Objective To explore the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation rates and male infertil-ity.Methods Case -control study was used .Sperm DNA fragmentation rates were compared between the primary infertile males for unknown reasons (n=126) and the males whose spouses undergoing delivery in three months (n=100).Results Sperm DNA fragmentation rate of the research group was (11.95 ±4.89) %.Sperm DNA fragmenta-tion rate of the control group was (10.07 ±3.56) %.Significant difference was found between the two groups on sperm DNA fragmentation rate(t=-3.326,P=0.001).The 226 men were divided into group A with sperm DNA fragmentation rates<10%(n=130) and group B with sperm DNA fragmentation rates≥10%(n=96).The percent-age of male infertility in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (50.00%vs 61.62%) (χ2 =4.105, P=0.043).Conclusion Correlation is found between sperm DNA fragmentation rates and male infertility .

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; Cathepsin B ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Proteomics ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein A6 ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism

0.05),while there were significant differences in VEGF mRNA expression among the rest of groups(P

OBJECTIVE To screen small molecule compounds from traditional Chinese medicine that can enhance recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) transduction. METHODS Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has been established as a powerful tool for in vivo gene transfer and achieved much promise in gene therapy applications. However, widespread clinical use has been limited by transduction efficiency.In the current study,we screened a panel of small molecule compound from traditional Chinese medicine focused on AAV intracellular trafficking process and found salvianolic acid B can significantly enhance rAAV2 transduction. RESULTS Salvianolic acid B caused a dose-depen-dent increase in rAAV2 transduction regardless of vector dose,genome architecture,and over a broad range of cell line from various cell type and species(HEK293,HeLa,HepG2,Huh-7,CHO-K1,LO-2). Salvianolic acid B treatment redirected rAAV2 particles toward large vesicles positive for late endosomal (Rab7)and lysosomal(LAMP1)markers.Furthermore,salvianolic acid B acted to increase accumulation of viral particles at the perinuclear region. CONCLUSION In summary, our results suggest that salvi-anolic acid B redirects rAAV2 toward more productive trafficking pathways and stabilizes perinuclear accumulations of vectors,facilitating productive nuclear trafficking.

Aim To investigate the effects of maternal chronic aluminum exposure on memorial behaviour and hippocampal intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i)on their offspring after the induction of LTP(long-term potentiation). Methods Adult Wistar rats (150~200 g) were exposed to aluminum by drinking distilled water, the concentration of AlCl3 is 0.015 mol?L-1(2 g?L-1) and 0.03 mol?L-1(4 g?L-1) aluminum chloride (AlCl3) solution, respectively, for 30 days prior to mating and during the whole gestation and suckling period. Their offspring were distributed into three experimental groups: control group; two exposed groups (represented by 0.2%-Al and 0.4%-Al ) administrated aluminum exposure ended at postnatal day 21. The brain tissue and blood aluminum levels were measured by Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Memorial ability of the offspring was tested by Step down test.[Ca2+]i was measured by the technique of Fura-2/AM calcium ions fluorescence indicator. Results The mean aluminum content in blood and brain tissue was significantly higher than the control group(P0.05), but was significantly decreased in 0.4%-Al exposed group(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective effects of punicosides on alcohol induced acute liver injury in mice and its possible mechanisms as well.

METHODThe 60 mice were randomly divided into normal control, model group, three dose groups of punicosides with low, medium and high, then there is silibinin group. Three dose groups of punicosides and silibinin were given in advance by gavage for 4 weeks, then the mouse model of alcoholic acute liver injury was established. The serum levels of ALT, AST and TG were determined, and the mice were killed to calculate somatic index of liver, thymus as well as spleen. MDA, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST were detected in the liver homogenate. Histopathological changes of the liver were observed by HE staining. The expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in the liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTMid and high dose of punicosides reduced the liver index in mice significantly, improved liver steatosis, decreased the level of ALT, AST and TG in serum and the content of MDA in liver homogenate, furthermore the two dose groups increased the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST, inhibited the expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONPunicosides can protect the acute liver damage induced by alcohol.

Alcohols ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of hypoxia on the human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 and the regulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src in this process.

METHODSThe cultured human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) were divided into: normal group, hypoxia 30 minute group, hypoxia 6 hours group and hypoxia 48 hour group, and hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group, hypoxia 48 hour + PP3 group, hypoxia 48 hour + bpV group. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle, RT-PCR and Western blot technique were carried out to detect the expression changes of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in different groups.

RESULTS(1) Cell Cycle Show: Compared with normal control group, with prolonged hypoxia, the percentages of hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were increased. While compared with hypoxia 48 hour group, the percentages of hypoxia 48 hour + PP2 group hPASMCs in S phases of cell cycle were decreased. The expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in acute hypoxia 6 hour group was increased, while the expression of TASK-1 protein on hPASMCs in the acute and chronic hypoxia group was decreased, and the expression of TASK-1 mRNA on hPASMCs in the chronic hypoxia group was decreased; After pre-incubation of a potent and selective inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine kinases PP2, the expression of TASK-1 mRNA and protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was increased, however after pre-incubation of the inhibitor of the Src family of protein tyrosine phosphatase bpV, the expression of TASK-1 protein in hypoxia 48 hour group was decreased.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia promotes human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, and non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src may participate in the expression of two pore domain potassium channels TASK-1 regulated by hypoxia. Therefore, we hypothesized that TASK-1 channels and c-Src participatein the acute and chronic hypoxic human pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; Vasoconstriction ; src-Family Kinases ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the protein wasting and energy reserve in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing maintaining hemodialysis (HD) at different ages.MethodsA total of 129 CRF patients (62 men and 67 women) aged (56.33 ± 14.14) years on HD were enrolled in this study.They were divided into four age groups:below 40,40-69,60-69,and over 70 years.Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI),normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR),and biochemical parameters including pre-albumin,cholesterol,and creatinine.Body composition was tested with multi-frequency bioelectric impedance analysis.Meanwhile,83 healthy subjects,matched for age and sex,were enrolled as controls.ResultsBMI showed no significant difference between healthy controls and HD patients.Among HD patients,38％ had an BMI higher than the normal high limit and 6.2％ had a BMI less than 18.5kg/m2 ; patients with a low body weight accounted for 0,6.2％,4.8％,and 11.1％ in the ＜40 years group,40-59 years group,60-69 years group,and above 70 years groups,respectively.nPCR in the above 70 years group was ( 1.46 ±0.28) g/( kg·d),which was significantly lower than that in the 40-59 years group [ (1.54 ±0.28) g/( kg·d) ; P =0.004) ; the serum creatinine in the the above 70 years group was (834.08 ± 184.96) μmol/L,which was significantly lower than that in 40-59 years group [ (976.24 ± 186.86) μmol/l ] ( P=0.037) ; the prealbumin in the the above 70 years group was (272.65 ±79.78) mg/L,which was significantly lower than that in 40-59 year group [ (332.07 ± 73.03 ) mg/L] ( P =0.026).Body cell mass in HD patients was (22.81 ±8.12) kg,which was significantly lower than that in the control group [ (29.95 ±6.73) kg] (P＜0.001) ; furthermore,the lean tissue mass (LTM) [ (40.16±11.90) kg vs.(47.22 ±9.84) kg] and fat [ (17.45± 8.83)vs.(13.66±7.28) kg] were also significantly lower (both P=0.001 ).The lean tissue indicators in the below 40 years group were also significantly lower than those in the healthy controls ( P =0.012).For the fat tissue ingredients,the below 40 years group ( P =0.013 ) and over 70 years group (P =0.039) showed significant differences with the controls,while the 60-69 years group (P =0.191 ) showed no such difference.ConclusionsNutritional status is different among HD patients at different ages.HD patients below 40 years and abover 70 years are more susceptible to malnutrition.Although BMI shows no difference with the normal subjects,protein wasting and increased fat tissue storage do exist in HD patients.The nutrition changes are slightest in 40-59 years old and much severer in over 70 years old patients.

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effect of different extracts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. in vitro. Methods:MTT method was employed to study the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from different parts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. and the polysaccharides extracts on HepG-2 cells, MCF-7 cells and Hela cells. FCM assay was used to detect HepG-2 and Hela cell apoptosis induced by the polysaccharides extracts. Results:The polysaccharides extracts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. could inhibit the prolif-eration of the three tumor cells with IC50 of 53. 77 μg·mL-1(HepG-2), 40. 04 μg·mL-1(Hela) and 100. 65 μg·mL-1(MCF-7), respectively. The inhibitory effect of the polysaccharides extracts showed a time-and dose-dependent manner. The tumor cell apoptosis could be induced by the polysaccharides extracts. Conclusion:The maln anti-tumor effective extracts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. in vitro is the polysaccharides extracts, which show significant anti-tumor activities in vitro and can induce tumor cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the roles and significances of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis by repeated renal biopsy.Methods Seventeen patients diagnosed by renal biopsy as WHO typeⅣlupus nephritis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9. Double staining for MMP-2 and MT1-MMP,MMP-9 and CD68 were also performed.Patients had repeated renal biopsy after followed up for 2.5 years.The relationship between expressions of gelatinases and pathological activity index and clinical data were studied.Results MMP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in normal controls and was increased in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.MMP-9 staining,which was almost negative in normal giomeruli,was increased much more significantly in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. The immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was positive in MT1-MMP staining and CD68-positive macrophages, respectively.The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was reduced by 70% and 62% in 10 patients whose clinical condition was partially alleviated,while the expressions in 7 patients whose clinical condition was not alleviated,were only reduced by 27% and 32%.The staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 were correlated with activity index of lupus nephritis and proteinuria.Conclusion Up-regulation of gelatinases expression in diffuse proliferate lupus nephritis is correlated to activity index of the disease.