BACKGROUNDEnvironmental toxins can destroy the physiological process of spermatogenesis and even lead to male infertility. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural phytoalexin with a wide range of biological activities. Some recent researches have demonstrated that RES can increase sperm output and protect sperm from apoptosis caused by physical damage. However, there is no evidence indicating that it can also exhibit a similar activity in testis injury caused by environmental toxins. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of resveratrol on testis damaged by environmental toxins and to elucidate the possible mechanism of its protective effect.

METHODSIn this study 2, 5-hexanedione (2, 5-HD) was used as the injury agent. Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. During the first 5 weeks, group A was raised normally, groups B, C, D and E were exposed to 1% 2, 5-HD; during the following 9 weeks, group C, D, E received intragastric administration of different concentrations of resveratrol (20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 80 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), while groups A and B were treated by carboxymethylcellulose. Physical signs, body weight gain and testis weight were comparatively observed. Numbers and diameters of seminiferous tubules were analyzed following HE staining. In addition, expression of the c-kit protein and gene in spermatogenic cells in every group was detected with immunohistochemistry, Western blot or RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe 2, 5-HD treatment resulted in physical signs that became worse and in emarciated testis. HE staining and immunohistochemistry showed that seminiferous tubules became emarcid, obsolete spermatogonia being stagnant and expression of c-kit protein being depressed. After oral administration of resveratrol, the 2, 5-HD-induced physical signs were improved and close to the normal rats. The gain of body weight increased (P < 0.01). The recovery of testis weight was significant (P < 0.01). At the histological level, the seminiferous epithelia began to differentiate (P < 0.01); and even the physiological process of spermatogenesis restarted. Moreover, expression of c-kit protein and gene function resumed, although its expression remained different from the normal group. The diameter of and number of seminiferous tubules and the expression level of c-kit protein and gene activity were much closer to the normal group with increased doses of the resveratrol through oral administration.

CONCLUSIONSResveratrol could ameliorate markedly the dyszoospermia induced by 2, 5-HD and induce spermatogenesis. The expression of c-kit, which is a specific marker protein of spermatogenic cell membranes, could be regulated by resveratrol.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Hexanones ; toxicity ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Testis ; drug effects

The clinical data of one case of infantile myofibromatosis of left mandibular angle were analyzed, and the clinicopathological characteristics, imaging diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of infantile myofibromatosis were discussed.
Humans ; Myofibromatosis ; congenital

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; complications ; therapy ; Anemia, Macrocytic ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the role of proximal nerve stimulation at Erb point in the early diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in children.

METHODSThirty-two children who were diagnosed with GBS between October 2013 and December 2014 received neurophysiological examination. Thirty healthy children were used as controls. Compound muscle action potentials and distal motor latency of the median and ulnar nerves were determined and analyzed after nerve stimulation at the wrist, elbow, and Erb point in the two groups. Moreover, F-wave latency of the median nerve and H-reflex latency of the tibial nerve were measured and analyzed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe F-wave and H-reflex latencies were significantly longer in the patient group than in the control group (P<0.05). In thirty-two patients, the numbers of patients with abnormal amplitude, abnormal latency, and conduction block at Erb's point were 24 (75%), 22 (69%), and 20 (62%), respectively. The patient group had significantly lower amplitudes but significantly longer latencies of the ulnar and median nerves at Erb point than the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the amplitudes and latencies at the wrist and elbow between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe nerve stimulation at Erb point holds promise as a routine examination for the early diagnosis of GBS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Electrodiagnosis ; methods ; Female ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; H-Reflex ; Humans ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; physiology ; Reaction Time

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of resveratrol on spermatogenesis after 2,5-hexanedione(2,5-HD)-induced testicular injury.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group A were normally raised and Group B, C, D and E exposed to 1% 2,5-HD for 5 weeks, followed by administration of resveratrol of different concentrations (20, 40 and 80 mg/[ kg x d], respectively) to Group C, D and E for 9 weeks. Then the rats were killed, their physical signs, body weight gain and testis weight were assessed, and immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis used to investigate the numbers and diameters of seminiferous tubules and the expression of c-kit protein of spermatogenic cell membrane.

RESULTSThe rats exposed to 2,5-HD showed weak body, lax skin, dim color pattern, tardy body weight gain, and emaciated testis. Immunohistochemistry revealed emaciated seminiferous tubules, stagnant obsolete spermatogonia and negative expression of c-kit protein. After resveratrol administration, the 2,5-HD-induced physical signs were improved and close to normal. Compared with those of the 2,5-HD injured group, the body weight and testis weight of the resveratrol treated group increased obviously (P < 0.01); and the aliquots of the seminiferous epithelia began to differentiate and the spermatogenesis and expression of c-kit protein partly resumed (P < 0.01). With increasing dose of resveratrol, the diameters and numbers of seminiferous tubules (P < 0.01) and the expression levels of c-kit protein (P < 0.01) were gradually and significantly restored almost to normal.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol could promote the recovery of spermatogenesis after 2,5-HD-induced testicular injury.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Hexanones ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; therapeutic use ; Testicular Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the molecular mechanism of reversing multi-drug resistance of K562/AO2 by puerarin. METHODS: Effects of ADR and puerarin on NF-kappaB activity of K562,K562/AO2 were tested by immunofluorescence. The expression of survivin of K562,K562/AO2 was examined by immunocytochemistry. The p-gp expression was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The NF-kappaB activity of K562 was significantly higher than that of K562/AO2. The NF-kappaB activity of K562 treated by ADR was significantly higher than untreated. The NF-kappaB activity of K562 which was pretreated by puerarin and then treated by ADR was much lower than that treated by ADR alone. The NF-kappaB activity of K562/AO2 intervened by puerarin was lower than that unintervened by puerarin.The p-gp and survivin expression of K562/AO2 was significantly higher than K562. The p-gp and survivin expression of K562 treated by ADR was higher than that untreated by ADR. But the p-gp and survivin expression of K562 which was pretreated by puerarin and then treated by ADR was much lower than that not pretreated by puerarin.The p-gp and survivin expression of K562/AO2 intervened by puerarin was lower than that unintervened by puerarin. The expression was negatively correlated to the duration of intervention. The inhibition effect demonstrated time dependence. CONCLUSION The activation of NF-kappaB can increase the expression of p-gp and survivin, which may be part of the molecular mechanism of multi-drug resistance of K562. Puerarin can prevent and stop the multi-drug resistance in K562 and reverse the multi-drug resistance of K562/AO2 to ADR by inhibiting the activity of NF-kappaB and the expression of p-gp and survivin.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Survivin

Objective： To observe the effect of Qingkailing (QKL) on brain damage induced by glutamate, in order to seek for effective drugs for antagonizing neurotoxicity of glutamate. Methods：The number and morphological metrology of neurocytes in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were detected by MIAS-300 image analyser, electron microscope and immunohistochemical methods. Results：QKL could alleviate the glutamate induced accumulation of water and sodium in brain tissue，relieve the metrological and structural damage of cerebral cells in cortex and hippocampus, reduce the percentage of c-fos positive cell in brain. Conclusion： QKL could protect brain damage induced by glutamate, which might be related to the inhibition of QKL on the enhancement of c-fos gene expression induced by glutamate.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence

Objective To understand patient pathway and clinical characteristics of chronic diseases in urban areas of Shanghai. Methods A total of 10 002 residents were enrolled and assigned to the chronic disease group (including hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke) and the non-chronic disease group. Body mass index,fasting blood glucose, triglyceride,total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were tested.Difference of patient pathway and clinical characteristics of those chronic diseases was compared. Results Above chronic diseases were observed in 37.7% participants. About 2/3 diseases were confirmed and 80% patients were followed up in healthcare units not far away from home. Patients with coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction showed more outpatient visit to tertiary hospitals (P＜0. 05 ). However, patients with ischemic stroke had health check, rehabilitation and pharmacy done mainly in local healthcare centers (P＜0. 05 ). Diastolic blood pressure of patients visiting local doctors was significantly decreased (P＜0. 05). Conclusion Some differences in patient pathway were found in this study. Communication and cooperation between medical institutions should be intensified for effective chronic disease control.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 (STEAP4) genetic polymorphisms and insulin resistance (IR) in Uygur Chinese general population.

METHODSIn this cross-sectional study on the metabolic diseases (e.g. obesity) among Uygur Chinese in Hetian, Xinjiang, China,from January to February 2007, 2127 Uygur individuals were enrolled. The sample size for IR subjects [homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥2.3 65%] was 669, whereas that for non-IR controls was 664 (HOMA-IR≤1.335%). STEAP4 gene was sequenced in 50 Uygur Chinese individuals with IR (HOMA-IR≥2.3). The representative variations were selected from the population based on a r(2) cutoff of 0.8 and a minor allele frequency of >5% for case-control study.

RESULTSTotally 16 variations including 10 novel variations (no reported in dbSNP) were identified in 50 Uygur individuals with IR. 7414 G/A (rs8122)(P/Pc=0.004/0.012)and 224A/G (rs1981529, Gly75Asp)(P/Pc=0.015/0.045)variations were significantly correlated with IR phenotype in Uygur subjects. As shown by multiple linear regression analysis, the mean values of waist circumference (WC) (P/Pc=0.032/0.256), body mass index (BMI) (P/Pc=0.004/0.032), HOMA-IR (P/Pc=0.010/0.08), and fasting insulin (P/Pc=0.023/0.184) among A (protection) allele carriers of rs8122 and the mean values of WC (P/Pc=0.005/0.040) and BMI (P/Pc=0.002/0.016) among G (protection) allele carriers of rs1981529 gradually declined. Haplotype 1 (rs8122 G- rs1981529 A- rs34741656 G) was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of IR (Permutation P=0.021).

CONCLUSIONSTEAP4 genetic variations are likely to be associated with obesity-related insulin resistance in Uygur Chinese general population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult