The present study was aimed to explore the changes of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) level in skeletal muscle after exposure to acute hypobaric hypoxia and exhaustive exercise. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sea level and high altitude groups. The rats in high altitude group were submitted to simulated 5 000 m of high altitude in a hypobaric chamber for 24 h, and sea level group was maintained at normal conditions. All the rats were subjected to exhaustive swimming exercise. The exhaustion time was recorded. Before and after the exercise, blood lactate and glycogen content in skeletal muscle were determined; AMPK and pAMPK levels in skeletal muscle were detected by Western blot. The results showed that the exhaustion time was significantly decreased after exposure to high altitude. At the moment of exhaustion, high altitude group had lower blood lactate concentration and higher surplus glycogen content in gastrocnemius compared with sea level group. Exhaustive exercise significantly increased the pAMPK/AMPK ratio in rat skeletal muscles from both sea level and high altitude groups. However, high altitude group showed lower pAMPK/AMPK ratio after exhaustion compared to sea level group. These results suggest that, after exposure to acute hypobaric hypoxia, the decrement in exercise capacity may not be due to running out of glycogen, accumulation of lactate or disturbance in energy status in skeletal muscle.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Altitude ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) receptor in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia after neurotomy of sciatic nerve in rats.

METHODSForty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into a control group (n=5) and an experimental group (n=40). The bilateral sciatic nerves of the rats in the experimental group underwent neurotomy and the L4-L6 spinal cord and the corresponding dorsal root ganglia were harvested respectively at 8 hours, and 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days (8 subgroups with 5 rats each) after operation. The rats in the control group only underwent an exposure of sciatic nerve without neurotomy. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis were used to study the expression of VEGF and its Flk-1 receptor.

RESULTSBoth VEGF and Flk-1 receptor expressed in the normal rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. In response to neurotomy, their expression reached a higher level and persisted for a short time then declined to the normal level rapidly. Besides, positive staining of Flk-1 was observed in both glial cells and nerve fibers, which located in the white matter of the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONSVEGF can promote the regeneration of peripheral nerves from the angle of central neurons, which establishes the experimental and theoretical foundation for VEGF treating peripheral nerve injuries.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; metabolism ; surgery ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVEp53-induced apoptosis is crucial in the development of hypoxic-ischemia (HI) brain damage and neurodegenerative disorders. Some experimental research has shown that a synthetic inhibitor of p53 can protect neurons against apoptosis. This study aimed to explore the expression of p53 in neonatal mice following HI brain damage and the effect of p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-alpha, PFT-alpha) on brain damage.

METHODSHI was induced in 9-day-old mice pups by ligation of left carotid artery and 10% oxygen exposure for 55 minutes. The pups were sacrificed and the brains were taken out at 3, 8, 24, and 72 hrs post-HI. The brains were sectioned and stained with antibody against p53 and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2). PFT-alpha was injected intraperitoneally: in experiment 1, immediately after HI with different dosages (1, 2 and 8 mg/kg); in experiment 2, 2 mg/kg at different HI times (1 hr before HI, and immediately and 1 hr after HI). Control animals without HI received injections of 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide. Brain damage was evaluated by gross morphology scoring at 72 hrs after HI.

RESULTSThe number of p53 positive cells in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere increased significantly and peaked at 3-8 hrs post-HI when compared with those of contralateral hemisphere as well as normal controls. The positive cells distributed mainly in the MAP-2 negative area. Both different dosages and different injection time PFT-alpha treatment did not reduce the extent of brain damage.

CONCLUSIONSThe immunoactivity of p53 increased significantly as early as 3 hrs post-HI. The distribution area of p53 expression was consistent with that of brain damage. The p53 inhibitor PFT-alpha has no protective effects against HI brain damage in neonatal mice.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzothiazoles ; Brain ; drug effects ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology ; Toluene ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo explore the optimal treatment selection for treating varicocele (VC) male infertility patients accompanied with oligozoospermia or azoospermia of different Chinese medical syndrome types by comparing the efficacies of integrative medicine.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty male infertility patients with VC accompanied with oligozoospermia or azoospermia were assigned to Chinese medical treatment group (A) and the surgical group (B), each consisting of three Chinese medical syndrome types, i.e., damp-heat stagnation syndrome (DHSS), Shen-deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SDBSS), and blood stasis stagnation syndrome (BSSS), 20 in each group. Corresponding Chinese medical treatment was administered to those in Group A, C, and E, while microscopic ligation of internal vena spermatic was administered to those in Group B, D, and F. The routine analysis of semen, biochemical analysis of seminal plasma, and serum sex hormones (prolactin, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol) were performed before treatment and by the end of the 24th week after treatment.

RESULTSTotally 18 patients' spouses were pregnant. Of them, 1 in Group A of DHSS (abbreviated as Group A), 3 in Group B of DHSS (abbreviated as Group B), 4 in Group A of SDB-SS (abbreviated as Group C), 5 in Group A of SDBSS (abbreviated as Group D), 1 in Group A of BSSS (abbreviated as Group E), and 4 in Group B of BSSS (abbreviated as Group F). After 24-week treatment, the sperm concentration, class a sperm percentage, class a + b sperm percentage, the motility rate, the seminal plasma of fructose density, and the seminal plasma neutral alpha-glucosidase were more significantly improved in Group B, C, D and F, when compared with the same group before treatment (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). There was no statistical difference in the aforesaid indices between before and after treatment in Group A and Group E (P >0.05). As for the improvement percentage of seminal routine indices, the difference of the seminal plasma of fructose density, and the difference of seminal plasma neutral alpha-glucosidase between before and after treatment in the same Chinese medical syndrome types, better effects were obtained in Group B than in Group A (P <0.01), and better effects were obtained in Group F than in Group E (P <0.01). There was no statistical difference between Group C and D (P >0.05). There was no statistical difference in the 5 items of sex hormones in each group between before and after treatment (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSurgical treatment could effectively improve the semen quality for male infertility VC patients accompanied with oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Of them, Chinese medical treatment could be recommended to those of SDBSS who would not receive surgical treatment.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Varicocele ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the carrier rate of thalasaemia among the children of 10 minority ethnic groups in 3 border states (Xishuangbanna, Dehong and Nujiang) of Yunnan Province.

METHODSA total of 6562 samples of children under 10 years old were analyzed by blood cell automatic analysis and hemoglobin electrophoresis.

RESULTSThe overall carrier frequency of thalasaemia was highest (46.2%) in Dehong, and lowest (30.6%) in Nujiang. The carrier frequency of beta-thalasaemia was the highest (40.6%) in Achang, and lowest (2.5%) in Dulong. The carrier frequency of alpha-thalasaemia was the highest (22.1%) in Dai from Xishuangbanna, followed by Dulong (19.1%).

CONCLUSIONThalasaemia carrier rates were high among the children of 10 minority ethnic groups in Yunnan. There were regional differences in their incidences. The results provide a valuable basis for thalasaemia prevention in Yunnan minorities in the three border states.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Minority Groups ; Prevalence ; Thalassemia ; ethnology ; genetics ; alpha-Thalassemia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; epidemiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level and distribution characteristics of anemia of the minority ethnic group children in Yunnan.

METHODThe cases with anemia were surveyed from 13 336 samples of 15 minority ethnic groups and Han children in Yunnan by Taking the method of random cluster sampling.

RESULTThe prevalence of anemia among the children under 7 years of age of 15 ethnic groups of minority in Yunnan was 13.6%. There are differences among the different ethnic groups (χ(2) = 716.33, P < 0.01), the highest was 26.6% in Jingpo, the lowest was 3.5% in Bai. There were differences among the different regions, the prevalence of anemia was high in the border regions City, the highest was 23.8% in Dehong; the prevalence of anemia was low in inland cities, the lowest was 2.7% in Fugong, and was higher in border areas. The prevalence of anemia was higher in boys (13.6%) than in girls (12.1%). There were differences among the different age in the different ethnic groups (6 months to 1 years old: χ(2) = 70.52, P < 0.01; 1 - 2 years old:χ(2) = 185.86, P < 0.01; 2 - 5 years old: χ(2) = 296.12, P < 0.01; 5 - 6 years old:χ(2) = 107.11, P < 0.01; 6 - 7 years old:χ(2) = 185.02, P < 0.01), the highest was 59.0% of Deang in 1 to 2 years old children. The trend of change was that the highest prevalence was seen in 6 months to 1 year old children, the prevalence gradually declined among older children, but rose again in children 6 years of age or older.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of anemia was 13.6% among the children of 15 ethnic minority under 7 years of age in Yunnan. There were differences among different ethnic groups of minority in different prefectures. There were differences among different ethnic groups of different age groups, but it was highest in 6 months to 1 year old children, it declined among older children, and rose in children 6 years of age or older. The prevalence of anemia was related to the ethnic and geographic factors.

Age Distribution ; Altitude ; Anemia ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Minority Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Sampling Studies ; Sex Distribution

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of thalassemia among children of 0-7 years old,from six ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna and Dehong.Yunnan province.Methods 4973 blood samples from children under 7 years old were automatically undergone blood cell count,red cell osmotic fragility and hemoglobin electrophoresis testings.Results The incidence rates of thalassaemia,β-thalassemia was 37.4%,and α-thalassaemia were 22.6%and 14.7% respectively.The thalassaemia incidence rates were significantly different among age groups but not in gender. The incidence of α-thalassaemia was decreasing along with the increase of age.while the incidence of β-thalassaemia was increasing along with the increase of age.Xishuangbanna had the higher incidence than in Dehong and the differences were significant between counties.The incidence of thalassemia of Mengla ranked the first(52.2%)in Xishuangbanna,The difierences between different regions and different nationalities were significant,with β-thalassemia of Achang ranked the first(40.6%),The incidence of α-thalassemia among Han ranked the first as 45.5% while α-thalassaemia and β-thalassemia were different in regions.α-thalassaemia and β-thalassemia were significantly different between different ethnic people in the same regions.Multiple factor analysis showed that region seemed to be a risk factor and the mother's ethnicity was a protective factor and dependent variable on thalassaemia.Conclusion The incidence of thalassaemia in Yunnan Xishuangbanna and Dehong was high among children under the age of 7 and were related to ethnic and regional differences in the areas.Specific genes were proliferated along with the extension of time.Our data provided valuable information on prevention and genetic studies on thalassaemia in the minorities of Xishuangbanna and Dehong in Yunnan province.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of extract of ginkgo biloba leaves on the precondition of liver graft in rat liver transplantation. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors and recipients of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and were randomly divided into extract of ginkgo biloba leaves group (Egb), NS control group (NS), and sham operation group (SO) according to whether the extract of ginkgo biloba leaves was injected by the venous (40 mg/kg) 1 h before the liver grafts harvesting. The rats were killed at 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h after the ischemia/reperfusion. The serum concentrations of ALT and AST were determined and the liver tissue were sampled to observe the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1. RESULTS: After the ischemia/reperfusion the serum concentration of ALT and AST and expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in the hepatic tissue in the NS group significantly increased (p<0.01), and the hepatocytic morphologic change was obvious compared with the SO group. The treatment of ginkgo biloba extract significantly decreased the serum concentration of ALT and AST and the expressions of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in the hepatic tissue in EGb group compared with the NS group (p<0.01), and relieved the hepatocyte swelling and necrosis. CONCLUSION Ginkgo bilobA extract may decrease the release of TNF-alpha and IL-1 by inhibiting activation of kuffer cells and regulate the cell factors to protect the live.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Interleukin-1 ; biosynthesis ; Liver ; blood supply ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUNDA liver support therapy, named molecular adsorbents recirculating system (MARS), has been used for more than 700 liver failure patients in China. We made here a summary to evaluate the effects of MARS treatment in different applications with emphasis on hepatitis B virus (HBV) based liver failure.

METHODSThis report analyzed data of 252 patients (mean age (44.9+/- 12.7) years) in three groups: acute severe hepatitis (ASH), subacute severe hepatitis (SSH) and chronic severe hepatitis (CSH). The largest group was CSH (156 patients, 61.9%), and 188 patients (74.6%, 188/252) were infected with HBV.

RESULTSMARS treatments were associated with significant reduction of albumin bound toxins and water-soluble toxins. Most of the patients showed a positive response with a significant improvement of multiple organ function substantiated by a significant increase in prothrombin time activity (PTA) and median arterial pressure (MAP). There was a decrease in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) grade and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scale. Thirty-nine of 188 HBV patients (20.7%) dropped out of the commendatory consecutive therapy ending with lower survival of 43.6% while the rest of the 149 patients had a survival rate of 62.4%. Survival within the ASH and SSH groups were 81.2% and 75.0%, respectively. In the CSH group, end stage patients were predominant (65/151, 43%), whereas the early and middle stage patients had a better prognosis: early stage survival, including orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) survival of 91.7%, middle stage survival of 75%, end stage survival of 33.8%.

CONCLUSIONSMARS continues to be the most favorable extracorporeal treatment for liver support therapy in China for a wide range of conditions, including the majority of hepatitis B related liver failure conditions. The appropriate application of MARS for the right indications and stage of hepatic failure, as well as the fulfillment of prescribed treatments, will lead to the optimal therapeutic result.

Humans ; Liver Failure ; mortality ; therapy ; Renal Dialysis ; Sorption Detoxification ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methods and conditions for the isolation, purification and culture of human spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) on the feeder layer cells of human embryonic fibroblasts (hEFs).

METHODSSSCs isolated and purified from normal human fetal testicular tissues by sequential two-step enzyme digestion and Percoll uncontinuous density gradient centrifugation were cultured on the feeder layer cells of hEFs isolated from 5-9 weeks old human embryos. The surface markers SSEA-1 and OCT4 of the SSCs were detected by immunohistochemistry; the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity of the SSC clones measured; and the expressions of the SSC-related genes determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSSSCs survived, proliferated and formed colonies on the feeder layers, and the colonies were highly positive for SSEA-1 and OCT4, with strong AKP activity and high expressions of the SSC-related genes.

CONCLUSIONThe feeder layer of hEFs supports the growth of human spermatogonial stem cells.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology