Objective To explore the effect of advanced glycation end products(AGEs) on the oxidative stress in porcine vascular endothelial cells(PIECs). Methods After being intervened by AGEs for some time,cell viability was detected by MTT.2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA) was used as a reactive oxygen species(ROS) capture agent.The fluorescent intensity of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein(DCF),which was the product of cellular oxidation of DCFH-DA,was detected by flow cytometry,and the level of ROS was thus measured. Results Viability of PIECs was inhibited by AGEs in a dose-and time-dependent fashion(P

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 investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBOP) on brain edema, inflammatory reaction and neuronal cell apoptosis induced by experimental hemorrhage in rats. Method Eighteen male Spraque-Dawley rats, weighing 300 - 350 g,received five successive sessions of HBOP with 3 atmosphere absolute pressure and 100% O2 one hour daily for five successive days, and other eighteen rats received five successive sessions of pretreatment with one atmosphere absolute pressure, air, one hour daily for five successive days. Twenty-four hours after the final pre-conditioning, rats received an infusion of 100 μL autologous blood into the basal ganglion. Seventy-two hours later, rats were sacrificed for brain edema measurements in 12 rats of each group. The histopathological changes around the hematoma were observed microscopically, and the neuronal cell apoptosis was detected by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) in six rats of each group. Data of brain water content were analyzed by using Stata 7.0 software and statistical analysis was carried out by two-tailed Student t -test. Results Compared with the control group, HBOP significantly attenuated brain edema 72 hours after intra-cerebral hemorrhage in experimental rats (81. 6± 0. 7% vs. 82. 8± 0.9%, P < 0.01). Inflammatory cell infiltration and neuronal cell apoptosis were also significantly decreased in the HBOP group. Conclusions HBOP protects the rats against brain edema formation, and quells inflammatory reaction and neuronal cell apoptosis following intra-cerebral hemorrhage in experimental rats.

Objective To explore a useful nursing method to enhance the feasibility and safety for outpatients with renopuncture biopsy. Methods 352 cases of renopuncture biopsy with the guiding of ultrasound (GE-Logiq5) received intensive nursing before and after operation. The effects of renopuncture and the complication were observed and compared. Results The successful rate of renal biopsy was 100%. However, there were 2 cases appeared the symptom of hematuria, 1 case appeared the symptom of lumbago, and 35% appeared the symptom of hematoma. Most of hematoma were minor less than 2cm so there were no serious syndromes happened. Conclusions Intensive observation and nursing are very important for the safety of outpatients with renopuncture biopsy.

Neural stem cells in brains have capacities of proliferation and differentiation, which is very critical to rebuild the cerebral cortex functions. Therefore, it is of great importance to find key targets and network pathways that regulate the proliferation of neural stem cells, which is also a pressing problem in the medical circle. With the Notch pathway as the core of the network, this paper summarized the advance of the bimolecular network system composed of Wnt, Shh, EGFR, cytokines and Notch signal, and analyzed such key nodes as Notch receptor, CBF1, NICD, Hesl, which may become potential targets of new-type drugs in the future. With the multi-component, multi-target, multi-lever characteristics, traditional Chinese medicines have many common grounds with the network pharmacology. The active component groups or active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines are one of the material bases for showing their network pharmacological effect, which is worth exploring. This paper aims to provide a new strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease and nerve injury with traditional Chinese medicines.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Systems Biology

Objective To explore the difference of the femoral head-neck ratio (FHNR) in patients with Cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and healthy adults and its impact on surgical strategy.Methods We measured the FHNR using method described by Doherty.468 healthy adults without hip symptoms acted as controls in the study,including 313 males and 155 females,with the mean age of 42.4years (range,17-82 years).There were 17 patients (24 hips) in the Cam-type FAI group.The maximum diameter of the femoral head and the minimum vertical diameter of femoral neck on both sides were measured by Digimizer software on the standard anteroposterior pelvis film.The ratio of femoral head to femoral neck was calculated and was compared.The surgery was performed in 7 cases (8 hips) with FAI.The Harris score and internal rotation angle was also compared.Results The FHNR of control group and Cam-type FAI group was 1.48±0.09(1.33-1.69) and 1.30±0.13 (1.01-1.46) separately (P＜0.01).The volume of osteophyte removed during operation was related with the FHNR.The average Harris score had improved from 63.4±8.2(52-76) preoperatively to 89.2±3.5(84-95) postoperatively.The average internal rotation angle had improved from 2.5°±2.7°(0°-5°) preoperatively to 12.5±3.8°(5°-15°) postoperatively.Conclusion FHNR measurement is useful for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of Cam-type FAI.

Objective To detect the variation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the splanchnic vessels under portal hypertension (PHT) and explore its mechanism and influence on the process of hyperdynamic circulation.Methods In humans,the level of VEGF pathway related proteins were detected in the splenic artery of PHT patients in clinical trials.In animal experiments,the following parameters were observed for rats in the control group (group N,n =7) and the CCl4 induced portal hypertension group (group PHT,n=7):portal vein diameter,portal vein blood flow velocity (PBV),portal vein blood flow (PBF),portal vein pressure (PP),norepinephrine (NE) reactivity in the isolated mesenteric artery microcirculation,contractile reactivity and degree of endothelial ni tric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation in the mesenteric artery by selectively inhibiting the VEGF signal pathway with SU5416.In cell experiments,primary culturing of arterial endothelial cells in vitro were used to verify the effects of VEGF on eNOS activation.Results The results showed that VEGF expression levels in the splenic artery of PHT patients significantly increased.In animal experiments,there was not a significant difference in portal vein diameter between group N and group PHT.How ever,the PBV and PBF of group PHT were lower than those of group N,and SU5416 had no clear effect on PBV and PBF in group PHT.PP of group PHT was much higher than that of group N,and SU5416 had little influence on reducing PP in group PHT.The contractile response of mesenteric artery microcirculation to NE in group PHT decreased significantly,EC50 increased a lot,and SU5416 improved this hypoergia partially.The protein levels of VEGF,VEGFR-2,eNOS,and p-eNOS in the mesentery artery of group PHT raised quite a lot compared to group N,and SU5416 decreased the protein level of VEGFR-2 and activation of eNOS significantly.Experiments in vitro confirmed that VEGF could promote the activation of eNOS.Conclusion The excessive VEGF produced in visceral arteries under PHT may participate in the process of hyperdynamic circulation partially through promoting the synthesis and activation of eNOS and then reducing visceral arteries' response to NE.

This study was aimed to systematically appraise the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction in combination with bisphosphonates in treatment of bone metastasis of malignant tumors. Related literatures were searched in the PubMed, Embase, CBM, CNKI and Cochrane Databases. The endpoints included cancer pain, activity of daily living, sclerotin reparation, KPS and adverse events. The Stata 11.0 software was used in the statistical analysis. The results showed that a total of 19 articles involving 1080 patients were included. It showed that TCM in combination with bisphosphonates can significantly relieve pain (RR=0.8079,95%CI =0.754-0.85,P <0.001), improve the activity of daily living (RR =0.787,95%CI =0.69-0.897,P <0.001), promote sclerotin reparation (RR =0.71,95%CI =0.52-0.96,P =0.026), and improve KPS (RR=0.7268,95%CI =0.61-0.85,0.58-0.81,P <0.001). It was concluded that TCM decoction in combination with bisphosphonates can significantly improve its therapeutic effect as well as improve the patients’ quality of life.

Objective To determine the effect of iron deficiency on hemoglobin A2(HbA2) expression in patients with β-thalassemia.Methods The participants were recruited from the out-patient clinics of the Pediatrics Department and Obstetrics Department of Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College and from some β-thalassemia major families.Blood samples from the participants were used for blood smear tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis and to analyze serum ferritin (SF),3 alpha-globin gene deletions,and 17 beta-globin point mutations.Results Of the 408 individuals,304 were assigned to group A (normal controls),26 to group B (iron deficiency),56 to group C (β-thalassemia),and 22 to group D (β-thalassemia combined with iron deficiency). The results for the comparison of the mean HbA2 values among pairs of groups were as follows: group A vs group B,q=5.074 7,P<0.05; group A vs group C,q=37.650 8,P<0.05; group A vs group D,q=16.043 0,P<0.05;group C vs group D,q=7.682 9,P<0.05; Group B vs group D,q=15.806 6,P<0.05. There were no significant correlation between SF and HbA2 in all 4 groups.Conclusions Iron deficiency decreased the HbA2 level in both controls and individuals with β-thalassemia. HbA2 levels decreased significantly in individuals with both β-thalassemia and iron deficiency as compared with β-thalassemia group alone. However,they remained significantly higher than both the control and iron-deficient groups. Therefore,the elevation of HbA2 could be used to diagnose β-thalassemia reliably even in the presence of iron deficiency.

Objective To investigate clinical features and prognostic factors in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with opportunistic infections.Methods Forty-two cases of AIDS patients with opportunistic infections were enrolled in this study.Clinical data and major factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed using Logistic regression.Results Bacterial infection was the first etiological factor(57.1%) of opportunistic infections in AIDS patients.Eighty-three point three percent of patients infected with more than two kind of etiological agents.Fifty-seven point one per- cent of cases were infected in multiple sites.CD4~+ T cells count was associated with the opportunistic infections.Conclusions The CD4~- T lymphocytes count is the key factor affecting the prognosis of AIDS patients with opportunistic infections.The average of CD4~+ T lymphocytes count is significant- ly related with the major opportunistic infections in AIDS paitents.