OBJECTIVETo investigate the semen quality and its influencing factors in preconception males in Nanjing area so as to provide some evidence for working out effective intervention measures.

METHODSTotally 687 men receiving preconceptional physical examination were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the subjects along with an analysis of their semen quality.

RESULTSThe median of sperm concentration was 63.3 x 10(6)/ml (95% CI [19.88-119] x 10(6)/ml). The median of grade a sperm was 33.03% (95% CI [19.38-55.05]%), that of grade a + b sperm was 52.08% (95% CI [39.53-69.37]%), and that of teratosperm was 91.75% (95% CI [69-100]%). The median concentration of seminal plasma PMN-elastase was 195.55 ng/ml (95% CI [76.16-3330.38] ng/ml) and that of seminal plasma zinc was 7.62 μmol/L (95% CI [1.5-23, 45] μmol/L). The positive rates of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) were 42.4%, 0.3%, and 2.4%, respectively. The median of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of those whose wives had a history of adverse pregnancy was 20.25% (95% CI [2.15-68.25]%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that mental stress (OR 1.567, 95% CI [1.081-2.27]) and sedentariness (OR 1.772, 95% CI [1.211-2.592]) were independent risk factors for asthenospermia.

CONCLUSIONThe sperm quality of preconception males in Nanjing area is not encouraging, and it can be improved by changing undesirable lifestyle and reducing mental stress.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; etiology ; China ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; isolation & purification ; DNA Fragmentation ; Gardnerella vaginalis ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Leukocyte Elastase ; analysis ; Male ; Preconception Care ; Semen ; microbiology ; Semen Analysis ; statistics & numerical data ; Sperm Count ; statistics & numerical data ; Spermatozoa ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; isolation & purification

Objective The aim of this study is to observe the effect of combined amiodarone and antiarrhythmic peptide (AAP10) use on the incidence of induced ventricular arrhythmias in healed myocardial infarction (MI) rabbits. Methods Twenty Japanese rabbits underwent thoracotomy without coronary artery ligation( Sham, group A) ,the middle left circumflex branch were ligated to induce MI in 180 Japanese rabbits. Eight weeks after operation, 124 rabbits survived MI operation and were divided into four groups: control group (group B, n =31 ), amiodarone group (group C, n =31 ), AAP10 group (group D,n =31 ) and amiodarone plus AAP10 group ( group E, n =31 ). The A and B and D groups were treated with saline 2 ml/d, the C and E groups were treated with 2 ml saline containing amiodarone 100 mg· kg-1·d-1. All rabbits were examined by echocardiogram at 12 weeks after operation, then anesthetized by sodium barbital, the left wedge ventricular preparations were cannulated and artery perfused by Tyrode's solution in vitro in the absence (Group A, B and C) and presence of AAP10 (500 nmol/L, Group D and E). The volume electrocardiogram, QT Interval, QRS interval, effective refractory period (ERP), the T-peak to Tend interval ( Tp-e ), and ventricular tachycardia episodes induced by programmed stimulation were recorded.The Tp-e/QT ratio was calculated. After perfusion, gap junctions protein connexin 43 (Cx43) expression was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results The incidence of induced ventricular tachycardia episodes of group A, B, C, D, E was 0, 62. 5%, 26. 9%, 40.0%, 22. 2% respectively. The incidence of induced ventricular tachycardia episodes of group E was less than group B. The Tp-e/QT ratio in group B, C, D were greater than in group A. The Tp-e/QT ratio of group E was less than group B. The myocardial Cx43 in the group B was down-regulated and disorganized compared to group A, up-regulated in group C and E compared to group B, up-regulated in group E compared to group D. The Cx43 in the heart of group D and E were well organized than in group B and C. Conclusions The artery perfused rabbits wedge preparations with healed myocardial infarction with high incidence of induced ventricular tachycardia episodes are good platform for ventricular arrhythmias research. Combined amiodarone and AAP10 use could decrease the Tp-e/QT ratio and the incidence of induced ventricular tachycardia episodes. Amiodarone and AAP10have synergistic effects on upregulating Cx43 and preventing ventricular arrhythmias in this rabbit model of healed myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes of T lymphocyte subsets of AIDS patients during more than 24 months of highly active antiretrovirus therapy (HAART) with successful suppression of HIV replication and different CD4 + T cell restoration.

METHODSTotally 45 AIDS patients who had received HAART for more than 24 months were included. During HAART (including DO, M3, M6, M12, M18, and M24), the number of plasma HIV-1 RNA was measured quantitatively using the bDNA assay, and T lymphocyte subsets including CD3 + CD4 + cells, CD3 + CD8 + cells, naive CD4 + cells (CD4 + CD45RA + CD62L +), CD4 + CD28 + cells , and CD8 + CD38 + cells were detected with flow cytometer.

RESULTSAmong 45 patients, 24 patients (53.3%) whose plasma viral load decreased to less than 500 copies/ml at M6 and maintained to M24 were classified into three groups according to the CD4 + T cell count increments on M24 (compared with DO): group A (< 100/mm3), group B (100-200/mm3), and group C (> 200/mm3). After the initiation of HAART, T lymphocyte response, including CD4 + T cell counts, naive CD4 + cell counts, percentages of CD4 + CD28 + cells in these patients were improved gradually, while CD8 + CD38 + percentage decreased. The improvement of T lymphocyte response in group C was most remarkable even with highest plasma viral load and lowest CD4 T cell count on DO. Compared with group A and B, group C had significantly better improvement not only in the quantities of CD4 + T cell, but also in the CD28 + expression and naive CD4 + T cell populations.

CONCLUSIONST lymphocyte response of AIDS patients can be effectively reconstituted by HAART. Different dynamics of CD4 + CD28 + and naive CD4 + populations may considerably contribute to the quantity and cellular function restoration of CD4 + T lymphocyte.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Anti-HIV Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; HIV ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of antiarrhythmic peptide (AAP10) on ventricular arrhythmias in rabbits with healed myocardial infarction (OMI).

METHODSThirty rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 each): Sham group, left thoracotomy was performed without coronary ligation; OMI group and OMI + AAP10 group, the circumflex coronaries were ligated. Three months post operation, the electrophysiological and antiarrhythmic effects of AAP10 were assessed in the arterially perfused rabbit left ventricular wedge preparation. Sham and OMI group were perfused with Tyrode's solution and OMI + AAP10 group was perfused with Tyrode's solution + AAP10 (80 nmol/L). Transmembrane action potentials were recorded simultaneously from endocardium and epicardium together with a transmural ECG by use of 2 separate intracellular floating microelectrodes. The stimulus-response-interval (SRI) of the epicardium and the incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) were observed. Whole heart and left ventricular weights, the left ventricular thickness at infarct border zone were measured.

RESULTSWhole heart and left ventricular weights as well as the left ventricular thickness at the infarct border zone significantly increased post infarction. VT was induced in 8 out of 10 rabbits in OMI group and in 2 out of 10 rabbits in OMI + AAP10 group (P < 0.05). SRI was also significantly shortened in OMI + AAP10 group compared to OMI group [SRI-1: (20.59 +/- 0.79) ms vs. (28.71 +/- 0.55) ms; SRI-2: (30.42 +/- 0.74) ms vs. (38.67 +/- 0.49) ms, all P < 0.01]. However, the action potential morphology and duration were similar between OMI and OMI + AAP10 groups.

CONCLUSIONThe antiarrhythmic peptide (AAP10) can increase gap junctional intercellular conductance without affecting the action potential morphology and duration and decrease the incidence of inducible ventricular tachycardia.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of KN-93, a calmodulin kinase II inhibitor, on ventricular arrhythmias in rabbits with cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODSFemale New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 each): Sham; LVH; LVH + KN-92 and LVH + KN-93 group. LVH was induced by partially constricting the abdominal aorta. In Sham group, the abdominal aorta was exposed without constriction. Eight weeks later, the arterially perfused left ventricular wedge preparations were made and transmembrane action potentials (TAP) from epicardium and endocardium and transmural ECG were simultaneously recorded. Incidence of early after depolarization (EAD) and torsade de pointes (Tdp), QT interval, action potential duration (APD) and transmural depolarization dispersion (TDR) at different cycle lengths were observed under slow stimulation (2000 - 4000 ms), hypokalemic (2 mmol/L) and hypomagnesaemic (0.25 mmol/L) Tyrode's solution perfusion.

RESULTSLeft ventricular hypertrophy was detected in LVH group by echocardiography and not affected by KN-92 and KN-93. Perfused with hypokalemic, hypomagnesaemic Tyrode's solution and under slow stimulation (2000 - 4000 ms), the incidences of EAD and Tdp in Sham group, LVH group, LVH + KN-92 group (0.5 micromol/L) and LVH + KN-93 group (0.5 micromol/L) were 0/10, 10/10, 9/10, 5/10 and 0/10, 5/10, 4/10, 1/10, respectively. With 1 micromol/L KN-92 and KN-93, the incidences of EAD and Tdp in LVH + KN-92 and LVH + KN-93 group were 9/10, 3/10 and 4/10, 1/10 respectively. The QT interval, APD and TDR were not affected by KN-93.

CONCLUSIONThe calmodulin kinase II inhibitor KN-93 can effectively suppress ventricular arrhythmias in rabbits with cardiac hypertrophy by decreasing EAD.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; complications ; drug therapy ; Benzylamines ; pharmacology ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cardiomegaly ; complications ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology