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

Objective To explore the self-face recognition and its relationship to empathy in patients with schizophrenia.Methods Sixty-two schizophrenic patients and fifty -four healthy subjects were assessed with the self-face recognition task (SFRT) and the interpersonal reactivity index-C (IRI-C).Results The SFRT reaction time in the patients group( (2188 ± 1138) ms) was significantly longer than that in the control group( ( 1152 ± 326) ms) (P ＜ 0.01 ) ;the accuracy in the patients group ( (80 ± 16) ％ ) was significantly lower than that in the control group ( (88 ± 6) ％ ) (P ＜ 0.01 ).The IRI-C total scores,the subscores in perspective taking,the subscores in fantasy and empathic concern of IRI-C were significantly lower in the patients group(respectively(44.82 ± 10.50),(8.98 ± 3.56),( 11.87 ± 4.38 ),( 14.73 ± 4.00) ) than those in the control group ( respectively (49.85 ± 10.28),( 10.78 ± 3.86),( 14.98 ± 6.12),( 17.39 ± 4.56) ) ; the subscore in personal distress of IRI-C in the patients group(9.37 ± 5.12) was significantly higher than those in the control group(6.52 ± 3.89) ( P＜ 0.01 ).There was significant positive correlation between the accuracy for self-face recognition in SFRT and the subscore in fantasy of IRI-C ( r =0.322,P ＜ 0.05 ),the reaction time of SFRT had significantly positive correlation with the subscore in personal distress.Conclusion Schizophren patients have general impairments of self-face recognition and empathic abilities,and the self-face recognition is related to the empathic abilities.

Objective:To investigate the current application of colonoscopy at hospitals in China.Methods:From November 2019 to January 2020, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among gastroenterologists and colonoscopists in hospitals of different levels. The contents of questionnaire survey included basic information of colonoscopy at the respondent′s hospital, protocols and patient education of bowel preparation, implementation of colonoscopy quality control, and colonoscopists′ understanding of polypectomy techniques and post-polypectomy follow-up.Results:A total of 236 valid questionnaires were collected, involving 187 hospitals, and 143 (76.5%) had an annual operation capacity of more than 5 000 cases. In terms of bowel preparation, split-dosed polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder (PEG) was the most commonly used (60.4%, 113/187) and the most common volume of PEG was 3 L (67.4%, 126/187). Verbal (90.9%, 170/187) and written (79.7%, 149/187) instructions were given more often than other methods for patient education of bowel preparation. Antifoaming agent was routinely used in 124 (66.3%) hospitals. In terms of quality control, only 11.5% (20/174) hospitals implemented all four measures. In terms of polypectomy techniques, 98.1% (203/207) colonoscopists chose hot snare polypectomy or endoscopic mucosal resection for lesions of diameter>1 cm, while options varied for lesions of diameter<1 cm. The interval of follow-up after polypectomy recommended by colonoscopists was shorter than that by guidelines.Conclusion:Several problems are found in the survey in the application of colonoscopy in China, i. e., patient education of bowel preparation is not diversified; quality control of colonoscopy still needs to be strengthened; polypectomy techniques and follow-up after polypectomy need to be further standardized.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; methods ; Male ; Premedication ; Renal Dialysis ; Uremia ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of terephthalic acid (TPA) on lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODSFive groups of SD rats that ingested 0%, 0.04%, 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA, respectively, were included in a 90-day subchronic feeding study. Effects of TPA on levels of serum protein, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), total antioxidative capability (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for concentration of ion.

RESULTSTPA decreased the level of serum T-AOC in a dose dependent manner. The contents of serum and bladder MDA significantly decreased in 1% and 5% TPA ingestion groups. Serum CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) lowered in groups of 0.2%, 1%, and 5% TPA. TPA subchronic feeding had no significant influences on serum TC, LDL or HDL, but increased serum TG, TP and ALB after administration of 0.04% and/or 0.2% TPA. Concentrations of urinary Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ were elevated in 1% and 5% TPA groups.

CONCLUSIONAntioxidative potential decreased after TPA exposure. MDA increase in serum and bladder tissues was one of the most important reactions in rats which could protect themselves against TPA impairment. The decrease of serum CuZnSOD was related to the excretion of Zn2+.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Ions ; urine ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Phthalic Acids ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxides ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum level of homocysteine and the development of collaterals in patients with severe coronary artery stenosis (SCAS). METHODS: Eighty patients with at least one vessel stenosis over 90% among the 3 main vessels of coronary artery were consecutively enrolled into the study according to angiographic estimation. The development of collaterals was classified by Rentrop's method. RESULTS: The serum levels of homocysteine among the single-vessel, bi-vessel and tri-vessel coronary artery disease groups had no significant difference; there was no linear correlation between the serum level of homocysteine and Gensini's score. The level of homocysteine in the poorly developed collaterals was significantly higher than that in the well-developed collaterals in the SCAS patients (P<0.001). Multiple stepwise logistic analysis revealed that homocysteine negatively correlated with the development of collaterals (P<0.001, odds ratio=0.353; 95% confidence interval=0.201 - 0.620), whereas it positively correlated with the number of stenosis vessels. CONCLUSION The serum level of homocysteine is independently and negatively associated with the development of collateral circulation in severe SCAs patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Stenosis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Female ; Homocystine ; blood ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDRecently there has been a great deal of interest in the role of serum uric acid (SUA) in atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to establish whether there is a relationship between levels of SUA and recurrence of paroxysmal AF after catheter ablation.

METHODSThree hundred and thirty patients diagnosed with paroxysmal AF were analyzed. Patients were categorized into quartiles on the basis of their pre-operative SUA measurement and follow-up, and Kaplan-Meier estimation with a Log-rank test was used for the analysis of the influence of SUA on the recurrence of AF. Pre-procedural clinical variables were correlated with the clinical outcome after ablation using multivariate Logistic analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the relationship between SUA and the recurrence of AF.

RESULTSAfter a mean follow-up of (9.341 ± 3.667) (range 3.0 - 16.3) months, recurrence rates from the lowest SUA quartile to the highest SUA quartile were 16.0%, 26.4%, 28.3%, and 29.3% respectively (P = 0.014). After adjustment for gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), triglyceride (TG), left atrial diameter (LA), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and SUA, there was an increased risk of recurrence in subjects in the highest SUA quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio 2.804, 95% confidence interval 1.466 - 5.362, P = 0.002). Following multivariate Logistical analysis, SUA was found to be an independent predictor of recurrence (hazard ratio 1.613, 95% confidence interval 1.601 - 1.625, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONIn a retrospective study of patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing catheter ablation, elevated preoperative SUA levels were associated with a higher rate of recurrence of AF.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lamivudine, interferon alpha and oxymatrine treatment for surviving hepatic failure patients with hepatitis B.

METHODS200 hepatitis B patients, including 100 subacute or acute-on-chronic hepatic failure survivals (group A), and 100 chronic (group B, n=100) hepatic failure survivals, were enrolled in this study. Patients in group A received interferon alpha (n=35), lamivudine (n=33) , or combinational lamivudine and oxymatrine (n=32) therapy for six months; Patients in group B received lamivudine (n=49), or combinational lamivudine and oxymatrine (n=51) therapy for six months, respectively. After the treatment, all patients were followed-up for six months.

RESULTSAt the end of follow-up, all patients in group A survived, while in group B three patients (6.1%) receiving lamivudine, and four (7.8%, P>0.05) receiving combinational therapy died; more than 90% of all survivals had their HBV DNA loss. The HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rate in patients of group A treated with interferon alpha (9/17, 52.9%) was higher than that in patients treated with combinational lamivudine and matrine (5/16, 31.3%, P<0.05), which was higher than that in the patients treated with lamivudine alone (1/17, 5.9%, P<0.01), and the Knodell histological activity index score in patients treated with lamivudine (7.2+/-0.8, P<0.05) was lower than that in patients treated with interferon alpha (8.2+/-1.3, P<0.05), and the best efficacy was found in receiving combinational therapy (6.9+/-0.7, P<0.01); Lamivudine or lamivudine in combination with matrine significantly inhibited the intrahepatic inflammatory activities, but had no effect on the existing fibrosis in group B patients.

CONCLUSIONLong term nucleotide analogues treatment may delay the progress of fibrosis in hepatitis B-induced hepatic failure survivals, and the administration of matrine in time may further enhance the anti-fibrotic effect of nucleotide analogues.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Liver Failure ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

There exists a complex relationship between liver and thyroid hormones. Liver plays an important role in the activation, inactivation, transportation, and metabolism of thyroid hormones. At the same time, thyroid hormones also affect hepatocytes activity and liver metabolism, such as lipid and bilirubin metabolism. Importantly, thyroid hormone levels often change abnormally in patients with liver cirrhosis. Therefore, studying the change of thyroid hormone levels in patients with liver cirrhosis has a certain clinical value for assessing the severity, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment. This paper reviews the research progress on the relationship between liver cirrhosis and thyroid hormone.
Bilirubin ; Humans ; Liver/metabolism* ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism* ; Thyroid Hormones/metabolism*

Femoral neck fracture (FNF) in the elderly patients is currently a major health challenge worldwide, with excessive consumption of medical resources, high incidence of complications as well as suboptimal outcome and prognosis. Hip joint arthroplasty (HJA) has been the mainstream treatment for FNF in the elderly, but the conventional surgical approaches and techniques are still confronted with a series of bottlenecks such as dislocation, limp and limb length discrepancy. In recent years, direct anterior approach (DAA) for HJA (DAA-HJA) has been a major new choice in the field of joint replacement, which achieves improved clinical effectiveness of HJA in the treatment of elderly FNF, due to the fact that DAA approach involves the neuromuscular interface and accords with the idea of soft tissue retention and enhanced recovery after surgery. However, there is still a lack of unified understanding of standard technique and procedure of DAA-HJA in the treatment of elderly FNF. Therefore, relevant experts from the Hip Joint Group of Chinese Orthopedics Association of Chinese Medical Association, Youth Arthrology Group of Orthopedic Committee of PLA, Orthopedic Committee of Chongqing Medical Association, Branch of Orthopedic Surgeons of Chongqing Medical Doctor Association and Sport Medicine Committee of Chongqing Medical Association were organized to formulate the " Chinese expert consensus on the technical standard of direct anterior hip arthroplasty for elderly femoral neck fracture ( version 2023)" based on evidence-based medicine. This consensus mainly proposed 13 recommendations covering indications, surgical plans, prosthesis selections, surgical techniques and processes, and postoperative management of DAA-HJA in elderly patients with FNF, aiming to promote standardized, systematic and patient-specific diagnosis and treatment to improve the functional prognosis of the patients.