Objective: To study the alleviation of curcumin analog WZ35 on type 1 diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: Mice were treated with a single ip injection of streptozocin (STZ) to induce type 1 diabetes, while the control animals received the same volume of citrate buffer. The curcumin and its analog WZ35 (20 mg/kg) were ig administration for 9 weeks after the diabete obtained. The body weight and blood glucose were monitored every 7 d. Biochemistry analyzer was used to analyze the creatinine (Cr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in serum. The histopathology of kidney tissue was detected by HE staining. RT-qPCR assay was used to evaluate the gene levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. CD68 staining was used to evaluate the macrophages infiltration in kidney tissue. Results: Compared with negative control, the mice in diabetic group showed the reduced body weight, increased blood glucose, high Cr and BUN levels in serum, renal pathological damage, and increased inflammatory gene, and macrophages infiltration in kidney. While the administration with curcumin and its analog WZ35 could obviously attenuate the DN through inhibiting Cr and BUN in serum while had no effect on the body weight and blood glucose. Compared with curcumin, WZ35 could inhibit the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines as well as infiltration of macrophages. Conclusion: The curcumin analog could attenuate DN through inhibiting inflammatory response.

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

Objective To discuss the causes and clinical significance of conversion to laparotomy during laparoscopic surgery.Method Three thousand two hundred and three cases who underwent laparoscopic surgery during the past five years were analyzed retrospectively.Results Three thousand one hundred and eighty cases underwent laparoscopic surgery,in which 23 cases were converted to laparotomy due to factors including severe pelvic adhesions(6 cases),complex disease with difficulties in laparoscopy (7 cases),massive haemorrhage(3 cases),bladder trauma(1 case),gastric trauma(1 case),intestinal trauma(1 case),as well as unexpected malignant genitalia neoplasm(4 cases).Conclusion The major causes for the conversion to laparotomy during gynecology laparoscopic surgery are severe pelvic adhesion and complex disease with difficulties in laparoscopy.Careful evaluation before surgery and conversion to laparotomy at the right moment can decrease the complication.

AIMTo investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on dilatory responsiveness and NOS expression of abdominal aorta in rats.

METHODSTwenty male healthy SD rats, which body weight ranged from 300 g to 330 g, were divided into control group and simulated microgravity group randomly. After 4 weeks, using isolated arterial rings from rats, arterial dilatory responsiveness of abdominal aorta were examined in vitro. And the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), including endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS), were observed by Western blot.

RESULTSDilatory responses of arterial rings to L-Arginine (10(-8)-10(-3) mol/L), and Acetylcholine mol/L) were decreased in simulated microgravity rats compared with that of controls; but dilatory responses of isolated aortic rings to sodium nitroprusside (mol/L) and 8-bromo-cGMP(mol/L) were similar in both simulated microgravity rats and control rats. The expression of both eNOS and iNOS had not showed significant differences between two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe data indicate that endothelium dependent vasorelaxation in abdominal aortic rings are decreased by 4-week simulated microgravity, and this change may be result from altered NOS activity in endothelium.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; metabolism ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation

The aim of the present study was to examine whether there are changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and heart rate (HR) and their spectral indices in conscious free-moving rats after tail-suspension for 28 d. The tail-suspended hindlimb-unloaded (HU) rat model was used to simulate the cardiovascular effect of microgravity and the post-spaceflight cardiovascular dysfunction. The auto- and cross-spectral analysis of SBP variability (SBPV) and HR variability (HRV) were performed by the method based on the autoregressive model (AR), and the auto-spectral results was compared with the results from the classical periodogram method. The baroreceptor-heart rate reflex sensitivity (BRS) was estimated using transfer function analysis from SBP to HR. The results indicated that auto-spectral results based on the two methods were comparable, while smoother power spectral curves with distinguished peaks were trained by the AR method. The means of SBP, DBP, and HR, the main spectral indices of SBPV and HRV, and the mean average gain of transfer functions computed at low- and high-frequency ranges (0.25-0.8 Hz and 0.8-2.4 Hz) did not show significant changes before and after release from suspension. Furthermore, the main spectral indices of SBPV and HRV at different time points did not show significant differences between the control and suspension groups. However, the means of SBP, DBP, and HR at different time points were significantly higher in simulated weightless rats than those in the control rats. The findings of the present study suggest that a mid-term simulated microgravity might induce hypertension and tachycardia upon removal from the suspension which reflects a general sympathetic hyperactivity. We speculated that the sympathetic hyperactivity might be a compensatory mechanism activated in the intact animal to counteract HU-induced hypo-responsiveness of resistance vessels. In addition, lack of clear and distinct changes in HRV and BRS have also been reported in some recent space and ground-based human studies.
Animals ; Baroreflex ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Hypertension ; Rats ; Weightlessness Simulation

