OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of sperm single-stranded DNA breaks (SSB) and double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) in infertile men, explore the association of DSB with male infertility, and provide a new observation index and idea for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

METHODSThis study involved 60 infertile men (infertility group) and 30 normal healthy males with infertile wives (control group). We comparatively analyzed the seminal parameters of the two groups, determined sperm concentration and viability using the computer aided sperm analysis system, measured the sperm survival rate by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test, examined sperm morphology by Diff-Quick staining, and detected sperm DNA damage by two-tail comet assay.

RESULTSNine two-tail comet models were established for detecting sperm DNA integrity. Comparisons between the fertility and control groups showed that the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was (33.8 ± 13.1) vs (16.3 ± 7.9)% (P < 0.01), the SSB-DFI was (19.2 ± 11.4) vs (14.9 ± 7.6)% (P > 0.05), the SSB-DFI/DFI was (56.8 ± 32.4) vs (91.4 ± 27.8)% (P < 0.01), the DSB-DFI was (23.9 +13.4) vs (6.1 ± 2.7)% (P < 0.01), and the DSB-DFI/DFI was (70.8 ± 19.5) vs (37.4 ± 11.3)% (P < 0.01). The optimal cut-off value of DSB-DFI/DFI in the diagnosis of male infertility was 39.5%, with the AUG, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.969, 98.3%, and 90%; that of DSB-DFI was 15.85%, with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.912, 86.7%, and 80%; and that of DFI was 18.65%; with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.861, 90%, 70%, respectively. In the infertile men, neither SSB-DFI nor SSB-DFI/DFI exhibited any correlation with semen parameters (P > 0.05); DFI was correlated negatively with the percentage of progressively motile sperm, sperm survival rate, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but not correlated with sperm concentration (P > 0.05); both DSB-DFI and DSB-DFI/DFI showed a negative correlation with sperm concentration, sperm survival rate, and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDouble-stranded, rather than single-stranded DNA breaks, may be a factor inducing male infertility. The type of sperm DNA strand damage is of much reference value for the assessment of male fertility.

Case-Control Studies ; Comet Assay ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Staining and Labeling

Objective The study was to investigate the relationship among angiotensin 1-converting enzyme(ACE), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)gene polymorphisms and the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT), and the predicting effects of them on CCA-IMT in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods The polymorphisms of ACE (I/D) gene and PAI-I (4G/5G) gene were deter-mined by polymemse chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) method in 308 cases with T2DM. CCA-IMT was compared among the groups with different genotypes of ACE and PAI-1. The in-dependent or synergistic effects of the ACE I/D and PAI-1 40/5G polymorphisms on CCA-IMT in 308 patients with T2DM were analyzed with multivariate linear regression. Then the 156 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics (durations< I year) without AS received the maltifactorial targeted intervention, including taking aspirin and controlling blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid and body weight. The differences of metabolic control, ACE (I/D) and PAId (40/5G) gene polymorphisms were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the eorrelation among the CCA-IMT, ACE (I/D) and PAI-1 (4G/5G) polymorphisms. Results Patients with ACE DD genotypes had higher CCA-IMT than those with ACE-Ⅱ or ACE ID genotypes. Patients with both ACE DD and PAI-1 404G genotypes had a higher CCA-IMT than those with any other pairs of genotypes. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that ACE DD and PAI-1 4G4G gene polymorphisms had synergistic effect on the CCA-IMT in T2DM patients. After 2 years multifactorial intervention, the frequencies of PAI-1 4G alleles and 404G genotypas were lower than those in the CCA-IMT non-inereasing group. Conclusions These findings indicate that the ACE-DD geno-type and its synergistic effects with the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype are independent risk factors for the CCA-IMT in T2DM patients. Under multi-factorial intervention for 2 years, PAI-1 4G/4G genotype may be a negative predictor for the progression of CCA-IMT in T2DM patients.

Cartilage ; diagnostic imaging ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Radiography

Object: To investigate the effects of Huaiqihuang Granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of nephrin and podocin of slit diaphragm of glomerular podocytes in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosis and to explore the mechanism in reducing the proteinuria. Methods: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, glucocorticoid group, Huaiqihuang Granule group and Huaiqihuang Granule plus glucocorticoid group. The 24-hour urine was collected 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after adriamycin injection respectively to measure 24-hour urinary protein, and all rats were sacrificed after 28-day treatment. Pathological changes in renal tissues were observed under a light microscope and an electron microscope. Expressions of nephrin and podocin mRNAs in renal cortex were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and protein levels of nephrin and podocin were detected by Western blotting. Results: (1) In the model group and the treatment groups, the level of urinary protein increased significantly from the 14th day. (2) Under the light microscope, inflammatory cells and slight fibroplasia were found in renal interstitium of the model group, but there were less inflammatory cells in renal interstitium in the intervention groups than in the model group. Under the electron microscope, 29 days after adriamycin injection, extensive fusion of foot processes was observed. (3) The expressions of nephrin and podocin were higher in treatment groups than in the model group. (4) Proteinuria level was negatively correlated with the expressions of nephrin mRNA and nephrin and podocin proteins. Conclusion: The above results indicate that Huaiqihuang Granule can maintain the integrity of the slid diaphragram in podocyte, alleviate the lesion of glomerular filtration membrane, and decrease the proteinuria by up-regulating the expressions of nephrin and podocin. Huaiqihuang Granule plus glucocorticoid maybe has better effects than glucocorticoid alone.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of the blood lactic dehydrogenase(LDH), ?_2-microglobulin(?_2-MG),D-dimer measuring in the diagnosis and treatment of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Methods In 40 cases with NHL,LDH was measured by L-P continuous monitoring method,?_2-MG was measured by luminescent immunoassay,D-dimer was measured by immunoturbidimettic assay.Results The levels of the blood LDH,?_2-MG and D-dimer in patients with NHL were higher than those of in the controls(P 0.05).Con- clusion The levels of blood LDH,?_2-MG,D-dimer can be taken as an auxiliary clinical index to diagnose, classify the phase,evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and prognosis in the NHL patients,and have impor- tant clinical significance.

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of the product, quantitative fingerprint was used to evaluate the composition of the amino acids in the Xingnao Tongluo injection.

METHODThe method of the quantitative fingerprint to the amino acids composition was established through AccQ Tag precolumn derivatization. The quality was evaluated by the quantitative test of the amino acids and the similarity in ten batches.

RESULTThe Xingnao Tongluo injection contained 12 amino acids and the contents of these amino acids were stable. All the ten batches of the samples had similarity of more than 0.90.

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, feasible and could be a simple and effective way to evaluate the quality of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Amino Acids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of motivational interviewing combined with peer participation on obesity management in adolescents.

METHODSA total of 100 adolescents with simple obesity were randomly divided into traditional management and peer participation groups (n=50 each). The traditional management group received traditional health management. The peer participation group received motivational interviewing performed by psychological consultants combined with peer participation through the entire process in addition to traditional health management. The physical exercise, dietary behavior, differences in body composition parameters, and effect of comprehensive intervention were compared between the two groups after intervention for half a year.

RESULTSAfter the health management for six months, the peer participation group showed better improvements in the control of energy intake, adjustment of dietary structure, adherence to moderate/high intensity exercise, and increase in lean body mass compared with the traditional management group (P<0.05). The peer participation group had a significantly higher attendance rate for guidance and counseling performed by a multidisciplinary team once a week than the traditional management group (89% vs 57%; P<0.05), as well as a significantly higher response rate to health management than the traditional management group (83% vs 43%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMotivational interviewing combined with peer participation for obesity management can improve the compliance and the effect of comprehensive intervention in losing weight in adolescents.

Adolescent ; Body Composition ; Energy Intake ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motivational Interviewing ; Obesity ; therapy ; Patient Participation

OBJECTIVETo analysis the early complications of tibial fracture and its related factors, and propose a solution.

METHODSFrom December 2003 to December 2013,38 patients with early complications of tibial plateau fracture after operation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 35 males and 3 females, aged from 37 to 69 years old (averaged 42.3 years). According to Schatzker classification, 3 cases were classified as type II, 2 cases as type III, 2 cases as type IV, 19 cases as type V, 12 cases as type VI. The intervals between injury and operation ranged from 9 hours to 9 days, 26 cases within 3 days. Fifteen cases were treated with internal fixation of plates and 23 were treated by plate fixation and bone transplantation. Early complications included skin necrosis in 15 cases, infection in 6 cases, osteofascial compartment syndrome in 3 cases, common peroneal nerve injury in 2 cases, the superficial peroneal nerve injury in 3 cases, popliteal artery injury in 2 cases, loss of reduction in 7 cases.

RESULTSThe wound of 14 cases healed at the first stage and 24 cases healed delay. Hospitalization days ranged from 7 to 67 days (averaged 25.6 days). All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months with an average of 16.4 months. The fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 9 months (averaged 6.9 months). According to Merchant knee function evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 19 cases, good in 12, fair in 5 and poor in 2.

CONCLUSIONEarly complications of tibial fracture after operation is closely associated with the severe fracture complexity and related with preoperative preparation, surgical timing, operation incision selection and surgical technique. Early detection and timely processing reduce damage.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the aerodynamics of the normal human nasal cavity under different ambient temperatures.

METHODSBased on CT scanning, a model of a healthy adult's nasal cavity was established using computational fluid dynamics software from Fluent. Airflow in this model was simulated and calculated at ambient temperatures of 0 °C, 24 °C, and 37 °C during periodic breathing.

RESULTSAmbient temperature only had an impact on the temperature in the nasal cavity during the inspiratory phase, and the temperature distribution was not symmetrical in the inspiratory acceleration and deceleration phases. The ambient temperature significantly affected airflow speed in main nasal passages during the inspiratory process, but had little impact on flow status (proportion and streamline of airflow in different nasal passages). Temperature differences increased the irregular air movement within sinuses. The anterior nasal segment, including the area between the valve and the head of the middle turbinate, was the most effective part of the nasal airway in heating the ambient air.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings describe the effects of ambient temperature on airflow parameters in the nasal cavity within a single respiratory cycle. This data is more comprehensively and accurately to determine the relationship between nasal cavity aerodynamics and physiological functions.

Adult ; Air Movements ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Nasal Cavity ; physiology ; Temperature