OBJECTIVETo investigate the female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in type 2 diabetes patients, by comparing the sexual function between type 2 diabetic women and non-diabetic women with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

METHODS115 type 2 diabetic women and 107 age-matched non-diabetes women were enrolled with similar backgrounds. Their sexual functions were evaluated with FSFI. Metabolic parameters such as body mass index, blood lipid profile, hemoglobin A1C, plasma glucose were also collected.

RESULTSTotal score of FSFI of the type 2 diabetic women were significantly lower than that of the non-diabetic controls (18.27±8.96 vs. 23.02±5.78, P=0.000). Scores of the FSFI domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain) of the type 2 diabetic group were also lower than those of the control group. According to the FSD criterion (FSFI<25) available in China, the percentage of FSD in the type 2 diabetic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (79.2%vs. 55.0%, P<0.001). These trends seemed more prominent in pre-menopause subgroups. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age and diabetes were independent risk factors of FSD. Body Mass Index (BMI) also had influence in the diabetes group.

CONCLUSIONFindings from this study showed that there are more FDS in Chinese type 2 diabetic women than in their non-diabetic counterparts, especially in pre-menopause participants.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; etiology

Objective To measure the concentration of serum transthyretin (TTR) of patients with different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods A total of 176 patients with diabetes mellitus were included in this study.There were 104 males and 72 females.The patients aged from 21 to 74 years,with the mean age of(56± 11) years.The diabetes duration raged from 1 to 30 years,with the mean diabetes duration of (10 ± 7) years.The HbA 1C was 5.2％-14.1％,with the mean HbA 1C of (8.6 ± 2.0)％.According to the fundus examination,58 patients had DR (33.0％),but the other 118 patients not (67.0％).For these DR patients,10 patients were in stage Ⅰ (5.7％),26 patients in stage Ⅱ (14.8％),8 patients in stage Ⅲ (4.5％),and 14 patients in stage Ⅳ (8.0％).The concentration of serum TTR was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay kit.The differences in the concentration of serum TTR between different DR stages were compared.Bivariate analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of TTR.Results The concentrations of serum TTR of the patients without DR or with DR of stage Ⅰ to Ⅳ were (224.96±65.47),(383.68± 102.99),(247.44±63.21),(228.2 ± 45.89),(189.34± 70.12) mg/L,respectively.The difference between different DR stages was statistically significant (F=14.690,P＜ 0.001).Bivariate analysis showed that the concentration of TTR was correlation to DR (r=0.179,P=0.017).There was no correlation between the concentration of TTR and diabetes duration (r=-0.027,P=0.727),hypertension (r=0.018,P=0.810),hyperlipoidemia (r=0.101,P=0.182),and the use of insulin (r=-0.032,P=0.675).Conclusion The concentration of serum TTR was increased in early DR patients,and gradually decreased with the progression of DR.The concentration of TTR is correlated to DR.

OBJECTIVETo study the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin.

METHODThe ultrafiltration was employed to determine the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin. The plasma concentrations of methyl protodioscin were measured by HPLC-MS-MS.

RESULTThe plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin with rat plasma at the concentration of 20.0, 100 and 200 microg x mL(-1) were (94.6 +/- 0.16)%, (91.6 +/- 0.35)% and (86.10 +/- 0.60)%, respectively, while the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin with normal human plasma at the above concentrations were (82.11 +/- 5.12)%, (84.54 +/- 0.32)% and (88.52 +/- 1.02)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe binding rate of methyl protodioscin with plasma protein is high.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; metabolism ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Ultrafiltration

Orthotopic liver transplantation has proven to be effective in the treatment of a variety of life-threatening liver diseases, however, the limitations of donated organs available and long-term immunosuppression provided an impetus for developing alternative therapies. Cell replacement strategies have been one major effective approach for overcoming the obstacles of organ transplantation in recent years. The exogenous cells should be able to proliferate and differentiate into mature hepatic cells after grafting. Use of mature hepatocytes is also hampered by limited tissue source and inability to proliferate and maintain the function for a long term in vitro. Embryonic stem cells are immortal and pluripotent and may provide a novel cell source for potential cell therapy. This review summarizes the mechanisms of controlling early liver development and hepatic differentiation of visceral endoderm in embryoid bodies, and provides an overview of diverse differentiation systems in vitro and in vivo that were applied to hepatic research in recent years. Several studies have demonstrated that ES cell-derived hepatocytes can incorporate into liver tissue and function in vivo , but a few of them have shown complete restoration of liver function after transplantation into mice with liver diseases. Further studies should be made to exploit efficient methods and clinical applications of hepatocytes derived from ES cells in the future. In addition to clinical transplantation for treatment of liver diseases, ES cells can provide a valuable tool for drug discovery applications and study on of molecular basis of hepatic differentiation.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor-1 of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) in rats with pulmonary damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSFifty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned into the control group (normal saline), the PQ-treatment groups (4 groups) and the PDTC treatment groups (4 groups). Except the rats in the control group, the rats in the PQ group were gavaged only with 40 mg/kg PQ, and PDTC group with 40 mg/kg PQ plus immediate injection 120 mg/kg PDTC (i.p). On the 3rd, the 7th, the 14th and 28th day after treatments, one group rats of each treatments were sacrificed and lung and blood samples were collected. The level of TGF-beta(1) protein in the plasma, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were evaluated using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, while pathological changes of lung were examined under optical microscope and electrical microscope.

RESULTSThe TGF-beta(1) protein, TGF-beta(1) and MMP-2 mRNA expression were increased significantly in the earlier stage and then decreased after PQ administration (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the mRNA level of TIMP-1 was augmented continuously (P < 0.01) throughout the study compared to the control group. In comparison with the PQ group, in the PDTC treatment group, the TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression on the 3rd and the 14th day, 0.54 +/- 0.08 and 0.72 +/- 0.04 respectively, the MMP-2 mRNA expression on the 7th and 14th day, 1.62 +/- 0.50 and 1.97 +/- 0.34 respective-ly, and the TIMP-1 mRNA on the 7th and 21st day, 1.79 +/- 0.21 and 2.00 +/- 0.34 respectively, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC could attenuate paraquat-induced up-regulation of TGF-beta(1) and its mRNA expression, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 mRNA levels, which indicates that PDTC may exert its protective effects on paraquat-induced pulmonary damage by alleviating the earlier inflammation damage and adjust-ing the balance between MMPs and TIMPs. However, further studies are still warranted to investigate and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this complicated process.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pyrrolidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of spanishneedles leaves on middle and severe xerophthalmia of menopausal females.

METHODThis study was a prospective random controlled trial. Ninty-six menopausal females diagnosed with xerophthalmnia (aged from 40 to 50) were randomly divided into in two groups: group A' the spanishneedles leaves group (n=48) and group B' the control group (n=48). Both groups were treated with Forte eye drops. All patients were detected at 3, 7, 28 h before and after treatment to evaluate subjective symptoms, OSDI and four tear film indicators. Variance analysis and differential analysis on sample average or median were made on both groups before and after treatment.

RESULTThere were no significant difference in symptom and diction indicators between both groups before treatment. For 28 d after treatment, among middle and severe xerophthalmia samples of the spanishneedles leaves group, the mean differences showed significant improvement compared with that before treatment , OSDI and four tear film indicators also showed improvement to varying degrees. For 28 d after treatment, among middle and severe xerophthalmia samples of the vitamin C group, the mean differences showed no significant improvement compared with that before treatment , OSDI and four tear film indicators also showed no remarkable improvement. There were significant differences in OSDI, BUT, SIT, height of tear meniscus and FL between both groups.

CONCLUSIONSpanishneedles leaves can effectively improve symposiums and signs of middle and severe xerophthalmia among menopausal females and thus showing clinical significance to some extent.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; Treatment Outcome ; Xerophthalmia ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of abdominal obesity on the production of male reproductive endocrine hormones.

METHODSThis study included 342 male patients at the andrology clinic, aged 19 -47 years and higher than 160 cm. We measured their waistlines, hiplines and waist-hip ratio, detected the levels of serum estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and free testosterone (FT) by chemiluminescence and radioimmunoassay, and analyzed the correlation of the waist-hip ratio with the levels of reproductive endocrine hormones. Abdominal obesity was defined as the waist-hip ratio > 0.9.

RESULTSIn the 342 male patients, there were 62 cases of abdominal obesity and 280 cases of the normal somatotype (waist-hip ratio < or = 0.9). The waist-hip ratio was negatively correlated with the T level (r = -0.163, P = 0.003) and the T/LH ratio (r = -0.13, P = 0.02). Both the T level and T/LH ratio were significantly reduced in the abdominal obesity patients ([14.51 +/- 4.53] nmol/L and 2.26 +/- 0.36) as compared with the normal somatotype controls ([17.21 +/- 4.23] nmol/L and 4.61 +/- 0.19) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe waist-hip ratio has a significant negative correlation with the T level and T/LH ratio, and the serum T level is significantly lower in men with abdominal obesity than in those of the normal somatotype.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal ; blood ; Somatotypes ; Testosterone ; blood ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Young Adult

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of low intensity conditional regimen for children with Fanconi anemia (FA) receiving allogenic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Four patients diagnosed as Fanconi anemia were enrolled in this study. One patient received HLA-identical sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, two patients underwent unrelated donor matched (UD) HSCT, and one patient received unrelated cord blood transplantation. The conditional regimen consisted of Busulfan with low dose of cyclophosphamide. Results: All 4 cases succeeded in allo-HSCT. The median time for neutrophils engraftment was 11(9-15) day, median time to platelets (PLT) engraftment was 12 (8-28) day. One case occurred with grade I of aGVHD, 1 case with hemorrhagic cystitis. No patient happened with hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Conclusion: Low intensity of conditional regimen is efficient and safe which should be recommended for FA patients with HSCT.
Busulfan ; Fanconi Anemia ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Transplantation Conditioning

OBJECTIVETo determine the impact of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection on the integrity of sperm plasma membrane in infertile males.

METHODSSixty-three semen samples were divided into a Uu infection group (n = 32) and a normal control group (n = 31). Conventional semen analyses were performed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and Uu detected by the culture method. The semen samples were washed with PBS and dyed by SYBR-14/PI double fluorescent staining, followed by detection of the integrity of sperm plasma membrane by flow cytometry. The percentage of the sperm with intact plasma membrane was indicated as the percentage of sperm emitting green fluorescence (SYBR-14+/PI-%).

RESULTSThe Uu infection group showed a significantly decreased integrity of sperm plasma membrane ([45.14 +/- 10.69]%) and reduced percentage of grade a + b sperm ([23.29 +/- 8.81]%) as compared with the normal control group ([72.68 +/- 9.91]% and [46.32 +/- 9.54]%) (P < 0.01). But there were no significant differences in the semen volume, pH value, and sperm concentration between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUu infection decreases the integrity of sperm plasma membrane, which might be an important factor of male infertility.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Membrane ; pathology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; microbiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Organic Chemicals ; Semen Analysis ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ureaplasma Infections ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; Young Adult