Objective: To observe the synergetic effect of folic acid and genistein on apoptosis in the early stage of neuron and its possible mechanism. Methods: Cyclophosphamide was added to primary cultured neurons to induce apoptosis. Three different dosages of folic acid and genistein were used to inhibit apoptosis. The results were observed by flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: 1.Folic acid and genistein might play a role in early stages of neuron apoptosis, and the synergetic effect was demonstrated when folic acid and genistein were administered together. 2. The membrane changes in early stages of neuron apoptosis observed by scanning electron microscope were also in agreement with the flow cytometry data. Conclusion: Genistein might reinforce the protective effect of folic acid on neural tube defects by restraining the apoptosis of the early stage of neuron.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Solvents ; analysis ; chemistry ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry

Congresses as Topic ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hematology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; drug therapy ; United States

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Shen-reinforcing and menstrual cycle-regulating therapy (SRMCRT) combined with Western medicine (WM) in treating decline in ovarian reserve (DOR).

METHODSTotally 78 patients with DOR were assigned to the traditional Chinese medicine combined WM group (abbreviated as IM group, 40 cases), and the WM group (38 cases) according to random digit table method. Patients in the WM group were treated with hormone replacement therapy, while those in the IM group additionally received SRMCRT. The therapeutic course for all was 3 consecutive months. The therapeutic efficacy was compared between the two groups. The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), FSH/luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2), as well as the development of sinus follicles were compared between before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effective rate was 92.5% in the IM group, higher than that of the WM group (73.68%, P < 0.05). The serum levels of FSH, FSH/LH, and E2 decreased (P < 0.05) and the number of the sinus follicle increased (P < 0.05) in the two groups after treatment. Besides, IM was superior in decreasing serum levels of FSH and FSH/LH, and increasing the number of the sinus follicle (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSRMCRT was an effective method for treating ROD. IM was superior in decreasing serum levels of FSH and FSH/LH, and increasing the number of the sinus follicle.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Ovarian Diseases ; drug therapy ; Ovarian Follicle ; drug effects ; Ovarian Reserve ; Young Adult

Aged ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Heart Injuries ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; therapy

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanism of neuroprotection produced by taurine supplement on brain in young rats. Methods: In vitro, taurine treatment or co-treatment with sodium selenite that produced significant neuronal apoptosis was used in cultured cortical neurons to examine the neuroprotection effect using MTT assay and DNA fragmentation electrophoresis. In vivo, female weanling Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, eight rats per group. The treated groups were fed on diets with different contents of taurine respectively, and the control group was fed on taurine unsupplemented diets. The experiment lasted five weeks. Results: Taurine significantly increased neuronal survival in dose-dependent manner. The typical DNA ladder pattern could be prevented by taurine. Taurine could elevate brain wet weight, and significantly increased the level of taurine, protein and AChE in brain. Conclusion: It is proposed that the neuroprotection effect of taurine could be achieved by modulating expression of related genes and blocking neuronal apoptosis.

Object To investigate the effect of PPARαactivation on PPARγ-induced fatty liver in the mouse. Methods Wild type mice ( C57BL/6) aged 4 to 5 weeks were used as animal models.All mice were divided into four groups.The mice in the first group were fed with chow diet.The mice in the second group were fed with a diet containing 0.125%Wy-14,643, an agonist of PPARa, for 8 days.The mice in the third group were injected with Ad/PPARγvia tail vein for 5 day.The mice in the fourth group were firstly fed with Wy-14,643 diet for 3 days and then injected with Ad/PPARγvia tail vein for another 5 day.Mouse livers were collected and photographed.The effect of PPARαactivation on PPARγ-induced fatty liver was observed by H&E and Oil red O staining.Results Compared with the controls, wild-type mice treated with Wy-14,643 for 8 days exhibited marked hypertrophy of hepatocytes with increased cytoplasmic eosinophil-ia and proliferation of peroxisomes.The liver size was significantly increased in the wild-type mice treated with Ad/PPARγfor 5 days, and over-expression of PPARγstrongly induced hepatic steatosis.Importantly, the wild-type mice pretreated with Wy-14,643 for 3 days and then given Ad/PPARγinjection exhibited dramatically the increase of liver size, which might be due to the dual function of PPARa and PPARγ.Compared with the Ad/PPARγgroup, the Wy-14,643 pretreat-ment group showed a reduced hepatic steatosis.Conclusions Activation of PPARαby Wy-14,643 effectively improves PPARγ-stimulated hepatic steatosis, which provides a novel target for prevention and therapy of fatty liver.

Objective To determine whether the susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury in aged heart is higher than that in adult heart and,if so,to clarify the mechanisms underlying this change.Methods Wister rats(5-or 20-month-old)were randomly divided into 4 groups(6 animals in each group).The rats were subjected to 30 minutes of myocardial ischemia via ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery,followed by 3 hours of reperfusion(Young-MI/R group and Old-MI/R group);A silk suture around the left anterior descending coronary artery was not ligated in young and old rats(Young-sham group and Old-sham group).Myocardial apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynueleotidyl transferase biotin-d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)staining and caspase-3 activity was detected by using a caspase-3 colorimetrie assay.Nitrotyrosine content,a footprint of in vivo ONOO~-formation,and total NO content were determined by ELISA and chemiluminescence method respectively.Results A significantly exacerbated cardiac reperfusion injury was found in Old-MI/R group as evidenced by increased TUNEL positive myocytes[(19.0?2.1)% vs.(14.6?1.7)%],and increased myocardial caspase-3 activity[(436?35)?mool/mg vs.(340?32)?mol/mg] compared with Young-MI/R group(P＜0.05).Aged hearts had a markedly increased basal NOx level compared with young adult hearts.Marked higher myocardial nitrotyrosine content was found in OId-MI/R group[(7.25?0.18)nmol/g]than that in Young-MI/R group[(4.68?0.15)nmol/g] (P＜0.05).Conclusions In aged hearts,high levels of NO might form highly toxie derivant, ONOO~-,and its subsequent nitrified protein.This may attribute to the increased susceptibility of the aged heart to isehemic-reperfusion injury.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) infection in males with sterility and the effect of the infection on the reproductive function of males.

METHODSEnzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect TOX-CAg, TOX-IgG and TOX-IgM in the peripheral blood of male patients with sterility.

RESULTSAmong 100 cases of male sterility, 7 were TOX-IgG positive (7%), 16 TOX-IgM positive (16%) and 13 TOX-CAg positive (13%). Among 100 normal males, 7 were TOX-IgG positive (7%), 3 TOX-IgM positive (3%) and 1 TOX-CAg positive (1%).

CONCLUSIONTOX infection may affect the fertility of males and cause male sterility. For this reason, males should prevent themselves from TOX infection.

Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan ; blood ; Antigens, Protozoan ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Male ; Toxoplasma ; immunology ; Toxoplasmosis ; complications ; epidemiology