Objective To study the effects of high salt intake on blood pressure and renin-angiotensin in male rats with different plasm androgen levels.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized to sham(n=10)or operated(n=10),or castration(n=10),or testosterone replacement after castarion(26.7 mg/kg,n=10)and fed with 8% NaCl for 8 weeks.Tall arterial pressure were recorded before,4 and 8 weeks after experiment.Serum PRA,plasma angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)and testosterone(T)were determined by radioimmunoassey respectively. Results After 8 weeks high salt dietary,blood pressure was significantly increased in sham and testosterone replace ment rats(Sham operation group:137.3?4.0 vs the basal line:117.5?5.9 mmHg,testosterone replacement group: 134.4?5.2 vs the basal line:116.6?7.7 mmHg,P0.05).Concomitantly,sham operation or testosterone re placement rats had higher PRA and plasm Ang Ⅱ content compared with castrated rats(PRA:Sham operation 5.90 ?0.77 vs testosterone replacement group:5.69?0.47 vs castrated rats:4.90?0.55 mol/(L?h),P

OBJECTIVETo establish a liquid chip technology to detect Y chromosome microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

METHODSMultiplex PCR and liquid chip technology were used to detect the Y chromosome microdeletions in AZF region in 178 infertile patients with azoospermia and 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile control men.

RESULTSForty out of 312 patients (12.8%) were found to have deletions in AZF region. The microdeletion frequency was 14%(25/178) in the azoospermic group, 9.6%(11/114) in the oligospermic and 20%(4/20) in the severe oligospermic group.

CONCLUSIONThe authors developed a high-throughput, fast and simple assay to screen the AZF region microdeletions of Y chromosome.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Sequence Tagged Sites

Objective To observe the state of endemic flurosis, construction and running status of water improvement projects in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment fluorosis. Methods Water samples of the diseased and nondiseased villeges were collected from east, west, south, north and centre of each villege in 2005, and fluoride concentration was determined for each surveyed village with unimproved-water. At the same time, all the tap water and source water samples were collected to determine fluoride concentration in each water-improved village surveyed. In 2008, all the endemic fluorosis villages in Guied county were divided into slight, medium and heavy types according to the water fluoride content before water improved, and 1,1,3 survey villages were chosen from each type. In all of the village children aged 8 to 12 years were tested for dental fluorosis by Dean method. Six copies of the urinary fluoride were sampled in different age groups. The fluorine content in water and urine was determined by F-ion selective electrode. The situation of clinical skeletal fluorosis of adults over 16 years of age was investigated, 20 adults (evenly divided between men and women) in the villages of medium and heavy types were examined by X-ray for skeletal fluorosis. Results In 3 village fluoride content of drinking water exceeded the national drinking water standards ( <1.0 mg/L) of 85 surveyed villages with improved-water. Among the 16 projects, 8 were intermittently running and 3 were retired, leaving only 31.25% of the projects active. Theprevalence of enamel fluorosis was 41.13%( 116/282), that of skeletal flurosis was 47.95%(969/2021) and that of X-ray checked was 20.73% (17/82). The median of urine fluoride was 1.06 mg/L and the scope was 0.20 - 9.44 mg/L.Conclusions Most of the improved-water projects do not normally supply water in the disease ward of Guide county. Therefore, there is an increasing trend of the disease, so further control measures are needed.

AIMTo develop a high-throughput multiplex, fast and simple assay to scan azoospermia factor (AZF) region microdeletions on the Y chromosome and establish the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

METHODSIn total, 178 infertile patients with azoospermia (non-obstructed), 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile man controls were included in the present study. The samples were screened for AZF microdeletion using optimized multi-analyte suspension array (MASA) technology.

RESULTSOf the 312 patients, 36 (11.5%) were found to have deletions in the AZF region. The microdeletion frequency was 14% (25/178) in the azoospermia group and 8.2% (11/134) in the oligospermia group. Among 36 patients with microdeletions, 19 had deletions in the AZFc region, seven had deletions in AZFa and six had deletions in AZFb. In addition, four patients had both AZFb and AZFc deletions. No deletion in the AZF region was found in the 40 fertile controls.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The MASA technology, which has been established in the present study, provides a sensitive and high-throughput method for detecting the deletion of the Y chromosome. And the results suggest that genetic screening should be advised to infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; DNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Loci ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Oligospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Array Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the long-term facial nerve function of patients following microsurgical removal of large and huge acoustic neuroma, and to identify the factors that influence these outcomes.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed which included 176 consecutive patients with a large acoustic neuroma (≥ 30 mm) underwent a retrosigmoid craniotomy for tumor resection between January 2002 to November 2009. House-Brackmann (HB) Scale was used preoperatively and in a long-term follow-up after surgery. Test for linear trend was applied for statistic analysis.

RESULTSComplete resection was achieved in 168 (95.5%) of these 176 patients with a mortality of 1.7%. Anatomic preservation of the facial nerve was attained in 96.0% of the patients. In the series of 96 patients who had at least 1-year follow-up (mean 3.0 years) the facial nerve function preservation (HB grade 1 - 2) was totally attained in 79 patients (82.3%), and 40 of 55 patients (72.7%) who presented huge tumors (diameter > 40 mm) among the 96 patients had facial nerve function preserved. Analysis showed that facial nerve function correlated linearly with tumor sizes (χ(2) = 14.114, ν = 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSComplete removal of large and giant acoustic neuroma may be obtained via retrosigmoid approach with facial nerve preservation. Excellent long-term facial function can be expected in the majority of patients who undergo microsurgical removal of vestibular schwannoma via the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. Tumor size is a significant prognostic parameter for facial nerve function following vestibular schwannoma surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between C-V curve of the source points of 12 channels and cold Eighty patients with cold or heat syndrome were examined with Cowital Human Meor heat syndrome.

METHODSridian Diagnosing and Analyzing System, which can achieve quantitative analysis on C-V curve from the source points of 12 channels, and additional 40 healthy people were used as control group.

RESULTSThe relationship is close between the curvature of the C-V curves of the source points of the meridians and cold-heat syndromes of meridians. The greater is curvature of the C-V curves, the heater is the meridian, the smaller is curvature of the C-V curves, the colder is the meridian. At the same time it is discovered that the curvature of C-V curve has obviouse relationship with cold-heat property of meridians.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be used to set up and perfect the syndrome differentiation with cold-heat principle of meridian. Offer scientific basis for selecting acupoints, reducing-rein forcing methods and treatment means in clinical acupunction treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cold Temperature ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

AIMTo study the membrane stabilization effect and mechanism of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes; Saikosaponin-D (SSD) liposomes were prepared by using CHEMS as a membrane stabilizer and its encapsulation efficiency and hemolytic activity were evaluated.

METHODSDifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and calcein release were used to study membrane stabilization effect of CHEMS on DPPC membrane, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to study the interacting mechanism of CHEMS with DPPC, sedimentation experiment was done to study the interaction of CHEMS with SSD and hemolytic study was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes with CHEMS as membrane stabilizer.

RESULTSDSC analysis showed that CHEMS and cholesterol (CHOL) could all decrease the Tm value slightly and the deltaH value markedly. CHEMS was more effective than CHOL in decreasing the deltaH value of DPPC membrane. It suggested that CHEMS was more effective in increasing DPPC membrane stability. It was also proved by calcein release study carried out both in PBS and 30% plasma. The findings by FT-IR suggested that CHEMS has both hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction with the polar head of DPPC. CHEMS did not form insoluble complex (INCOM) with SSD by sedimentation experiment. Stable SSD-liposomes were prepared using DPPC and CHEMS and decreased effectively the hemolytic activity of SSD, SSD-liposomes may be given intravenously at a concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1), while free SSD was forbidden to be given intravenously.

CONCLUSIONCHEMS was more effective than CHOL in increasing DPPC membrane stability, and it could be of great use in the preparation of cholesterol-dependent hemolytic saponins-liposomes. The hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes was greatly reduced, allowing a possible concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1) to be intravenously administered.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol Esters ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Fluoresceins ; metabolism ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Liposomes ; Oleanolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of simultaneous detection for several chromosomes with optimized triple-color primed in situ labelling (PRINS) protocol in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes.

METHODSPre-test of gonosome detection with dual-color PRINS protocol was performed to explore and optimize the order and condition of PRINS primers. A peripheral blood sample from a Klinefelter's syndrome patient (47, XXY) had also been studied with optimized triple-color PRINS to prove the correspondence between the number of signals and chromosomes.

RESULTSChromosome 18, X and Y had been simultaneously and specifically marked within 3 hours. The frequency of successful labeling reached 90% both in dual-color and triple-color test. Two chromosome X had been correctly showed in lymphocyte sample of Klinerfelter's syndrome.

CONCLUSIONNumerical chromosome anomalies could be rapidly and exactly detected with this non-ddNTP-blocking multicolor PRINS protocol in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The results of in situ labeling are much clearer with inner control.

Cells, Cultured ; Chromosomes, Human ; genetics ; Color ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Metaphase ; genetics ; Primed In Situ Labeling ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

AIMTo evaluate the roles of puerarin in alleviating the STZ-induced lung injury.

METHODSDM model was established by streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneal injection to study the injury mechanisms of the lung. SD rats were divided randomly into control group (C group), diabetes group (DM group), diabetes + puerarin group (DM + Pur group). The blood glucose and weight were observed and recorded before and the 20 th, 40 th, 60 thd after administration of saline, STS, STZ+ Pur. Contents of NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in lung tissues. Light microscope (LM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and immunohistochemical analysis were also used.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, the contents of NO and MDA were increased significantly (P < 0.01), while the activity of SOD reduced (P < 0.05). Compared with DM group, treatment with puerarin inhibited the increase of NO level (P < 0.01), and MDA content began to decline from 40 days after the model was established (P < 0.01), and inhibited the decrease of SOD activity induced by DM (P < 0.01). (2) LM and TEM results showed that alveolar and capillary basement membrane became thick, the number of tiny villus decreased markedly, the quantity of osmiophilic multilamellar body reduced remarkably, hyperplasia was shown in collgen fibre. Puerarin could alleviate above injuries induced by DM. (3) Immunohistochemical staining results showed that mild brown positive stain of NT could be seen in protoplasm of lung tissues. STZ administration induced the expression of NT in the protoplasm of cells, and led to stronger positive signals of NT than that of control group. Treatment with puerarin weakened the positive stain of NT.

CONCLUSION(1) DM induced by STZ leads to a significant and sustained increase in blood glucose and obvious lung injury, which may be associated with the overproduction of free radicals. (2) The pathway of NO/ONOO- is one of the injury mechanisms of the lung tissues cells. (3) Puerarin suppresses the expression of NT and elevates the activity of SOD. Thereby, resulting in the reduces of the production of free radicals, which may be one of the mechanisms of its anti-oxidative-injuries.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism