Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on oocyte quality in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in-vitro-fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).Method Totally 217 patients with PCOS undergoing IVF-ET were randomized into two groups by the random number table, 119 patients in an EA group and 98 in a control group. In addition to the long-term ovarian hyperstimulation given to the two groups, electroacupuncture was involved in the intervention in the EA group. The spindle, quality of eggs, and pregnancy result were observed and compared.Result The high-quality embryo rate was significantly higher in the EA group than the control group (P<0.05), and compared to the control group, the pregnancy rate was 8.36% higher in the EA group; it’s found that the number of eggs with spindle located between 11 and 1 o’clock was in a significant positive correlation with the level of E2 on the HCG administration day and the high-quality embryo rate (P<0.01); the EA group had a markedly higher ratio of eggs with spindle located between 11 and 1 o’clock compared to the control group (P<0.05); electroacupuncture markedly reduced the dosage and duration of using Gn in the PCOS patients (P<0.05). Conclusion It’s proven the relation between spindle and the quality of eggs; electroacupuncture can enhance the quality of eggs and the pregnancy rate in the PCOS patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on the oocyte quality in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSTotally 217 PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET were assigned to two groups by random digit table, the EA group (119 cases) and the control group (98 cases). All patients received long program ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Patients in the EA group received EA treatment in the process of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation till the oocyte retrieval day. The position relation of the spindle to the polocyte, the number of retrieved oocytes, the fertilization rate,the cleavage rate,the high quality embryo rate, the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) incidence rate, the clinical pregnancy rate, the early abortion rate, the gonadotropins (Gn) dose and time, levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and luteinizing hormone (LH) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe ratio of oocytes in which the meiotic spindle deviation angle was < 60 degrees to the all oocytes was obviously higher in the EA group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The oocytes in which the meiotic spindle deviation angle was < 60 degrees was positively related to level of E2 on the HCG day and the high quality embryo rate (r = 0.19,P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the high quality embryo rate increased significantly (P < 0.05), the dose and days of Gn decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the EA group. The clinical pregnancy rate was improved by 8.36%.

CONCLUSIONSThe spindle was positively correlated with the oocyte quality. EA could improve the quality of oocytes and the clinical pregnancy rate in PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Progesterone

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for investigating the mechanism of PNS in treating arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

METHODSTaking the cultured HUVECs as target cells, ox-LDL was used to establish a model of injured HUVEC and it was then intervened by PNS. The morphologic changes of HUVEC were observed under light microscope; activity of cells was determined by MTT method; the adhesive percentage between ox-LDL treated HUVEC and monocyte detennined by protein quantification and the protein expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSAt the time points of HUVEC being treated with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) for 12 h and 24 h, significant injury of HUVEC was shown, its activity reduced, the adhesion rate with monocytes elevated, and the protein expression of ICAM-l in HUVEC increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). PNS showed significant effect in reversing all the above changes, as compared with the control group (without PNS treaded), respective significant difference was shown in all the four indexes (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPNS has a protective effect on endothelial cells injury induced by ox-LDL,which may be one of its mechanisms in treating ASO. The protective effect of PNS is probably by way of down-regulating the expression of ICAM-1 in endothelial cells and inhibiting the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells.

Arteriosclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

The real sanghuang is a new species belonging to the Inonotus, which is commonly used for cancer treatment and human immune system improvement. This review summarized the progress on the studies of Phellinus Quel in recent years, including its taxonomy status, bioactive components, pharmacodynamics, separation and purification technologies. In addition, some related problems and perspectives were also discussed.
Animals ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; classification ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the validity of single plane Simpson's method with conventional X-ray ventriculography for estimation of right ventricular (RV) volume.

METHODSFifteen human RV casts were obtained from 15 subjects who died from non-cardiac causes within 24 hours after death. These casts were photographed respectively and their volumes were calculated by using the single plane Simpson's method based on a new half-circle model. The actual RV cast volumes were determined by water displacement method.

RESULTSThe actual RV volume was (64.23 +/- 24.51) ml and the calculated volume was (58.04 +/- 24.45) ml. The calculated RV volume underestimated the actual volume by (6.19 +/- 12.38) ml, but there was no significant difference between the actual and the calculated RV volume (P > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the actual cast volume and the calculated volume (r = 0.983, P < 0.01). The regression equation was: RV actual volume = 1.074 x (RV calculated volume).

CONCLUSIONRV volume calculated by single plane Simpson's method with conventional X-ray ventriculography is accurate and deserves further study.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiocardiography ; methods ; Cardiac Volume ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Ventricular Function, Right ; X-Rays ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC) on the liver function, HBV DNA quantization, the ratio of transforming growth factor-beta1/bone morphogenetic protein-7 (TGF-beta1/ BMP-7) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), HBV DNA YMDD variation, and the liver tissue pathology of chronic viral hepatitis B fibrosis patients of Gan-Shen insufficiency blood-stasis obstruction syndrome (GSIBSOS) on the basis of antiviral treatment by lamivudine.

METHODSEighty chronic viral hepatitis B fibrosis patients of GSBSOS were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the control group (43 cases) were treated with lamivudine alone, while those in the treatment group (37 cases) were treated with lamivudine + FHC. The treatment period lasted for 6 months. By the end of treatment lamivudine was continually given to all patients, and patients were followed up for 6 months. Before and after treatment, liver tissue pathology was examined by liver biopsy. The serum HBV DNA quantization, the ratio of TGF-beta1/BMP-7 were determined by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HBV DNA YMDD variation was tested by the end of follow-ups.

RESULTSBetter effects were obtained in decreasing the levels of ALT, AST, and HBV DNA after 6 months of treatment in the two groups, with statistical difference when compared with before treatment in the same group, but with no statistical difference between the two groups. At the end of the 6th month follow-up, YMDD variation occurred in 9 cases of the control group and in 5 cases of the treatment group, with statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). FHC could significantly reduce the ratio of TGF-beta1/BMP-7, significantly lower in the treatment group (0.09 vs 0.25, P < 0.05). In the aspect of liver tissue pathological changes, the rates of inflammatory activity over G3 and fibrosis degree S3 in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOn the basis antiviral treatment of lamivudine for chronic viral hepatitis B fibrosis patients of BSOS, additional application of FHC could lower the HBV DNA YMDD variation, improve the hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, and exert anti-fibrosis by decreasing the ratio of TGF-beta1/BMP-7.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of sperm kinematic parameters in the hyperactivation of Guinea pig spermatozoa, and to confirm the index of their hyperactivated motility.

METHODSComputer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) was used to describe the kinesis parameters of the Guinea pig spermatozoa incubated for 1, 3, 5 and 7 hours.

RESULTSThe curvilinear velocity, average path velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement were increased with time and reached the peak at 5 hours, while the straight linear velocity, linearity, straightness and beat cross frequency were gradually decreased with time and hit the bottom at 5 hours.

CONCLUSIONThe sperm movement pattern changes greatly before hyperactivation during the capacitation of Guinea pig spermatozoa.

Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Kinetics ; Male ; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted ; Sperm Capacitation ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect drug contained canine serum, prepared by gastric perfusion with Sanchi extract (SE), in inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of cultured precancerous gastric cells by cell culture.

METHODSThe precancerous model cells (MC) used in the experiment were prepared through transforming eternalized human gastric mucosa epithelial cells GES-1 by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG). After once gastric perfusion of SE extract to dogs, the canine serum gotten before and at different time points after medication was used for test. The inhibitory effect of the drug serum obtained at different time points on MC after acting for 72 hrs was detected by 3-(4,5)-dimethy thioazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) method to find the optimal time point for drug serum preparation, that were 2 hrs and 6 hrs after medication. Then the cell apoptosis promoting effect after acting for 72 hrs of the drug serum obtained at the optimal time points was determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe drug serum obtained at 2-hr and 6-hr after medication showed the highest inhibitive effect on MC cells, reaching 45.3% and 42.4% respectively, as compared with the effect of blank serum, the difference was significant (P<0.01). They could evidently promote the MC cell apoptosis, the apoptosis rate also showed significant difference to that of the blank serum (P < 0.05). Under their action, the proportion of MC cells in G0/G1 phase was obviously decreased (P < 0.05) while that in the G2/M phase significantly increased (P <0.05). However, the change of cells in S phase was not uniform.

CONCLUSIONThe drug contained canine serum gotten 2 hr and 6 hr after SE feeding shows the optimal MC proliferation inhibitive effect and significant apoptosis promoting effect. Besides, it could significantly decrease the proportion of MC cells in G0/G1 phase and significantly increase that in G2/M phase, this effect might be one of the mechanisms of ES in inhibiting MC cell proliferation and promoting its apoptosis.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Araliaceae ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Gastric Mucosa ; cytology ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; B7-H1 Antigen ; CD28 Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and the possible mechanism underlying the promotional effect of Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng on the transformation of bone narrow stem cells and proliferation of EPC.

METHODThe marrow blood was collected in the patients with ischemia of lower limbs and BM-MNCs were separated and proliferated under different conditions. A. morphologic observation was performed and the ratio of CD34+ cells was measured.

RESULTThe shuttle shaped cells lined up as bunches with several round cells scattered. The ratio of CD34+ cells was significantly increased in groups treated with medium (P < 0.01) and lower (P < 0.05) dosages of A. membranaceus and medium (P < 0.01) and high dosages (P < 0.01) of P. notoginseng respectively as compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONA. membranaceus and P. notoginseng can promote the transformation and proliferation of EPC.

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry