A comparative study of two single-stage oral mucosal substitution urethroplasty (Kulkarni and Asopa) in the surgical treatments of lichen sclerosus urethral strictures

Long-segment lichen sclerosus (LS) urethral stricture is a challenge for urologists. Limited data are available for surgeons to make a surgical decision between Kulkarni and Asopa urethroplasty. In this retrospective study, we investigated the outcomes of these two procedures in patients with LS urethral stricture. Between January 2015 and December 2020, 77 patients with LS urethral stricture underwent Kulkarni and Asopa procedures for urethroplasty in the Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Shanghai, China). Of the 77 patients, 42 (54.5%) underwent the Asopa procedure and 35 (45.5%) underwent the Kulkarni procedure. The overall complication rate was 34.2% in the Kulkarni group and 19.0% in the Asopa group, and no difference was observed ( P = 0.105). Among the complications, no statistical difference was observed in the incidence of urethral stricture recurrence ( P = 0.724) or glans dehiscence ( P = 0.246) except for postoperative meatus stenosis ( P = 0.020). However, the recurrence-free survival rate between the two procedures was significantly different ( P = 0.016). Cox survival analysis showed that antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy use ( P = 0.020), diabetes ( P = 0.003), current/former smoking ( P = 0.019), coronary heart disease ( P < 0.001), and stricture length ( P = 0.028) may lead to a higher hazard ratio of complications. Even so, these two techniques can still provide acceptable results with their own advantages in the surgical treatment of LS urethral strictures. The surgical alternative should be considered comprehensively according to the patient characteristics and surgeon preferences. Moreover, our results showed that antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy use, diabetes, coronary heart disease, current/former smoking, and stricture length may be contributing factors of complications. Therefore, patients with LS are advised to undergo early interventions for better therapeutic effects.

Three new experimental models of anterior urethral stricture in rabbits

Background

This study describes and compares three surgical procedures for the construction of urethral stricture (US) models in rabbits.

Methods

Forty adult male rabbits were allocated to four groups: 36 rabbits were randomly assigned to three experimental groups, while the remaining 4 were assigned to a sham group. The penis was separated from the rectum. Then along the ventral midline, a longitudinal penile skin incision was made while ensuring that the urethral mucosa was intact and the muscular layer was not completely incised. In group 1 (n=12), ventral semi-circumferential mucosa electrocoagulation of a 1-cm length of the anterior urethra was performed until ulceration occurred. In group 2 (n=12), the ventral urethral mucosa was incised, and electrocoagulation of the dorsal semi-circumferential mucosa was performed. In group 3 (n=12), whole-circumferential mucosa electrocoagulation was performed. In group 4 (n=4), no special treatment was performed. Four weeks later, urethrography, urethroscopy, and histological evaluation were carried out.

Results

The weights of the rabbits in the four groups were comparable. There was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 with regard to operative time, but the operative time in these groups was significantly longer than that in group 1 (group 2 vs. group 1: P<0.05, group 3 vs. group 1: P<0.001). After the surgery, urinary fistula with infection occurred in one rabbit in group 1, and one rabbit died due to urethral atresia in group 3. According to the urethrography and urethroscopy findings, 9 out of 12 rabbits in group 1, 5 out of 12 rabbits in group 2, and 11 out of 11 rabbits in group 3 developed US, while no rabbits in the sham group developed US. Histopathological examination revealed injury to the urothelium, inflammatory infiltration, a decrease in the amount of blood vessels and smooth muscle fibers, and a decrease in the amount of collagen fibers.

Conclusions

Compared with the semi-circumferential procedures, the whole-circumferential procedure had a higher success rate. Therefore, this procedure seems to have potential for the construction of long-segment rabbit US models.

Effects of plication procedures in special cases of Peyronie's disease: a single-center retrospective study of 72 patients

General recommendations regarding surgical techniques are not always appropriate for all Peyronie's disease (PD) patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of plication procedures in PD patients with severe penile curvature and the effects of early surgical correction in patients who no longer have progressive deformities. The clinical data from 72 patients who underwent plication procedures were analyzed in this study. Patients were divided into Groups A and B according to the curvature severity (≤60° or >60°) and Groups 1 and 2 according to the duration of disease stabilization (≥3 months or <3 months). At the 1-year follow-up, 90.0% (36/40) and 90.6% (29/32) patients reported complete penile straightening, and 60.0% (24/40) and 100.0% (32/32) patients reported penile shortening in Groups A and B, respectively. No curvature recurrence occurred in any patient, and no significant differences were observed in postoperative International Index of Erectile Function–Erectile Function domain (IIEF-EF), erectile pain, sensitivity, or suture knots on the penis whether such outcomes were grouped according to the curvature severity or the duration of stabilization. However, the duration from symptom onset to surgical management in Group 1 was significantly longer than that in Group 2 (mean ± standard deviation [s.d.]: 20.9 ± 2.0 months and 14.3 ± 1.2 months, respectively, P < 0.001). The present study showed that the plication procedures seemed to be an effective choice for the surgical treatment of PD patients with severe penile curvature. In addition, the early surgical treatment seemed to benefit those patients who already had no erectile pain and no longer exhibited progressive deformity.

Transcriptome sequencing reveals a lncRNA-mRNA interaction network in extramammary Paget's disease

Background

Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a rare malignant intraepidermal adenocarcinoma that is poorly understood. Regulatory long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are characterized in many species and shown to be involved in processes such as development and pathologies, revealing a new layer of regulation in different diseases, especially in cancer studies. In the present study, we used high-throughput sequencing to reveal the lncRNA–mRNA interaction network in extramammary Paget’s disease.

Methods

High-throughput sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA profiles between EMPD patients and healthy controls. Then, a series of bioinformatics analyses were conducted to construct the lncRNA–mRNA interaction network, which was finally confirmed in vitro.

Results

Six pairs of EMPD tumor and normal skin samples were collected and sequenced to identify the differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA profiles between EMPD and healthy controls. A total of 997 differentially expressed mRNAs and 785 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified. The GO and KEGG analyses show that epidermal development and cell adhesion play important roles in EMPD. The results of the lncRNA–mRNA interaction network analysis suggested that NEAT1, PGAP1, FKBP5 and CDON were the pivotal nodes of the network and that lncRNA NEAT1 might regulate mRNA PGAP1, FKBP5 and CDON. The results of the quantitative real-time RT–PCR performed in ten other patients for NEAT1, PGAP1, FKBP5 and CDON were consistent with those of the sequencing analysis. Moreover, an in vitro experiment confirmed the interactions between NEAT1 and PGAP1, FKBP5 and CDON in human immortalized keratinocytes.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the lncRNA–mRNA interaction network based on four pivotal nodes, NEAT1, PGAP1 FKBP5 and CDON, may play an important role in EMPD, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of EMPD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-021-01135-2.

Effects of patients' understanding and choice of surgical types on postoperative outcomes of Peyronie's disease: a single-center retrospective study of 108 patients

Surgical correction can be considered for treating patients with a chronic phase of Peyronie's disease (PD) and persistent penile curvature. In clinical practice, some patients pay too much attention to surgical complications and refuse the recommended feasible surgical types. Meanwhile, they require operations according to their preferences. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of patients’ own choice of surgical type on postoperative satisfaction. This retrospective study analyzed data from 108 patients with PD who underwent surgical correction according to doctors’ recommendations or patients’ own demands. The objective and subjective surgical outcomes were assessed. Patients’ understanding of the disease was analyzed using a questionnaire survey. Objective measurements of surgical outcomes, including penile straightening, penile length, and sexual function, in patients who received the recommended surgery, were similar to those in patients who did not accept the recommended surgery. However, subjective evaluations, including erectile pain, discomfort because of nodules on the penis, and decreased sensitivity in the penis, were more obvious in patients who did not follow doctors’ recommendations. In addition, a questionnaire survey showed that understanding PD and the purpose of surgery of patients who did not follow doctors’ advice were inappropriate, as they did not conform to the principle of treatment. The present study showed that surgical correction seemed to be an objectively effective option in the management of patients in the stable chronic phase of PD. Low patient satisfaction might be related to patients’ lack of correct understanding of the disease and its treatment strategy as well as unrealistic expectations.

Treatments of Peyronie's disease with Scutellaria baicalensis and surgery according to the disease course: a single-center retrospective study of 261 patients

BACKGROUND

Oral medication therapies are more conventional than other non-surgical therapies in the acute phase of Peyronie's disease (PD). Although the commonly used oral drugs for PD have shown poor or indeterminate outcomes, most patients prefer oral medications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Scutellaria baicalensis extract for treating acute-phase PD patients and examine the practicality of treatment strategies for PD according to the disease course.

METHODS

This retrospective study was performed at our institution from 2005 to 2015 and analyzed the data of 261 patients with PD. The acute-phase PD patients received Scutellaria baicalensis extract for 6 months. After oral treatment, the patients with persistent curvature underwent surgical correction during the stable phase.

RESULTS

During this study period, 183 patients received oral treatment with Scutellaria baicalensis, and 78 patients did not. Compared to the untreated patients, treatment with Scutellaria baicalensis had a significant effect in improving the symptoms of acute-phase PD. The mean time required for stabilization also showed a significant statistical difference. Treatment with Scutellaria baicalensis was safe and well-tolerated. After the disease stabilized, 70 and 31 patients with significant penile curvature underwent surgical correction by 16- dot plication and great saphenous vein grafting procedures, respectively. At the one-year follow-up, complete penile straightening and penile length shortening were observed in 92.86% and 41.43% of the patients after 16-dot plication and in 87.10% and 25.81% of the patients after grafting procedures, respectively. The postoperative Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function scales were maintained in all patients after the 16-dot plication procedure and decreased in 54.84% of the patients after the grafting procedure. Overall, 92.86% and 83.87% of the patients who received 16-dot plication and grafting procedures, respectively, were satisfied with the final surgical results.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with extract of Scutellaria baicalensis seems to be beneficial for improvements in symptoms of acute phase PD and acceleration of the disease stabilization. The 16-dot plication and great saphenous vein grafting procedure seem effective options in the surgical management of the stable phase after Scutellaria baicalensis administration in the acute phase of PD.

Hypoxia-preconditioned adipose-derived stem cells combined with scaffold promote urethral reconstruction by upregulation of angiogenesis and glycolysis

Rationale

Tissue engineering is a promising alternative for urethral reconstruction, and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are widely used as seeding cells. Hypoxia preconditioning can significantly enhance the therapeutic effects of ADSCs. The low oxygen tension of postoperative wound healing is inevitable and may facilitate the nutritional function of ADSCs. This study aimed to investigate if hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs, compared to normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs, combined with scaffold could better promote urethral reconstruction and exploring the underlying mechanism.

Methods

In vitro, paracrine cytokines and secretomes that were secreted by hypoxia- or normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs were added to cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to measure their functions. In vivo, hypoxia- or normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs were seeded on a porous nanofibrous scaffold for urethral repair on a defect model in rabbits.

Results

The in vitro results showed that hypoxia could enhance the secretion of VEGFA by ADSCs, and hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs could enhance the viability, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and glycolysis of HUVECs (p < 0.05). After silencing VEGFA, angiogenesis and glycolysis were significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). The in vivo results showed that compared to normoxia-preconditioned ADSCs, hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs combined with scaffolds led to a larger urethral lumen diameter, preserved urethral morphology, and enhanced angiogenesis (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Hypoxia preconditioning of ADSCs combined with scaffold could better promote urethral reconstruction by upregulating angiogenesis and glycolysis. Hypoxia-preconditioned ADSCs combined with novel scaffold may provide a promising alternative treatment for urethral reconstruction.

Staged male genital reconstruction with a local flap and free oral graft: a case report and literature review

Background

Male genital skin loss is a common disease in urology. However, male genital skin loss accompanying a penile urethra defect is rarely reported. Herein, we describe a novel surgical technique using a composite local flap and oral mucosal graft to reconstruct the penis, which may provide a new solution for patients with similar conditions.

Case presentation

A 36-year-old male with a penile urethra defect and a large area of genital skin loss required urethral reconstruction. The meatus had descended to the penoscrotal junction. This procedure was divided into three stages. The first stage of the surgery involved burying the nude penile shaft beneath the skin of the left anteromedial thigh for coverage of the skin defect. The second stage consisted of releasing the penis and expanding the size of the urethral plate for further urethroplasty. The third stage consisted of reconstruction of the anterior urethra 6 months later. Postoperatively, the patient reported satisfactory voiding. The maximal flow rate (MFR) was 22.2 ml/s with no postvoiding residual urine at the 24-month follow-up visit. No edema, infection, hemorrhage, or cicatricial retraction were observed. The patient’s erectile function was satisfactory, and his international index of erectile function-5 score (IIEF-5 score) was 23 at the 24-month follow-up visit. Additionally, the presence of nocturnal penile tumescence demonstrated that he had normal erectile function.

Conclusions

This procedure is an effective surgical option for men with complete foreskin and penile urethra defects. It could also be extended as a treatment strategy when composite local or pedicle transposition flaps and free grafts are needed for specific patients.

[comIdiopathic scrotal calcinosis: A report of 10 cases and review of the literature]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis and scrotal reconstruction in the treatment of idiopathic scrotal calcinosis (ISC).

METHODS

From March 2007 to October 2018, 10 ISC patients, aged 28－79 (mean 45) years and with a disease course of 6－497 (mean 128.4) months, were treated in our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed their clinical data and reviewed related literature.

RESULTS

All the patients underwent physical examination and biochemical and parathyroid function tests. None of them had a history of endocrine or metabolic disease, or trauma, or a family member with similar diseases, and none had subjective symptoms except local pruritus in 1 case. All were treated surgically and post-operative follow-up revealed no recurrence. Histopathological examination of the excised lesion confirmed it to be ISC.

CONCLUSIONS

ISC is a rare localized benign disease, of which surgery seems an effective option for the definite diagnosis and treatment. Occasionally scrotal reconstruction may be required in case of extensive involvement of the scrotal skin.

[Selective embolization for arterial priapism: A report of 5 cases]

OBJECTIVE

To introduce our experience in the treatment of arterial priapism by superselective embolization.

METHODS

This study included 5 cases of perineal trauma-induced arterial erectile dysfunction treated in our departmentbetween February 2011 and May 2015, all failingpreviously to respond to 3 weeks of conservative treatment. The patients were aged 25－47 (mean 35) years, with the onset of arterial priapism at 2－5 days after trauma, and all subjected to physical examination, blood gas analysis, color Doppler ultrasonography of the corpora cavernosum, and IIEF-5 scoring. All the patients underwent superselective embolization, followed by local pressing and cold compression, and IIEF-5 scores were obtained again at 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

All the patients had normal erectile functionbefore trauma, with a mean IIEF-5 scoreof 24.60 ± 0.55. Complete detumescenceor painless flaccidity of the penis was achieved in 1 case immediately after surgery and in the other 4 after 3－17 days of postoperative conservative treatment. None of the patients needed a second embolization and no relapse was found during a mean follow-upof 27.2 (13－48)months. The IIEF-5 scores obtained at 6 (24.00 ± 1.02) and 12 months (24.20 ± 0.82) were normal, with no statistically significant differencesfrom that before trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective embolization is a safe and effective option for the treatment of arterial priapism. In case of no immediate painless flaccidity of the penis after surgery, conservative treatment can be extended rather than a second operation.

Losartan Preserves Erectile Function by Suppression of Apoptosis and Fibrosis of Corpus Cavernosum and Corporal Veno-Occlusive Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays important roles in penile corporal fibrosis and veno-occlusive dysfunction (CVOD). Angiotensin II (Ang II) is critically involved in erectile dysfunction, and blocking of Ang II is more important than inhibition of TGF-β in non-penile tissue fibrosis. However, the role of Ang II in corporal fbrosis and CVOD in a diabetic condition has not been investigated.

METHODS

Diabetic rats were treated with sildenafil or losartan (an Ang II antagonist) alone or in combination. Intracavernosal pressure, dynamic infusion cavernosometry, and histological and molecular alterations of the corpus cavernosum were examined.

RESULTS

Diabetic rats exhibited decreases in erectile response, severe CVOD, apoptosis, fibrosis, and activation of the TGF-β1 pathway. Treatment with sildenafil had a modest effect on erectile response and an insignificant suppressive effect on CVOD, apoptosis, fibrosis, and the TGF-β1 pathway. Although losartan greatly improved the histological and molecular changes and CVOD as compared with sildenafil, its effect on erectile response was low. The combination of sildenafil and losartan had superior effects on these parameters than did either compound alone.

CONCLUSION

Ang II activation may be involved in apoptosis and fibrosis of the corpus cavernosum through Smad and non-Smad pathways, resulting in CVOD and ED. The low efficacy of sildenafil in a diabetic ED rat model was at least partly due to its inadequate effects on apoptosis, fibrosis, and CVOD.

Two-stage urethroplasty is a better choice for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee after urethral plate transection: a single-center experience

It is still debatable whether single- or two-stage urethroplasty is a more suitable technique for treating hypospadias with severe chordee after urethral plate transection. This retrospective study evaluated these two techniques. A total of 66 patients of proximal hypospadias with severe chordee were divided into two groups according to the techniques they underwent: 32 and 34 patients underwent single-stage (Duckett) or two-stage urethroplasty, respectively. Median ages at presentation were 7.5 years and 11.0 years in single-stage and two-stage repair groups, respectively. Median follow-ups were 28.5 months (20-60 months) and 35 months (18-60 months) in the single-stage and two-stage groups, respectively. The meatus of the neourethra was located at the top of the glans in all patients. No recurrence of chordee was found during follow-up, and all patients or parents were satisfied with the penile length and appearance. Complications were encountered in eight patients in both groups, with no statistically significant differences between the two techniques. The late complication rate of stricture was higher after the single-stage procedure (18.75% vs 0%). The complication rate after single-stage repairs was significantly lower in the prepubescent subgroup (10.52%) than in the postpubescent cohort (46.15%). These results indicate that the urethral plate transection effectively corrects severe chordee associated with proximal hypospadias during the intermediate follow-up period. Considering the higher rate of stricture after single-stage urethroplasty, two-stage urethroplasty is recommended for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee after urethral plate transection.

Metastatic tumors of the penis: a report of 8 cases and review of the literature

The purpose of this study was to report the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of secondary penile cancers and review the literature of this rare condition.The records of 8 patients with metastatic penile cancer treated at our hospital from 2006 to 2013 were analyzed. A search of medical databases was conducted.Patient symptoms included penile mass (n = 7, 5 had concomitant pain) and acute urine retention (n = 1). The primary cancers included bladder, lung, gastric, liver, and prostate malignancies and 1 case of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. The longest time from diagnosis of the primary cancer to metastatic penile cancer was 16 years and the shortest was 7 months. Six patients were treated with phallectomy, 1 with resection of the mass, and 1 with only a biopsy because of advanced metastatic disease. Five patients are deceased at the time of this report, and the longest and shortest survival times (from the diagnosis of primary cancer to the death) were 16 years and 9 months, respectively. The literature review identified 17 cases reported since 2011, bringing the total number of reported cases to 480. Genitourinary cancer, primarily bladder and prostate, account for approximately 70 of the primary cancer sites and gastrointestinal cancers account for approximately 21%. Approximately half of the patients had died of their disease within 1 year of the diagnosis of penile metastasis.The prognosis of metastatic penile cancer is poor. Most primary cancers are in the urologic or gastrointestinal systems. Surgery and adjunctive therapy may improve symptoms, but fail to prolong survival.

microRNA-155 promotes the proliferation of prostate cancer cells by targeting annexin 7

Micro (mi)RNAs are a group of small non-coding RNA molecules that have been demonstrated to regulate the expression of genes involved in tumorigenesis. The relevance of microRNAs in the development, progression and prognosis of prostate cancer is not fully understood. miR-155 has been implicated in the induction of breast, lung and liver cancer, but its role in prostate cancer has not been investigated. In the present study, the biological function of miR-155 was investigated in prostate cancer for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. It was demonstrated that the expression of miR-155 was upregulated in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines as determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-155 promoted cell proliferation, as indicated by MTT assay. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that inhibition of miR-155 induced cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. In addition, western blot analysis indicated that annexin (ANX)7 was significantly downregulated in prostate cancer tissues and cells. A luciferase reporter assay indicated that ANX7 was a target of miR-155, which suggested that miRNA-155 promoted the proliferation of prostate cancer cells by regulating ANX7 expression levels.

An improved morcellation procedure for holmium laser enucleation of the prostate

PURPOSE

We modified the conventional morcellation procedure for holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), and its outcomes are presented in this article.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As 395 patients were included, the conventional morcellation procedure was performed in the first 100 cases (group 1, cases 1-100), and an improved procedure was used in the last 100 cases (group 2, cases 296-395). The improved morcellation process has three steps to execute. The morcellation time, collected tissue weight, morcellation rate, and associated complications were recorded.

RESULTS

The tissue-resected weight was similar between group 1 (60.7±33.9 g) and group 2 (62.4±36.8 g). The mean morcellation time in group 1 was greater than that in group 2 (11.3±7.1 and 8.3±4.1 minutes, respectively), and the mean morcellation rate was better in group 2 than in group 1 (5.75±1.7 g/minutes in group 1 v 7.3±1.1 g/minutes in group 2). Complications, such as bladder injury, were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

The improved morcellation procedure described in this article can be used in various situations of suction and can be performed in a more fluent manner and with better efficiency.

Unsatisfactory outcomes of prolonged ischemic priapism without early surgical shunts: our clinical experience and a review of the literature

Ischemic priapism is a rare occurrence which can cause severe erectile dysfunction (ED) without timely treatment. This retrospective study reports our experience in treating prolonged ischemic priapism and proposes our further considerations. In this paper, a total of nine patients with prolonged ischemic priapism underwent one to three types of surgical shunts, including nine Winter shunts, two Al-Ghorab shunts and one Grayhack shunt. During the follow-up visit (after a mean of 21.11 months), all patients' postoperative characters were recorded, except one patient lost for death. Six postoperative patients accepted a 25-mg oral administration of sildenafil citrate. The erectile function of the patients was evaluated by their postoperative 5-item version of International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF-5), which were later compared with their premorbid scores. All patients had complete resolutions, and none relapsed. The resolution rate was 100%. Seven patients were resolved with Winter shunts, one with an Al-Ghorab shunt and one with a Grayhack shunt. The mean hospital stay was 8.22 days. There was only one urethral fistula, and the incidence of postoperative ED was 66.67%. Four patients with more than a 72-h duration of priapism had no response to the long-term phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor treatment. These results suggest that surgical shunts are an efficient approach to make the penis flaccid after prolonged priapism. However, the severe ED caused by prolonged duration is irreversible, and long-term PDE-5 inhibitor treatments are ineffective. Thus, we recommend early penile prosthesis surgeries for these patients.

Effect of pre-flight treatment with constant magnetic field on development of Artemia eggs retrieved from Chinese Satellite "8885"

Dry winter eggs of Artemia salina were treated with a 30-60 mT inhomogeneous constant magnetic field for 113 h, and then carried by Chinese Satellite "8885" to its spaceflight for 8 days. Their early development rate and hatching ratio were observed on the 10th, 31st, 65th and 227th days after the accomplishment of the flight. Three main results were obtained as follows: (i) The treatment accelerated the development of the eggs not flown; (ii) it also enhanced the resistance of the flown eggs against unfavorable spaceflight effects (retarding early development and lowering the hatching ratio), and promoted the recovering ability of the flown eggs from the affected state; and (iii) the latent beneficial effect produced by treatment was found to be very durable, still appearing in the development of the treated eggs on the 318th day after treatment (the 227th day after the flight).