Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most popular diseases that cause menstrual dysfunction and infertility in women. The present paper is a brief retrospection on the progress in treatment of PCOS caused infertility with integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM). It can be seen from these materials that using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recipes formulated by Shen-replenishing herbs or acupuncture to reinforce Gan-Shen, regulate Chong-Ren Channels in treating PCOS, stable clinical efficacy could be obtained, with less adverse reaction, though the effect initiated somewhat late. Whereas, when Shen-replenishing recipe and acupuncture are combined with hormone or ovulation promoting drugs of Western medicine, the above-mentioned shortcomings would be overcome. So, this combined therapy is frequently used in clinical practice.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Ovulation ; drug effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy

AIM: To observe thickness and morphological changes of bulbar conjunctiva pre- and post epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis ( EHC ) therapy by optical coherence tomography ( OCT) .
METHODS: Observed morphological changes and measured the bulbar conjunctiva thicknesses of 29 cases (36 eyes) of incipient (1-2d) EHC patients, who were received and treated by department of ophthalmology, the Putuo Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2013 to December 2013, by OCT. Then measured the thickness again on 7, 14d after the therapy.
RESULTS: Among 29 patients (36 eyes), 7d after the EHC therapy, in 27 cured eyes, the full-thickness ( before 344. 00±59. 91μm, after 230. 19±22. 16μm, t=11. 75, P<0-01); epithelial thickness ( before 56. 52±6. 19μm, after 51. 37±5. 53μm, t=4. 61, P<0. 01); and stromal thickness (before 287. 11±60. 56μm, after 178. 81±20. 20μm, t=10. 69, P<0. 01) of patients' bulbar conjunctiva were thicker than values measured after therapy with significant difference. Significant difference was also found for full-thickness ( before 361. 39±65. 56μm, after 233. 44±22. 57μm, the difference was statistically significant, t=14. 45, P<0. 01);epithelial thickness ( before 55. 50±6. 72μm, after 46. 67±5-24μm, t=10. 06, P<0. 01) and stromal thickness ( before 305. 61±66. 02μm, after 186. 78±21. 82μm, t=13. 11, P<0-01 ) of patients' bulbar conjunctiva between values measured before and 14d after therapy.
CONCLUSION: The OCT is able to measure the thickness of bulbar conjunctiva in EHC patients. An significant increase was found in full, epithelial and stromal thickness of EHC patients' bulbar conjunctiva. With recovery from the disease, subepithelial fluid, interlaminar fluid and edema of the bulbar conjunctival stroma faded away firstly, which provide references for clinical therapies of the EHC.

OBJECTIVETo test the feasibility of correcting conjunctival sac narrowing following orbital implantation using polyester fiber heart patches instead of the skin autograft.

METHODSTwelve patients of conjunctival sac narrowing after orbital implantation (including 3 with orbital implant exposure) admitted in Nanfang Hospital between 2012 and 2016 received surgical correction of the conjunctival sac using polyester fiber heart patches. During the surgery, the central conjunctival sac was opened, the exposed area was covered with suitable polyester fiber heart patches, and the palpebral margin was sutured.

RESULTSThree months after the operation, 10 patients showed improved appearance after implantation of the prosthetic eye. Two patients received a second operation to remove the patches due to graft rejection and infections and skin autograft was implanted for reconstruction of the conjunctival sac.

CONCLUSIONPolyester fiber heart patches are ideal materials for repairing Conjunctival sac narrowing and orbital implant exposure, but this approach is not suitable in cases of severe narrowing or occlusion of the conjunctival sac.

This study is to compare the effects of kaempferide and anhydroicaritin on biomineralization of rat osteoblasts (ROB) in vitro. Calvarias were dissected aseptically from newborn SD rats, the osteoblasts were obtained by enzyme digestion and were cultured in MEM containing 10% FBS. The medium was changed every three days, and serial subculture was performed when cells covered with 90% of the dish. Kaempferide and anhydroicaritin were separately added with final concentrations of 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) under the conditions of osteogenic differentiation. The proliferation was measured by MTT, and the optimal concentration was detected by the ALP activity at the 9th day after osteogenic induction culture. The osteogenic indexes of kaempferide, anhydroicaritin and control group with the optimal concentration were compared. The result showed that the anhydroicaritin at concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) had significantly promoted the activity of ALP, calcium content and osteocalcin content, increased the number of CFU-F(ALP) and mineralized nodules, enhanced the mRNA level of BMP-2, OSX and Runx-2, which are key genes of osteogenic differentiation, and raised the protein content of collagen-I. However, the kaempferide group had not significantly represented the ability that promoted osteogenic differentiation of ROB. The difference of osteogenic differentiation on ROB between kaempferide and anhydroicaritin was caused by the prenyl group on C-8 of icariin.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzopyrans ; pharmacology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kaempferols ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To establish a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method for the determination concentration of duloxetine in human plasma and study on its pharmacokinetics in healthy human.Methods The separation of duloxetine was performed on Phenomenex C_(18) column with fluoxetine as the internal standard.The mobile phase was composed of 5 mmol L~(-1) ammonium acetate with 0.02% formic acid acetonitrile(55:45).Electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode.A single dose of 60 mg duloxetine hydrochloride was given to 5 male and 5 female healthy volunteers and the plasma was separated.The concentration of duloxetine was determined by HPLC-MS/MS and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.Results The linear range of duloxetine was 0.89-106.80 ng·mL~(-1)(γ=0.9977).The methodological recovery and the extraction recovery ranged between 93.19%-107.27% and 72.81%-89.96%,respectively.Both the inter-day RSD and intra-day RSD were less than 11%.The main pharmacokinetic parameters after a single dose of 60mg duloxetine are as follows: C_(max) was(44.40 ±17.78)ng·mL~(-1),t_(max) was(6.10±1.29)h,t_(1/2) was(12.81 ±2.31)h;AUC_(0-60) and AUC_(0-∞) were (696.04±337.82),(733.82±343.40)ng·h·mL~(-1),respectively.Conclusion The method is simple,accurate and reliable,and suitable for the determination of duloxe-tine in therapeutic drug monitor and its pharmacokinetics study.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression changes of three steroidogenic enzymes in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group and PCOS group. PCOS rat model was established by DHEA injection. The serum levels of progesterone, estrogen and testosterone were measured by immunoradioassay or enzyme immunoassay. The cellular distributions of 3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) in ovaries were detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD and P450arom were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The results showed that the serum levels of estrogen and testosterone of PCOS group were significantly higher than those of the NC group. There was no significant difference of serum progesterone level between the PCOS and NC groups. Compared with the NC group, the PCOS group showed increased mRNA and protein expressions of both 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD, as well as reduced P450arom mRNA and protein expressions. These results suggest that 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD, but not P450arom, may participate in the ovarian hormonal regulation in the present rat model of PCOS.
17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aromatase ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Estrogens ; blood ; Female ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; enzymology ; Progesterone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the homing and differentiation of marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplanted intravenously in smoke inhalation injured rabbits.

METHODSThirty-two New Zealand big ear rabbits were divided into normal control group (NC), inhalation injury group (II), normal control + MSC treatment group (NM), and MSC treatment group (MT) according to the random number table, with 8 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in NC group were injected with 10 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS) via ear marginal vein. Rabbits in NM group were injected with 10 mL PBS containing the third generation MSC labeled by BrdU (1 × 10(7) per 10 mL PBS) via ear marginal vein. Severe smoke inhalation injury model was reproduced in the other two groups, among them rabbits in II group were treated as rabbits in NC group, rabbits in MT group treated as rabbits in NM group. On the 7th and 28th day post treatment (PTD), lung tissue and trachea tissue were harvested from four groups for observation on injury with HE staining. Homing of MSC in injured tissue was observed with immunohistochemistry staining. The differentiation of MSC into functional cells was observed with immunohistochemical double staining of combining nuclear marker BrdU with lung (trachea) membrane-specific marker aquaporin-5 (AQP-5), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), CD34, and cytokeratin respectively.

RESULTS(1) MSC homing in lung and trachea tissue was observed in MT group on PTD 7, which was not observed in NM group. (2) AQP-5, AKP, and CD34 positive MSC were observed in lung tissue in MT group on PTD 28, while cytokeratin positive MSC was not observed in trachea tissue. No positively marked MSC was observed in NM group. (3) Injury in lung and trachea was less severe in MT group than in II group; and the proliferation of fibroblasts was less in MT group.

CONCLUSIONSIntravenous injection of MSC to rabbits with smoke inhalation injury can migrate to lung and trachea tissue at obviously inflammatory site, and differentiate into alveolar epithelial cells typeI and II, and pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, which may participate in the process of tissue repair in smoke inhalation injury.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Lung ; cytology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; pathology ; Trachea ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo compare the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with retrieved epididymal and testicular sperm for obstructive azoospermia and with ejaculated sperm for severe oligozoospermia and asthenospermia.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 431 ICSI cycles, which were divided according to sperm sources into Groups A (n=287 in patients with severe oligozoospermia or asthenospermia using ejaculated sperm), B (n=109 in obstructive azoospermia patients with sperm retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, PESA) and C (n=35 in obstructive azoospermia patients with sperm retrieved by testicular sperm extraction, TESE). Comparisons were made among the three groups in the rates of embryo implantation, fertilization, pregnancy, cleavage, and miscarriage.

RESULTSGroup A showed statistically significant differences from Groups B and C in the rates of embryo implantation and pregnancy (18.46% vs. 25.23% and 28.76%, 31.23% vs. 42.16% and 39.39%, P < 0.05). But no significant differences were seen in the rates of fertilization, cleavage and miscarriage among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rates of embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy are higher in patients with obstructive azoospermia than in those with severe oligozoospermia or asthenospermia after ICSI with ejaculated sperm.

Azoospermia ; therapy ; Epididymis ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; cytology ; physiopathology

AIMTo study the effect of ligustrazine (LGT) and L-arginine(L-Arg)on function of mitochondria in myocardium after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI).

METHODS50 rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (n=10): Control group(A), MI/R group(B), MI/R + LGT group (C), MI/R+ L-Arg group (D), MI/R+ LGT + L-Arg group (E). The mitochondrial respiratory function, Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]m), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were deter mined. Meanwhile, the contents of ATP and EC in the myocardial tissue were measured, respectively.

RESULTSIt was found that mitochondrial respiratory control rate (RCR), state 3 (ST3), SOD in C, D, E group were higher than those of B group, state 4 (ST4), [Ca2+]m, MDA were lower than those of B group, ATP and EC levels of myocardial tissue were higher than those in B group; and there were not significant differences between E and A group of above.

CONCLUSIONLGT and IL-Arg can improve function of mitochondria in myocardium after ischemia/reperfusion injury of myocardium in rabbits by decreasing oxygen free radical level and Ca" overload in the mitochondria.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate PLCE1 protein expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)tissues,and understand the effect of PLCE1 protein expression on the prognosis of patients with ESCC.Methods The PLCE1 protein were detected in 85 patients with surgically resected ESCC paraffin-embedded tissue using immunohistochemical staining,the patients' information were selected from March 1997 to December 2011 in the database of the Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research,and the survival analysis were operated with Kaplan Meier single factor and Cox multivariate regression.Results In the 85 cases,the lost to follow-up were 5 cases,the follow-up rate was 94.1％ (80/85).In the 80 cases with ESCC,the positive expression rate of PLCE1 was 77.5％ (62/80).PLCE1 positive expression was not significantly associated with differentiation,infiltration depth,lymph node metastasis and family history with ESCC (P ＞ 0.05).The univariate survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier showed that protein expression of PLCE1 had no significant association with overall survival (P ＞ 0.05).Cox regression survival analysis showed that the lymph node metastasis was associated with the survival time of ESCC patients [the relative risk were 1.763,95％ CI(1.008,3.084),P =0.047].Conclusion The expression of PLCE1 protein was involved in mechanism of ESCC,and might not predicted the prognosis of the patients with ESCC.