Sperm ultrastructural abnormalities are often associated with sperm motility, the integrity of genetic material, and the fertilization potential. The investigation of sperm ultrastructural abnormalities is based on the evolution of microscopy techniques. In his paper, we review the improvement of the microscopy techniques and the ultrastructure of several specific morphological defects and he apoptotic spermatogenic cells in order to expound the significance of sperm ultrastructural observation in clinical practice. We deem it necessary to analyze the sperm ultrastructure before exploring the pathology and adopting assisted reproductive technology for some special patients with teratozoospermia.
Humans ; Male ; Microscopy ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities ; ultrastructure

To analyze the composition regularity of prescriptions containing Scutellaria baicalensis in Drug Standard of Ministry of Public Health of the Peoples Republic of China--Chinese Patent Medicines and Preparations on the basis of the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TCMISS), in order to provide reference for new drug R&D. the platform's software V2.0 was applied to establish a database of prescriptions containing S. baicalensis. The software's statistical statement module, association rules and improved mutual information method and other data mining technologies were adopted to analyze commonly used drugs, combination rules and core combination of S. baicalensis prescriptions. Having analyzed 477 prescriptions containing S. baicalensis, the researchers summarized 45 most commonly used drug combinations, whose ingredients mostly had functions of heat-clearing and damp-drying, purging fire for removing toxin and hemostasis. Drugs adopted in core combinations were relatively concentrated and selected according to definite composition methods. There were 23 diseases that S. baicalensis were most frequently applied in the treatment. Having compared three highly frequent diseases--cold, cough and dizziness, the researchers concluded that S. baicalensis could show different therapeutic effects through different combination ratios. Therefore, TCMISS (V2.0) is an important tool in analyzing the composition regularity of traditional Chinese medicines. The longitudinal and parallel comparison method is an effective method for studying the clinical composition regularity of S. baicalensis, while providing reference for new drug R&D.
China ; Drug Compounding ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

The core-crosslinked polymeric micelles were used as a new drug delivery system, which can decrease the premature drug release in blood circulation, improve the stability of the micelles, and effectively transport the drug into the therapy sites. Then the drug bioavailability increased further, while the side effect reduced. Most drugs were physically entrapped or chemically covalent with the polymer in the internals of micelles. Based on the various constitutions and properties of polymeric micelles as well as the special characteristics of body microenvironment, the environment-responsive or active targeting core-crosslinked micelles were designed and prepared. As a result, the drug controlled release behavior was obtained. In the present paper, the research progress of all kinds of core-crosslinked micelles which were published in recent years is introduced. Moreover, the characteristic and application prospect of these micelles in drug delivery system are analyzed and summarized.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Micelles ; Molecular Structure ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Particle Size ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polymers ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of testosterone undecanoate (TU) in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) by meta-analysis.

METHODSWe searched Pubmed (until April 1, 2014), Embase (until March 28, 2014), Cochrane Library (until April 17, 2014), CBM (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), CNKI (from January 1, 2001 to February 2, 2014), Wanfang Database (from January 1, 2000 to February 2, 2014), and VIP Database (from January 1, 2000 to Febru ary 2, 2014) for randomized controlled trials of TU for the treatment of LOH. We evaluated the quality of the identified literature and performed meta-analysis on the included studies using the Rveman5. 2 software.

RESULTSTotally, 14 studies were included after screening, which involved 1 686 cases. Compared with the placebo and blank control groups, TU treatment significantly increased the levels of serum total testosterone (SMD = 6.22, 95% CI 3.99 to 8.45, P < 0.05) and serum free testosterone (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.86 to 6. 85, P < 0.05) but decreased the contents of luteinizing hormone (WMD = -2.23, 95% CI -4.03 to -0.42, P < 0.05), sex hormone binding globulin (WMD = 2.00, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.63, P < 0.05). TU also remarkably reduced the scores of Partial Androgen Deficiency of the Aging Males (WMD = -9.49, 95% CI -12.96 to -6.03, P < 0.05) and Aging Males Symptoms rating scale (WMD = -2.76, 95% CI -4.85 to -0.66, P <0.05) but increased the hemoglobin level (SMD = 2.35, 95% CI 0.29 to 4.41, P < 0.05) and packed-cell volume (SMD = 4.35, 95% CI 1.36 to 7.33, P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were shown in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, prostate-specific antigen, or prostate volume after TU treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTU could significantly increase the serum testosterone level and improve the clinical symptoms of LOH patients without inducing serious adverse reactions. However, due to the limited number and relatively low quality of the included studies, the above conclusion could be cautiously applied to clinical practice.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; blood ; drug therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reversal effect of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (BYD) on multidrug resistance of human adenocarcinoma of lung cell line A549/DDP, and to study its effect on the expression of survivin by using serum pharmacological methods in vitro. Methods Totally 24 SD rats were divided into the high, medium and low dose groups, and the blank control group by randomized controlled method. The high dose BYD containing serum (1. 134 g/mL, 2 mL), the middle dose BYD containing serum (0.576 g/mL, 2 mL), and the low dose BYD containing serum (0.284 g/mL, 2 mL) were prepared. The inhibitory effects of different dose and concentrations BYD on the proliferation of A549 and A549/DDP cells were detected by MTT assay, and the drug resistance reversal fold was calculated. The expression of Survivin in the two cell strains were detected respectively by immunohistochemical assay, Western blot, and immunofluorescence method.

RESULTSBYD containing serum showed obvious inhibitory effect on the growth of A549 and 549/DDP. The inhibition rates of 10% dose groups were higher than those of 5% dose groups. Besides, it gradually increased along with increased concentrations. Compared with 10% blank control group, the inhibition rate increased in 10% middle and low dose groups (P <0.05). After acted with 10% middle dose BYD containing serum, IC50, of A549 and A549/DDP were both reduced (P <0.05), reversal fold (RF) both increased. Its reversal ratio on A549/DDP cells was 2. 46, decreasing the resistance of A549/DDP to DDP. Compared with A549 in the same group, the expression of Survivin was detected to decrease by immunocytochemical assay, Western blot, and immunofluorescence method (P<0.05). Compared with 10% blank control group, the inhibition rate decreased in 10% middle dose group (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONS10% middle dose BYD containing serum could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of A549 and A549/DDP. Besides, it could moderately reverse the multidrug resistance of A549/DDP cells to DDP possibly through reducing the intracellular expression of Survivin and enhancing the sensitivity 549/DDP to chemotherapeutics.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; pharmacology ; Rats

In this article we built formula database of health food containing Gardeniae Fructus with Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (V2.0). And on this basis, use data mining method such as association rules of the software, to analyze commonly used formula raw materials or materials combination of formula containing Gardeniae Fructus and raw material application having assisted function formula to protect chemical liver injury. The result shows that of the 71 health food formulas containing Gardeniae Fructus, most used materials are Gardeniae Fructus, Lycii Fructus, Angelica Sinensis Radix, Poria and so on. Commonly used materials combination mostly are Gardeniae Fructus and Lycii Fructus, Gardeniae Fructus and Angelica Sinensis Radix, Gardeniae Fructus and Poria, Gardeniae Fructus and Paeonia. There are nearly 18 healthcare functions of the health food containing Gardeniae Fructus, and most of these are assisted functions to protect chemical liver injury, and then immune modulating function. Of 23 formulas containing Gardeniae Fructus having assisted function formula to protect chemical liver injury, Gardeniae Fructus usually combined with traditional Chinese medicine which nourishs blood and liver such as Pueraria, Lycii Fructus, Hawthorn, Paeonia and Turnjujube. Analyzing formula raw materials application of health food containing Gardeniae Fructus contributes a lot to the further development and utilization.
Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Data Mining ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Food, Organic ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; genetics ; pathology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 13 ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Tongfu Mixture (TM) for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP).

METHODSTotally 54 PEP patients were randomly assigned to the control group (treated by routine therapy, 26 cases) and the TM treatment group (treated by TM, 28 cases). Clinical indices including the alleviation time of abdominal pain/distention, gastrointestinal function recovery time, and the post-surgical length of stay were observed. Blood amylase (AMY), C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma endotoxin (PLS), TNF-alpha, and IL-6 were detected before surgery, 12 h, 48 h, and 96 h after surgery.

RESULTSThe alleviation time of abdominal pain/distention, the gastrointestinal function recovery time, and the post-surgical length of stay were obviously shorter in the TM treatment group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The recovery of AMY and CRP were better in the TM treatment group than in the control group at post-operative 48 h and 96 h (P < 0.05). The levels of LPS, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 were lower in the TM group than in the control group at post-operative 96 h (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTM showed better clinical efficacy and could significantly decrease the post-surgical length of stay. post-ERCP pancreatitis; integrative medicine; Tongfu Mixture

Adult ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Phytotherapy

In order to authenticate the components of antler powder in the market, DNA barcoding technology coupled with cloning method were used. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were obtained according to the DNA barcoding standard operation procedure (SOP). For antler powder with possible mixed components, the cloning method was used to get each COI sequence. 65 COI sequences were successfully obtained from commercial antler powders via sequencing PCR products. The results indicates that only 38% of these samples were derived from Cervus nippon Temminck or Cervus elaphus Linnaeus which is recorded in the 2010 edition of "Chinese Pharmacopoeia", while 62% of them were derived from other species. Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus was the most frequent species among the adulterants. Further analysis showed that some samples collected from different regions, companies and prices, contained adulterants. Analysis of 36 COI sequences obtained by the cloning method showed that C. elaphus and C. nippon were main components. In addition, some samples were marked clearly as antler powder on the label, however, C. elaphus or R. tarandus were their main components. In summary, DNA barcoding can accurately and efficiently distinguish the exact content in the commercial antler powder, which provides a new technique to ensure clinical safety and improve quality control of Chinese traditional medicine
Animals ; Antlers ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Deer ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Powders ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of liposomal transfection of cyclin A antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASON) on HL-60 cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHODSBy liposomal transfection, cyclin A ASON was co-cultured with HL-60 cells, the cell growth curve was determined by MTT assay and cell apoptosis electron-microscopy in situ cell apoptosis detection kit (POD), the protein and mRNA of cyclin A and bcl-2 were measured by FACS and RT-PCR, the role of cyclin A ASON in the development of leukemia was tested by the tumor formation in nude mice.

RESULTS(1) In the cyclin A ASON liposomal transfection group (group A), the proliferation of HL-60 cell was significantly inhibited as compared to those in cyclin A ASON group (group B) (68.9% vs 24.8%) (P < 0.01). (2) The expressions of cyclin A and bcl-2 of group A were significantly lower than those in the control group (1.1% vs 38.8%, P < 0.01; 21.9% vs 65.0%, P < 0.01, respectively), and the DNA ladder and apoptosis body was displayed. (3) In group A, the rate of tumor formation in nude mice was lower, the time for tumor formation was longer and the volume of tumor was smaller than those in control group.

CONCLUSIONLiposomal transfection of cyclin A ASON can inhibit in vitro proliferation of leukemia cells and induce in vivo apoptosis of the tumor cell, which might provide a new target for gene therapy.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cyclin A ; genetics ; physiology ; Genetic Therapy ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Liposomes ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Transfection