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the active and passive mechanical properties and wall collagen and elastin contents of mesenteric small arteries (MSAs) isolated from rats of 28-day simulated microgravity (SUS), countermeasure [S + D: SUS plus 1 h/d -G(x) to simulate intermittent artificial gravity (IAG)] and control (CON) groups. Three mechanical parameters were calculated: the overall stiffness (β), circumferential stress (σ(θ))-strain (ε(θ)) relationship and pressure-dependent incremental elastic modulus (E(inc,p)). Vessel wall collagen and elastin percentage were quantified by electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the active mechanical behavior of MSAs differs noticeably among the three groups: the active stress-strain curve of SUS vessels is very close to the passive curve, whereas the active σ(θ)-ε(θ) curves of CON and S + D vessels are shifted leftward and display a parabolic shape, indicating that for MSAs isolated from S + D, but not those from SUS rats, the pressure-induced myogenic constriction can effectively stiffen the vessel wall as the CON vessels. The passive mechanical behavior of MSAs does not show significant differences among the three groups. However, the percentage of collagen is decreased in the wall of SUS and S + D compared with CON vessels in the following order: SUS < S + D < CON. Thus, the relationship between passive mechanical behavior and compositional changes may be complex and yet depends on factors other than the quantity of collagen and elastin. These findings have provided biomechanical data for the understanding of the mechanism of postflight orthostatic intolerance and its gravity-based countermeasure.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Elasticity ; Hindlimb Suspension ; physiology ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Mechanical ; Vasoconstriction ; physiology ; Weightlessness Simulation

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized clinically by rigidity, akinesia, resting tremor and postural instability. It has recently been suggested that low frequency stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) has a role in the therapy for Parkinsonism, particularly in gait disorder and postural instability. However, there is limited information about the mechanism of low frequency stimulation of the PPN on Parkinson's disease. The present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of low frequency stimulation of the PPN on the firing rate of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VL) in a rat model with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning of the substantia nigra pars compacta. In vivo extracellular recording and microiontophoresis were adopted. The results showed that the firing rate of 60.71% VL neurons in normal rats and 59.57% VL neurons in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats increased with low frequency stimulation of the PPN. Using microiontophoresis to VL neurons, we found the firing rate in VL neurons responded with either an increase or decrease in application of acetylcholine (ACh) in normal rats, whereas with a predominant decrease in M receptor antagonist atropine. Furthermore, the VL neurons were mainly inhibited by application of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and excited by GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline. Importantly, the VL neurons responding to ACh were also inhibited by application of GABA. We also found that the excitatory response of the VL neurons to the low frequency stimulation of the PPN was significantly reversed by microiontophoresis of atropine. These results demonstrate that cholinergic and GABAergic afferent nerve fibers may converge on the same VL neurons and they are involved in the effects of low frequency stimulation of the PPN, with ACh combining M(2) receptors on the presynaptic membrane of GABAergic afferents, which will inhibit the release of GABA in the VL and then improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Cholinergic Fibers ; physiology ; Electric Stimulation ; Male ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo compare the safety, efficacy and complications of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LPL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for treatment of renal pelvic stones larger than 2.5 cm.

METHODSFrom 2011 to 2016, 32 patients underwent LPL and another 32 patients received PCNL for renal pelvic stones larger than 2.5 cm. The baseline characteristics of the patients, stone size, mean operative time, estimated blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, stone-free rate, postoperative analgesia, blood transfusion, and the intraoperative, early postoperative and long-term complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe baseline characteristics and stone size were comparable between the two groups. The mean operative time of LPL and PCNL was 117∓23.12 and 118.16∓25.45 min, respectively (P>0.05). The two groups showed significant differences in the mean estimated blood loss (63∓11.25 vs 122∓27.78 mL, P<0.01) and blood transfusion rate (0 vs 6.2%, P<0.01) but not in postoperative hospital stay (4.5∓1.34 vs 4.8∓2.2 days, P>0.05), stone-free rate (93.1% vs 87.5%, P>0.05) or the postoperative analgesia time (1.7∓0.5 and 1.9∓0.6 days, P>0.05). The incidence of intraoperative complications were significant lower in LPL group than in PCNL group (6.2% vs 25.0%, P<0.01), but the incidences of early postoperative complications (25.0% vs 34.4%, P>0.05) and long-term postoperative complications (9.4% vs 12.5%, P>0.05) were similar between them.

CONCLUSIONPCNL is the standard treatment for pelvic stones larger than 2.5 cm, but for urologists experienced with laparoscopic technique, LPL provides a feasible and safe option for management of such cases.

Blood Transfusion ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Kidney Calculi ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters.

METHODSWe collected 535 semen samples, assessed sperm DNA damage by sperm chromatin dispersion test, and analyzed the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters according to the WHO criteria.

RESULTSStatistically significant differences were observed in sperm DNA damage among sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (P < 0.01). Sperm DNA damage was positively correlated with age, sperm-nucleoprotein transition, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade d sperm (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with acrosin activity (P < 0.001). Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that age, sperm concentration, the percentage of grade d sperm, sperm-nucleoprotein transition and acrosin activity were independent variables related to the DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The abnormality rates of sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and graded a + b sperm were significantly higher in the sperm DNA damage group (DFI > or = 30%) than in the normal control (DFI < 30%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA damage is closely related with sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity and seminal parameters, which may become another important independent parameter for the evaluation of sperm quality.

Acrosin ; genetics ; Adult ; Chromatin ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Nucleoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

The aim of the present study was to further elucidate the mechanisms of vascular adaptation to microgravity and its gravity-based countermeasure by a biomechanical approach. Active (the dissected vessel segment was superfused with PPS) and passive (while it was superfused with Ca(2+)-free PPS) biomechanical properties of mesenteric third-order small arteries and middle cerebral arteries isolated from 3-day simulated microgravity (SUS), countermeasure (STD, daily 1 h of -G(x) gravitation), and control (CON) groups of rats were studied. The following mechanical parameters were calculated: the overall stiffness parameter of passive vessels (beta), circumferential stress (sigma(theta))-strain (epsilon(theta)) relationship, and pressure-dependent incremental elastic modulus (E(inc,p)) of both active and passive vessels, and vascular smooth muscle (VSM) activity-dependent incremental modulus (E(inc,a)). Results from the analysis of active biomechanical properties revealed the contribution of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) tone during the early adaptation to microgravity: (1) For mesenteric small arteries, active circumferential sigma(theta) -epsilon(theta) curve of SUS group was comparable with that of the passive vessels, indicating that the function of VSM to restore the normal stress distribution is compromised; however, this mal-adaptation was fully prevented by the countermeasure of daily 1 h of -G(x) gravitation; (2) For the middle cerebral arteries, active circumferential sigma(theta) -epsilon(theta) relation of SUS group was shifted to the left side of the passive curve and epsilon(theta) was kept at a nearly constant level with the corresponding sigma(theta) being at its normal range; furthermore, the enhanced myogenic tone responsiveness was not prevented by daily short-duration -G(x). Analysis of the passive biomechanical properties has suggested remodeling changes in matrix components of different types of vessels, which might be significant if the exposure duration was further prolonged. In brief, studies of vascular biomechanics are of particular importance in elucidating the mechanisms underlying vascular adaptation to microgravity and its gravity-based countermeasure.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Mesenteric Arteries ; physiology ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; physiology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; Pressure ; Rats ; Weightlessness Simulation