GJ-4 is crocin enrichments extracted from Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis, and our previous studies have shown that GJ-4 significantly improved learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ in mice. Herein, a memory deficit model was developed by injecting okadaic acid (OA) into the lateral ventricle of mice, and the neuroprotection and underlying mechanism of GJ-4 on neuronal injury caused by Tau hyperphosphorylation were investigated. The Animal Care & Welfare Committee, Institute of Materia Medica, CAMS & PUMC has approved all procedures (No.00000318). GJ-4 at different doses was intragastric administration to mice for 16 days. Step-down test and Morris water maze test showed that GJ-4 could significantly improve OA-induced memory impairment in mice, and reduced the loss of Nissl bodies in the hippocampus of mice. GJ-4 could also decrease the phosphorylation level of Tau protein at Ser396, Thr231 and Ser404 via increasing protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity and inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Besides, further researches indicated that GJ-4 could inhibit the level of oxidative stress in the brain of OA mice, reduce neuronal apoptosis and inhibit the neuroinflammation mediated by activation of astrocytes in the hippocampus of mice, and eventually achieve its effects in improving learning and memory impairment in mice. According to these findings, we anticipated that GJ-4 might be a potential therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.

Objective To explore the safety of the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells(PBSC)by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)in elderly donors.Methods 28 peripheral arteriosclerotic occlusive disease(PAOD)elderly patients(aged≥60 years),and 29 healthy sibling young/adult donors(aged＜60 years)for peripheral allogenic stem cell transplantation were included.Blood samples were collected immediately before starting G-CSF and prior to PBSC collection to analyze the following parameters:the WBC counts,fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer (D-D),thrombin antithrombin complex(TAT),antithrombin(AT)and yon Willebrand factor antigen(vWF:Ag). Results It had a very significant increase in D-D and vWF:Ag and a very significant decrease of AT(P＜0.01),af- ter mobilization by G-CSF,and a increase in FIB and TAT were also observed(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in elderly group.In the young/aduh group,the increase in FIB was significant(P＜0.05).The elevating extent of D-D and TAT after G-CSF administration was significantly higher in elderly group than that in young/adult group(P＜0.05).Compared to young/adult group,there was a significant increase in thrombotic events and cerebrovascular ac- cident(P＜0.05).Conclusion In PBCS donorsreceiving G-CSF it reveals activation of both coagulation and en- dothelial cells and inhibition of anticoagulant system that can favor the developing of thrombotic events,which is more remarkable in elderly donors.Therefore a careful monitoring for coagulation system should be considered in those elderly cases.

BACKGROUNDIn vitro fertilization (IVF) researches have suggested that cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) is involved in oocyte development. However, little is known about the regional and cellular expression patterns of CBS in the ovary. The purpose of this study was to analyze the localization of CBS in mice ovaries and to investigate the expression profile during follicular development.

METHODSWe used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis to determine CBS expression in the ovaries of female Balb/c mice. Then the follicles were collected from F1 (C57BL x Balb/c) mice and cultured in vitro. With the method of semi-quantitative RT-PCR, we also investigated the expression profile of CBS during follicular development.

RESULTSCBS was absent in the oocytes, although it was ubiquitously expressed in the ovary with the strongest expression in follicular cells at all stages. In late antral follicles, CBS expression was markedly higher in granulosa cells located close to the antrum and in cumulus cells around the oocyte. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that CBS mRNA was detected in follicles at all stages in vitro. In cumulus-oocyte complexes superovulated, CBS expression also increased rapidly.

CONCLUSIONSCBS was located mainly in the follicular cells in the ovaries. The level of CBS expression is high in follicles during folliculogenesis in mice. Differences in the CBS expression profile between oocyte and follicular cells suggest a role for CBS as a mediator in interactions between oocyte and granulosa cells.

Animals ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; analysis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Ovarian Follicle ; physiology ; Ovary ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between infection of Chlamydia Trachomatis(Ct) and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells.

METHODSApoptotic spermatogenic cells were examined by Wright-Giemsa staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate(dUTP)-biotin nick-end labeling(TUNEL) technique.

RESULTSApoptosis rate of Ct infective group was significantly higher than that of normal group(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCt infection may cause the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, which affords an objective evidence for illustrating the mechanism of Ct-infection-induced male infertility.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Chlamydia Infections ; complications ; pathology ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; Male ; Spermatocytes ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling

Reduced glutathione (GSH) , the most abundant non-protein thiol in mammalian cells, exists extensively in the human body and plays a key role in many biological processes, including the synthesis of proteins and DNA and the transport of amino acids, especially in protecting cells against oxidation. GSH also shows its important clinical value in the treatment of many diseases. It has been reported that GSH also widely exists in the male reproductive system and has a therapeutic role in male infertility. The objective of this review is to summarize the distribution of GSH in the male reproductive system and its therapeutic value for male infertility.
Genitalia, Male ; metabolism ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the change of peripheral Th1/Th2 cells in patients with CAP/CPPS and its significance in various clinical types of CAP/CPPS.

METHODSInterferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) secreted by CD3+ CD8(-)T cells were detected by flow cytometry in 35 patients with CAP/CPPS and 12 healthy volunteers, and significance of Th1/Th2 cells ratio in the etiology of CAP/CPPS was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with control group, peripheral Th1 cells were significantly increased in patients with IIIA and III B CAP/CPPS, the Th1/Th2 cell ratio was apparently increased (P <0.05), while Th2 cells was not different from that in the control(P>0.05 ); Th1, Th2 cells and Th1/Th2 in patients with IIIA CPPS were not statistically different from those in III B CPPS respectively (P > 0.05) .

CONCLUSIONThere is a Th1/Th2 imbalance in CAP/CPPS patients with an increase of Th1 type cytokines. Th1 cell may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CAP/CPPS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; immunology ; Prostatitis ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

A determination method for bilirubin in cultured cow-bezoar was developed in this study, with which the bilirubin in 15 batches of samples was quantified. The samples were first processed with 10% oxalic acid solution for the conversion of bilirubin from conjugated to unconjugated, followed by the extraction with dichloromethane. Then the obtained sample solutions were analyzed at 450 nm by HPLC[chromatographic column: Agilent TC-C_(18)(4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm); mobile phase: acetonitrile and 1% glacial acetic acid aqueous solution(95∶5); flow rate: 1.0 mL·min~(-1)]. The bilirubin content in the 15 batches of cultured cow-bezoar was ranged from 21.9% to 41.7% with the average of 32.4%. The proposed method is accurate and reliable, thus making it suitable for the quantitation of bilirubin in cultured cow-bezoar and its quality assessment and control.
Animals ; Bezoars ; Bilirubin ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female

In this study, 10 batches of samples of cultured Bovis Calculus(cow-bezoar) were determined for the investigation of chemical profile of bile acids with the UPLC-QDA method established. The results showed that nine common bile acids, cholic acid(CA), deoxycholic acid(DCA), chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA), taurocholic acid(TCA), taurodeoxycholic acid(TDCA), taurochenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA), glycocholic acid(GCA), glycodeoxycholic acid(GDCA) and glycochenodeoxycholic acid(GCDCA), were founded in samples and 7 bile acids were quantified except GDCA and GCDCA. In these samples, unconjugated bile acids, the major type of bile acids, accounted for more than 97% of all types of bile acids. As for unconjugated bile acids, CA was the most major bile acid in cultured cow-bezoar and it was about twice as much as DCA. The relative low-cost method established in the current study is accurate, rapid and sensitive, which is suitable for the studies of other drugs from animal bile.
Animals ; Bile ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Calculi ; Cattle ; Female

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of premature ejaculation (PE) with central lumber intervertebral disc herniation (CLIDH) and the pathogenesis of PE, and to search for a convenient, effective and non-invasive method for the treatment of PE.

METHODSA total of 263 selected PE patients underwent CT, and those that were found with CLIDH were randomized into a treatment group (n=180) and a control (n=60), the former treated by lumbar traction and the latter with sertraline hydrochloride tablets, both for 24 weeks. CIPE-5 scores of all the patients were analyzed, and the ejaculation latency and sexual satisfaction were recorded before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAmong the 263 PE patients, CLIDH was confirmed in 240 (91%). After the treatment, CIPE-5 scores, ejaculation latency and sexual satisfaction were markedly improved in the treatment group, with significant statistic difference from pre-treatment (P < 0.01). Significant differences were also observed between the treatment and the control groups after the treatment (P < 0.05), but not in the control group between pre- and post-treatment.

CONCLUSIONCLIDH may be one of the important causes of most "unexplainable" PE cases. And lumbar traction, non-invasive, highly effective and easily manipulable, has provided a new access to the diagnosis and treatment of the PE patients with CLIDH.

Adult ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; etiology ; therapy ; Traction

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of Linbiqing decoction on chronic prostatitis following sexually transmitted disease (CPFSTD).

METHODSLinbiqing decotion was given orally to 36 patients with CPFSTD, and the therapeutic effet was assessed by observing the clinical symptoms and measuring the objective indexes before and after the treatment.

RESULTSFour to eight weeks after the drug administration, the overall effectivity rate was 72.22%, and the scores of NIH-CPSI were decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONLinbiqing decoction has definite therapeutic effect on CPFSTD, and can be considered as an effective means for the treatment of the disease.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; complications