Objective To evaluate the effect of errorless learning on memory processes.Methods Eight- y-four participants were randomly divided into three groups:a group which received computer-assisted memory train- ing (CAMG,n=30) ,a therapist-administered memory training group (TAMG,n=24) and a control group (CG,n =30).A 20-session training course with a Chinese cultural background was tailor-made for Chinese subjects with memory disorders.It was administered over the course of one month to the test groups with a similar course structure and content but different delivery modes.The control group had no training.The Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test- Chinese Version (RBMT-CV) and the Hong Kong List Learning Test (HKLLT) were used to assess memory ability and process at the start and end of the training,and one month later.A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare differences across the three groups.Results Comparing pre-training with post-training and follow- up,RBMT-CV and HKLLT scores improved significantly.The CAMG group demonstrated better progress encoding and storage on the HKLLT (including the random and blocked conditions) than the TAMG group.Conclusions Errorless learning is likely to be an effective technique for improving memory function in patients with traumatic brain injury.Its effects last for at least one month.Computer-administered training was more effective than therapist-admin- istered face to face training,especially in improving encoding and storage memory processes.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of varicocele on sperm chromatin structure and sperm motility.

METHODSRoutine semen analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) were performed in a varicocele group (n=74) and a control group (n=89).

RESULTSSperm concentration (41.4 +/- 38.7] x 10(6)/ml) grade a+b sperm percentage ([31.7 +/- 16.9]% and sperm viability ([62.8 +/- 22.2]%) in the varicocele group were evidently lower than those ([80.9 +/- 63.1] x 10(6)/ml, [46.8 +/- 20.5]%, [77.2 +/- 17.5])% in the control group (P < 0.05) and so were VCL, VSL and VAP ([37.4 +/- 12.5 microm/s, [23.4 +/- 7.8] microm/s, [26.5 +/- 8.2] microm/s) in the varicocele group than those ([42.4 +/- 10.7] microm/s, [27.3 +/- 7.3] microm/s, [30.7 +/- 7.8] microm/s) in the control (P < 0.05). MAD was increased (P < 0.01), and the COMP alphat of SCSA (23.2 +/-16.2) was obviously higher in the former than in the latter (14.1 +/- 11.8) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele causes damage to sperm DNA and changes sperm motility, which may result in male infertility.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Chromatin ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; genetics ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; genetics ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVESTo analysis the correlation between parameters of sperm chromatin structure assay(SCSA) and semen routine analysis, and to discuss the reliable methods of semen quality evaluation.

METHODSFive hundred and eleven semen samples were detected to analyse the mutiple-parameter correlation between results of SCSA (COMP alpha t) and semen routine analysis.

RESULTSThe parameters that have low-level positive correlation(r: 0.10-0.30) with denatured sperm percentage(COMP alpha t) were viscosity, ejaculation interval, abnormal sperm ratio, concentration of grade c sperm; those having low-level negative correlation(r: -0.30(-)-0.10) were VDL, VSL and VAP; those having mid-level positive correlation (r: 0.30-0.70) were sperm concentration, percentage of grade d sperm; those having mid-level negative correlation (r: -0.70(-)-0.30) were MAD, percentage of grade a sperm and survival rate.

CONCLUSIONSFlow cytometry can be used to evaluate the percentage of denatured or injured sperm rapidly, correctly and simply. The result (COMP alpha t) correlates partly with semen parameters, and it is not a conclusively parameter compared with routine semen analysis. It is important to use SCSA to evaluate productivity under the above situation.

Adult ; Chromatin ; chemistry ; DNA Damage ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; ultrastructure ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVESTo detect the sperm DNA damage and to evaluate its significance in male reproductive using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).

METHODSFour hundred and eighteen sperm samples were analysed using the computer assisted analysis system and SCGE. The sperms samples were divided into five grades according to the extent of the sperm nuclear DNA damage.

RESULTS1. When the sperm density is less than 20 x 10(6)/ml, the occurence of grade II and III are increased significantly; 2. In the unmotile grade d sperm the occurence of grade I comet amounts was 5.39%, the occurence of grade II and III was remarkably increased. There was a evidently variance between the grade d and grade a + b sperm.

CONCLUSIONSSCGE can be used to detect the sperm DNA breakage and to evaluate the sperm quality and damage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Comet Assay ; methods ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; genetics ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the effects of overtraining on human sperm DNA.

METHODSMolecular epidemiological investigation of 249 men from different groups (training and non-training) was carried out by using flow cytometer to detect the integrity and damage of in situ DNA of sperm nucleus, and sperm chromatin structure assay was performed.

RESULTSThe average COMPalpha(t) in training group was 11.02% while that in control group was 5.90% (P < 0.01). COMPalpha(t) was significantly correlated with sperm activity (r = 0.41, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOvertraining could induce sperm DNA injury and affect sperm activity, thus to decrease the potentiality of reproduction.

Adult ; Chromatin ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Fragmentation ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the inflicted by radar electromagnetic radiation to the sperm DNA of radar operators.

METHODSSperm concentration, viability, motility, sperm abnormality were determined by routine sperm analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) in the highly exposed group(n = 88), lowly exposed group(n = 143) and control group(n = 39).

RESULTSSperm motility, viability of the highly exposed group reduced compared with that of the lowly exposed group and control group, while sperm abnormality increased. The COMP alpha reduction of the highly exposed group indicated that the highly exposed group had a medium fertility potential. The multifactor variable analysis showed that daily working time was a dangerous factor in sperm abnormality and abstinence time was a dangerous factor in the parameter of SCSA.

CONCLUSIONSRadar radiation inflicts damage to male reproduction system and it is important to take protective measures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Chromatin ; ultrastructure ; DNA Damage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Electromagnetic Phenomena ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Radar ; Spermatozoa ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine Sanqi Oral Liquid, composed of Astragalus membranaceus and Panpax notoginseng, in alleviating renal injury by observing its effect on the expressions of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells in 5/6 nephrectomized rats with chronic renal failure.

METHODSA total of 102 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: three treatment groups were administrated with high, medium and low dosage of Sanqi Oral Liquid respectively by gavage; a normal group, a 5/6 nephrectomized model group, and a group treated with coated aldehyde oxygenstarch were used as controls. Following oral administration of Sanqi Oral Liquid for 12 weeks, the general condition and renal pathological changes were observed, and the renal function, platelet count (PLT) and the expressions of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells were determined for each group.

RESULTSThere were proliferation of mesangial matrix, renaltubularnecrosis and obvious tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the model group, and they were much milder in the treatment groups. Compared with the model group, the amounts of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and PLT in the treatment groups decreased (P<0.05 for all); and in the group administrated of medium dosage of Sanqi Oral Liquid, the expression of CD4(+) cells was up-regulated and those of CD8(+) and CD68(+) cells were down-regulated (P<0.05 for all), leading to an increased ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+)(P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSanqi Oral Liquid has a significant effect on regulating lymphocyte subsets, reducing the infiltration of macrophages in renal tissues and alleviating tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and this may be one of mechanisms of Sanqi Oral Liquid in delaying the progression of chronic kidney diseases.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solutions

[Objective]We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of DNA fragmentation index(DFI)and acrosin activi-ty in male infertility.[Methods]Nine hundred and two semen samples were collected from patients and assessed for the DNA fragmentation index by sperm chromatin dispersion test,acrosin activity,as well as standard sperm parameters according to the WHO criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS.[Results]Statistically significant differences were observed in age,sperm concentration,total motility,progressive rate and acrosin activity among different group of sperm DNA dam-age(≤10%,11~20%,21~30%,≥31%).Sperm acrosin activity also showed difference in sperm concentration,total num-ber,total motility,progressive rate,normal morphology rate,teratozoospermia index(TZI)and sperm DFI.The DNA frag-mentation rate and sperm concentration,sperm motility,forward motility rate,total sperm count and acrosin activity was neg-atively correlated,while it is negative correlatd with TZI. Acrosin activity and sperm concentration,sperm motility,forward motility rate,sperm count and normal morphology rate was positively correlated,while it is negative correlated with the ab-normal rate of head,sperm deformity index,DNA fragmentation rate.[Conclusion]Sperm DNA damage and acrosin activity could partly reflect the quality of sperm. Moreover,sperm DFI maypredict the sperm motility part while the acrosin activity more likely related to sperm morphology.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1 (SCCA1), a member of the ovalbumin family of serine protease inhibitors, includes several variants. It was reported that expression of two SCCA1 (BP and AJ515706) in cells results in increased binding of HBV to these cells by the interaction of the expressed BP and AJ515706 with HBV pre-S1 domain. In this study, a SCCA1 (A1) was isolated from HepG2, but it appears to lack this ability. A possible role of two mutants, A1-BP and BP-A1, constructed by interchanging the carboxyl terminal of A1 and BP, was investigated. Cells expressing A1-BP rather than BP-A1 showed an increased virus binding capacity. Comparison of A1 sequence with the sequence of BP indicated the presence of only three amino acid changes in the carboxyl terminal, two of them in the reactive site loop (RSL) of SCCA1. Primary structure analysis revealed that the hydrophobicity of BP and AJ515706 in this domain is higher than that of A1. Changing the aa349 of A1 from low hydrophobic glutamic acid to high hydrophobic valine enhanced HBV binding. In contrast, changing the aa349 of BP from valine to glutamic acid reduced HBV binding. Our finding suggests that the hydrophobicity of RSL of SCCA1 may play an important role in HBV binding to cells.
Antigens, Neoplasm ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glutamic Acid ; chemistry ; Hepatitis B virus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Protein Binding ; Receptors, Virus ; metabolism ; Serpins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Valine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects on male reproductive function working under cold area.

METHODSAfter on site investigation, advanced molecular lab analysis-single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) which are combined with semen routine analysis were used to evaluate semen quality and sperm sub-clinical injury.

RESULTSSemen routine analysis showed that the semen parameters of the males working in cold area were within normal range, but level I comet cell percentage in SCGE increased significantly, which was 4.4%, compared to the contrast group (1.9%) with significant difference. During sperm chromatin structure assay parameters, comp alpha t increased, with an average value of 22.26%. The two kinds of results both showed single and double strand breakages in sperm.

CONCLUSIONLong-term exposure to cold could induce sperm DNA injury, but not affect sperm quality. The results suggested that it was important to reinforce the reproductive care in males working in cold areas.

Adult ; Chromatin ; chemistry ; Cold Climate ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Fertility ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; cytology