OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yishen Zhongzi Pill (YZP) on the sperm motility of Shen-essence deficiency syndrome (SEDS) patients.

METHODSTotally 144 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (71 cases) and the control group (73 cases). Ten cases dropped out during the therapeutic course. A total of 134 patients completed this clinical study, 67 in each group. Patients in the treatment group took YZP (6 g each time, twice daily), while those in the control group took Wuzi Yanzong Pill (6 g each time, twice daily). The therapeutic course for all was one month. Changes of the sperm motility, clinical efficacy, and Chinese medical symptoms scores were observed between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, percentages of class a spermatozoa and class a + b spermatozoa were enhanced in the two groups after treatment (P <0. 01). Besides, they were higher in treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05). The total effective rate of the treatment group was 77. 61 % (52/67 cases), while it was 58. 21 % (39/67 cases) in the control group. It was better in the treatment group than in the control group (Z= -2. 914, P =0. 004). Compared with before treatment in the same group, scores for Chinese medical symptoms decreased in the two groups (P <0. 01). The difference of pre-post integrals was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONYZP showed favorable effect in treating asthenospermia patients with SEDS and could effectively elevate the motility of sperm.

Asthenozoospermia ; therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oils, Volatile ; Phytotherapy ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Syndrome

Objective To understand the running status and distribution of water-improving pmjects in Anda city.Methods The running and management of the water-improving projects were investigated and located the position by Global Positioning Systerm(GPS)in Anda city.Results Among 317 water-improving projects,16.09%were either long-term projects or in poor management or had already stopped usage,77 projeets were broken,accounting for 24.29%;all inadequate supply of equipment and pipeline,83 projects had never been started,accounting for 26.18%;now,106 projects were running,accounting for 33.44%.In only 46 projects,the water fluoride concentration was lower than 1.00 mg/L,accounting for 14.51%,as a result 36 thousand people benefited.Conclusions The running status of water-improving projects was unacceptable,most of them stopped running and endemic fluorosis control was still severe in Anda city.

OBJECTIVETo probe into the therapeutic effect of ear point combined therapy on common migraine at the remission stage and the mechanism.

METHODSThirty-two cases of common migraine at the remission stage were treated with ear point combined therapy, including blood-letting at ear back, injection of autoblood into Fengchi (GB 20), Yanglingquan (GB 34), and pricking at ear points Nie, Yi-dan (pancreas and gallbladder), Shenmen, etc.. Clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated at the end of one therapeutic course, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and endotheline (ET) were detected before and after treatment, and the CGRP and ET contents were compared with those in 22 normal persons.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 78.1% (P<0.001), CGRP and ET contents had very significant changes after treatment (P<0.01), and CGRP and ET showed negative correlativity (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe ear point combined therapy can regulates the balance between the plasma CGRP and ET in the patient of common migraine and improve vasodilative, vasoconstrictive and endothelial fuctions in the brain, hence stopping pain.

Acupuncture, Ear ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Endothelins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Migraine without Aura ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy

@@

Objective To develop a rapid,reliable and convenient approach for diagnosing the homozygous deletion of SMN1 gene.Methods SMN1 gene was amplified specifically with double allele-specific PCR(AS-PCR).Meanwhile,one inrelevant gene was amplified as internal control by PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis to determine whether the sick children were with homozygous deletion of SMN1 genes.Results The homozygous deletion of exon7 in SMN1 gene was identified by agarose gel electrophoresis or PAGE accurately.Conclusion Compared to PCR-RFLP and DHPLC used in the past,this approach can diagnose homozygous deletion of SMA much more accurate,easier and more convenient without completed following analyses.

BACKGROUNDCalcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a sensory neuropeptide, affects osteoblast proliferation and bone formation. However, the mechanisms are not fully understood. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine that stimulates the migration of monocytes and plays important roles in regulating bone remolding during fracture repair. In this study, we investigated the effects of CGRP on proliferation and MCP-1 expression in cultured rat osteoblasts.

METHODSPrimary rat osteoblasts were isolated from fetal rats calvariae. Cells were exposed to gradient concentrations (10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L) of CGRP. Protein and mRNA levels of MCP-1 were quantified by Western blotting and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The protein level of MCP-1 was investigated and compared in cell culture media by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression was detected by Western blotting. Cell proliferative activity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and BrdU assay. The effects of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-inhibitor U0126 on CGRP-induced MCP-1 expression in primary rat osteoblasts were examined.

RESULTSCGRP effectively enhanced primary rat osteoblast proliferation and led to significant increases in the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein in time- and dose-dependent manners. CGRP activated the ERK pathway. Pretreatment of cultured rat osteoblasts with MEK inhibitor U0126 resulted in dose-dependent inhibitions of CGRP-induced MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels. Thus, CGRP promoted cell proliferation and stimulated MCP-1 expression in cultured rat osteoblasts.

CONCLUSIONThese studies document novel links between CGRP and MCP-1 and illuminate the effects of CGRP in regulating bone remodeling.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Butadienes ; pharmacology ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method for early avascular necrosis of femoral head (AVNFH) therapy.

METHODSSixty-nine AVNFH New Zealand adult rabbits were randomly divided into three groups with equal number. In Group A, deproteinized bone (DPB) that absorbed with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-hVEGF165 was implanted into the drilled tunnel of necrotic femoral head. In Group B, only DPB was implanted. In Group C, only tunnel was drilled without DPB or plasmid implanted. Femoral head specimens were obtained at postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 weeks. The expression of VEGF165 and collagen I was detected by immunohistochemistry. Bone formation was detected generally by X-ray. Angiogenesis and the repair of the femoral head were observed histologically.

RESULTSThe expression of VEGF 165 could be detected 2 weeks after implantation in Group A, but it was not observed in other groups. The result of collagen I expression had a significantly difference 2, 4 and 8 weeks after operation in Group A from those in other groups (P < 0.01). X-ray results indicated that there was more bone formation in Group A than in other groups. The regenerated capillary vessels staining result of necrotic femoral head in Group A was significantly different from those in other groups at postoperative 2 and 4 weeks (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTransfection of hVEGF165 gene enhances local angiogenesis and DPB-VEGF compound improves the repair of necrotic femoral head. Deproteinized bone grafting with VEGF gene transfer provides a potential method for the treatment of osteonecrosis.

Animals ; Bone Transplantation ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Femur Head Necrosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Genetic Therapy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Rabbits ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predicators of survival and recurrence after curative resection for gastric cancer patients with serosal invasion.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 280 patients with T4a gastric cancer(according to the 7th UICC TNM Classification for gastric cancer) who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer between January 1997 and December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSFive-year survival rate of these 280 patients was 50.0% and 158 patients (56.4%) presented with recurrence after surgery. The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 57.5%. The number of lymph node metastasis and metastatic lymph node ratio(MLR) were identified as the independent predicators for overall survival(P<0.05). The extent of lymph node metastasis was identified as the independent predicators for disease free survival (P<0.05). The extent of lymph node metastasis, the number of lymph node metastasis, and MLR were identified as the independent predicators for recurrence after surgery(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe number of lymph node metastases, extent of lymph node metastasis and MLR are independent predictors of overall survival and recurrence in T4a gastric cancer patients after curative resection.

Disease-Free Survival ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Survival Rate

Aged ; Coal Mining ; Drug Combinations ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Urea ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To establish optimal amplification conditions with the application of 0.2 mL test tube in single cell separation and inspection. METHODS: Oral epithelium cell suspension was prepared. Five or ten cells were collected with 0.2 mL test tube. Then DNA were amplified with Identifiler Plus kit in three different conditions in which the proteinase K addition, gold enzyme concentration in PCR reaction, and PCR reaction cycles were adjusted separately. Finally the detection rate, allelic dropout rate and artificial alleles were compared among the groups. RESULTS: In these 3 different conditions: addition of proteinase K, addition of 0.4 microL gold enzyme in PCR reaction, and use of 32 cycles, the detection rate was higher and allelic dropout rate was lower than the other conditions. CONCLUSION In single cell separation and inspection, the usage of 0.2 mL test tube could be an effective supplement to chip-low volume amplification.
Alleles ; Cell Separation/methods* ; DNA/genetics* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; Endopeptidase K/administration & dosage* ; Enzymes/administration & dosage* ; Epithelial Cells/cytology* ; Feasibility Studies ; Forensic Genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa/cytology* ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Sensitivity and Specificity