AIM:To investigate the differentiation-inducing effects of baicalin on HL-60 leukemia cells.METHODS:The effect of baicalin on differential induction in AML cell line HL-60 was evaluated by cellular morphology,clone formation assay,CD11b and CD33 expression and NBT assay.RESULTS:Baicalin inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells.It enhanced the expression of CD11b on HL-60 cells,also increased the expression of CD33.HL-60 cells showed differentiation morphology after the drug treatment examined by Wright-Gimesa staining and NBT assay.CONCLUSION:Baicalin possessed differentiation-inducing effects on HL-60 cells.

Studies of biological feedback (BF) for the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) are occasionally reported have exhibited some related problems. This article presents an evaluation of the published literature on the BF treatment of CP at home and abroad in the aspects of instrument, method, application, effect, function, and mechanism. UROSTYMTM and MyoTrac are often employed and their operating paths are basically the same. NIH prostate symptom scores, urinary function, pain, sexual function, immune function, prostate fluid, and other indicators are generally used for the analysis of the effects of BF alone or in combination with other therapies on CP and its related symptoms. Either BF alone or BF combined with other therapies can promote urination, reduce pain, improve the quality of life, attenuate inflammation, improve sexual function, adjust immunity, and lessen physical and chemical stimulation. However, the relevant literature is of low quantity and quality, the reported studies are not standardized, and exploration of the action mechanisms is neglected.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Quality of Life

To study the chemical constituents of the traditional Chinese herb Baeckea Frutescens L., a new flavonol glycoside, named 6, 8-dimethylkaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside (1), together with seven known compounds: quercetin (2), quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside (3), myricetin (4), myricetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside (5), gallic acid (6), ursolic acid (7) and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-(2'-methoxylpropionyl)-5-methoxy-6-methylbenzene (8) were isolated by using silica gel column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography and recrytallization. Their structures were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compounds 2-7 were isolated from this plant for the first time and compound 8 was first isolated from plant.
Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Myrtaceae ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Toluene ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate acupuncture as a treatment for male infertility.

METHODSWe searched Chi na Biology Medical Database (CBM), Wan Fang Medical Information System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Information Resource System (VIP), and PubMed for published literature on acupuncture as a treatment for male infertility on May 1 2014. Based on the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA), we evaluated the quality of the reports, conducted meta-analysis on the identified studies via RevMan5.2, and assessed the quality of the evidence in the literature by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).

RESULTSA total of 12 studies involving 2,177 patients were included, the quality of which was evaluated as mediocre. With regard to the cure rate, acupuncture was comparable to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (P > 0.05) but better than Western medicine (RR = 4.00, 95% CI 1.63 to 9.82, P < 0.01) while acupuncture + TCM was better than either TCM (RR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.60, P < 0.01) or Western medicine used alone (RR = 2.73, 95% CI 1.51 to 4.93, P < 0.01), and acupuncture + Western medicine was better than Western medicine alone (RR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.02, P = 0.01). The combined use of acupuncture, ear pressure, TCM, and Western medicine showed a higher cure rate than the combination of TCM and Western medicine (RR = 3.45, 95% CI 2.90 to 4.11, P < 0.01). In therapeutic effectiveness, acupuncture was comparable to TCM (P > 0.05) but superior to Western medicine (RR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.71, P < 0.01), acupuncture + TCM was superior to either TCM (RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.23, P < 0.01) or Western medicine alone (RR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.67, P < 0.01), and acupuncture + Western medicine was superior to Western medicine alone (RR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.49, P = 0.01). In improving sperm concentration, acupuncture was as effective as TCM (P > 0.05) and sham acupuncture (P > 0.05) but outdid Western medicine (RR = 27.00, 95% CI 24.27 to 29.73, P < 0.01) and acupuncture + TCM outdid either TCM (RR = 14.65, 95% CI 7.58 to 21.72, P < 0.01) or Western medicine alone (RR = 1.04, 95% CI--1.43 to 3.51, P > 0.05). In improving grade a sperm, acupuncture exhibited a similar effect to TCM (P > 0.05) and sham acupuncture (P > 0.05), and acupuncture + TCM was more effective than TCM alone (RR = 7.78, 95% CI 3.51 to 12.23, P < 0.01) but equally effective as Western medicine (P > 0.05). In elevating the level of grade a + b sperm, acupuncture + TCM excelled either TCM (RR = 11.00, 95%, CI 3.17 to 18.82, P < 0.01) or Western medicine alone (RR = 12.22, 95% CI 6.87 to 17.57, P < 0. 01), while acupuncture produced a comparable effect with sham acupuncture (P > 0.05). As for the quality of the included studies, only 3 conclusions of the 23 meta-analyses were assessed to be of average quality, while the others of poor or extremely poor quality. Therefore, the recommendation grade of the conclusions was low.

CONCLUSIONFor the treatment of male infertility, acupuncture is reported to be equally effective as TMC and more effective than Western medicine, and its effectiveness is enhanced when applied in combination with either TCM or Western medicine. Acupuncture is distinctively efficacious in improving sperm quality. Nevertheless, the overall quality of the included studies is low.

Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; GB virus C ; classification ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo assess the genetic diversity of Atractylodes macrocephala in 12 cultivated populations and 3 wild populations.

METHODThe molecular marker technique ISSR was used to investigate the genetic diversity of 365 samples from 15 populations in Zhejiang, Anhui and Hebei Provinces. Data was analyzed by POPGEN 32, and a cluster diagram was presented by UPGMA.

RESULTOne hundred and two amplified fragments were obtained using 13 ISSR primers. 94 polymorphic loci were identified as 92.16%. Nei's genetic diversity index (He) was 0.406 5, Shannon diversity index (I) was 0.590 3, and the coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst) was 0.202 5. The genetic similarity coefficient among the populations ranged from 0.690 7 to 0.960 5 in an average of 0. 825 6. No significant difference was found among the populations based on the clustering analysis.

