OBJECTIVETo study on the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome distribution of ulcerative colitis (UC) and the distribution of CM syndrome types at different staging periods.

METHODSFrom March 2007 to April 2010, 110 UC out- or inpatients at the Department of Digestive Diseases of Guangzhou Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited. The patients' symptoms were calculated. The systematic clustering was used. The symptom was taken as the variable in the clustering. The syndrome types were confirmed according to the clustering results. The syndrome typing was performed and its results were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 64 main symptoms in UC patients, including diarrhea, mushy stool, watery stool, abdominal pain, and bloody stool. Seventy cases belonged to the active period and 40 to the remission period. The UC syndrome types were sequenced from high to low as the dampness-heat of Dachang syndrome, Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome, Gan depression and Pi deficiency syndrome, Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome, blood stasis in the intestinal collaterals syndrome, yin and blood deficiency syndrome. There was statistical difference in the case number among different syndrome types (P < 0.05). In the active period, dominated were the dampness-heat of Dachang syndrome (28 cases, 25.5%), Gan depression and Pi deficiency syndrome (14 cases, 12.7%), and blood stasis in the intestinal collaterals syndrome (10 cases, 9.0%). In the remission period, dominated were Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome (18 cases, 16.4%) and Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (10 cases, 9.0%), showing statistical difference (P<0.05). The typical symptoms of patients of the dampness-heat of Dachang syndrome were sequenced from high to low as yellow tongue fur (31 cases, 28.1%), tenesmus (26 cases, 23.6%), mucopurulent bloody stool (25 cases, 227%), diarrhea (24 cases, 21.8%), anal burning (24 cases, 21.8%), watery stool (21 cases, 19.0%), abdominal pain (19 cases, 17.2%), red tongue (19 cases, 17.2%), and greasy tongue fur (19 cases, 17.2%). The typical symptoms of patients of Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome were sequenced from high to low as tastelessness (25 cases, 22.7%), fine pulse (25 cases, 22.7%), pink tongue (22 cases, 20.0%), eructation (21 cases, 19.1%), hypodynamia (21 cases, 19.1%), loss of appetite (20 cases, 18.2%), and white tongue fur (20 cases, 18.2%). The typical symptoms of patients of Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome were sequenced from high to low as abdominal pain (17 cases, 15. 5%), preference for warmth (17 cases, 15. 5%), diarrhea (16 cases, 14.5%), aggravation while encountering cold (15 cases, 13.6%), white tongue fur (15 cases, 13.6%), pale white tongue (14 cases, 12.7%). The typical symptoms of patients of Gan depression and Pi deficiency syndrome were sequenced from high to low as emotions inducing (18 cases, 16.4%), eructation (16 cases, 14.5%), white tongue coating (16 cases, 14.5%), dry stool before loose stool (15 cases, 13.6%), frequent break wind (15 cases, 13.6%), and frequent sigh (15 cases, 13.6%). The typical symptoms of patients of blood stasis in the intestinal collaterals syndrome were sequenced from high to low as abdominal pain (12 cases, 10.9%), sting (12 cases, 10.9%), soreness of the waist (12 cases, 10.9%), dark red tongue with petechiae (12 cases, 10.9%), thick fur (12 cases, 10.9%). There was statistical difference in the symptom ratio among each syndrome types (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in other symptoms except yin and blood deficiency syndrome (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe dampness-heat of Dachang syndrome, Gan depression and Pi deficiency syndrome, and blood stasis in the intestinal collaterals syndrome were dominated in the UC active period. Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome and Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome were dominated in the remission period.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cluster Analysis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; classification ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Yang Deficiency ; Yin Deficiency ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyse clinical feasibility of two electrophoresis procedures of seminal plasma proteins, agarose gel electrophoresis and SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis.

METHODSSixty-nine semen samples were examined and classified into three groups: the asthenozoospermia (n = 22), the asthenoteratozoospermia (n = 19), and the relative normal group (n = 28) with normal routine and special test results, according to WHO routine and special test criterion. Then, the seminal plasma protenis were separated by two different electrophoresis, with SDS-agarose and agarose support medium, the buffer pH 7.0 and 9.2 respectively. The agarose gel electrophoresis was done under various sample loading time, motion power and staining modules. The completed gels were scanned and compared the each other statistically.

RESULTSSeminal plasma proteins can be separated into 4 strips by SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis with acid crystal violet, and the strips were diffusion and with dark background. However, 6 clear strips named A, B, C, D, E, and F can be obtained by agarose gel electrophoresis with 6 min. After samples were loaded and stained by amidoblack, there showed appropriate spaces among strips, and it was very easy to scan the drying gel by a densitometer. Using agarose gel electrophoresis, the statistical difference in strip C and E was shown between the asthenozoospermia and the relative normal group, and between the asthenozoospermia and the asthenoteratozoospermia, however, not between the relative normal and the asthenoteratozoospermia group. Moreover, the samples in the relative normal group with normal routine and special test results were in different electrophoresis maps.

CONCLUSIONAgarose gel electrophoresis of seminal plasma proteins with buffer pH 9.2, 6 min. sample loading and amidoblack stain was a simple, fast and fit technique for clinic.

Adult ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; methods ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Proteins ; analysis ; Semen ; chemistry ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo analyse protein alterations in the seminal plasma of non-obstructive azoospermia patients.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 11 healthy fertile and 6 azoospermia male volunteers respectively and tested by SELDI-TOF-MS with CM10 protein chip to get protein spectra maps, which were automatically treated with the special softwares of Ciphergen Inc.

RESULTSThe mean peak heights of 28 proteins expressed in the seminal plasma of the azoospermia patients were statistically different from those of the healthy fertile males (P < 0.05 ), of which 24 were of lower contents than in the normal controls, 4 with remarkably significant difference, M/Z 7 196.058, 7 630.573, 7 547.610 and 7 709.833 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe seminal plasma proteins of the azoospermia patients were significantly different from those of the healthy fertile males, with decreased contents of most of the different proteins, which might be significantly correlated with the development of azoospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Proteins ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods ; Semen ; chemistry ; cytology ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVEIn this study, we aimed to investigate the expressions of adhesion molecules on human bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils in co-culture system, assess the effects of puerarin on suppressing these adhesion molecules expressions, and explore the roles of two crucial signal-transduction elements p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in modulating adhesion molecules expressions.

METHODSNeutrophils and BEAS-2B cells (one human bronchial epithelial cell line) were co-cultured, and adhesion molecules expressions on cell surface were detected using flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of adhesion molecules were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR). Phosphorylated p38 MAPK and inhibitor κB were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSIn co-culture system, adhesion molecules expressions on BEAS-2B cells and neutrophils were enhanced significantly (P<0.05). Correspondingly, the mRNA levels of adhesion molecules were also increased greatly. Moreover, the pretreatment of peurarin obviously suppressed adhesion molecules expressions on cell surface. Furthermore, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and inhibitor κB in BEAS-2B cells and neutrophils were elevated in co-culture system, but decreased significantly after upon the treatment of peurarin (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCoculture boosted the interactions between human bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils mimicking airway inflflammation, whereas peurarin decreased the expression of adhesion molecules on cell surface by suppressing the activities of p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways, and exhibiting its anti-inflflammation activity.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bronchi ; cytology ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Cattle ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coculture Techniques ; DNA Primers ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyse the variability of proteins in the seminal plasma of severe oligospermic and healthy fertile men.

METHODSSpermatic fluid samples were collected from 11 healthy fertile men and 6 severe oligospermic male volunteers and tested by SELDI-TOF-MS with the CM10 protein chip to get the protein spectra maps, which were automatically treated with the special softwares of Ciphergen Inc.

RESULTSThe mean peak heights of 2 lower-abundance proteins expressed in the seminal plasma of the severe oligospermic men were statistically different from the healthy fertile males (P<0.05). Fifteen different proteins existed between the nonobstructive azoospermic and the severe oligospermic group, 7 of which, with m/z of 7,196.058, 7,547.610, 5,780.493, 7,059.844, 7,409.589, 5,379.173 and 10,778.810, also between the non-obstructive azoospermic and the healthy fertile males (P<0.05). Except the latter two, the contents of the other 5 proteins were decreased in the non-obstructive azoospermic men (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe finger prints of the seminal plasma proteins of the severe oligospermic group were similar to those of the healthy fertile males, both significantly different from the non-obstructive azoospermic men. It is suggested that pathogenesis mechanisms differ exist between non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligospermia but are not the simple accumulation of genetic factors.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; Semen ; metabolism ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; analysis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo identify differential proteins in the seminal plasma of healthy fertile men and non-obstructive azoospermia patients by the shotgun proteomic strategy.

METHODSSix seminal plasma samples from 3 healthy fertile and 3 non-obstructive azoospermia volunteers were collected by Percoll isolation, balanced-mixed, and followed by separation of the mixture by SDS-PAGE. The proteins were subjected to in-gel enzymolysis and isolation of peptide fragments, and then identified by the shotgun proteomic strategy. Then comparative analyses were made between the two groups on the identified proteins with the unique peptide count > or = 2 and = 1 but with the peptide count > or = 4.

RESULTSA total of 213 differential proteins were identified, 133 in the non-obstructive azoospermia patients and 80 in the healthy fertile men. According to the molecular function, these differential proteins mainly fell into the types of signal transduction, cytoskeleton and catalytic activity, especially oxidoreductase activity in the latter type. Eighteen of the differential proteins were found to be of particular significance, including dynein heavy chain, fatty acid synthase, and tubulin alpha-6 chain.

CONCLUSIONThe differential proteins identified in this study were many in number and various in function, which not only demonstrated the value of the shotgun proteomic strategy in protein identification, but also suggested the complicated pathogenesis and varied types of non-obstructive azoospermia. The samples must be selected strictly based on their gene and histological types. Non-obstructive azoospermia was shown to be related with the M phase of the mitotic cell cycle at the protein level, but its specific mechanism remains unknown.

Azoospermia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on the liver function of workers.

METHODSThe workers in a factory were selected as subjects, and the recent physical examination data of these workers were collected. The workers aged 20∼40 years and with more than 2 years' working experience were included for analysis; considering the intensity of electromagnetic field, the workers exposed to less electromagnetic radiation were assigned to exposure I group (n = 123), those exposed to more electromagnetic radiation to exposure II group (n = 229), and those not exposed to electromagnetic radiation to control group (n = 212). There were no significant differences in sex, age, height, and body weight between the three groups (P > 0.05). Physical examination, including measurements of direct bilirubin (DBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and albumin, was performed in a health examination center. The intensity of electromagnetic field was measured by EFA-300 power frequency electromagnetic field analyzer, and the intensity of noise by AWA5610D integrating sound level meter.

RESULTSThe intensities of electric field and the magnetic field in exposure II group were significantly higher than those in the exposure I group. The levels of ALT, ALP, AST, GGT and albumin in exposure II group were significantly higher than those in exposure I group and control group. However, the level of direct bilirubin in exposure II group was significantly lower than that in exposure I group and control group.

CONCLUSIONOccupational exposure to ELF EMFs may affect human liver function.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the effect of cardiopulmonary ultrasound in guiding volume ther-apy in the patients with sepsis-induced myocardial injury. Methods Thirty-eight patients of both sexes with septic myocardial injury, aged 28-64 yr, weighing 60-90 kg, received anti-infection, respiratory and circulatory comprehensive treatment. The patients were divided into group Ⅰ ( n=19) and group Ⅱ(n=19) by using a random number table method. Central venous pressure (CVP) was used to guide vol-ume therapy, and fluid replacement was carried out using the CVP 2-5 principle in groupⅠ. Cardiopulmo-nary ultrasound was used to guide volume therapy in group Ⅱ. Blood samples were taken before volume therapy and on 1, 3 and 5 days after volume therapy to determine the concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB in serum. The CVP, positive fluid balance, lactic acid, central venous oxygen saturation and urine volume were recorded at 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after volume therapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction was recorded at 1, 3 and 5 days after vol-ume therapy. The length of intensive care unit stay and 28-day fatality were recorded. Results Compared with groupⅠ, the CVP and fluid positive balance were significantly decreased at each time point after vol-ume therapy, the concentration of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide was decreased at 5 days after volume therapy ( P<0. 05) , and no significant difference was found in concentrations of cardiac tropo-nin I and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB in serum, lactic acid, central venous oxygen saturation and urine volume, left ventricular ejection fraction, length of intensive care unit stay or 28-day fatality rate at each time point in groupⅡ( P>0. 05) . Conclusion Cardiopulmonary ultrasound can reduce the volume of liq-uid infused, avoid fluid overload and avoid accentuating myocardial injury when used to guide volume thera-py in the patients with sepsis-induced myocardial injury.

Objective To evaluate the value of bedside lung ultrasound for diagnosis of acute re-spiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS) and for assessment of the severity. Methods Fifty patients of both se-xes suspected of having ARDS ( oxygenation index＜300 mmHg) and required lung CT tests and Pulse Indi-cator Continuous Cardiac Output because of their condition, aged 18-80 yr, were selected. At 24 h after entering ICU, chest CT, lung ultrasound and arterial blood gas analysis were performed to record Extravas-cular Lung Water Index ( EVLWI) and the number of B lines, and lung injury ultrasound score and oxygen-ation index were calculated. The patients diagnosed with ARDS by chest CT and lung ultrasound were divid-ed into 3 groups: mild group ( 200 mmHg＜oxygenation index≤300 mmHg) , moderate group ( 100 mmHg＜oxygenation index≤200 mmHg) and severe group ( oxygenation index≤100 mmHg) . Kappa consistency a-nalysis was used to assess the consistency between lung ultrasound and chest CT in diagnosis of ARDS. The receiver operating characteristic curves of th number of B lines, EVLWI and lung injury ultrasound score in assessing the severity of ARDS were drawn, and the area under the curve and 95％ confidence interval ( CI) , critical value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results Forty-six patients were diag-nosed as having ARDS by both chest CT and lung ultrasound. There was good consistency ( Kappa value 0. 648, P＜0. 01) between chest CT and lung ultrasound in diagnosis of ARDS. There was good consistency ( Kappa value 0. 788, P＜0. 01) between lung ultrasound and chest CT in diagnosis of pulmonary consolida-tion. Lung ultrasound and chest CT were in good agreement ( Kappa value 0. 825, P＜0. 01) with each oth-er in diagnosis of pulmonary consolidation in the posterior region. Compared with mild group, the lung inju-ry ultrasound score was significantly increased, and the number of B lines was increased in moderate group, and the lung injury ultrasound score and EVLWI were significantly increased, and the number of B lines was increased in severe group ( P＜0. 05) . Compared with moderate group, the lung injury ultrasound score and EVLWI were significantly increased, and the number of B lines was increased in severe group ( P＜0. 05) . The area under the curve ( 95％ CI ) of the number of B lines in diagnosing severe ARDS was 0. 915 ( 0. 905-0. 935 ) , and the critical value, sensitivity and specificity were 15. 5, 78. 9％ and 85. 2％, respectively. The area under the curve ( 95％ CI) of lung injury ultrasound score in diagnosing severe ARDS was 0. 856 (0. 833-0. 878), and the critical value, sensitivity and specificity were 25. 5, 73. 7％ and 82. 5％, respectively. The area under the curve (95％ CI) of EVLWI in diagnosing severe ARDS was 0. 907 ( 0. 888-0. 933) , and the critical value, sensitivity and specificity were 15. 5, 73. 7％and 92. 6％, respectively. Conclusion Lung ultrasound can be used for diagnosis of ARDS and for evalu-ation of the severity of ARDS.

OBJECTIVETo identify asthenozoospermia-associated proteins in seminal plasma by the shotgun proteomic strategy.

METHODSSix seminal plasma samples were collected by Percoll respectively from healthy fertile and asthenozoospermia volunteers, balanced, mixed, and then the mixture was separated by SDS-PAGE. The proteins in the gel were enzymolyzed, extracted and identified by the shotgun proteomic strategy. The identified proteins with the unique peptide count > or =2 or the unique peptide count=1 but the total count > or =4 were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 172 differential proteins were identified, of which, 89 were exclusively from the asthenozoospermia and 83 exclusively from the healthy fertile men. According to the molecular function, these differential proteins were mainly the types of signal transduction and catalytic activity.

CONCLUSIONFunctionally, 10 of the proteins are particularly important, which include annexin VI isoform 2, isoform 1 of interleukin-6 receptor subunit beta precursor, Mr 400,000 protein, cytosolic dynein heavy chain, alpha-actinin-4, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase eta precursor, vitamin D-binding protein precursor, protein S100-A11, protein S100-A9 and ANXA4.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; physiopathology ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Male ; Proteomics ; Semen ; chemistry ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Vitamin D-Binding Protein ; isolation & purification