OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Pill (ZBDHP) on urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and sperm quality in ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection infertile patients.

METHODSRecruited were 80 infertility patients with Uu infection at Andriatrics Clinics and Department of Reproduction, including 130 cases of positive Uu semen and 50 cases of negative Uu semen. Patients with positive Uu semen were randomly assigned to the observation group (72 cases) and the control group (58 cases) according to the visit sequence. All patients took antibiotics for 2 weeks. Patients in the observation group additionally took ZBDHP, 6 g each time, twice daily. Those in the control group additionally took Vit E (100 mg each time, twice per day) and ATP (40 mg each time, twice per day). The therapeutic course for all was 90 days. Semen parameters and uPA contents of the sperm membrane were detected and comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm in Uu positive infected patients were lower than those in Uu negative infected patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference in the sperm density between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in pre-treatment sperm membrane uPA contents and sperm parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm obviously increased in the two groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the sperm membrane uPA content increased more obviously in the observation group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInfection with Uu leads to decreased uPA content of sperm membrance and the sperm motility. ZBDHP could effectively treat Uu infected infertility possibly through fighting against Uu damaged sperm membrane and make the sperm membrane uPA content return to normal, and elevate the fertilizability of sperms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Ureaplasma Infections ; drug therapy ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; drug effects ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism

Objective To observe the effect of Guben Kechuan Gran-ules ( GKG ) on expression level of soluble interleukin -2 receptor (sIL-2R) of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Rat models with COPD made by fumigation and dripping li-popolysaccharide.The rtas were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal group, model group, high, middle, low doses ( 2.28, 1.14, 0.57 g? mL-1 ) GKG groups, and Guben Kechuan Tablets group.From the third day of modeling, medicines were administered to rats by means of intragastric administration for consecutive 28 days.Two days after the fin-ishing of intragastric administration,rats were executed and samples were collected.SIL-2 R expression level in rat was tested by means of ABC-ELISA method.Results SIL-2R expression level in low-dose groups of GKG decreased obviously,with a significant difference compared with model group ( P<0.05).Conclusion GKG can enhance immune func-tion and anti infection ability in the airway of rats with experimental COPD by regulating sIL-2R expression level.

Objective To observe the effect of Guben Kechuan Granules ( GKG) on expression level of T lymphocyte subsets in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .Methods Rat models with COPD made by fumigation and dripping lipopolysaccharide . The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal group, model group, high, middle,low doses (2.28,1.14,0.57 g? mL-1)GKG groups, and Guben Kechuan Tablets group .From the third day of modeling , medicines were administered to rats by means of intragastric administration for consecu-tive 28 days.Two days after the finishing of intragastric administration , rats were executed and samples were collected .T lymphocyte subsets ex-pression level in rat was tested by means of rapid immunohistochemistry method.Results T lymphocyte subsets expression level in low -dose groups of GKG decreased obviously , with a significant difference com-pared with model group ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusion GKG can enhance immune function in the airway in rats with experimental COPD by regula-ting T lymphocyte subsets expression level .

Objective To observe the effect of Guben Kechuan Gra-nules( GKG) on expression level of thymus index and spleen index of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ).Methods Rats models with COPD made by fumigation and dripping lipopolysaccharide.The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal group, model group, high,middle,low doses (2.28,1.14,0.57 g· mL-1) of GKG groups, and Guben Kechuan tablets group.From the third day of modeling, medicines were administered to rats by means of intragastric administration for consecutive 28 days.Two days after the finishing of in-tragastric administration,rats were executed and samples were collected. And then the spleen index and thymus index were calculated after the spleen and thymus were peeled from rats.Results Thymus index and spleen index expression level in GKG group increased obviously, with a significant difference compared with model group ( P <0.05 ) . Conclusion GKG can enhance immune function in the airway of rats with experimental COPD by regulating thymus index and spleen index expression level.

To evaluate the visual performance of the patients with traumatic corneal astigmatism, after the treatment of topography guided off-flap epipolis laser in situ keratomileusi (off-flap Epi-LASlK).
●METHODS: This prospective clinical study was comprised of 21 eyes of 21 patients with irregular corneal astigmatism caused by trauma, they were treated by off-flap Epi - LASlK from July 2012 to December 2013. The data included uncorrected visual acuity ( UCVA), best spectacle - corrected visual acuity ( BSCVA ), contrast sensitivity 1, 6mo before and after surgery; the healing area percentage of corneal epithelia, the healing time of corneal epithelia and pain score at 3d after surgery.
●RESULTS: Postoperative 1mo both UCVA and BSCVA were improved significantly than that before surgery (t =15. 703, 4. 351, P< 0. 05); Compared with the 1mo after surgery, UCVA at 6mo after surgery raised significantly (t= 6. 867, P <0. 05). There was no statistical significance between 6 and 1mo after surgery about BSCVA (t= 1. 497, P = 0. 140 ). After surgery, mean spherical equivalent (SE) was reduced from -2. 43±3. 02D to -0. 23±0. 49D (P<0. 05), and the mean cylinder was reduced from -1. 86± 2. 23D to - 0. 46 ± 1. 03D (P< 0. 05). Postoperative 1mo,4 kinds of spatial frequency and contrast sensitivity had no significant difference compared with the preoperative (P>0. 05 ). Postoperative 6mo except the 3c/ d spatial frequency, the remaining 3 spatial frequency contrast sensitivity compared with those before operation were significantly improved ( P < 0. 05 ). The healing area percentage of corneal epithelia was 92. 46% ±8. 24% (80% -100%) at 3d after surgery; The healing time of corneal epithelia was 3. 50 ± 1. 56d; Pain scores at 3 and 7d after surgery was 1. 54±1. 32 and 0. 04±0. 64, respectively.
●CONCLUSlON: Topography-guided off-flap Epi-LASlK is safe and effective in treating the patients with traumatic corneal irregular astigmatism. The operation can improve both the contrast sensitivity and the visual performance.

A sample pretreatment method combining column clean-up with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (CCU-DLLME) for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oil-field water was proposed. With this method,most organic interferences in matrix were cleaned up,and PAHs were purified, enriched and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry directly. The influences on extraction efficiency including the kinds of column packing,weight ratio between column packing and sample, column flow rate,type and volume of extraction solvent, type and volume of disperser solvent and extraction time were investigated, respectively. Finally, 12 g of H103 macroporous resin was selected as column packing,12﹕5 of weight ratio between column packing and sample and 4 BV/h of column flow rate were selected in CCU. The resulting eluate was added with 1.00 mL of acetone (disperser solvent) and 15 μL of carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent),followed by DLLME for 2 min. Under the optimum conditions,the enrichment factor of PAHs was 730-1579,the limits of detection (S/N=3) were 1.1-5.3 ng/L, the linear range was 0.01-50 μg/L,the RSDs(n=5) were 0.6%-3.4% and the recoveries were 82.6%-104.6%. This method could greatly reduce the influence of organic interferences in matrix, and was fit for the rapid analysis of pollutants in oil-field water especially.

Direct DNA delivery procedures (include biolistics method) often resulted in multiple copies of the transgenes in transformants and certain copies of them were rearranged. Integration of multiple copies of the introduced genes was the main reason of gene silencing which meant inhibition or loss of foreign gene expression in filial generations of transformants. In the present work, we compared the influences of maize Ubi-1 promoter and other promoters on copy number of transgenes in maize transgenic plants. Immature embryos from Zea mays L. plants of sib-pollinated of A188 x H99 genotype were used as initial materials. Type- I embryonic calluses derived from preculture of immature embryos were treated on N6 medium containing 0.6 mol/L sucrose for 3 approximately 5 hours and transformed via particle bombardment with PDS1000/He delivery system (Bio-Rad). Bombarded calluses were treated with hyperosmotic N6 medium for 16 approximately 20 hours continuously. Then the cultures were transferred onto normal N6 medium and incubated at 26 degrees C in dark for two weeks and subsequently selected on N6 medium supplemented with 2 or 5 mg/L phosphinothricin (PPT) but without casamino acid for another two weeks. The calluses after selective culture were transferred onto hormone-free MS medium containing 2 or 5 mg/L PPT but without casamino acid, and incubated at 24 degrees C under 16 h illumination for plant regeneration. Regenerated plantlets over 2 cm in height were transferred to Magenta box containing 1/2 hormone-free MS medium. Plantlets over 8 cm in height were transplanted to soil. After growing for one week in greenhouse, the plants were sprayed with 250 mg/L PPT solution. Fertile transgenic maize plants were regenerated and confirmed by Southern blotting and histochemical localization of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity. Relations between promoter and copy number of transgenes in transformants were analyzed. Maize transgenic plants possessing an intact copy and another incomplete copy of beta-glucuronidase gene (gus) were obtained in case gus gene under the control of maize Ubi-1 promoter (pUbi:GUS). Simultaneously the co-transformed phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene (bar) controlled by CaMV 35S promoter in another plasmid (p35S:BAR) also existed with only one copy. When pDB1 and (pUbi:in2) were cobombarded, the regenerated transgenic maize plant exhibited with only one copy of in2 gene too. It suggested that the copy number of transgenes in maize transformants was low if the transgenes controlled by maize Ubi-1 promoter. The possible reason might be that the foreign genes were integrated site-specifically via homologous recombination between Ubi-1 promoter and its endogenous sequences in maize genome, and two cotransformed plasmids had reconstructed as one intact molecule before integrating into maize chromosome. On the contrary, if p35S:BAR was cobom-barded with plasmid pAct:In1 containing rice Act-1 promoter (without maize Ubi-1 promoter), the transgenic maize plants had 4 approximately 8 copies of bar gene. These results reflected that utilization of self gene promoter could reduce the copy number of the transgenes in transgenic plants of certain species itself and avoid the occurrence of gene silencing. T2 seeds have been harvested.
Gene Dosage ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Ubiquitin C ; genetics ; Zea mays ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo find out the mechanisms of redifferentiation and reversion of malignant human gastric cancer cells induced by ascorbic acid.

METHODSHuman gastric cancer cells grown in the laboratory were used. The Trypan blue dye exclusion method was used to determine the cell doubling time. The electrophoresis rate and colonogenic potential were the indices used to measure the rate of redifferentiation. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the content of H202 were evaluated by spectrophotography.

RESULTSSix mmol/L ascorbic acid was used as a positive control. Human gastric cancer cells were treated with 75 microm hydrogen peroxide, which alleviated many of the malignant characteristics. For example, the cell surface charge obviously decreased and the electrophoresis rate dropped from 2.21 to 1.10 microm x s(-1) x V(-1) x cm(-1). The colonogenic potential, a measure of cell differentiation, decreased 90.2%. After treatment with ascorbic acid, there was a concentration- and time-dependent increase in hydrogen peroxide (H202) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, the activity of catalase (CAT) resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent decrease. SOD and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) exhibited some effects, but there were statistically significant differences between the SOD and AT group and the H202 group.

CONCLUSIONSAscorbic acid induces growth inhibition and redifferentiation of human gastric cancer cells through the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

In this work,a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure(TDN)functionalized rotational paper-based analytical device(RPAD)was constructed for rapid and highly sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1(AFB1)using exonucleaseⅠ(ExoⅠ)and G-quadruplex(G4)dimer.Herein,a single-stranded DNA,containing both of the G4 dimer sequence and AFB1 recognition sequence,was used as the recognition probe(G4 dimer probe).TDN was used to precisely regulate the orientation and distribution density of G4 dimer probe to improve the recognition efficiency of the system.ExoⅠas a single stranded DNA specific nuclease was introduced for effective amplification of the detection signal.G4 dimer was employed to enhance the fluorescence signal of thioflavin T(ThT).In the absence of AFB1,the G4 dimer structure of G4 dimer probe could specifically bind with ThT to generate dramatic fluorescence enhancement.However,in the presence of AFB1,AFB1 could specifically bind with G4 dimer probe,resulting in the dissociation of G4 dimer probe from TDN and further be digested by ExoⅠ.At the same time,the released AFB1 could bind to G4 dimer probe on the TDN again by this way to generate signal amplification.After this cycle,the amount of aptamer on the TDN was decreased,accompanied by the reduction of G4 dimer on TDN.In this case,the fluorescence intensity of the system was reduced.The designed RPAD showed a good linear response in AFB1 concentration range of 0.0001-500 ng/mL and the limit of detection was 0.1 pg/mL.Moreover,the proposed strategy was successfully applied to detection of AFB1 in peanut and wine.The developed TDN/G4 dimer/ExoⅠstrategy improved the specificity and sensitivity of the system significantly.

Background Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has been proposed to shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation in intubated patients,especially those who fail initial weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).However,there are also some discrepancies in terms of weaning success or failure,incidence of re-intubation,complications observed during study and patient outcomes.The primary objective of this update was to specifically investigate the role of NIPPV on facilitating weaning and avoiding re-intubation in patients intubated for different etiologies of acute respiratory failure,by comparing with conventional invasive weaning approach.Methods We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing noninvasive weaning of early extubation and immediate application of NIPPV with invasive weaning in intubated patients from PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,Web of Knowledge and Springerlink databases.Records from conference proceedings and reference lists of relevant studies were also identified.Results A total of 11 RCTs with 623 patients were available for the present analysis.Compared with IMV,NIPPV significantly increased weaning success rates (odds ratio (OR):2.50,95％ confidence interval (C/):1.46-4.30,P=0.0009),decreased mortality (OR:0.39,95％ CI:0.20-0.75,P=0.005),and reduced the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) (OR:0.17,95％ CI:0.08-0.37,P ＜0.00001) and complications (OR:0.22,95％ CI:0.07-0.72,P=0.01).However,effect of NIPPV on re-intubation did not reach statistical difference (OR:0.61,95％ CI:0.33-1.11,P=0.11).Conclusions Early extubation and immediate application of NIPPV is superior to conventional invasive weaning approach in increasing weaning success rates,decreasing the risk of mortality and reducing the incidence of VAP and complications,in patients who need weaning from IMV.However,it should be applied with caution,as there is insufficient beneficial evidence to definitely recommend it in terms of avoiding re-intubation.