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

To study the effect of Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY) on five types of isozymes of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) of normal and liver fibrosis rats by using the cocktail probe method. Dimethylnitrosamine ( DMN) was injected to induce the liver fibrosis model. After the tail vein injection with Cocktail probe solutions prepared with five CYP450s probe substrates (phenacetin-CYP1A2, omeprazole-CYP2C9, tolbutamide-CYP2C19, dextromethorphan-CYP2D6, midazolam-CYP3A4), the plasma concentrations of the five probe substrates were determined by LC-MS/MS, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by PK solutions 2. After the oral administration with FZHY, normal rats given phenacetin, omeprazole, tolbutamide and dextromethorphan showed increase in AUC(0-t) and decrease in CL to varying degrees, indicating that FZHY obviously inhibited the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in normal rats, but with no obvious effect on the activity of CYP3A4. After the oral administration with FZHY, liver fibrosis rats treated with CYP2C9 showed the significant increase in AUC(0-t) and significant decrease in Vd, hut with no obvious changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of other four types of prove substances, suggesting that FZHY could significantly inhibit the activity of CYP2C9 in rats but had no effect on the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. The changes in the activity of CYP450 isozymes in liver fibrosis rats may be the reason for FZHY's different effects on CYP450 isozymes in normal and liver fibrosis rats.
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of miRNA-101 on the expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EXH2) in human androgen-independent prostated cancer LNCaP cells.

METHODSWe divided LNCaP cells into a blank control, a negative control, and a miRNA-l01 transfection group, constructed the vector by transfecting synthetic miRNA-101 mimics into the LNCaP cells, and evaluated the efficiency of transfection by fluorescence microscopy. Then we determined the expression level of EZH2 mRNA by qRT-PCR in the three groups of cells and that of the EZH2 protein in the negative control and transfection groups by Western blot.

RESULTSGreen fluorescence signals were observed in over 70% of the LNCaP cells in the transfection group after 24 hours of transfection. At 72 hours, the expression of miRNA-101 was significantly upregulated in the transfected cells (P < 0.01), that of EZH2 mRNA was remarkably lower in the transfection group (0.01 ± 0.10) than in the blank control (0.95 ± 0.40) and negative control (0.86 ± 0.30) groups (both P < 0.01), and that of the EZH2 protein was increased in the negative control but decreased in the transfection group with the extension of culture time.

CONCLUSIONmiRNA-101, with its inhibitory effect on the expression of EZH2 in LNCaP cells, is a potential biotherapeutic for prostate cancer.

Androgens ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transfection

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastroscopy ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Tissue Embedding ; methods

Objective To observe the long term effects of arthroscopic knee debridement and reconstructing operation for treating osteoarthritis in patients with Kaschin-Beck disease. Methods Thirty-one cases of patients with Kaschin-Beck disease were followed for 6 years after operation of articular clearing by arthroscope. Index of pain, symptoms of self-evaluation, range of motion, walking distance, standing test by affected leg when bending at 30° or 60° were recorded and compared with the preoperative results. Results Twenty-four cases were followed up for 6 years. Six years after operation the pain index(3.38 ± 2.87) was dramatically decreased compared to that before operation (6.88 ± 1.45, t = 5.30, P ＜ 0.05). Patients symptoms markedly improved by subjective self-evaluation was 70.83% (17/24), the effective rate was 100% (24/24). The number of cases that could stand up when leg bending at 30° or 60° were 21,18 cases, respectively, compared with that of preoperative of 14, 11 cases, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(x2 = 5.17,4.27, all P ＜ 0.05). Six years after operation the walking distance(3 cases ＜ 1 km, 11 cases 1 - 5 km and 10 cases ＞ 5 km) were greatly improved compared to the results before operation (12 cases ＜ 1 km, 9 cases 1 - 5 km and 3 cases ＞ 5 km, U = 2.88, P ＜0.05). Six years after operation the knee activity[(132.25 ± 14.52)°] remained at the same level, compared with that of preoperative [(131 .58 ± 14.68) °], the difference was not statistically significant (t = 0.16, P ＞ 0.05) .Conclusions The method of arthroscopic joint debridement to cure Kaschin-Beck disease knee osteoarthritis can significantly reduce pain, improve function and walking distance, with more stable long-term satisfactory outcome.

AIM: To observe the effects of porous polyethylene ( Medpor) as a spacer graft in the reconstruction of large areas eyelid defect after the operation of malignant tumors of lower eyelids.
METHODS: Nineteen cases ( 19 eyes ) of malignant tumors of lower eyelid underwent the eyelid reconstruction were selected. Medpor lower eyelid inserts implantation were used to replace tarsal joint sliding conjunctival flap and pedicle flap, and repaired full -thickness lower eyelid defects then underwent eyelid reconstruction.
RESULTS: Appearance of eyelids and functional improvements were satisfactory with no stimulation on the eyeball and no effect on the visual function. Implants is with no absorption, shift, exclusion or infection and no tumor recurrence in all cases during the follow up for 6-36mo.
CONCLUSION: Medpor lower eyelid inserts implantation can instead tarsal plate for the reconstruction of medium to large areas lower eyelid defect, which is easy performing with rare complications. It is an ideal alternatives of tarsal plate.

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

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of Kupffer cells in the postburn production of TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in severely scalded rats.

METHODS(1) The production of TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 from rat Kupffer cells stimulated by burn serum was observed. (2) The postburn change in the expression of cytokine mRNA from rat Kupffer cells was monitored. (3) The change in the plasma cytokine contents in scalded rats was determined after the application of gadolinium chloride, a specific inhibitor of Kupffer cells.

RESULTSKupffer cells could be stimulated by burn serum to release cytokines TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6. The mRNA expression of TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 from rat Kupffer cells increased significantly after injury. But the postburn plasma levels of TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 decreased obviously to 34.71%, 36.99% and 33.7% of those in scalding group, respectively, after the Kupffer cell activity was inhibited.

CONCLUSIONThe plasma cytokines, i.e. TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, were primarily produced from Kupffer cells after injury in scalded rats, initiated by TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA transcription.

Animals ; Burns ; immunology ; metabolism ; Gadolinium ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Kupffer Cells ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess the features of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in patients with benign pulmonary nodules.

METHODSFrom October 1998 to July 2004, 47 patients with benign pulmonary nodules were imaged with FDG-positron emission tomography (PET). Diagnoses were confirmed by surgery. FDG-PET data was analyzed by visual method and semi-quantitive method. When pulmonary nodules with abnormal FDG intake appeared in PET scans confirmed by visual method, their maximum and mean standard uptake value (SUVmax and SUVmean) and SUV of normal lung (SUVlung) were measured using semiquantitative method.

RESULTSTwenty-one cases showed nothing abnormal in PET scans, including 17 calcification and fibrosis, 2 hamartomas and 2 sclerosing hemangiomas. 26 pulmonary nodules were detected by FDG-PET (17 active tuberculous, 6 inflammatory pseudotumors, 3 cryptococcosis). FDG uptake of these 26 nodules was higher than that of normal lung (SUVmax, SUVmean and SUVlung were 3.04 +/- 1.65, 2.48 +/- 1.35 and 0.40 +/- 0.07, respectively, P < 0.001). Correlations were not found between FDG uptake and nodule size or SUV of normal lung or age or blood glucose level in these 26 patients (P > 0.05). SUV in 9 cases (9/26, 35%) were beyond 2.5.

CONCLUSIONSSome benign pulmonary nodules were FDG avid.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; pharmacokinetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary ; diagnostic imaging ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and its significance in sporadic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (AAA), and initially to investigate the mechanisms of pathological remodeling in AAA.

METHODSAAA specimens were taken from 18 patients during elective surgical intervention, and 18 control specimens of ascending aorta were obtained from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Specimens were stained with HE and Masson to evaluate the arrangement and aggregation of cells and collagen types I and III; immunohistochemistry staining was performed using antibodies directed against markers of CTGF; real-time PCR analysis was performed to quantify the expression level of CTGF and collagen types I and III.

RESULTSPathological results show degradation of elastin and hyperplasia of collagen fibers as well as disordered arrangement of smooth muscle cells in AAA. When compared with controls, protein levels of CTGF were significantly increased [(44 ± 4)% vs. (33 ± 5)%, P < 0.01]. Similar patterns were shown in mRNA levels of CTGF (P < 0.01). Using real-time PCR method, elevated levels (relative expression ratio of mRNA: 10.54/3.8 and 1.79/1.19, respectively; P < 0.01, both) of collagen types I and III were observed. CTGF expression had a correlation with both collagen fibers and aortic aneurysm diameter (r = 0.784, P < 0.01; r = 0.793, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate increased expression of aortic collagen types I and III as well as CTGF in AAA specimens, which is likely to be responsible for the aortic wall pathological remodeling. The expression of CTGF was positively correlated with the aortic diameter. As a cytokines factor can stimulate collagen synthesis, CTGF may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of AAA.

Aged ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged