Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly recognized fibro-inflammatory condition of autoimmune etiology in recent twenty years, mainly manifesting as mass-forming lesions in single or multiple organs. In the past, it was often missed or misdiagnosed as inflammation or tumor. Patients may die from multiple organ failure due to end-stage fibrosis if they are not treated promptly. However, the number of clinically confirmed cases has gradually increased with the improvement of diagnostic level in recent years, and these patients have benefited greatly after receiving early treatment. Although patients generally respond well to traditional immunosuppressors including glucocorticoids and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, refractory and recurrent cases, even patients with glucocorticoid contraindication are common. Important mechanistic insights have been derived from studies of B-cell depletion therapy, but greater awareness of the pathophysiology of IgG4-RD is still badly needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this article, we reviewed the pathogenesis progress and promising therapy of IgG4-RD to seek better clinical management of IgG4-RD.

Retrospective review.

Retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of GnRH agonist and antagonist protocols on preimplantation genetic testing outcomes of chromosomal translocation carriers.METHODS: The clinical data of 226 patients with chromosomal translocation were analyzed retrospectively between Jan. 2015 and Dec. 2017 in Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University.The patients were divided into GnRH agonist group(174 cases)and GnRH antagonist group(52 cases),then the duration of gonadotropin stimulation,dosage of gonadotropin used,embryonic quality,normal and balanced embryo numbers,per transfer cyclepregnancy rate,abortion rate and continuous pregnancy rate and accumulated pregnancy rate were analyzed.RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in the number of retrieved oocytes,number of MⅡ oocytes,fertilization rate,cleavage rate,blastocyst formation rate,number of high-quality embryo,number of blastocyst biopsy,normal and balanced embryo numbers,per transfer cycle pregnancy rate,abortion rate,continuous pregnancy rate or accumulated pregnancy rate between GnRH agonist group and GnRH antagonist group(P>0.05).The duration of gonadotropin stimulation(9 d vs. 10 d)and dosage of gonadotropin(2100 U vs. 2400 U)used in the GnRH antagonist group were significantly less than the GnRH agonist group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: There are no significant differences in embryo quality or pregnancy rate between the GnRH agonist group and antagonist group during preimplantation genetic testing,but the GnRH antagonist group have an advantage in Gn duration and dosage.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the causes and specific conditions of blood donation reaction under the collective emergency unpaid blood donation, and to provide theoretical basis and decision-making reference for drafting the collective emergency unpaid blood donation and blood donation safety. METHODS: Through a combination of prospective and retrospective models, and statistical methods were used to analyze the causes and conditions of the blood donation response of 10401 people participating in collective emergency unpaid blood donation during 2016.1-2018.8. RESULTS: A total of 10401 person-times donated blood in a sitting manner, and a total of 293 blood donation reactions occurred. By improving the blood donation services year by year, the moderate blood donation reaction during the year 2017 and 2018 was significantly lower than that in 2016 (P＜0.05). In the actual blood donation group of≤100, 200, 300 and 400 ml, the incidence of blood donation reaction was statistically significant (P＜0.05); the incidence of blood donation reaction in the blood donors for 1,2,3 and ＞3 drnations was also statistically significant (P＜0.05); the blood donation reactions rate of B antigen containers was significantly different from the donors without B antigen (P＜0.05); the incidence of blood donation reaction with related to the weight of the donor. CONCLUSION The blood donation reaction of collective emergency unpaid blood donation closely relates with mental factors, blood donation service, blood donation frequency and body weight of the blood donor. The first blood donation is more likely to produce blood donation reaction. The blood donation volum≤ 100 ml from blood donors is resulted mostly from blood donation reactions.
Blood Donors ; Blood Group Antigens ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells that can differentiate into all cell types and propagate themselves indefinitely in vitro, which have been used widely in biological research. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the culture methods of embryonic stem cells in vitro, as well as the significance, methods, clinical applications of embryonic stem cells as genetic disease models. METHODS: Relevant articles were searched in PubMed using the key words of "embryonic stem cell, genetic diseases" which appeared in the titles and abstracts. The latest articles were preferred. Totally 43 eligible articles were obtained for result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the genetics study, embryonic stem cells have been widely used to construct monogenic and chromosome disease models, which can make up the limitations of animal and cell models. Models constructed by embryonic stem cells are conducive to the investigations on pathological processes and molecular mechanisms of genetic diseases. But there are also some ethic disputes on the use of embryonic stem cells, which need further studies.

