Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MT) is a hormone synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland. Recent studies show that melatonin plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of many reproductive processes. High-concentration melatonin exists in human preovulatory follicular fluid and melatonin receptors are present in ovarian granulosa cells, which indicates the direct effects of melatonin on ovarian function. Reactive oxygen species are involved in a number of reproductive events, including folliculogenesis, follicular atresia, ovulation, oocyte maturation, and corpus luteum formation. Melatonin and its metabolites, as powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers, can potentially inhibit premature ovarian failure. Literature published in recent years shows the essential roles of melatonin in improving human ovarian function and oocyte quality as well as in the management of infertility. Researches on the action mechanisms of melatonin may provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of some clinical diseases.
Female ; Granulosa Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; physiology ; Ovarian Follicle ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Ovary ; physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Three-dimensional self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel scaffold can simulate the in vivo microenvironment and provide a structural model for cells, which promotes the right composition of extracel ular matrix and cel growth, as wel as improves the cel functions. OBJECTIVE:To review the fundamental research and the experimental study of the self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold in the nerve tissue engineering. METHODS:Literatures concerning basic and experimental studies on the self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold in the nerve tissue engineering were reviewed via searching PubMed and VIP databases (2000/2013) using the key words of“self-assembling peptide, nanofiber scaffold, RADA16, nerve tissue engineering, neural stem cel . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold is a novel and ideal tissue engineering material which provides new method for nerve injury repairing, for it not only solves the problem of poor compatibility between the material and cells, but also plays a much more pivotal role in maintaining three-dimensional properties, promoting cel activities and mimicking the extracel ular matrix, which is superior to other materials. However, there stil exist some chal enges in the area of self-assembling peptides, including short-term issues such as integrating of self-assembling peptide with bio-macromolecular material or relatively developed traditional transplant;and long-term issues such as adapting immune system in vivo, treating targets within cells and anticipating the future fate of highly integrated scaffolds.

The description of the circulation of qiand blood in twelve meridians and the symptoms of diseases in which they dominate inMiraculous Pivot·Meridianshas a certain guiding significance for clinical diagnosis and treatment. But in the book, six yang meridians “dominating in bodily diseases is considered as “fluid”, “humor”, “qi”, “blood”, “sinew” and “bone” dominating in bodily diseases. That is puzzling and prone to doubt. The authors perform a multi-angle analysis from the characteristics of circulation of qi and blood and functional activityof qi in meridians and give a reasonable explanation by referring also to other sections and chapters inHuangdi’s Internal Classic.

Although anterior cervical fusion has been a conventional surgical treatment for cervical spondylosis, concerns for the possible accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments after fusion have been growing. Fusion can also lead to other drawbacks, such as alteration of spinal biomechanics, graft and hardware complications, and chronic pain at the harvest site. In addition, it must be realized that decompression, not fusion, is the primary goal of anterior cervical surgery. Since the artificial cervical disc replacement can preserve enough motion after neural decompression with adequate stability, it provides a new surgical therapy for cervical spondylosis. This paper summarizes the progress in the related research field and makes comments on the current developments and future prospects of cervical arthroplasty.

0.05, both). The mean levels of 5-LO and LTC4-S mRNA expression in active SLE group were significantly higher than those in normal controls respectively (P0.05). Conclusion The levels of 5-LO and LTC4-S mRNA expression in active SLE group increase markedly, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE and provide a valuable scientific basis for the clinical use of specific 5-LO inhibitors and cysteinyl leukotrienes receptor antagonists.

A case of mandible plasma cell myeloma is reported.Plasma cell myeloma is a monoclonal neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells of bone-marrow derivation,usually multi-centric but jaw bones are rarely involved.The treatment requires precise pathological diagno-sis.The prognosis of solitary jaw bone lesions can be good after treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Mast Cells

The nature and functions of astrocytes (AS)， the pathological changes and roles of AS after spinal cord injury， the experimental methods of inhibiting AS proliferation and glial scar formation， and so on, were reviewed. AS beneficially affects repairing injured spinal cord at different periods of differentiation. However， adult AS secreting the factors formed the chemical glial barrier which severely affects nerve regeneration and hinders axon extension. Because of the static， activated and proliferative AS tending to coexist after spinal cord injury， and complex factors of barrier formation， the current approach taken by a single method is difficult to effectively control the AS proliferation and glial scar formation.

Objective To evaluate the value of single leaflet replacement of bovine pericardium in the treatment of aortic valve insufficiency using transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE).Methods TTE and TEE examination were performed for 25 cases pre-operation,postpump intraoperative and 3-6 months after the operation,to judge the structure and the regurgitation of the aortic valve.And the inside diameter of left atrium(LA)and left ventricle(LV)in the same plane and the same phase were also been measured.Results The degree of aortic regurgitation(AR)before operation were significantly different with that postpump intraoperative(P＜0.001)evaluated by TEE.There was no difference in the degree of AR by postpump intraoperative TEE and those of AR by TTE 3-6 months after surgery(P＞0.1).The inside diameter of LA[(3.80±1.37)em]and LV[(5.75±1.32)cm]before repair were larger than those 3～6 months after surgery[LA(3.19±0.90)cm,LV(4.72±1.19)cm,P＜0.001].Conclusions The replacement of single aortic valve with bovine pericardium to treat aortic valve insufficiency is a good alternative for patients with satisfactory short-term results,but long-term results are not clear.