Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary, which binds to its receptors expressed on the membrane of Sertoli cells in the testis to bring about spermatogenesis. With the development of DNA sequencing technology, FSH SNPs rs10835638 and FSHR SNPs rs6165, rs6166, and rs1394205 were detected, which might directly affect the expression of FSH and activity of FSHR, resulting in male spermatogenic dysfunction. This review focuses on the relationship of FSH and FSHR gene polymorphisms with male infertility.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; genetics ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of leflunomide as induction and mainten-ance therapy for class Ⅴ lupus nephritis. Methods Sixteen patients with lupus nephritis (of which, three proven with Ⅴ +Ⅲ, six with Ⅴ+Ⅳ ), proven by renal biopsies, were included in this study. ALL patients rec-eived LEF plus prednisone treatment. For induction therapy, all patients were given an initial loading dose of LEF 60 mg daily for three days, followed by 20 mg daily for the whole induction treatment period. Prednisone was given starting from 0.8 mg per kilogram daily, then tapered four weeks later. After twenty-four weeks, the dosages of LEF and prednisone were 10 mg/d, 5～10 mg/d respectively during maintenance therapy. We asses-sed total remission rates in the end of twenty-four weeks, as well as the changes of system lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), urinary protein per twenty-four hours (24 h Upr), serum albumin, serum creatinine level, complement C3, complement C4, C reactive protein, serum titer of ANA and anti-dsDNA be-fore treatment, 12 weeks, 24 weeks and 48 weeks after treatment respectively. Meanwhile, seven patients received repeated renal biopsies after completing induction therapy, so we compared pathological activity index (AI) and chroniciry index (CI) between pre-therapy and post-therapy at the same time. T and t' test were selected. Results Sixteen patients were followed-up. After 24 weeks induction therapy, the total remission rate was 75.0%; SLEDAI was significantly lower than pre-therapy [(15.4±3.5) vs (6.9±1.7), P<0.05]; 24 h Upr was also significantly lower than pre-therapy [(5.8±2.2) g vs (l.3±0.5) g, P<0.01 ]. Unfortunately, all seven patients performed repeated renal biopsies with class Ⅴ lupus nephritis again histologically, of which two were transformed other cater-ofies. Comparing with that of pre-therapy, AI was improved after therapy [(2.4±0.9) vs (1.7±0.8), P<0.05]. However, CI indicated no difference. Adverse events including major infection occurred in four patients. The adverse events happened at the 12 th week after treatment. Conclusion The efficacy of LEF plus corticoster-oids as induction and maintenance therapy for class Ⅴ lupus nephritis is remarkable and the tolerance of patients is good.

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of lupus flares on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).MethodsData was obtained from 46 pregnancies of 44 pregnant women with SLE.The relationship between lupus flares and pregnant outcomes,and the risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal prognosis were analyzed.T-test,X2 test or Fisher's exact test and Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results① Lupus flares occurred in19(41％)pregnancies(group A) and stable lupus disease was observed in 27(59％) pregnancies(group B) during pregnancy.Compared to pregnancies in patients with stable lupus disease at the conception(n=32),pregnancies in patients with unstable lupus disease at the conception(n=8) had higher lupus flare during pregnancy( 100％ vs 16％,P＜0.05).(②) The common manifestations of lupus flares during pregnancy were lupus nephritis (LN) (11 cases),skin rashes (10 cases),arthritis (7 cases),and the common complication was infection ( 11 cases).(③) The incidence of premature labor,fetal growth retardation (FGR) and fetal loss in group A was 42％,47％ and 26％ respectively,which was significantly higher than that of the group B (7％,15％ and 0 respectively)(P＜0.05).There was no difference in the incidence of preeclampsia,fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia between the two groups ( 16％ vs 7％,16％ vs 19％,5％ vs O,respectively,P＞0.05).The incidence of premature labor and FGR in patients with active LN was higher than that of patients without active LN (55％ vs 11％,64％ vs 17％,respectively,P＜0.05).(④)The binary Logistic regression analysis showed that renal impairment,hypocomplementemia,aPL and serum urea nitrogen level were independent risk factors for premature delivery,FGR,fetal loss and fetal distress.Conclusion(①) Lupus flares during pregnancy increase the incidence of premature labor,FGR and fetal loss.Active LN during pregnancy can increase the incidence of premature labor and FGR.② Renal impairment,hypocomplementemia,aPL and serum urea nitrogen level are associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with SLE.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the Trp-p8 protein in the prostate tissue of the PSA "grey zone" with different PSA density of the transition zone (PSADTZ) and explore the value of determining Trp-p8 expression and PSADTZ in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSThis study involved 30 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and another 30 cases of PCa with different PSADTZ values. Using a data imaging and analysis system, we determined the expression levels of Trp-p8 in BPH and PCa tissues and analyzed their correlation with PSADTZ.

RESULTSThe expression of Trp-p8 was weak or negative in the BPH but strong in the PCa tissue and even stronger in the PCa tissue with high PSADTZ (F = 34. 05, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Trp-p8 protein is expressed differently in BPH and PCa tissues of the PSA " grey zone" and its expression is positively correlated with PSADTZ. Determination of the Trp-p8 expression and PSADTZ contributes to the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; TRPM Cation Channels ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common malformation of children with an incidence of approximately 10% of congenital heart disease patients. There can be a wide spectrum to the severity of the anatomic defects, which include ventricular septal defect, aortic override, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and right ventricular hypertrophy. We examined the relationship between right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with TOF and the gene expression of factors in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway.

METHODSTo gain insight into the characteristic gene(s) involved in molecular mechanisms of right ventricular hypertrophy in TOF, differential mRNA and micro RNA expression profiles were assessed using expression-based micro array technology on right ventricular biopsies from young TOF patients who underwent primary correction and on normal heart tissue. We then analyzed the gene expression of the MAPK signal pathway using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in normals and TOF patients.

RESULTSUsing the micro RNA chip V3.0 and human whole genome oligonucleotide microarray V1.0 to detect the gene expression, we found 1068 genes showing altered expression of at least two-fold in TOF patients compared to the normal hearts, and 47 micro RNAs that showed a significant difference of at least two-fold in TOF patients. We then analyzed these mRNAs and micro RNAs by target gene predicting software Microcosm Targets version 5.0, and determined those mRNA highly relevant to the right ventricular hypertrophy by RT-PCR method. There were obvious differences in the gene expression of factors in the MAPK signal pathway when using RT-PCR, which was consistent to the results of the cDNA microarray.

CONCLUSIONThe upregulation of genes in the MAPK signal pathway may be the key events that contribute to right ventricular hypertrophy and stunted angiogenesis in patients with TOF.

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; genetics ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; genetics

AIM AND METHODSTo investigate the effect of 2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg losartan intraperitoneally (i.p) on arterial blood pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) in rat and the involvement in the activity of habenulas neurons. Glass micropipette was used to record any changes of unit discharging of neurons in LHb and MHb before and after losartan was intraperitoneally injected.

RESULTSAP and HR were not significantly changed by 2 mg/kg losartan (i.p). However, AP was apparently decreased by 10 mg/kg losartan (i.p), but HR was unchanged. After 10 mg/kg losartan (i.p), 66.66% (12/18) unit discharging of neurons in LHb were increased in frequency, and 61.90% (13/21) in MHb were decreased.

CONCLUSIONAP of rat was significantly decreased by 10 mg/kg losartan (i.p). Depressor effect of losartan (i.p) was involved in the excision of neurons in LHb and the inhibition in MHb.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Habenula ; drug effects ; physiology ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and clinical significance of EphA7 protein in primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of EphA7 protein in 40 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, their corresponding adjacent liver tissues and 10 cases of normal liver tissues. The relations with its clinical pathological parameters were analyzed too.

RESULTSExpression of EphA7 protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm and the blood vessels of the septa, which was found in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, their corresponding adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissues. Western blot analysis showed that the expression level of EphA7 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (0.58 +/- 0.26) was greater than that in corresponding adjacent liver tissues (0.40 +/- 0.22, P < 0.05) and normal liver tissues (0.32 +/- 0.16, P < 0.05). But it had no significant difference between corresponding adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissues (P > 0.05). EphA7 protein expression was correlated with histological differentiation, tumor thrombi in portal vein, lymph node metastasis and high AFP level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEphA7 protein expression is significantly correlated with the biological behavior of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The high expression of EphA7 protein may play an important role in the malignancy transformation, invasion progression and metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, EphA7 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the change in mobility of staphylococcus and its drug resistance etiology investigation and clinical treatment.

METHODSThe routine biochemical identification was used for staphylococcus differentiation. Minimal inhibitory concentrations was used for drug-resistance determination. Some drug-resistance determination were detected by K-B method. The inducible resistance of erythromycin to clindamycin was checked by D-test.

RESULTSStaphylococcus was in the first place in the hospital infection. The rates of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus were 54.1%. The drug-resistance rates of staphylococcus to penicillin, oxacillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, clindamycin, SMZCO, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, teicoplanin antibacterials were 93.2%, 54.1%, 85.1%, 56.7%, 45.9%, 48.6%, 58.1%. 45.9%, 31.1%, 0%, 0%. D-test positive rate was 37.9%.

CONCLUSIONSThe results are helpful in study of pathogenic bacteria and drug resistance characteristics in staphylococcus infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Staphylococcal Infections ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

objective To explore the role of Xanthatin in the targets of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process using molecular docking method,and the effect on the target protein expression of HepG2 cells was detected by Western assay.Method Dhs,Vimentin,Snail and VEGFR3 are critical targets in EMT process,the spatial binding ability of Xanthium was evaluated by molecular docking method,compared with the corresponding endogenous substances:nicotinarnide adenine dinucleotide,Acetate ion,flavin adenine dinucleotide,and N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine.HepG2 cells were cultured,and the effects of Xanthatin of 1,5 and 20 mol/L concentrations on Dhs,Vimentin,Snail and VEGFR3 protein expression were detected by Western Blotting assay.Rusult Molecular docking show that Xanthatin has obvious affinity to key factors of EMT process such as Dhs,Vimentin,and VEGF-R3,higher than that of endogenous substance;and the affinity with Vimentin was less than that of endogenous substance;Western Blotting experiments proved the virtual results.The expression of Vimentin,Snail,VEGFR3 protein was significantly lowered,and the expression of e-cadherin was significantly raised.Conclusion The influence of Xanthatin to key factor e-cadherin,Vimentin,Snail,VEGFR3 are obvious,Which is likely to be a potential target.The results of computer virtual experiment and Western Blotting have certain similarity.Molecular virtual docking can pre hint the potential target factor.

Objective To investigate combination anesthesia with low-dose ketamine and mid-dose pentobarbital for open heart surgery in ju-venile pigs.Methods Thirty experimental juvenile pigs received ket-amine(3 mg·kg~(-1))and pentobarbital(20 mg·kg~(-1))intramuscularly for induction and intubation,then were given ketamine(5 mg·kg~(-1)·h~(-1)),pentobarbital(6-8 mg·kg~(-1)·h~(-1)),midazolam(0.1-0.2mg kg~(-1)·h~(-1))and pipecuronium(0.1 mg·kg~(-1)·h~(-1))intravenously for maintenance.The infusion of pentobarbital was withdrawn after car-diopulmonary bypass started.During the experimental treatment,vital signs were monitored;artery gas analysis and hemodynamie parameters were recorded.Results Twenty-eight juvenile pigs got stable hemody-namic parameters in the perioperative period.The time of anesthetic in-duction and maintenance is(9±2)and(179±15)min,respectively.The respiratory and cardiac arrest rates were 6.7% in induction and 3.3% in maintenance.respectively.Two cases got respiratory and cardi-ac arrest.on in induction and the OtIler after extubation.In addition,class I anesthetic effectiveness was achieved 73.3% in induction and 80.0% in maintenance,respectively.Conclusion This study demon-strated that lOW-dose ketamine combined with mid-dose pentobarbihal has little inhibition on respiration and circulation.The combination can achieve both hypnosis and analgesia effects with good surgical anesthetic effectiveness in juvenile pigs with open heart surgery.