Testicles, Replacement

Testicle Replacement Visual Prothesis Wound Dressings... 

The best-known example of this application is the mammary prosthesis, or replacement breast, which consists of a silicone rubber gel in a bag of silicone that has been preformed to match the contours of a natural breast after implantation. The replacement testicle uses the same basic materials in a different shape. Neither device performs any physiological function (1, 12). 

This is promoted as nature s feel good hormone. It is a hormone made from cholesterol. It is formed in the body organs that produce steroid hormones, such as the liver, adrenals, skin, ovaries, and testicles. It is thought that the brain has the capacity to use cholesterol to make pregnenolone and other steroid hormones. Some believe this chemical has a positive effect on energy, memory, stress reduction, and arthritis. It is thought to be beneficial as a hormone replacement for those in middle or old age. 

The difficulties encountered in determining the peroxide content in tissues should be kept in mind. Although polyunsaturated fatty acids accelerate the production of some lesions attributed to vitamin E deficiency, such as exudative diathesis and encephalo-malacia in chicks, they do not affect the reproductive functions in rats. Antioxidants cannot correct all of the pathological manifestations resulting from vitamin E deficiency. The alteration of the fetus and the testicles of vitamin E-deficient rats is not prevented by the administration of methylene blue to an animal maintained on a vitamin E-deficient diet. On the basis of such observations, it has sometimes been proposed that antioxidants do not replace vitamin E but spare the existing vitamin. Even if it is accepted that vitamin E acts by virtue of its antioxidant properties, the nature of the critical compounds that are oxidized in the deficiency remains to be elucidated. 

A major use of plastics in surgery is to replace soft tissue such as a prosthetic breast, testicles, etc. The major polymer used here is poly(dimethylsiloxane) and these uses have been summarized in some recent articles (46,47). The major requirements for soft tissue replacements are (a) a consistency similar to the natural tissue being replaced, (b) no change in this consistency on aging in the body, (c) no fibrous ingrowth and (d) no adverse reactions with the body tissues. Porous and/or woven materials are usually unsuitable for this use since fibrous ingrowth normally leads to a pronounced loss in flexibility and a hard feel to the implant. Soft tissue implants usually do not come into direct contact with the blood and this problem is not particularly critical in this use. In... 

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