The pathogenesis of male infertility involves the interactions between environmental and genetic factors. An individual's susceptibility to male infertility is influenced by his internal abilities of metabolizing and detoxicating endogenous and exogenous chemicals. Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), such as enzymes, are involved in the cellular detoxication of various physiological and xenobiotic substances. Studies show that the polymorphism of the GSTs gene is correlated with male infertility. GSTs polymorphism-related susceptibilities to male infertility were found similar but with some inconsistencies within the same community, and inconsistent with some similarities among different communities. Therefore, further studies are to be done on the differences in GSTs polymorphism-related susceptibility to male infertility in different communities.
Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic

AIMTo search for more bioactive compounds from the roots of Aconitum coreanum (Lèvl.) Rapaics.

METHODSHigh speed countercurrent chromatography was successfully applied to the separation of alkaloids from Aconitum coreanum. The structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTSTwo-phase solvent system composed of CHCl3-CH3OH-0.2 mol x L(-1) HCl (10:3:3, volume ratio) was used in this experiment, eight alkaloids were obtained from the roots of Aconitum coreanum, which were identified as: 2alpha-propionyl-11alpha,13beta-diacetyl-14-hydroxyhetisine (I), Guanfu base P (II), Guanfu base G (III), Guanfu base F (IV), Guanfu base Z (V), Guanfu base O (VI), Guanfu base A (VII), Guanfu base B (VIII).

CONCLUSIONCompound I is a new alkaloid, named Guanfu base R.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Countercurrent Distribution ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To compare the subjective and objective outcomes of flexible ureterorenoscopy (F-URS) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for the treatment of inferior calyceal calculi between 10 to 20 mm. Method A retrospective analysis was performed for inferior calyceal calculi between 10 to 20 mm at our institution on a total of 112 patients treated with holmium laser lithotripsy or ESWL from September 2013 to September 2016. Retreatment rate, complications, stone clearance rate and subjective patient-reported outcomes were compared. Result Stone clearance rate was significantly higher in F-URS group compared with ESWL group (86.1% vs 61.8%, P < 0.05). Retreatment rate (44.7% vs 8.3%, P < 0.05) was higher in ESWL. There was no significant difference in complication (11.1% vs 7.9%, P > 0.05). Overall satisfaction score [(2.92 ± 1.24) vs (2.07 ± 1.35), P < 0.05] and voiding symptom score [(3.87 ± 0.64) vs (2.23 ± 0.73), P < 0.05)] were significantly higher in F-URS than ESWL. More patients in F-URS were willing to undergo the procedure again (83.3% vs 55.3%, P<0.05). Conclusion For the treatment of intermediate size inferior calyceal calculi,F-URS is superior to ESWL in terms of stone clearance rate, retreatment rate and subjective satisfaction.

AIMTo investigate the association of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphism in patients with idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in the northwestern China population.

METHODSIn the case-control study, GSTT1 genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with peripheral blood DNA samples from 78 patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 103 patients with idiopathic oligospermia and 156 age-matched controls with normal sperm concentration and motility, according to the criteria adapted from World Health Organization guidelines. All of the patients and controls were from northwestern China.

RESULTSThere is a significant association between GSTT1 null genotype with idiopathic azoospermia risk (odds ratio [OR]: 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-4.20, P=0.003) or idiopathic oligospermia risk (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17-3.27, P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONGSTT1 null genotype is a predisposing risk factor for sporadic idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in northwestern China.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Sperm Motility ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of tamoxifen (TMX) combined with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSA total of 183 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia were randomly divided into a TMX + CoQ10 group (n = 63), a TMX group (n = 61) and a CoQ10 group (n = 59). At the end of 3 and 6 months of treatment, semen analyses and hormone tests were performed, and the results were compared with those obtained before the treatment.

RESULTSCompared with the pre-treatment results, the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) and sperm concentration were significantly elevated in the TMX + CoQ10 and TMX groups (P < 0.05), but showed no significant difference in the CoQ10 group (P > 0.05); sperm motility and morphologically normal sperm were increased significantly in the TMX + CoQ10 and CoQ10 groups (P < 0.05), and slightly in the TMX group but with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTamoxifen combined with CoQ10 can significantly improve sperm concentration, motility and morphology in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Tamoxifen ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Ubiquinone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the morphological features of different types of neuronal intestinal malformations (NIM) and their postoperative complications.

METHODSThe data of morphological and clinical features of 324 cases with NIM were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIn all 324 patients, 210 cases were Hirschsprung's disease (HD), 38 intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND), 45 mixed HD/IND, 8 hypoganglionosis, 22 combined HD/hypoganglionosis and 1 immaturity of ganglion cells. The percentages of normal neuron in bowel of different NIM were 88.1%, 24.4%, 18.4%, 4/8, 27.7% and 0/1 in HD, HD/IND, IND, hypoganglionosis, HD/hypoganglionosis and immaturity of ganglion cells respectively. There were totally 46 cases complicated with recurrent postoperative enterocolitis (EC). Incidence of recurrent postoperative EC in HD patients was 6.7% while in IND/HD and IND patients was 35.6% and 28.9%, respectively. Incidences of EC in cases with the residual IND margins and with the normal margins were 38.2% and 8.7%, respectively. Incidence of EC in cases with transanal endorectal pull-through procedure and with transabdominal procedure was 18.0% and 8.3%, respectively. Nine cases underwent another procedure because of severe persistent constipation or EC after operation, including 4 cases HD/IND, 1 case IND, 3 cases HD and 1 case HD/hypoganglionosis.

CONCLUSIONSNeuron distribution is inconsistent with pathology of NIM. Postoperative EC are rare in the patients only with isolated HD. Furthermore, margins with residual IND and transanal endorectal pull-through procedure are risk factors to recurrent EC. However, the extension of excision about IND is uncertain and need further study.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Digestive System Abnormalities ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Enteric Nervous System ; abnormalities ; pathology ; Female ; Hirschsprung Disease ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

According to the 2020 world cancer data report， the prevalence of prostate cancer ranks second in male malignant tumors and the mortality fifth. In China， due to the poor living and eating habits， the prevalence of prostate cancer is still rising， and advanced prostate cancer can adapt to and tolerate androgen castration related drugs through a variety of mechanisms， which often indicates poor therapeutic outcomes in the late stage. Houttuyniae Herba， a medicinal plant of family Saururaceae， has been officially identified both as food and medicine by the National Health Commission. The existing studies have shown that Houttuyniae Herba inhibits the proliferation， migration， and invasion of prostate cancer and induces its apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via multiple targets， links， and pathways. These anti-tumor activities can also be observed in breast cancer， leukemia， gastric cancer， colorectal cancer， and other tumor cells. Such activities are mainly related to the inhibited expression of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase， regulation of apoptosis-related proteins， activation of apoptosis-related pathways， reduced secretion of matrix metalloproteinase， inhibition of activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）/Zinc finger protein （Snail） / transcription factor twist signaling pathway， and antagonization of growth factor receptor， androgen， inflammation， and oxidative stress in promoting the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. In addition， Houttuyniae Herba is able to alleviate diabetes， regulate blood glucose-lowering pathways， and boost immunity by inhibiting the protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） and mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathways， thus suppressing the occurrence and progression of prostatic cancer. In conclusion，Houttuyniae Herba can be used as a potential drug against prostate cancer.

