OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of long-term anoxic exposure on the sperm function of male adults at different altitudes.

METHODSA total of 28 male adults that had stayed at the altitude of 5 340 m for 1-3 years were included as a high-altitude group (HAG), 34 at the mean altitude of 3 800 m for 2-5 years as a middle-altitude group (MAG) and 31 permanently at the altitude of 1 300 m as controls. Semen specimens were collected and the real-time semen analysis was performed by using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system.

RESULTSThe sperm density, VCL, VSL, VAP and LIN in the HAG were (51.12 +/- 14.61) x 10(6)/ ml, (48.17 +/- 13. 52) microm/s, (32.64 +/- 6.70) microm/s, (41.21 +/- 9.32) microm/s and 52.24 +/- 8.14, respectively, significantly lower than those of the control (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, there was a progressive decrease in sperm concentration, sperm motility rate, VSL, VCL, LIN, VAP and ALH in the MAG.

CONCLUSIONThe higher the altitude, the more obvious was the negative effect of anoxic exposure on the sperm function of male adults.

Adult ; Altitude ; Control Groups ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to examine the in vitro effects of fenvalerate on steroid production and steroidogenic enzymes mRNA expression level in rat granulosa cells.

METHODSUsing primary cultured rat granulosa cells (rGCs) as model, fenvalerate of various concentrations (0, 1, 5, 25, 125, 625 micromol/L) was added to the medium for 24 h. In some cases, optimal concentrations of 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol (25 micromol/L), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH, 2 mg/L), or 8-Bromo-cAMP (1 mmol/L) were provided. Concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol(E2) and progesterone (P4) in the medium from the same culture wells were measured by RIA and the steroidogenic enzyme mRNA level was quantified by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSFenvalerate decreased both P4 and E2 production in a dose-dependent manner while it could significantly stimulate rGCs proliferation. This inhibition was stronger in the presence of FSH. Furthermore, it could not be reversed by 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol or 8-Bromo-cAMP. RT-PCR revealed that fenvalerate had no significant effect on 3 beta-HSD, but could increase the P450scc mRNA level. In addition, 17 beta-HSD mRNA level was dramatically reduced with the increase of fenvalerate dose after 24 h treatment.

CONCLUSIONFenvalerate inhibits both P4 and E2 production in rGCs. These results support the view that fenvalerate is considered as a kind of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The mechanism of its disruption may involve the effects on steroidogenesis signaling cascades and/or steroidogenic enzyme's activity.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; analysis ; metabolism ; 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Estradiol ; analysis ; metabolism ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; pharmacology ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Hydroxycholesterols ; pharmacology ; Nitriles ; pharmacology ; Progesterone ; analysis ; metabolism ; Pyrethrins ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Steroids ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the correlations of the expressions of miR-4500 and nerve growth factor(NGF)in breast cancer patients with preoperative magnetic resonance(MR)signs.Methods A total of 105 patients with breast cancer admitted to our hospital were selected,the mRNA expression levels of miR-4500 and NGF in breast cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of patients were detected by qRT-PCR,and the positive expression rates of NGF in breast cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry method.The correlations of the expressions of miR-4500 and NGF in breast cancer tissues with clinicopathological features and MR signs of patients were analyzed.The targeting relationship between miR-4500 and NGF was predicted by the bioinformatics website,and the correla-tion between the expressions of the two was analyzed.Results Compared with the adjacent tissues,the expression level of miR-4500 in breast cancer tissue decreased(P<0.05),while the level of NGF mRNA and the positive expression rate of NGF increased(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in age,pathological type,tumor classification,parenchymal background,apparent diffusion coefficient or enhancement curve among different expressions of miR-4500 and NGF(P>0.05).The histological grade,lymph node metastasis,tumor diameter,tumor morphology,ring-like enhancement,and peritu-moral brain edema were related to the expressions of miR-4500 and NGF(P<0.05).The bioinformatics website prediction showed that miR-4500 and NGF had binding sites,and the expressions of miR-4500 and NGF mRNA in breast cancer tissues were negatively correlated(r=-0.576,P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of miR-4500 in breast cancer tissue is low,and the expression of NGF is high,which are correlated with the preoperative MR signs in patients,providing a molecu-lar basis for MR signs.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of daily medication of low-dose tadalafil on the improvement of endothelial function and erectile hardness in erectile dysfunction (ED) patients.

METHODSA total of 60 ED patients and 24 controls were treated with oral tadalafil at 5 mg/d for 6 - 8 weeks, and evaluated by international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5), erectile hardness grading scale (EHGS) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) test before and after the treatment. All the data obtained were analyzed by independent-sample and paired-sample t tests, respectively.

RESULTSThe treatment and follow-up were accomplished in 51 of the ED cases. Compared with the controls, the ED patients showed significantly lower scores on IIEF-5 (23.6 +/- 1.0 vs 10.3 +/- 4.5, P < 0.01), EHGS (3.7 +/- 0.5 vs 2.0 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01) and FMD (14.1 +/- 2.1 vs 8.1 +/- 1, P < 0.01). Daily medication of tadalafil achieved an effectiveness rate of 96.1% (49/51) in the treatment of the ED patients, and significantly improved their scores on IIEF-5 (16.9 +/- 3.9 vs 10.6 +/- 4.5, P < 0.01), EHGS (2.6 +/- 0.7 vs 2.0 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01) and FMD (9.2 +/- 1.7 vs 8.1 +/- 0.9, P < 0.01), as compared with pretreatment.

CONCLUSIONLong-term daily medication of low-dose tadalafil can significantly improve endothelial function and erectile hardness of ED patients.

Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

Acupuncture Points ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Health Planning Guidelines ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

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Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Rats ; Spleen