Male infertility has evolved from a common reproductive system disease to a major social issue. Youjing granule (YG) is a Chinese medicinal material used as a therapy method for tonifying the kidneys and removing dampness due to its pathogenic characteristics. YG has been shown to regulate sperm quality in clinical trials, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The present study was aimed to explore the protective effects and mechanism of action of YG on male reproductive system damage caused by methyl methane sulfonate (MMS). We first established an infertility model of rats through oral administration of MMS and then treated with YG. To determine the effect of YG, spermatogenesis, microvascular density, and secretory function of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells in rats were assessed. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were co-cultured with mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells as an in vitro cell model before exposure to serum containing YG. Furthermore, the proliferation and apoptosis of SSCs were measured. Results indicated that YG increased the expression of self-renewal and proliferation-related molecules such as glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), and improved the quality of sperm and the proliferation of SSCs. In conclusion, YG may protect spermatogenetic function of rats through regulating the proliferation and self-renewal of SSCs.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Semen ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatogonia ; Stem Cells

Objective: To analyze the course of disease and epidemiological parameters of COVID-19 and provide evidence for making prevention and control strategies. Methods: To display the distribution of course of disease of the infectors who had close contacts with COVID-19 cases from January 1 to March 15, 2020 in Guangdong Provincial, the models of Lognormal, Weibull and gamma distribution were applied. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the basic characteristics and epidemiological parameters of course of disease. Results: In total, 515 of 11 580 close contacts were infected, with an attack rate about 4.4%, including 449 confirmed cases and 66 asymptomatic cases. Lognormal distribution was fitting best for latent period, incubation period, pre-symptomatic infection period of confirmed cases and infection period of asymptomatic cases; Gamma distribution was fitting best for infectious period and clinical symptom period of confirmed cases; Weibull distribution was fitting best for latent period of asymptomatic cases. The latent period, incubation period, pre-symptomatic infection period, infectious period and clinical symptoms period of confirmed cases were 4.50 (95%CI:3.86-5.13) days, 5.12 (95%CI:4.63-5.62) days, 0.87 (95%CI:0.67-1.07) days, 11.89 (95%CI:9.81-13.98) days and 22.00 (95%CI:21.24-22.77) days, respectively. The latent period and infectious period of asymptomatic cases were 8.88 (95%CI:6.89-10.86) days and 6.18 (95%CI:1.89-10.47) days, respectively. Conclusion: The estimated course of COVID-19 and related epidemiological parameters are similar to the existing data.
COVID-19 ; Cohort Studies ; Contact Tracing ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Investigation on epidemiologic features of knee osteoarthritis in many areas of China has been much reported. However, multicenter studies with large samples have been rarely reported. The published papers cannot give a good description about the epidemiologic features of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiologic features of knee osteoarthritis in the patients aged over 40 years in China. METHODS: Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the data extracted from papers published 2001-2016 on the epidemiology of knee osteoarthritis in the middle-aged and elderly in China. The prevalence rate of knee osteoarthritis in the patients over 40 years of age was summarized, with every 10 years as group, and then analyzed on Stata 12.0 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Twenty-six articles were included, involving 42 199 people aged more than 40 years old. The total prevalence rate of knee osteoarthritis at the age above 40 years old in China was 17.0% (95% CI:16.7%-17.4%),the prevalence rate was 12.3% in male and 22.2% in female(P<0.05).Noticeably,the prevalence rate increased with age.The total prevalence rate in northern China was 16.1%(95% CI:15.6%-16.6%),12.2% in male and 21.4% in female;the total prevalence in southern China was 18.0%(95%CI:17.5%-18.5%), 12.3% in male and 23.1% in female. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate between northern and southern China(P>0.05).The total prevalence rate in rural China was 23.6%(95%CI:16.7%-30.4%),with 15.4% in male and 28.1% in female;and the total prevalence in urban China was 20.0%(95% CI:16.2%-23.9%),with 13.7% in male and 24.3% in female. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate between rural and urban China (P > 0.05). These results suggest that knee osteoarthritis in China is a common disease, characterized by increased prevalence with age, relatively significant difference between male and female, but no difference between northern and southern China as well as between rural and urban China. It is of great significance to timely propagate and perform interventional strategies for prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis in China.

To study the influence of astragaloside on mRNA expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal transduction in anemia model mice induced by chemotherapy, 48 male BALB/c mice which were 6-7 week old were picked as the research objects and randomly divided into four groups, blank group, model group, astragaloside group and astragaloside IV group. Each group was 12 mice. Chemotherapy anemia model was established by cyclophosphamide. The mice were drawn blood from eyeball after 14 days treatment. The QPCR was used to test the mRNA concentrations of Akt, PI3K, BCL-xl, bad, FoxO, mTOR, PTEN in mouse spleen. In comparison of blank group, astragaloside group and astragaloside IV group,the erythrocyte counting and values of Hb in model group were significantly lower (P<0.05). The volumes mRNA of Akt,PI3K,BCL-xl,bad,mTOR were lower in blank group, compared with other groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The similar trend in astragaloside IV group except PI3K, comparing with blank group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The contents of these five genes were no significant differentiations between astragaloside group and blank group. The statistics were obvious between astragaloside group and astragaloside IV group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The concentrations of FoxO, PTEN were higher in model group,compared with blank group and astragaloside group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but no difference with astragaloside IV group. Comparing with blank group, the volumes of these two genes were increased in astragaloside IV group (P<0.05), FoxO was higher in astragaloside group (P<0.05), but PTEN was not significant. There was no the same as astragaloside group and Astragaloside IV group. Therefore, astragaloside could increase the contents of Akt, PI3K, BCL-xl, bad, mTOR (P<0.01), decrease the concentrations of FoxO, PTEN (P<0.05). The changes in cyclophosphamide-induced anemia were highly significant by astragaloside. It could be related to the mRNA expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signal Transduction.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of decitabine (DAC) alone or in combination with arsenic trioxide (AsO) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) MV4-11 cells, so as to find an effective method for treating AML with MLL rearrangements.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of DAC and AsOalone, as well as in a combination of less than 50% inhibitory concentration (IC) of DAC, and with less than 20% inhibitory concentration (IC) AsOon MV4-11 cell proliferation were detected by CCK-8 methed; and the apoptosis inducing effect was determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe inhibitory effect of DAC or AsOalone on the cell proliferation increased along with the augment of drug concentration in a dose-dependent manner, both were statistically significant (P<0.01) in comparison the control group. The ICof DAC and AsOon MV4-11 cells were 2.409 µmol/L and 2.364 µmol/L, respectively. When compared with DAC alone in the same concentration gradient, the combined chemotherapy of DAC(0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1 µmol/L) and AsO(0.25 µmol/L) showed higher inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and there was statistically differences (P<0.05). The 48 h apoptotic rate of DAC (5.0 µmol/L) on MV4-11 was 13.50%±1.87%; and the 48 h apoptotic rate of AsO(2 µmol/L) was 12.60%±2.33%; while the 48 h apoptotic rate in combination of 2 drugs was 51.13%±4.97%.

CONCLUSIONDAC or AsOcan remarkably inhibit MV4-11 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, and the combination of two drugs displays a synergistic effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between DNA homologous recombination (HR) repair genes RAD51-G135C/XRCC3-C241T polymorphisms and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with recurrent chromosome translocation.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from bone marrow cells of 625 de novo AML patients and peripheral blood cells of 806 patient family members and 704 unrelated volunteers. Genotypes of RAD51-G135C and XRCC3-C241T were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Cell lines with genotypes differed from XRCC3-C241T were selected and irradiated in vitro. The CBFβ-MYH11 fusion gene was detected by TaqMan real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe XRCC3-C241T variant (C/T + T/T) showed 6.22-fold and 6.99-fold increase in the risk of developing the AML with inv(16)/t(16;16)/CBFβ-MYH11 as compared with the volunteer and family member controls respectively; the RAD51-G135C homozygote-type (C/C) variant showed 0.87-fold (P = 0.010) and 1.15-fold (P = 0.001) respectively increase in the risk of this subtype AML. In the irradiated group, the CBFβ-MYH11 mRNA level in HL-60 cells was 59.49 times increased than that in KG1a cells. However, the RAD51-G135C and XRCC3-C241T variants had no correlations with the risk of development of t(15;17)/PML-RARα(+)AML, t(8;21)/AML1-ETO(+) AML and 11q23 AML subtypes.

CONCLUSIONThe XRCC3-C241T variant and the RAD51-G135C homozygote-type significantly increase the risk of the development of AML with inv(16)/t(16;16)/CBFβ-MYH11.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Rad51 Recombinase ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ketamine on the high-voltage-activated calcium currents (ICa(HVA)) in rat hippocampal neurons.

METHODSNeurons were cultured from Wistar rat hippocampus. ICa(HVA) was recorded using whole-cell patch clamp technique. After application with ketamine at different concentrations (10, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 μmol/L), the effect of ketamine on ICa(HVA) was evaluated.

RESULTSICa(HVA) was inhibited by ketamine in a concentration-dependent manner. Ketamine at 10 μmol/L showed no effect on ICa(HVA). Four concentrations of ketamine (30, 100, 300,and 1000 μmol/L) reduced the peak ICa(HVA) currents by (17.5 ∓ 4.5)%, (25.5 ∓ 6.9)%, (38.5 ∓ 4.1)%, and (42.3 ∓ 4.6)% respectively,with a mean half maximal inhibitory concentration of 68.2 μmol/L and Hill coefficient of 0.47. The maximal activation membrane potential was shifted to (5.3 ∓ 0.8) from (5.4 ∓ 0.9). The half maximal activation membrane potential of inactivation curve was shifted from(-26.7 ∓ 3.9) mV to(-32.8 ∓ 4.2) mV.

CONCLUSIONKetamine can remarkably inhibit calcium currents in the central neurons,which may explain at least partly the action of ketamine on central nervous system.

Animals ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Ketamine ; pharmacology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo promote stem cells differentiation into neurons and enhance neuromotor function after brain injury through brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induction.

METHODSRecombinant adenovirus vector was applied to the transfection of BDNF into human-derived umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the secretion phase of BDNF. The brain injury model of athymic mice induced by hydraulic pressure percussion was established for transplantation of stem cells into the edge of injury site. Nerve function scores were obtained, and the expression level of transfected and non-transfected BDNF, proportion of neuron specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and the number of apoptosis cells were compared respectively.

RESULTSThe BDNF expression achieved its stabilization at a high level 72 hours after gene transfection. The mouse obtained a better score of nerve function, and the proportion of the NSE-positive cells increased significantly (P<0.05), but GFAP-positive cells decreased in BDNF-UCMSCs group compared with the other two groups (P<0.05). At the site of high expression of BDNF, the number of apoptosis cells decreased markedly.

CONCLUSIONBDNF gene can promote the differentiation of the stem cells into neurons rather than glial cells, and enhance neuromotor function after brain injury.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; analysis ; Neurons ; cytology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; analysis ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of epidemiology and molecular typing on Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains associated with outbreaks of Anhui province and sporadic cases in China, using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

METHODS212 Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains were isolated from invasive meningococcal cases, close contacts and healthy carriers, including 48 strains from Anhui province with 38 strains associated with serogroup C outbreaks. PFGE were performed by genomic DNA digestion with Nhe I restriction enzyme. The results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics software (Version 4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belgium).

RESULTSA total number of 212 Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C isolates were typed by 43 patterns, named AH1 to AH43. In China, AH1 pattern was the major PFGE pattern with 69.3% (n = 147) of all strains, distributed in 11 provinces. Three types of PFGE patterns (AH1 to AH3) were found in 48 strains from Anhui province, in which, 93.8% (n = 45) belonged to AH1. 97.4% (n = 37) of 38 strains associated with serogroup C outbreaks in Anhui province showed AH1 pattern. A total of 53 serogroup C strains were isolated from invasive meningococcal cases with 67.9% (36/53) of AH pattern. 71.9% (87/121) of serogroup C strains isolated from contacts of invasive meningococcal cases was AH1 pattern and 63.2% (24/38) of the strains from healthy carriers showed AH1 pattern.

CONCLUSIONBy PFGE typing and analysis, AH1 pattern of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains was proved to be the main clone which causing the outbreaks in Anhui province and might be responsible for the sporadic serogroup C meningococcal disease epidemics else where in the country.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Meningococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To confirm the association between the“Tip-Apex Distance (TAD)”and cut-out of the lag screw from the femoral head.and to analyze other factors leading to the cut-out.Methods The complete radiographic and clinical data of 106 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures were available for this study. They were 65 men and 41 women,with an average age of 52.4 years (range,20 to 83 years).According to Evans classification.19 cases belonged to typeⅡ.25 to typeⅢ,32 to typeⅣ,29 to typeⅤ,and one to type R.The bone quality was classified by Singh rating system:44 cases were rated as typeⅥ.34 as typeⅤ,23 as typeⅣand five as typeⅢ.They were treated with open reduction and fixation with 135?dynamic hip screw (DHS).According to the finding of Baumgaertner that“TAD”beyond 25 mm would grcatly increase the risk of cut-out,the patients could be divided into two groups:59 cases with“TAD”less than 25 mm and 47 greater than 25 mm.Results The mean duration of follow-ups was 14.45 months (range,4.5 to 28.0 months).Of the 15 cases whose“TAD”was more than 30 mm,one had the cut-out.Of the seven cases whose“TAD”was more than 40 mm,two had the cut-out (P=0.000). The average age of the three patients was 78.7 years (range:75 to 83 years) and 27.1 years older than that of the 103 patients whose fracture healed (P=0.000).They belonged to the unstable intertrochanteric fracture of the femur (two to Evans type V and one to type R).The reduction was assessed as excellent in 43 cases,good in 47 cases,fair in nine cases (of whom one had the cut-out),poor in seven cases (of whom two had the cut-out). Conclusions The cut-out of the lag screw from the femoral head can be caused by age,fracture type and stability of reduction and“TAD”.The greater the“TAD”value,the greater possibility of cut-out.