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Duanteng Yimu decoction （DTYM） in the inhibition of pannus formation in collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） mice. Method:Twenty-four SPF-grade DBA/1 male mice were randomly divided into the following four groups： a blank group （NC group）， a model group （CIA group）， a methotrexate group （MTX group）， and a DTYM group， with six mice in each group. The mice， except for those in the NC group， were modeled. From the second immunization， the medium， MTX （1 mg·kg^-1）， and DTYM （15.4 g·kg^-1） were administered at an equal volume by gavage for 35 days. Mice were observed for general condition and the arthritis index. The knee and ankle joints were scanned by microcomputed tomography （micro CT）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and safranin O/fast green staining were performed to observe pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 （CD31）， vascular endothelial growth factor-α （VEGF-α）， vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 （VEGFR2）， and phosphorylated（p）-VEGFR2. Result:Compared with the NC group， the CIA group showed red and swollen ankle joints， increased arthritis index scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， manifest injury in the knee and ankle joints， reduced cartilage thickness， elevated Micro CT bone destruction scores of knee and ankle joints （P<0.01）， and up-regulated absorbance values of synovial CD31， VEGF-α， VEGFR2， and p-VEGFR2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the CIA group， the DTYM group showed relieved ankle joint redness and swelling， reduced arthritis index scores of mice three weeks after administration （P<0.05， P<0.01）， intact joint surfaces of the knee and ankle joints， thickened cartilage， declining Micro CT bone destruction scores in both the knee and ankle joints （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and lowered absorbance values of CD31， VEGF-α， VEGFR2， and p-VEGFR2 in the synovium （P<0.01）. Conclusion:DTYM can inhibit the pannus formation in CIA mice presumedly by regulating the VEGF pathway.

Objective:To explore the effect of Duanteng Yimu decoction （DTYM） on the activation of the human umbilical vein endothelial cell （HUVEC） model and the effect on related activated proteins and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） signaling pathway. Method:After DTYM （200， 400 g·mL^-1） treatment of HUVEC induced by VEGF and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cell proliferation， migration， and tubulogenesis were detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine （EdU） assay， transwell migration assay， phalloidin staining， and matrix gel card method. The mRNA expression of adhesion factors， including E-selectin， intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The expression of von Willebrand factor （VWF）， platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-31 （CD31）， angiogenic factor cysteine-rich-61 （CYR61）， angiopoietin-1 （ANG-1）， VEGF， and VEGF receptor-2 （VEGFR2） was detected by Western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to determine CD31 expression. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed potentiated proliferation， migration， and tubulogenesis of HUVEC （P<0.05， P<0.01）， elevated mRNA expression of E-selectin， ICAM-1， and VCAM-1 （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of VWF， CD31， ANG-1， CYR61， VEGF-α， and phospho （p）-VEGFR2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased CD31 immunofluorescence intensity （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the DTYM groups displayed blunted proliferation， migration， and tubulogenesis of HUVEC （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased mRNA expression of E-selectin， ICAM-1， and VCAM-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， down-regulated protein expression of VWF， CD31， ANG-1， CYR61， VEGF-α， and p-VEGFR2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and weakened CD31 immunofluorescence intensity （P<0.01）. Conclusion:DTYM inhibits HUVEC proliferation， migration， adhesion， and tubulogenesis， which is associated with the regulation of CD31， VWF， CYR61， and ANG-1 expression in HUVEC and the VEGF signaling pathway.

Objective To analyze the genetic phenotypes of Y-chromosome STR and SNP in Han male population of Wujiang area, Suzhou City and explore the genetic structure of population of Wujiang area for further examination of regional-specific Y-SNP genetic markers ancestor haplogroups. Methods Blood samples of 472 Wujiang area Han males were randomly collected and genotyped by Yfiler^TM Plus PCR Amplification Kit. The allele frequencies and haplotype frequencies of each locus were obtained using the direct calculation method. Y-SNP haplogroups of each sample were estimated using Y-Predictor software and verified through experiments by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction （ARMS-PCR）. Results A total of 453 haplotypes were found in the 27 Y-STR genetic markers in 472 Han males of Wujiang area. The haplotype diversity （HD） was 0.997 696 93, among which, the highest gene diversity （GD） value was DYF387S1a/b （GD=0.953 1） and the lowest was DYS438 （GD=0.321 8）. Based on genotyping data of 27 Y-STRs and 472 samples, 132 haplogroups from C, D, N, O and Q, etc downstream Y-SNP haplogroups were estimated and then verified through experiments. Conclusion This study is based on Y-chromosome STR haplotypes, and predicts Y-SNP haplogroups by Y-Predictor software, then uses ARMS-PCR to verify. Y-SNP genetic markers were introduced to achieve precise analysis of the genetic structure of male families in population of three towns in Wujiang area.
China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; Cities ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide