Objective To analyze the relationship between serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) levels and semen pa?rameters. Methods The serum levels of 25OHD were examined in 68 healthy men, who were divided into three groups. Twenty-two cases were included in 25OHD normal group (30μg/L≤25OHD<40μg/L), 20 cases were in 25OHD relatively insufficient group (20μg/L≤25OHD<30μg/L), and 26 cases were in 25OHD deficiency group (25OHD<20μg/L). The se?rum reproductive hormones including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E 2), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) were detected by chemiluminescence immune analysis. Semen samples were collected by mastur?bation after a period of abstinence for 3 and 7 days. The total sperm count, sperm concentration, percentage of progressive motile sperm and percentage of normal morphology sperm were measured by sperm quality analyzer. Results There were no significant differences in FSH, LH, E2, PRL and T levels between three groups, and which were all in normal ranges. The total sperm count, sperm concentration, percentage of progressive motile sperm and percentage of normal morphology sperm were significantly lower in 25OHD relatively insufficient group and 25OHD deficiency group than those in 25OHD normal group. The total sperm count and the percentage of progressive motile sperm were significantly lower in 25OHD deficiency group than those in 25OHD relatively insufficient group (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in sperm concentra?tion and percentage of normal morphology sperm between 25OHD deficiency group and 25OHD relatively insufficient group. Conclusion The decrease of semen quality may be related to serum 25OHD at the relatively insufficient and deficiency lev?els. The effect of 25OHD on semen parameters may not be mediated by reproductive hormones.

Carcinogens ; Occupational Exposure

Prediabetes is an abnormal condition between normal glucose metabolism and diabetes mellitus. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is an indicator of high-risk state of prediabetes. Positive interventions of IGT, including life style changes and pharmacological intervention, can effectively postpone and reduce the development of prediabetes into type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting that IGT is a key point of diabetes prevention. Currently, pharmacological intervention for prediabetes is still at early stage. In this review, we summarizes recent clinical and preclinical studies on pharmacological intervention for prediabetes, and studies in the development of animal models with IGT and the application of new techniques. We also discuss the prospects of drugs for diabetes prevention, especially with the traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Prediabetic State ; drug therapy

Objective To figure out changes of serum excitatory amino acids (EAAs) levels in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods The levels of serum EAAs was assessed in 34 cognitively normal control subjects,30 patients with aMCI,and 32 patients with AD using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results ①Higher serum concentrations of glutamate((39.6?22.1) ?mol/L),alanine((282.5?71.3) ?mol/L) were found in the aMCI patients (P=0.044,P=0.007),and higher serum concentrations of glutamate ((42.2?21.8) ?mol/L),glycine ((464.2?142.6) ?moL/L) were found in the AD patients than in the control subjects (P=0.010,P=0.010).②No statistically significant difference of EAAs level between the aMCI and AD groups was found.③A close and positive correlation between the serum concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and the mini-mental status examination scores were found in AD patients:the 2 amino acid levels were higher in patients with mild dementia((42.1?21.3),(55.0?29.0) ?mol/L) than those with moderate or severe dementia ((25.4?9.2) ?mol/L,P=0.023;(34.6?11.1) ?mol/L,P=0.036). Conclusion EAAs,correlating with the severity of the condition,play a significant role in AD,while aMCI patients also have disturbance of metabolism of EAAs,indicating that it has similar pathogenesis to AD.

Objective:To study the antibacterial properties of pure titanium treated with benzalkonium chloride solution.Meth-ods:10 mm ×10 mm ×1 mm titanium specimens were processed by the benzalkonium chloride solution at 1%,0.5% and 0.1%respectively followed by treatment in the cultured bacterial suspension,and then the antibacterial properties of the titanium plates were examined.Additionally,the thermal cycling test was carried out for the 1% benzalkonium chloride-treated titanium plates, and subsequently put the plates into cultured bacterial suspension,the duration of antibacterial properties was observed.Results:0.5% and 1% benzalkonium chloride solution-treated titanium plates significantly inhibited the growth of candida albicans(P <0. 05),1% solution was more effective than 0.5% solution.After 1 000 and 2 500 thermal cycling,the pure titanium still retained the antibacterial ability,but the plates treated by 5 000 cycling showed no antibacterial effect.Conclusion:A certain concentration of benzalkonium chloride can make the pure titanium obtain antibacterial properties.The treated plates may maintain the antibacte-rial properties for a minimum of 3 months.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare aciclovir multivesicular liposomes of high encapsulation efficiency and good stability. METHODS: Aciclovir multivesicular liposomes were prepared by multiple emulsion method. The preparation technology was optimized by orthogonal experiment with entrapment efficiency as index and the amount of lubricant glyceryl trioleate (A),drug/lipid ratio (B),pH of buffer solution (C) and the amount of tween-80 (D) as factors. The concentration of the aciclovir was determined by the UV spectrophotometry and the entrapment efficiency of the aciclovir multivesicular liposomes was computed. The change of the entrapment efficiency of the optimized preparations within 7 days in different conditions was investigated and the leaking rate was computed. RESULTS: The optimal technology was as follows: A 0.50 g,B 5∶150,C 6.5 and D 0.40 g. The entrapment efficiency of the aciclovir multivesicular liposomes was 85.82% and the leaking rate was 5.84% within 7 days under common temperature. CONCLUSIONS: The preparation technology of the aciclovir multivesicular liposomes is simple and the preparation is of high entrapment efficiency and good stability under common temperature.

OBJECTIVE:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of related substances in Donepezil hydrochloride tablets.METHODS:The separation was performed on AlltimaTM C18 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.01 mol?L-1 dipotassium hydrogen phosphate(3% triethylamine,pH=4.3)-methanol(60 :40) and flow rate of 1.0 mL?min-1.The detection wavelength was set at 271 nm and the column temperature was maintained at 35 ℃.The content of related substance was calculated by self-control with main component.RESULTS:Related substances were completely separated from the main constituent and the impurities were separated well from each other.The determination limit was 0.05 ng and the contents of related substances were 0.42%.CONCLUSION:The method is specific,sensitive and reproducible for the determination of related substances in Donepezil hydrochloride tablets.

Background The early diagnosis and treatment is vital for the age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Previous examining methods were fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and optical coherence tomography (OCT).However,a new diagnostic technique,fundus autofluorescence(FAF),is applying in ophthalmology.objective This study was to observe the FAF characteristics of atrophic AMD. Methods Thirty-nine eyes of 28 patients with atrophic AMD were diagnosed and collected in our hospital and classified based on the criteria of Chen Song.FAF was performed by a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope(Heidelberg Retina Angiograph 2,HRA2).Characteristics of FAF images were compared with FFA images or color fundus photographs.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to the examination. Results Areas with abnormal increased or decreased FAF signals were consisted or unconsisted with funduscopically visible alterations.Seven manifestations of FAF were found in the eyes with preatrophic stage of atrophic AMD,including slight change,focal increase pattern,patchy pattern,linear pattern,lacelike pattern,reticular pattern,and speckled pattern.In atrophic stage of atrophic AMD,geographic atrophy showed a well-defined hypoautofluorescence area;while non-geographic atrophy showed a ill-defined hypoautofluorescence area.There were three abnormal FAF patterns(focal,band and diffuse)in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy and diffuse pattern in the junctional zone of non-geographic atrophy. Conclusion FAF imaging is helpful for the diagnosis of atrophic AMD as a new non-invasive technique.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antibiotic resistance of Mycoplasma isolates from male genitourinary tract infection for rational use of antibiotics to treat Mycoplasma infections.Methods Isolates were detected using Mycoplasma IES Test Kit supplied by Yeoman Biotech (Zhuhai) Co.Ltd.Results A total of 698 strains (30.5%) of Mycoplasma was de- tected from 2 287 samples, 563 (80.7%) of which were Ureaplasma urealyticum, 26(3.7%)were Mycoplasma hominis. Both U.urea lyticum and M.hominis were identified in 109 (15.6%) specimens.U.urealyticum isolates were most suscepti- ble to josamycin, while all M.hominis isolates were susceptible to doxycyeline and minocycline, but resistant to erythromycin, roxithromycin and clarithromycin.Conclusions The best choice to treat Mycoplasma infections is josamycin, doxycycline and minocycline.The different strains of mycoplasrna may have variable susceptibility to the same kind of antibiotic.Active cul- ture, identification, and susceptibility testing of mycoplasma can provide useful data for rational use of antibiotics.

Objective: Based on the establishment of experimental model of liver yin deficiency syndrome, the effects of total glucosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba on the syndrome model of liver yin deficiency syndrome in rats with chemical liver injury were studied. Methods: SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing (200 ± 20) g, after adaptive feeding, were randomly divided into control group, model group, Yi Guan Jian group, and total glycosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba group. Except the control group, the rats in the other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 20% CCl4 olive oil solution, and then ig treated with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Cinnamomi Cortex to establish liver yin deficiency syndrome model. The Yi Guan Jian group and the total glucoside of Paeoniae Radix Alba group were administered at the same time, once a day for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the body weight and anal temperature of the rats were measured, and the general state was observed. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α), plasma thrombosis content of B2 (TXB2), laminin (LN) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were measured, and the activity of liver tissue interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were measured. The expression levels of phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3k) mRNA, protein kinase B (Akt) mRNA and protein were determined and livers were taken for pathological examination of HE. Results: Compared with the model group, the scores of the total glucosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), the body weight was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the serum ALT and AST levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01, 0.001). The cAMP/cGMP ratio was increased significantly (P < 0.01). The LN and HA of the liver tissue of the total glycosides group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05, 0.001). The content of TNF-α and IL-6 was decreased significantly (P < 0.001), the expression level of Akt protein was decreased significantly (P < 0.05), the expression of PI3K and Akt mRNA was decreased significantly (P < 0.05, 0.001), and liver pathological sections were improved. Conclusion: The extract of Paeoniae Radix Alba has the effect of protecting liver injury with yin deficiency syndrome, which may be the material basis of supplement liver yin of Paeoniae Radix Alba. Its mechanism of action may be related to anti-inflammatory, alleviate microcirculatory disorders, and regulate the balance of cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt pathway.