The reproductive toxicity of environmental estrogens(EEs)has become an extensively studied subject in environmental science and reproductive medicine nowadays.Many epidemiology data and experimental evidences indicated that EEs may significantly cause the disorders of male sex differentiation such as microphallus,hypospadia,cryptorchidism and masculinization behavior disorder and so on.The mechanism includes estrogenic activity,anti-androgenic activity as well as other feedback regulation and signal transmission which influence hormones metabolism.

Objective To analyze the experience of 745 cases of lumbar disc herniation(LDH) and investigate the relevance between the clinical symptoms,signs and operative observation.Methods From 1982 to 2003,745 cases of LDH were treated operatively.In order to investigate the relationship between clinical presentations and operative results,a statistic analysis was conducted using the clinical symptoms,signs and operative observations.Results As the predominant manifestions,the pain in the low back and leg was seen in 96.4% of LDH,the pain aggravated by belly pressure in 93% of LDH,local tenderness and radicular pain around the lumbat spinous process in 70.8% of LDH,rectoleg elevation test(+) in 91.6% of LDH.operation observation:77.6% of LDH was classified as lateral type,10.9% as medial type and 11.5% as rupture or sequestration type.Weakness of extensor hallucis longus could seen in 65.6% of LDH of L_4,L_5,in 32.3% of LDH of L_5S_1.Conclusions Although the extensive usage of computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) provides a prompt and accurate basis for diagnosis of LDH,the physical examination remains the most important routine way to make a diagnosis.It is suggested that during the diagnosis and treatment of LDH,besides the common features of the disease,some individual presentations should not be neglected in few rare atypical cases,so as to diagnose and treat correctly.

AIM To study the protective effects of ( ) epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG) against renal ischmia reperfusion injury. METHODS The renal ischemia reperfusion injury model in rat was made by means of ligating bilateral renal arteries for 60 min and then reperfusion. 10 mg?kg -1 and 40 mg?kg -1 EGCG were given by intravenation before and after operation respectively. Spectrophotometric assay were used to measure the contents of serum creatinine(Scr), blood urea nitrogen (Bun) in serum and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Ca 2+ ATPase ,the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) in renal hemogenate from rats. Renal pathologic changes were also observed. RESULTS Compared with model control group , 40 mg?kg -1 EGCG group was found of significant inhibition in changes of Scr, Bun,MDA,ROS and significant increases in activity of SOD and Ca 2+ ATPase.The renal morphological injury of EGCG groups were slighter than that of model control group. CONCLUSION EGCG has protective effects aganist renal ischemia reperefusion injury via its antioxidant activity and intracellular caclcium reduction.

The clinical value of whole body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as an imaging tool in diagnosis of ophthalmic tumors was investigated.The retrospective observational case series were performed on the patients with suspected ophthalmic tumors who underwent whole body PET/CT.The golden standard of diagnosis was the final pathological diagnosis or the results of long-term follow-up for patients without surgery/ biopsy.PET/CT findings were compared with the golden standard.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and positive likelihood ratio of PET/CT in the detection of ophthalmic tumors were calculated.The clinical application of PET/CT in different types of ophthalmic tumors was evaluated.The results showed that 30 patients (18 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 43.0 years (range 4-63 years) were collected.The mean sizes of orbital tumors and intraocular tumors were 26.8 mm×17.8 mm and 11.2 mm×6.1 mm,respectively.The overall sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and positive likelihood ratio of whole body PET/CT in ophthalmic tumors were 76.5％,71.4％,75.0％ and 2.67,and were 62.5％,100％ and 70.0％ in intraocular tumors,and those were 100％,60.0％ and 84.6％ in orbital tumors,respectively.PET/CT findings were applied to help make appropriate treatment options in 27 out of 30 patients (90.0％),and 12 (40.0％) patients changed the treatment strategy.False negative results in 4 cases and false positive results in 2 cases were observed in this series.It was suggested that PET/CT was an effective imaging modality in detecting,diagnosing and developing therapeutic schedule for patients with ophthalmic tumors.It was more sensitive and accurate for detecting orbital tumors than for detecting intraocular tumors.

Objective To establish a stable and efficient method of culturing imDCs in vitro,and to explore the effect of GW5074, which blocks ERK1/2 signal pathway in the process of imnature dentritic cells (imDCs) on inducing differentiation of the na(i)ve allogeneic CD4+ T cells into Treg cells in vitro. Methods The imDCs and mature DCs (mDCs) were isolated and cultured from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from a healthy adult male volunteer, and they were identified by cell morphology, cell surface marker and cell functions respectively. Na(i)ve CD4+ T cells were isolated from newborn umbilical vein blood and were divided into 5 groups to be cultured: (1) Blank control group: Na(i)ve CD4+ T cells were cultured alone;(2) Positive control group: The irrDCs were Middle-concentration GW5074 group;(5) High-concentration GW5074 group. In the last three groups, imDCs and na(i)ve CD4+ T cells were co-cultured, the same as the positive control group, but these groups were added by GW5074 dilution at the concentrations of 8, 24, and 40μmol/Lrespectively. After co-culture for 5 days, the transformation ratio from naive CD4+T cells to Treg T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results On the surface of imDCs, there was stronger pression of CD1a, but weaker expression of CD80 and CD83. On the contrary, on the surface of mDCs, there was weaker expression of CD1a, but stronger expression of CD80 and CD83. The stimulation index in imDCs group and mDCs group was 1.12±0.03 and 2.85±0. 07 respectively. The transformation ratio of Treg T cells in blank control group, positive control group, low-concentration GW5074 group, middle-concentration GW5074 group and high-concentration GW5074 group was (5. 81±1.36)%, (35.73±2.07)%, (22.53±2.11)%, (11.55±1.73)%, and (4.97±1.83)%respectively. One-way ANOVA analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between high-concentration GW5074 group and blank control group, P＞0. 05, but significant difference between the remaining groups, P＜0.01. Conclusion High purity of imDCs can be obtained from PBMC by induction with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. ERK1/2 signal pathway plays a role in inducing the immune tolerance. GW5074 can inhibit differentiation of na(i)ve CD4+ T cells into Treg T cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the different extracts from Radix Isatidis on multiplication of mice lymphocytes.

METHODLymphocytes were separated and cultured. Immunological activities of different extracts from Radix Isatidis were studied by thermodynamics and the results were tested by the conventional pharmacological experiments.

RESULTThe results showed that the water extract and residue had significant immunological effects while organic solvent extracts had immunological activity to some extent.

CONCLUSIONThe comparison of immunological activity among the extracts from Radix Isatidis were as follows: residue after extracting > general extract > nBuOH extract > EtOAc extract > CHCl3 extract > P E extract.

Animals ; Calorimetry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Isatis ; chemistry ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of the changes of the jejunal mucosal structure and the tolerance of early postoperative enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients at different ages.

METHODSThirty patients of gastric carcinoma undergone total gastrectomy were enrolled in this study, including 16 cases over 65 years old and 14 cases under 40 years old. The specimens of jejunal mucosa were taken during operation and were observed by light and electronic microscopes. The height and width of the jejunal villus and the thickness of the jejunal mucosa were measured. All the patients received enteral nutrition from the second postoperative day to discharge. The complications related to enteral nutrition, such as abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and diarrhea, were observed.

RESULTSThe height of the jejunal villus was longer in young age group than that of old age group. The width of the jejunal villus was shorter in young age group than that of old age group. The thickness of the jejunal mucosa was thinner in old age group than that of young age group. The changes of ultrastructure of the jejunal mucosal epithelial cell in old age group showed that microvilli are rare and disorder, mitochondrial cristaes were broken and dissolved. The young age group was normal in the ultrastructure. The complications related to enteral nutrition were more frequent in old age group than those in young age group, especially in abdominal distention and diarrhea (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe atrophy of jejunal mucosa in old age patients with gastric carcinoma lead to decrease the tolerance and increase the complications of the postoperative enteral nutrition.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Jejunum ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo construct mouse enhanced green fluorecence protein (EGFP) -peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma2, and to detect EGFP-PPARgamma2 expression in infected mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC).

METHODSCut the fragment of PPARgamma2 from the expression plasmid pcDNA flag PPARgamma2, then cloned the gene fragment into pEGFP-C1 and pEGFP-N1 vector. Subsequently, subclone the fragment EGFP-PPARgamma2 from pEGFP-C1-PPARgamma2 into the shuttle plasmid DC315. HEK293 cells were co-transfected with the constructed recombinant shuttle plasmid DC315-EGFP-PPARgamma2 and large adenovirus helper plasmid pBHGlox deltaE1, 3Cre in mediation of liposome. The obtained replication-defective recombinant adenovirus Ad-EGFP-PPARgamma2 was confirmed. Then it was propagated in HEK293 cells. After the BMSC were transfected for 72 h, adipogenic differentiation was demonstrated.

RESULTSHEK293 cells were transfected with the pEGFP-C1-PPARgamma2 or pEGFP-N1-PPARgamma2 in mediation of liposome. The former green fluorescence protein was better than the latter by fluorescence microscope. The recombinant plasmids were digested and identified. Western blot analysis showed the expression of EGFP-PPARgamma2 in vitro. EGFP-PPARgamma2 protein was detectable in the nucleus of BMSC.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenovirus encoding EGFP-PPARgamma2 fusion protein was successfully constructed, which provided a basis for application of EGFP-PPARgamma2 gene to adenovirus-mediated gene therapy.

Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Transfection

AIMTo investigate the distribution of cation channel of sperm 1 (CATSPER1) protein and the presence of CATSPER1 mRNA in human testis and ejaculated spermatozoa. The influence of anti-human CATSPER1 antibody upon human sperm motility was used to evaluate the function of human CATSPER1 and to estimate its possible use as a target for immunocontraception.

METHODSHuman ejaculated sperm from normozoospermic donors (n = 12) and liquid nitrogen frozen human testis were used for the study of mRNA and protein expression of CATSPER1 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Spermatozoa from normozoospermic donors (n = 12) were individually processed using a swim-up procedure and were then incubated with CATSPER1 antibody at final concentrations of 20, 4 and 0.8 microg/mL. After 1, 2 and 6 h incubation, progressive motility and fast progressive motility were measured by means of computer-assisted semen analysis.

RESULTSCATSPER1 transcript was detected in both human testis and each human ejaculated semen sample. CATSPER1 protein expressed in the membrane of spermatid and was localized in the principal piece of the sperm tail. The application of CATSPER1 antibody at all concentrations significantly inhibited both progressive motility and fast progressive motility after 1, 2 and 6 h incubation, and significant dose-dependent changes were observed.

CONCLUSIONCATSPER1 is meiotically and post-meiotically expressed in human testis tissue. CATSPER1 mRNA in human ejaculated spermatozoa could be a more feasible target for study and infertility screening than testis biopsy. In addition, our results suggest that human CATSPER1 could be a possible target for immunocontraception.

Antibodies ; Calcium Channels ; genetics ; immunology ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Meiosis ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Semen ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; immunology ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; physiology ; Testis ; cytology ; physiology ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid, relatively quantitative method of detecting acetylated proteins.

METHODSThe proteins of Jurkat cells were acetylated by Trichostatin A (TSA) at different concentrations, then enriched and purified by anti-acetylated lysine antibodies affinity chromatography colum. The components eluted by acid were fixed on the microplate, the levels of acetylated proteins were tested by ELISA, and their components were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. Also the above-mentioned methods were applied to the other three agents (gallic acid, emodin and monoacetylated emodin A).

RESULTSThat 4 × 10(5) Jurkat cells treated with 1 µmol/L TSA produced the optimal acetylated effect, up to 22 acetylated proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF, of them 15 were acetylated histones. The other three agents also induced acetylation, the relative values of acetylated proteins of Jurkat cells treated with 35.09 µmol/L and 17.54 µmol/L gallic acid were 4.3% and 14.2% respectively; those as of 28.7% and 11.5% treated with 1.47 µmol/L and 2.94 µmol/L emodin; those as of 22.0% and 3.6% treated with 152.91 µmol/L and 30.58 µmol/L monoacetylated emodin A.

CONCLUSIONThe method based on affinity chromatography colum may be useful for the detection of acetylated proteins, and could be used to screen agents which target to histone deacetylase.

Acetylation ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Histones ; analysis ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; pharmacology ; Jurkat Cells ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization