Leydig cells, located in the loose interstitial tissue of seminiferous tubules, are the major site for androgen synthesis and secretion, and play an important role in the reproductively and fertility of males. The dysfunction of Leydig cells may lead to various male diseases, such as primary hypogonadism, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias. This review outlines the recent findings concerning the generation, development and regulation of Leydig cells.
Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; Male

Child ; Humans ; Nephrology ; Pediatrics

BackgroundBigbag intraocular lens (IOL),due to its special conducive design to support vitreous and retina after cataract surgery in high myopia,and ensure the visualization of peripheral retinal,is closely concerned.But whether its concave design has the advantage in reducing aberrations on the basis of stability or not is worth to be studied.ObjectiveThis study was to evaluate the high order aberrations(HOA) of phacoemulsification and the Bigbag IOL implantation in patients with myopia and cataract.MethodsA retrospective case-observational study was designed.Total 39 eyes of 39 cases with cataract and high myopia were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into Bigbag IOL group and AR40e IOL group.Phaco-chop technique and IOL implantation were performed in April to June,2010 in Tianjin Eye Hospital.Two months after surgery,the operated eyes were clinical examined and the aberrations were detected including Root-Mean-Square (RMS),coma,spherical and Trefoil.Postoperative RMS values of HOA components of the whole and interior optic with iTrace were compared.Results The operation was smoothly with the correct IOL position after two months.No complication was found.Under the 4.5 mm pupil diameters,the whole ocular HOA RMS values and coma were significantly different between Bigbag IOL group and AR40e IOL group( t =-3.296 、-3.322,P＜0.05 ),but no significant differences were seen in spherical and Trefoil aberrations ( t =- 1.256、- 0.573,P＞ 0.05 ).Regarding to the interior optic with iTrace aberration,only the coma showed the significant difference between Bigbag IOL group and A R40e IOL group( t =-2.004,P＜0.05 ),and there were no significant differences in RMS,spherical and Trefoil aberrations( t=-1.073、0.380、0.288,P＞0.05 ).ConclusionsThe Bigbag IOL,a design for high myopia,is safe and effective after implant for the high myopia with cataract.It offers more exact obligate degree and better visual quality.The chief total and interior HOA components difference between groups is coma aberration.

Background The test for visual acuity is the conventional standard for evaluating visual quality.However,there is little correlation between visual acuity and visual disability.Therefore,other clinical observations such as contrast sensitivity or straylight have been used in the clinical assessment of visual quality after cataract surgery.Objective This study was to examine the change in the amount of straylight in cataractous eyes and to evaluate the correlation of the types of cataract with visual quality.Methods A non-randomized case-controlled study was designed.Eighty eyes of 40 patients with age-related cataract were enrolled in this study,including 22 eyes with hard nucleus cataract,19 eyes with cortical cataract,23 eyes with mixed cataract and 16 eyes with posterior subcapsular cataract diagnosed based on the criteria from Lens Opacities Classification System Ⅲ(LOCS Ⅲ).The values for straylight and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured with the C-quant straylight meter and Snellen chart,respectively.The differences in the straylight values among the different types of cataract were analyzed,and the correlation of the straylight value with age or BCVA was assessed.Forty eyes of 40 age-matched normal people served as controls.Results Examination was completed in sixty-two eyes of 31 patients in the cataract group at a completion rate of 77.5％,and all the subjects in the control group finished the examination at a rate of 100％.The mean straylight value was (2.06±0.88) log in the cataract group and (1.96±0.42) log in the control group,showing a significant difference between them (t =3.251,P＜0.01).The respective mean C-quant measurements for hard nucleus cataract,cortical cataract,nuclear-cortical cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract patients were (1.96±0.42) log,(1.91 ±0.16) log,(2.05 ±0.19) log and (2.48 ±0.66) log,respectively,with a significant difference among these four groups (F =2.156,P =0.019).The highest straylight value was detected in the posterior subcapsular cataract group.The straylight value was enlarged with the increase of age with a regression equation of Y=0.0010X+ 1.025 in the hard nucleus cataract group (r =0.455,P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the negative linear correlation was found between the straylight value and BCVA in both the hard nucleus cataract group and cortical cataract group (r=-0.590,-0.697,P＜0.01).However,no correlation was found in the mixed cataract group and posterior subcapsular cataract group (r =-0.240,-0.235,P＞0.05).Conclusions The C-quant straylight meter can objectively reflect the visual function for hard nucleus and cortical cataractous eye.Posterior subcapsular cataract produces straylight and exerts a great influence on visual quality due to early glare sensation,so it should be benefit to perform surgery earlier.

This article is to overview the literature of syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine on hypertension. According to the theory of disease in combination with syndrome, we concluded syndrome types of hypertension in four aspects, including national standards, industry standards, teaching standards and personal experience. Meanwhile, in order to provide new methods and approaches for normalized research, we integrated modern testing methods and statistical methods to analyze syndrome differentiation for the treatment of hypertension.
Humans ; Hypertension ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reference Standards

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Insulin Resistance ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Recent years, the pathogenesis of hypertension in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been changed. Kidney-deficiency has become the key of modern pathogenesis, and the new problem of treating hypertension. It has become the new strategy for treating hypertension with kidney-nourishing herbal medicine. This article reviewed the clinical and experimental researches of kidney-nourishing herbal medicine, including single herb, herbal formulae and traditional Chinese patent medicine, in order to strengthen the evidence of kidney-nourishing herbal medicine for treating hypertension.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the preventive effect of Yougui drink on femoral head necrosis in rats under micro CT.

METHODSTwenty-five SD rats were divided into steroid hormone group (group A, 10 rats ), Yougui drink group (group B,10 rats) and normal group (group C,5 rats)with random number table. Endotoxin were injected into abdominal cavity of rats in group A and B for 2 days, methylprednisolone sodium succinate were injected by gluteus for twice a week continued for 6 weeks; group B were gavaged by Yougui drink (veryday for 8 weeks; group C did not do any processing. All rats were killed on the 10th weeks,m icro CT were used to scan femoral head in vitro and preventive effect of Yougui drink (n femoral head necrosis in rats.

RESULTSThere was statistical significance in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Thb, Sp, BS/TV and DA but no significance in SMI between group A and B. Comparison between A and C, there was significant meaning in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Tb, Sp, BS/TV, DA and SMI.

CONCLUSIONYougui drink on femoral head necrosis in rats under micro CT has preventive effect from BMD BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Tb, Sp, BS/TV and DA.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bone Density ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head Necrosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Ray Microtomography ; methods

BACKGROUND: Sepsis and secondary multiple organ failure in critically ill patients are the major cause of death, but the pathogenesis of sepsis is not clear, especially the dysfunction of the immune system. In this paper, we review the response and regulation of the immune system and the functions of a variety of inflammatory mediators in sepsis. DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE and PubMed for articles using the keywords "sepsis", "immune response", and "inflammatory mediator" up to October 2010. Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles. RESULTS: This systematic review was conducted of: 1) the immune response; 2) immune regulation; 3) inflammatory mediators; 4) high-mobility group box 1 protein; 5) the complement system; and 6) the autonomic nervous system. There are no therapeutic approaches available for sepsis that target inflammatory response; the mortality of sepsis has not been significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis is complex and dynamic, and it has a group of heterogeneous syndromes. Since different patients with sepsis have different etiology, susceptibility, and responses, treatment should be prescribed individually.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of inducing human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSCs) to differentiate into Leydig cells through conditioned medium derived from Leydig cells.

METHODSHuMSCs and Leydig cells were obtained by tissue blocks culture attachment and enzymatic digestion respectively. HuMSCs were induced by conditioned medium of Leydig cells as an experiment group while those before induction were cultured as a control group. The expressions of LHR, 3β-HSD and StAR in the induced HuMSCs were determined by RT-PCR after 3, 7 and 10 days of culture; those of CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 3β-HSD measured by immunofluorescence staining after 2 weeks; and that of 3β-HSD detected by Western blot after 4 weeks.

RESULTSThe experimental group showed positively expressed LHR, 3β-HSD and StAR at 3, 7 and 10 days, CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 3β-HSD at 2 weeks, and 3β-HSD at 4 weeks, while the control group revealed negative expressions at all the time points.

CONCLUSIONInduced with conditioned culture medium derived from Leydig cells, HuMSCs are likely to differentiate into steroidogenic cells and eventually into Leydig cells.

Cell Differentiation ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology