ABSTRACT
Male infertility caused by idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (OAT) is known as idiopathic male infertility. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and fluoride may play important roles in idiopathic male infertility, but their effects are still unknown. Our study examined the relationship between GST polymorphisms and fluoride-induced toxicity in idiopathic male infertility and determined the underlying mechanism. Sperm, blood, and urine samples were collected from 560 males. Fluoride levels were measured by a highly selective electrode method, and GST genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Semen parameters, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers were statistically assessed at the P < 0.05 level. Compared with healthy fertile group, semen parameters, fluoride levels, OS biomarkers, sex hormone levels, and MMP and DFI levels were lower in the idiopathic male infertility group. For glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1[-]) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1[-]) or glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) mutant genotypes, levels of semen fluoride, OS, MMP, and DFI were considerably higher, and the mean levels of sperm parameters and testosterone were statistically significant in GSTM1(+), GSTT1(+), and GSTP1 wild-type genotypes. Both semen and blood fluoride levels were associated with oxidative stress in idiopathic male infertility patients. Elevated fluoride in semen with the genotypes listed above was linked to reproductive quality in idiopathic male infertility patients. In conclusion, GST polymorphisms and fluorine may have an indicative relationship between reproductive quality and sex hormone levels, and OS participates in the development of idiopathic male infertility.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Fluorides/adverse effects , Semen , Polymorphism, Genetic , Glutathione Transferase/genetics , Glutathione S-Transferase pi/genetics , Infertility, Male/genetics , Genotype , Biomarkers , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Case-Control StudiesABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has yet to be proven to alter male reproductive function, particularly in the majority of mild/asymptomatic patients. The purpose of this study was to explore whether mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 affects semen quality and sex-related hormone levels. To find suitable comparative studies, a systematic review and meta-analysis was done up to January 22, 2022, by using multiple databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify and choose the studies. Meta-analysis was used to examine the semen parameters and sex-related hormones of mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 patients before and after infection. The effects of semen collection time, fever, and intensity of verification on semen following infection were also investigated. A total of 13 studies (n = 770) were included in the analysis, including three case-control studies, six pre-post studies, and four single-arm studies. A meta-analysis of five pre-post studies showed that after infection with COVID-19, sperm concentration (I2 = 0; P = 0.003), total sperm count (I2 = 46.3%; P = 0.043), progressive motility (I2 = 50.0%; P < 0.001), total sperm motility (I2 = 76.1%; P = 0.047), and normal sperm morphology (I2 = 0; P = 0.001) decreased. Simultaneously, a systematic review of 13 studies found a significant relationship between semen collection time after infection, inflammation severity, and semen parameter values, with fever having only bearing on semen concentration. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in sex-related hormone levels before and after infection in mild/asymptomatic patients. Mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 infection had a significant effect on semen quality in the short term. It is recommended to avoid initiating a pregnancy during this period of time.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy , Female , Humans , Male , Semen Analysis , Semen , Infertility, Male , Sperm Motility , COVID-19 , Sperm Count , Spermatozoa , Testosterone , Gonadal Steroid HormonesABSTRACT
According to the 2020 world cancer data report， the prevalence of prostate cancer ranks second in male malignant tumors and the mortality fifth. In China， due to the poor living and eating habits， the prevalence of prostate cancer is still rising， and advanced prostate cancer can adapt to and tolerate androgen castration related drugs through a variety of mechanisms， which often indicates poor therapeutic outcomes in the late stage. Houttuyniae Herba， a medicinal plant of family Saururaceae， has been officially identified both as food and medicine by the National Health Commission. The existing studies have shown that Houttuyniae Herba inhibits the proliferation， migration， and invasion of prostate cancer and induces its apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via multiple targets， links， and pathways. These anti-tumor activities can also be observed in breast cancer， leukemia， gastric cancer， colorectal cancer， and other tumor cells. Such activities are mainly related to the inhibited expression of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase， regulation of apoptosis-related proteins， activation of apoptosis-related pathways， reduced secretion of matrix metalloproteinase， inhibition of activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）/Zinc finger protein （Snail） / transcription factor twist signaling pathway， and antagonization of growth factor receptor， androgen， inflammation， and oxidative stress in promoting the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. In addition， Houttuyniae Herba is able to alleviate diabetes， regulate blood glucose-lowering pathways， and boost immunity by inhibiting the protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） and mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathways， thus suppressing the occurrence and progression of prostatic cancer. In conclusion，Houttuyniae Herba can be used as a potential drug against prostate cancer.
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Objective The relationship between calcified nanoparticles (CNPs) and the formation of urinary stones is drawing increasing attention and the specific mechanisms involved. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms of the formation of kidney stone caused by CNPs. Methods A total of 48 rats were randomly and equally divided into a CNPs group (each rat was injected with 2 mL CNPs through the tail vein to establish a rat kidney stone model of CNPs), and a control group (injected the same amount of sterile isotonic saline instead of CNPs). We compared the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins, such as Beclin-1 and LC-3, the formation of autophagosomes and calcium salt crystals in renal tissues at time points of 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 1w, 2w, 4w and 8w in two groups. Results The relative expression levels and positive cells of Beclin-1 and LC-3 in CNPs group at 3h,6h,12h,24h, 1w, 2w, 4w, 8w were significantly higher than those in the control group (P< 0.05), and reached the highest value at 24 (P< 0.05). The number of autophagosomes at 24h, 1w, 2w, 4w, and 8w in the CNPs group ((2.83±0.32), (3.00±0.26), (3.70±0.44), (3.90±0.98), (4.70±0.51)/HP, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.73±0.15)/HP (P <0.05). The scores of calcium salt crystals in the CNPs group at 2w, 4w, and 8w significantly increased compared to the control group (P <0.05). The calcium salt crystal formation score ((0.92 ± 0.98) points) was positively correlated with the expression intensities of Beclin-1 and LC-3 ((6.78 ± 4.25), (2.61 ± 2.57), respectively) (r = 0.843, 0.628, P <0.05), which was positively correlated with the number of autophagosomes (2.53 ± 1.41) (r = 0.923, P <0.001). Conclusion CNPs may damage renal tubular epithelial cells, and induce immediate autophagic activity, also increase expression of autophagy-related proteins and autophagosome formation, which will promote the formation and aggregation of calcium salt crystals in renal tubules to some extent.
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Objective To compare the subjective and objective outcomes of flexible ureterorenoscopy (F-URS) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for the treatment of inferior calyceal calculi between 10 to 20 mm. Method A retrospective analysis was performed for inferior calyceal calculi between 10 to 20 mm at our institution on a total of 112 patients treated with holmium laser lithotripsy or ESWL from September 2013 to September 2016. Retreatment rate, complications, stone clearance rate and subjective patient-reported outcomes were compared. Result Stone clearance rate was significantly higher in F-URS group compared with ESWL group (86.1% vs 61.8%, P < 0.05). Retreatment rate (44.7% vs 8.3%, P < 0.05) was higher in ESWL. There was no significant difference in complication (11.1% vs 7.9%, P > 0.05). Overall satisfaction score [(2.92 ± 1.24) vs (2.07 ± 1.35), P < 0.05] and voiding symptom score [(3.87 ± 0.64) vs (2.23 ± 0.73), P < 0.05)] were significantly higher in F-URS than ESWL. More patients in F-URS were willing to undergo the procedure again (83.3% vs 55.3%, P<0.05). Conclusion For the treatment of intermediate size inferior calyceal calculi,F-URS is superior to ESWL in terms of stone clearance rate, retreatment rate and subjective satisfaction.
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Objective To analyze the clinical characters of the different degrees nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) and the relationships with blood uric acid.Methods Two hundred and eighty-two cases body examinational and hospitalized patients were selected.According to whether complicated with NAFLD and liver steatosis degree,patients were divided into 4 Groups.Group A was control group that without NAFLD,Group B was mild NAFLD group,Group C was moderate NAFLD group and Group D was severe NAFLD group.Clinical data,blood lipids,blood uric acid and other biochemical indicators of four groups were compared.Results In 282 cases of patients,there were 78 cases (27.66％) without NAFLD patients,94 cases (33.33％) mild NAFLD,92 cases (32.62％) moderate NAFLD and 18 cases (6.38％) severe NAFLD.As the severity of fatty liver increased,body mass index (BMI) higher and higher ((24.51 ± 2.55),(27.06± 2.81),(28.37± 3.23),(30.71 ± 2.96) kg/m2),and the differences among four groups were statistically significant (F =35.976,P ＜0.05).Gglycerin trilaurate (TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of D group were hihger than other groups ((3.04± 1.22) mmol/L vs.(1.73± 1.46),(2.59 ± 1.78),(2.81 ± 1.94) mmol/L,(2.99± 0.52) mmol/L vs.(2.28±0.78),(2.47±0.75),(2.41±0.74) mmol/L),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was lower compared with group A,B,C (1.00± 0.23) mmol/L vs.(1.15± 0.24),(1.05± 0.21),(1.00 ±0.21) mmol/L),the differences were statistically significant(F=6.818,4.597,6.414;P＜0.05).In 4 groups the blood uric acid(UA) of groups B,C,D was higher than group A,group D was higher than group B,C,and the differences were statistically significant((316.13±71.86),(356.98±83.00),(355.37±81.01),(409.67 ±50.90) μmol/L;F=8.797;P＜0.05).Conclnsion Obese patients are more susceptible to NAFLD,and NAFLD with a certain degree of lipid and uric acid metabolism,and the severity of NAFLD has a positive correlations with lipids and serum uric acid levels.It is particularly obvious in patients with severe NAFLD,which prompting that blood uric acid level can be used as an independent risk factor in the pathogenesis of NAFLD,and as an auxiliary judge for NAFLD severity index.
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Although guidelines and formulas have been developed through clinical practice to define infusion rate and volume, over- and under-resuscitation are still common, followed by increasing morbidity and mortality. In order to establish an effective management for early fluid resuscitation, the clinical decision support system (CDSS) has been established. The CDSS, by utilizing information systems coupled with decision support technology, could provide recommendations for the amount of fluid to be infused based on measured biological response. The results showed that patients treated with CDSS had a significantly lower mortality, increased ventilator-free days, and ICU-free days as compared with those treated with traditional fluid management. This article reviews the concepts as well as the result of recent clinical studies of CDSS for burn patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Burns , Therapeutics , Decision Support Systems, Clinical , Fluid TherapyABSTRACT
The pathogenesis of male infertility involves the interactions between environmental and genetic factors. An individual's susceptibility to male infertility is influenced by his internal abilities of metabolizing and detoxicating endogenous and exogenous chemicals. Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), such as enzymes, are involved in the cellular detoxication of various physiological and xenobiotic substances. Studies show that the polymorphism of the GSTs gene is correlated with male infertility. GSTs polymorphism-related susceptibilities to male infertility were found similar but with some inconsistencies within the same community, and inconsistent with some similarities among different communities. Therefore, further studies are to be done on the differences in GSTs polymorphism-related susceptibility to male infertility in different communities.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Glutathione Transferase , Genetics , Infertility, Male , Genetics , Polymorphism, GeneticABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of tamoxifen (TMX) combined with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 183 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia were randomly divided into a TMX + CoQ10 group (n = 63), a TMX group (n = 61) and a CoQ10 group (n = 59). At the end of 3 and 6 months of treatment, semen analyses and hormone tests were performed, and the results were compared with those obtained before the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the pre-treatment results, the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) and sperm concentration were significantly elevated in the TMX + CoQ10 and TMX groups (P < 0.05), but showed no significant difference in the CoQ10 group (P > 0.05); sperm motility and morphologically normal sperm were increased significantly in the TMX + CoQ10 and CoQ10 groups (P < 0.05), and slightly in the TMX group but with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tamoxifen combined with CoQ10 can significantly improve sperm concentration, motility and morphology in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Oligospermia , Drug Therapy , Tamoxifen , Therapeutic Uses , Treatment Outcome , Ubiquinone , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the clinical effectiveness in treating thoracolumbar fractures adopting the rehabilitation exercise utilizing knee pads on the orthopedic traction bed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 1996 to June 2006, we studied the clinical effectiveness of thoracolumbar fractures utilizing knee pads on the orthopedic traction bed for rehabilitation exercise. The cases surveyed total 209, 163 of which had full data. There were 98 males and 65 females with the age from 17 to 74 years (mean, 14.5 years). Consulting time after injury from 30 min to 7 days. Fracture site in T11 had 8 cases, in T12 24 cases, in L1 73 cases, in L2 33 cases, in L3 8 cases, in L4 3 cases, in T12 and L1 14 cases. Compression degree of vertebral anterior border: full compression had 1 case,more than 4/5 had 23, more than 2/3 had 67, more than 1/2 had 40, in 1/3 had 46.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among them, 8 cases with legs paresis no recovery in nerval function or stopping recovery changed methods, and underwent surgical treatment. Others 155 cases were followed up from 2 to 12 years with an average of 3 years and 4 months. The average height of vertebral anterior borders of the 169 injured compressed had increased from 1.55 cm before treatment to 2.70 cm after treatment with an average of 1.15 cm. The height of the injured vertebral anterior borders had recovered from 50.5% (1.55/3.07) before treatment to 89.4% (2.70/3.02) after treatment. Kyphosis angle of the injured vertebral bodies had recovered from 13.25 degrees to -1.6 degrees in average. Twenty-three cases associated with dislocation basic reduction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rehabilitation exercise using knee pads on the orthopedic traction bed can obtain satisfactory clinical effect in treating thoracolumbar fractures, the method is easy. At 3, 7, 10 days after treatment, the height of bed should be adjusted according X-ray.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Exercise Therapy , Methods , Follow-Up Studies , Lumbar Vertebrae , Wounds and Injuries , General Surgery , Orthopedic Equipment , Recovery of Function , Spinal Fractures , Rehabilitation , General Surgery , Thoracic Vertebrae , Wounds and Injuries , General Surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the association of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphism in patients with idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in the northwestern China population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the case-control study, GSTT1 genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with peripheral blood DNA samples from 78 patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 103 patients with idiopathic oligospermia and 156 age-matched controls with normal sperm concentration and motility, according to the criteria adapted from World Health Organization guidelines. All of the patients and controls were from northwestern China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There is a significant association between GSTT1 null genotype with idiopathic azoospermia risk (odds ratio [OR]: 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-4.20, P=0.003) or idiopathic oligospermia risk (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17-3.27, P=0.010).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GSTT1 null genotype is a predisposing risk factor for sporadic idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in northwestern China.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Azoospermia , Genetics , Case-Control Studies , China , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Glutathione Transferase , Genetics , Oligospermia , Genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Genetic , Risk Factors , Sperm Motility , GeneticsABSTRACT
Objective To explore the generative mechanism of bacterial wave growth in view of the open living system of microorganism. Methods With the single strain of bacterium as the subject, the nonlinear method of the dynamic systems and the analyzing method of the numerical simulation were used to study the effect of the changing environment on the bacterial growth. Results A mathematical model of the relationship between the bacterial wave growth and environment was established. Conclusion This model is verified to be scientific and its numerical simulation results are obtained, providing a helpful quantitative analysis for the research on the laws of bacterial wave growth.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the generative mechanism of bacterial wave growth in view of the open living system of microorganism. Methods With the single strain of bacterium as the subject, the nonlinear method of the dynamic systems and the analyzing method of the numerical simulation were used to study the effect of the changing environment on the bacterial growth. Results A mathematical model of the relationship between the bacterial wave growth and environment was established. Conclusion This model is verified to be scientific and its numerical simulation results are obtained, providing a helpful quantitative analysis for the research on the laws of bacterial wave growth.