OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the level of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and idiopathic oligoasthenospermia by measuring the content of DEHP in the semen samples of different subjects.

METHODSWe obtained semen samples from 100 infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia, 50 working all the year round in the plastic greenhouse (group A) and the other 50 constantly dining from plastic meal boxes (group B). We also enrolled 50 normal male volunteers as controls (group C). We conducted semen analyses using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer, measured the DEHP concentration by reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, and subjected the data to statistic processing by t-test and correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe mean concentrations of DEHP in the seminal plasma were (0.72 +/- 0.48), (0.71 +/- 0.49) and (0.21 +/- 0.18) mg/L in groups A, B and C, respectively, significantly higher in A and B than in C (both P < 0.05). The DEHP concentration was negatively correlated with sperm motility (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe DEHP level in the seminal plasma is higher in infertile men frequently exposed to plastic products than in normal males and excessive DEHP may be one of the important factors of idiopathic male infertility.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; etiology ; Plastics ; adverse effects ; Semen ; chemistry

Immune and tissue cells usually express pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect viruses and other microorganisms, thereby inducing signal cascade amplification and host innate immune responses. Since PRRs have strain-specific substrates and mechanisms of recognition, the identification of PRRs and mechanisms of PRRs-mediated responses is highly challenging. Besides, the research on RLRs-mediated immune responses has become more popular in cellular immunology recently. Accumulating evidence shows that post-translation modifications, such as ubiquitination, deubiquitination and ISGylation, play an important role in regulating host innate immune responses. In parallel, these approaches may be used by viruses to evade PRRs-mediated responses or to actively subvert these pathways for their own benefit. It was identified that STING (also called MITA/MPYS/ERIS) plays an important role in RIG-Ⅰ-like receptor(RLR) signaling as a type Ⅰ IFN stimulator, providing a special method for the research on complex host antiviral innate immune responses.

Objective To observe the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), total bilirubin(TBIL), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type Ⅲ aminoterminal peptide (P Ⅲ NP) and larninin (LN) in the sera of rats infected with Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) after treatment of albendazole combined with milkvetch root. Methods Thirty-two healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups with 8 in each based on body mass: control group, non-treatment group, Albendazole group(ALB group) and albendazole combined with milkvetch root group(ALB+MR group). The rats in non-treatmen, ALB and ALB+MR groups were infected orally with metacercariae of C. sinensis 50 per rat. The rats in control group were mock-infected with saline. The rats in ALB group were treated to each rat with 50 mg/kg alhendazole for 5 days, and ALB+MR groups were given to same treat with albendazole, meanwhile each rat injected with 800 mg/kg milkvetch root intraperitoneally for 30 days. All rats were killed after infestation 14 weeks and their sera samples were collected to detect ALT, TBIL, HA, PⅢNP, LN. Results There were statistically significant differences in the levels of ALT and LN in the sera of rats between groups(F=31.40,11.82, P<0.01). Compared with control[ (47.88±4.88)U/L, (51.20±4.12)μg/L], the levels of ALT and LN in rats in non-treatment group [(85.50±9.65)U/L, (64.20±4.18) μg/L] and ALB group [(65.29± 7.78) U/L, (58.23±2.55) μg/L] were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with non-treatment group, the levels of ALT and LN in rats in ALB group and ALB+MR groups[(50.25±9.29)U/L, (53.68±5.63)μg/L] were significantly decreased(P<0.05), and they decreased more obviously in ALB+MR group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the levels of TBIL, PⅢNP and HA in the sera of rats between groups (χ2=15.309,21.418,19.759, P<0.01). Compared with control[(0.700±0.350)μmol/L, (26.085±4.075)μg/L, (81.935±42.550)μg/L], the levels of TBIL, PⅢNP and HA in rats in non-treatment group(2.400 μmol/L, 46.220 μg/L,310.885 μg/L) and ALT group(1.200 μmol/L,36.540 μg/L, 178.010 μg/L) were significantly increased(P<0.05). Compared with non-treatment group, the level of TBIL in ALT+MR group(0.750 μmol/L), the levels of pⅢNP and HA in ALT and ALT+MR group(30.470,100.240 μg/L) were significantly decreased(P< 0.05). The levels of TBIL, PⅢNP and HA decreased more obviously in ALB+MR group(P<0.05). Conclusions The liver function in rats infected with C. sinensis is abnormal. The liver function and fibrosis are improved after treatment with albendazole or albendazole combined with milkvetch root. The treatment of albendazole combined with milkvetch root is more effective.

AIMUnderstanding the modes and activities of metal bacterial chlorophylls as PHD sensitizers with DNA.

METHODSThe modes and activities of the interaction of DNA and metal complexes of bacterial chlorophyll, which have been prepared by extraction and synthesis reaction, have been discussed according to the ultraviolet-visual spectrum and nucleic acid electrophoresis.

RESULTSIt indicates that the system of DNA and metal complexes have enchanced the interaction by the ultraviolet-visual spectrum. At the same time, it also indicates that metal complexes of bacterial chlorophyll and DNA have different combining way and have strong cutting effect in illumination by the nucleic acid electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONThis paper proved that metal bacterial chlorophylls as PHD sensitizers have great advantage.

Bacteriochlorophylls ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Copper ; chemistry ; DNA ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Protein Binding ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Zinc ; chemistry

AIMTo find a new PDT sensitizer.

METHODSThere were four complexes (Cu, Zn, Co, Ni) synthesized through reaction of metal and deprivating-Mg bacteriochlorophyll in the organic solvent. Their antitumor action was detected by MTT.

RESULTSThe ultraviolet-visual spectrum and the fluorescence spectrum of these complexes showed that synthesis of these four complexes was succeeded. And these metal complexes have potent antitumor action on two kinds of leukaemic cells.

CONCLUSIONMetal bacteriochlorophylls as PDT sensitizers have very good properties and this is a way to develop new PDT sensitizers.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteriochlorophylls ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; chemistry ; Copper ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; cytology ; Metals, Heavy ; chemistry ; Nickel ; chemistry ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Photosensitizing Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDThe stage-specific expression of genes is one of the most characteristics of parasites. It has been found that a lot of genes of Spriometra erinaceieuropaei are specifically expressed in pleroceroid in large amount, but not expressed when the plerocercoid development into adult worm. The study is to screen other stage-specific ecpression genes of plerocercoid of Spirtmetra erinceieuropaei.

METHODSRNA was separately extracted by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform from plerocercoids and adult worms of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, DNA contaminated in the RNA was digested by RNase-free DNase. After the RNA was reverse transcripted to cDNA using T12MA, T12MC, T12MG and T12MT anchor-primers, PCR was done using the same T12MN and one random primer with alpha 35S-dATP in the system. The PCR products were fractionated on an 8% denatured polyacrylamide gel. Differential bands of the plerocercoid found in the gel were cut out, amplified by PCR and sequenced. Northern hybridization was used to identify the stage-specific expression genes.

RESULTSEleven differential bands were selected from the gel and classified into 3 kinds of gene fragments by hybridization, after they were amplified by PCR. Fragments 1 (238 bp) and 2 (383 bp), were confirmed by Northern hybridization, as being expressed in the plerocercoid. However, fragment 3 (433 bp), was expressed in both the plerocercoid and the adult worm. Data from the 3 gene fragments underwent homological analysis in GenBank. The sequence which was homologous with fragments 1 and 2 was not found, but fragment 3 had high homology with many kinds of 28S rRNA.

CONCLUSIONSThe gene expressions of plerocercoids are different from adult worms because they live in different hosts. Two types of different gene fragments from the plerocercoid were found by mRNA differential display technique.

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Techniques ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Sparganum ; genetics ; Spirometra ; genetics

PURPOSE: Cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)-expressing CD8+T cells have been known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying the loss of self-tolerance remain unclear. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in the development of homeostasis in the immune system. We, therefore, hypothesized that a reduced ability of Tregs to inhibit autologous CD8+CLA+T cells might be underlying mechanism in AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CD8+CLA+T cells and Tregs were obtained from the peripheral blood of AD patients and control volunteers. The frequencies of CD8+CLA+T cells were evaluated. The proliferative responses of CD8+CLA+T cells were assessed by flow cytometry, and the levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Our results revealed higher frequency and increased expression of perforin and granzyme-B in peripheral CD8+CLA+T cells in AD, and lower inhibitory ability of Tregs on proliferation of CD8+CLA+T cells in AD. Meanwhile, the levels of TGF-beta1 produced by Tregs were significantly lower in AD, and anti-TGF-beta1 abolished such suppression. CONCLUSION: The attenuated inhibitory ability of Tregs on hyper-activated autologous CD8+CLA+T cells, mediated by TGF-beta1, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Adult ; Aged ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/*immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; Dermatitis, Atopic/*immunology/pathology ; Female ; Granzymes/metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Perforin/metabolism ; Skin/*immunology/pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/drug effects/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects/*immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology

Hepatitis ; immunology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; immunology ; Receptors, Complement ; blood

Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; secondary ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the techniques of posterior lumbar interbody fusion and pedicle screws in the treatment of degenerative scoliosis and evaluate their clinical significance.

METHODSTwenty five patients with degenerative scoliosis were treated operatively during 1997 - 2002. Among the 25 patients, 13 patients were treated with Brantigan I/F carbon cages in 28 intervertebral spaces, 7 patients were treated with Prospace cages in 15 spaces, 1 patient was treated with CONTACT cages in 2 spaces. The correcting effects, complications and follow-up results were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe average correction rate of scoliosis was 59% and the rate of pain relief was 88%. There was a case of pseudoarthritis and a case of embolism. During follow-up, correction rate and height of disc spaces were not lost nor shift of interbody cages.

CONCLUSIONPosterior pedicle screws combined with interbody fusion is a safe and effective treatment for degenerative scoliosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion