OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of diet-induced obesity on the apoptosis of testicular spermatogenic cells in pubertal male rats.

METHODSForty healthy male rats were equally and randomly divided into a control and a high-fat group, the former fed on normal diet, while the latter high-fat and high-calorie diet. The testes of the rats were harvested at the end of 10 weeks for detection of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the peripheral blood with the automatic biochemical analyzer. Pathological changes of the testis were observed under the light microscope, the apoptosis of the testicular cells detected by TUNEL, the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins determined by immunohistochemistry, and those of Bcl-2 mRNA and Bax mRNA measured by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were significantly higher in the high-fat group (5.17 +/- 0.17, 1.18 +/- 0.09, 1.76 +/- 0.11 and 5.08 +/- 0.18) than in the control (1.38 +/- 0.12, 0.39 +/- 0.05, 0.97 +/- 0.07 and 0.75 +/- 0.06) (P < 0.05), so was the apoptotic index of spermatogenic cells (37.17 +/- 2.74 versus 5.16 +/- 0.81, P < 0.01), and the apoptotic spermatogenic cells were mainly spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The expressions of Bax protein and Bax mRNA were markedly higher in the high-fat group (153.26 +/- 8.74 and 1.08 +/- 0.12) than in the control (101.81 +/- 6.14 and 0.37 +/- 0.04) (P < 0.01), while those of Bcl-2 protein and Bcl-2 mRNA remarkably lower in the former (139.26 +/- 7.21 and 0.46 +/- 0.05) than in the latter (159.37 +/- 8.96 and 1.05 +/- 0.11) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDiet-induced obesity can increase the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the rat testis, which may be associated with the reduced expression of Bcl-2 and elevated expression of Bax.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Diet ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; etiology ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; cytology ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

AIMTo establish a method to determine the isotope ratios of 13C to 12C of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites in urine, for detecting the source of dehydroepiandrosterone or its metabolites.

METHODSPreliminary separation of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids could be achieved using solid phase extraction, enzymolysis and thin layer chromatography. The source of dehydroepiandrosterone and other endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids could be detected by their delta values with gas chromat ography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

RESULTSThe 5 values of some metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone reduced after the administration of dehydroepiandrosterone preparation. In these cases the data indicated that exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids were administrated.

CONCLUSIONThe source of dehydroepiandrosterone or its metabolites in urine could be detected by measuring their delta values with this method.

Adult ; Androstane-3,17-diol ; urine ; Androsterone ; urine ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; metabolism ; Doping in Sports ; Etiocholanolone ; urine ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnanetriol ; urine ; Substance Abuse Detection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo detect HBV antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) changes in patients during acute flare-ups and to study their association with flare-ups and aggravations into grave hepatitis by quantitative analysis of HLA-A2* restricted HBcAg-specific CTL cells.

METHODSThe frequency of HBcAg-specific CTL cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 29 patients with persistent infection with HBV were quantified by flow cytometry using one HLA-A2*HBV peptide pentamers complex (Pro5TM MHC Pentamers).

RESULTSThere was a statistical difference of HBcAg specific CTLs between the patients with acute exacerbations (1.4%+/-0.8%) and the patients with immune tolerance (0.6%+/-0.4%) (t = 2.180, P = 0.01-0.05); There was no significant difference between the grave hepatitis group (1.3%+/-1.0%) and the chronic hepatitis group (1.4%+/-0.8%) regarding frequencies of antigen specific CTL (t = 0.215, P = 0.833-0.05). The level of antigen specific CTLs in PBMC in the 6 cases of chronic hepatitis B with acute exacerbations maintained a relatively high level (more than 0.7%) within the 12 week follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONHBcAg-specific CTLs may play an important role in hepatic flare-ups in patients with chronic HBV infection, but there was no direct relationship between antigen- specific CTLs and grave hepatitis.

Adult ; Female ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Aim To explore the impacts of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) on the phenotypes, endocy-tosis and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/ Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK)/P38 mitogen-ac-tivated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in indoxyl sulfate (IS) -induced dendritic cells (DCs). Methods After treatment with 30, 300 and 600 (xmol · L

BACKGROUNDA multi-center large scale study is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of domestic peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions. Some researchers believe that 6 L/d is enough for adequate dialysis, but there is no multi-center prospective study on Chinese population to confirm this. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of domestic PD solution (Changfu) and its difference between 6 L and 8 L dosage.

METHODSAdult PD patients who had taken PD therapy for at least one month were selected and divided into four groups according to two dialysis solution brands and two dialysis dosages, i.e., 6 L dose with Changfu dialysis solution, 6 L dose with Baxter dialysis solution, 8 L dose with Changfu dialysis solution, and 8 L dose with Baxter dialysis solution. After 48 weeks, the changes of primary and secondary efficacy indices were compared between different types and different dosages. We also analyzed the changes of safety indices.

RESULTSChanges of Kt/V from baseline to 48 weeks between Changfu and Baxter showed no statistical differences; so did those of creatinine clearance rate (Ccr). Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) from baseline to 48 weeks between Changfu and Baxter showed no statistical differences; so did those of net ultrafiltration volume (nUF) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Changes of nPCR from baseline to 48 weeks between 6 L and 8 L showed no statistical differences; so did those of nUF and eGFR. The decline of Kt/V from baseline to 48 weeks in 6 L group was more than that in 8 L group. Change of Ccr was similar. During the 48-week period, the mean Kt/V was above 1.7/w, and mean Ccr was above 50 L×1.73 m(-2)×w(-1). More adverse events were found in Changfu group before Changfu Corporation commenced technology optimization, and the statistical differences disappeared after that.

CONCLUSIONSThe domestic PD solution (Changfu) was proven to be as effective as Baxter dialysis solution. During 48-week period, a dosage of 6 L/d was enough for these patients to reach adequate PD. Clinical study promotes technological optimization, further helps to improve the safety indices of the medical products.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Dialysis Solutions ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reserve assessed by gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT G-MPI) for major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. From January 2017 to December 2019, patients with coronary artery disease and confirmed myocardial ischemia by stress and rest SPECT G-MPI, and underwent coronary angiography within 3 months were enrolled. The sum stress score (SSS) and sum resting score (SRS) were analyzed by the standard 17-segment model, and the sum difference score (SDS, SDS=SSS-SRS) was calculated. The LVEF at stress and rest were analyzed by 4DM software. The LVEF reserve (ΔLVEF) was calculated (ΔLVEF=stress LVEF-rest LVEF). The primary endpoint was MACE, which was obtained by reviewing the medical record system or by telephone follow-up once every twelve months. Patients were divided into MACE-free and MACE groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between ΔLVEF and all MPI parameters. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the independent factors of MACE, and the optimal SDS cutoff value for predicting MACE was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to compare the difference in the incidence of MACE between different SDS groups and different ΔLVEF groups. Results: A total of 164 patients with coronary artery disease [120 male; age (58.6±10.7) years] were included. The average follow-up time was (26.5±10.4) months, and a total of 30 MACE were recorded during follow-up. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that SDS (HR=1.069, 95%CI: 1.005-1.137, P=0.035) and ΔLVEF (HR=0.935, 95%CI: 0.878-0.995, P=0.034) were independent predictors of MACE. According to ROC curve analysis, the optimal cut-off to predict MACE was a SDS of 5.5 with an area under the curve of 0.63 (P=0.022). Survival analysis showed that the incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the SDS≥5.5 group than in the SDS<5.5 group (27.6% vs. 13.2%, P=0.019), but the incidence of MACE was significantly lower in the ΔLVEF≥0 group than in theΔLVEF<0 group (11.0% vs. 25.6%, P=0.022). Conclusions: LVEF reserve (ΔLVEF) assessed by SPECT G-MPI serves as an independent protective factor for MACE, while SDS is an independent risk predictor in patients with coronary artery disease. SPECT G-MPI is valuable for risk stratification by assessing myocardial ischemia and LVEF.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Stroke Volume ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Myocardial Ischemia

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the brain glucose metabolism and left ventricular function parameters, and to explore the cerebral glucose metabolism reduction regions in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: A total of 110 consecutive IHD patients who underwent gated (99)Tc(m)-sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging, gated (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT myocardial and brain glucose metabolic imaging within three days in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from April 2016 to October 2017, were enrolled in this study. Left ventricular functional parameters of SPECT/CT and PET/CT including end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were analyzed by QGS software. Viable myocardium and myocardial infarction region were determined by 17-segment and 5 score system, and the ratio of viable myocardium and scar myocardium was calculated. According to the range of viable myocardium, the patients were divided into viable myocardium<10% group (n=44), viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (n=36) and viable myocardium≥20% group (n=30). Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the range of viable myocardium and scar myocardium and the level of cerebral glucose metabolism. Brain glucose metabolism determined by the mean of standardized uptake value (SUV(mean)) was analyzed by SPM. The ratio of SUV(mean) in whole brain and SUV(mean) in cerebellum were calculated, namely taget/background ratio (TBR). Differences in cerebral glucose metabolism among various groups were analyzed by SPM. Results: There were 101 males, and age was (57±10) years in this cohort. The extent of viable myocardium and the extent of scar, LVEF evaluated by SPECT/CT and PET/CT were significantly correlated with TBR (r=0.280, r=-0.329, r=0.188, r=0.215 respectively,all P<0.05). TBR value was significantly lower in viable myocardium<10% group, compared with viable myocardium 10%-<20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.32±0.17, P<0.05) and viable myocardium≥20% group (1.25±0.97 vs. 1.34±0.16, P<0.05). Furthermore, in comparison with viable myocardium≥20% group, the hypo-metabolic regions of viable myocardium<10% group were located in the precuneus, frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and so on. Conclusions: There is a correlation between impaired left ventricular function and brain glucose metabolism in IHD patients. In IHD patients with low myocardial viability, the level of glucose metabolism in the whole brain is decreased, especially in the brain functional areas related to cognitive function.
Aged ; Brain ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Stroke Volume ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ventricular Function, Left