OBJECTIVETo clarify the commercial original species of hippocampus in the market.

METHODField survey and interview were applied to the investigation.

RESULTPresent study identified the main commercial hippocampus of 13 species, including Pharmacopoeia contained four kinds of hippocampus (without Hippocampus japonicus) listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the identification method for the 13 kinds of commercially hippocampus was established.

CONCLUSIONThe further research on hippocampus should be strengthened for the establishment of hippocampal quality control standard.

Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; standards ; Quality Control ; Smegmamorpha ; anatomy & histology ; classification

Mantidis Oötheca is commonly used Chinese medicine. Because of the used medicinal part is oötheca and many mantis species can yield ootheca, it is not possible to identify its original animal accurately. There is no unanimous conclusion about the corresponding relationship between Mantis and Mantidis Oötheca (Sangpiaoxiao). This relationship is the basis of the Mantidis Oötheca research. Our study combined the methods of artificial incubation oötheca and capture the living mantis to identify the species of Mantis and Mantidis Oötheca. The results showed that the origin insects of Mantidis Oötheca was Tenodera, Hierodula and Statilia genus insects. This has laid a foundation for further study of Mantidis Oötheca.
Animals ; Mantodea ; chemistry ; classification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting C-erbb-2 oncogene on the radiosensitivity of C-erbb-2-overexpressing lung adenocarcinoma cell line.

METHODSFour pairs of siRNA targeting the coding sequence of C-erbb-2 mRNA were synthesized and their interference effects were evaluated using quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR. The siRNA with the best interference effects was transfected into Calu-3 cells, which were then exposed to 2 or 5 Gy irradiation, with the cells with transfection or irradiation alone as the control groups. The cell apoptosis after the treatment was detected using annexin V-FITC Kit.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate of the Calu cells was 7.767-/+0.551 in the blank group, 14.400-/+1.114 in the interference group, 11.867-/+0.737 in 2 Gy irradition group, 23.000-/+1.664 in 2 Gy irradiation + interference group, 16.100-/+0.624 in 5 Gy irradiation group, and 27.900-/+1.709 in 5 Gy irradiation+interference group.

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA targeting C-erbb-2 gene can enhance the radiosensitivity of Calu-3 cells to gamma-ray and increase their apoptosis rate following gamma-ray exposure in vitro.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, erbB-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiation Tolerance ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between vasectomy and prostate cancer.

METHODSWe searched comprehensively the databases, CBMDisc, CMCC, CMAC, CNKI (from 1978 to January 6, 2009), and PubMed (from 1965 to January 6, 2009) using the key words "vasectomy" and "prostate cancer", screened the retrieved literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, performed a Meta-analysis with the software RevMan 4.2 after identification of the relevant data, and calculated the overall pooled OR (95% CI) as well as that of the association of prostate cancer with <20 and > or =20 yr vasectomy.

RESULTSA total of 20 088 cases and 232 506 controls in 27 reports (7 cohort and 20 case-control studies) were included in this investigation. The overall pooled OR (95% CI) was 1.10 (0.97-1.24), and those of <20 and > or =20 yr vasectomy were 0.94 (0.83-1.06) and 1.05 (0.90-1.23), respectively.

CONCLUSIONNo existing literature show any positive association between vasectomy and prostate cancer.

Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Vasectomy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the Chk1 gene in human sperm and its clinical significance.

METHODSWe collected 80 semen samples and divided them into 4 groups of equal number: normal, oligospermia, asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia. The Chk1 expression and its relative level were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR, sperm DNA damage and gradient changes assessed by DNA ladder analysis, and sperm apoptosis determined by Annexin V/PI double staining in each group.

RESULTSThe Chk1 gene was expressed in all the four groups, but with significant differences (P < 0.01); the relative levels of CHK1 protein were similar to those of Chk1 mRNA in the normal, oligospermia, asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia groups, which were 1.00 +/- 0.22, 0.76 +/- 0.10, 0.45 +/- 0.08 and 0.37 +/- 0.07, respectively. DNA ladder analysis showed a marked DNA ladder in the asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia groups. Sperm apoptosis was markedly increased in the oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia and 100% graded sperm groups ([ 8.3 +/- 0.60]%, [11.6 +/- 0.92]%, [12.5 +/- 1.43]% and [17.0 +/- 1.98]%), as compared with the normal group ([7.6 +/- 0.34]%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChk1 is expressed in human sperm, but differently in different semen quality groups. And its expression is correlated with sperm DNA damage and apoptosis; its reduction may lead to declined sperm repair and increased sperm apoptosis and thus affect semen quality.

