Experience of Professor JIN Bao-fang in Using Yangjing Decoction in Treatment of Abnormal Sperm Sterility / 中国中医药信息杂志

Male sterility affects human reproduction seriously. Modern medicine has not yet fully understood the reasons for abnormal sperm, so clinical treatment is mainly based on experience, but the effect is inaccurate. According to "kidney controls reproduction" and "chronic illness causes blood stasis" theory, Professor JIN Bao-fang treats abnormol speerm sterility by tonifying kidney and activating blood circulation to remove obstruction with modified Yangjing Decoction, which has achieved good efficacy.

Recurrence and survival analysis of postoperative patients aged 25 to 59 years with differentiated thyroid carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the recurrence and survival of postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) aged from 25 to 59 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 36 patients with DTC treated in our hospital from 1996 to 2011, and the recurrence and survival status of the patients were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was carried out to analyze factors that affect the patient's survival.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nine patients died of recurrence or metastasis, and the interval between the initial surgery and recurrence ranged from 22 to 46 months. The survival time of the 36 patients ranged from 34 to 135 months with a 10-year survival rate of 75.0%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that male patients had a significantly shorter mean survival time than female patients (Χ=3.164, P=0.041); the median survival time of patients aged 45-59 years was obviously shorter than that of patients aged 25-44 years (Χ=4.622, P=0.032); the postoperative survival in patients with 131I therapy was significantly longer than those who did not receive the therapy (Χ=4.527, P=0.033), and was not affected by total excision of the thyroid gland (Χ=0.988, P=0.320). No significant difference was found in the median survival of patients in different clinical stages (Χ=2.2132, P=0.167).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In young and middle-aged patients with DTC, postoperative recurrence is the most likely in 2 to 4 years after the surgery. Male patients at 45-59 years of age who do not receive 131I treatment are at high risks of tumor recurrence.</p>

Efficacy and safety of the treatment: combination of benazepril/lercanidipine vs. benazepril alone in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Combination therapy is an effective method to reduce the blood pressure (BP) for patients with hypertension. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of benazepril/lercanidipine compared with benazepril alone in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eighty-one patients with mild-to-moderate primary hypertension were assigned in this randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study and were randomly divided into group A (benazepril 10 mg/lercanidipine 10 mg) and group B (benazepril 10 mg) for 8 weeks. At 4 weeks, the dosage of Benazepril was titrated up to 20 mg if the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) remained ≥ 90 mmHg. BP control and side effects were evaluated at the end of 1, 4 and 8 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. The BP in both groups decreased from the baseline (P < 0.05). At the end of 4 and 8 weeks, Benazepril/Lercanidipine produced greater BP reduction than Benazepril alone (P < 0.05). The comparison of the rate of BP control for the benazepril/lercanidipine and benazepril groups at the end of 1, 4, and 8 weeks were 41.2% vs. 37.6% (P > 0.05), 67.1% vs. 44.7% (P < 0.05), and 71.8% vs. 45.9% (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of side effects between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The benazepril/lercanidipine combination is more effective in reducing BP than benazepril alone, while it does not increase the incidence of side effects.</p>

Hydrogen peroxide preconditioning enhances the therapeutic efficacy of Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells after myocardial infarction / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Exposure of cells to sublethal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can alleviate subsequent oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. We assessed the effects of H2O2 preconditioning on the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) in a murine model of myocardial infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>WJ-MSCs were incubated in the media for 2 hours with or without 200 µmol/L H2O2. Mice underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, and received injection of phosphate buffered saline, 1×10(6) WJ-MSCs, or 1×10(6) H2O2 preconditioned WJ-MSCs 3 hours later via tail vein. Echocardiography was performed 0, 7, 14 and 28 days after surgery, and the mice were euthanized on day 28 for histological analysis. In vitro cytokine concentrations in the WJ-MSC cell supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of WJ-MSC cell supernatant on the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells were observed by transwell migration and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assays.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Echocardiographic measurements revealed a significant improvement in the left ventricular contractility of the WJ-MSCs-H2O2 group compared to the WJ-MSCs group. Histological analysis revealed increased neovascularization and reduced myocardial fibrosis in the WJ-MSCs-H2O2 group compared to the WJ-MSCs group. Pretreatment of WJ-MSCs with H2O2 increased the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) into the cell culture supernatant by approximately 25-fold. The culture supernatant from WJ-MSCs-H2O2 significantly increased the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells; these effects could be blocked using an anti-IL-6 antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study demonstrates that H2O2 preconditioning significantly enhanced the therapeutic potential of WJ-MSCs, possibly by stimulating the production of IL-6 by WJ-MSCs, which may cause migration and proliferation of endothelial cells and increase neovascularization.</p>

CA 125 expression in cervical and vaginal secretions in women in normal reproductive period / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the tumor-associated antigen CA125 expression in the serum and cervical and vaginal secretions in women during normal reproductive period, and explore the clinical value of detecting tumor markers in the cervical and vaginal secretions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 145 women in reproductive period were divided into 3 age groups (20-29 years, 30-39 years, and over 40 years), and their CA125 levels in cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum were detected by automatic electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CA125 levels in the cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum showed no significant difference between the 3 age groups (P>0.05). In each group, CA125 levels differed significantly between the cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum (P<0.001). In the 145 women, the average CA125 level was 497.82 - or + 75.29 U/ml in the cervical secretion, 114.66 - or + 26.40 U/ml in vaginal secretion and 18.06 - or + 3.35 U/ml in serum, showing significant differences between them (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CA125 expression level is significantly higher in the cervical and vaginal secretions than in the serum in women in normal reproductive period, and its levels in cervical and vaginal secretions can be more sensitive and convenient for early detection of related diseases.</p>

tMfn2 gene transfer promotes vascular smooth-muscle cells apoptosis via activation of the mitochondrial cell death pathway / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of tMfn2 gene transfer on promoting the apoptosis of vascular smooth-muscle cells (VSMCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>VSMCs were infected by adenovirus-mediated tMfn2 (Adv-tMfn2) or adenovirus-mediated Mfn2 (Adv-Mfn2). FACS analysis, cell death ELISA and TUNEL staining were used to investigate the role of tMfn2 and Adv-Mfn2 gene transfer on VSMCs apoptosis. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved caspase-9.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FACS and ELISA results showed that tMfn2 was superior to Mfn2 in promoting VSMCs apoptosis and tMfn2 gene transfer induced VSMCs apoptosis in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.01). TUNEL staining evidenced that there were more positive-apoptotic VSMCs in tMfn2 group than that in Mfn2 group (P < 0.01). The protein expressions of phosphorylated Akt and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased, whereas Bax and cleaved caspase-9 protein expressions were significantly upregulated in tMfn2-transfected VSMCs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>tMfn2 transfer promoted apoptosis of VSMCs in a time dependent manner via the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.</p>

Developing of a new multicolor-fluorescent labeled STR amplification kit / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To develop a PCR-based STR system for genotyping of 18 loci (Amelogenin, D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D7S820, D2S1338, D19S433, D12S391 and D19S253).@*METHODS@#By using primers labeled with four color fluorescent (FAM, HEX, TAMRA and ROX), two multiplex amplification reaction systems were developed to genotype Amelogenin and 17 STR loci.@*RESULTS@#Amelogenin and these 17 STR loci were genotyped successfully in different kinds of biological samples by the kit.@*CONCLUSION@#The STR amplification kit developed in our study gives a new approach to genotype these 18 loci in a efficient, steady and reliable way.

Inducing Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Adult Human Adipose Tissue to Differentiate into Cardiomyocytes In Vitro / 中国康复理论与实践

@# ObjectiveTo study the differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) into cardiomyocytes in vitro. MethodsADMSCs were isolated and purified by the method of digesting and adhering to the culture plastis. The third generation of cells were determined with immunocytochemistry method and induced by 5-aza. On the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th day after being induced, the surface antigen of myoblast cell and cardiac myocyte were determined, the expression of gene of GATA4 and Nkx2.5 were tested, and the content of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) assayed. ResultsImmunocytochemical staining showed CD44, CD13, CD105 positive, CD45, CD34, HLA-DR, factor Ⅷ negative. After being induced by 5-aza, the direction of cell arraying was gradually similar. The cells were stained positively for Desmin, α-Sarcomeric Actin, myosin heavy chain and Troponin T. The cells express GATA4 and Nkx2.5 and secrete ANP. ConclusionThere was mesenchymal stem cells in human adipose tissue. 5-aza may induce ADMSCs to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro.

Relationship of the HSG gene single nucleotide polymorphism and hypertension / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the novel hyperplasia suppressor gene (HSG) to uncover the relationship between HSG SNP and hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 74 normotensive people (38 men and 36 women), 51 patients with essential hypertension (27 men and 24 women) and 20 hypertensive patients with family history of essential hypertension (9 men and 11 women) were chosen, with mean ages of (54 +/- 8) years, (57 +/- 8) years and (38 +/- 22) years, respectively. Peripheral venous blood specimen was collected from each of them and then DNA was extracted. The right primers were designed for DNA amplification with PCR. Each of the PCR-products from different groups was sequenced by ABI PRISM 377-DNA sequencer and their base components and characteristics of the same fragment were compared each other.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood levels of creatinine (CRE) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly higher in the hypertensives than in the normotensives (P < 0.01). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in the hypertensives and the hypertensives with family history of essential hypertension than in the normotensives (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). There existed three kinds of SNP in the HSG 12th intron (1q82139 G/A, 82153C/G and 82273G/-), and there was significant difference in 1q82153C/G and 82273G/- SNP between the hypertensives and normotensives (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) and between the hypertensives with family history and the normotensives (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01). And, the similar difference in C/G allele and G deletion could be found in different populations. Moreover, the CC genetype of 1q82153 was common in the population (P < 0.01) and G deletion was more common in Chinese Han people with family history of essential hypertension. There was no significant difference existed in 1q82139 G/A mutation among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Measurements of renal function indicators (CRE and BUN) could probably reflect earlier advance of hypertension and damage to target organs. There existed three kinds of mutation in the 12th intron of the HSG 1q82139 G/A, 82153 C/G and 82273 G/-. The 1q82139 G/A could be a nonsense mutation and there was significant difference in the 1q82153 C/G and 1q82273 G/- SNP and gene frequencies between different Chinese Han populations, which could be independent risk factors for essential hypertension.</p>