Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Male infertility (MI) is a complex multifactorial disease, and idiopathic infertility accounts for 30% of cases of MI. At present, the evidence for the effectiveness of empirical drugs is limited, and in vitro fertilization is costly and may increase the risk of birth defects and childhood cancers. Therefore, affected individuals may feel obliged to pursue natural remedies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may represent a useful option for infertile men. It has been demonstrated that TCM can regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and boost the function of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. TCM can also alleviate inflammation, prevent oxidative stress, reduce the DNA fragmentation index, and modulate the proliferation and apoptosis of germ cells. Furthermore, TCM can supply trace elements and vitamins, ameliorate the microcirculation of the testis, decrease the levels of serum anti-sperm antibody, and modify epigenetic markers. However, the evidence in favor of TCM is not compelling, which has hindered the development of TCM. This review attempts to elucidate the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of TCM. We also explore the advantages of TCM, differences between TCM and Western medicine, and problems in existing studies. Subsequently, we propose solutions to these problems and present perspectives for the future development of TCM.
Apoptosis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; DNA Fragmentation ; Epigenomics ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Inflammation ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microcirculation ; Oxidative Stress ; Sertoli Cells ; Testis ; Trace Elements ; Vitamins

Objective Network Scale-Up Method (NSUM) was used to estimate the Personal Network Size (C) of college students in Beijing and the size of men who have sex with men (MSM).Methods A survey was conducted on Beijing college students to estimate the personal network size (C) through NSUM and then using the back-estimating and attitude adjustment to correct C value and the size of the target population.Results The mean of C among Beijing college students was 97 and the differences of C between different majors and different grades were both statistically significant.Among Beijing College students,3.96％ of them identified themselves as MSM,with the number as 16 260.Conclusion Using the NSUM to estimate C of Beijing college students and size of MSM seemed to be credible which worth popularized.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence characteristics and influence factors of pneumoconiosis of workers exposed to dusts in an iron mine, to provide the base of preventive measures for pneumoconiosis of iron mine.

METHODSThe subjects of cohort study were all workers exposed to dusts for at least one year registered in an iron mine during 1960 to 1974, and followed-up to the end in 2003. The cases with pneumoconiosis were diagnosed by the local diagnosis group of pneumoconiosis, according to the national diagnostic criteria of pneumoconiosis. The risk factors were analyzed with Cox risk model.

RESULTSA total of 3647 miners were included in the cohort study and were followed up by 132 574.4 person years. There were 316 cases with pneumoconiosis, and the incidence of pneumoconiosis for a year was 0.24 per thousand. There were 274 cases (86.7%) with pneumoconiosis in workers exposed to dusts before 1960, the incidence of pneumoconiosis for a year was 0.40 per thousand, which was significantly higher than that (0.07 per thousand) of workers exposed to dusts after 1960. The average latency of pneumoconiosis was 26.0 +/- 7.3 years. The average durations of upgrade from stage 0(+) to I , I to II and II to III were 5.3 +/- 3.2, 6.6 +/- 5.2 and 11.3 +/- 5.0 years, respectively. However, 164 cases with pneumoconiosis were diagnosed after ceasing exposure to dusts for mean 8.3 years. The risk of pneumoconiosis in iron miners increased with exposure doses, and there was an obvious dose-effect relationship. The average cumulative exposure dose of cases with pneumoconiosis was 173.7 +/- 91.6 mg/m3 x y, which was significantly higher than that (112.1 +/- 64.8 mg/m3 x y) of workers without pneumoconiosis. Also the tuberculosis (HR = 5.9, P < 0.001) and smoking (HR = 1.7, P < 0.01) were the main risk factors.

CONCLUSIONThere was an obvious dose-effect relationship between the cumulative exposure dose and pneumoconiosis incidence. Tuberculosis and smoking were the main risk factors influencing the pneumoconiosis incidence.

Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Cohort Studies ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate one-stage arterial Switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and Taussig-Bing with aortic arch obstruction.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to June 2004, 8 patients had aortic arch obstruction, 3 with TGA and 5 with Taussig-Bing. Except one patient was 8 months old, all of others were 5 days to 3 months old, the mean operation age was (40 +/- 36) d and the mean weight was (4.3 +/- 0.5) kg. All patients were repaired by one-stage operation. The aortic arch obstruction was repaired in deep hypothermia circulatory arrest, and arterial switch procedure was performed in deep hypothermia and low flow perfusion.

RESULTSThere had 1 death who was 8 months old and had low cardiac output, complete artrioventricular block (AVB) and severe pulmonary hypertension postoperation. One patient was 3 months old who had asphyxia at 5 days postoperatively. Six patients followed up from 5 months to 2 years. One Taussig-Bing with interrupted aortic arch had residual obstruction at the anastomosis of aorta. Two had trivial aortic valve regurgitation, and one had mild pulmonary valve regurgitation.

CONCLUSIONSOne-stage repair for TGA and Taussig-Bing with aortic obstruction achieves excellent results. The reasons for the death were pulmonary hypertension and abnormal coronary artery. The operative procedure should be performed as early as possible for the better result.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Arch Syndromes ; complications ; surgery ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; complications ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo screen the molecular markers for refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB) in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) by serum proteome profiling.

METHODSThe serum protein were isolated from patients with RAEB, acute myeloid leukemia or normal subjects by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and the electrophoresis gels were obtained to identify the differentially reacting protein spots. The replica gels of the differentially reacting proteins were analyzed to locate the matching protein spots, which were identified by peptide mass fingerprint based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and database searching.

RESULTSSeven differentially expressed proteins in RAEB were found by 2-DE. Of the 7 proteins, 4 were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS to have significantly differential expression in RAEB, including dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP/CD26), polymerase (DNA directed) kappa, PRO2044 and an albumin-like protein.

