Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male ; Epimedium/chemistry* ; Humans ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Flavonoids/therapeutic use* ; Animals

A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

Objective To elucidate the clinical significance of high expression levels of endonuclease meiosis 1(EME1)in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases were used to screen and analyze differential gene expression between HCC and non-tumor tissues.A retrospective collection of liver tissue samples from 80 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy in the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2010 and December 2014 was performed.Immunohistochemistry analysis was employed to detect the EME1 expression levels.Survival analysis was then conducted to assess the impact of EME1 expression on 5-year postoperative survival rate of HCC patients.Additionally,gene enrichment analysis was applied to predict the function of EME1 in HCC.Results A total of 371 HCC tissue samples and 50 non-tumor liver tissue samples from TCGA database were analyzed,revealing significantly higher EME1 expression in HCC tissues.Microarray analysis of 107 samples within the GEO database(70 HCC tissues and 37 non-tumor tissues)confirmed that EME1 mRNA expression was markedly elevated in HCC tissues compared with non-tumor tissues(P<0.05).The 5-year overall survival(OS)rate was notably lower in high EME1 expression group than that in low expression group(44.1%vs.53.0%,P<0.05).Semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that patients with high EME1 expression had a significantly lower OS rate than those with low EME1 expression(32.8%vs.45.0%,P<0.05).Multivariate COX regression analysis identified that high EME1 expression(HR=2.234,95%CI 1.073-4.649,P=0.032)and advanced China liver caner(CNLC)staging(HR=4.317,95%CI 1.799-10.359,P=0.001)were independent risk factors for the 5-year OS of post-operation patients with HCC.Conclusion Elevated EME1 expression in HCC tissues correlates with an adverse prognosis of HCC and suggests that EME1 could serve as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Objective To establish a renal cell co-culture system to simulate the renal barrier system,and to test its responsiveness to different glucose concentrations,and to investigate the regulatory effect of miR-29b-3p on osteopontin(OPN)/transforming growth factor β(TGF-β)pathway and the changes of this pathway under high glucose condition.Methods The three-cell co-culture system consisting of human renal podocytes,human glomerular mesangial cells and human renal tubular epithelial cells was established to test the cell viability and glucose consumption value at glucose concentrations of 5,8,12 and 16 mmol/L.The content of TGF-β and OPN in cell supernatant was measured.The recombinant plasmid and siRNA of OPN were transfected,and the expressions of TGF-β and OPN were detected by Q-PCR and Western blot.Results The mRNA expressions of OPN,TGF-β and miR-29b were significantly increased at 12 mmol/L glucose conditions.Western blot results showed that the protein expression of OPN increased in high glucose conditions,while the protein expression of TGF-β did not change significantly.After adding miR-29b-3p activator,the mRNA levels of OPN and TGF-β in the cell supernatant were significantly increased.After adding miR-29b-3p inhibitor,the mRNA levels of OPN and TGF-β in the cell supernatant were significantly decreased.Western blot results showed that compared with 5 mmol/L glucose,the protein expressions of OPN and TGF-β were increased by miR-29b-3p activator,and the protein expressions of OPN and TGF-β were decreased by miR-29b-3p inhibitor.After transfection with OPN recombinant plasmid,the content of TGF-β in the cell supernatant was significantly increased,and the mRNA expressions of OPN and TGF-β in the cells were significantly increased.After transfection with OPN siRNA,the content of TGF-β in the cell supernatant was decreased,and the expression of OPN mRNA in the cells was significantly decreased,but the expression of TGF-β mRNA was not significantly increased.Conclusion The renal cell co-culture system can mimic the complex renal environment in vivo.When induced by high glucose,cell proliferation is inhibited,glucose consumption is increased,and the content of TGF-β in the cell supernatant is increased,and miR-29b-3p has a regulatory effect on OPN/TGF-β signaling pathway in the co-culture system.

Objective To observe the effect of dapagliflozin on Klotho protein and renal function in elderly patients with diabetic kidney disease(DKD),and explore the related factors affecting the level of Klotho protein.Methods A total of 88 elderly DKD patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2021 to November 2021 were randomly divided into dapagli-flozin group and control group.The patients were treated for 12 weeks.The body weight,blood pressure,blood glucose,Klotho protein,renal function,urinary albumin/creatinine(UACR)were estimated before and after treatment,respectively,and adverse reactions were recorded.Results After treatment,the decrease degree of body weight,body mass index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pres-sure,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum uric acid,cystatin C,UACR and the increase degree of Klotho protein were greater in dapagli-flozin group than those in the control group(P＜0.001).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age,BUN and UACR were inde-pendent related factors affecting the level of Klotho protein.There was no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Dapagliflozin treatment can reduce body weight,blood pressure,improve renal function and increase the level of Klotho protein.The regulatory effect of dapagliflozin on Klotho protein may be one of the important mechanisms of its renal protection.

Objective To investigate the expression of essential meiotic endonuclease 1(EME1)in liver cancer tissue and its effect on the biological behavior of hepatoma cells.Methods The TCGA database was used to identify the differentially expressed genes between liver cancer tissue and paracancerous tissue.Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot were used to measure the expression abundance of EME1 in liver cancer tissue.A lentivirus was constructed by short hairpin RNA,and BEL-7404 cells were transfected with the lentivirus to interfere with the expression of the EME1 gene;the cells were divided into silencing group(shEME1 group)and control group(shCtrl group).Quantitative real-time PCR and Western Blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of EME1;Celigo Image Cytometer and MTT assay were used to measure cell proliferation rate;flow cytometry was used to observe cell cycle;Caspase 3/7 activity was used to measure cell apoptosis.The independent-samples t-test was used for comparison between two groups.Results TCGA results showed that the mRNA expression level of EME1 in liver cancer tissue was 18.9 times that in paracancerous tissue(t=5.00,P<0.001),and the protein expression level of EME1 in liver cancer tissue was 7.0 times(based on immunohistochemistry:8.4±2.6 vs 1.2±0.4,t=7.55,P<0.001)or 2.5 times(based on Western Blot:249.0%±35.5%vs 100.0%±77.8%,t=3.02,P<0.05)that in paracancerous tissue.After lentivirus infection,compared with the shCtrl group,the shEME1 group had an mRNA expression level of EME1 reduced by 29.9%(29.9%±0.9%vs 100.0%±3.6%,t=32.82,P<0.001),a protein expression level of EME1 reduced by 35.7%(35.7%±14.9%vs 100.0%±28.9%,t=3.42,P<0.05),and a level of cell counting reduced by 45.1%(4 053±167 vs 8 988±477,t=16.91,P<0.001),as well as a level of cell activity reduced to 66.9%(0.518±0.046 vs 0.774±0.022,t=8.74,P<0.001)and a level of colony forming ability reduced to 29.0%(75±6 vs 260±9,t=28.92,P<0.001).Compared with the shCtrl group,the shEME1 group had a significant increase in the proportion of cells in G1 phase(49.9%vs 44.0%,t=8.96,P<0.001)and significant reductions in the proportion of cells in G2/M phase(15.9%vs 17.9%,t=9.13,P<0.001)and S phase(34.2%vs 38.1%,t=6.91,P<0.001),while Caspase 3/7 activity was enhanced by 1.5 times(145.8%±5.9%vs 100.0%±2.3%,t=12.50,P<0.001).Conclusion EME1 is highly expressed in liver cancer tissue,and silencing the EME1 gene can inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma cells and promote cell apoptosis.

Objective To describe the outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients after aortic surgery and to summarize the experience. Methods The clinical data of patients who received ECMO support after aortic surgery in Fuwai Hospital from 2009 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who received an aortic dissection surgery were allocated into a dissection group, and the other patients were allocated into a non-dissection group. The in-hospital and follow-up survival rates were compared between the two groups, and the causes of death were analyzed. Results A total of 22 patients were enrolled, including 17 patients in the dissection group [13 males and 4 females, with a median age of 54 (46, 61) years] and 5 patients in the non-dissection group [3 males and 2 females, with a median age of 51 (41, 65) years]. There was no statistical difference in the age and gender between the two groups (P>0.05). The in-hospital survival rate (11.8% vs. 100.0%, P=0.001) and follow-up survival rate (11.8% vs. 80.0%, P=0.009) of the patients in the dissection group were significantly lower than those in the non-dissection group. The causes of death in the dissection group included massive bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation (3 patients), ventricular thrombosis (1 patient), irreversible brain injury (2 patients), visceral malperfusion syndrome (4 patients) and irreversible heart failure (5 patients). Conclusion ECMO after aortic dissection surgery is associated with high mortality, which is related to the pathological features of aortic dissection and severely disrupted coagulation system after the surgery. For these patients, strict indication selection and optimal management strategy are important.

Aim To investigate the effects of multi-gly-cosides of Tripterygium wilfordii(GTW)on mitochon-drial dynamics-related proteins and the mechanism of nephroprotective effects in IgA nephrophathy(IgAN)rats.Methods SPF grade male SD rats were random-ly divided into the Control group,modelling group,prednisone group(6.25 mg·kg·d-1)and GTW group(6.25 mg·kg·d-1).The IgAN rat model was established by the method of"bovine serum albumin(BSA)+carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)+lipopolysac-charide(LPS)".The total amount of urinary protein(24 h-UTP)and erythrocyte count in urine were meas-ured in 24 h urine.Blood biochemistry of serum albu-min(ALB),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),urea ni-trogen(BUN),and creatinine(Scr)were measured in abdominal aorta of the rats;immunofluorescence and HE staining were used to observe the histopathology of the kidneys;RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of key proteins regulating mitochondrial division and fu-sion:dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1),mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1),and mitochondrial fusion pro-tein 2(Mfn2),and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(Pink1),in the kidney tissue of rats.Results GTW significantly reduced urinary erythrocyte count and 24 h-UTP,decreased serum ALT,BUN and Scr levels,in-creased serum ALB levels,improved renal histopatho-logical status in IgAN rats,increased the protein and mRNA expression levels of Mfn1,Mfn2,and Pink1,and decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of Drp1 in renal tissues.Conclusions GTW may regu-late mitochondrial structure and maintain the dynamic balance of mitochondrial dynamics by promoting the ex-pression of Mfn1,Mfn2,Pink1 and decreasing Drp1.This may result in a reduction in urinary erythrocyte counts and proteinuria,and an improvement in renal function.

Aim To explore the mechanism of action of Tripterygium glycosides tablets on kidney of rats with IgA nephropathy based on inflammation-related path-ways.Methods Forty-five male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into control group and modeling group.In addition to the blank group,the modeling group used the combination of bovine serum albumin(BSA)+carbon tetrachloride(CC14)+lipopolysac-charide(LPS)to establish the IgA nephropathy rat model.Successfully modeled rats were randomly divid-ed into the model group,the prednisone group and Tripterygium glycosides tablets group,and the treat-ment group was given the drug by gavage from the 13 th week,and the 24 hours urine,blood and kidney tis-sues of the rats were collected and examined after 4 weeks of the administration of the drug.Urine erythro-cyte count,quantitative 24-h urine protein(24 h-UTP),urea nitrogen(BUN),and blood creatinine(Scr)were detected in each group;serum interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(Elisa);the pathological changes in the renal tissues of the rats in each group were observed by horizontal hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;and the renal tis-sues in each group were observed by Western blotting.The expressions of LIGHT,HVEM,LTβR proteins and their mRNAs in rat kidney tissue were detected by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Tripterygium glycosides tablets significantly reduced the levels of urinary erythrocyte count,24 h-UTP,BUN,and Scr in IgA nephropathy rats(P＜0.01),improved renal histopathology,lowered the levels of se-rum inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α(P＜0.01),and lowered the levels of LIGHT,HVEM,LTβR proteins and their mRNA expression in renal tis-sues(P＜0.01).Conclusions Tripterygium glyco-sides tablets may inhibit the immune response and re-duce the release of inflammatory factors by down-regu-lating the LIGHT-HVEM/LT(3R pathway,thus reduc-ing the inflammatory response,lowering the urinary e-rythrocytes and urinary proteins,improving the renal nephron pathologic injury,and protecting the renal function.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of the common pathogens isolated from urine from 2015 to 2021 in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program.Methods The bacterial strains were isolated from urine and identified routinely in 51 hospitals across China in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by Kirby-Bauer method,automatic microbiological analysis system and E-test according to the unified protocol.Results A total of 261 893 nonduplicate strains were isolated from urine specimen from 2015 to 2021,of which gram-positive bacteria accounted for 23.8％(62 219/261 893),and gram-negative bacteria 76.2％(199 674/261 893).The most common species were E.coli(46.7％),E.faecium(10.4％),K.pneumoniae(9.8％),E.faecalis(8.7％),P.mirabilis(3.5％),P.aeruginosa(3.4％),SS.agalactiae(2.6％),and E.cloacae(2.1％).The strains were more frequently isolated from inpatients versus outpatients and emergency patients,from females versus males,and from adults versus children.The prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains in E.coli,K.pneumoniae and P.mirabilis was 53.2％,52.8％and 37.0％,respectively.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant strains in E.coli,K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii was 1.7％,18.5％,16.4％,and 40.3％,respectively.Lower than 10％of the E.faecalis isolates were resistant to ampicillin,nitrofurantoin,linezolid,vancomycin,teicoplanin and fosfomycin.More than 90％of the E.faecium isolates were ressitant to ampicillin,levofloxacin and erythromycin.The percentage of strains resistant to vancomycin,linezolid or teicoplanin was＜2％.The E.coli,K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii strains isolated from ICU inpatients showed significantly higher resistance rates than the corresponding strains isolated from outpatients and non-ICU inpatients.Conclusions E.coli,Enterococcus and K.pneumoniae are the most common pathogens in urinary tract infection.The bacterial species and antimicrobial resistance of urinary isolates vary with different populations.More attention should be paid to antimicrobial resistance surveillance and reduce the irrational use of antimicrobial agents.