OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yijing Recipe (YR) on the apoptosis of testis spermatogenic cells and the protein expression of Bcl-2/Bax in rats with adenine induced infertility.

METHODSTotally 75 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the model group, the high dose YR group, the middle dose YR group, and the low dose YR group, 15 in each group. Except those in the blank control group, rats in the rest groups were intragastrically administered with adenine for 10 successive days. From the 11th day, rats in the blank control group and the model group were fed with equal volume of normal saline. Rats in the YR groups were intragastrically administered with YR at different doses (3.38 g/100 g; 1.69 g/100 g; 0.85 g/100 g), once daily for 20 consecutive days. All rats were killed by the end of the experiment and their testes extracted. The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the expression of Bcl-2/Bax proteins were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and SABC method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the Bcl-2 protein expression decreased, the Bax protein expression increased, and the apoptosis index increased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, the Bcl-2 protein expression increased in the three YR treated groups (P <0.01, P <0.05). The Bax protein expression level decreased in the high and middle dose YR groups (P <0. 01, P <0. 05). The apoptosis index decreased in the middle dose YR group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONYR could inhibit the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells through regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infertility ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of citric acid stimulation on salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), total protein (TP), salivary flow rate, and pH value between Pi deficiency (PD) children and healthy children, thereby providing evidence for Pi controlling saliva theory.

METHODSTwenty PD children were recruited, and 29 healthy children were also recruited at the same time. Saliva samples from all subjects were collected before and after citric acid stimulation. The sAA activity and amount, TP contents, salivary flow rate, and pH value were determined and compared.

RESULTS(1) Citric acid stimulation was able to significantly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, sAA activities, sAA specific activity and sAA amount (including glycosylated and non-glycosylated sAA amount) in healthy children (P<0.05), while it could markedly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, and glycosylated sAA levels in PD children (P<0.05); (2) Although there was no statistical difference in determined salivary indices between the two groups (P>0.05), salivary indices except salivary flow rate and glycosylated sAA levels decreased more in PD children. There was statistical difference in sAA activity ratio, sAA specific activity ratio, and the ratio of glycosylated sAA levels between PD children and healthy children (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPD children had decreased response to citric acid stimulation.

Child ; Citric Acid ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Saliva ; Salivary alpha-Amylases ; metabolism ; alpha-Amylases

Agmatine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Analgesia ; methods ; Animals ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and the outcome of severe trauma of various ages in emergency department,to improve the therapeutic effect of emergency rescuing.Methods Two thousand and sixty nine patients of severe trauma were treated during a seven-year period from October 1997 to October 2004.The studied patients were divided into 5 groups:(1)adolescent group(Group A,＜13 years old,n=106);(2)juvenile group(Group B, 13-18 years old,n=128);(3)youth group(Group C,18-40 years old,n=1518);(4)middle age group(Group D, 40-60 years old,n=215);and(5)elderly group(Group E,＞60 years old,n=102).All the patients were evaluated with Injury Severity Score(ISS),and the result was≥16 in all of the studied patients.Results The incidence of severe trauma in male in all 5 groups was higher than that in female,and it was significantly higher in Group C,Group D and Group E when compared with that in the other groups(P＜0.01).Traffic accident was the leading cause of injury,and its incidence in Group A,Group B and Group D was higher than that in other groups(P＜0.01).However,injury caused by falling from high places was the second cause of injury,being significantly increased in Group A,while armed fighting and injury during work being significantly increased in Group B,Group C and Group D,slip fall injury being significantly increased in Group E(P＜0.01).Head injury was mainly found in Group A and Group E,extremities injury and/or spinal injury were increased markedly in Group B,Group C and Group D(P＜0.05),abdominal injury was significantly decreased in Group E(P＜0.001).The total mortality was 11.9%(246/2069).The mortality within 24 hours (20.6%,21/102)was significantly higher than that beyond 24 hours(7.8%,8/102)in Group E(P＜0.01).The time of staying in the emergency department differed significantly between the survived patients and those died in all 5 groups (P＜0.01).Conclusion The gender,the incidence and the characteristics of the injury causes and injury sites differed between severely injured patients of various ages.Mortality in the elderly is significantly increased following severe trauma. The idea of“golden one hour”and“platinum ten minutes”,measures of shortening the time of staying in the emergency clinic,early definite operation and damage control operation should be emphasized.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis on cardiogenic cerebral infarction and noncardiac infarction by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Methods Comparations of NIHSS, mRS and adverse events before and after treatment were made between the cardiogenic group and the noncardiac group. Results No significant differences in the NIHSS and mRS were found between the two groups. The incidence of brain hernia and dermatorrhagia in the cardiogenic group was higher than that in the noncardiac group. Conclusion Rt-PA therapy in cardiogenic cerebral infarction was effective and safe in spite of higher incidence of hemorrhage and brain hernia.

Objective To explore the function of fluorescent probe JC-1 in detecting the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential(△?m)in early apoptotic cells.Methods After 2-ME was used to induce MUTZ-1 cell apoptosis,cells were dyed with fluorescent probe JC-1,and then the changes of △?m in the early stage of apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry or detected under fluorescent microscope. Results The control cells with high △?m are those forming JC-1 aggregates in the inner membrane of mitochondria,thus showing orange-red fluorescence.2-ME caused decrease of △?m in MUTZ-1 cells,in which JC-1 maintains monomeric form,thus showing only green fluorescence.The decreases of △?m were in a time-dependent manner,which were significantly higher than those in control group(P

Humans ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive ; Acupuncture Therapy

Animals ; Disease Progression ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Renal Agents ; pharmacology ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sclerosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) on cardiac function of patients undergoing valve replacement operation under cardio-pulmonary bypass.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients undergoing valve replacement operation under cardio-pulmonary bypass were randomly divided into the SFI group and the control group, 60 in each group. Intravenous infusion of 1 ml/kg SFI was given to the SFI group, 30 min before anesthesia, and to the control group, equal volume of normal saline was given instead. The following indices were observed: (1) the hemodynamic changes occurred in the operational period; (2) the dosage of vaso-active drugs used during and after operation; (3) the post-operational recovery time of patients.

RESULTSThe mean arterial pressure and heart rate in the SFI group during operation were higher, while the central venous pressure was lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The dosage of vaso-active drugs, such as dopamine, dobutamine, sodium nitroprusside and lidocaine, used during and after operation was lower, and the extubation time and the intensive care unit (ICU) staying time were shorter in the SFI group when compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFI has certain protective effects on the cardiac function of patients undergoing valve replacement operation under cardio-pulmonary bypass.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Dopamine ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Nitroprusside ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Period ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery