OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of alcohol intake on penile structure and function in rats.

METHODSThirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and alcohol intake group. They were administered with 2 mL of normal saline and 40% alcohol solution respectively through gastric tubes every day. Three months later, the animal model of alcohol intake was evaluated by modified Nayagida's method, and the effects of alcohol on the rats were studied by sexual behavior, the number of apomorphine-induced penile erection, level of testosterone in the sera, and the content of penile smooth muscle.

RESULTSThe scores of animal model of alcohol intake evaluated by Nayagida's method were 0.66 +/- 2.05 in the control group and 9.26 +/- 5.50 in the alcohol intake group (P < 0.05), which indicated that an animal model of alcohol intake was successfully established. Sexual behavior, the number of apomorphine-induced penile erection, testosterone level in the sera, and the content of penile smooth muscle of the alcohol intake group were all statistically different as compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAlcohol intake induces sexual dysfunction in rats, which may be due to the decline of testosterone level in the sera and decline of penile smooth muscle.

Animals ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Female ; Male ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sexual Behavior, Animal ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of ulcerative colitis.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials or clinical controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion for interfere of ulcerative colitis in recent 10 years were reviewed and Meta-analysis was made for the literature results.

RESULTSAltogether 11 papers of clinical study were enrolled. Heterogeneous tests were conducted for the results of the 11 studies, as a result, chi2 = 8.55, P = 0.67. The fixed effect model was used for statistical analysis, after combination OR = 3.82, confidence interval of 95% was 2.65-5.52. The rhombus was located at the right side of the medium line. After Z test, Z = 7.14, P < 0.01, the therapeutic effect and the cured rate in the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on ulcerative colitis is superior to that of western medicine with safety and less adverse reactions.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo prepare the polyclonal anti-peptide antibody against chemokine-like factor1 (CKLF1) and apply it to the expression and functional studies of CKLF1.

METHODSCKLF1 was analyzed with bioinformatics methods. The 16 amino acids sequence peptide was selected from CKLF1 C terminal end. Antibody was raised by immunizing rabbits with the peptide conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).

RESULTSA high titer polycolonal antibody was obtained from the rabbit against the peptide. ELISA analysis proved that the titer of rabbit serum against anti-peptide of CKLF1 was up to 10(-4). Western blot analysis revealed that it could react not only with recombinant CKLF1 expressed in a cell-Free Protein Biosynthesis System and Drosophila S2 cells, but also recognize the endogenous CKLFs in the tissue array. Positive staining was detected in the normal bronchial cartilage, gastric mucosa, and gastric smooth muscle tissues. Normal rectum and well-differentiated rectal carcinoma showed strong positive staining, but the poor-differentiated rectal carcinoma samples revealed negative staining.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-peptide antibody can specifically recognize CKLFs and may be a useful reagent for the detection of CKLF1.

Animals ; Antibodies ; analysis ; genetics ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; immunology ; Chemokines ; analysis ; genetics ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Humans ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Peptide Fragments ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of postoperative adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with residual tumor.

METHODSThe patients were classified into intervention group (with adjuvant TACE) and control group (without adjuvant TACE) who were further stratified to those with high risk (patients with single tumor > 5 cm in diameter, or with multiple tumors, invasion to blood vessels), and low risk factors. Univariate analysis and Cox model were used to analyse prognostic factors.

RESULTSIn low risk patients with residual tumor, the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-year survival rate was 97.2%, 78.0%, 66.5% and 66.5% in the intervention group, and 91.2%, 81.4%, 70.3% and 54.4% in the control group, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in survival (log-rank P = 0.7667). Comparing with the control group, the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-year survival rate was 89.5%, 73.4%, 59.2% and 53.8% in the intervention group, and 70.5%, 61.9%, 46.8% and 46.8% in the control group, respectively. Postoperative adjuvant TACE significantly prolonged the survival in high risk patients with residual tumor (P = 0.0029). Cox model revealed that the benefit of adjuvant TACE was significantly increased by the high risk factors in HCC patients with residual tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe beneficial effect of postoperative TACE was only observed in high risk patients with residual tumor but not in the low risk patients with residual tumor.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Survival Rate

Aim To investigate the protective effect of 1, 8-Cineole on the injury of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) induced by high glucose (HG) via regulating autophagy. Methods Cells were incubated with different doses of 1, 8-Cineole followed by exposing to HG for 60 h, and MTT assay was used to analyse cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was used to detect cytotoxicity, and Western blot was used to detect Beclin1, LC3-II/I, p62, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expressions. Autophagy inhibitor (chloroquine, CQ) was treated on HAECs, and the expressions of Beclinl, LC3-II/I, p62, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were measured by Western blot. Results 1, 8-Cineole increased cell viability, reduced the content of LDH, activated autophagy and inhibited apoptosis. Compared with control group, the expression of Beclinl, LC3-II/I, p62, caspase-3 and caspase-9 in CQ group increased. Simultaneously, the expression of above-mentioned between CQ + HG group and CQ + HG + CH group. Conclusions 1, 8-Cineole has protective effect on the injury of HAECs induced by high glucose, and its effect is related to improving autophagy flux.

