OBJECTIVETo investigate the semen quality of cancer patients and search for a better way of sperm cryopreservation for them.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the quality of the semen from 43 cancer patients under cryopreservation in the Sperm Bank of Zhejiang Province, and compared the semen parameters between the cancer patients and 248 normal donors as well as between the testicular cancer cases (n=22) and non-testicular cancer cases (n=21).

RESULTSThe cancer patients exhibited significantly lower semen quality than the normal donors as in sperm concentration (60.90 x 10(6)/ml vs 74.27 x 10(6)/ml), progressive motility (41.07% vs 51.79%), and recovery rate (49.98% vs 57.33%) (all P <0.05). Furthermore, the progressive sperm motility and sperm recovery rate after freezing were significantly decreased in the testicular cancer cases (15.68% and 42.81%) than in the non-testicular cancer cases (28.36% and 57.53%) (both P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSemen quality declines in cancer patients, and therefore early sperm cryopreservation is essential for them. Due to the poor sperm motility and recovery rate of testicular cancer patients after freezing, further investigation is required on the improvement of sperm cryopreservation methods.

Adult ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testicular Neoplasms

Objective To observe the effect of liver disease special-purpose enteral nutrition preparation on protein metabolism and liver function in children with liver injury.Methods Sixty cases of severe ill with liver injury in hospital,with mean age of (7.8?6.3) years old.All patients were randomly divided into experimental group (n=30) and control group(n=30).The experimental group was treated by adding the liver disease special-purpose enteral nutrition preparation homogenized diet and control group was treated by adding entire protein entire nutrition type enteral nutrition preparation.All patients in both 2 groups were nasally fed with intestinal nutrition,which contained 418-628 kJ/(kg?d).One day before nutritional support and 14 days after nutritional support,the liver function,total serum protein,albumin,hemoglobin were recorded.SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the data.Results The baseline indicators were similar before nutritional supports.Fourteen days after nutritional support,alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were all significantly lower in experimental group than in control group(Pa

0.05).And the increasing of weight in high protein+plus prolein jelly group was significantly higher than those of other two groups(Pa

Gentianae Urnulae Herba, dried whole herb of Gentiana urnula,is a commonly used Tibetan medicine. However, only the character identification is used as quality control standard officially at present. As a part of project for the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition), the quality standard of this species was established in this study. The tests of water content, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of the crude drugs were carried out following the methods recorded in appendix of Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition, volume 1). The TLC identification method was established by using gentiournoside A as reference substance, and a mixture of ethyl acetate-methanol-water-formic acid(7:1. 5:1: 0. 2) as the developing solvent system on silica gel G TLC plate. The content of gentiournoside A was assayed by HPLC on an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 μm) column, using acetonitrile-water (0.1% phosphoric acid) (26:74) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature is at 30 degrees C and the detection wavelength is at 240 nm. As a result, gentiournoside A and the other constituents were separated and presented the same fluorescence light comparing with the reference substance on TLC detected under the UV light(366 nm). The methodology validation for the assay of gentiournoside A showed that it was in a good linear correlation in the range of 0.009 95-0.398 g x L(-1) with the regression equation of Y = 1 467.1X +41.407(r = 0.999 9), and the average recovery was 98. 3% (RSD 2.2%). The mass fractions of gentiournoside A, water content, ethanol-soluble extractives of 15 batches samples were varied in the ranges of 0.175% -1.83%, 8.60% - 9.93% and 29.2% - 35.2%, respectively. Total ash and acid-insoluble ash were 10.2% - 17.2% and 5.26% - 10.8% detected from 10 batches samples. The recommended standards of quantitative indexes are that the mass fractions of gentiournoside A and extractives are not less than 0.80% and 26.0%, respectively; the water, total ash and acid-insoluble ash are not more than 12.0%, 15.0% and 8.0%, respectively.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Objective To study the effect of dynamic stress stimulation on the expression of Sox9 mRNA and protein in metaphyseal chondrocytes in vitro, and to explore the specific mechanism of mechanical signal transduction. Methods The rat metaphyseal chondrocytes separated and cultured for the 3rd generation in vitro were randomly divided into four groups:control group (all interventions were not applied), simple dynamic pressure group (a dynamic pressure stimulus with a size of 90 mmHg and a frequency of 0.1 Hz was applied using an open pressure control culture system), simple calcium antagonist group (the concentration of 10μmol/L nifedipine was given) and dynamic pressure+calcium antagonist group (a dynamic pressure stimulus with a size of 90 mmHg, frequency of 0.1 Hz and concentration of 10 μmol/L nifedipine were given at the same time). The expression of Sox9 mRNA was detected after 24 h intervention by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in four groups. The expression of Sox9 protein was detected by Western blot assay. The intracellular free Ca2+ in metaphyseal chondrocytes was labeled with Fluo-3/AM, and the average fluorescence intensity detected by laser scanning confocal scanning microscopy was compared between four groups. Results The expression of Sox9 mRNA was 3.81 times higher in dynamic stress group than that in the control group, and the protein expression level was 2.33 times higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the expression of Sox9 mRNA and protein between the calcium antagonist group and the control group. The expressions of Sox9 mRNA and protein were lower in dynamic pressure+calcium antagonist group than those in the dynamic stress group, but which were higher than those of control group(P<0.05). The results of average fluorescence intensity showed that there was no significant difference in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration between four groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Dynamic stress stimulation can increase the expression of Sox9 mRNA and protein in rat metaphyseal chondrocytes. There is calcium channel involvement in the mechanical signal transduction.

PURPOSE: It is controversial whether folate status is a risk factor for the development of asthma or other allergic diseases. This study was conducted to investigate whether indirect or direct exposure to folate and impaired folate metabolism, reflected as methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism, would contribute to the development of asthma and other allergic diseases. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched to identify all studies assessing the association between folate status and asthma or other allergic diseases. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data. The relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated and pooled. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies (16 cohort, 7 case-control, and 3 cross-sectional studies) were identified. Maternal folic acid supplementation was not associated with the development of asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema, and sensitization in the offspring, whereas exposure during early pregnancy was related to wheeze occurrence in the offspring (RR=1.06, 95% CI=[1.02-1.09]). The TT genotype of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was at high risk of asthma (OR=1.41, 95% CI=[1.07-1.86]). CONCLUSIONS: It is indicated that maternal folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy may increase the risk of wheeze in early childhood and that the TT genotype of MTHFR C677T polymorphism impairing folic acid metabolism would be at high risk of asthma development. These results might provide additional information for recommendations regarding forced folate consumption or folic acid supplements during pregnancy based on its well-established benefits for the prevention of congenital malformations. However, currently available evidence is of low quality which is needed to further elucidate.
Asthma* ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Folic Acid* ; Genotype ; Metabolism ; Odds Ratio ; Oxidoreductases ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors*

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in pulmonary artery protein kinase C (PKC) activity in rats with chronic inflammatory pulmonary hypertension (PHT).

METHODSChronic inflammatory PHT was induced in rats with monocrotaline. The PKC activities in the rat pulmonary arteries were measured by radioactive assay during the development of PHT.

RESULTSWith the development of chronic inflammatory PHT, the total and cytosolic fractions of PKC activity in PHT rat pulmonary arteries increased initially with subsequent decrease (Plt;0.05), but the membranous fraction of PKC activity and the membrane-to-cytosol PKC activity ratio increased continuously (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of PKC activity and the translocation of PKC might be associated with the development of chronic inflammatory PHT in rats.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo determine the efficacy of 2% mepivacaine in conservative dentistry.

METHODSThe patients who needed cavity preparation or access to pulp chamber received local infiltration with 2% mepivacaine. Anesthesia time, anesthetic efficacy and cardiovascular system influences were assessed. 3% lidocaine with epinephrine served as control.

RESULTSIn experiment group, the anesthesia effects were quicker and anesthesia duration was longer than that in control group. Doctors highly appreciated the anesthetic efficacy. Two groups did not show any evident change in blood pressure and heart rate.

CONCLUSION2% mepivacaine is a safe and efficacious local anesthetic drug in conservative dentistry.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anesthesia, Dental ; Anesthetics, Local ; Dental Pulp ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mepivacaine ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged

PURPOSETo explore the needs for basic community-based rehabilitation services for disabled persons in Xuanwu District, Beijing, China, and to identify factors which influence disabled persons to accept rehabilitation services.

METHODOne hundred and eight disabled persons were selected by systematic sampling and simple random sampling to assess their needs for community-based rehabilitation services.

RESULTSOf the interviewees, 57.4% needed the community-based rehabilitation services, but only 13.9% took advantage of it. The main factors influencing the interviewees to accept these services were cost (P < 0.05), knowledge about rehabilitation medicine (P < 0.05); and the belief in the therapeutic benefit of the community-based rehabilitation service (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONA considerable gap exists between the supply of community-based rehabilitation services in Beijing and the needs for these services by disabled residents underscoring the need for improved availability, and for additional research.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Attitude to Health ; China ; Community Health Services ; Disabled Persons ; rehabilitation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; Rehabilitation ; economics ; education ; Rehabilitation Centers

Drug resistant bacteria is an increasingly urgent challenge to public health. Bacteria adaptation and extensive abuse of antibiotics contribute to this dilemma. Active efflux of antibiotics is employed by the bacteria to survive the antibiotic pressure. Efflux pump is one of the hot spots of current drug related studies and ideal targets for the improvement of treatment. The efflux pumps and related mechanisms of action, regulation of expression and methodologies were summarized. Comparative genomics analyses were employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and evolution of efflux pump as exemplified by the Mycobacterium in our lab, which is a crucial re-emerging threat to global public health. The pathway and state-of-art drug development of efflux pump related drugs are included too.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; antagonists & inhibitors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; drug effects ; genetics ; Ion Pumps ; antagonists & inhibitors ; drug effects ; physiology ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; physiology ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mycobacterium ; metabolism