the vascular endothelium.

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In this study, one immortalized human normal prostatic epithelial cell line (BPH) and four human prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, 22Rv1, PC-3, and DU-145) were treated with Ganoderma Lucidum triterpenoids (GLT) at different doses and for different time periods. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle were analyzed using flow cytometry and chemical assays. Gene expression and binding to DNA were assessed using real-time PCR and Western blotting.

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Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer death for North American men. Whereas localized prostate cancer can be cured, there is currently no cure for metastatic prostate cancer. Here we report a novel approach that utilizes designed chimeric transcription activator-like effectors (dTALEs) to control prostate cancer metastasis.

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Oxidative stress is implicated in male infertility and significantly higher reactive oxygen species are detected in 25% of infertile males. Although different agents of various alternative medicines, including traditional Chinese medicine, have been tried with varying success, evidence remains limited on whether and how much herbs or supplements might help increase the anti-oxidant ability of the sperm. This study examined the anti-oxidative effects of icariin, a flavonoid isolated from Herba Epimedii, on the human sperm.

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Objective: To evaluate surgical complications and outcomes based on prostate size in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP).

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of PKEP performed between July 2008 and January 2013. According to the prostate size on preoperative transrectal ultrasonography measurement, patients were divided into three groups: group 1: <40 ml, group 2: 40-80 ml and group 3: >80 ml.

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The weight; testis/body coefficient; levels of LDH, SDH, SODH, G-6PD, and testosterone; cell cycle; and cell apoptosis of the male mice were influenced after being treated with 200 mg/[kg/day] of rare earths suspension for 3 weeks. The "Raman fingerprints" of the human sperm DNA exposed to 0.040 mg/ml CeCl3 were very different from those of the untreated; the Raman bands at 789 cm(-1) (backbone phosphodiester), PO4 backbone at 1,094 cm(-1), methylene deformation mode at 1,221 cm(-1), methylene deformation mode at 1,485 cm(-1), and amide II at 1,612 cm(-1), of which intensities and shifts were changed, might be the diagnostic biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets.

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Purpose: We investigated whether injecting shRNA constructs targeting IGFBP-3 in the penis of old rats would improve erectile function.

Materials And Methods: The most validated IGFBP-3 shRNA plasmid vector (pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shIGFBP-3) was prepared and injected in penile corpus cavernosum tissue. A total of 30 old (age 24 months) male Sprague Dawley® rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, including 10 each that received phosphate buffered saline only (100 μl), pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shNC (100 μg) and the most validated plasmid constructs pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shIGFBP-3 (100 μg).

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The aim of this study was to compare the intraoperative difference in anatomic details between loupe-assisted and microscopic varicocelectomy within the same spermatic cord. Between April 2011 and August 2011, 26 men with 33 sides containing grade 2-3 varicocele were enrolled in this study. First, one surgeon performed the open inguinal varicocelectomy under × 3.

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Background: 2-Suture longitudinal vasoepididymostomy shows superiority to transverse technique in an animal study; to date, this has not been consistently confirmed in human body. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of 2-suture transverse intussusception vasoepididymostomy and compared the rationality between transverse and longitudinal techniques.

Methods: From May 2007 to December 2008, we performed 2-suture transverse vasoepididymostomy in 19 consecutive patients, as described by Marmar with modification.

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Objective: To explore the effects of gene transfer of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on the penis of senile rats and the altered levels of mRNA and protein of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

Methods: Ten young (4 months) and 20 senile (24 months) Sprague-Dawley male rats were selected. The senile rats were divided into 2 groups: phosphate buffer solution (PBS)-only (n = 10) and 100 µg IGF-1 plasmid treatment group (n = 10).

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Introduction: Previous studies have confirmed the gene transfer of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and the IGF-1 protein can improve the erectile function in aging rats. IGF binding protein (BP)-3 can regulates the availability of IGF-I. The higher expression of IGFBP-3 may play an important role in erectile dysfunction (ED).

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Aim: To further investigate the relaxation mechanism of neferine (Nef), a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid extracted (isolated) from the green seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn in China, on rabbit corpus cavernosum tissue in vitro.

Methods: The effects of Nef on the concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in isolated and incubated rabbit corpus cavernosum tissue were recorded using 125I radioimmunoassay.

Results: The basal concentration of cAMP in corpus cavernosum tissue was 5.

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Objective: To investigate the etiology and individualized treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in young adult men.

Methods: Included in the investigation were 110 young adult men with ED, at the mean age of 28 (ranging from 22 to 39) and with the average disease course of 24 months (ranging from 6 to 48). The etiology of ED was determined for each patient by history inquiry, medical examination, laboratory investigation and erectile function test, and then individualized therapies were administered accordingly.

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Objectives: To investigate the effect of senility on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and apoptosis in rat penis.

Methods: The rats were divided into three groups randomly: senescent, aged and young. Their penises were harvested to detect iNOS expression by immunohistochemistry and cell apoptosis rate by TUNEL, respectively.

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Objective: To study the relaxants effects of six extractions from Chinese Herbs (neferine, tetrandrine, kakonein, scutellarin, ginsenoside Rgl and ginsenoside Rb1) on the corpus cavernosum tissue of rabbit in vitro.

Methods: Isolated stripes of rabbit corpus cavernosum tissue were precontracted with 10(-5) mol/L phenylephrine (PE). Relaxation in response to cumulative doses of six extracts at (10(-8) - 10(-3)) mol/L was determined.

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Objective: To study the expression of the kallikreins-kinins system in the corpus cavernosum of rats.

Methods: The expression of tissue kallikrein I and kinin B2 receptor gene in the corpus cavernosum and heart of adult rats was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: The tissue kallikrein I and kinin B2 receptor were detected in the corpus cavernosum as well as in the heart of the rats and the contents were similar.

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Objective: To study the effects of Chinese medicine tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in cultured penis corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cell (PCSMC) in rabbits.

Methods: By using laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), the [Ca2+]i fluorescence signal changes was investigated in cultured PCSMC loaded with Ca2+ indicator Fluo-3/AM and divided into potassium chloride(KCl) group and norepinephrine (NE) group. Compared with verapamil (Ver), the effects of TMP was observed in different concentrations on [Ca2+]i increase induced by high potassium and NE.

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Objectives: To study the relaxation effects of tetrandrine on the corpus cavernosum tissue of rabbit in vitro.

Methods: 1. The fluctuation of the dose-response relaxation curves for the contraction of KCl induced by tetrandrine was observed with isolated rabbit corpus cavernosum tissue.

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Calcium channels exist extensively in the membrane of cardiac, skeletal, smooth muscle cell and neuron. Calcium channel blockers (CCB) were widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases because they could relax vascular smooth muscle. Experimental researches on calcium channel blockers relaxing corpus cavernosum smooth muscle have been reported recently.

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