Objective To investigate the effects of subchronic arsenic exposure on caspase-3 expression in Leydig cells and serum testosterone level in rats. Methods Forty SD rats were divided into four groups based on body mass (160-220 g) by random number table, 10 in each group and treated with As2O3 through drinking water at the doses of 0.0 (distilled water), 2.0, 12.0 and 60.0 mg/L for 14 weeks. Blood sample from heart was collected, serum testosterone was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the testicular tissue of rats was taken, the expression of caspase-3 was assayed by immunohistochemical staining, and its average gray value was analyzed with image analysis software (Biomias). Results There were statistically significant differences of the serum testosterone levels between groups (F= 37.99, all P< 0.05). Compared with the control group [(3.082 3 ± 0.653 0) ng/L], serum testosterone levels in middle-dose and high-dose groups [(1.694 6 ± 0.255 4), (1.350 5 ± 0.281 9)ng/L] were significantly lower (all P< 0.05). The numbers of positive cells of caspase-3 were 8.10 ± 1.91, 9.80 ± 2.15,10.00 ± 1.83 and 10.90 ± 2.38 in each vision in the 4 groups, there were statistically significant differences between groups (F=3.17, all P<0.05), compared with the control group , the middle-dose and high-dose groups were significantly higher (all P<0.05);the average gray values of caspase-3 were 135.10 ± 6.89, 130.00 ± 3.30, 117.10 ± 4.28, and 113.10 ± 5.38, there were statistically significant differences between groups (F = 41.09, P < 0.05), compared with the control group, the middle-and high-dose groups were decreased (all P<0.05). Conclusions One possible mechanism of As2O3 on male germ cell toxicity may be through up-regulation of the expression of caspase-3 in Leydig cells of SD rats and initiating the pathway of the apoptosis signal, which can lead to increased apoptosis of Leydig cells, decreased concentrations of testosterone, and damaged reproductive function in rats.

Calcaneus ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Radiography ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combining auricular point sticking and a healthy diet to treat simple obesity in children aged 6-9 years old.Methods: A total of 190 eligible obese kids were divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method, with 95 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by auricular point sticking plus guide on a healthy diet, while the control group was only provided with the guide on a healthy diet. The therapeutic efficacy was observed after intervention for three consecutive months, as well as the changes in body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and subcutaneous fat thickness. Results: After the 3-month intervention, the total effective rate was 91.6％ in the observation group, versus 74.7％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); in both groups, the BM, BMI, WC, HC, and subcutaneous fat thickness all decreased significantly (P<0.05), and were lower in the observation group than in the control group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking plus a healthy diet is safe and effective in treating simple obesity in children, producing more significant efficacy than healthy diet intervention alone.

OBJECTIVETo study the impacts of exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on liver function in rats.

METHODSTwenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group and radiated group. The rats in normal group were not radiated, those in radiated group were exposed to EMR 4 h/ d for 18 consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed immediately after the end of the experiment. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and those of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in liver tissue were evaluated by colorimetric method. The liver histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and the protein expression of bax and bcl- 2 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method. Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick and labelling (TUNEL) method was used for analysis of apoptosis in liver.

RESULTSCompared with the normal rats, the serum levels of ALT and AST in the radiated group had no obvious changes (P>0.05), while the contents of MDA increased (P < 0.01) and those of GSH decreased (P < 0.01) in liver tissues. The histopathology examination showed diffuse hepatocyte swelling and vacuolation, small pieces and focal necrosis. The immunohistochemical results displayed that the expression of the bax protein was higher and that of bcl-2 protein was lower in radiated group. The hepatocyte apoptosis rates in radiated group was higher than that in normal group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe exposure to 900 MHz mobile phone 4 h/d for 18 days could induce the liver histological changes, which may be partly due to the apoptosis and oxidative stress induced in liver tissue by electromagnetic radiation.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Phone ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Liver ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Staining and Labeling

Objective To study the expression and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase(FAK) in rat's au- tologous vein graft and the olmesartan modulating effect.Methods Autologous external jugular veins were grafted to common carotid arteries in 40 male Sprague Dawley rats.After surgery,rats were randomly assigned to the fol- lowing groups:sham;control;olmesartan treatment(10mg/kg.d by gavage);or physiological saline.The intimal thickness,the I/M in vein grafts was quantitated by HE stain.The expression and phosphorylation of focal adhe- sion kinase were assessed by Western-blotting,PCNA and ?-smooth muscle actin were measured by immunohisto- chemistry.Results Neointimal hyperplasia in control group was characterized by significantly increased intimal thickeness I/M(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of the epididymal size 1 year after vasectomy.

METHODSFifty male volunteers received vasoligation. Before and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, we measured the size and detected the internal echoes of the epididymis using color Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTSThe bilateral epididymides were both thickened post-operatively in all the 50 cases, with statistically significant differences between the baseline and the 1st month, the 1st and the 2nd month, the 2nd and the 3rd month, or the 3rd and the 6th month after surgery (all P < 0.01), but not between the 6th and the 12th month (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWithin 6 months after vasectomy, the bilateral epididymides manifested a progressive thickening, but basically restored their balance of secretion-absorption after 6 months.

Epididymis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Organ Size ; Postoperative Period ; Time Factors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Vasectomy

Objective To explore the effect of different proportions of mixed blood exchange transfusion on blood circulation in neonates with hemolytic disease.Methods Thirty-one newborn infants with hemolytic disease were treated by peripheral arteriovenous synchronization of exchange transfusion with different proportions mixed blood.AB type plasma was mixed with O type red blood cell(RBC) washing.The proportion for the treatment group was 1:1(the O type RBCs 2 U:the AB type plasma 200 mL),by exchange transfusion of haplotypes,in accordance with 80?mL/kg;the proportion for control group was 2:1(the O type RBC 4 U:the AB type plasma 200 mL),by exchange transfusion of double in accordance with 150-180 mL/kg.The indicators were detected,such as the exchange rate of neonatal serum bilirubin,RBC,hemoglobin(Hb),hematocrit(HCT),and the exchange transfusion quantity and days of hospitalization before and after the exchange transfusion were analyzed.Results The exchange rate of serum bilirubin of treatment group and control group was (44.92?3.99)% and (45.69?5.06)%,respectively,there was no significant difference between 2 groups(P=0.639),there was no significant difference of hospitalization days[(8.13?1.13) d vs(8.19?0.91) d]between 2 groups(P=0.884).After exchange transfusion in treatment group,the average level of the RBC,Hb and HCT were increased(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of glycoprotein receptor blockade tirofiban in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSFrom April 2006 to April 2008, 157 acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after PCI were randomly allocated to tirofiban (intravenous bolus 10 microg/kg followed by intravenous infusion of 0.15 microgxkg(-1)xmin(-1) for 48 h, n = 80) or equal volume saline (control group, n = 77). Baseline characteristics, PCI features and clinical outcomes during hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, re-infarction and target vessel revascularization) at 30 and 180 days after discharge were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Compared to control group, the MACE rates and re-infarction rates at 30 days (6.3% vs.18.2%, P < 0.05; 1.3% vs.9.1%, P < 0.05, respectively) and 180 days (10.0% vs.23.4%, P < 0.05; 2.5% vs.10.4%, P < 0.05, respectively) were significantly reduced in tirofiban group. LVEF value was significantly higher in tirofiban group at 30 days and 180 days compared with those in control group [(51 +/- 6)% vs. (46 +/- 8)%, P < 0.05; (57 +/- 7)% vs. (50 +/- 9)%, P < 0.05]. Hemorrhagic complications were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONUse of tirofiban for acute anterior myocardial infarction patients without ST segment resolution after PCI is safe and can significantly improve 30 and 180 days clinical outcomes after discharge.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome ; Tyrosine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEBone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs) of rabbits transferred with mammalian hBMP-4 expression plasmid were used to construct tissue-engineered bone. Gene therapy combined with tissue-engineering technique was explored to further improve osteogenesis.

METHODSpEGFP-hBMP-4 plasmid was constructed by subcloning technique. bMSCs were then transferred with either pEGFP-hBMP-4, pEGFP plasmid by lipofectamine or left uninfected in vitro. The cells from the 3 groups were combined with natural non-organic bone (NNB) to construct tissue-engineered bones, which were subcutaneously implanted into nude mice (6 implants per group) for 4 weeks. Specimens were evaluated through histological and computerized new bone formation analysis.

RESULTSpEGFP-hBMP-4 plasmid was successfully constructed. bMSCs could attach and proliferate on the surface on NNB. In vivo experiment showed that new bone formation in pEGFP-hBMP-4 group was higher than those of the control groups.

CONCLUSIONSTissue-engineered bone using hBMP-4 gene modified bMSCs might be an ideal alternative for the repair of bone.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering

Objective To evaluate the value of positron emission tomography(PET)-CT imaging combined with continual detection of CA_(125)in serum for diagnosis of early recurrent ovarian epithelial carcinoma.Methods Twenty six patients received PET-CT imaging,who were all diagnosed as primary epithelial ovarian cancer of stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ and had complete remission after cytoreductive surgery and multiple courses of chemotherapy in Shandong Provincial Cancer Hospital.After a steady period,all patients experienced progressive rising of CA_(125)values 3 times in 2 months.But no positive lesion was found by CT, or although suspicious positive focus was found,the recurrent and(or)metastatic extent was not definite. Out of 26 patients,16 were delivered rechemotherapy and(or)radiotherapy,and 10 received re- cytoreductive surgery.Results(1)Of 26 patients,the value of CA_(125)was more than 35 kU/L in 17,and in 14 of 17,pelvic or abdominal cavity recurrence was diagnosed by CT and PET-CT,and 4 showed simuhaneously distant metastasis on PET-CT.In the remaining 3 patients of which CT findings were negative,2 had pelvic and abdominal cavity recurrence,and one had bone metastasis on PET-CT.Of 9 patients with progressive rising CA_(125)levels but the value was less than cut-off(