BACKGROUNDThe nocturnal nondipping and elevated morning blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have not yet been well investigated in Chinese patients. This study aimed to describe the BP profile, and to elucidate the relationships between daytime BP and nighttime BP, and between evening BP and morning BP in patients with OSAS.

METHODSTwenty teaching hospital sleep centers in China were organized by the Chinese Medical Association to participate in this study and 2297 patients were recruited between January 2004 and April 2006. BP assessments were made at four time points (daytime, evening, nighttime and morning) and polysomnography (PSG) was performed and subjects were classified into four groups by their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): control, n = 213 with AHI < 5; mild, n = 420 with AHI ≥ 5 and < 15; moderate, n = 460 with AHI ≥ 15 and < 30; and severe, n = 1204 with AHI ≥ 30. SPSS 11.5 software package was used for statistical analysis and figure drawing.

RESULTSAll the average daytime, nighttime, evening and morning BPs were positively correlated with AHI and negatively correlated with nadir nocturnal oxygen saturation. The ratios of nighttime/daytime and morning/evening average BP were positively correlated with AHI. The ratio of nighttime/daytime systolic BP became a "reversed BP dipping" pattern until the classification reached severe, while the ratio of nighttime/daytime diastolic BP became reversed at moderate. Similarly, the ratio of morning/evening diastolic BP becomes reversed even at mild.

CONCLUSIONSOSAS may result in higher BP levels at all four time points. The ratios of nighttime/daytime and morning/evening BP increase with increased AHI. The increasing of diastolic BP, which is inclined to rise more quickly, is not parallel with increasing systolic BP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropometry ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDEpidemiologic studies have shown an independent and definite association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension. This study aimed to define the association between daytime blood pressure and severity of OSA in Chinese population in mainland of China.

METHODSTwenty university hospital sleep centers in mainland of China were invited by the Chinese Medical Association (CMA) to participate in this epidemiologic study and 2297 consecutive patients (aged 18 - 85 years; 1981 males and 316 females) referred to these twenty sleep centers for evaluation of OSA between January 2004 and April 2006 were prospectively enrolled. Nocturnal polysomnography was performed in each patient, and disease severity was assessed based on the apneahypopnea index (AHI). These patients were classfied into four groups: nonapneic control (control, n = 257) with AHI < or = 5 episodes/hour; mild sleep apnea (mild, n = 402) with AHI > 5 and < or = 15 episodes/hour; moderate sleep apnea (moderate, n = 460) with AHI > 15 and < or = 30 episodes/hour and severe sleep apnea (severe, n = 1178) with AHI > 30 episodes/hour. Daytime blood pressure measurements were performed under standardized conditions in each patient at 10 a.m. in office on the day of referring to sleep centers for getting average value. All the patients were requested to quit medications related to blood pressure for three days before the day of assessing.

RESULTSBoth daytime systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly related to AHI positively (r = 0.201 and 0.276, respectively; both P values < 0.001) and to nadir nocturnal oxygen saturation negatively (r = -0.215 and -0.277, respectively; both P values < 0.001), which were the parameters of OSA severity. In two special designed mean plots, means of daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased gradually with increasing AHI. Beyond AHI of 61 - 65, this increasing trend reached a plateau.

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed that OSA severity was associated with daytime blood pressure until AHI of 61 - 65, providing evidence for early OSA management, especially in OSA patients with concomitant hypertension.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; pathology ; Young Adult

【Objective】To investigate the differences of lung involvement between dengue and severe dengue.【Methods】227 dengue patients admitted in The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to October 2018 were enrolled. The clinical characteristics，treatment and outcome of the patients were analyzed to explore the differences of lung involvement between dengue and severe dengue （SD）. 【Results】 The rate of old age ，smoking ，hypertension，diabetes and cerebrovascular disease was higher in dengue with lung involvement group（DWLI）than dengue without lung involvement group（DWOLI）（χ2 were 25.146，3.847，10.326，7.177，and 5.355，P was 0.050 for smoking，the others were < 0.05）. The rate of cough and breathlessness was higher in DWLI（χ2 were 11.465 and 6.068，P were 0.001 and 0.014），as well as in SD subgroup（χ2 were 4.585 and 6.717，P were 0.032 and 0.010）. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were increased in DWLI（Z were - 2.591 and - 3.033，P were 0.010 and 0.002）. The rate of pleural effusion was higher in SD subgroup（χ2 = 4.987，P = 0.026）. Bilateral lung infiltration was correlated with SD（χ2 = 5.910，P =0.015）. The rate of acute liver injury，acute kidney injury and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome（MODS）was higher in DWLI（χ2 were 7.044，7.059，and 11.315，P were 0.008，0.008 and 0.001）. The rate of anti-virus，anti-bacteria and combined therapy was higher in DWLI（χ2 were 13.156，32.845，and 12.684，P all were < 0.001）.【Conclusion】Dengue patients who were with old age，smoking，or suffered from underlying disease of hypertension，diabetes and cerebrovascular disease were vulnerable to lung involvement. Cough，breathlessness，pleural effusion and bilateral lung infiltration were signs of severe dengue. Attention should be paid to dengue with lung involvement.

Objective:To investigate the effect of oxymatrine (OMT) on the proliferation and migration of human colon cancer cell line HT-29 under Type Ⅱ diabetes environment by co-culturing HT-29 with insulin to simulate hyperinsulinemia. Method:The effect of OMT (2, 4, 8 mmol·L^-1) on insulin-induced proliferation of HT-29 was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and cloning assay. The morphology change and cell migration were evaluated under microscope and by wound healing assay. The Annexin V/propidium iodide(PI) assay was used to detect the change of insulin-induced HT-29 cell cycle and apoptosis. Western blot was performed to validate the expression of cell cycle-related protein and cell migration protein. Result:Insulin significantly increased growth of HT-29 (P<0.05). Compared with insulin group, OMT with 2, 4, 8 mmol·L^-1 showed a significant inhibitory effect in this model (P<0.05). In addition, OMT blocked HT-29 cell cycle in G₀/G₁ phase (P<0.05), and showed a slight apoptotic effect. Western blot showed that the down-regulation of Cyclin D₁, CDK4 and the up-regulation of p27 by OMT might involve the growth inhibition mechanism. Furthermore, OMT reduced the migration of insulin-induced HT-29 according to wound healing assay(P<0.05). Decreased Vimentin (P<0.05)and increased E-cadherin(P<0.05)might be correlated with the migration restrain. Conclusion:OMT can inhibit the proliferation and migration of insulin-induced HT-29 cells. The changes of cell cycle and migration related proteins may be correlated with the mechanism.

Objective::To clarify the inhibitory effect of essential oil from Alpinia zerumbet rhizome (EOFAZ) on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced transformation of macrophage into foam cell and explore its possible mechanism. Method::THP-1 monocyte was incubated with 100 μg·L^-1 phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to grow into macrophage, experiment was divided into 4 groups as follows, control group, model group (80 mg·L^-1 ox-LDL), EOFAZ at low dose (80 mg·L^-1 ox-LDL+ 4 μg·L^-1 EOFAZ)and EOFAZ at high dose (80 g·L^-1 ox-LDL+ 20 μg·L^-1 EOFAZ). Mathye thiazolye telrazliurn (MTT) method was employed to examine the influence of EOFAZ on macrophage viability. Western blot was used to analyze the expression level of cluster of differentiation 36(CD36) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1) protein in macrophage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect cholesteryl ester contents in macrophage. Oil red O staining was applied to determine the accumulation of lipids in macrophage. Result::EOFAZ showed non-toxic effect on macrophage. Compared to control group, macrophage in model group displayed higher level of cholesteryl ester and lipid droplet(P<0.01), as well as significant increasing of CD36 expression (P<0.01), but no effect on ABCA1 expression. EOFAZ notably reduced the contents of lipids and cholesteryl ester(P<0.01), down-regulated expression of CD36 and up-regulated expression of ABCA1 in macrophage in comparison with the model group(P<0.01), indicating that EOFAZ inhibited transformation of macrophage into foam cell. Conclusion::EOFAZ could inhibit ox-LDL-induced transformation of macrophage into foam cell, the underlying mechanism may involves its ability to increase CD36 expression and decrease ABCA1 expression in macrophage.