Yijingfang for the treatment of asthenospermia: A randomized controlled clinical trial / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of Yijingfang, a Chinese medicinal liquid, on asthenospermia.@*METHODS@#We randomly divided 450 asthenospermia patients into a treatment group (n = 300) and a control group (n = 150), the former treated with Yijingfang once half a dose, bid, and the latter with Wuziyanzong Pills (9 g, bid) + L-carnitine oral liquid (10 ml, bid), both for 3 months. Before and at 1, 2, and 3 months after medication, we compared the semen volume, sperm concentration, percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and total motile sperm (TMS), and semen liquefaction time between the two groups of patients.@*RESULTS@#No statistically significant difference was observed in the semen parameters between the treatment and control groups before medication (P >0.05). In comparison with the baseline, the treatment group showed significant differences at 1, 2, and 3 months after medication in sperm concentration (［35.96 ± 8.50］ vs ［49.66 ± 10.91］, ［55.21 ± 11.46］, ［74.90 ± 13.07］ ×10⁶/ml, P 0.05) or semen liquefaction time (［32.31 ± 8.15］ vs ［31.68 ± 3.14］, ［30.38 ± 3.44］, and ［30.86 ± 2.42］ min, P >0.05); the control group exhibited similar results at the three time points in sperm concentration (［36.85 ± 6.88］ vs ［40.53 ± 8.32］, ［47.51 ± 12.73］, and ［56.14 ± 11.98］ ×10⁶/ml, P 0.05) or semen liquefaction time (［30.25 ± 5.20］ vs ［29.36±4.25］, ［28.21±3.26］, and ［28.33±3.59］ min, P >0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups in the increase rates of sperm concentration and TMS after medication (P 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Yijingfang is an effective drug for the treatment of asthenospermia, which can regulate the spermatogenesis, increase the percentage of PMS, and improve the total sperm motility of the patients.

Triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint as an adjunctive therapy for type-Ⅲ chronic prostatitis: Analysis of short- and long-term clinical effects / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the short- and long-term effects of triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint as an adjunctive therapy on type-Ⅲ chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).@*METHODS@#We equally randomized 90 CP/CPPS patients into a control and a treatment group, both treated with Levofloxacin Mesylate Tablets (0.5 g, tid) + Terazosin Hydrochloride Capsules (2 mg qd) for 4 weeks, while the latter group by triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint as an adjunctive therapy twice a week at the same time. Then, we followed up all the patients for 4 weeks, recorded the cases, time and rate of recurrence, obtained the scores in National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), quality of life (QoL) and Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), and compared them between the two groups of patients.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the controls, the patients of the treatment group showed significantly decreased NIH-CPSI scores in pain (8.6 ± 2.12 vs 6.2 ± 2.25, P <0.05), micturition (5.8 ± 1.22 vs 3.1 ± 1.10, P <0.05), and QoL (6.0 ± 1.33 vs 3.4 ± 1.71, P <0.05) and ZDS score as well (43.9 ± 4.53 vs 33.6 ± 3.20, P <0.01). The recurrence rate was markedly lower while the recurrence time remarkably longer in the treatment than in the control group (15.56 vs 35.56% and ［20.0 ± 2.72］ vs ［12.5 ± 3.47］ d, P <0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#As an adjunctive therapy, triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint can evidently ameliorate the clinical symptoms, enhance the curative effect of antibacterials, reduce the recurrence rate, and prolong the recurrence time in the treatment of CP/CPPS.

Domestic versus imported drug-eluting stents for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: The application of coronary stents, especially drug-eluting stents (DESs), has made percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) one of important therapeutic methods for CHD. DES has reduced the in-stent restenosis to 5％–9％ and signifi cantly improved the long-term prognosis of patients with CHD. The study aimed to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of domestic drug-eluting stents (DESs) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: All patients with ACS who had undergone successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2009 to December 2010 were included in this study. Patients were excluded from the study if they were implanted with bare metal stents or different stents (domestic and imported DESs) simultaneously. The included patients were divided into two groups according to different stents implanted: domestic DESs and imported DESs. RESULTS: In the 1683 patients of this study, 1558 (92.6％) patients were folowed up successfuly for an average of (29.1±5.9) months. 130 (8.3％) patients had major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including cardiac death in 32 (2.1％) patients, recurrent myocardial infarction in 16 (1％), and revascularization in 94 (6％). The rates of cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, revascularization, in-stent restenosis, stent thrombosis and other MACEs were not significantly different between the two groups (allP>0.05). Multivarite logistic regression revealed that diabetes mellitus (OR=1.75, 95％CI: 1.09–2.82,P=0.021), vascular numbers of PCI (OR=2.16, 95％CI: 1.22–3.83, P=0.09) and PCI with left main lesion (OR=9.47, 95％CI: 2.96–30.26,P=0.01) were independent prognostic factors of MACEs. The Kaplan-Meier method revealed that there was no significant difference in cumulative survival rates and survival rates free from clinical events between the two groups (allP>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of clinical events and cumulative survival rates are not statistically different between domestic DESs and imported DESs. Domestic DES is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with ACS.

Clinical effects of triamcinolone acetonide combined with laser photocoagulation on patients with retinal vein occlusion / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AlM: To observe the effects of the coelomic cavity injection of triamcinolone acetonide ( TA) combined with laser photocoagulation on patients with retinal vein occlusion. METHODS:Fifty-six patients of retinal obstruction with macular edema were accepted from January 2010 to December 2012 in our hospital. All patients received iodized lecithin and Xueshuantong. And, patients with central retinal vein occlusion ( CRVO ) , hemi- central retinal vein occlusion ( hemi-CRVO ) and branch retinal vein occlusion ( BRVO ) treated by TA combined with laser photocoagulation, respectively. Follow-up period was of at least 6mo RESULTS: After the treatment of 1, 3 and 6mo, the central foveal thickness was reduced significantly ( P CONCLUSlON:Basing on the traditional treatment, TA combined with laser photocoagulation is more effective in the treatment of retinal vein occlusion and is worthy of clinical usage.

Oral everolimus inhibits intimal proliferation in injured carotid artery in rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Everolimus, a derivative of sirolimus, is a potent immunosuppressant that has important anti-proliferative properties. In the present study, we demonstrated the inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in injured carotid arteries in rats by using two different doses of everolimus administrated via the oral route for a long time.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A rat model of carotid artery injury was established by balloon inflation. Eighty rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group (n = 20), injury group (n = 20), low dosage of everolimus group (n = 20), and high dosage of everolimus group (n = 20). The low dose of everolimus (1.5 mg/kg) was given one day before injuring the carotid artery by balloon, followed by 0.75 mg/kg per day for 28 days via intragastric gavage. High dose everolimus (2.5 mg/kg) was given one day before injuring the carotid artery by balloon, followed by 1 mg/kg per day for 28 days. Expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) and phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (P70S6K) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the injured carotid artery, neointimal hyperplasia was normally observed four weeks after injury. Everolimus inhibited neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in a dose dependent manner. At the same time, the study demonstrated that everolimus reduced the expression of P-P70S6K, eIF-4E, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Everolimus significantly inhibited neointimal hyperplasia of the injured carotid artery. The effect depended on dosage and was associated with the reduction of phosphorylation of P70S6K and the eIF-4E expression level.</p>

Beneficial effects of metformin on primary cardiomyocytes via activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Metformin has become a cornerstone in the treatment of patients with type-2 diabetes. Accumulated evidence suggests that metformin supports direct cardiovascular effects. The present study aimed to investigate if metformin has beneficial effects on primary cardiomyocytes damaged by H2O2, and reveal the potential mechanism of action of metformin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cardiomyocytes were incubated in the presence of 100 µmol/L H2O2 for 12 hours. Cardiomyocytes were pretreated with metformin at different concentrations and time and with aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) (500 µmol/L), an adenosine monophophate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonist for 60 minutes before the addition of H2O2. Other cells were preincubated with compound C (an AMPK antagonist, 20 µmol/L) for 4 hours. The viability and apoptosis of cells were analyzed. AMPK, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were analyzed using immunblotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Metformin had antagonistic effects on the influences of H2O2 on cell viability and attenuated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Metformin also increased phosphorylation of AMPK and eNOS, and reduced the expression of TGF-β1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Metformin has beneficial effects on cardiomyocytes, and this effect involves activation of the AMPK-eNOS pathway. Metformin may be potentially beneficial for the treatment of heart disease.</p>

Protective effect of leptin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of leptin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mouse models of transient focal cerebral ischemia were established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. The infarct volume and neurological deficit scores following leptin treatment were determined using TTC staining and the Longa's score, respectively, to evaluate the protective effect of leptin against ischemic cerebral injury. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the brain tissue were measured by colorimetry. The histopathological changes in the brain were observed with HE staining, and the expression of glial fibrillary acidicprotein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Leptin treatment markedly reduced cerebral infarct volume and neurological deficits induced by transient ischemia. The LDH, MDA and NO levels in the brain tissues were significantly decreased after leptin treatment, which also alleviated the histopathological injury, maintained the normal morphology of the astrocytes and increased the expression of GFAP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Leptin produces obvious protective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, stabilizing the internal environment and adjusting the activity of the astrocytes.</p>

Atorvastatin on Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients / 中华高血压杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and BP in hypertensive patients with normal lipid profiles.Methods Thirty-eight hypertensive patients were randomly to receive conventional anti-hypertensive drugs (n=18) or conventional anti-hypertensive drugs plus atorvastatin(20 mg QN)combination treatment (n=20).Eight healthy subjects were given atorvastatin (20 mg QN) for 8 weeks as control group.Before and after treatment,peripheral blood were drawn to isolate and culture EPCs.The circulating EPCs were identified by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal micro- scope.EPCs populations were assessed using the colony forming unit assay (EPC-CFU) through a inverted phase contrast microscope 10 days after culture.Results After treatment,SBP was decreased (conventional treatment from 165.8?10.3 to 132.7?10.3 mmHg;combined group from 163.7?10.2 to 127.9?10.1 mmHg P

Refractive change of humans at sitting and supine position / 眼科

Objective To investigate the spherical diopter and astigmatism change of humans at sitting and supine position.De- sign Prospective case series.Participants 96 eyes of 52 patients (spherical diopter from-2.50 D to-10.00 D,astigmatism diopter from -0.75 D to-4.50 D) were selected.Methods The subjects were examined with NIKON portable retinomax at sitting and supine posi- tion,respectively.Main Outcome Measures The spherical diopter,cylinder diopter and axis change were analyzed statistically.Re- sults Spherical diopter at supine position (-5.31?3.43 D) was a little higher than that at sitting position (-5.27?3.24 D) statistically(P= 0.25),and cylinder diopter at sitting position (-2.27?1.24 D) and at supine position (-2.35?1.19 D) was no statistically difference (P= 0.20).The axis of astigmatism changed from-16?to +18?.Axis change was within 2?in 52.1% eyes,6?-10?in 5.2%,over 10?in 3.1%. The change of axis rotation tended to counter-clockwise in the right eye and clockwise in the left eye.Conclusions Eye rotation at sit- ting and supine position may cause the astigmatism axis change.It may be one of the main factors affecting the results of LASIK.

