The two-dimensional model of cell culture is an important method in the study of testicular development and spermatogenesis but can not effectively mimic and regulate the testicular microenvironment and the whole process of spermatogenesis due to the lack of relevant cell factors and the disruption of a three-dimensional spatial structure. In the past 20 years, the development and optimization of the in vitro model such as testis organotypic culture and in vivo model such as testis transplantation achieved a transformation from two- to three-dimension. The maintenance and optimization of the testicular niche structure could mimic the testicular microenvironment and cell types including Leydig, Sertoli and germ cells, which showed similar biological behaviors to those in vivo. Besides, the cell suspension or tissue fragment floats in the gas-liquid interface so that the development of somatic and germ cells is well maintained in vitro whilst the feedback linkage between grafted testis tissue and hypothalamus-pituitary of the host rebuilt in the in vitro model provides an endocrinological basis for spermatogenesis, which serves as an effective methodology to better understand the organogenesis and development of the testis as well as testicular function regulation, advancing the concept of treatment of male infertility. Al- though each of the methods may have its limitations, the progress in the processing, freezing, thawing, and transplantation of cells and tissues will surely promote their clinical application and present their value in translational medicine.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Germ Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; growth & development

This study is to investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Uygur medicine bugloss (BTF) on rats with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and to explore the mechanisms by which it acts. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in rats was occluded for 30 min followed by 4 h reperfusion. Meanwhile, BTF dissolved in saline was administered intraperitoneally at dosage of 10, 30 and 50 mg x kg(-1). Electrocardiograph, infarction index, serum myocardial enzymes and heart function were determined to evaluate the effect of BTF. Some other observations were carried out to explore whether inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis is involved in the mechanisms underlying BTF. Our results showed that in ischemia/reperfusion injured rats BTF could dose-dependently reduce myocardial infarction index and myocardial enzyme leakage, and enhance heart function, indicating that it possesses significant cardio protection. ELISA analysis showed that BTF could decrease the content of myocardial inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Western-blotting confirmed that BTF could increase the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and reduce the expression of proapoptosis protein Bax. Further more, the phosphorylation level of PI3K and Akt was upregulated by BTF treatment. BTF can protect rat against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Anti-inflammation and inhibition of apoptosis through upregulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway may contribute to the protective effect of BTF.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heart ; Interleukin-6 ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Myocardium ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Protective Agents ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) of varicocele patients, the influence of spermatic vein ligation on IELT, and the relationship of Visual Analogue Score (VAS) with IELT.

METHODSWe selected 112 males who had regular sexual life after spermatic vein ligation and conducted follow-up visits for 6 months. According to preoperative IELT, we divided the patients into an IELT < or = 2 min group and an IELT > 2 min group, and compared their IELT, VAS and Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation-5 (CIPE-5) scores before and 6 months after operation.

RESULTSFollow-up was accomplished in 81 of the patients, 18 in the IELT < or = 2 min group and 63 in the IELT >2 min group. Compared with the baseline, IELT was significantly prolonged postoperatively in both the IELT < or = 2 min group ([1.26 +/- 0.37] vs [4.53 +/- 1.69] min, P < 0.01) and the IELT >2 min group ([5.14 +/- 2.03] vs [7.69 +/- 4.51] min, P < 0.05); the postoperative CIPE-5 scores were remarkably improved in the former (11.27 +/- 3.52 vs 15.64 +/- 2.37, P < 0.05) but insignificantly in the latter group (20.42 +/- 4.65 vs 21.83 +/- 5.49, P > 0.05); the postoperative grades of the CIPE-5 scores showed significant differences in both groups (chi2 = 6.353, P = 0.042 and chi2 = 3.910, P = 0.048); the postoperative VAS was markedly increased (3.18 +/- 0.92 vs 1.56 +/- 0.83 and 3.24 +/- 0.95 vs 1.74 +/- 0.79, P < 0.05), with significant differences in the grades of VAS in both groups (chi2 = 4.433, P = 0.035 and chi2 = 10.088, P = 0.001). The variation of VAS was negatively correlated with that of IELT in both groups (r = -0.572, P < 0.01 and r = -0.465, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele may be one of the causes of premature ejaculation, and some of the varicocele patients with IELT < or = 2 min may benefit from spermatic vein ligation. Improved VAS is negatively correlated with prolonged IELT. The relationship between varicocele and premature ejaculation deserves further studies.

Adult ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective The 4-and 16-hydroxylated metabolites of estrogens have been implicated in carcinogenesis,whereas its 2-hydroxylated metabolites have been shown to have antiangiogenic effects.We aimed to examine whether the polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)involved in the estrogen metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer risk.Methods Polymerase chain reaction- restrictive fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)analysis was used to study the variant allele frequency distributions of COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism in a population based case-control study with 132 endometrial cancer cases and 110 controls.Odds ratios(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for known or suspected risk factors for endometrial cancer.Results The most frequent genotype was COMT~(Val/Val)(47.2%,52/110)in control group and COMT~(Mal/Met)(58.3%,77/132)in endometrial cancer group.The difference between the two groups was of statistical significance(P

AIMTo study the protective effect of sodium pyruvate on ischemia/reperfusion injury following hemorrhagic shock.

METHODSRat models of hemorrhagic shock were built up. When the shed blood was infused, the rats were also randomly provided by one of normal saline, glutathione and sodium pyruvate. Rats were killed 3 hours after the reperfusion, the activity of plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), the level of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) were detected. Biopsy specimens were obtained to investigate morphological changes of the myocardial, hepatic, lung and renal tissue.

RESULTSThe activity of plasma LDH and GOT, the level of MDA of hepatic, lung and renal tissue and the activity of MPO of myocardial, lung and renal tissue decreased remarkably in group given sodium pyruvate compared with group given normal saline, and the effect of group given sodium pyruvate was more remarkable than group given glutathione.

CONCLUSIONThese data support the view that sodium pyruvate shows protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury following hemorrhagic shock. It is possibly relevant to scavenging of oxygen free radicals, reduction of neutrophil, and anti-inflammatory response.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Peroxidase ; analysis ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Pyruvic Acid ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; blood ; pathology

Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the indication and protocol of surgical therapy when treating mandibular micrognathism accompanying obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) using distraction osteogenesis and orthognathic surgery.

METHODSA total of 17 patients with mandibular micrognathism accompanying moderate to severe OSAHS, aged 11 to 59 years, 15 men and 2 women, were reviewed. Four of them were treated with orthognathic surgery, 5 of them were treated with distraction osteogenesis, and the other 8 patients were treated with an integrated procedure combining distraction osteogenesis with orthognathic surgery. Cephalometric analysis and polysomnography studies were obtained pre- and postoperatively.

RESULTSSNB angle changed from 64.6 degrees to 71.9 degrees, post airway space (PAS) from 5.4mm to 13.2 mm, apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) from 58.4 to 7.6, lowest saturation of oxygen (LSAT) from 66% to 87%. All the differences showed statistical significance (P < 0.001). The average mental horizontal advancement (MHA) was 14.3 mm and its correlation coefficients with deltaSNB, deltaPAS, deltaAHI, and deltaLSAT were 0.36, 0.62, 0.34, and -0.14, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSBoth distraction osteogenesis and orthognathic surgery can be effectively used to treat patients with mandibular micrognathism accompanying OSAHS with slightly different indications. A combination of these two operations may be preferred.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; surgery ; Micrognathism ; complications ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; etiology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the optimum phase and dose of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast (OB). METHODS (OB) was isolated from the skull of 10 newly born SD rats aged 1 to 2 days by means of Trypsin-collagenase digestion. After the OB was identified, different kinds of pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with inactive Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) of different phase (rats were fed with medicine three days or five days after last fed with medicine one hour or three hours) and concentration (5%, 10%, 20%) were added to the OB and incubated. After 7 days and 18 days of culture,the effects of the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast were detected.

RESULTSThe secretion of ALP and formation of mineralized nodules of osteoblast in the different doses of pharmaco-serum groups were almost the same as that of normal control group, but were superior to that in the model control group. And the group with concentration of 20% pharmaco-serum was the best in the secretion of ALP and formation of mineralized nodules of osteoblast. As to the phases of pharmaco-serum, the best one on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast was the serums from diabetic rat-model fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) three days or five days, after one hour of last fed with medicine.

CONCLUSIONThe pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) can promote the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast. Allow for time and the cost of experiment,we presume that pharmaco-serum of diabetic rats fed with Qianggubao decoction ([Chinese characters: see text]) three days, after one hour of last fed, with concentration of 20% and not-inactivation is the optimum on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Diabetes Complications ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of a new anticoagulant, annexin V derivative (AND) on anticoagulation and antithrombosis.

METHODSHigh and low doses of AND were given to rabbits (groups 1 and 2 respectively) by intravenous (iv) bolus injections followed by half the respective AND doses by iv infusion over 2 hours. Control groups were iv given heparin (group 3) and saline (group 4) of the same volume and procedure as that in group 1 and 2. Blood cell count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen level were examined before and 15, 30 and 60 min after iv bolus and 2 hours after the end of iv infusion. A 3.0 mm x 15 mm balloon was put into femoral artery to induce endothelial denudation 15 min after IV bolus and the blood pressure of femoral artery was monitored until the pulse pressure recorded 0 mm Hg when the vessel was occluded completely by a thrombus. The femoral arteries were collected and the thrombi were stripped off for measuring their lengths, wet and dry weights.

RESULTSAnticoagulation parameters: APTT at 15 min after iv bolus in AND group was significantly longer than that in group 4 (P < 0.05) but shorter than that in group 3 (P < 0.05); APTT and TT in group 3 were significantly longer than those in groups 1, 2 and 4. Fibrinogen: 0.70 mg/kg AND may decrease fibrinogen. Antithrombosis values: the wet and dry weights in AND groups were significantly lighter than those in group 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The dry weight in high-dose AND group was remarkably lighter than that in low-dose group (P = 0.029). The length of thrombus in low-dose AND group was remarkably shorter than that in group 4 (P = 0.013), but not for group 3 (P > 0.05). It was remarkably shorter in high-dose AND group than in both group 3 (P < 0.001) and 4 (P = 0.015). The time when pulse pressure equaled to 0 was longer in AND group than in group 4 (P < 0.05), but not in 3.

CONCLUSIONAND is an effective anticoagulant and antithrombosis agent, the highest anticoagulation effect occurs at 15 min after IV bolus. Its anticoagulation effect is not more potent than that of standard heparin, while antithrombosis capacity is more effective. AND in treating thrombosis clinically might be promising.

Animals ; Annexin A5 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Thrombin Time ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control

The biological characters of Sindbis virus strain of Yunnan(YN87448 strain) were studied by the test of the filtration, acid-resistant, ether-resistant, CPE, susceptibility of animal, HA, plague, determination of virus titres, and the cross-HI, cross-IFAT and PRNT as well.The results indicated that YN87448 strain belongs to Sindbis virus, Alphavirus, Togaviridae. YN87448 strain virus was plaque purified(PYN87448). The biological character of PYN87448 strain virus was studied too. PYN87448 strain virus will be used in the molecule biological test.