CONCLUSIONThere is a low level of genetic differentiation in higher genetic diversity of the A. macrocephala populations. No obvious regional or species diversities were identified. This is consistent with current status of cultivation and gerplasm circulation in A. macrocephala.

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; China ; Genetic Variation ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phylogeny

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin on HL-60 cell xenografts in nude mice in vivo and explore its mechanism. Xenograft tumor model of HL-60 cells in nude mice was established, which was divided randomly into 6 groups: negative control group (injection of 5% NaHCO(3)), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg baicalin groups, combination group (50 mg/kg baicalin + 2 mg/kg VP16) and positive control group (VP16 4 mg/kg). The nude mice with HL-60 cell xenografts were treated with drugs via intraperitoneal injection daily. After treatment for 14 days average weigh and inhibitory rate of transplanted tumor stripped from 5 nude mice in each group were calculated, and the ultrastructure change of xenografts cells were tested by transmission electron microscopy. Histopathologic examination was used to observed the change of main organs in nude mice. The expression of signaling molecular PI3K/Akt proteins extracted from xenografts was detected by Western blot. The effects of baicalin on overall survival time in nude mice with HL-60 cell xenografts were evaluated. The results showed that baicalin could inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in dose-dependent manner. There were more necrotic and apoptotic cells in mice of baicalin-treated groups and combination group than that in mice of negative control group. Baicalin could inhibit the proliferation of HL-60 cells in vivo by down-regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway, where the expressions of p-Akt, mTOR and p-mTOR proteins decreased compared with negative control group, and no significant difference of Akt expression was found between different groups. Compared with negative control group, the median survival time of mice in combination group was more prolongated (P < 0.05). It is concluded that baicalin can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of HL-60 cell xenografts in nude mice, and prolong median survival time of nude mice. The possible mechanisms may be related to inhibition of Akt activity and down-regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway. The combination of baicalin and VP16 shows a synergistic effect on inhibiting growth of HL-60 cell xenografts in nude mice.
Animals ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

In order to clone the full-length cDNA of a novel EST which is probably related to acute leukemia relapse and to analyse the sequences, the electronic cloning technique combined with RT-PCR was used to clone the full-length cDNA, and the sequences were analyzed by bioinformatics. The results showed that the two novel splicing variants of eIF4E named as splicing variant 1 and 2 of eIF4E were obtained. Bioinformatics analysis showed that variant 1 and 2 exhibited 84% and 47% similarity to eIF4E mRNA, and were localized on eIF4E locus on chromosome 4. The lengths of 2 variants are 1 904 bp and 3 393 bp, encoding 245 amino acids and 132 amino acids respectively. BLAST results showed that the both variants mentioned above contains seven exons. Among them, the sequences of the three exons at 5' end of variant 1, variant 2 and eIF4E mRNA were different from each other. Protein BLAST showed that they are partially different from eIF4E protein. It is concluded that the two novel splicing variants of eIF4E were cloned, and their relation to acute leukemia relapse needs to be further investigated.
Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Recombinant ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Isoforms ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo explore the etiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL).

METHODSThirty patients (31 ears) with ALHL were selected for this study. Detailed history collection, otological examination and systematic audiological evaluations were conducted. The hearing tests included pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance, auditory brainstem response (ABR) and otoacoustic emissions (OAE). All cases received therapeutic trial of corticosteroid for 15 days with 6 to 14 months' following-up.

RESULTSALHL mainly affected young people. Low-tone tinnitus, a sensation of ear fullness and hearing impairment were the frequent complains. Otological examinations showed normal results. Mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss at low frequencies and type "A" tympanograms were found in all patients. Acoustic stapedial reflexes were elicited in 26 of 31 affected ears, and 14 of them had positive results on the Metz test. ABR responses were normal in all 20 tested ears. In 14 out of 20 ears, TEOAEs were absent and DPOAE grams at low frequencies (0.5, 0.75 kHz) were abnormal on the first visit. After steroid therapy, 24 ears demonstrated complete recovery, but 4 ears showed partial recovery and 3 ears unchanged. The total improvement rate was 90.3%.

CONCLUSIONSALHL patients are clinically characterized by low-tone tinnitus, aural fullness and hearing loss, which mainly involved unilateral ear. Audiological findings indicate a cochlear impairment, which only invades low frequency region. The basic pathological feature may be endolymphatic hydrops involves immune response. Conflicting data exist on whether ALHL is an independent disorder or a subtype of Meniere's disease. Ideal therapeutic strategy has not been established by now and corticosteroid is probably an effective agent.

Acute Disease ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Audiometry, Evoked Response ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; etiology ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene mutation in D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissue and to explore the role of the gene mutation in D-loop region in the OSCC tumorigenesis.

METHODSmtDNA was obtained from cancer, paracancerous and normal mucosa tissues of thirty patients with OSCC. The D-loop regions of mtDNA were amplified with PCR, sequencing and then analyzed by Chromas software and BLAST to identify the mutation site.

RESULTSMutation in the D-loop region was found in eight cases, with the mutation rate of 27%. There were nine mutations totally, including one point mutation, two base deletions, three insertion mutations, three heterozygous mutations. In these mutations, base deletions were different from each other and heterozygous mutations had no same mutation form, while the three insertion mutations were same, the insertion of base C. One case had T/A heterozygous mutation and base C insertion at the same time.

CONCLUSIONSThere were mutations in mtDNA D-loop in OSCC, but the relationship between occurrence of OSCC and mutation of mtDNA needs further study.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; genetics ; Mutation