CONCLUSION2-DE-based serum proteome profiling helps identify serum proteomic biomarkers related to MDS. DDP/CD26 has increased expression in the serum in RAEB subtype MDS, suggesting its possible role in advanced MDS.

Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts ; blood ; genetics ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; blood ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidases and Tripeptidyl-Peptidases ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; classification ; genetics ; Proteomics

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 288 patients (246 for final analysis) who underwent MSTS between 2005–2015. Data collected were demographics and peri/postoperative clinical and radiological features. Early and late radiological AsCF were defined as presentation before and after 3 months, respectively. We analyzed patients with AsCF for risk factors and survival duration by performing competing risk regression analyses where AsCF was the event of interest, with SF and death as competing events. Results: We observed AsCF in 41/246 patients (16.7%). The mean time to onset of AsCF after MSTS was 2 months (range, 1–9 months). Median survival of patients with AsCF was 20 and 41 months for early and late failures, respectively. Early AsCF accounted for 80.5% of cases, while late AsCF accounted for 19.5%. The commonest radiologically detectable AsCF mechanism was angular deformity (increase in kyphus) in 29 patients. Increasing age (p<0.02) and primary breast (13/41, 31.7%) (p<0.01) tumors were associated with higher AsCF rates. There was a non-significant trend towards AsCF in patients with a spinal instability neoplastic score ≥7, instrumentation across junctional regions, and construct lengths of 6–9 levels. None of the patients with AsCF underwent revision surgery. Conclusions AsCF after MSTS is a distinct entity. Most patients with early AsCF did not require intervention. Patients who survived and maintained ambulation for longer periods had late failure. Increasing age and tumors with a better prognosis have a higher likelihood of developing AsCF. AsCF is not necessarily an indication for aggressive/urgent intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of pancreaticogastrostomy(PG) in the treatment ofpancreatojejunostomy stricture(PJS) after pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD).METHODS: The clinical data of 3 patients withPJS who failed the endoscopic treatment underwent PG followed by resection of pancreatojejunostomy(PJ) from May2010 to December 2017 in Department of General Surgery,Xinhua Hospital,Shanghai Jiaotong University School ofMedicine were analyzed retrospectively. After the pancreatointestinal anastomosis was explored and resected, thedigestive tract of the remnant pancreas was reconstructed by using the single-layer bundle pancreaticogastric mucosaanastomosis. The intraoperative and postoperative conditions were observed.RESULTS: The median time of presentationwas 72,37 and 21 months. Three cases of operation were completed successfully. The operation time was 137, 210, 120 min,and blood loss was 210, 350, 180 m L. No pancreatic fistula,surgical bleeding and other serve complicationoccurred postoperatively. All the 3 patients experienced resolution of symptoms without recurrent acute pancreatitis afterPG during the follow-up of 23, 58 and 15 months.CONCLUSION: PG especially duct-to-mucosa PG followed byresection of PJ could be used in the PJS patients who failed the endoscopic treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in China type 2 diabetic patients and to demonstrate the relationships between putative risk factors and PAD.

METHODSIn total 1,397 type 2 diabetic patients aged 50 years and older were enrolled and determined ankle-brachial index (ABI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 15 Class III Grade A hospitals in 7 major cities of China.

RESULTSMean patient age was 63.7 +/- 8.2 years and mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 9.39 +/- 7.4 years. Two hundreds and seventy-two (19.47%) patients were diagnosed as PAD by ABI < 0.9, 122 (18.37%) in male and 150 (20.46%) in female. PAD patients had a significantly longer duration of diabetes mellitus, higher hemoglobin A1c, and a significantly lower mean body mass index than non-PAD ones. Aging, smoking, and systolic blood pressure were found to be positively related with the prevalence of PAD. In terms of lipid profiles, no variable was found to relate with PAD. Notably, baPWV showed as the same significant guiding index for PAD, almost matched with ABI.

CONCLUSIONSPAD is a common complication in China type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, PAD screening and treatment should be emphasized for diabetic patients with high risk factors.

Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data

Objective Throush identify biochemical characteristics and virulence factors of 2 strains suspected Yersinia pestis(Y.pestis)isolated from the dead Marmota himalayana(M.himalayana)to confirm the nature epidemic focus in Dege County,Sichuan Province.Methods Y.pestis was analyzed by specific staining and shape,culturing characteristics,splitting-test by bacteriophage,test of biochemical characteristics and glycolysis ability,virulence factors,virulence,nutritional requirement,plasmid,genetic test and genetic type. Results The tested strains were Gram staining bacilus.The main biochemical characteristics were Arabinose(+)、 Rhamnose(-),Maltose(+),Melibiose(-),Glycerol(+),Denitrification(+).The virulence factors with FI+.VW+, Pgm+,Pst I+;and with the common 6.0×106,45.0×106,65.0×106 plasmids,also with the virulence-relative plasmid gene.Both their absolutely lethal dose(LD100)in mice were 50 bacteria.The nutritional requirement appeared which were depended on Phenylalanine and Methionine.With the Genomovar 5 genotype characteristics of M.himalayana plague foci of Qinghai-Tibet plateau.The difference between tested strains and Yersinia pseudotubercuosis on the 3 different culture medium was obvious.The tested strains had a Y.pestis' specific 3a fragment,Pst I and FI-Ag,at 22 ℃,the strains could be split by bacteriophage completely.Conclusions According to the diagnostic criteria of plague in China,the 2 suspected strains isolated from Dege County,Sichuan Province ale confirmed as Y.pestis.both with powerful virulenceand with the characteristics of the Y.pestis of M.himahtyana in Qinghai-Tibet plateau plague natural focus.