Objective: To explore the inhibitory effect of artesunate(Art)on human esophageal carcinoma cells and to study the related mechanism.Methods: Nude mice were inoculated with Eca109 cells subcutaneously on the left upper limbs to establish esophageal carcinoma model.The model mice were divided into 5 groups: first group received 100 mg/kg Art,second group 200 mg/kg Art,third group 300 mg/kg Art,forth group 3 mg/kg cisplatin(DDP),and the fifth group received normal saline.Mass and volume changes of transplant tumors in different groups were observed.Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle,apoptosis,and the expression of CDC25A protein,Smad3 protein and TGF-?protein in the transplanted tumors in mouse model.RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of CDC25A,Smad3 and TGF-?mRNA in the transplanted tumors.Results: Nude mouse model bearing human esophageal carcinoma was success- fully created.Compared with the control group,the volume and mass of transplant tumors in Art groups were significantly smaller(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of male infertility with single nucleotide polymorphisms of the autosomal DAZL gene.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from infertile men (infertility group, n=144) and healthy fathers (fertility group, n=53) in the northeast of China, and the former was further divided into 5 subgroups according to the WHO diagnostic criteria for oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (1999) i.e., oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and non-oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. PCR-RFLP analysis was used to detect the polymorphism of SNP260. The SNP386 polymorphism of the DAZL gene was analysed with a PCR-SSCP based method. Sequencing and statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTSThe SNP260 polymorphism of the DAZL gene was found in both the infertility and the control groups, with no significant difference in between (P > 0.05). There was a larger percentage of SNP260AG in the subgroup of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia than in others, and the SNP386 polymorphism of the DAZL gene was not found in any of the subgroups.

CONCLUSIONThe SNP260 and SNP386 polymorphisms of the DAZL gene are not associated with male infertility in the northeast of China. Further research needs to be done to clarify the association between SNP260AG and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. SNP386 polymorphism may be restricted in some small area in Taiwan only. Therefore neither of them can be used as a molecular marker for the genetic diagnosis of male infertility in the northeast of China.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Taiwan

Adult ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Fibula ; transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Relinqing granules (powder of Polygonum capitatum extract) on the bacterial pyelonephritis model in rats.

METHODThe rat bacterial pyelonephritis model was induced by injecting the escherichia coli ATCC-25922 into kidney parenchyma. The rats were divided ramdamly into Relinqing groups(52.32, 26.16 g x kg(-1)), norflorin group (0.03 g x kg(-1)), model group and normal control group, and were given experimental drugs by gastrogavage. The contents of leucocytes (WBC), occult bloo (BLD), glucose (GLU), protein (PRO), ketones, bilirubin and urobilinagen in urine were determined.

RESULTAs compared with the model group, Relinqing granules 6.0 g x kg(-1) (crude drug 52.32 g x kg(-1)) could decrease significantly the contents of WBC and BLD in urine and, however, had no markedly effects on the other biochemical parameters of urine.

CONCLUSIONRelinqqing granule has significant effects of decreasing urine WBC and BLD on the bacterial pyolonephritis in rats.

Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Bilirubin ; urine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli Infections ; urine ; Female ; Glycosuria ; urine ; Ketones ; urine ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Occult Blood ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Proteinuria ; urine ; Pyelonephritis ; urine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of lycopene against cryopreservation injury of post-thawing human sperm and its mechanism.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 25 volunteers, each sample equally divided into four parts to be cryopreserved with cryoprotectant only (Ly0 control) or cryoprotectant + lycopene at the concentrations of 2 (Ly2), 5 (Ly5), and 10 µmol/L (Ly10), respectively. Before and after thawing, the semen samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis ( CASA) for sperm kinematics, flow cytometry for sperm apoptosis, thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and JC-1 fluorescent staining for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

RESULTSAfter cryopreservation, sperm motility was markedly decreased in all the groups (P < 0.01). The rate of sperm apoptosis was significantly lower in the Ly5 group than in the Ly0 control ([25.68 ± 4.36]% vs [33.26 ± 4.78]%, P < 0.05), while sperm MMP remarkably higher in the former than in the latter ([66.18 ± 14.23]% vs [55.24 ± 12.31]%, P < 0.05). The Ly2, Ly5 and Ly10 groups showed no statistically significance differences in the MDA level from the Ly0 control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of lycopene at a proper concentration to cryoprotectant may reduce oxidative damage to sperm mitochondria in the freezing-thawing process, attenuate oxidative stress injury induced by reactive oxygen species to sperm plasma membrane, and improve the anti-apoptosis ability of sperm.

Apoptosis ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

To investigate the changes in bcl-2, bax expression and neuron apoptosis in the hippocampus after the blockade of cervical lymphatics, the model of lymphostatic encephalopathy was established by occluding and removing both the superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes in rats. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 d after operation. H and E staining was used to observe the structure of brain tissues and TUNEL staining was used to detect in situ cell apoptosis in the hippocampus. The expression of bcl-2 and bax in the hippocampus were examined by RT-PCR. The results showed that cerebroedema appeared at day 2 and was most serious at day 5 after the blockade of cervical lymphatics. The number of TUNEL positive cells began to increase at day 2 and reached the maximum at day 5. The expression of bax began to increase at day 1 and reached the maximum at day 2. The expression of bcl-2 began to decrease at day 1 and dropped to the minimum at day 5. The items mentioned above recovered to control level at day 14. These results suggest that lymphostatic encephalopathy following the blockade of cervical lymphatics result in changes in bcl-2 and bax expression in the hippocampus and that apoptosis is the main form of neuron death.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic System ; physiology ; Male ; Neck ; Neurons ; cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of astragalus on testis tissues following unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion.

METHODSThirty healthy adult Wistar rats were equally randomized into Group A (sham-operation control), B (torsion/detorsion) and C (torsion/detorsion plus intraperitoneal injection of astragalus). The testicular torsion/detorsion model was established by the Turner method. All the rats were fed under the same condition for 7 days and sacrificed, and the torsional testes were harvested for the detection of germ cell apoptosis, glutathione activity and the level of malonic diethylaldehyde (MDA).

RESULTSThe apoptosis indexes (AI) of spermatogenic cells in the torsional testes were (5.82 +/- 1.21), (36.18 +/- 8.40) and (20.39 +/- 3.57) in Group A, B and C, significantly higher in Group B and C than in A (P < 0.05) and in Group B than in C (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in glutathione activity in the ipsilateral testes among Group A (48.03 +/- 2.01), B (30.93 +/- 1.25), C (38.44 +/- 1.06) U/mg (P< 0.05), as well as in the level of MDA, (1.43 +/- 0.17), (3.98 +/- 0.36), (2.57 +/- 0.53) nmol/ml, among the three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAstragalus could significantly reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, decrease the level of lipid peroxidation and protect glutathione activity in the torsional testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astragalus Plant ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; drug therapy

Objective To compare the diuretic efficacy of torasemide as a 2-hour continuous infusion and as a bolus injection of equal dose in patients with nephrotic syndrome,and to investigate a preferable administration mode of torasemide for these patients.Methods Twenty-three hospitalized patients were randomized to receive torasemide 20 mg or 40 mg per day by either 2-hour intravenous infusion or bolus injection,and interchanged after 48 hours of washout.Results Patients received torasemide by 2-hour intravenous infusion exhibited significantly higher daily urinary volume,chloride excretion,sodium excretion and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) within 24 hours than those by bolus injection (P ＜ 0.05).Significantly lower bound-state torasemide excretion,higher ratio of urinary volume to torasemide excretion and a markedly larger area under the curve in the plasma concentrationtime profiles were also observed in the infusion group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 2-hour continuous infusion delivers a better diuretic effect compared with a bolus injection of equal dose of torasemide in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Objective Mutated inbred animal model is introduced to the practical course of genetic diagnosis in the hope that medical students are able to apply what they have learned to clinical cases, based on a deep understanding of principle and technology on gene mutation detection. Methods We integrated DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis, and gel imaging analysis into a comprehensive experiment and arranged 4-year-programme undergraduates majoring in preclinical medical sciences to conduct it with the purpose of investigating the internal relations between phenotype and genotype in a hairless Uncv mouse model. Subsequently, the questionnaire aimed at evaluating learning effect on the part of students was handed out and their feedbacks were analyzed. Results More than 90% of respondents are satisfied with the general learning effect. Especially, 98. 7% of students support the enhancing effect of the new teaching mode on their research skills and 96% consider the practical course helpful to their problem-solving ability. Conclusions The introduction of mutated inbred animal model to the practical system of molecular diagnostics proves beneficial to boost students' learning effect and scientific research quality. Our practice also provokes thoughts on the further utilization of animal models in teaching system of medical sciences.