Probing penile hemodynamics by using photoplethysmography as objective indicators for male erection quality and sexual function.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is mostly due to the lack of blood flow into the penis. In the past 20 years, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used in measuring the concentrations and temporal dynamics of different hemoglobin types. However, the dynamics of the light absorption (photoplethysmography; PPG) have not been applied to survey penile hemodynamics and erection quality.

Validating METCAM/MUC18 as a Novel Biomarker to Predict the Malignant Potential of Prostate Cancer at an Early Stage by Using a Modified Gold Nanoparticles-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay.

(1) Background: To further validate METCAM/MUC18 as a diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer, a modified Lateral Flow Immune Assay (LFIA) with increased sensitivity and specificity was designed by taking advantage of the extremely high affinity between biotin and streptavidin and used. (2) Methods: The combination of a commercial biotinylated rabbit antibody (EPP11278), or the home-made biotinylated chicken antibody, and the nano-gold conjugated home-made chicken antibody or a commercial rabbit antibody (EPP11278), had the higher sensitivity and specificity in this modified LFIA to establish calibration curves from the two recombinant METCAM/MUC18 proteins and were used for determining METCAM/MUC18 concentrations in serum specimens from normal individuals, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) patients, prostate cancer patients with various Gleason scores, and treated patients. (3) Results: Data obtained by this modified LFIA were statistically better than traditional LFIA and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

METCAM/MUC18 is a new early diagnostic biomarker for the malignant potential of prostate cancer: Validation with Western blot method, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and lateral flow immunoassay.

Background: METCAM/MUC18 expression was increased with the malignant progression of prostate cancer and also a bona fide metastatic gene, capable of initiating and driving the metastasis of a non-metastatic human prostate cancer cell line to multiple organs.

Objective: We explored if METCAM/MUC18 was detectable in human serum and a novel biomarker to predict malignant propensity of prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Two antibodies were identified by Western blot analysis having the highest sensitivity and specificity to establish calibration curves from the recombinant METCAM/MUC18 proteins.

The Biochemical and Pathological Correlates of Successful Semen Cryopreservation From Patients With Testicular Cancer: A Single Tertiary Center Experience.

Objective: To determine the predictors for success with regard to semen cryopreservation and good semen quality of patients with testicular cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total of 50 men (aged 16-36 years) with testicular cancer, referred for semen cryopreservation prior to gonadotoxic treatment, were included. Age, alpha fetal protein (α-FP), beta human chorionic gonadotropin, lactate dehydrogenase, clinical staging, tumor volume, and pathological reports were evaluated as correlates of successful semen cryopreservation and good semen quality.

The potential of at-home prediction of the formation of urolithiasis by simple multi-frequency electrical conductivity of the urine and the comparison of its performance with urine ion-related indices, color and specific gravity.

It is important to control daily diet, water intake and life style as well as monitor the quality of urine for urolithiasis prevention. For decades, many ion-related indices have been developed for predicting the formation of urinary stones or urolithiasis, such as EQUILs, relative supersaturation (RSS), Tiselius indices (TI), Robertson risk factor algorithms (RRFA) and more recently, the Bonn risk index. However, they mostly demand robust laboratory analysis, are work-intensive, and even require complex computational programs to get the concentration patterns of several urine analytes.

Temporal trend of newly diagnosed incidence, medical utilization, and costs for pediatric urolithiasis, 1998-2007: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

Objective: To investigate the trends of newly diagnosed incidence, medical utilization, and medical costs for pediatric urolithiasis in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: The present study uses the National Health Insurance Research Database, which contains the data of all medical benefit claims from the individuals enrolled in the national and single-payer insurance program in Taiwan. The National Health Insurance covered 22,717,053 enrollees, nearly 99% of Taiwan's population.

Sperm quality assessment via separation and sedimentation in a microfluidic device.

A major reason for infertility is due to male factors, including the quality of spermatozoa, which is a primary factor and often difficult to assess, particularly the total sperm concentration and its motile percentage. This work presents a simple microfluidic device to assess sperm quality by quantifying both total and motile sperm counts. The key design feature of the microfluidic device is two channels separated by a permeative phase-guide structure, where one channel is filled with raw semen and the other with pure buffer.

Direct characterization of motion-dependent parameters of sperm in a microfluidic device: proof of principle.

Background: Semen analysis is essential for evaluating male infertility. Besides sperm concentration, other properties, such as motility and morphology, are critical indicators in assessing sperm quality. Nevertheless, rapid and complete assessment of these measures still presents considerable difficulty and involves a range of complex issues.

The activation of peripheral 5-HT1A receptors can inhibit seminal vesicle contraction: an in vivo animal study.

Objectives: To elucidate the differential effects of stimulating various peripheral 5-HT receptor subtypes on the contractile response of seminal vesicles (SVs) induced by electrical stimulation (ES).

Methods: Male Wistar rats (aged 12-14 weeks) were prepared as our previously established model, which allows an intraarterial injection of test agents to directly act on SV. Four selective 5-HT agonists-8-OH-DPAT (5-HT1A), 5-nonyloxytryptamine (5-HT1B), BW723C86 (5-HT2B), and MK-212 (5-HT2C)-were injected at various concentrations (from 10(-8) to 10(-4) mmol/kg).

Determination of human penile electrical resistance and implication on safety for electrosurgery of penis.

Introduction: Electrosurgery has been a surgical application since the late 19th century. Although many urologists take this daily application for granted, the effects of electrical treatment on penile nerves and vessels have not been well documented.

Aim: To investigate the electrical characteristics of the penis and erectile tissues and to discover the potential hazards of electrosurgery on the penis.

Parasympathetic influence plays an independent and significant role in inducing the contraction of the seminal vesicle of the rat.

Objectives: The role of the parasympathetic pathway in seminal vesicle (SV) contraction has not been well described. The purpose of this study was to study parasympathetic effects, the dominant muscarinic receptors subtype(s), and nitric oxide (NO) effects for SV contraction.

Methods: In vivo, SV pressure of mature male Wistar rats were recorded after electric stimulation (ES) of each pelvic nerve (PN; parasympathetic pathway) alone; bilateral PNs simultaneously, the L6 and S1 branches of the left PN; the left PN after ablation of sympathetic influence; the lesser splanchnic nerve (LSN) after ablation of parasympathetic influence; and the LSN after pretreatment of 4 muscarinic receptor antagonists or a NO donor-3-Morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1).

Feasability of a novel audio-video sexual stimulation system: an adjunct to the use of penile duplex Doppler ultrasonography for the investigation of erectile dysfunction.

Introduction: Penile color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) with pharmacotesting has become an important tool for evaluating vascular erectile dysfunction (ED), and audio-visual sexual stimulation (AVSS) has been suggested to be helpful in assisting the performance of CDUS during the examination.

Aim: To investigate the feasibility of using a novel, remotely controllable AVSS system to assist CDUS.

Methods: This prospective randomized cross-over study recruited 60 consecutive ED patients.