OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of Danxuetong injection (DXT, a combination of Danshen and Xueshuantong injections) against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury following testis torsion/detorsion in rats.

METHODSThirty-two 4-week-old healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number: sham operation, normal saline, single DXT injection, and successive DXT injection. The rat models of testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury were established by 2-hour 720-degree torsion/detorsion of the unilateral testis. At 6 weeks after modeling, the rats were killed and their testes were harvested for measure- ment of testicular coefficients, sperm counts, sperm motility, and the levels of total anti-oxidative capacity (T-AOC) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) , nitric oxide synthase (NOS) , and malondialdehyde ( MDA) in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the rats of the normal saline group, those of the single DXT injection and successive DXT injection groups showed significant increases in the testicular coefficient (0.11 ± 0.03 vs 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.06, P < 0.05), sperm count ([0.46 ± 0.10] vs [1.44 ± 0.50] and [3.00 ± 1.28] x10(9)/ml, P < 0.05), sperm motility ([13.63 ± 14.04] vs [39.63 ± 5.04] and [76.31 ± 3.67]%, P < 0.05), the activity of SOD (72.76 ± 5.58 vs 116.25 ± 8.83 and 133.20 ± 13.84, P < 0.05), and the level of T-AOC (5.58 ± 1.07 vs 13.34 ± 5.81 and 19.21 ± 5.69, P < 0.05), but a remarkable decrease in the content of MDA (42.38 ± 8.94 vs 20.94 ± 5.65 and 15.02 ± 1.03, P < 0. 05) in the injured testes.

CONCLUSIONDXT can effectively rid the testis tissue of oxygen free radicals, improve sperm count and motility by antioxidation, and protect the testis tissue of prepubertal rats against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury after testis torsion/detorsion. It also has a protective effect on the contralateral testis, and successive injection has a better effect than single injection of DXT.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; complications ; therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; blood supply ; metabolism

Objective The present study was conducted to identify the Vibrio cholera type and to analyze its antibiotic resistance in an epidemic of cholera in Haiyan County in 2018, which would provide the references for prevention and control of cholera. Methods Stool samples of the patient and his close contacts as well as the food and environmental samples were collected for identification of the type of Vibrio cholerae and the toxin gene. The resistance of identified Vibrio cholerae to 20 different common antibiotics were tested. Results A total of 176 samples were collected, including 101 stool samples from the case and his close contacts, 35 environmental samples and 40 food samples. Among those samples, only one strain of V. cholerae, O139, was isolated from the patient's first feces sample. It was detected as a toxin gene of ctxA positive by real-time fluorescence PCR. Antibiotic resistance test showed that the strain was sensitive to norfloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, cephalothin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin. It was 100% resistant to tetracycline, doxycycline, neomycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and rifampicin. Conclusion V. cholerae O139 strain with ctxA is detected in an epidemic of cholera. Norfloxacin, levofluoxacin and some other antibiotics could be used for clinical treatment and prevention. It should pay attention to this strain of V. cholera regarding the multiple drug resistance and the change of antibiotic resistance.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the gene polymorphisms of thromboxane A2 receptor (TXA2R) and cerebral infarction. Methods A genetic association study of one single nucleotide polymorphism (rs768963) in the human TXA2R gene was performed in 334 patients with cerebral infarction and 135 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method. Results The levels of blood pressure,blood-fat and serum glucose were independent risk factors for cerebral infarction. No significant differences in the overall distribution of genotypes (T/T, T/C and C/C) were noted (P＞0.05); however,significant differences in T or C gene frequency of rs768963 of TXA 2R gene between patients with cerebral infarction and noninfarction controls were found (P＜0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that no association between the mutant of rs768963 of TXA 2R gene and such factors as gender, age and levels of blood fat, blood pressure and serum glucose was noted. Conclusion The rs768963 of TXA 2R gene in human thromboxane A2 receptor may be a risk factor for cerebral infarction and patients carried C allele are much likely to have cerebral infarction.

AIM To explore the clinical effects of Shiyan Prescription on patients with ulcerative colitis due to Bowel Dampness-Heat Stagnation.METHODS Eighty-two patients were randomly assigned into control group(41 cases)for 8-week administration of Mesalazin Enteric-coated Tablets,and observation group(41 cases)for 8-week administration of both Shiyan Prescription and Enteric-coated Tablets.The changes in clinical effects,TCM syndrome scores,serum inflammatory factors(interleukin-6,interleukin-22,interleukin-33),intestinal mucosal barrier function indices(diamine oxidase,D-lactic acid,endotoxin),intestinal flora(Escherichia coli,Enterococcus,Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus)and GQOLI-74 scores were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed decreased TCM syndrome scores,serum inflammatory factors,intestinal mucosal barrier function indices(P＜0.05),increased GQOLI-74 scores(P＜0.05),reduced Enterococcus(P＜0.05),and enhanced Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with ulcerative colitis due to Bowel Dampness-Heat Stagnation,Shiyan Prescription can enhance life quality with obvious clinical effects.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the promoter polymorphism of IL-4 and IL-6 and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).Methods One hundred and twenty-three patients with CRS and 239 healthy controls in Shanghai region were chosen in this study.The genotype of IL-4 gene -33T ＞ C and -590C ＞ T were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and the genotype of IL-10 gene -1082A ＞ G was determined using amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) method. Statistical calculations were performed using SAS 8.2 software.Results Significant differences were found in genotype distribution of-33T ＞ C and -590C ＞ T between the CRS group and the control group( x2 =6.6013,P =0.0102,x2 =6.6013,P =0.0304),and -33T ＞ C remained significant following application of the Bonferroni correction (P＜0.025).The relative risks of CRS with -33T ＞ C and -590C ＞ T were 1.818(P =0.0236,95％ CI 1.084 -3.050) and 1.838(P =0.0147,95％ CI 1.127 -2.997).There was linkage disequlibrium (LD)between the -33T ＞ C and -590C ＞ T.The coefficient of linkage disequlibrium ( D' ) was 0.77 and the related coefficient (r2 ) was 0.54.The -33T/-590T haplotype was associated with CRS and the relative risk was 1.653 (P =0.0130,95％ CI 1.107 -2.469).There were only two genotypes of IL-10 gene -1082A ＞ G and the frequencies of the AA and AG genotypes were not different between the CRS and control groups.Conclusion The promoter polymorphism of IL-4 -33T ＞ C and -590C ＞ T were associated with the susceptibility of CRS and the -33T/-590T haplotype was a risk facter for CRS,but there were no assiciation between the -1082A ＞ G and CRS.

Objective To evaluate the application effect of broth microdilution(BMD)method in susceptibility testing of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MDR-MTB).Methods The Roche's proportion method and BMD method were adopted in drug susceptibility testing on 108 MDR-MTB strains and 11 non-MDR-MTB strains in Hainan Province.Whole genome sequencing(WGS)was performed on strains with inconsistent results by the above two methods.Results The average time to acquire drug susceptibility testing results by Roche's propor-tional method and BMD method were 28.0 and 8.5 days,respectively.Roche's proportional method showed higher resistance rates to isoniazid(INH),rifampicin(RFP),ethambutol(EMB),kanamycin(KM),and capreomycin(CPM)than BMD method(all P＜0.001).BMD method showed higher resistance rates to protionamide(PTO)and para-aminosalicylic acid(PAS)than Roche's proportional method(both P＜0.001).Taking Roche's proportional method as the gold standard,the sensitivity and specificity of BMD method for testing drug resistance were 50.00％-100％and 95.69％-100％,respectively.Except EMB(87.39％)and INH(94.96％),the consistency rates of the BMD method in testing drug resistance of other drugs were all ≥95.00％.The overall consistency rate between Roche's proportional method and WGS was 76.19％(32/42),while the consistency rate between BMD method and WGS was 23.81％(10/42),difference was statistically significant(x2=23.048,P＜0.001).34 MTB strains showed inconsistent results by two drug susceptibility testing methods.Among the 26 MTB strains that were resis-tant in Roche's proportion method but sensitive in BMD method,22 strains(84.62％)had mutations in relevant re-sistance genes.Among the 11 MTB strains that were sensitive in Roche's proportion method but resistant in BMD method,5 strains(45.45％)had mutations in relevant resistance genes.Conclusion BMD method is an accurate and rapid MDR-MTB susceptibility testing method,but further improvement and optimization are still needed.Drug resistance is closely related to mutations in relevant resistance genes.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of low level manganese (Mn) exposure on the serum neuroendocrine hormones levels of the welders.

METHODSThe exposure group consisted of 41 male welders, 40 male workers without exposing to harmful agents served as controls. The serum contents of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TST) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of 81 subjects were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay.

RESULTSThe geometric mean value of airborne Mn concentrations was 0.03 mg/m(3) (0.003 - 0.519 mg/m(3)) in the welding circumstances. The levels of Mn in red blood cells (RBCs) and urinary Mn of the exposure group were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.01). The contents of serum LH and TSH of the exposure group were 2.89 ± 0.69 mIU/ml and 1.45 ± 0.56 uIU/ml, which were significantly lower than those (3.82 ± 1.61 mIU/ml and 2.19 ± 1.28 µIU/ml) of control group (P < 0.01). The serum contents of LH, FSH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years were significantly lower than those of the control group, The serum TST level of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years was significantly higher than those of the control group and group exposed to Mn for 5 ∼ years, the serum FSH level of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years was significantly lower than that of the group exposed to Mn for 10 years (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The serum contents of LH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for 5 ∼ years were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The serum contents of PRL, LH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for 10 years were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was negative correlation between blood (RBC) Mn and urinary Mn (r = -0.310, P < 0.05), also there was negative correlation between serum PRL and serum TST (r = -0.409, P < 0.01), the positive correlation between serum LH and serum FSH was observed (r = 0.361, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present study showed that the long exposure to low level of Mn may decrease the levels of serum PRL, LH and TSH in workers occupationally exposed to Mn, which can influence the metabolism of neuroendocrine hormones to certain extent.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Manganese ; Occupational Exposure ; Prolactin ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Welding

[Objective]To ascertain characteristics of sexual partner network and high-risk sex behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) , providing references for intervention of high risk behavior in MSM. [Methods] Face-to-face questionnaire interview was conducted among MSM recruited by voluntary counseling and testing clinics, peer mobilization, internet mobilization, outreach intervention, and so on.Descriptive statistics, χ2test, logistic regression analysis were applied for statistical analysis. [Results]A total of 334 MSM was investigated. Over the past 6 months, proportion of female partners, fixed male partners, multiple male partners, occasional and business male partners was 37.13％, 43.11％, 52.69％, 56.29％, and 4.19％ respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that respondents who were married, less educated, non-Shanghai domicile, and non-homosexual had more female partners in proportion, those with high income and homosexuality had more fixed male partners in proportion, and those who were married, non-Shanghai domicile had more multiple or occasional male partners in proportion. In the past 6 months, MSM who had unprotected sexual behaviors with female partners, fixed male partners, multiple or occasional male partners accounted for 75.21％, 65.97％, 59.66％, and 48.40％respectively. And analysis showed that respondents had more high-risk sexual behaviors with multiple male partners with their age increasing. [Conclusion] Sexual partner network of MSM is complex. MSM has a variety of sexual partners. Multiple sexual partners and unprotected sexual behaviors exist extensively among MSM. Related factor of sexual behaviors with multiple sexual partners is age.

Bone Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Cyst ; etiology ; surgery ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; complications

Acupuncturists have always paid high attention to deqi (needling sensation) in clinical. However, relationship between deqi and curative effect has not been elucidated yet. In order to have a further understanding on effect of deqi on clinical effect, through study on literature associated with deqi since the establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, it is held that various factors can influence therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment, including whether needling sensation appears or not, the speed of deqi, the intensity of deqi, different types of sensations as well as propagated sensation along meridians (PSM). Joint launched multidisciplinary researches should be carried out to reveal the influence principle of deqi on acupuncture effect, and to lay foundations for the further studies on mechanism of deqi.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians ; Qi ; Treatment Outcome