Effects of early treatment with metoprolol on myocardial inflammatory cytokine expression and heart function in rats with acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of study was to explore the effects of early beta-adrenergic blockade-metoprolol treatment on myocardial inflammatory cytokine expression and heart function in rats after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The therapeutic effects of metoprolol on myocardial inflammation and heart function up to 4 weeks (according to the protocol of CCS-2) were studied by the rat model of AMI. Myocardial inflammation was examined by taking account of the number of lymphocytes infiltrated in the myocardium and analyzing the myocardial cytokine production including the pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1beta, 6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the anti-inflammatory cytokine: IL-10. Echocardiography was used to evaluate heart function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-10 in AMI group were markedly elevated compared to sham rats (P < 0.01) and the cytokines principally excreted by cardiac myocytes. After 4 weeks therapy, metoprolol reduced the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and increased IL-10 levels (P < 0.05) in cardiac myocytes, but had no effect on the number of lymphocytes infiltrated in myocardium. Echocardiography showed that metoprolol markedly improved left heart function (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early metoprolol treatment can improve heart function and myocardial inflammatory cytokine expression after AMI. One immunopharmacologic mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of beta-adrenergic blockade may involve the attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the increase of anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in cardiac myocytes.</p>

The significance of Th1/Th2 function imbalance in patients with post-infarction cardiac insufficiency / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the significance of Th1/Th2 function imbalance in patients with post-infarction cardiac insufficiency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-three MI (myocardial infarction) patients were divided into 2 groups one month after the onset according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification system: group MI 1 (I, II) 25 patients and group MI 2 (III, IV) 18 patients. At the same time, the heart function was evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from these patients. Cytokine-producing CD4 + T cells were quantified by 3-color flow cytometry after being stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. After being stimulated with PHA, the levels of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of IFN-gamma-producing T cells were found to be significantly higher in group MI 2 (16.8%) than that in group MI 1 (13.1%). There was no significant difference on the frequencies of IL-4-producing peripheral T cells between the two groups. The IFN-gamma level and the ratios of IFN-gamma/IL-4 in group MI 2 were significantly higher than those in group MI 1, while there was no significant difference in IL-4 levels between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The Th-cell function was associated with heart function in post MI patients. The up-regulation of Th1 cell function was consistent with poor heart function, suggesting that Th1/Th2 cell function imbalance may participate in ventricular remodelling after MI.</p>

Protective effect of trimetazidine on rabbit myocardium during ischemia- reperfusion / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of trimetazidine on rabbit myocardium in ischemia and reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourty rabbits were divided into five groups randomly: normal control group, ischemia control group, ischemia and drug intervention group, reperfusion control group, reperfusion and drug intervention group. Ischemia lasted for 30 minutes and reperfusion was given for 30 minutes. Serum CPK, SOD activities and MDA concentrations were measured in each group and ischemia tissue ATP concentrations were also measured. Heart tissue was examined with electron microscope in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Serum concentrations of MDA in ischemia and drug intervention group were significantly different from those in ischemia control group [(4.09+/-0.40 vs 4.79+/-0.92)nmol/ml, P<0.01], serum activities of CPK [(1322+/-1148 vs 1498+/-190) NU/ml], SOD[(324+/-71 vs 288+/-54)NU/ml] were not significantly different between ischemia and drug intervene group and ischemic control group (PP>0.05,respectively). (2) Serum activities of CPK [(1512+/-226 vs 1904+/-203) NU/ml], SOD[(213+/-71 vs 119+/-55) NU/ml], concentrations of MDA [(6.09+/-0.69 vs 7.43+/-0.20)nmol/ml] and concentrations of ATP[(1.401+/-0.248 vs 0.629+/-0.175) micromol/g] in ischemia heart tissue of reperfusion and drug intervention group were significantly different from those in reperfusion control group (P<0.001 - 0.01 respectively). (3) There were significant differences in electron microscopic observation between intervention group and control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Trimetazidine can improve cardiac mitochondrial metabolism and scavenge oxygen free radicals. Trimetazidine has cardioprotective function during ischemia and reperfusion.</p>