OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract (fCSE) on the serum testosterone (T) level and erectile function of male rats.

METHODSWe randomized 30 male SD rats to three groups of equal number to receive subcutaneous injection of PBS (1.0 ml / 300 g body weight per day), fCSE (1.0 ml/300 g body weight per day), and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH, 200 mg per kg body weight per day) in addition to fCSE (fCSE + GSH), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Then we evaluated the erectile function of the rats by measuring the maximal intracavernous pressure (MICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP/MAP ratio, time of stimulation to MICP (Tmax), and cavernosal filling fate (CFR). We determined the serum T level, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cavernosal tissue, and also observed the morphological changes of the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the rats of the fCSE group showed obvious decreases in the levels of serum T ([5.37 ± 1.43] vs [3.22 ± 1.11] μg/L), NOS ([2.90 ± 0.27] vs [1.67 ± 0.18] U/mg) , and SOD ([18.41 ± 1.09] vs [13.36 ± 1.18] U/mg prot) and erectile function-related indexes MICP ([85.92 ± 6.36] vs [58.99 ± 10.76] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.86 ± 0.09 vs [0.56 ± 0.08]), and CFR (2.14 ± 0.44 vs 0.89 ± 0.44), but markedly increased Tmax ([29.90 ± 5.78] vs [42.90 ± 8.56]s), with a positive correlation between the serum T level and CFR (r = 0. 364, P < 0.05). Masson staining revealed a lower ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber in the fCSE group (0.27 ± 0.04) than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12). Compared with the fCSE group, the fCSE + GSH group exhibited significantly improved MICP ([58.99 ± 10.76 ] vs [77.95 ± 7.71] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.56 ± 0.08 vs 0.77 ± 0.09), and CFR (0.89 ± 0.44] vs 1.76 ± 0.42) and shortened Tmax ([42.90 ± 8.56 ] vs [32.10 ± 5.84 ] s). The ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber was higher in the fCSE + GSH than in the fCSE group (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.04) but still lower than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12).

CONCLUSIONNicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the serum T level and erectile function of rats, which is related to oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy can improve erectile function but has a limited value for morphological protection of the penile tissue.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Nicotine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tars ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunological activity of Streptomyces polysaccharide (SMP) on normal and immunosuppressed mice.

METHODSThe effect of SMP on the proliferating activity of normal mouse splenocytes was tested in the mixed lymphocyte culture, and the changes of peripheral blood T lymphocytes were evaluated with acid a-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) method. The ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ T cell subsets was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSSMP stimulated obvious proliferation of mixed lymphocytes, showed protective effects on T lymphocyte and increased the ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ cell subsets to nearly normal level in immunosuppressed mice.

CONCLUSIONSSMP can regulate the immune function in mice.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polysaccharides ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

To study the immunopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma(AML).Methods:Thirty-six surgically resected hepatic AML were investigated clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically with 10 antibodies.Results:Hepatic AML occurred in 21 females and 15 males,with the mean age of 41.6 years(26-60 years old).The patients with AML often had no special symptoms even had large space-occupying lesions in the liver.The diameter of AML was 2.5 cm to 14 cm(mean 6.8 cm).Histologically,AML was composed of varying heterogeneous mixture of 3 tissue components:blood vessels,smooth muscle and adipose cells.Extramedullary hemopoiesis sometimes existed.According to tissue components,AML was subcategorized into mixed type(19.4%,n=7),lipomatous type(11.1%,n=4),myomatous type(66.7%,n=24),and angiomatous type(2.8%,n=1).The epithelioid smooth muscle cells were sensitive to HMB-45(100%),SMA(100%),and CD117(66.7%) staining.Conclusion:Hepatic AML often contains smooth muscle elements,which have varied morphological features and should be carefully differentiated from hepatocellular carcinoma,mesenchymal hamartoma，and tumors with rich fat or blood vessels.Immunohistochemical staining with HMB-45 and SMA are the best available markers for the diagnosis of hepatic AML.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Pravastatin ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the incidence of the falls in the elderly living in community and compare the difference of its cognition between the elderly people with the falls experience and those who had no the falls experience in order to provide evidence for developing a prevention program.Methods The study was conducted in three communities in Shihezi and 804 persons aged 60 years and over were selected by the method of stratified random cluster sampling survey.The data of the falls within the past 12 months were collected by face to face interview.Results The overall incidence of the falls was 19.4% and it was higher in women (24.3%) than in men (14.9%)(χ2=11.13,P<0.001).The incidence of the falls were increasing with aging(χ2=6.22,P<0.05).The recognition of the elderly with falls experience were significantly higher than those who had no fails experience in physical status,self-cognition,consequence,prevention of the falls (P<0.05).Conclusions The incidence of the falls in the community of Shihezi was high while the cognition of the falls in.elderly was low.System health education should be taken to improve the recognition of falls.

BACKGROUND:Bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is thought to be caused by trauma to dentoalveolar structures after dental extraction and implantation that have a limited capacity for bone healing followed by infection,suppuration and pain,further inducing equestration,but the pathogenesis is poorly understood.OBJECTIVE:To establish a stable animal model of BRONJ,and to observe its clinical manifestations,radiological changes and pathological characters,thereby paving ways for further understanding the pathogenesis of BRONJ.METHODS:Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawely rats were randomly allocated into experimental and control groups (n=12 per group).The rats in the experimental group were given the intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mg/kg zoledronic acid,and the controls received the intraperitoneal injection of same volume of normal saline,three times weekly for consecutive 12 weeks.Subsequently,left first mandibular molars were extracted under general anesthesia,and the bone healing was observed.At 8 weeks after tooth extraction,all the rats were euthanized.The rat left jaws were examined by X-ray and micro-CT to explore the imaging changes.The histopathological characteristics of the mandibular soft and hard tissues were investigated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining,to further testify the BRONJ model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 8 weeks after tooth extraction,the wound was unable to heal,and nonvital bone tissues were visible in the experimental group.The findings revealed on radiographies and pathological sections were in accordance with the characteristics of BRONJ.Masson staining results showed slender collagen fibrils around the dental extraction wound were slender in the experimental group.These results indicate that the intraperitoneal injection of zoledronate combined with tooth extraction can induce BRONJ in rats.The soft tissue toxicity and anti-angiogenesis of zoledronic acid can promote the occurrence of BRONJ,and the local acidic microenvironment caused by trauma probably is involved in the occurrence of BRONJ.

Objective To investigate the utility of P504S(?-methylacyl-COA racemase), CK34?E12,p63 and PSA immunohistochemistry in the pathological diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma (PAC).Methods The specimens of 46 cases of PAC,8 cases of prostatic high-grade intraepithelial neo- plasia (HGP1N) and 35 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues were immunohistochemically stained with P504S,CK3413E12,p63 and PSA antibody,respectively.Results Of the 46 PAC cases,42 (91.3%) cases showed positive for P504S,including 25 cases (54.3%) who showed strongly and diffusely positive (+++) for cytoplasmic staining.In 7 (87.5%) of the 8 HGPIN cases,the specimens were also positive for P504S,and only 1(2.9%)of the 35 BPH cases showed focally weakly positive (+) for P504S.All the 8 HGPIN cases (100%) and 33 (94.3%) of the 35 BPH cases showed positive for CK34?E12 and p63,while all the 46 PAC cases showed negative for CK34?E12 and p63.In 44 (95.7%) of the 46 PAC cases,the specimens were positive staining for PSA.Conclusions P504S has high sensitivity and good specificity in the diagnosis of PAC.P504S staining in combination with HE,CK34?E12,p63 and PSA staining can improve the accurate diagnosis of PAC.

Objective To investigate the effects of cognitive interventions (CIs) in the context of communi- ty based rehabilitation (CBR) on cognitive deficits (CDs) in stroke patients.Methods Ninety-two stoke patients with CDs were randomly divided into a CI group and a control group.All patients were treated with conventional CBR.In addition,the patients in the CI group were also treated with special intervention therapy.The patients in both groups were assessed with the neurological and cognitive status examination (NCSE) for cognitive functioning, the FCA for motor function and the BI for their ability in the activities of daily living.Results The NCSE,FCA and BI scores in the cognitive intervention group after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment and also significantly higher than those in the control group after treatment.Conclusion CIs can not only improve CDs,but also enhance recovery of motor function and ADL.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) is an important molecular marker in traditional Chinese medicine research, and it is widely used in TCM authentication. The present study created a new genotyping method by combining restriction endonuclease digesting with melting curve analysis, which is a stable, rapid and easy doing SNP genotyping method. The new method analyzed SNP genotyping of two chloroplast SNP which was located in or out of the endonuclease recognition site, the results showed that when attaching a 14 bp GC-clamp (cggcgggagggcgg) to 5' end of the primer and selecting suited endonuclease to digest the amplification products, the melting curve of Lonicera japonica and Atractylodes macrocephala were all of double peaks and the adulterants Shan-yin-hua and A. lancea were of single peaks. The results indicated that the method had good stability and reproducibility for identifying authentic medicines from its adulterants. It is a potential SNP genotyping method and named restriction endonuclease digest - melting curve analysis.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; Genotype ; Lonicera ; classification ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective:To study the relationship between somatization symptoms and body mass index (BMI), sleep and cognitive function in patients with depression.Methods:A total of 119 patients with depression were selected from January to December in 2019.According to the score of patient health questionnaire-15(PHQ15), they were divided into mild somatization group ( n=75) and moderate severe somatization group ( n=44). Hamilton depression scale-24(HAMD-24), patient health questionnaire-15, Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA) were used to evaluate all subjects.SPSS 23.0 software was used for data analysis.Independent sample t-test was used to compare BMI, sleep and cognitive function scores between the two groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to study the correlation between somatization symptoms and sleep quality and cognitive function. Results:There were significant differences in BMI((21.70±3.09)kg/m 2, (23.31±3.51)kg/m 2), PSQI((12.56±4.37), (14.37±3.72)), sleep quality(1.87±0.86), (2.21±0.80)), sleep disorder ((1.24±0.59), (1.65±0.53))and daytime dysfunction((2.45±0.81), (2.77±0.48)) between the two groups ( t=-3.783--2.133, all P<0.05), but no difference was found in cognition ( P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that after controlling HAMD, PHQ-15 was positively correlated with PSQI, sleep quality, sleep disorder, daytime dysfunction and language score in MoCA ( r=0.205-0.298, all P<0.05). Conclusion:The severity of somatization in patients with depression is related to BMI, sleep quality, sleep disorder, daytime dysfunction and language function, suggesting that they may play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression with somatization.