Based on the principles of the in vitro staining technique, hypotonic swelling test, and water test, the Eosin Y-water test method was developed to simultaneously detect the integrity of the sperm head and tail and sperm membrane structure and function. As a widely used method in clinical laboratories in China, the Eosin Y-water test is methodologically characterized by three advantages. Firstly, both the sperm head and tail can be detected at the same time, which allows easy and comprehensive assessment of membrane damage in different parts of sperm. Secondly, distilled water is used instead of the usual formula solution to simplify and standardize the test by eliminating any potential effects on the water molecules through the sperm membrane due to different osmotic pressure or different sugar proportions and electrolyte solutions. Thirdly, the test takes less time and thus can be repeated before and after treatment. This article focuses on the fundamental principles and modification of the Eosin Y-water test and its application in sperm function examination and routine semen analysis for male infertility, assessment of the quality of sperm retrieved by testicular fine needle aspiration, semen cryopreservation program development, and evaluation of sperm membrane integrity after microwave radiation.
Cell Membrane ; China ; Cryopreservation ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; Male ; Osmotic Pressure ; Semen Analysis ; methods ; Sperm Head ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; Spermatozoa ; Staining and Labeling ; Water

Objective To explore the value of conventional and contrast‐enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in the diagnosis of tumors in front of the orbit equator . Methods Clinical data included conventional ultrasound and CEUS image of 133 cases (156 eyes) with orbital lesions were analyzed retrospectively . All lesions were confirmed by surgical pathology or clinical cure ,which included 26 cases of cystic lesions (epidermoid cysts ,dermoid cysts ,sebaceous cysts and mucous cysts) ,29 cases (30 eyes) of orbital hemangioma ,13 cases ( 16 eyes ) of inflammatory pseudotumor ,11 cases of lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma ,3 cases (5 eyes) of lymphoepithelial lesion ,36 cases (53 eyes) of malignant lymphoma ,5 cases of meibomian gland carcinoma ,4 cases of lacrimal gland adenoid cystic carcinoma ,3 cases of malignant melanoma and 3 cases of basal cell carcinoma . Results CEUS of benign cystic lesions showed the tumors were enhanced inhomogenously . Most CEUS of benign tumours displayed?slow in and slow out ,and high enhancement when reached the peak but the size of images had no change . While CEUS of malignant tumours showed?fast in and fast out ,homogeneous or inhomogeneous high enhancement and ill‐defined or irregular shape ,and volume increased compared to two‐dimensional ultrasound when reached the peak .Some other former district orbital lesions ,such as cystic lesion ,cavernous hemangioma ,pleomorphic adenoma and malignant lymphoma ,had their own ultrasound features . Conclusions CEUS combines with conventional ultrasound may contribute to the qualitative diagnosis of tumors in front of the orbit equator .

Objective To investigate the small-worldness and the betweenness centrality of the nodes in the brain structural networks and its relationship with the course and the central role of the brain regions in the transmission of information across the whole brain in depression.Methods The diffusion tensor imaging data were obtained from 27 depression patients and 33 healthy controls.The brain structural networks were constructed using the complex network theory.Results The brain structural networks had small-world properties in both groups.When compared with the healthy,the betweenness centrality of the nodes of the networks in depression significantly decreased in right superior frontal gyms (orbital part) (P=0.00035,region survived critical FDR threshold for multiple comparisons),and left putamen (P=0.00054,region survived critical FDR threshold for multiple comparisons).Significant negative correlation was found between the betweenness centrality of left hippocampus and the course in the depression(r=0.50,P=0.016).Conclusion Both of the brain structural networks in depression patients and normal people have the property of small-worldness.But the central role of orbit frontal cortex and putamen in the transmission of information across the whole brain is declined,and the betweenness centrality of hippocampus is negatively related with the course in the depression.

Objective To explore the differences of the degree and distribution of hub regions of the brain structural networks between the schizophrenia and healthy and then analysis the importance of brain regions in the information transmission in across the whole brain.Methods The diffusion tensor imaging data were obtained from 22 schizophrenia patients and 24 healthy controls.The whole cerebral cortex was parcellated into 90 regions by the anatonical label map.Tractography was performed in the whole cerebral cortex of each subject to reconstruct white matter tracts of the brain using the fiber assignment by continuous tracking (FACT) algorithm.And then the brain structural binary networks were constructed using the complex network theory.The average degree of the network and the degree of the nodes in the network between the brain structural networks of both groups were examined by two sample t-tests.Results The average degree of the brain structural network in the patient group (7.82±0.56) decreased significantly when compared with the control group (8.17 ±0.56; P=0.04).The degree of the nodes in the brain structural network of the patient group (the left hippocampus:11.41 ± 1.84; the left parahippocampal gyrus:6.41± 1.33 ; the left calcarine fissure:11.50±2.97 ; the left fusiform gyrus:8.27± 1.83) decreased significantly when compared with the control group (14.43±2.26; 8.54±2.15; 14.79±2.80; 10.25± 1.36; all P＜0.01,survived critical FDR threshold for multiple comparisons).And the distribution of the hub regions in the temporal and occipital lobes of the patient group was difference from that of the control group.Conclusion The importance of the hippocampus and the brain regions in the occipital lobe is decrease for the information transmission across the whole brain.The damage of the topological properties of these brain regions maybe related to the disorder of the transmission and integration of information in the brain of the schizophrenia.

Objective To explore the differences of the global efficiency of the brain structural networks between the male paranoid schizophrenia and male healthy and its relationship with the psychotic symptoms of the schizophrenia.Methods The diffusion tensor imaging data were obtained from 27 male paranoid schizophrenia patients and 28 male healthy controls.The whole cerebral cortex was parcellated into 90 regions by the anatomical label map.Tractography was performed in the whole cerebral cortex of each subject to reconstruct white matter tracts of the brain using fiber assignment by continuous tracking(FACT) algorithm.And then the brain structural binary networks were constructed using the complex network theory.The average global efficiency of the brain network and the global efficiency of the nodes of both groups were examined by two sample t-test and its relationship with the psychotic symptoms in the male paranoid schizophrenia was explored by the correlation analysis.Results Compared with control group,the average global efficiency of the brain network of the patients decreased significantly (7.87±0.56,8.17±0.56,P=0.005),and the global efficiency of the nodes in the brain network of the patient decreased significantly in the left superior frontal gyrus (orbital part) (P=0.00025),the left superior parietal gyrus (P=0.00011),the left cuneus (P=0.00012) and the left putamen (P=0.00032),all survived FDR correction.Significant negative correlation was found between the global efficiency of the left putamen and the total scores (r=-0.43,P=0.03),the positive scores (r=-0.41,P=0.03) and the cognitive scores (r=-0.40,P=0.04) of PANSS.Conclusion The decreased global efficiency of the left frontal,parietal and occipital lobes and the subcortical structures lead to the occurrence of schizophrenia.And the reduced efficiency of the subcortical structures is associated with the positive symptoms and the abnormal cognitive function of the patients.

Seven compounds were isolated from fermentation extract of cave-derived Metarhizium anisopliae NHC-M3-2 by silica gel, semi-preparative HPLC and other chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS and NMR methods as 2,3-dehydroindigotide G (1), (-)-regiolone (2), naphtho-γ-pyrone (3), indigotide G (4), indigotide B (5) destruxin A (6) and destruxin B (7). Compound 1 is a new glycoside naphthopyranone compound. The anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of these compounds was evaluated. The EC₅₀ and CC₅₀ of compound 3 against HBV were 4.5 μmol·L^-1 and 92.3 μmol·L^-1, respectively. This is the first report of the antiviral activity of compound 3.

HIV/STIs remain a major global public health problem. One of the global strategies for the prevention and control of HIV/STIs is to interrupt their transmission, which requires the public health methods based on scientific evidence and cost-effectiveness. The scale-up of male circumcision services in the priority countries of the HIV-prevention project in sub-Saharan Africa has been hampered by the scarcity of trained providers and relative technical difficulty of male circumcision techniques recommended by WHO and UNAIDS. Shang Ring is an innovative and disposable device for male circumcision, which has been safely used for over 600 000 males in China since 2006. Clinical studies of more than 3 000 cases of Shang Ring circumcision in China, Kenya, Zambia, and Uganda have demonstrated its safety, effectiveness, acceptability and ease of use. The most obvious advantages of Shang Ring include short procedure time (3-6 min), excellent postoperative cosmesis, low rate of complications, high acceptance by clients and providers, ease of use, and standardization for reliable performance. As an innovative technique, Shang Ring has a great potential for facilitating the safe and effective scale-up of circumcision services. This article comprehensively reviews the clinical studies of Shang Ring male circumcision in China and Africa.
Africa ; China ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; methods ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male

Adult ; Female ; Femoracetabular Impingement ; pathology ; Hip Joint ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Synovial Membrane ; pathology

AIMTo study the antidiabetic effects of cortex Moutan polysaccharide-2b (CMP-2b) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.

METHODSThe T2DM model rats were induced by a single intravenous injection of low dose streptozotocin (STZ) and intake of high sucrose-fat diet. CMP-2b was given to T2DM rats daily through gavage for 4-5 weeks. The body weight, water and food intake, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose tolerance, plasma lipids, serum insulin, and insulin receptor (Ins R) were determined.

RESULTSOral administration of CMP-2b significantly decreased water and food intake, FBG, total cholesterol (Tch), and triglyceride (TG), improved the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and remarkably raised the number of low affinity InsR and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in T2DM rats.

CONCLUSIONCMP-2b may be useful for treating T2DM and its complications.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucose Intolerance ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Insulin ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate whether mitochondrial calcium uniporter participates in the cardioprotection of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) pretreatment in isolated rat hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion.

METHODSIsolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia (occlusion of left anterior descending artery) and 120 min reperfusion. The infarct size, coronary flow (CF) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release during reperfusion were measured. The mitochondria of the heart were isolated and suspended in the swelling buffer for measurement of absorbance at 520 nm.

RESULTSPretreatment with TNFa at 10 U/ml for 7 min followed by 10 min washout reduced the infarct size and LDH release, and improved the recovery of CF during reperfusion. Administration of spermine (20 micromol/L), an opener of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, for 10 min during early reperfusion attenuated the reduction of infarct size and LDH release, and improvement of CF induced by TNFalpha. In isolated mitochondria of the heart pretreated with TNFalpha, the absorbance at 520 nm decreased less than that of mitochondria without TNFalpha pretreatment. Administration of spermine (50 micromol/L) attenuated the change of the absorbance induced by TNFalpha.

CONCLUSIONThe findings indicate that TNFalpha protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via inhibiting mitochondrial calcium uniporter opening as well as mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.

Animals ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; Male ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology