Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among men, but its relationship with dietary habits is uncertain. The aim of our study was to assess whether dietary patterns enhance erectile function by reviewing the literature published before August 1, 2022, via PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. The data compiled included author details; publication dates, countries, treatments, patient numbers, ages, follow-ups, and clinical trial outcomes, such as ED cases, odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores with means and standard deviations. An analysis of 14 studies with 27 389 participants revealed that plant-based diets (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66-0.75; P < 0.00001), low-fat diets (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.53; P = 0.0002), and alternative diets such as intermittent fasting and organic diets (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80; P = 0.002) significantly reduced ED risk. High-protein low-fat diets (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64; P < 0.00001) and high-carb low-fat diets (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55-1.04; P < 0.00001) improved IIEF-5 scores. Combined diet and exercise interventions decreased the likelihood of ED (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.85; P = 0.01) and increased the IIEF-5 score (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.69-5.11; P < 0.0001). Diets abundant in fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98; P < 0.00001) and nuts (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37-0.80; P = 0.002) were also correlated with lower ED risk. Our meta-analysis underscores a strong dietary-ED association, suggesting that low-fat/Mediterranean diets rich in produce and nuts could benefit ED management.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Diet ; Diet, Fat-Restricted ; Feeding Behavior ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Diet, Vegetarian

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and their value for predicting recurrence of AF after radiofrequency ablation (RFCA). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with paroxysmal AF (PaAF) and 72 with persistent AF (PaAF) admitted in our hospital were recruited as AF group and 80 patients with sinus rhythm as the control group, and in all the participants, serum levels of ET-1 and CTGF were measured using ELISA and Western blotting. From 6 patients with AF and 6 with sinus rhythm undergoing cardiac surgery in our hospital, tissue samples of the right atrial appendage were taken intraoperatively for observation of structural changes of the cardiomyocytes, myocardial fibrosis and expression of ET-1 and CTGF protein. In AF group, the patients receiving RFCA were followed up for 6 months following the procedure for assessment of the outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with the control patients, the patients with AF showed obvious damages of the cardiomyocyte structure and myocardial fibrosis. Serum levels of ET-1 and CTGF levels were significantly higher in PaAF and PeAF groups than in the control group, and were higher in PeAF group than in PaAF group. In the patients with AF, serum ET-1 and CTGF levels were positively correlated with left atrial diameter (LAD) (P < 0.05), and ET-1 was positively correlated with CTGF levels (P < 0.05). In patients with postoperative AF recurrence, the serum levels of ET-1 and CTGF were significantly higher than those in patients without recurrence; serum ET-1 and CTGF levels before and after the operation were positively correlated with the recurrence of PeAF, and elevated serum levels of ET- 1 and CTGF were identified by logistic regression analysis as independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence of PeAF. CONCLUSION Serum levels of ET-1 and CTGF are significantly elevated in AF patients in positive correlation with AF duration. ET-1 and CTGF levels are higher in AF patients with postoperative recurrence, and they both have predictive value for recurrence of PeAF following RFCA.
Humans ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Endothelin-1 ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Chronic Disease ; Atrial Appendage ; Fibrosis

Objective:To evaluate the intervention effects of aquatic therapeutic exercise on functioning and quality of life for children and youth with cerebral palsy within framework of World Health Organization Family International Classifications using systematic review. Methods:Literatures were retrieved and reviewed from the databases of Cochrane Library, PEDro, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, Web of Science, OVID, EBSCO, CMCI, CNKI, Wangfang and VIP until May, 2020. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about aquatic therapeutic exercise for children and youth with cerebral palsy for functioning were systematically reviewed. The data were analyzed with RevMan 5.3. Results:Nine RCTs were selected, including 162 children and youth. The score of Gross Motor Function Measure improved significantly after aquatic exercise (WMD = 6.31, 95 %CI 2.57 to 10.06, P < 0.001), as well as daily activities and quality of life. Conclusion:Aquatic therapeutic exercise can help improve the gross motor function of children and youth with cerebral palsy, and has positive effects on function of activity and quality of life.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Chaoyi Qingfei Xiegan Tang on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the regulatory effect on inflammatory markers and intestinal flora. Method: One hundred and twenty-two patients were randomly divided into control group (65 cases) and observation group (67 cases) by random number table. Patients in control group got metformin hydrochloride, 0.25 g/time, 2-3 times/day, and the dose was regulated based on glycemic control. In addition to the therapy in control groups, patients in observation group were also given Qingfei Xiegan Tang, 1 dose/day. A course of treatment was 2 months. Before and after treatment, levels of fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2 h-postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HLD), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected. And insulin sensitivity index (ISI), HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and intestinal flora were detected. And scores of TCM symptoms were graded. Result: By rank sum test, the clinical efficacy of disease in observation group was better than that in control group (P<0.01). After treatment, levels of FPG, 2 h PG, HbA1c, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and CRP were lower than those in control group (P<0.01), and levels of ISI, HDL-C were higher than those in control group (P<0.01). And the number of intestinal aerobic bacteria (enterobacter, enterococcus and yeast) was less than that in control group (P<0.05), and intestinal anaerobic flora (bacteroides, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus) were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Qingfei Xiegan Tang can ameliorate 2 h PG, regulate levels of glucose, lipid and intestinal flora, relieve clinical symptoms, and inhibit inflammatory response, with a better clinical efficacy than that of pure western medicine.

In order to study the distribution and dynamics growth of wild Dipsacus asper resources in the Wulong district of Chongqing, 9 sample plots were selected for 12 consecutive months in the natural distribution area of the D. asper in Wulong district by using the sample line + plot survey method to conduct a field survey. The results showed that D.asper was distributed in forest edge wasteland or shrub-grassland, and growbetter with loose yellow-brownsoil or red soil, and poor with lithologic soil or impounded surface water.The growth curve of the plant height from June to July and the ground fresh weight from July to August showed a turning point, it might consume large amounts of nutrients during its flowering period, resulting in the restriction of vegetative growth.The highest temperature in the distribution area of D.asperoides in Wulong district is less than 30 °C, the minimum temperature is about 0 °C, and the rainfall is 1 241-1 392 mm. Its growth environment is no severecold in winter, no heat in summer, and abundant rainfall.The main growth stage of D.asper is from July to October, and the range of root dry rate was 0.162 5-0.239 7 in Xiangkou, 0.154 9-0.223 6 in Baima Mountain, and 0.143 7-0.203 3 Xiannv Mountain. The vegetative growth and dry matter accumulation synchronized in the main growth stage, and the accumulation rate of dry matter was faster than that of vegetative growth. The correlation analysis between indicators and root fresh weight showed that the fresh weight of the aerial part and root fresh weight had the best correlation.
Dipsacaceae

OBJECTIVETo compare the conventional pulmonary function test results of children with asthma or cough variant asthma (CVA).

METHODSA total of 140 children, who were diagnosed with asthma or CVA from May 2010 to May 2011, were divided into acute asthma attack (n=50), asthma remission (n=50) and CVA groups (n=40); 30 healthy children were included as a control group. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow after 25% of vital capacity has been expelled (FEF25), forced expiratory flow after 50% of vital capacity has been expelled (FEF50), forced expiratory flow after 75% of vital capacity has been expelled (FEF75) and maximal midexpiratory flow (MMEF75/25) were measured.

RESULTSThe mean percent predicted values of all the above indices were lower than 80% in the acute asthma attack group, with FEF50, FEF75 and MMEF75/25 declining markedly; the mean percent predicted values of FEF75 and MMEF75/25 were lower than 80% in the CVA group. All the pulmonary function indices in the acute asthma attack group were lower than those in the control group. The mean percent predicted values of FVC, FEV1, FEF25 and MMEF75/25 in the asthma remission and CVA groups were lower than in the control group. All the pulmonary function indices in the acute asthma attack group were lower than in the asthma remission and CVA groups, but there were no significant differences between the asthma remission and CVA groups.

CONCLUSIONSThere is small and large airway dysfunction, particularly small airway dysfunction, in children with acute asthma attack. Children with CVA present mainly with mild small airway dysfunction, as do those with asthma in remission.

Asthma ; physiopathology ; Child ; Cough ; physiopathology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo obtain recombinant human interleukin 12 by genetic engineering, and to explore possibility of its clinical application in treatment of tumor and chronic hepatitis.

METHODSBicistronic expression vector P35-IRES-P40 was constructed for the simultaneous translation of IL-12 p35 and p40 cDNA subunit through internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES). pCI-dhfr-P35-IRES-P40 vector was constructed for expression in CHO-DHFR- cells. Positively cloned cells were screened by means of ELISA. Pools of clones with increased expression of IL-12 could be generated by selection in methotrexate. To determine the biological activities of rhIL-12, PHA-activated lymphoblasts proliferation assay and IFN-gamma induction assay were used in this study.

RESULTSGenetically engineered cells expressing hIl-12 were obtained and all the cell lines showed the stabile expression of rhIL-12 in high efficiency and good growth properties.

CONCLUSIONrhIL-12 have good biological activities, it can stimulate activation and proliferation of T cells and induce production of IFN-gamma.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CHO Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Transfection