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Oligoasthenospermia is the primary cause of infertility. However, there are still enormous challenges in the screening of critical candidates and targets of oligoasthenospermia owing to its complex mechanism. In this study, stem cell factor (SCF), c-kit, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) biosensors were successfully established and applied to studying apoptosis and autophagy mechanisms. Interestingly, the detection limit reached 2.787 × 10-15 g/L, and the quantitative limit reached 1.0 × 10-13 g/L. Furthermore, biosensors were used to investigate the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis. Schisandrin A is an excellent candidate to form a system with c-kit similar to SCF/c-kit with a detection constant (KD) of 5.701 × 10-11 mol/L, whereas it had no affinity for SCF. In addition, it also inhibited autophagy in oligoasthenospermia through antagonizing TRPV1 with a KD of up to 4.181 × 10-10 mol/L. In addition, in vivo and in vitro experiments were highly consistent with the biosensor. In summary, high-potency schisandrin A and two potential targets were identified, through which schisandrin A could reverse the apoptosis caused by excessive autophagy during oligoasthenospermia. Our study provides promising insights into the discovery of effective compounds and potential targets via a well-established in vitro-in vivo strategy.
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Objective To investigate the value of prenatally quantitative sonography in diagnosing clubfoot.Methods By routine sonography totally 32 feet diagnosed doubtfully with clubfoot were chosen as case group,and 414 normal feet between 16 and 38 weeks'gestation were enrolled in control group stochastically.The length of foot(FL)and width of the foot(FW)in both group were measured,and then the length-to-width ratio(FL、FW)was calculated.On the basis of the research of Glotzbecker,the angle that the long-axis of the foot made with the long-axis of the lower leg was measured and classified into mild, moderate,severe degree in control group.The length and width of the foot and the length-to-width ratio in both groups were compared.After birth,the fetuses of case group were followed up and Dimeglio score was recorded.The FL、FW and the angle that the long-axis of the foot made with the long-axis of the lower leg were subjected to the correlation analysis with Dimeglio score,respectively.Results Twenty-six of the 32 feet with prenatal diagnosis had a clubfoot documented at birth(false positive equals to 18.8%).According to Glotzbecker's classification,13,13 and 5 of 32 feet respectively were classified as mild,moderate,severe degree.The FL and FL、FW in case group were smaller than those in the other group(FL:Z=-2.10,P <0.05;FL、FW:Z=-8.46,P <0.001),and the foot width was wider(Z=-2.06,P <0.05).Significant negative correlation was identified between the FL、FW and the Dimeglio score(r =-0.600,P <0.01) and significant positive correlation was identified between the angle that the long-axis of the foot made with the long-axis of the lower leg and the Dimeglio score(r=0.764,P <0.01).Conclusions The angle that the long-axis of the foot made with the long-axis of the lower leg,FL,FW and FL、FW can provide more information for prenatally sonography in diagnosing clubfoot without more section of the examination.
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Gluconobacter oxydans converts glucose to gluconic acid and subsequently to 5-keto-D-gluconic acid (5-KGA), a precursor of industrially important L(+)-tartaric acid. To increase the yield of 5-KGA, fermentation conditions of 5-KGA production was optimized. Under the optimum medium and culture conditions in the shake flask, the highest 5-KGA production reached 19.7 g/L, increased by 43.8% after optimization. In a 5-L bioreactor, the pH was controlled at 5.5 and dissolved oxygen (DO) at 15%, 5-KGA production reached 46.0 g/L, raised at least 1.3 times than in the shake flask. Glucose feeding fermentation process was further developed, and the highest 5-KGA production of 75.5 g/L with 70% of yield was obtained, 32.0% higher than the highest reported value. Therefore, this newly developed fermentation process provided a practical and effective alternative for the commercial production of 5-KGA, and further of L(+)-tartaric acid.
Subject(s)
Bioreactors , Fermentation , Gluconates , Metabolism , Gluconobacter oxydans , Metabolism , Glucose , Metabolism , Industrial Microbiology , Tartrates , MetabolismABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of the rate of fetal urine production rate (UPR) in fetus with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome(TTTS).Methods 22 continuative normal monochorionic diamniotic(MCDA) twin fetuses were selected as controll group.Eight fetuses with TTTS were selected as disease group,and UPR was measured by three-dimensional ultrasound virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) and the rate of UPR in twin was calculated.Results1)The rate of UPR of twin fetuses in MCDA did not vary significantly throughout pregnancy (0.97 ± 0.28).The correlation coefficient between the rate of UPR and gestational age was 0.13,without obvious correlation.2)The rate of UPR-recipient/UPR-donor in TTTS fetuses increased significantly compared with MCDA twin fetus (7.83 ± 2.61,t =6.19,P ＜0.05).ConclusionsThe rate of UPR may be an important index in the assessment of TTTS.
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Objective To establish normal reference indexes of aorta during gestation and cut-points for detection of fetuses with coarctation of aorta.Methods From long-axis views of the aortic arch,the internal diameter of the aortic root,ascending aorta,transverse aortic arch,aortic isthmus,descending aorta,anonyma,left common carotid artery,left subclavian artery were measured in 234 normal fetuses at different time ranging from 14 to 41 weeks during gestation.Reference values of each aortic segment were constructed by linear regression analysis.The ratio of each aortic segment to the ascending aorta were calculated.ResultsThe internal diameter in each aortic segments increased as pregnancy progressed (P<0.01).In the prenatal diagnosis of fetus with coarctation of the aorta,the ratio of the aortic isthmus to the ascending aorta and descending aorta to the ascending aorta were significantly lower than the normal fetuses(all P<0.01).Conclusions The ratio of the aortic isthmus to the ascending aorta and ratio of descending aorta to the ascending aorta detected by echocardiography may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of coarctation of aorta.
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Objective To investigate the the effects of chronic intrauterine hypoxia on intimal-media thickening(IMT) and strain rate(SR) in abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.Methods Sixten New-Zealand rabbits were assigned randomly to 2 groups: chronic intrauterine hypoxia group (CIH, 12% O_2, n = 8) and normal oxygen group (NO,21%O_2, n = 8).After delivery,2 male offspring rabbits per litter were selected and breast-fed for 3 months, randomly divided into high-fat diet and normal diet groups.Finally, there were 4 groups in this experiment:chronic intrauterine hypoxia with high fat diet (CIH + HFD, n = 8) ,non-chronic intrauterine hypoxia with high fat diet (NCIH + HFD, n = 8),chronic intrauterine hypoxia with normal diet (CIH + ND, n = 8) and normal control (NC, n = 8).At sixth months of age, Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) were assayed.SR in the abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits was evaluated by ultrasonography.Then, abdominal aorta was taken out and observed by electron microscope and IMT was measured.Results CIH increased the levels of TC and TG (P < 0.01), thickened the IMT (P<0.05) and decreased the SR(P<0.05) of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.There were relevant pathological changes in different groups.All these above-mentioned profiles were aggravated significantly after feeding high fat diet (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions CIH increased the IMT and decreased the SR of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.
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Objective To compare success and complication rate of cordocentesis (CC) with intrahepatic umbilical vein sampling (IUVS) under the guidance of ultrasonography in ovine fetus. Methods Twenty near-term singleton pregnant ewes were randomly divided into CC group and IUVS group (each n=10). All of the ewes underwent CC or IUVS in ovine fetus guided with ultrasonography. Success and complication rate of CC and IUVS were calculated. Results Success rates of IUVS on the first, less than 3 times and 5 times attempt was 32.00%, 68.00% and 84.00%, respectively, higher than that of CC (15.00%, 40.00% and 75.00%, respectively, P0.05). Conclusion Fetal IUVS may be a reasonable option to obtain fetal intravascular access and facilitate therapeutic intervention.
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Objective To detect the normal values of the fetal coronary sinus(CS) in length(L) .diameter (D) and diameter-to-length ratio(D/L) using fetal echocardiography and assess the clinical significance of dilated CS. Methods Fetal echocardiography were performed in 218 normal fetuses from the 20th to the 40th week of gestation. The L,D and D/L of CS were measured and the standard values of the normal fetal CS were established. A second group of 8 fetuses with dilated CS were assessed compared to the values of normal fetuses. Results The L and D of normal fetal CS correlated well with the gestational weeks (Linear regression equation is L= - 0. 94 + 0. 4 weeks, r = 0. 661, P<0. 0001 ;D= - 0. 07 + 0. 08 weeks, r = 0. 433, P <0. 0001). And the D/L did not vary significantly throughout pregnancy(D/L = 0. 21 0.04, r = 0. 115, P = 0.08). Therefore, the D value of normal fetal CS is less than 3.9 mm and D/L is less than 0.3 throughout pregnancy (20-40 gestational weeks). Conclusions The values of D and D/L of fetal CS in prenatal echocardiography might be useful and important parameters for fetal cardiac or extracardiac anomaly.
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Objective To study the hemodynamic characteristics of ductus venosus,and its relationship to inflammatory cytokines in ovine fetus with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.Methods Ten near-term fetal sheep radomly divided into two groups.Five of them were in experimental group,and five of them were in control group.All of the animals underwent abdominal cordocentesis guided by ultrasound at the term of 120-130 days,with a LPS injection at a dosage of 10 μg/kg of fetal weight in experimental group,and the same quantity of 0.9% NaCl solution in control.Doppler echocardiography were performed to determine hemodynamics changes of ductus venosus at 0.5 hour before the LPS injection,and at 1 hour,3 hours,6 hours after LPS injection.Meanwhile,fetal umbilical vein blood was sampled for ELISA essay of serum TNF-α and IL-6 at each of the above time points.Results In experimental group,the ductus venosus waveform PI values(DVPI),maximum velocity during cardiac ventricle systole(S)and during cardiac ventricle diastole(D),ductus venosus index(DVI),ductus venosus blood flow(DVQ),the ratio of S and ductus venous maximum velocity during atrial contracton(S/A),(S-A)/D increased with the time after LPS injection,and still significantly increased as compared with the control animals(all P＜0.05).A decreased with the time after LPS injection,and still significantly changed as compared with the controls(P＜0.05).And the ductus venosus diameter(DVD)had not obvious change(P＞0.05).There were significantly positive correlations between DVPI and TNF-α,IL-6(all P＜0.05),negative corelations between A and TNF-α,IL-6(all P＜0.05),and positive correlations between S wave,DVI,DVQ,D wave,S/A,(S-A)/D and IL-6(all P＜0.05),but not obvious relationships between S wave,DVI,DVQ,D wave,S/A,(S-A)/D and TNF-a(all P＞0.05).Condusions DVPI and A might be easy and useful quantitative parameters in the evaluation of fetal systemic inflammatory respome syndrome with LPS injection.
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Objective To investigate the relation between type 2 diabetic nephropathy and blood lipid levels with insulin resistance.Methods The study included 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without nephropathy,45 patients with early stage diabetic nephropathy,52 patients with diabetic nephropathy and overt proteinuria,43 patients with end-stage diabetic nephropathy.Serum level of their lipid,blood sugar,HbA1c,insulin,and albumin-to-creatinine ratio(ACR)were monitored.Results(1)The lever of serum TG、TC、LDL-C、 ApoB were increased in the three groups of diabetic nephropathy,there was significant difference between the group of diabetes mellitus without nephropathy and the three groups with diabetic nephropathy(P