OBJECTIVETo investigate the semen quality of cancer patients and search for a better way of sperm cryopreservation for them.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the quality of the semen from 43 cancer patients under cryopreservation in the Sperm Bank of Zhejiang Province, and compared the semen parameters between the cancer patients and 248 normal donors as well as between the testicular cancer cases (n=22) and non-testicular cancer cases (n=21).

RESULTSThe cancer patients exhibited significantly lower semen quality than the normal donors as in sperm concentration (60.90 x 10(6)/ml vs 74.27 x 10(6)/ml), progressive motility (41.07% vs 51.79%), and recovery rate (49.98% vs 57.33%) (all P <0.05). Furthermore, the progressive sperm motility and sperm recovery rate after freezing were significantly decreased in the testicular cancer cases (15.68% and 42.81%) than in the non-testicular cancer cases (28.36% and 57.53%) (both P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSemen quality declines in cancer patients, and therefore early sperm cryopreservation is essential for them. Due to the poor sperm motility and recovery rate of testicular cancer patients after freezing, further investigation is required on the improvement of sperm cryopreservation methods.

Adult ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testicular Neoplasms

Objective To demonstrate the inhibitory effect of adenosine A_1 receptor agonist R(-)-N6-(2-phe- nylisopropyl) adenosine (R-HA) and cross-talk between adenosine A_1 receptor and CaMKII on Isoproterenol (Iso)- induced hypertrophy in cultured myocardial cells in neonatal rats.Methods The protein synthesis was determined by incorporation of [~3H]-leucine into myocyte protein.The expression of CaMK Ⅱ ? B was determined by Western- blot.The [Ca~(2+)]i transient was measured in myocytes loaded with fura-2 by the spectrofluorometric method. Results R-PIA (1?mol/L) inhibited Iso(10 ?mol/L)-induced increase of [~3 H-]-leucine incorporation [(R-PIA: 974.8?58.6) vs (Iso:1220.8?240.5) count per min per well,P

Aged ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Pseudolymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the flavone constituents in Chrozophora sabulosa (Xinjiang origin).

METHODThe compounds were extracted with 95% ethyl alcohol, isolated by various column chromatography and identified by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTSeven flavanoids were isolated and identified as quercetin (I), kaempferol (II), apigenin (III), chrysoerid (IV), isoquercitrin (V), chrysoerin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (VI) and quercetin-3-O-alpha-D-arabinfuranoside (VII).

CONCLUSIONAll of these seven compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Aim To evaluate the effects of pantoprazole on various experimental acute ulcer inrats and mice. Methods The model of a gastric ulcer of rats or mice was caused bystree- induced ulcer and ligatel pylurus-induced ulcer. Results & Conclusions At adose of 5, 10, 20 mg? kg-1 of Pantoprazole can markedly decrease the ulcer index ofstree-induced ulcer. Pantoprazole(4, 8, 16 mg? kg -1 ) significantly decrease the areaof ligated pylorus-induced gastric ulcer. It was also found that pantoprazole caninhibit the output of basic gastric acid.

This study investigated the effect of arctigenin (Arc) on the cell activation, cytokines expression, proliferation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes. Mouse lymphocytes were prepared from lymph node and treated with Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)/Ionimycin (Ion) and/or Arc. CD69, CD25, cytokines, proliferation and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that, at concentrations of less than 1.00 micromol x L(-1), Arc expressed non-obvious cell damage to cultured lymphocytes, however, it could significantly down-regulate the expression of CD69 and CD25, as well as TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 on PMA/Ion stimulated lymphocytes. At the same time, Arc could also inhibit the proliferation of PMA/Ion-activated lymphocytes and exhibited lymphocyte G 0/G1 phase cycle arrest. These results suggest that Arc possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects that may be mediated through the regulation of cell activation, cytokines expression and cell proliferation.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; metabolism ; Arctium ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Furans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Ionomycin ; pharmacology ; Lectins, C-Type ; metabolism ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of CD40 ligand (CD40L) in dendritic cells (DC) of CEA transgenic mice and to evaluate the specific cellular immunity induced by activated DC.

METHODSBone marrow cells of the CEA transgenic mice were used to generate immature dendritic cells under the condition of GM-CSF and IL-4. CD40L was added to activate dendritic cells into mature phenotype. Dendritic cells cancer vaccine was pulsed with CEA526-533 peptide which made the vaccine specific for cancer immunity. The immunophenotype molecules were identified by flow cytometry. The cytokines produced by cells were determined by ELISA. T cells proliferation was measured by (3)H-thymidine essays.

RESULTSImmunophenotype molecules expressions of CD40L-activated dendritic cells were significantly higher than those in control group. IL-12 secretion by CD40L-activated dendritic cells was (937.81+/-51.99) pg/10(6) DC, significantly higher than that in control group [(83.06+/-8.58) pg/10(6) DC, P<0.01]. CD8(+) T cells proliferation induced by CD40 L-activated dendritic cells was stronger as compared to control group (P<0.05), and the secretion of IFN-gamma was(33.900+/-4.550) ng/L, significantly higher than that in control group [(5.226+/-0.460) ng/L, P<0.01]. Splenocytes proliferation induced by CD40 L-activated dendritic cells was stronger as compared to control group (P<0.01), and the secretion of IFN-gamma was (69.802+/-11.407) ng/L, significantly higher than that in control group [(2.912+/-0.562) ng/L, P<0.01].

CONCLUSIONThe method of using CD40L to stimulate bone marrow-delivered dendritic cells promotes the maturation and activation of dendritic cells, which enhances the cellular immunity in CEA transgenic mice.

Animals ; CD40 Ligand ; immunology ; physiology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunity, Cellular ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Xiaoyao Nose Drops (XYND) in stopping episode of migraine.

METHODSAdopted was the randomized double-blinded placebo-controled method, with the 126 patients equally assigned to two groups, the treated group treated with XYND and the control group with placebo, and the therapeutic course was 30 days for all. The clinical total effective rate and effect in alleviating headache were observed. And hemorrheological parameters as well as the blood flow of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), median cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe clinical total effective rate and headache alleviating rate in the treated group were 93.33% and 96.67% respectively, while those in the control group were 18.33% and 20.00% respectively, and comparison between the two groups showed significant difference (all P < 0.01). The blood viscosity (high, middle and low shear), plasma viscosity and fibrinogen got lowered significantly in the treated group after treatment, showing significant difference in comparison either with those before treatment or with those in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The velocity of blood flow in all cerebral arteries lowered significantly, also showing significant difference in comparison either with those before treatment or with those in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXYND is effective in stopping the headache of patients with migraine, and worth applying in clinical practice.

Administration, Intranasal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; drug effects ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders ; drug therapy

This study aims to investigate the change of plasma concentration of digoxin (DIG) in rats with ovariectomy. Twelve female SD rats were randomly assigned into ovariectomized group and sham group (n = 6). All rats plasma was collected after a single dose of 2 mg x kg(-1) DIG administrated orally, serum DIG concentration was determined by LC-MS/MS. The level of P-gp in the intestinal was analyzed by Western blotting. Pharmacokinetic calculations were performed on each individual using DAS 2.0 practical pharmacokinetic software. Compared with the sham group, C(max) of ovariectomized group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference of AUC(0-t), and the level of P-gp was elevated in ovariectomized group. It was found that C(max) of DIG was significantly reduced after ovariectomy, and the change was associated with the decreased level of estrogen, which contributes to the increased level of P-gp.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Digoxin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Estrogens ; blood ; Female ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of posterior total vertebral resection in treating thoracic vertebrae tumor in order to provide a safe and effective method in rebuilding spine stability.

METHODSFrom 2002.1 to 2007.12, 18 patients with thoracic spine tumor underwent posterior total vertebral resection and internal fixation. Among the patients, 10 patients were male and 8 patients were female, ranging in age from 45 to 78 years, with an average of 56 years. The course of the diseases ranged from 2 to 13 months. After the operation, the tumor reccurence was monitored by X-ray, and the tumor markers were detected.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for a period ranging from 12 to 60 months, averaged 29 months. All the patients showed a postoperative neurologic improvement, as well as showed radiographic evidence of solid fusion in the follow-up examinations during 3 to 9 months, with an average of (8 +/- 1.4) months.

CONCLUSIONPosterior total vertebral resection for the treatment of thoracic spine tumor is safe and effective.

Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome