OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the combination of musk and olibanum on the tight junction protein expressions in prostatic epithelial cells of normal and chronic prostatitis (CP) rats.

METHODSEighty male SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups of equal number: normal control, normal musk, normal olibanum, normal musk + olibanum, CP model control, CP model musk, CP model olibanum, and CP model musk + olibanum. At 60 days after modeling, the rats in the control, musk, olibanum, and musk + olibanum groups were treated intragastrically with normal saline, musk (0.021 g per kg body weight per day), olibanum (1.05 g per kg body weight per day), or musk + olibanum respectively, all for 3 days. Then, all the rats were sacrificed and their prostate tissues harvested for detection of the expressions of the tight junction proteins Claudin-1, Claudin-3, Occludin, and ZO-1 in the prostatic epithelial cells by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSIn the CP models, only the expression of Claudin-1 was significantly increased. In the normal rats, the expression of Claudin-1 was remarkably upregulated after treated with musk (824.6 ± 393.3, P < 0.05), olibanum (982.0 ± 334.0, P < 0.05), and musk + olibanum (1088.1 ± 640.2, P < 0.01); that of Claudin-3 was elevated markedly by olibanum (1 009.5 ± 243.6, P < 0.05) and insignificantly by musk (597.5 ± 80.7), but the increasing effect of olibanum was reduced by musk + olibanum (678.4 ± 255.1). No statistically significant differences were found in the expression of Occludin among the rats treated with musk (693.0 ± 424.8), olibanum (732.1 ± 302.0), and musk + olibanum (560.2 ± 202.3), or in that of ZO-1 in the animals treated with musk (290.0 ± 166.8) and olibanum (419.7 ± 108.1), but the latter was markedly decreased in the musk + olibanum group (197.7 ± 98.2, P < 0.05). In the CP rat models, both the expressions of Claudin-1 (823.0 ± 100.1, P < 0.01) and Occludin (1160.0 ± 32.2, P < 0.05) were significantly increased. The expression of Claudin-1 was remarkably down-regulated by musk (764.9 ± 179.0), olibanum (468.4 ± 220.4), and musk + olibanum (335.1 ± 204.0) (all P < 0.05), but that of Claudin-3 up-regulated by musk (744.6 ± 94.5) and olibanum (700.1 ± 223.7) (both P < 0.05). The expression of Occludin was reduced by musk (615.0 ± 221.0), olibanum (749.6 ± 321.7), and musk + olibanum (505.8 ± 523.7), while that of ZO-1 increased by olibaum (443.2 ± 44.9) and decreased by musk + olibanum (213.5 ± 24.9, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn physiological and pathological conditions, the combination of musk and olibanum acts on the expressions of tight junction proteins in prostate epithelial cells in a selective and dual-targeting manner, promoting their permeability by down-regulating the expression of ZO-1 and maintaining their structural stability by regulating the expressions of Claudin-1, Claudin-3, and Occludin.

Animals ; Claudins ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; Frankincense ; chemistry ; Male ; Occludin ; metabolism ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatitis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tight Junction Proteins ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) on spermatogenesis following testicular torsion/detorsion in mice.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy male Kunming mice, aged 8 weeks and weighing 25 - 27 g, were randomly divided into a control, a torsion and a treatment group, each containing 8 animals. The unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion model was established in the treatment and torsion groups. Thirty minutes before detorsion, the animals of the treatment group were injected intraperitoneally with 50 mg/kg GSP, and those of the torsion group with normal saline at the same dose, both for 3 days postoperatively. On the 4th day after surgery, ipsilateral orchiectomy were performed to detect histopathological changes, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the apoptotic index (AI) of germ cells in all the mice.

RESULTSCompared with the torsion group, the treated mice showed significantly increased Johnsen score (5.00 +/- 1.85 vs 7.38 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05), seminiferous tubule diameter ([176.50 +/- 1.60]microm vs [178.75 +/- 1.58] microm, P > 0.05), spermatogenic cell layers (3.75 +/- 1.03 vs 5.75 +/- 0.71, P < 0.05) and SOD activity ([29.04 +/- 4.46] U/mg prot vs [52.67 +/- 3.57] U/mg prot, P < 0.05), but remarkably reduced level of MDA ([4.63 +/- 0.05] nmol/mg prot vs [2.91 +/- 0.04] nmol/mg prot, P < 0.05) and AI of germ cells ([40.50 +/- 1.60]% vs [16.25 +/- 1.67] %, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGrape seed proanthocyanidin has a protective effect against spermatogenic injury in mice, the mechanisms of which may be related to its actions of scavenging oxygen free radicals, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and improving the antioxidant ability of the body.

Animals ; Grape Seed Extract ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Proanthocyanidins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Vitis

Objective To analyze the complications of coronary rotational atherectomy and to evaluate the safety of the procedure. Methods We evaluated the procedural and angiographic outcomes of 248 consecutive procedures to rotational atherectomy between January 2000 and October 2016. Results 27 cases(10.9％)were found to have rotational atherectomy related complications. Among these 27 cases,coronary spasm occurred in 2 cases(0.8％),no reflow in 8 cases(3.2％), coronary dissection in 5 cases(2.0％),burr entrapment in 6 cases(2.4％),wire breakage in 3 cases(1.2％), and coronary perforation in 3 cases(1.2％). There were no death,acute myocardial infarction and emergent coronary bypass graft.14 case(5.6％)had PCI-related myocardial infarction during hospital stay.In-hospital major adverse cardiaccerebral event(MACCE)rate was 5.6％. Conclusions Coronary rotational atherectomy can be performed with high success rates and procedure-related complications are rare.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Capsule metadoxine in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

METHODSA randomized double blind multicenter placebo-controlled clinical study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of capsule metadoxine. Patients in metadoxine group received capsule metadoxine 500mg tid po. Patients in placebo group received placebo 2 pillows tid po. The treatment duration was 6 weeks. Patients were followed up 2 weeks after the treatment. Patients were visited once every 3 weeks during the treatment period. Clinical symptoms and liver function were evaluated in all the patients before treatment, at week 3, week 6 and 2 weeks after therapy. CT scan was done in some patients before treatment and at the end point of therapy.

RESULTS254 patients were recruited in the study, 126 in metadoxine group and 128 in placebo group. Median ALT, AST, GGT level in metadoxine group were decreased from 80.0 U/L, 59.2 U/L, 123.0 U/L (before treatment) to 41.1 U/L, 36.0 U/L, 57.0 U/L (after 6 weeks therapy). The improvement in liver function was more significant in metadoxine group than in placebo group (P less than 0.05). For the patients who stopped drinking during the study, the total effective rate of improvement in liver function was 82.8% in metadoxine group, much higher than that in placebo group (55.7% , P=0.0000). For the patients who did not stop drinking during the study, the total effective rate of improvement in liver function was 65.4% in metadoxine group, which is not significantly higher than that in placebo group (44.8%, P=0.1767). The CT value ratio of liver to spleen was significantly improved in metadoxine group (P=0.0023), and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.6293). The rate of adverse was 1.6% in both of groups.

CONCLUSIONCapsule metadoxine is an effective and safe treatment for alcoholic liver disease.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alcohol Deterrents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Analysis of Variance ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Combinations ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyridoxine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

We performed a retrospective, case-control study to evaluate whether the urine flow acceleration (UFA, mL/s(2)) is superior to maximum uroflow (Qmax, mL/s) in diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this study, a total of 50 men with BPH (age: 58±12.5 years) and 50 controls (age: 59±13.0 years) were included. A pressure-flow study was used to determine the presence of BOO according to the recommendations of Incontinence Control Society (ICS). The results showed that the UFA and Qmax in BPH group were much lower than those in the control group [(2.05±0.85) vs. (4.60±1.25) mL/s(2) and (8.50±1.05) vs. (13.00±3.35) mL/s] (P<0.001). According to the criteria (UFA<2.05 mL/s(2), Qmax<10 mL/s), the sensitivity and specificity of UFA vs. Qmax in diagnosing BOO were 88%, 75% vs. 81%, 63%. UFA vs. Omax, when compared with the results of P-Q chart (the kappa values in corresponding analysis), was 0.55 vs. 0.35. The prostate volume, post void residual and detrusor pressure at Qmax between the two groups were 28.6±9.8 vs. 24.2±7.6 mL, 60.4±1.4 vs. 21.3±2.5 mL and 56.6±8.3 vs. 21.7±6.1 cmH2O, respectively (P<0.05). It was concluded that the UFA is a useful urodynamic parameter, and is superior to Qmax in diagnosing BOO in patients with BPH.
Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Urine ; physiology

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed that lung cell apoptosis plays an important role in pathogenesis of cigarette-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is one of the most important cytokines which are involved in COPD. This study aimed at investigating the influence of its inhibitor, recombinant human necrosis factor-alpha receptor II:IgG Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc) on alveolar septal cell apoptosis in passive smoking rats.

METHODSForty-eight rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a passive smoking group, an rhTNFR:Fc intervention group and a sham intervention group. The passive smoking rats were treated by exposure to cigarette smoking daily for 80 days. After smoking for one month the rhTNFR:Fc intervention group was treated with rhTNFR:Fc by subcutaneous injection, the sham intervention group injected subcutaneously with a neutral preparation (normal saline 0.1 ml, manicol 0.8 ml, cane sugar 0.2 mg, Tris 0.024 mg as a control. Lung function was determined and the levels of TNF-alpha in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA). Lung tissue sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) were observed for study of morphological alternations. Mean linear intercept (MLI) and mean alveolar numbers (MAN) were measured and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was carried out to determine the percentage of positive cells and distribution of apoptotic cells.

RESULTSIncreased MLI and decreased MAN were found in the passive smoking group compared with both the normal control group and the rhTNFR:Fc intervention group (P < 0.05). Forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second (FEV 0.3)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were lower in the passive smoking group than that in the normal control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham intervention group, FEV 0.3/FVC and PEF increased in the rhTNFR:Fc intervention group (P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha in serum were higher in the passive smoking group than that in the normal control group (P < 0.05) and rhTNFR:Fc intervention group (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found between the levels of TNF-alpha in the serum of the rhTNFR:Fc intervention group and sham intervention group (P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha in BALF were higher in the passive smoking group than that in the normal control group (P < 0.05), but no significant differences of TNF-alpha levels in BALF were found between the passive smoking group and rhTNFR:Fc intervention group. The number of TUNEL positive cells in alveolar septa was significantly increased in the passive smoking group as compared with the normal control group and the rhTNFR:Fc intervention group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study provides preliminary evidence that rhTNFR:Fc may interfere with TNF-alpha and reduce alveolar septal apoptosis in smoking rats.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Etanercept ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Immunoglobulin G ; pharmacology ; Male ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of blood pressure and serum lipids, and examine the relationship between hypertension and hyperlipidemia in Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese living in Guangxi.

METHODSA total of 1056 people of Hei Yi Zhuang ethnicity were studied. Blood pressure, body height, body weight, and serum levels of lipids and apolipoprotein were measured. The data were compared with those in 925 people of Han ethnicity, who live in the same region.

RESULTSSystolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension and hypertension was also significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (Apo) B, and the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia were significantly lower in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the Apo A1 to Apo B ratio were significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension in Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese was positively associated with triglycerides (r = 0.425, P < 0.05), whereas the prevalence of hypertension in Han Chinese was positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.623, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe present study revealed a significant difference in blood pressure and serum lipids between Hei Yi Zhuang and Han ethnic groups, and an association between hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; Blood Pressure ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sampling Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical value of serum neuroglobin in evaluating hypoglycemic brain injury in neonates. METHODS: A total of 100 neonates with hypoglycemia were enrolled as subjects. According to amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) findings and/or clinical manifestations, they were divided into symptomatic hypoglycemic brain injury group (n=22), asymptomatic hypoglycemic brain injury group (n=37) and hypoglycemic non-brain injury group (n=41). The three groups were compared in terms of blood glucose, duration of hypoglycemia, levels of neuroglobin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and modified aEEG score. The correlation of neuroglobin with NSE and modified aEEG score was analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted. RESULTS: Compared with the asymptomatic hypoglycemic brain injury and hypoglycemic non-brain injury groups, the symptomatic hypoglycemic brain injury group had significantly lower blood glucose and modified aEEG score, significantly higher neuroglobin and NSE levels, and a significantly longer duration of hypoglycemia (P<0.05). Compared with the hypoglycemic non-brain injury group, the asymptomatic hypoglycemic brain injury group had significantly lower blood glucose and modified aEEG score, significantly higher neuroglobin and NSE levels, and a significantly longer duration of hypoglycemia (P<0.05). Neuroglobin was positively correlated with NSE and duration of hypoglycemia (r=0.922 and 0.929 respectively; P<0.05) and negatively correlated with blood glucose and modified aEEG score (r=-0.849 and -0.968 respectively; P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curve of neuroglobin, NSE and modified aEEG score were 0.894, 0.890 and 0.941 respectively, and neuroglobin had a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 95.8% at the optimal cut-off value of 108 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS Like NSE and modified aEEG score, serum neuroglobin can also be used as a specific indicator for the assessment of brain injury in neonates with hypoglycemia and has a certain value in clinical practice.
Brain Injuries ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Infant, Newborn ; Neuroglobin ; blood ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase

OBJECTIVE: Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare degenerative eye disease caused by mutations in the CYP4V2 gene, and Cyp4v3 is the murine ortholog to CYP4V2. To better understand the molecular pathogenesis of this disease and to explore the potential treatment we have established a Cyp4v3 knock-out mouse model. METHODS: Cyp4v3^-/- mice were generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 in embryonic stem cells of C57BL/6J mice. Ocular morphologic characteristics were evaluated via fundus imaging, histologic analysis of rods and cones via immunofluorescence, and phalloidin stain to observe retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in whole-mounts, electroretinogram (ERG) was also conducted to examine the retinal function. RESULTS: The characteristic features of BCD recurred in the Cyp4v3^-/- mice, including retinal crystalline deposits, atrophy and degeneration of RPE cells, and ERG amplitude decline of dark and light adapted a- and b- wave; however, the immunofluorescence stain of rod and cone cells did not show obvious differences when compared with the wild type (WT) mice. In the early stage of the disease, no crystal-like deposits were found in the fundus, ERG detection of the retinal function did not find a significant decline, and the morphological structure and quantity of the neural retina and RPE did not change significantly. Crystalline deposits occurred and converged when the Cyp4v3^-/- mice at the end of 6 months, and the deposits disappeared when the Cyp4v3^-/- mice at the end of 12 months. The ERG amplitude started to decline when the Cyp4v3^-/- mice at the end of 6 months and deteriorated at the end of 12 months. The RPE cells of the 12-month old Cyp4v3^-/- mice showed irregular shape by phalloidin staining of F-actin. The Cyp4v3^-/- mice behaved normally and were viable and fertile when maintained under specific pathogen-free (SPF) housing conditions. CONCLUSION Just like BCD patients, the disease progress of Cyp4v3^-/- mouse is correlated with the age, which provides a good model for pathogenesis and gene therapy study in the future. The atrophy and degeneration of RPE take the lead in progressing of the disease, but the mechanism is not clear yet.
Animals ; Face ; Fertility ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Housing Quality ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the quality of life and occupational stress among workers in a chemical industry base. METHODS: By a judgmental sampling method,the quality of life and occupational stress of 517 workers in a chemical plant were evaluated using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and the Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised. RESULTS: The median( P0-P100) of the scores of total quality of life was 51. 52(24. 62-74. 29)in the 517 chemical plant workers. The score of occupational role questionnaire( ORQ) of the workers was lower than that of the production laborer group [( 161. 40 ± 24. 99) vs( 183. 36 ± 22. 02),P < 0. 01]. The scores of personal strain questionnaire( PSQ) and personal resources questionnaire( PRQ) were higher than those of production laborer group[(100. 18 ± 20. 69) vs(97. 47 ± 13. 77),(131. 74 ± 17. 93) vs(128. 86 ± 18. 45),P < 0. 01]. The quality of life of the chemical plant workers who got higher scores in ORQ and PSQ were poorer than those who got lower scores in ORQ and PSQ( P < 0. 01). The quality of life of the chemical plant workers who got higher scores in PRQ were better than those who got lower scores in PRQ( P < 0. 01). The scores of total quality of life were negatively correlated with the scores of ORQ and PSQ( P < 0. 01),and positively correlated with the scores of PRQ( P < 0. 01). The key factors effected quality of life of chemical plant workers included personal strain,personal resources,occupational role,sleep time and injury on-the-job( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: The occupational stress of chemical plant workers may influence their quality of life. Reducing the occupational role and personal stress and increasing personal resources of chemical plant workers could improve their quality of life.