OBJECTIVETo explore the expression patterns of the chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in human sperm.

METHODSWe collected semen samples from 10 fertile men, performed density gradient centrifugation, and then determined the expressions of both CXCL12 and CXCR4 in the sperm by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSRT-PCR revealed the mRNA expressions of CXCL12 (0.641 +/- 0.180) and CXCR4 (0.464 +/- 0.100) in the sperm. However, only CXCR4 rather than CXCL12 was expressed at the protein level, and the positive staining for CXCR4 was observed mainly in the posterior part of the acrosome.

CONCLUSIONCXCL12 and CXCR4 are involved as important molecules in regulating the function of human sperm.

Acrosome ; metabolism ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; HIV Infections ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThe clinical results of restoring defective teeth with two types of glass fiber prothetic systems is investigated to acquire clinical experience for further application of glass fiber posts with independent intellectual property rights.

METHODSA total of 120 out-patients with restored defective teeth were selected from the Department of Stomatology, Beijing Xuanwu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology and randomly divided into two groups. OUYA FIBER posts and Tenax Fiber White posts were used to restore defective teeth in the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Clinical evaluation was conducted one week and three months post-restoration.

RESULTSBoth clinical satisfactory rates of OUYA FIBER posts and Tenax Fiber White posts were higher than 98% one week post-restoration and higher than 96% three months post-restoration. No significant differences were observed between the clinical results of restoring defective teeth with the two types of fiber posts. Throughout the healing process, no root canal fracture or marginal staining were observed.

CONCLUSIONOUYA FIBER post and Tenax Fiber White post showed similar clinical outcomes during the period of observation in this study. However, the long-term effects should be observed in future studies.

Dental Stress Analysis ; Glass ; Humans ; Post and Core Technique ; Resin Cements ; Tooth Fractures

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Autoimmune Diseases ; pathology ; Benzamides ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Eosinophilia ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; physiology ; Helminthiasis ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hypersensitivity ; pathology ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sprains and Strains ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Humans ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effect of ethanol extract and ethyl acetate extract of Capparis Spinosa on the thickness of dermis,synthesis of collagen type Ⅰ,type Ⅲ,and expression of transforming growth factor-β1 in mouse models of scleroderma.Methods Mouse models of scleroderma were established through local injection of bleomycin on the back once a day for 4 weeks.After confirmation of model establishment,72 mouse models were equally and randomly divided into three groups.Two groups received topical treatment with ethanol extract of Capparis Spinosa and ethyl acetate extract of Capparis Spinosa,respectively,no treatment was given to the rest of the control group.After 2-,4-,6-week treatment,8 mice were sacrificed and tissue samples were obtained from the back,and subiected to the measurement of dermal thickness by HE staining,as well as to the analysis of expression of collagen type Ⅰ,collagen type Ⅲ and transforming growth factor-β1 by immunohistochemical staining.Results On week 2,4,6,the thickness of dermis was 23.22,24.94,19.97 μm respectively in mice treated with ethanol extract of Capparis Spinosa,27.66.26.15,22.13 μm respectively in those treated with ethyl acetate extract of Capparis Spinosa.Compared with the mouse models without treatment,the thickness of dermis significantly decreased(F=12.99,P＜0.01),the expression of collagen type Ⅰ(F=7.47,P＜0.01)and transforming growth factor-β1(F=11.76,P＜0.01)were also inhibited in those receiving treatment.However,the expression of collagen type Ⅲ was not affected obviously by the treatment.Conclusion The ethanol extract and ethyl acetate extract of Capparis Spinosa have the effect against skin fibrosis.

To investigate the differential gene expression profile in two typical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and to find the relationship between TCM syndromes and gene expressions.

Objective To explore the protective mechanism of tea polyphenols (TPs) ion oxidative stress damage of the rat articular cartilage tissue caused by brick-tea fluorosis. Methods One hundred and twenty wistar male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups according to body mass: fluoride group with drinking water containing 100.00 mg/L F-, fluoride plus TPs group treated with 100.00 mg/L F- and 10.0 g/L TPs, fluoride plus aluminum group fed with 100.00 mg/L F- and 200.00 mg/L Al3+, fluoride plus aluminium and TPs group treated with 100.00 mg/L F-,200.O0 mg/L Al3+ and 10.0 g/L TPs;brick-tea group treated with drinking water containing 100.00 mg/L F-,215.00 mg/L Al3+ and 9.2 g/L TPs, which was steeped by the brick-tea;control group treated with tap water. The animals were bred for three months and then sacrificed. The level of SOD,T-AOC and MDA in blood serum were detected,also the level of NO and cytokine IL-1β and IL-6, the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein in articular cartilage were respectively analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results Blood serum SOD level in the fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group[(664.009 ± 29.589)kU/L] was higher compared with that in the fluoride group[(625.328 ± 27.199)kU/L], fluoride plus aluminum group[(652.282±13.926)kU/L], although no statistically significant differences was found(P > 0.05) ;blood serum T-AOC level of the fluoride plus TPs, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick tea group[(10.874 ± 0.721), (11.871 ± 0.941), (10.380 ± 2.747)kU/L] was higher compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group [(8.849 ± 1.887), (8.210 ± 1.740)kU/L], the differences all being statistically significant(P < 0.05) ;blood serum MDA level in the fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group[(3.235 ± 0.446)μmol/L] had significances compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group [(3.889 ± 0.387), (4.580 ± 0.474)μmol/L, all P < 0.05)];blood serum NO level in fluoride plus Tps group, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick-tea group[(23.278 ± 2.386), (20.643 ± 2.623), (24.367 ± 6.072) μmol/L] had tatistical differences compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group[(32.962 ± 8.268), (34.909 ± 6.288)μmol/L, all P < 0.05];blood serum IL-1β level of fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum, fluoride plus Tps, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group and brick-tea group [(4.728 ± 0.297), (4.412 ± 0.229), (4.432 ± 0.285), (4.516 ± 0.351), (4.614 ±0.2270)n/L] did not have inter-group differences (F = 2.314,P > 0.05);the blood serum IL-6 level of fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick-tea group[(7.231 ± 0.596), (7.325 ± 0.290)ng/L] had statistical differences compared with fluoride plus aluminum[(8.256 ± 0.635)ng/L, P < 0.05]. The iNOS mRNA correspondent expression content of fluoride plus Tps group, fluoride plus aluminum and TPs group, brick-tea group(0.482 ± 0.021,0.447±0.021,0.491 ± 0.022) had statistical differences compared with fluoride group, fluoride plus aluminum group (0.562 ± 0.025,0.591 ± 0.020, all P < 0.05). Cells with positive iNOS protein expression of control group were mainly distributed at the surface layer of joint, while the cells of experiment groups were distributed both at the surface layer and the intermediate layer. Conclusions Tea polyphenols could alleviate oxidative stress damage on the articular cartilage, exerting protection against brick-tea fluorosis on rats through cleaning up free radicals, elevating total anti-oxidation capability, diminishing the generation of lipid peroxide.

Objectives To evaluate the effect of control measures and provide the basis for development of preventive measures though dynamical monitoring of the operation of water improvement projects and know The prevalent trends of endemic fluorosis.Methods In accordance with the provisions and requirements of the Surveillance Scheme of Drinking-Water-Borne Endemic Fluorosis(Trial),136 monitoring counties were selected in national 27 provinces(autonomous regions,municipalities) and Xin Jiang Production and Construction Corps,and 10 water improvement projects were selected in each county.The operation of water improvement projects was investigated,and water fluoride content was tested.Three epidemic villages were selected as fixed monitoring villages in each county.In the villages,the fluoride content in drinking water was detected by Standard Testing Method of Drinking Water.Dental fluorosis was diagnosed by Dean's method of all 8 to 12-year-old students in the villages.Stratified random sampling by age was used to select 50 adults over 25-year-old in each monitoring village,and skeletal fluorosis was examined by X-ray according to the Diagnosis Standard of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis.Results ①A total of 1398 water improvement projects were monitored.Normal and intermittent operation and discarded projects accounted for 93.35％(1305/1398),5.29％(74/1398) and 1.36％(19/1398),respectively.The qualification rate of water fluoride content was 69.96％ (978/1398).② In the 327 surveyed villages with water improvement projects,the qualification rate of water fluoride content of the projects accounted for 76.15％(249/327).In the 84 surveyed villages without water improvement projects,villages of water fluoride ＞ 1.2 mg/L and ≤2.0 mg/L,＞ 2.0 mg/L,and ≤4.0 mg/L,and ＞ 4.0 mg/L,accounted for 57.14％ (48/84),32.14％(27/84) and 10.71％(9/84),respectively.③ In the 195 villages with water improvement projects and the projects were in normal operation with qualified water,the detection rate of dental fluorosis and the defect type of dental fluorosis in children were 25.03％ (3851/15 387) and 1.88％ (289/15 387),respectively,and for the 82 villages with fluoride content exceeded the national standard,the two rates were 56.27％ (3384/6014) and 10.92％(657/6014),respectively.④ In the 195 villages with water improvement projects and the projects were in normal operation with qualified water,the detection rate of X-ray skeletal fluorosis was 19.11％ (1465/7667).In the 79 villages with fluoride content exceeded the national standard,the detection rate of X-ray skeletal fluorosis was 17.47％ (634/3630).Conclusions The operation of water improvement projects and water quality need to be further improved,and the measure of changing water plays a certain role in control of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis,which needs a long-term consolidation.