OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Kuntai Capsule (KC) on the number of retrieved oocytes, the quality of high-quality oocytes and embryos in in vitro fertilization of poor ovarian response (POR) patients.

METHODSTotally 70 POR patients preparing for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to the observation group and the control group, 35 cases in each group. KC was administered to patients in the observation group in the preparation cycle (i.e., three menstrual cycles before IVF-ET) and during the superovulation process. Those in the control group took placebo during this period. Before and after medication the improvement of Shen yin deficiency syndrome (SYDS) was observed in the two groups. The basal follicle-stimulating hormone (bFSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), the ratio of FSH to LH, and antral follicle count (AFC) were observed. Besides, the E2 level of a single ovum on the day of HCG injection, the number of retrieved oocytes, the high-quality oocyte rate, and the high-quality embryos were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the SYDS, decreased bFSH and LH levels, increased ACF numbers, the E2 level of a single ovum on the day of HCG injection, the number of retrieved oocytes, high-quality oocytes, and high-quality embryos were superior in the observation group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the decreased FSH/LH level (P > 0.05). E2 and AMH increased after medication of KC in the observation group, while they decreased after administration of placebos in the control group. There was statistical difference in the post-pre treatment difference of E2 and AMH between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONKC could increase the number of retrieved oocytes, and elevate the quality of occytes and embryos in the IVF-ET.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; Pregnancy

Embryonic stem cells(ESCs),a kind of totipotent cells,can differentiate into cell type of the 3 germ layers.Adult stem cells(ASCs) are pluripotent stem cells,which can self-renew and transdifferentiate into a completely different tissue derivative cells.Thus ASCs can transdifferentiate into germ cells in a certain condition.Great progress has made for the study on human ESCs.However,use of ESCs faces the immunological rejection,oncogenicity and ethical controversies problems,and these limit their uses for treatment of human diseases.On contrast,ASCs can advoid these problems,and they may have a better perspective.Germ cells as carriers of genetic materials,are worth of studying.If male germ cells can be derived from ASCs,this will open the possibilities for the use of these cells for male infertillty in clinical application.In this review,we will introduce the progress on derivation of male germ cells from ESCs and ASCs.

Diabetic Neuropathies ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Phytotherapy

Objective To compare the efficacies of exposure to cigarette smoke alone and in combination with intra-tracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide in establishing rat models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 24 8-week-old healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 model groups and a control group (Group C). The rat COPD models were established by two ways; intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) twice + exposure to cigarette smoke for 1 month (Group A), and cigarette smoke inhalation for 80 days only (Group B). The pathologic characteristics of animal models, including the mean lining interval (MLI) and the mean alveoli number(MAN), were determined. The total and different white blood cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and blood samples were determined. Results The rats in the two model groups presented with cough or breathlessness periodically, and the white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts in the peripheral blood and BALF were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). H-E staining showed that the lung tissues of rats in Group A and B had typical pathological features of COPD and emphysema. MLI were significantly higher and MAN were significantly lower in Group A and B than those in group C (both P<0.01), but there was no statistical difference between the two model groups. Group A had more severe inflammatory response in the bronchial and lung tissues than Group B. And Group B was characterized by alveolar overdistension. Conclusion Both the two methods can successfully establish rat COPD model, with its pathophysiological changes similar to those of human COPD, with intra-tracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide being more consistent to the natural development of disease.

Objective To explore the teaching method to improve nursing student's clinical practicing skills. Methods 111 nursing students were divided into observation group (55 cases) and control group (56 cases). The students in observation group were received clinical nursing whole range simulation experiment, while those in control group were received routine method. Results The students in observation group showed high evaluation on experimental results, their scores in final theory exam were higher than that in control group. The teachers showed higher satisfaction for students in ohaservation group. Whereas there were no difference in terms of nursing technique exam between groups. Conclusions Clinical nursing whole range simulation experiment is helpful to shorten the difference between teaching and clinics, make students accommodate the clinical nursing role quickly, and improve their clinical practicing skills.

Objective:To investigate the influence of clinical outcomes and the risk factors of poor prognosis for preoperative nutritional risk in gastric cancer patients.Methods:A prospective study was performed in 140 patients with gastric cancer and the nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) was done.The influence of preoperative nutritional risk on postoperative complications,hospital stay,ICU stay,hospital expenses,60 days readmission and mortality was analyzed,and the risk factors of perioperative complication were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:The significant difference (NRS 2002 ≥ 3 group vs.NRS 2002 ＜ 3 group) was observed in the rates of overall postoperative complications,pulmonary infection,overall hospital stay and postoperative hospital stay (P ＜ 0.05).The rates of anastomotic fistula,pleural effusion,60 days readmission,60 days mortality and hospitalization expenses in NRS 2002 ≥ 3 group were higher than that of NRS 2002 ＜ 3 group,but there were no differences between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).By univariate and multivariate analysis,preoperative high cholesterol levels and preoperative nutritional risk are the risk factors of poor prognosis and postoperative complications.Conclusion:Preoperative high cholesterol levels and preoperative nutritional risk are independent risk factors of postoperative complications.

Objective:To observe the artifacts produced by dental metal crown made from different materials on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:Mental crows made from Co-Gr,Ni-Gr,low-Ti alloy and Pure-Ti were respectively fabricated for upper right second premolar of a ripe crossbreed dog.The 4 different casting crowns were respectively put on experimental tooth and head MRI scan was carried out with 4 sequences of 1.5 T and 6 sequences of 3.0 T MRI respectively.The existence and extent of the arti-facts were assessed and compared.Results:On both 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI,the Go-Gr alloy crown exhibited significantly wider arti-facts than the others (ANAVO analysis,P<0.01).There were no significant differences among Ni-Gr,low-Ti alloy and Pure-Ti on 1.5 T MRI(P>0.05).On 3.0 T MRI the artifacts produced by Ni-Gr was larger than that by low-Ti alloy or Pure-Ti(P<0.05,be-tween low-Ti alloy and pure-Ti,P>0.05).By any of the test sequence either on 1.5 T or on 3.0 T,the Co-Gr alloy produced arti-facts in the most slices of MRI imaging and Pure-Ti in the least.Conclusion:Go-Gr alloy may produce larger artifacts than Ni-Gr, low-Ti alloy and Pure-Ti on MRI.

Adolescent ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Seminoma ; pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery

Flavonoid naringin is widely distributed in various types of plants and is an important component of herbal Drynaria. In previous studies, Drynaria has been demonstrated to have inhibitory effects on inflammatory responses and bone destruction and exert anabolic effects on bone, has been widely used in the clinical treatment. Naringin, was in the stage of experimental yet. The experimental results have confirmed that naringin suppressed inflammation including arthritis by lowering the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and the mechanism can be explained as reducing the expression of NF-κB. Naringin has been shown to increase osteoblast proliferation by increasing the expression of BMP-2, inhibit osteoclast activity by reducing the expression of RANKL. In animal experimental, naringin was useful for osteoporosis, and the mechanisms are in-depth studies. Research in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and orthopedics, naringin as a explicit material structure in the components of Drynaria, has been concerned about the experimental studies, it is not only prosperity the development of traditional Chinese medicine research,but also ready for clinical studies anti-inflammatory and bone effects of naringin in the future.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Polypodiaceae ; chemistry

Objective To analyze the plasma procalcitonin (PCT) as a predictor of the severity of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in elderly patients.Methods Totally 90 elderly patients hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia from 2010 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively for the relation between plasma procalcitonin and severity of pneumonia.All cases were divided into two groups,the severe group (n=36) and the non-severe group (n=54) according to diagnostic criteria.Results The level of plasma PCT was much lower in the severe group (median 2.44 μg/L) than that in the non-severe group (median 0.11 μg/L) (U=335.50,P=0.000).Among all patients,when PCT was lower than 0.5 μg/L,the incidence of non-severe CAP was 76％,however,when PCT was equal or above 2.0 μg/L,the incidence of non-severe CAP was reduced to 9％.In Binary logistic regression analysis,PCT was a risk factor of aged person with severe community acquired pneumonia independent of age and CRUB-65 scores [OR =1.328 (95 ％ confidential interval:1.072,1.645)].PCT had a positive correlation with CRUB-65 scores (U=10.162,P=0.006).In all cases,the patients who improved well had lower PCT value than the remaining (median 0.21 μg/L,17.0μg/L; U=10.000,P=0.000),which also happened in severe cases (median 1.47 μg/L,17.0 μg/L;U=8.000,P=0.000).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.872 (95％ confidential interval:0.741,0.914).At a PCT cut-off level of greater than or equal to 2.0 μg/L,the sensitivity and specificity to predict the severity of aged person with CAP was 55.6％ and 98.9％ respectively.Conclusions Plasma PCT may be a good predictor to evaluate the severity of CAP in elderly patients.