Objective： Varicocele (VC) induces male infertility by mediating changes in the testicular microenvironment, in which testicular hypoxia and high-pressure are important pathological conditions. This study aims to compare the mouse spermatogenesis (GC-2spd) cells and Sertoli (TM4) cells of mouse testis after hypoxic modeling and hypoxic and high-pressure combined modeling, and to explore the feasibility of establishing a hypoxic and high-pressure combined cell model. Methods： On the basis of cell hypoxia induced by CoCl2, the complex model of testicular cell hypoxia and high pressure was constructed by changing the osmotic pressure of GC-2 and TM4 cell medium with a high concentration of NaCl solution. After selecting the intervention concentration of CoCl2 by MTT test and detecting the expression level of HIF-1α for the determination of the optimal osmotic pressure conditions of the cell model, the cells were divided into normal group, hypoxia model group and composite model group. And the levels of OS, programmed cell death, inflammatory factors, and the expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins were compared between the normal group and the groups with different modeling methods. Results： The optimal intervention concentration of CoCl2 in GC-2 and TM4 cells was 150 and 250μmol/L, respectively, and the expression of HIF-1α was the highest in both cells under osmotic pressure of 500 mOsmol/kg (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the SOD levels of GC-2 and TM4 cells decreased (all P<0.05), CAT level decreased (all P<0.05), and MDA level increased (all P<0.01), and the OS level of GC-2 and TM4 cells was more obvious than that of the hypoxia model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, apoptosis occurred in GC-2 and TM4 cells after composite modeling (all P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and COX-2 in GC-2 and TM4 cells significantly increased (P<0.01) and higher than those in hypoxia model group (P<0.05) and induced pyroptosis (P<0.01). The expression level of GSDMD increased (P<0.05). Conclusion： The cell model with hypoxia and high pressure combined modeling can not only induce oxidative stress and apoptosis of cells better than that with hypoxia alone, but also further cause inflammatory response damage and pyroptosis, which simulates the changes of testis microenvironment mediated by hypoxia and high pressure combined conditions in VC. This cell model can be used for studying the pathogenesis of VC-associated male infertility, evaluating drug efficacy, and exploring pharmacological mechanisms.
Male ; Animals ; Varicocele/pathology* ; Mice ; Testis/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cobalt ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Osmotic Pressure ; Spermatogenesis ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Infertility, Male ; Disease Models, Animal

Salt stress may cause primary osmotic stress and ion toxicity, as well as secondary oxidative stress and nutritional stress in plants, which hampers the agricultural production. Salt stress-responsive transcription factors can mitigate the damage of salt stress to plants through regulating the expression of downstream target genes. Based on the soil salinization and its damage to plants, and the central regulatory role of transcription factors in the plant salt stress-responsive signal transduction network, this review summarized the salt stress-responsive signal transduction pathways that the transcription factors are involved, and the application of salt stress-responsive transcription factors to enhance the salt tolerance of plants. We also reviewed the transcription factors-regulated complex downstream gene network which is formed by forming homo- or heterodimers between transcription factors and by forming complexes with regulatory proteins. This paper provides a theoretical basis for understanding the role of salt stress-responsive transcription factors in the salt stress regulatory network, which may facilitate the molecular breeding for improved stress resistance.
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Osmotic Pressure ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Salt Stress ; Salt Tolerance ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcription Factors/metabolism*

PURPOSE: Hypertonic fluids such as mannitol and half-molar sodium lactate are given to treat intracranial hypertension in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, sodium lactate was compared to mannitol in patients with TBI to investigate the efficacy in reducing intracranial pressure (ICP). METHODS: This study was a systematic review with literature research on articles published in any year in the databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Asian Journal of Neurosurgery, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The keywords were "half-molar sodium lactate", "mannitol", "cerebral edema or brain swelling", and "severe traumatic brain injury". The inclusion criteria were (1) studies published in English, (2) randomized control trials or retrospective/prospective studies on TBI patients, and (3) therapies including half-molar sodium lactate and mannitol and (4) sufficient data such as mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR). Data analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: From 1499 studies, a total of 8 studies were eligible. Mannitol group reduced ICP of 0.65 times (MD 0.65; p = 0.64) and improved cerebral perfusion pressure of 0.61 times (MD 0.61; p = 0.88), better than the half-molar group of sodium lactate. But the half-molar group of sodium lactate maintained the mean arterial pressure level of 0.86 times, better than the mannitol group (MD 0.86; p = 0.09). CONCLUSION Half-molar sodium lactate is as effective as mannitol in reducing ICP in the early phase of brain injury, superior over mannitol in an extended period. It is able to prevent intracranial hypertension and give better brain tissue perfusion as well as more stable hemodynamics. Blood osmolarity is a concern as it increases serum sodium.
Brain Edema ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/drug therapy* ; Diuretics, Osmotic/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension/etiology* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Mannitol/therapeutic use* ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; Sodium Lactate

Adipsic hypernatremia is a rare disease where patients do not feel thirst even in the increased serum osmotic pressure and results in electrolyte imbalance, severely increased osmotic pressure and neurologic symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and seizures. We report a 12-year-old male patient who had underwent a trans-sphenoidal surgery for craniopharyngioma newly diagnosed with adipsic hypernatremia after having growth hormone replacement for growth hormone deficiency. The patient visited emergency room complaining of generalized weakness, tremor in both legs, and poor oral intake including water after starting growth hormone replacement therapy. Laboratory test revealed serum sodium 168 mmol/L and serum osmolality 329 mOsm/kg, despite the patient didn't feel any thirst at all. We treated him with scheduled water intake of 2.5 L a day with intranasal vasopressin. He admitted to Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital and Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital for 4 times during the following 8 months and serum sodium level and osmolality was controlled by scheduled water intake combined with intranasal vasopressin treatment. It is still unclear whether growth hormone replacement worked as a trigger of hypernatremia.
Child ; Craniopharyngioma ; Drinking ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Growth Hormone ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hypernatremia ; Leg ; Male ; Nausea ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osmolar Concentration ; Osmotic Pressure ; Rare Diseases ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Sodium ; Thirst ; Tremor ; Vasopressins ; Vomiting ; Water

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a demyelinating disorder characterized by the loss of myelin in the center of the basis pons, and is mainly caused by the rapid correction of hyponatremia. We report the case of a young woman who presented with gait disturbance and alcohol withdrawal, and who was eventually diagnosed with CPM. Generally, the cause and pathogenesis of CPM in chronic alcoholics remain unclear. In this cases, the CPM may be unrelated to hyponatremia or its correction. However, it is possible that the osmotic pressure changes due to refeeding syndrome after alcohol withdrawal was the likely cause in this case. This case illustrates the need for avoiding hasty, and possibly incomplete diagnoses, and performing more intensive test procedures to ensure a correct diagnosis.
Alcoholics ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Myelin Sheath ; Myelinolysis, Central Pontine* ; Osmotic Pressure ; Pons ; Refeeding Syndrome

BACKGROUNDL-proline is a natural, nontoxic cryoprotectant that helps cells and tissues to tolerate freezing in a variety of plants and animals. The use of L-proline in mammalian oocyte cryopreservation is rare. In this study, we explored the cryobiological characteristics of L-proline and evaluated its protective effect in mouse oocyte cryopreservation.

METHODSThe freezing property of L-proline was detected by Raman spectroscopy and osmometer. Mature oocytes obtained from 8-week-old B6D2F1 mice were vitrified in a solution consisting various concentration of L-proline with a reduced proportion of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG), comparing with the control group (15% DMSO and 15% EG without L-proline). The survival rate, 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) expression, fertilization rate, two-cell rate, and blastocyst rate in vitro were assessed by immunofluorescence and in vitro fertilization. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test.

RESULTSL-proline can penetrate the oocyte membrane within 1 min. The osmotic pressure of 2.00 mol/L L-proline mixture is similar to that of the control group. The survival rate of the postthawed oocyte in 2.00 mol/L L-proline combining 7.5% DMSO and 10% EG is significantly higher than that of the control group. There is no difference of 5-mC expression between the L-proline combination groups and control. The fertilization rate, two-cell rate, and blastocyst rate in vitro from oocyte vitrified in 2.00 mol/L L-proline combining 7.5% DMSO and 10% EG solution are similar to that of control.

CONCLUSIONSIt indicated that an appropriate concentration of L-proline can improve the cryopreservation efficiency of mouse oocytes with low concentrations of DMSO and EG, which may be applicable to human oocyte vitrification.

Animals ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Mice ; Oocytes ; drug effects ; Osmotic Pressure ; Proline ; pharmacology ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Vitrification

Here in this study, we investigated the lifespan-extending effect and underlying mechanism of methanolic extract of Moringa olelifa leaves (MML) using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model system. To define the longevity properties of MML we conducted lifespan assay and MML showed significant increase in lifespan under normal culture condition. In addition, MML elevated stress tolerance of C. elegans to endure against thermal, oxidative and osmotic stress conditions. Our data also revealed that increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and expressions of stress resistance proteins were attributed to MML-mediated enhanced stress resistance. We further investigated the involvement of MML on the aging-related factors such as growth, food intake, fertility, and motility. Interestingly, MML significantly reduced growth and egg-laying, suggesting these factors were closely linked with MML-mediated longevity. We also observed the movement of aged worms to estimate the effects of MML on the health span. Herein, MML efficiently elevated motility of aged worms, indicating MML may affect health span as well as lifespan. Our genetic analysis using knockout mutants showed that lifespan-extension activity of MML was interconnected with several genes such as skn-1, sir-2.1, daf-2, age-1 and daf-16. Based on these results, we could conclude that MML prolongs the lifespan of worms via activation of SKN-1 and SIR-2.1 and inhibition of insulin/IGF pathway, followed by DAF-16 activation.
Caenorhabditis elegans* ; Caenorhabditis* ; Eating ; Fertility ; Longevity ; Methanol ; Moringa oleifera* ; Moringa* ; Osmotic Pressure

The sinking skin flap syndrome (SSFS) is a rare complication after a large craniectomy. Hemorrhage infarction after a cranioplasty is a very rare complication with only 4 cases to date. We report a case of the patient who underwent an autologous cranioplasty to treat SSFS that developed intracerebral hemorrhage infarction. A 20-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department with stuporous mentality. Emergent decompressive craniectomy (DC) have done. He had suffered from SSFS and fever of unknown origin (FUO) since DC. After 7 months of craniectomy, cranioplasty was done. After 1 day of surgery, acute infarction with hemorrhagic transformation involved left cerebral hemisphere. We controlled increased intracranial pressure by using osmotic diuretics, steroid and antiepileptic drugs. After 14 day of surgery, he improved neurological symptoms and he had not any more hyperthermia. Among several complication of large cranioplasty only 4 cases of intracerebral hemorrhagic infarction due to reperfusion injury has been reported. In this case, unstable autoregulation system made brain hypoxic damage and then reperfusion and recanalization of cerebral vessels resulted in intracerebral hemorrhagic infarction. 7 month long FUO was resolved by cranioplasty.
Anticonvulsants ; Brain ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebrum ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Diuretics, Osmotic ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fever ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Hemorrhage ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Skin* ; Stupor ; Young Adult

TAZ, a transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif, is encoded by WWTR1 gene (WW domain containing transcription regulator 1). TAZ is tightly regulated in the hippo pathway-dependent and -independent manner in response to a wide range of extracellular and intrinsic signals, including cell density, cell polarity, F-actin related mechanical stress, ligands of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), cellular energy status, hypoxia and osmotic stress. Besides its role in normal tissue development, TAZ plays critical roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness in multiple human cancers. We discuss here the regulators and regulation of TAZ. We also highlight the tumorigenic roles of TAZ and its potential therapeutic impact in human cancers.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Energy Metabolism ; genetics ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osmotic Pressure ; Stress, Mechanical ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

This report details a case of unexpected, severe post-operative cerebral edema following cranioplasty. We discuss the possible pathological mechanisms of this complication. A 50-year-old female was admitted to our department with sudden onset of stuporous consciousness. A brain computed tomography (CT) revealed a subarachnoid hemorrhage with intracranial hemorrhage and subdural hematoma. Emergency decompressive craniectomy and aneurysmal neck clipping were performed. Following recovery, the decision was made to proceed with an autologous cranioplasty. The cranioplasty procedure was free of complications. An epidural drain was placed and connected to a suction system during skin closure to avoid epidural blood accumulation. However, following the procedure, the patient had a seizure in the recovery room. An emergency brain CT scan revealed widespread cerebral edema, and the catheter drain was clamped. The increased intracranial pressure and cerebral edema were controlled with osmotic diuretics, corticosteroids, and antiepileptic drugs. The edema slowly subsided, but new low-density areas were noted in the brain on follow-up CT 1 week later. We speculated that placing the epidural drain on active suction may have caused an acute decrease in intracranial pressure and subsequent rapid expansion of the brain, which impaired autoregulation and led to reperfusion injury.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aneurysm ; Anticonvulsants ; Brain ; Brain Edema* ; Catheters ; Consciousness ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Diuretics, Osmotic ; Edema ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Intracranial Pressure ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Recovery Room ; Reperfusion Injury ; Seizures ; Skin ; Stupor ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Suction ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed