AIDS Vaccines ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Nigeria

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on AIDS patients of spleen-kidney yang-deficiency.

METHODSSixty-six cases of AIDS were divided into a treatment group and a control group, 33 cases in each group. All of the patients were treated with HAART, with moxibustion at Tianshu (ST 25), Shenque (CV 8), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4) added in the treatment group for 3 months. Clinical symptoms and cell immunity were recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the effective rate was 90.9% in the treatment group, which was better than 66.7% in the control group (P < 0.05). The improvement of the score for clinical symptoms in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the CD4 lymphocyte counts increased in the two groups, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Additionally, increase of total lymphocyte count in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can increase the therapeutic effect of HAART on AIDS patients and increase the total lymphocyte count.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; therapy ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Yang Deficiency ; immunology ; therapy

This editorial briefly reviewed the history of andrology, its rapid development in recent years, the conception of male health, international andrology studies, the achievements of Chinese andrologists and the existing problems. It is highly necessary for Chinese andrology community to strengthen the international academic communication, join the International Society of Andrology and attend its activities actively.
Andrology ; trends ; Biomedical Research ; trends ; China ; Humans ; Male

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; China ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy and precision of 4 methods including Hemacytometer, Makler chamber, Cell-VU chamber, and computer-aided semen analysis for determining sperm concentration.

METHODSLatex bead solutions with concentrations known as (35 +/- 5) x 10(6)/ml and (18.0 +/- 2.5) x 10(6)/ml and semen samples (n = 54) were counted by the above 4 methods and the results were then compared.

RESULTSMean bead concentrations for Hemacytometer, Makler, Cell-VU chambers and CASA were (44.84 +/- 4.86), (52.36 +/- 7.78), (39.70 +/- 4.76), (28.53 +/- 2.06) x 10(6)/ml respectively for the standard solution containing (35 +/- 5) x 10(6)/ml, and (21.04 +/- 1.87), (24.54 +/- 3.67), (19.09 +/- 2.02), (14.62 +/- 0.95) x 10(6)/ml respectively for a standard solution containing (18 +/- 2.5) x 10(6)/ml. The results of Cell-VU chamber were consistently similar and close to the standard solutions, while those of Hemacytometer, Makler chambers were overestimated, and those of CASA were underestimated. The coefficients of variation for Hemacytometer, Makler, Cell-VU chambers and CASA were 10.81%, 14.86%, 12.80%, and 7.22% respectively for a higher standard solution, while 8.89%, 14.96%, 10.58%, and 6.50% respectively for a lower standard solution. CASA has the lowest CV%. When semen samples were counted, the results of Hemacytometer, Makler, Cell-VU chambers and CASA were (76.98 +/- 59.90), (63.89 +/- 53.84), (45.28 +/- 34.52), (41.96 +/- 31.93) x 10(6)/ml respectively. There wasn't any significant difference either between Cell-VU chamber and CASA (P = 0.71), or between Hemacytometer and Makler chamber (P = 0.14), while there was significant difference between Cell-VU chamber or CASA and Hemacytometer or Makler chamber (P < 0.05 or P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONWhen counting semen sample, there wasnt any significant difference between Cell-VU chamber and CASA. Each laboratory can select its own proper method for manual or computer-aided analysis.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; Quality Control ; Sperm Count ; methods ; Sperm Motility

The development of prophylactic AIDS vaccines and immunotherapeutic approaches such as therapeutic AIDS vaccines would greatly benefit from acquired experience in reproductive immunology field relating to pregnancy and infertility. Certain immune and pathological aspects of HIV infection are closely related to problems faced by obstetricians, embryologists, gynecologists, and andrologists. This review attempts to bring together the recent advances in AIDS field with progress made in the physiology and pathology of reproduction in humans. The insight gained in reproductive biology research, particularly in the area of immunotherapy of recurrent spontaneous abortions, can help to develop better strategies for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection.
AIDS Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Abortion, Habitual ; therapy ; Female ; HIV Infections ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Active ; Infertility, Female ; therapy ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning on ischemic reperfusion injury of rat liver graft and to investigate the possible mechanism.

METHODSMale Sprague Dawley rats were used as donors and recipients of orthotopic liver transplantation, and the period of cold preservation and anhepatic phase were 100 min and 18 min, respectively. Sixty rats were randomly divided into three groups, twelve rats in control group, twenty-four rats in ischemic reperfusion injury group and ischemic postconditioning group respectively. Control group is sham operation group, only the ligaments around liver were cut off; donor livers in ischemic reperfusion injury group were infused through portal vein with heparinized saline before harvested; ischemic postconditioning group: at very onset of reperfusion after donor liver was implanted, several brief reperfusion-ischemia were given before persistent reperfusion of portal vein. Half recipients of ischemic reperfusion injury group and ischemic postconditioning group were taken blood samples and hepatic tissue samples after 2 hours of reperfusion of liver graft. Rest recipients were taken samples of hepatic tissue after 6 hours of reperfusion. Recipients of control group were taken blood and hepatic tissue samples at corresponding time after abdomen was sutured.

RESULTSCompared with ischemic reperfusion injury group, liver functional parameters, cytokines and peroxidized products contents were lower in ischemic postconditioning group (P < 0.05); meanwhile, the antioxidases contents of hepatic tissue were higher in ischemic postconditioning group than those in ischemic reperfusion injury group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIschemic postconditioning could relieve the ischemic reperfusion injury of rat liver graft. Through improving antioxidation capability and cutting down cytokines contents, ischemic postconditioning could apply its protective effect.

Animals ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Elastase ; blood ; Liver ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of Panax notoginoside (PNS) on the nephropathy in rats with type 1 diabetes.

METHODSA murine model of diabetic nephropathy was set up by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the control group, the diabetic group (DM), the group treated with low-dosage PNS (PNS-L), the group treated with high-dosage PNS (PNS-H) and the group treated with catopril. Rats in the PNS-L and PNS-H groups were given different dosages of PNS while rats in the catopril group were given catopril through gastrogavage every day for the next four consecutive weeks. Serum creatinine (Cr) levels, endogenous creatinine clearance rate (CCr), and 24-h urinary microalbumin (UAlb) were examined and calculated. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) in the kidney tissue.

RESULTSThe levels of Cr, Ccr, and UAlb were all elevated significantly in the DM group (P<0.01). The expression of VEGF protein was increased but BMP-7 protein was decreased in the kidney tissue (P<0.01). However, the above items decreased in the PNS-L, PNS-H and catopril groups compared with the DM group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the PNS-L, PNS-H and catopril groups, the expression of VEGF protein was decreased but BMP-7 protein was increased in the kidney tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONPNS shows protective effects on the kidney in type 1 diabetic rats at the early stage. The protective mechanism might be closely related to its role of inhibiting the expression of VEGF protein and enhancing the expression of BMP-7 protein in the kidney.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypertrophy ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Panax ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Proteinuria ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

The 5th edition of WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen (2010) represents a comprehensive revision. This article aims to explore the applicability of this manual to andrology laboratories in China mainland in view of sperm count analysis, sperm motility analysis, sperm morphology analysis, sperm function analysis, anti-sperm antibody and seminal plasma biochemical marker analysis, and quality assurance and quality control of semen analysis. The authors deem that its recommendation to the analysis method and lower reference limit of sperm concentration may be a little arbitrary and lack of evidence-based support, that the revised grading sperm motility, the strict criteria and the very low cut-off value of 4% morphologically normal spermatozoa for the evaluation of sperm morphology are not applicable to andrology laboratories in China mainland, that the sperm function markers need to be supplemented, and that the determination methods of anti-sperm antibody and seminal plasma biochemical markers are incompatible with the status of Chinese andrology laboratories. However, its recommended methods for quality assurance and quality control of semen analysis have a significant directive role in China mainland. It is worth to point out that the WHO manual ignored the data obtained from Chinese which accounts for approximate 20% of the world population. Thus, given the importance of the WHO manual, its general applicability should be evaluated in China.
Andrology ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Manuals as Topic ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; World Health Organization

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect and side-effect of peg-interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN alfa-2a) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

METHODSTwenty-two patients with HCV/HIV co-infection received highly active antiretroviral therapy initially; after their CD4 lymphocyte counts rose to over 0.20x10(9)/L, they were separated into two groups: one group with CD4 lymphocytes over 0.35x10(9)/L (high group) and one group with CD4 lymphocytes below 0.35x10(9)/L (low group). Both groups were given 180 microg of PEG-IFN alfa-2a every week intramuscularly. HCV RNA and HIV RNA loads, blood cell and CD4 lymphocyte counts, and liver functions were routinely examined.

RESULTSAfter 12, 24 and 48 weeks of PEG-IFN alfa-2a therapy, mean HCV RNA loads reduced 2.0650 log10 copies/ml (t=3.8733), 2.9146 log10 copies/ml (t=7.6741) and 2.4315 log10 copies/ml (t=5.8202) from the baseline at week 0 in the 13 patients in the high group, and reduced 1.1522 log10 copies/ml (t = 2.8937), 1.4189 log10 copies/ml (t=2.4422) and 1.1167 log10 (t=1.1261) in the 8 patients of the low group. However, there was no significant difference between the early viral response rate (EVR) and the end of treatment viral response rate (ETVR) of the two groups. In the high group, the white blood cell count was lower at 24 weeks than the base line (t=2.4700), and the blood platelet count was lower both at 24 and 48 weeks than the base line (t=2.3273 and t=3.6149).

CONCLUSIONSPEG-IFN alfa-2a can effectively reduce HCV RNA loads in patients with HCV-/HIV co-infection, and the inhibition rate in patients with higher CD4 lymphocyte counts is better. The EVR and ETVR of the two groups of patients show similar results after the treatment. PEG-IFN alfa-2a can reduce the white blood cell counts and the blood platelet counts in the peripheral blood.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; virology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; HIV-1 ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; Recombinant Proteins ; Superinfection ; drug therapy ; virology ; Viral Load ; Young Adult