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effects of cytokine-induced kill cells(CIK)methods combined with chemotherapeuticdrug Gemcitabine against Cholangiocarcinoma cancer cell lines QBC-939.Methods:Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) of healthy people were stimulated by different cytokines,and were induced into CIK cells.CIK cells were cultured for 14 days as effector cells.The phenotype of CIK cells were analyzed by flow cytometer.QBC939 cells were cultured with the CIK cells at different effector-target ratio or various concentrations of Gemcitabine for 24 and 48 hours.The antitumor effects were measured by CCK8 methods.The expression of Bax was detected by using Western blot.Results:The CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD3+HLA-DR+,CD3+CD56+,CD4+CD25+ double positive cel1 was up to 10.89％,60.27％,71.82％,9.03％ and 4.01％ after 14 days' cultivation.The killing effect of CIK and Gemcitabine increased with the increase of effector-target ratio and drug concentration or the extension of time.The killing effect of combination of CIK and Gemcitabine was obviously higher than that of each single factor.The protein levels detected hints of CIK cells and gemcitabine can up-regulated the expression of Bax,and the joint action of both is more significant.Conclusions:CIK cells have strong anti-tumor effect against QBC939 cells by inducing apoptosis of QBC939 cells,and it can enhance the anti-tumor effects of Gemcitabine against QBC939 cells when CIK and Gemcitabine are combined together.

Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy of subxiphoid thoracoscopic approaches for minimally invasive thymectomy assisted by sternum-elevating technique.Methods:From March 2016 to July 2016, 24 consecutive patients with thymic mass underwent thoracoscopic extended thymectomy via subxiphoid approach.For the later 12 cases (study group), the sternum-elevating technique was used additionally.The perioperative outcomes of two groups were compared.Results:The patients in study group had much shorter surgical duration ([80.3±14.9] min vs [96.2±17.3] min, P<0.01) than control group.However, no significant difference was found on the other outcomes between the two groups, including blood loss, conversion to open surgery, morbidities, postoperative hospital stay and patient's pain scores.Conclusions:The subxiphoid thoracoscopic approach for minimally invasive thymectomy assisted by sternal elevating is simple and cost-effective, safe and effective.It is a promising approach for clinical expansion.

This article reported the clinical manifestations, steroid profiles and adrenal ultrasound findings in two unrelated Chinese girls with lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH). Direct DNA sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis were used to identify the mutations of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene. The two patients with 46,XX karyotype, presented hyperpigmentation, growth retardation, and hyponatremia. Steroid profiles analysis revealed elevated plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels, decreased or normal serum cortisol levels and low levels of androgens. Ultrasound examinations revealed that enlarged adrenals in patient 1 and normal adrenals in patient 2. Direct DNA sequencing of StAR gene showed a reported homozygous for c.772C>T(p.Q258X) in patient 1. Compound heterozygous for c.367G>A(p.E123K) and IVS4+2T>A (both novel mutations) were found in patient 2, inherited from her mother and father respectively. The amino acid of mutant position of the novel p.E123K was highly conserved in ten different species and was predicted to have impacts on the structure and function of StAR protein by the PolyPhen-2 prediction software. RFLP analysis revealed three bands (670, 423 and 247 bp) in patient 2 and her father and two bands (423 and 247 bp) in her mother and 50 controls. It is concluded that LCAH should be considered in girls with early onset of adrenal insufficiency and that steroid profiles, karyotype analysis, adrenal ultrasound and StAR gene analysis may be helpful for the definite diagnosis of LCAH.
46, XY Disorders of Sex Development ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length