Objective To study the effects of high salt intake on blood pressure and renin-angiotensin in male rats with different plasm androgen levels.Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized to sham(n=10)or operated(n=10),or castration(n=10),or testosterone replacement after castarion(26.7 mg/kg,n=10)and fed with 8% NaCl for 8 weeks.Tall arterial pressure were recorded before,4 and 8 weeks after experiment.Serum PRA,plasma angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)and testosterone(T)were determined by radioimmunoassey respectively. Results After 8 weeks high salt dietary,blood pressure was significantly increased in sham and testosterone replace ment rats(Sham operation group:137.3?4.0 vs the basal line:117.5?5.9 mmHg,testosterone replacement group: 134.4?5.2 vs the basal line:116.6?7.7 mmHg,P0.05).Concomitantly,sham operation or testosterone re placement rats had higher PRA and plasm Ang Ⅱ content compared with castrated rats(PRA:Sham operation 5.90 ?0.77 vs testosterone replacement group:5.69?0.47 vs castrated rats:4.90?0.55 mol/(L?h),P

OBJECTIVETo establish a liquid chip technology to detect Y chromosome microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

METHODSMultiplex PCR and liquid chip technology were used to detect the Y chromosome microdeletions in AZF region in 178 infertile patients with azoospermia and 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile control men.

RESULTSForty out of 312 patients (12.8%) were found to have deletions in AZF region. The microdeletion frequency was 14%(25/178) in the azoospermic group, 9.6%(11/114) in the oligospermic and 20%(4/20) in the severe oligospermic group.

CONCLUSIONThe authors developed a high-throughput, fast and simple assay to screen the AZF region microdeletions of Y chromosome.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Sequence Tagged Sites

Objective To observe the state of endemic flurosis, construction and running status of water improvement projects in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment fluorosis. Methods Water samples of the diseased and nondiseased villeges were collected from east, west, south, north and centre of each villege in 2005, and fluoride concentration was determined for each surveyed village with unimproved-water. At the same time, all the tap water and source water samples were collected to determine fluoride concentration in each water-improved village surveyed. In 2008, all the endemic fluorosis villages in Guied county were divided into slight, medium and heavy types according to the water fluoride content before water improved, and 1,1,3 survey villages were chosen from each type. In all of the village children aged 8 to 12 years were tested for dental fluorosis by Dean method. Six copies of the urinary fluoride were sampled in different age groups. The fluorine content in water and urine was determined by F-ion selective electrode. The situation of clinical skeletal fluorosis of adults over 16 years of age was investigated, 20 adults (evenly divided between men and women) in the villages of medium and heavy types were examined by X-ray for skeletal fluorosis. Results In 3 village fluoride content of drinking water exceeded the national drinking water standards ( <1.0 mg/L) of 85 surveyed villages with improved-water. Among the 16 projects, 8 were intermittently running and 3 were retired, leaving only 31.25% of the projects active. Theprevalence of enamel fluorosis was 41.13%( 116/282), that of skeletal flurosis was 47.95%(969/2021) and that of X-ray checked was 20.73% (17/82). The median of urine fluoride was 1.06 mg/L and the scope was 0.20 - 9.44 mg/L.Conclusions Most of the improved-water projects do not normally supply water in the disease ward of Guide county. Therefore, there is an increasing trend of the disease, so further control measures are needed.

AIMTo develop a high-throughput multiplex, fast and simple assay to scan azoospermia factor (AZF) region microdeletions on the Y chromosome and establish the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

METHODSIn total, 178 infertile patients with azoospermia (non-obstructed), 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile man controls were included in the present study. The samples were screened for AZF microdeletion using optimized multi-analyte suspension array (MASA) technology.

RESULTSOf the 312 patients, 36 (11.5%) were found to have deletions in the AZF region. The microdeletion frequency was 14% (25/178) in the azoospermia group and 8.2% (11/134) in the oligospermia group. Among 36 patients with microdeletions, 19 had deletions in the AZFc region, seven had deletions in AZFa and six had deletions in AZFb. In addition, four patients had both AZFb and AZFc deletions. No deletion in the AZF region was found in the 40 fertile controls.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The MASA technology, which has been established in the present study, provides a sensitive and high-throughput method for detecting the deletion of the Y chromosome. And the results suggest that genetic screening should be advised to infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; DNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Loci ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Oligospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Array Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics

This article analyzed the quality control of 35 preparations with cortex moutan in volume I pharmacopoeia of People' s Republic of China (2005 edition). The result showed that only 11 preparations selected paeonol in cortex moutan as one of their quality indexes, the others selected other components or none as index. Via discussing problems on quality control in preparations with cortex moutan, it gave some suggestions on index selection for quality control and method selection for the determination of paeonol in preparations with cortex moutan, and provided some references for the revision of pharmacopoeia of People's Republic of China (2005 edition I ).
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and subtypes of microdeletions in azoospermia factor (AZF) region in infertile men from Sichuan in order to correlate genotypes with phenotypes.

METHODSMultiplex-PCR was used to detect sequence tagged sites (STS) of AZF microdeletions in 1011 infertile men including 713 cases of non-obstructive azoospermia and 298 cases of severe oligospermia.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of microdeletions was 10.48% (106/1011), and the deletion rates were 11.08% (79/713) in non-obstructive azoospermia and 9.06% (27/298) in severe oligospermia. Complete AZFa or AZFb deletions were associated with azoospermia, whereas AZFc deletion (60.38%) was the most frequent deletion. The deletions were associated with variable spermatogenic phenotypes, and 37.50% of the patients with a deletion had sperms in the ejaculate. A mild decline in sperm concentration was found in two cases with partial AZFb deletion and one case with partial AZFb-c deletion.

CONCLUSIONDeletions of the AZFc region were most commonly found in our patients. All cases with complete AZFa or AZFb deletions and a proportion of cases with AZFc deletion were associated with azoospermia. Our study has provided more insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation, and confirmed that Yq microdeletion screening has a significant value for the diagnosis for male infertility.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Genetic Association Studies ; methods ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Phenotype ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the long-term facial nerve function of patients following microsurgical removal of large and huge acoustic neuroma, and to identify the factors that influence these outcomes.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed which included 176 consecutive patients with a large acoustic neuroma (≥ 30 mm) underwent a retrosigmoid craniotomy for tumor resection between January 2002 to November 2009. House-Brackmann (HB) Scale was used preoperatively and in a long-term follow-up after surgery. Test for linear trend was applied for statistic analysis.

RESULTSComplete resection was achieved in 168 (95.5%) of these 176 patients with a mortality of 1.7%. Anatomic preservation of the facial nerve was attained in 96.0% of the patients. In the series of 96 patients who had at least 1-year follow-up (mean 3.0 years) the facial nerve function preservation (HB grade 1 - 2) was totally attained in 79 patients (82.3%), and 40 of 55 patients (72.7%) who presented huge tumors (diameter > 40 mm) among the 96 patients had facial nerve function preserved. Analysis showed that facial nerve function correlated linearly with tumor sizes (χ(2) = 14.114, ν = 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSComplete removal of large and giant acoustic neuroma may be obtained via retrosigmoid approach with facial nerve preservation. Excellent long-term facial function can be expected in the majority of patients who undergo microsurgical removal of vestibular schwannoma via the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. Tumor size is a significant prognostic parameter for facial nerve function following vestibular schwannoma surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between C-V curve of the source points of 12 channels and cold Eighty patients with cold or heat syndrome were examined with Cowital Human Meor heat syndrome.

METHODSridian Diagnosing and Analyzing System, which can achieve quantitative analysis on C-V curve from the source points of 12 channels, and additional 40 healthy people were used as control group.

RESULTSThe relationship is close between the curvature of the C-V curves of the source points of the meridians and cold-heat syndromes of meridians. The greater is curvature of the C-V curves, the heater is the meridian, the smaller is curvature of the C-V curves, the colder is the meridian. At the same time it is discovered that the curvature of C-V curve has obviouse relationship with cold-heat property of meridians.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be used to set up and perfect the syndrome differentiation with cold-heat principle of meridian. Offer scientific basis for selecting acupoints, reducing-rein forcing methods and treatment means in clinical acupunction treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cold Temperature ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

AIMTo study the membrane stabilization effect and mechanism of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS) on dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes; Saikosaponin-D (SSD) liposomes were prepared by using CHEMS as a membrane stabilizer and its encapsulation efficiency and hemolytic activity were evaluated.

METHODSDifferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and calcein release were used to study membrane stabilization effect of CHEMS on DPPC membrane, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to study the interacting mechanism of CHEMS with DPPC, sedimentation experiment was done to study the interaction of CHEMS with SSD and hemolytic study was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes with CHEMS as membrane stabilizer.

RESULTSDSC analysis showed that CHEMS and cholesterol (CHOL) could all decrease the Tm value slightly and the deltaH value markedly. CHEMS was more effective than CHOL in decreasing the deltaH value of DPPC membrane. It suggested that CHEMS was more effective in increasing DPPC membrane stability. It was also proved by calcein release study carried out both in PBS and 30% plasma. The findings by FT-IR suggested that CHEMS has both hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction with the polar head of DPPC. CHEMS did not form insoluble complex (INCOM) with SSD by sedimentation experiment. Stable SSD-liposomes were prepared using DPPC and CHEMS and decreased effectively the hemolytic activity of SSD, SSD-liposomes may be given intravenously at a concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1), while free SSD was forbidden to be given intravenously.

CONCLUSIONCHEMS was more effective than CHOL in increasing DPPC membrane stability, and it could be of great use in the preparation of cholesterol-dependent hemolytic saponins-liposomes. The hemolytic activity of SSD-liposomes was greatly reduced, allowing a possible concentration of 15 microg x mL(-1) to be intravenously administered.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol Esters ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Fluoresceins ; metabolism ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Liposomes ; Oleanolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between glutathione-S-transferase gene polymorphisms GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 and onset of azoospermia.

METHODSMulti-PCR was used to detect GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene deletions. Polymorphisms of GSTP1 were determined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method in 236 azoospermia patients and 142 healthy fertile male controls.

RESULTSThe frequency of M1 (-/-) and P1 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype was 24.65% in the control group, which was significantly higher than that of the patient group (15.68%, P=0.031). Frequency of M1 (-/-), T1 (+/+) and P1 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype was 12.68% in the control group, which was significantly higher than that of the patient group (5.51%, P=0.014).

CONCLUSIONThe M1(-/-) and P1(Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype and the M1(-/-), T1(+/+) and P1 (Ile/Val or Val/Val) genotype are associated with reduced risk of azoospermia in ethnic Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic