OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Qingre Yulin Decoction (QYD) on male infertility caused by accessory gland infection (AGI) with randomized controlled trial (RCT).

METHODSSixty infertility outpatients were equally divided into two groups randomly, the QYD group treated with modified QYD and the control group with antibiotic plus vitamin E, both for 3 months with another 6 months' follow-up. Pregnant rates, routine test of sperm and expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) were determined.

RESULTSThe healed rate was 26.7% (8 cases), the markedly effective rate was 43.3% (13 cases), the effective rate was 16.7% (5 cases), and the total effective rate was 86.7% in the QYD group, while in the control group it was 6.7% (2), 30.0% (9), 40.0% (12) and 76.7% respectively, showing higher healed rate and total effective rate in the former than those in the latter. Sperm quality of infertility patients with AGI decreased obviously, manifesting short ened average liquefaction time, reduced concentration, survival rate and vitality of sperm. These abnormal changes were improved after treatment in both groups, and the efficacy was better in the QYD group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONInfertility patients with AGI were manifested as oligospermatism and asthenospermia, which may not be the definite outcome of AGI. QYD is able to improve sperm quality, especially sperm vitality in infertility patients with AGI and therefore increase pregnant rate of their wives.

Adult ; Bacterial Infections ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Epididymitis ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Prostate ; drug effects ; pathology ; secretion ; Prostatitis ; complications ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

AIM: To investigate the expression of vitamin D3 up-regulated protein 1 (VDUP1) in peripheral eosinophils of asthma patients and its relation with eosinophil activation.METHODS: 10 normal volunteers and 31 mild to moderate asthma patients were selected. Symptom severity, pulmonary function index, induced sputum eosinophil counts were recorded. Then, gene and protein expressions of VDUP1 and ?-actin were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. In addition, eosinophils were incubated with IL-5, both VDUP1 and ?-actin were amplified by RT-PCR. The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) of supernatant and serum were also detected by ELISA assay. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in expression of VDUP1 in asthma attack patients without treatment compared with normal volunteers and patients in remission. In contrast, no significant difference between the patients in remission and normal volunteers was observed. In patients with asthma attacks, a negative relationship between expression intensity of VDUP1 and EOS% in induced sputum and serum ECP concentration was also observed. The expression of VDUP1 in eosinophils was decreased by IL-5 stimulation, simultaneously, the ECP in supernatant was increased. CONCLUSION: The expression of VDUP1 in eosinophils decreases in asthma patients, and is negatively associated with serum ECP and induced sputum EOS%. EOS activation by IL-5 may be related to VDUP1 pathway.

12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangiopericytoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the intervention of Morindae officinalis extract in human sperm membrane, and to study the treatment of male infertility and asthenoospermia by M. officinalis.

METHODTo select sperm with normal physiological function using the Percoll gradient centrifugation for the normal sperm model. Then separating the sperm suspension into the normal, model, and control group (Vitamin C group), and the large, medium and small dose of M. officinalis. The ROS was made from hypoxanthine-xanzine xanzine (HX-XO), and ROS, different concentrations (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg x mL(-1) of the extract were hatched with sperm in the oxygen environment, the sperm membrane Lipid peroxide injury were analyzed, and the function of sperm membrane were analyzed by sperm Hypoosmoticswelling (HOS) and compared with the controlled group.

RESULTIn the same conditions, all the small, medium and large extracts of M. officinalis (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 g x mL(-1)) improved SOD vitality of sperm suspension, reduced the content of MDA, intervened in the injury of sperm membrane by ROS to some extent and protected some function of sperm membrane. The 0.125 mg x mL(-1) extract had no obvious difference (P > 0.05) with Vitamin C in it, but the (0.25, 0.5 mg x mL(-1)) concentration of the extract is significantly better than control Vitamin-C (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a dependence on the dosage, the large dose (0.5 mg x mL(-1)) of M. officinalis especially protected the function of sperm membrane.

CONCLUSIONThe extract from M. officinalis can significantly intervene in lipin peroxidation in sperm membrane by guarding against oxidation, and protect the structure and function of sperm membrane, that is one of the mechanisms for treating male's infertility and asthenoospermia with M. officinalis.

Adult ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Morinda ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the oxidation damage of active oxygen (ROS) to human sperm acrosome and ultrastructure, and study the function mechanism about Cuscuta japonica treating male's infertility and asthenoospermia.

METHODBy using the Percoll gradient centrifugation, the sperm with normal physiological function were selected for the normal sperm model, and the sperm suspension were divided into the normal group, the model group, the positive control group (Vitamin C group), and the lugh, the median and the low dose gvoups of C. japonica. The ROS made from hypoxanthine-xanzine xanzine(HX-XO) and different content (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 g x mL(-1)) of extract were incubated with sperm in the oxygen environment. The acrosomic integrity rate were calculated and the sperm acrosome and ultrastructure were observed.

RESULTThe content (0.125, 0.5 g x mL(-1)) of extract had no obvious difference as compared with Vitamin C (0.25 mg x mL(-1)) in protecting the acrosome and ultrastructure, but the content (0.25 mg x mL(-1)) of extract was significantly better than Vit C (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe suitable content of extract from C. japonica can significantly protect the sperm membrane, the acosomic structure and the mitochondrion function from the damage caused by ROS.

Acrosome ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Adult ; Cuscuta ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; ultrastructure

2 in some patients with the loss of high and medium sized vWF multimers in plasma.Eight patients with vWD were identified, wherein two were characterized as type 1,4 as type 2A and 2 as type 3 respectively.Conclusion The panel of tests is suitable for diagnosis and classification of vWD.

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanisms of protein C (PC) deficiency caused by PC gene mutations of C64W, F139V and K150 deletion (K150d).

METHODSWild-type and mutant PC cDNA expression plasmids (PCwt, PC C64W, PC F139V, PC K150d) were constructed and transfected into COS-7 cells or CHO cells respectively for in vitro expression study and immunofluorescent assay. Fluorescent real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of PC mRNA, protein degradation inhibition and endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (Endo H) digestion experiments to explain the mutant protein degradation pathway and its localizations inside the cells.

RESULTSPC C64W was not secreted from the cells and was gradually degraded inside the cells. There was partial secretion of PC F139V, most of the protein molecule was not secreted and degraded intracellularly. Mutant PC K150d was secreted normally from the cells. Fluorescent realtime PCR analysis of total mRNA from transfected cells showed no reduction of the mutant PC mRNA expression compared with that of wild-type PC mRNA. Protein degradation inhibition experiments showed that mutants PC C64W and PC F139V were degraded intracellularly through the proteasome pathway. Endo H digestion experiments and immunofluorescence results suggested that mutant PC molecules were located mainly in pre-Golgi apparatus.

CONCLUSIONSImpaired secretion and degradation intracellularly of the mutants might be the molecular mechanisms of PC deficiency caused by C64W and F139V mutations. K150 deletion mutation might not affect the secretion of the mutant.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Humans ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protein C ; genetics ; Protein C Deficiency ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo identify the phenotype and gene mutation in two Chinese pedigrees with hereditary protein C deficiency.

METHODSThe plasma level of protein C activity (PC: A) , protein C antigen (PC: Ag), protein S activity (PS: A), and antithrombin activity (AT: A) of the probands and their family members were detected using chromogenic assay and ELISA, respectively. All of the nine exons and intron-exon boundaries of protein C gene were amplified by PCR and analyzed by direct sequencing of the probands. Restriction enzyme site analysis was used to confirm the mutation.

RESULTSThe plasma PC: A and PC: Ag for proband 1 was 1.2% and 0, respectively. Compound heterozygous mutations, C(TGC)64W (TGG) and F(TTC) 139V(GTC) , were identified in her, the former being inherited from the maternal side and the later the paternal side. Further genetic analysis showed that her husband ( II 8) had the heterozygous deletion mutation (K150 or 151 Del) in exon 7, her daughter had the same heterozygous deletion mutation and a F139V. The plasma PC: A and PC: Ag for proband 2 was 50. 3% and 1.9 mg/L, respectively. He had the heterozygous Lys150 or Lys151 deletion mutation, which was inherited from his father. Polymorphisms of C/T at position - 1654, A/G at - 1641 , and A/T at - 1476A/T in the promoter region of protein C were confirmed in all members of the two pedigrees, of which, proband 2 had homozygous CC/GG/TT. The F139V mutation was confirmed by restriction enzyme site analysis and polymorphism for this mutation was excluded. PS: A and AT: A were in normal range for all members.

CONCLUSIONCompound heterozygous mutation C64W and F139V of protein C gene lead to type I hereditary protein C deficiency for proband 1. K150 or 151 deletion mutation and polymorphism of CC/GG/TT might lead to type I hereditary protein C deficiency for proband 2. C64W is a novel mutation for protein C gene. F139V and K150 or 151 deletion mutation are reported for the first time in China.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Protein C Deficiency ; genetics

In the 21st century, natural disasters and emergencies occur frequently worldwide, which leads to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives as well as the direct and indirect economic losses. China has a vast territory frequently struck by natural disasters. However, the reality is not optimistic. Poor organization and management during the rescue actions, the lack of large-scale, systematic medical rescue equipment were all great barriers to the outcomes. Mobile hospitals are expected to provide better health care. We were inspired by the concept of mobile hospital. Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, has set up trauma care system since 1988, in which prehospital care, intensive care, and in-hospital treatment is fully integrated. As a major advantage, such a system provided assurance of "golden hour" rescue treatment. Providing mobile intensive care and prehospital surgical service for severe trauma patients could reduce mortality significantly. Based on the civilian experiences in Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, the mobile emergency (surgical) hospital was developed.
China ; Earthquakes ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Mobile Health Units ; Relief Work ; Rescue Work

OBJECTIVETo study the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and toxicities after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) infusion in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSMTHFR variants in 52 children with ALL were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing. Toxicities of children who received HD-MTX chemotherapy were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC).

RESULTSThe children carrying MTHFR 1298AC had a higher risk of developing thrombocytopenia compared with the carriers of the 1298 AA genotype (OR=13.7, 95%CI=1.18-159.36, P=0.036). There was no significant difference in HD-MTX chemotherapy-related adverse effects between the patients with different MTHFR C677T or G1793A genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSMTHFR A1298C polymorohism may associate with the toxicity of HD-MTX chemotherapy in children with ALL.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Methotrexate ; adverse effects ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction