OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVEMuscle segment homeobox gene (MSX)1 has been proposed as a gene in which mutations may contribute to nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P). To study MSX1 polymorphisms in NSCL/ P by means of polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), and investigate the association of MSX1 exons 1 polymorphisms with NSCL/P.

METHODSDNA were extracted from blood samples from NSCL/P and unrelated normal subjects. Genome DNA from peripheral leukocyte with these blood samples were extracted, which was used as template to amplify desired gene fragment of MSX1 exons 1 by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were examined by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). The MSX1 exons 1 polymorphisms were examined by sequencing if mutations were found.

RESULTSMSX1 genes of exon 1 mutation was not been found in the NSCL/P and unrelated normal subjects by SSCP.

CONCLUSIONNo correlation between MSX1 exon 1 and NSCL/P was found. MSX1 exon 1 may not be a key gene (susceptibility gene) in NSCL/P.

Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, Homeobox ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVEThe mechanism by which M.tuberculosis persists and survives in host macrophage is not fully understood, however, the M. tuberculosis chromosome-encoded TA loci perform functions possibly of signaling to these processes. To explore the biological functions of M. tuberculosis chromosome-encoded TA loci, the Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes of M.tuberculosis H37Rv strain were cloned and expressed.

METHODSThe hypothetical proteins Rv1494 and Rv1495 were bioinformatically analyzed by means of Bioedit software, Dnaman software and Pfam database. The complete open-reading frame sequences of Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes were amplified by PCR using M.tuberculosis H37Rv genomic DNA as the template, and the PCR products were cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET32a(+), respectively. After induction of expressions in E.coli host strain BL21 (DE3), the recombinant proteins were purified and detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSAccording to bioinformatic analysis, the hypothetical proteins of Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes shared some homologies with mazEF family, one of E. coli chromosomal TA loci (homology at 26% and 29.5%). Sequence analysis showed that the inserted target genes and its reading frames were completely correct. The recombinant plasmids were induced with IPTG to effectively express the fusion proteins with relative molecular mass coincident with prediction. The specific positive signals were identified from the immunoblots.

CONCLUSIONFor the first time, the Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes of M.tuberculosis H37Rv strain were cloned and its prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed successfully in this experiment, which may facilitate further functional study of this mazEF-like gene pair.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of transcription regulation of the liver-selective genes responsible for cell communication.

METHODSTissue-selective Affymetrix probe sets (3919 probes in total) were clustered by functional categories. Liver-selective cell communication (LSCC) genes were selected for further analysis. The 500-bp upstream sequences of all the LSCC genes were extracted for predicting the transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) of known transcription factors (TFs) using 3 programs; literature mining was then performed for these LSCC genes and TFs, and the transcription regulatory network were constructed.

RESULTSThe binding sites of 50 and 72 transcription factors were predicted from the upstream sequences of 23 LSCC genes by two programs respectively. Among them, 18 transcription factors were found in common. The top 10 TFBS sequences were basically consistent to the predicted TFs. Literature mining indicated that LSCC genes and TFs were closely related to such terms as albumin, diabetes, glucose, lipid, metabolism, and JNK, in addition to those associated with hepatic tissue and TFs. These observations suggested that LSCC genes and TFs were involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, binding and transport, coagulation signal cascades, inflammatory response, etc. PPP2R1B, which was out of the network, showed a partial functional similarity to DUSP10 in the network.

CONCLUSIONSLSCC genes and the predicted TFs may be involved in the regulation of many important functions of the liver, which are integrated into a sophisticated transcription regulatory network. JUN may be the key target for regulation, and PPP2R1B is presumed to participate in the regulation of JUN.

Binding Sites ; genetics ; Cell Communication ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Maspin protein in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with the effort to realize practical diagnosis use of them.

METHODSThe expression status of Maspin protein in 45 cases of OSCC, 33 cases of paratumor tissue and 15 cases of normal tissue was examined by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe positive rates of Maspin protein were 86.67% (13/15), 72.73% (24/33) and 37.78% (17/45) in normal tissue, paratumor tissue and OSCC. The expression of Maspin protein increased respectively in OSCC, paratumor tissue and normal tissue. The expression were different between OSCC and normal tissue, OSCC and paratumor tissue, paratumor tissue and normal tissue (P<0.05). The expression of Maspin protein was correlated with lymph node metastasis, histological grade (P<0.05), but not with TNM staging (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMaspin protein may play an important role in the development of OSCC. The expression level of Maspin protein detected in early time might be a useful prognostic marker for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Staging ; Serpins

The clinical data of one case of infantile myofibromatosis of left mandibular angle were analyzed, and the clinicopathological characteristics, imaging diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of infantile myofibromatosis were discussed.
Humans ; Myofibromatosis ; congenital

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Compound Qingqin Liquid (CQL) on the expression level of angiotensin II (Ang II) and COX-2 mRNA transcription and protein expression in the renal tissue of rats with uric acid nephropathy.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the positive drug group, the high, moderate, and low dose CQL group according to number randomization principle. The model was established by gastrogavage of adenine, accompanied with yeast feeding. Distilled water was given by gastrogavage to rats in the blank control group and the model group. Allopurinol at the daily dose of 9.33 mg/kg was given by gastrogavage to rats of the positive control group. CQL at the daily dose of 3.77 g/kg, 1.89 g/kg, and 0.09 g/kg was respectively given by gastrogavage to rats in the high, moderate, and low dose CQL groups. All treatment lasted for 6 weeks. Rats were randomly divided at week 4 (3 in the blank control group, and 6 in the rest groups), and the rest rats were killed at week 6. The renal tissue was extracted. The expression level of Ang II and COX-2 mRNA transcription were detected by RT-PCR. The expression level of Ang II was detected by ELISA. The expression level of COX-2 protein was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, except the mRNA expression of Ang II at week 4, the mRNA and protein expression of Ang II and COX-2 obviously increased at week 4 and 6 in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The COX-2 protein expression at week 4 was obviously lower in the high and moderate dose CQL groups than in the model group and the low dose CQL group (P < 0.05); the average integral of optical density value was obviously lower in the positive control group than in the model group. Except the mRNA expression of Ang II in the high dose CQL group at week 6, the mRNA and protein expression of Ang II obviously decreased in the positive control group and each dose CQL group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Of them, the effects were better in the high and moderate dose CQL groups than in the positive control group and the low dose CQL group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, the mRNA expression of COX-2, the average integral of optical density value were obviously lower in the positive control group and each dose CQL group than in the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expression of COX-2 was obviously lower in the high and moderate dose CQL groups than in the model group (P < 0.05). Of them, the mRNA expression of COX-2 was better in the moderate dose CQL group than in the positive control group (P < 0.05); the protein expression of COX-2 was better in the high dose CQL group than in the low dose CQL group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCQL was capable of lowering the expression level of Ang II, COX-2 mRNA transcription and protein expression, thus suppressing the inflammatory pathological injury of the renal tissue.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uric Acid

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea(AAD) is a frequent adverse effect of antibiotic in children.AAD is associated with longer hospitalization, higher healthcare cost and even lead to death.Pediatricians usually do not pay enough attention to AAD.Domestic experts from pulmonary medicine, infection and gastroenterology are organized to develop the consensus, to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of AAD, and contribute the children health in future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperoxaluria, Primary ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Recurrence

Objective To explore the effect of lactoferrin fortified formula milk on growth and blood erythrocyte indices among infants.Methods In this prospective multi -center controlled intervention study,a total of 260 infants were selected from six maternal and children's health care hospitals in the area.All subjects were divided into two groups with the sequence of outpatient:lactoferrin fortified formula milk group (fortified group,FG,containing lactoferrin 38 mg/100 g milk and iron element 4mg/100 g milk)and no lactoferrin fortified milk (control group,CG,containing lactoferrin 0 mg/100 g milk and iron element 4.2 mg/100 g milk)for 3 months.The levels of weight,height and head circumference and the concentration of hemoglobin (Hb),serum ferritin (SF),red blood cell count (RBC),hematocrit(Hct),mean corpuscular volume (MCV ), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH ), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC),red blood cells volume distribution width (RDW)and HAZ,WAZ and WHZ were recorded before and after intervention,respectively.Results A total of 213 (including 115 in FG,and 98 in CG)infants were included in the intervention trial and all measurement of biochemical indicators were detected.There were no significant difference in the average amount of daily intake of formula milk (94.3 ±9.8 g vs.88.2 ±8.7 g for FG and CG,P >0.05)and iron element (3.8 ±0.4 mg vs.3.7 ±0.6 mg for FG and CG,P >0.05).The average amount of daily intake of lactoferrin for infants in FG group was 35.8 ±3.7 mg.The levels of weight,WAZ,WHZ,Hb,SF,MCV and MCHC of infants in FG after intervention were all significantly higher than those of infants in CG [weight,(8723 ±245)g vs.(8558 ±214)g;WAZ,(1.02 ±0.31)vs.(0.44 ±0.18);WHZ,(0.98 ±0.31)vs.(0.41 ±0.12);Hb,(125.5 ±15.4)g/L vs. (116.9 ±13.1)g/L;SF,(44.7 ±17.2)μg/L vs.(31.6 ±18.4)μg/L,but significantly lower for the prevalence of anemia (4.35% vs.7.14%)and iron deficiency (13.91% vs.24.49%)(P <0.05).Conclusion The intervention of lactoferrin fortified formula milk presented significant effects on iron metabolic homeostasis and erythrocyte indices of infant with breastfeeding.