Cell DNA content in heart, liver, kidney of rats were analysed by flow cytometer at different postmortem interved. The rsults show that mean cellular DNA content is 99.5% at 6 hours, 91.3% at 12 hours, 87.1% at 18 hours, 81.3% at 24 hours, 76.7% at 30 hours, 74.3% at 36 hours, 72.3% 48 hours as compared with that at o hours The results ingicates that the quantitative determination of cell DNA in the tissues, mentioned above may provide an objective and reliable approach for the estimation of postmortem time.

Objective To provide supportive evidences for the diagnosis of primary major depres-sive disorder (MDD) by analyzing the alterations of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-αas well as the total complement activity (CH50) in serum samples.Methods Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HAMD) was used to rate the severity of depression with the patients who were diagnosed as primary MDD.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-αand the CH50 in serum samples from 49 patients and 40 healthy subjects .Results Pa-tients with MDD showed significantly different levels of IL-6, IL-18, TNF-αand CH50 in serum samples as compared with that in healthy subjects (P<0.05).No significant difference with the level of IL-1αwas ob-served between the patients with MDD and healthy subjects (P>0.05).There were significant gender differ-ences with levels of IL-1αamong the patients with MDD (P<0.05).However, no significant differences with the levels of IL-6, IL-18, TNF-αand CH50 were found between male and female patients (P>0.05). Conclusion The changes of CH50 and certain proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-αmight be involved in the progression of MDD , suggesting the possibility of using them as indicators for the di-agnosis of MDD.

Objective To construct five shRNA-expression plasmids and to investigate the expression of Smad2 in TGF-?/ Smads signal transduction treated with shRNA-expression plasmid.Methods Five shRNA-Smad2 DNA sequences from mRNA sequence of mouse Smad2 gene were designed and synthesized.DNA oligonucleotides encoding an appropriate shRNA were inserted to shRNA expression vector respectively.Five shRNA-Smad2 expression plasmids were obtained and then transfected into NIH/3T3 cells.The suppressed expression of Smad2 was assessed by RT-PCR and Western-blotting.Results The shRNA-expression plasmid numbered 2.4 could markedly reduce the expression of Smad2.The suppression effect of the RNAi-pool composed of four different plasmids was more obvious than that of any single.Conclusion The shRNA-expression plasmids were successfully constructed,which could specifically and effectively suppress the expression of Smad2.The method of using a mixture of RNAi plasmids to improve the RNAi efficiency was established.

OBJECTIVETo compare the advantages and disadvantages of the Foley catheter draining method versus the urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty for hypospadias.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 361 cases of hypospadias treated by urethroplasty. After operation, 91 of the cases received urine drainage with the Foley catheter (group A) and 270 with a urethral stent plus a gastric tube (group B). We compared the incidence rates of bladder irritation, fistula, urethral stricture, and urethral diverticulum between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found between groups A and B in the incidences of bladder irritation (9.89% vs 10.70%, P > 0.05) and urethral diverticulum (1.09% vs 2.22%, P > 0.05). The incidence rate of fistula was markedly higher in group A than in B (20.80% vs 13.30%, P < 0.05), and so was that of urethral stricture (10.90% vs 5.55%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method is more effective than the Foley catheter draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty.

Aged ; Child ; Diverticulum ; etiology ; Drainage ; methods ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Incidence ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; Urinary Catheterization ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestic human recombinant FSH (rhFSH) in women with anovulation of WHO groupⅡ. Methods A randomized, blind, parallel-controlled, non-inferiority and multicenter study was performed. A total of 534 admitted to 13 hospitals from May 2008 to August 2009. There were 531 women with ovulatory disorder was included in the statistical analysis, were randomly divided into test group (domestic rhFSH, n=352) and control group (imported rhFSH, n=179). Percentage of cycle with mature follicle, ovulation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and adverse events were observed. Results No statistical significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between the two groups in terms of the efficiency on mature follicle [91.8%(323/352) versus 88.8%(159/179)], ovulation rate [91.3%(295/323) verus 90.6%(144/159)], clinical pregnancy rate [19.2%(62/323) verus 18.2%(29/159)], the number of the follicles<14 mm, the level of serum LH and progesterone, the thickness of endometrium on the day of hCG administration. The number of follicle≥18 mm and 14 mm≤follicle<18 mm and the level of serum estradiol on the day of hCG in the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The number of days of rhFSH administration in the test group was significantly less than that in the control group [(9.8±2.2) versus (11.4± 0.6) days, P<0.05], the dosage of rhFSH was significantly lower than that in the control group [(879 ± 419) versus (1 043 ± 663) U, P<0.05]. The multiple pregnancy rate in the test group was significantly higher than that in the control group [21% (13/62) versu 10% (3/29), P<0.05]. The incidence of OHSS and adverse events were similar between the two groups (P>0.05), and no other adverse events were observed in test group during treatment. Conclusion Ovarian stimulation with domestic rhFSH is effective, safe and economical in women with anovulation of WHO groupⅡ.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the polymerase gamma(Polg) gene polymorphisms in Chinese idiopathic infertile males and evaluate the correlation of the polymorphisms with male infertility.

METHODSWe conducted a study of Polg CAG repeats in the sperm or blood DNA of 55 asthenospermia patients, 57 oligospermia patients, 34 azoospermia patients, and 104 controls with PCR and GeneScan. Phenotypic data were available in all the subjects, including semen parameters, and clinical profiles.

RESULTSThe frequency of 10/not 10 CAG genotype in asthenospermia patients was higher than in the other groups, but with no significance.

CONCLUSIONOur findings have shown for the first time that there exits an ethnic difference between Chinese and European males in the number of CAG repeats of Polg gene, and that 10/not 10 CAG genotype may affect sperm motility.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Polymerase gamma ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trinucleotide Repeats

The latest research progress on quantitative determination methods of main active components-lignans from Schisandra chinensis and its preparations has been summarized, such as spectrophotometry, thin-layer chromatography scanning, high performance liquid chromatograpy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and capillary electrochromatography. The characteristics and application areas of every analytical method have also been stated. It offers reference on quality control of crude drug and its preparations of S. chinensis.
Capsules ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Lignans ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Schisandra ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the capable use of transmaxillary approach for surgical removal of invasive skull base tumors, the indications and the key points of this approach.

METHODSFrom November 1998 to July 2001, 27 consecutive patients with skull base tumor were operated through transmaxillary approach, including 6 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 5 with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, 5 with nasopharyngeal cystadenocarcinoma, 2 with olfactory neuroblastoma, 2 with poorly differentiated carcinoma, 2 with sarcoma, 1 with maxillary carcinoma, 2 with schwannoma, and 2 with chordoma. Most of them (18/27) were recurrent tumor and 17/27 tumors involved important intracranial structures. All patients were followed up 2 - 33 months (average 16 months) and the clinical data was reviewed.

RESULTSThe tumors could be totally removed in all patients. There were no operative mortality and morbidity. After operation, 2 patients died of cancer recurrence in 5 and 8 months separately. One patient had metastasis to the lungs 11 months after operation. Two patients had local recurrence in 7 and 12 months postoperation seperately and live with the tumor now. The rest patients are back to their routine life.

CONCLUSIONSTransmaxillary approach facilitates the surgical removal of invasive skull base tumors. The exposure is wide. The lesion as well as the important anatomy structures can be viewed directly and clearly. The tumor removal could be done more thoroughly and safely. This approach is suitable for the patients in whom tumor involves the skull base extensively and may be difficult to deal with by other approaches.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThe underlying mechanism of early neurobiological impairment after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is not well understood, but the system of reactive oxygen superoxide (ROS) might be involved. Edaravone (MCI-186), a potent free radical scavenger that prevents apoptosis of neurons, was thus used in this study to see its possible therapeutic effect in early brain injury due to SAH in a rat model.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: group 1, control rats receiving sham operation only; group 2, rats with SAH treated by saline; group 3, rats with SAH treated with 1 mg/kg MCI-186 injected intraperitoneally; and group 4, rats with SAH treated with 3 mg/kg MCI-186. Treated with either saline or MCI-186 twice daily for two consecutive days after SAH, the rats were sacrificed for measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and histological analysis of caspase-3 protein by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. In addition, mortality and neurological scores were statistically analyzed by the chi-square test and Dunn's procedure respectively for each group. One-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey's procedure was also used in data analysis.

RESULTSThe rats in group 2 that received saline only showed neurological impairment as well as elevated mortality, and were found to have significantly increased levels of MDA and caspase-3, but reduced SOD activities in brain tissues (P < 0.05). When treated with MCI-186 at two different dosages, the rats in groups 3 and 4 had markedly decreased levels of MDA and caspase-3 but increased SOD activities in the brain tissue (P < 0.05), along with improved scores of neurological evaluation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study sheds some lights on the therapy of SAH-induced early brain injury by providing the promising data indicating that MCI-186, a radical scavenger, can efficiently diminish apoptosis of neurons and thus prevent the function loss of the brain in rats with SAH.

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; physiopathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of lycopene against cryopreservation injury of post-thawing human sperm and its mechanism.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 25 volunteers, each sample equally divided into four parts to be cryopreserved with cryoprotectant only (Ly0 control) or cryoprotectant + lycopene at the concentrations of 2 (Ly2), 5 (Ly5), and 10 µmol/L (Ly10), respectively. Before and after thawing, the semen samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis ( CASA) for sperm kinematics, flow cytometry for sperm apoptosis, thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and JC-1 fluorescent staining for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

RESULTSAfter cryopreservation, sperm motility was markedly decreased in all the groups (P < 0.01). The rate of sperm apoptosis was significantly lower in the Ly5 group than in the Ly0 control ([25.68 ± 4.36]% vs [33.26 ± 4.78]%, P < 0.05), while sperm MMP remarkably higher in the former than in the latter ([66.18 ± 14.23]% vs [55.24 ± 12.31]%, P < 0.05). The Ly2, Ly5 and Ly10 groups showed no statistically significance differences in the MDA level from the Ly0 control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of lycopene at a proper concentration to cryoprotectant may reduce oxidative damage to sperm mitochondria in the freezing-thawing process, attenuate oxidative stress injury induced by reactive oxygen species to sperm plasma membrane, and improve the anti-apoptosis ability of sperm.

Apoptosis ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology