Objective:To investigate effects and underlying mechanisms of glutathione persulfate (GSSH) on the level of testosterone in male obese mice.Methods:Totally 45 mice were divided into 3 groups on average. Low-fat diet (LFD)+normal saline (NS) group: 15 mice were fed with LFD for 10 weeks, followed by LFD together with daily intraperitoneal injection of saline for 45 d; high-fat diet (HFD)+NS group: 15 mice were fed with high-fat diet for 10 weeks, followed by HFD and daily intraperitoneal injection of NS for 45 d; HFD+GSSH group: 15 mice were fed with HFD for 10 weeks, followed by a HFD for 45 d and daily intraperitoneal injection of GSSH (200 mg/kg). After the treatment, all mice were killed with their necks-severed, testis and serum were taken out from the mice. Serum levels of testosterone and malondialdehyde (MDA), the mRNA levels of key enzymes for testosterone synthesis ( StAR, 3β- HSD, Cyp11a1 and Cyp17a1) were measured by RT-PCR. The testicular protein levels of StAR, 3β-HSD, NR5A1 and EHD3 were measured by Western blotting assay. Protein levels of NR5A1, SOD and Nrf2 were measured in mouse Leydig TM-3 cells that were treated with 50 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L GSSH, respectively, following with treatment with 100 μmol/L H 2O 2 . Results:1) After treatment, the body weight of mice in HFD+GSSH group did not change significantly, while the body weight of mice in HFD+NS group raised by 24.53% (from 32.46 g to 40.43 g) during the 45-day-intraperitoneal injection ( P=0.002). 2) Serum level of testosterone in HFD+NS group [(12.9±1.7) μg/L] was significantly lower than that in LFD+NS group [(18.3±1.2) μg/L, P=0.020]. However, serum level of testosterone in HFD+GSSH group was (25.42±2.1) μg/L, which was significantly higher than that in HFD+NS group ( P=0.030). The RT-PCR test results showed that compared with LFD+NS group, the expression levels of all key genes involved in testosterone synthesis ( StAR, 3β- HSD, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1) showed a significant decrease in HFD+NS group ( P=0.003, P=0.007, P<0.001, P<0.001). The expression levels of these genes were restored in the mouse testes of HFD+GSSH group ( P=0.002, P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.006). 3) Similarly, compared with LFD+NS group [(9.00±1.59) nmol/mL], the serum MDA level of HFD+NS group [(10.61±1.73) nmol/mL] raised significantly ( P=0.016), while GSSH reversed the raised HFD+NS high level of serum MDA in HFD+GSSH group [(9.23±0.94) nmol/mL, P=0.048]. 4) Both levels of NR5A1, EHD3, StAR, and 3β-HSD were reduced in HFD+NS group ( P=0.002, P=0.012, P=0.004, P=0.043), but their levels were significantly restored in HFD+GSSH group ( P<0.001, P=0.017, P=0.004, P<0.001). 5) The levels of NR5A1, Nrf2 and SOD were obviously down-regulated in TM3 cells treated with H 2O 2 ( P<0.001, P=0.002, P=0.004). Conclusion:GSSH can raise serum level of testosterone in HFD-fed mice by up-regulating expression of genes which are important for testicular testosterone biosynthesis.

Objective:To investigate effects and underlying mechanisms of glutathione persulfate (GSSH) on the level of testosterone in male obese mice.Methods:Totally 45 mice were divided into 3 groups on average. Low-fat diet (LFD)+normal saline (NS) group: 15 mice were fed with LFD for 10 weeks, followed by LFD together with daily intraperitoneal injection of saline for 45 d; high-fat diet (HFD)+NS group: 15 mice were fed with high-fat diet for 10 weeks, followed by HFD and daily intraperitoneal injection of NS for 45 d; HFD+GSSH group: 15 mice were fed with HFD for 10 weeks, followed by a HFD for 45 d and daily intraperitoneal injection of GSSH (200 mg/kg). After the treatment, all mice were killed with their necks-severed, testis and serum were taken out from the mice. Serum levels of testosterone and malondialdehyde (MDA), the mRNA levels of key enzymes for testosterone synthesis ( StAR, 3β- HSD, Cyp11a1 and Cyp17a1) were measured by RT-PCR. The testicular protein levels of StAR, 3β-HSD, NR5A1 and EHD3 were measured by Western blotting assay. Protein levels of NR5A1, SOD and Nrf2 were measured in mouse Leydig TM-3 cells that were treated with 50 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L GSSH, respectively, following with treatment with 100 μmol/L H 2O 2 . Results:1) After treatment, the body weight of mice in HFD+GSSH group did not change significantly, while the body weight of mice in HFD+NS group raised by 24.53% (from 32.46 g to 40.43 g) during the 45-day-intraperitoneal injection ( P=0.002). 2) Serum level of testosterone in HFD+NS group [(12.9±1.7) μg/L] was significantly lower than that in LFD+NS group [(18.3±1.2) μg/L, P=0.020]. However, serum level of testosterone in HFD+GSSH group was (25.42±2.1) μg/L, which was significantly higher than that in HFD+NS group ( P=0.030). The RT-PCR test results showed that compared with LFD+NS group, the expression levels of all key genes involved in testosterone synthesis ( StAR, 3β- HSD, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1) showed a significant decrease in HFD+NS group ( P=0.003, P=0.007, P<0.001, P<0.001). The expression levels of these genes were restored in the mouse testes of HFD+GSSH group ( P=0.002, P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.006). 3) Similarly, compared with LFD+NS group [(9.00±1.59) nmol/mL], the serum MDA level of HFD+NS group [(10.61±1.73) nmol/mL] raised significantly ( P=0.016), while GSSH reversed the raised HFD+NS high level of serum MDA in HFD+GSSH group [(9.23±0.94) nmol/mL, P=0.048]. 4) Both levels of NR5A1, EHD3, StAR, and 3β-HSD were reduced in HFD+NS group ( P=0.002, P=0.012, P=0.004, P=0.043), but their levels were significantly restored in HFD+GSSH group ( P<0.001, P=0.017, P=0.004, P<0.001). 5) The levels of NR5A1, Nrf2 and SOD were obviously down-regulated in TM3 cells treated with H 2O 2 ( P<0.001, P=0.002, P=0.004). Conclusion:GSSH can raise serum level of testosterone in HFD-fed mice by up-regulating expression of genes which are important for testicular testosterone biosynthesis.

Objective To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and flexible ureteroscope lithotripsy (FUL) for unilateral lower-calyceal calculi with the diameter of 10-20 mm. Methods The clinical data of 65 patients with unilateral lower-calyceal calculi with the diameter of 10-20 mm were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty cases were treated with PCNL (PCNL group), and 35 cases were treated with FUL (FUL group). The operative time, success rate of lithotomy, haemoglobin decrease after operation, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization expenses and complication were compared between 2 groups. Results Treatment was completed successfully in the patients of 2 groups, without ureteral perforation, avulsion and other serious complications intraoperatively and postoperatively. There were no statistical differences in success rate of lithotripsy, incidence of high fever after operation and postoperative analgesia rate between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operative time and hospitalization expenses in FUL group were significantly higher than those in PCNL group:(95.27 ± 22.69) min vs. (62.25 ± 20.73) min and (17 242 ± 2 679) yuan vs. (14 205 ± 1 654) yuan, and the haemoglobin decrease after operation and postoperative hospital stay time were significantly lower than those in PCNL group:(0.67 ± 0.33) g/L vs. (7.98 ± 4.33) g/L and (3.75 ± 0.78) d vs. (6.54 ± 1.68) d, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). Conclusions For the treatment of lower-calyceal calculi with the diameter of 10-20 mm, the success rates of lithotripsy of PCNL and FUL are similar. FUL has less trauma, with shorter postoperative hospital stay time, but the cost is relatively high.