AIMTo explore the causes of the difference in spermatogenic suppression between responders and non-responders in Chinese men treated with levonorgestrel (LNG) implants plus testosterone undecanoate (TU) injectable.

METHODSThe 16 Chinese volunteers treated were divided into two groups in regard to the sperm count during the treatment period, 7 men in the responder group (Group R), including 6 azoospermia and one severe oligozoospermia, and the remaining 9 in the non-responder group (Group N), including 4 oligozoospermia and 5 with sperm counts greater than 20 x 10(6)/mL. The differences in serum profiles of FSH, LH, T, LNG and T/LH ratio were compared between the two groups and the correlation between the seminal fluid parameters and serum reproductive hormones was analyzed.

RESULTSThe serum FSH level was lower in Group R than that in Group N (P<0.05), while the serum LH and LNG levels were higher in Group R than those in Group N (P<0.05). The sperm density (P<0.01, r=0.235), motility(P<0.01, r=0.326) and vitality (P<0.01, r=0.219) showed significantly positive correlation with the serum FSH level.

CONCLUSIONThe blood LNG and T levels, the degree of FSH inhibition and/or the sensitivity of the pituitary-testis axis to exogenous steroids, as well as the individual spermatogenetic potential and the functional status of the Leydig cells may be factors bringing about individual differences in spermatogenic suppression in Chinese men treated with LNG and TU.

Adult ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; administration & dosage ; Drug Implants ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Injections ; Levonorgestrel ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Leydig Cells ; physiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood

Female ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Semicircular Canals ; surgery ; Vertigo ; etiology ; surgery

Twelve populations of Inula lineariifolia were used as materials to measure morphological characteristics, photosynthetic parameters and chemical constituents. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for germplasm resources evaluation. The results showed that I. lineariifolia had relatively rich morphological diversity, there were significant differences of morphological characteristics, photosynthetic parameters and chemical constituents among populations. There was positive correlation on morphological characteristics and P(n). Twelve populations were divided into three-type. The three populations of Xuyi, Mingguang and Fengyang were of narrower-longer leaf, bigger biomass,better photosynthetic and higher chemical constituents. Then they were classified for a similar group. It proved that the three populations were more suitable for cultivation and promotion.
Biomass ; China ; Flowers ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Inula ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of both intra- and extrathoracic sarcoidosis on 18F-FDG PET/CT.Methods From 2007 Aug.to 2009 Nov.,22 patients( 10 males,12 females) with sarcoidosis,confirmed by pathological study and clinical follow-up,underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging.The imaging patterns of intrathoracic and extrathoracic lesions were analyzed.The patterns were classified as the typical or atypical ( symmetrical or asymmetrical FDG accumulation and enlargement of hilar lymph nodes) based on PET and CT separately.Nonparametric McNemar test,independent t-test and Fisher exact test were applied for statistical analysis.Results For typical pattern vs atypical pattem identification,PET was significantly different from CT ( 18 and 4 vs 12 and 10,P =0.031 ).In those with atypical pattern demonstrated by CT alone at hilar region,PET showed either symmetrical or asymmetrical accumulation of FDG.Except for mediastinal lymph nodes involvement,lung parenchyma was the second common site ( 19/22,86.4％ ),followed by lymph nodes at abdomen and (or) pelvis ( 12/22,54.5％ ).Conclusion The imaging characteristics of both intra- and extrathoracic sarcoidosis on 18F-FDG PET/CT may be helpful for the diagnosis of atypical sarcoidosis on CT image alone.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term outcome of dynamic cardiomyoplasty in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

METHODSThree male patients with dilated cardiomyopathy at age of 36, 45 and 62 years were underwent dynamic cardiomyoplasty from 1994 to 1995. Postoperative follow-up were performed. The data of hemodynamic parameters, functional grade and dimension of heart were analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no operative death in these patients. All patients recovered eventlessly. From early postoperative stage, the hemodynamic parameters and clinical symptoms were improved and the patients' exercise tolerance augmented. The quality of life of patients was enhanced significantly. All patients showed NYHA functional grade I. One patient died of severe arrhythmia at the 19th postoperative month. In 2 long-term survivors, the hemodynamic parameters and heart function were declined and the heart tended to be dilated after 3 postoperative years. One patient died of congestive heart failure at 4.5 postoperative years. One patient still survived 7 years after operation and remained heart functional grade II.

CONCLUSIONSDynamic cardiomyoplasty can significantly improve the functional class and quality of life in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy within a considerable long postoperative period.

Adult ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; physiopathology ; psychology ; surgery ; Cardiomyoplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To research the relation between the time-dependent appearances of myotibroblasts during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat and wound age determination. METHODS: A total of 35 SD male rats were divided into the control and six injured groups according to wound age as follows: 12 h, 1 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury. The appearances of myofibroblasts were detected by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Masson's trichrome staining was utilized to examine collagen accumulation in the contused areas. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that α-SMA+ myofibroblasts were initially observed at 5 d post-injury. The average ratio of myofibroblasts was highest at 14 d post-injury, with all samples, ratios more than 50%. In the other five groups, the average of α-SMA positive ratios were less than 50%. The collagen stained areas in the contused zones, concomitant with myofibroblast appearance, were increasingly augmented along with advances of posttraumatic interval. CONCLUSION The immunohistochemical detection of myofibroblasts can be applied to wound age determination. The myofibroblasts might be involved in collagen deposition during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat.
Animals ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Contusions/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

Objective To evaluate MR imaging findings of uveal metastases.Methods MR imaging findings of 20 cases with uveal metastases comfirmed by pathology or follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.MR imaging was performed in 20 patients,of which postcontrast T1-weighted imaging was performed in 19 patients including dynamic contrast enhancement scanning in four cases.Results Metastatic tumor was found in the iris and ciliary body in two cases,and in choroid in 18 cases.The tumor demonstrated slightly hypointense signal on Tl-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in two cases,isointense signal on T1-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in nine cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in three cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2- weighted imaging in three cases,slighdy hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in two cases,and slightly hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in one case.The tumor appeared as mild thickness of the wall of the globe in eight cases,a crescent mass in three cases,a fusiform mass in seven cases,and a nodule in two cases.Nineteen patients showed moderate or marked enhancement on postcontrast T_1-weighted imaging.The time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement in four patients suggested a rapid enhancement and slow washout pattern.Retinal detachment was observed in 11 patients and abnormal signal intensity within the vitreous body was seen in two cases.Conclusion MRI can display the location,shape, signal characteristics,and enhancement pattern of uveal metastases,contributing to diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

The first genetic linkage map of Salvia miltiorrhiza was constructed in 94 F1 individuals from an intraspecific cross by using simple sequence repeat (SSR), sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 93 marker loci in the linkage map, consisting of 53 SSR, 38 SRAP and 2 ISSR locus were made up of eight linkage groups, covered a total length of 400.1 cm with an average distance of 4.3 cm per marker. The length of linkage groups varied from 3.3 -132 cm and each of them included 2-23 markers, separately. The result will provide important basis for QTL mapping, map-based cloning and association studies for commercially important traits in S. miltiorrhiza.
Chromosome Mapping ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Markers ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; genetics

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.The aim of the current study was to determine the risk factors for AKI in patients undergoing OLT.A total of 103 patients who received OLT between January 2015 and May 2016 in Tongji Hospital,China,were retrospectively analyzed.Their demographic characteristics and perioperative parameters were collected,and AKI was diagnosed using 2012 Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging criteria.It was found that the incidence of AKI was 40.8％ in this cohort and AKI was significantly associated with body mass index,urine volume,operation duration (especially ＞ 480 min),and the postoperative use of vasopressors.It was concluded that relative low urine output,long operation duration,and the postoperative use of vasopressors are risk factors for AKI following OLT.