Spermatogenesis is a complex process. Current knowledge about human spermatogenesis is mainly based on the mouse model while little is known about the initial stage of this fundamental process in humans. The establishment of the model of spermatogenesis in vitro may contribute to an overall understanding of male germ cell development, an insight into the mechanisms of infertility, and clinical management of male infertility. This review summarizes current knowledge about the generation of germ cell-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in vitro and discusses the potential application of iPSCs in the treatment of male infertility.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Spermatogenesis

Objective To detection analysis of blood infectious disease markers in patients before blood transfusion or before surgery .Methods HBsAg ,anti-HBs ,HBeAg ,anti-HBe ,anti-HBc ,anti-HCV ,anti-HIV ,TP-Ab were detected for 3 542 cases of se-rum using chemiluminescence immunoassay(CLIA) and ELISA .Results For HBsAg ,there were 704 cases of positive among 3 542 cases ,the proportion was 19 .8% ;For anti-HCV ,there were 52 cases of positive among 3 032 cases ,the proportion was 1 .72% ;For anti-HIV ,there were 3 cases of positive among 3 049 cases ,the proportion was 0 .09% ;For TP-Ab ,there were 200 cases of positive among 3 153 cases ,the proportion was 6 .34% .The infection rate was different in different gender of HBV ,anti HCV ,anti HIV and TP-Ab .But for HBV ,anti-HCV and TP-Ab ,the detection rate of male was higher than female(P<0 .05);The infection rate was different in different age of HBV ,anti HCV ,anti HIV and TP-Ab different age .The detection rate of HBV and Anti-HCV in 21-40 years old was the highest ,They were 31 .9% and 2 .33% ;The detection rate of TP-Ab increases with age increased ,more than 60 years old was the highest ,up to 7 .55% .Detection of the above two methods ,for HBsAg ,there were 51 cases did not match ,the proportion was 1 .44% ;for anti-HCV ,there were 1 case did not match ,the proportion was 0 .03% ;for Tp-Ab ,there were 3 cases did not match ,the proportion was 0 .1% ;for anti-HIV ,CLIA agrees well with ELISA ,there were 3 cases of positive .The samples that did not match were detected by the third party verification of the reagent .The result displayed that CLIA was more accurate . Conclusion CLIA is a high-sensitivity detection method which could effectively avoid positive specimens missed ,detection of infec-tious disease markers in patients before transfusion or before surgery by CLIA had important significance .

Objective To know the apolipoprotein E(APOE)genotypes frequency of Chinese old people in the rural area. Methods 2000 Chinese aged 65 years or older from four sites in China were enrolled in this study in 2004-2008.Two sites were from the Sichuan province in southwestern China,and another two sites were from the Shandong province in eastern China.The finger blood samples on filter paper were collected from all the investigated people in the end of the interview.The genotype for apolipoprotein E(gene symbol,APOE)was determined by eluting DNA from a dried blood spot,followed by HhaI digestion of amplified products.Results Through statistical analysis,APOE genotypes frequency of Chinese people aged 65 years or older in the rural area,as for ?/?2,?2/?3,?2/?4,?3/?3,?3/?4,?4/?4,they were 1.1%,13.55%,2.05%,68.80%,13.35% and 1.15% respectively.4 carriers and no 4 carriers were 16.55% and 83.45%.Conclusion The distribution of APOE 4 genotype is more widely in Chinese people aged 65 years or older in the rural area.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study was to prepare uniform-sized silybin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres in study of silybin with stainless steel membrane.

METHODSilybin PLGA microspheres were prepared by stainless steel membrane emulsification. The preparation conditions were optimized by single-factor test and orthogonal experiment, and evaluating the mean diameters, the particle size distribution, drug loading, entrapment efficiency and morphology of microsphere.

RESULTPrepared microspheres were round and surface was smooth. The mean diameter was (4.961 +/- 0.56) microm. The span was (1.75 +/- 0.18). The entrapment efficiency was (54.997 +/- 4.05)% and the average drug loading was (23.6 +/- 1.70)%.

CONCLUSIONThe stainless steel membrane emulsification can be used to prepare the silybin PLGA microspheres. The mean diameters of the silybin PLGA microspheres can be controlled in certain level. Stainless steel membrane emulsification has great potentiality exploitation and utilization.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the safety,feasibility,and clinical outcome of anterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD).Methods The study involved 28 patients undergone PECD.Visual analogue scale (VAS) and MacNab scale were recorded before operation and at 3 days,1,3,6,12 and 18 months after operation.In addition,MRI examination was conducted at postoperative l month,3 months and 12 months.After data collection,single-factor T test with SAS software was performed.Results Follow-up (range,18-24 months,mean 19 months) was achieved in 25 patients.When compared to the preoperative score,VAS and MacNab scale presented improvement at postoperative 3 days (P ＞ 0.05) and great improvement at postoperative 1,3,6,12,18 and 24 months (P ＜ 0.01).VAS and MacNab scale at postoperative 3 days presented statistical differences as compared to those at postoperative 3,6,12 and 18 months (P ＜0.05),but the differences were not statistically insignificant at postoperative 3,6,12,and 18 months (P ＞ 0.05).Moreover,VAS and MacNab scale showed significant improvement at postoperative 24 months as compared to those before operation (P ＜0.01) and those at postoperative day 3 (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Anterior PECD is effective in treatment of cervical soft or partial hard disc herniation.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoma, Chromophobe ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Angiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

ObjectiveTo discuss the feasibility and safety of anterior pedicle screw (APS) fixation in treatment of lower cervical spine injuries.MethodsA total of 10 patients with lower cervical spine injuries were treated with APS fixation.All the patients received preoperative cervical CT scans,and then three-dimensional model was reconstructed by using Mimics software to measure the screw placement parameters (insertion point,screw placement angle,screw length and diameter).All APS fixations were performed through anterior cervical approach,and then centrums antetheca and bilateral outer edges were exposed to distinguish the vertebral end plates.Screw insertion was strictly operated under the fluoroscopic assistance and preoperative screw placement parameters.The postoperative efficacy of APS fixation was evaluated by radiologist and other orthopedist via anteroposterior and lateral radiation,CT scan,three-dimensional model reconstruction and MRI.A follow-up was carried out at 1,3,6 and 12 months after operation.ResultsExcept for one screw for C4 and one for C7,another 24 crews for C3-C7 were successfully inserted.Postoperative CT scan demonstrated four screws breaking the outer vertebral wall.Except for one patient suddenly died from acute myocardial infarction one week after operation,the other nine patients received follow-up.Of three trauma patients,one patient at Grade A did not get improvement but with no aggravation and two achieved improvement for 2-3 grades according to Frankel grade.Among six non-trauma patients,spinal function score by JOA was averagely elevated to 13.4 points,with improvement rate of 60.7％ according to Hirabayashi method.There were no serious complications except for two patients of dysphagia among the patients who were followed up. Conclusions APS fixation is feasible for lower cervical spine injuries.The keys to successful screw insertion are preoperative measurement of individualized screw insertion parameters and appropriate application of intraoperative fluoroscope technique.

The characteristics of On-line Near Infrared Spectroscopy Technology are introduced and its applications in various industries, such as petro-chemical, pharmaceutical, agriculture and food are reviewed. Considering the features in TCM manufacturing, the application potentials of On-line Near Infrared Spectroscopy Technology in Manufacturing TCM are forecasted and the key problems to be solved are discussed.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue acupuncture method on amygdaloid protein expression in SAMP8; To explore the potential target protein for acupuncture treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods Thirty six-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into acupuncture group and control group, 15 mice in each group. Acupuncture group selected Baihui (GV20), Shenshu (BL23), Geshu (BL17) and Xuehai (SP10) to intervene. The control group was given the same time to catch and stimulate. After 8 weeks, the amygdala was extracted and the differential expression protein spots were identified by proteomic techniques. Results Compared with control group, acupuncture group eventually identified 9 differential expression protein spots, of which 6 up-regulated and 3 down-regulated. According to the relevant information provided in the protein database, the main function of differential expression proteins involved in the mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and production of Aβ. Conclusion Bushen Huoxue acupuncture method can regulate multiple protein expressions in amygdala, suggesting that it may be through improving mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative stress, reducing production of Aβ to realize the potential therapeutic effects on AD.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Recent studies showed overexpression of bcl-xL in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE-2Z; it may play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance of NPC. This study was to explore inducing effect of bcl-xL short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on apoptosis of CNE-2Z cells. METHODS: After transfection of recombinant plasmid pmU6-RNAi expressing bcl-xL shRNA,apoptotic CNE-2Z cells were detected by fluorescent staining and flow cytometry (FCM). mRNA levels of bcl-xL, bcl-2, survivin, and caspase-3 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); while protein levels of Bcl-xL, Caspase-3, and P53 were detected by Western blot.RESULTS: When treated with pmU6-RNAi for 24 h, an obvious apoptotic peak of CNE-2Z cells appeared; cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation were observed in most cells under fluorescent microscope. RT-PCR analysis showed that pmU6-RNAi down-regulated mRNA levels of bcl-xL, bcl-2, and caspase-3, but had little or no effect on mRNA level of survivin; Western blot analysis showed an obvious reduction in protein levels of Bcl-xL and Caspase-3, and a great increase in protein level of P53.CONCLUSIONS: bcl-xL shRNA can induce apoptosis of CNE-2Z cells, which may be closely related to down-regulation of bcl-2, caspase-3 and p53. bclxL shRNA may be helpful for developing gene therapy for NPC.