Apoptosis ; Checkpoint Kinase 1 ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Male ; Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of pre-acupuncture and immediate acupuncture on kidney function and oxygen free radical metabolism in rats with simulated weightlessness.

METHODSTwenty male clean-grade Wister rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group, a pre-acupuncture group and an immediate acupuncture group, 5 rats in each one. The rats in the normal control group did not receive any treatment but free activities for 4 weeks. The rats in the rest groups received 4-week tail suspension to establish the model of simulated weightlessness. One week before the tail suspension, the rats in the pre-acupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 30 min per treatment, once a day for 7 days. The rats in the immediate acupuncture group received tail suspension and acupuncture at the same time; during the tail suspension, the electroacupuncture was applied at "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Pishu" (BL 20) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) for 30 min per treatment, once every other day for 14 days. The colorimetric method was used to measure the content of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in serum as well as activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in renal tissue in each group.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the content of BUN in the model group was increased significantly (P<0.01), the activity of SOD and GSH-PX in nephridial tissue was significantly reduced (both P<0.01), and the content of MDA was increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the content of BUN in the pre-acupuncture group and immediate acupuncture group was significantly reduced (P<0.01, P<0.05), the activity of GSH-PX in the pre-acupuncture group was obviously increased (P<0.05) and the content of MDA in the immediate acupuncture group was increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the immediate acupuncture group, the content of MDA in the pre-acupuncture group was lower (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe pre-acupuncture and immediate acupuncture both have the capacity to improve the kidney function and anti-oxygen free radical injury in rats with simulated weightlessness, however, the capacity to increase the protection ability of the kidney and eliminate free radical in the pre-acupuncture group is superior to that in the immediate acupuncture group, which is likely to be related with improving antioxidant ability of kidney.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Space Flight ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Weightlessness ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and potential mechanism of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and antiarrhythmic peptide (AAP10) on rabbit ventricular arrhythmia.

METHODSTwenty-four rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 each): control group, LPA group and AAP10 + LPA group. Using arterially perfused rabbit ventricular wedge preparations, transmural ECG and action potentials from both endocardium and epicardium were simultaneously recorded in the whole process of all experiments with two separate floating microeletrodes. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmia post S1S2 stimulation was recorded. Protein levels of nonphosphorylated Cx43 and total Cx43 were evaluated by Western blot. The distribution of nonphosphorylated Cx43 was observed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the QT interval, endocardial action potential duration, transmural repolarization dispersion (TDR) and incidence of ventricular arrhythmia were significantly increased and nonphosphorylated Cx43 expression was significantly upregulated in the LPA group. Compared with the LPA group, cotreatment with AAP10 can reduce the QT interval, endocardial action potential duration, TDR and incidence of ventricular arrhythmia (25.0% vs 62.5%, P < 0.01) and downregulate nonphosphorylated Cx43.

CONCLUSIONSLPA could promote the arrhythmia possibly by upregulating nonphosphorylated Cx43 and subsequent gap junction transmission inhibition. Gap junction enhancer AAP10 could attenuate the pro-arrhythmic effect of LPA probably by downregulating myocardial nonphosphorylated Cx43 expression.

Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; pharmacology ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Lysophospholipids ; adverse effects ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of seminal plasma levocarnitine with sperm concentration, vitality and motility.

METHODSEnrolled in this study were 64 infertile men, who were divided according to the results of routine sperm tests into a normozoospermia (n = 12), an oligozoospermia (n = 16), an asthenozoospermia (n = 20) and an oligoasthenozoospermia group (n = 16). The level of seminal plasma levocarnitine was detected by LC-MS-MS, the concentration of seminal plasma testosterone measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, the correlation of seminal plasma levocarnitine with sperm concentration, motility and vitality determined by bivariate correlation analysis with SPSS15.0, and so was the correlation between the carnitine and sperm concentration by partial correlation analysis with seminal plasma testosterone as a control variable to exclude the influence of testosterone.

RESULTSThe concentrations of total seminal plasma levocarnitine, free seminal plasma levocarnitine and seminal plasma acetolevocarnitine were (91.33 +/- 40.49) mg/L, (40.89 +/- 24.13) mg/L and (50.44 +/- 21.90) mg/L; the Pearson coefficients of correlation of the levocarnitine level with sperm motility, vitality and concentration were 0.161 (P = 0.235), 0.114 (P = 0.370) and 0.637 (P < 0.001), those of free seminal carnitine with sperm motility and vitality were 0.325 (P = 0.024) and 0.316 (P = 0.029), respectively, with the oligozoospermia group excluded, and that of partial correlation between the concentrations of seminal levocarnitine and sperm was 0.641 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe level of seminal plasma levocarnitine is positively correlated with sperm motility and vitality, and more significantly with sperm concentration.

Adult ; Carnitine ; analysis ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the Kv1.3 channel expression changes after CD4(+) and subsets CD28(null)/CD28(+)T cells activation in peripheral blood of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSCD4(+)T cell in 27 ACS patients and CD4(+)CD28(null)/CD4(+)CD28(+)T cells in 12 out of these 27 ACS patients were isolated from peripheral blood with magnetic cell sorting. The whole-cell Kv1.3 currents for three T cells were recorded with patch-clamp technique before and 72 hours after activation by purified anti-human CD3 Interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), granzyme B mRNA expression were determined by reverse transcription-PCR before and 72 hours after activation by purified anti-human CD3 in the presence or absence of recombinant Margatoxin (rMgTX, 0.1, 1, 10 nmol/L), a specific Kv1.3 channel blocker.

RESULTSPeak Kv1.3 channel currents of CD4(+), CD4(+)CD28(null), CD4(+)CD28(+)T cells were significantly increased and the mean Kv1.3 channel numbers per cell of these cells were increased by about 90%, 60%, 80% (402 +/- 88 vs. 752 +/- 275, 553 +/- 328 vs. 874 +/- 400, 392 +/- 133 vs. 716 +/- 251, all P < 0.05) after activation compared to baseline values. Baseline CD4(+)CD28(null)T cell numbers were about 40% more than those of CD4(+)CD28(+)T cell (P < 0.05) and were similar after activation (P = 0.102). The mRNA expression of interferon gamma, TNF-alpha and granzyme B were dose-dependently down-regulated by rMgTX.

CONCLUSIONSKv1.3 channels of peripheral CD4(+)T cell and CD28(null)/CD28(+)T cells from ACS patients significantly increased after activation and Kv1.3-specific channel blocker rMgTX could effectively abolish this effect suggesting a potential role of Kv1.3 channel blocker on plaque stabilization in ACS patients.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Kv1.3 Potassium Channel ; metabolism ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of sperm morphology with reproductive hormones in infertile men and the pathogenesis of teratozoospermia.

METHODSThis study included 90 infertile men aged 25 - 40 years. We measured their testis volumes using the Prader orchidometer, conducted routine semen analyses according to the WHO laboratory standard, and determined the concentrations of reproductive hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) by chemiluminescence and the levels of free testosterone (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BioT).

RESULTSAll the subjects showed normal sperm concentration. Based on the results of semen morphology analysis, the 90 infertile men were equally divided into groups 1 (morphologically normal sperm <4%), 2 (morphologically normal sperm > or = 4% and <10%), and 3 (morphologically normal sperm > or = 10%), with no significant differences in age among the three groups (P>0.05). The volumes of the left testis were (14.27 +/- 3.65) ml, (16.90 +/- 3.57) ml and (14.57 +/- 3.57) ml, respectively (P = 0.006 group 1 vs group 2, P = 0.741 group 1 vs group 3, P = 0.014 group 2 vs group 3), and those of the right testis were (14.60 +/- 3.70) ml, (16.60 +/- 3.35) ml and (14.67 +/- 3.54) ml, respectively (P = 0.050). There were no significant differences among the three groups in prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, estradiol, total testosterone and SHBG, (P>0.05). The levels of serum FT were (0.25 +/- 0.07) nmol/L, (0.29 +/- 0.07) nmol/L and (0.31 +/- 0.13) nmol/L (P = 0.086 group 1 vs group 2, P= 0.010 group 1 vs group 3, P= 0.364 group 2 vs group 3), and those of BioT were (5.81 +/- 1.58) nmol/L, (6.78 +/- 1.55) nmol/L and (7.29 +/- 3.02) nmol/L, respectively (P = 0.086 group 1 vs group 2, P = 0.010 group 1 vs group 3, P = 0.364 group 2 vs group 3). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was positively correlated with the levels of serum FT and BioT (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe higher the levels of serum FT and BioT, the higher the percentage of morphologically normal sperm, which suggests that serum FT and BioT might be involved in the pathogenesis of teratozoospermia.

Adult ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; blood ; physiopathology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Prolactin ; blood ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities ; Testis ; Testosterone ; blood