Pollution characteristics, source analysis, and risk assessment of metal and metalloid in PM2.5 of Shijiazhuang city / 中华预防医学杂志

In 2020, the mass concentration of PM2.5 in Shijiazhuang urban area was(80.30±71.43)μg/m3. The Spearman correlation analysis between metals and metalloids showed that Sb with Cd, Pb, Ni, Se, Cd with Pb, Ni, Se, Pb with Ni, Se, Ni with Se, and Se with Tl were positively correlated, with a coefficient greater than 0.5. The main sources of metals and metalloids of PM2.5 were traffic emissions, fuel combustion, metal smelting and dust. The HQ values of Pb, Hg and Mn for each population were less than 1, with lower non-carcinogenic risk. The R values of carcinogenic risk of Ni and Cd in each population were less than 1×10-6, which could be acceptable risk level for the population. The R values of carcinogenic risk of As and Cr in different populations were between 1×10-6 and 1×10-4, with potential carcinogenic risk, particularly higher in adult males.

Synergistic effect on biosynthesis of Panax notoginseng saponins by overexpressing a transcription factor PnbHLH and RNA interference of cycloartenol synthase gene / 中国中药杂志

This study cloned the transcription factor gene PnbHLH which held an open reading frame of 966 bp encoding 321 amino acids. This study constructed the overexpression vector of transcription factor PnbHLH of Panax notoginseng. The combination of PnbHLH overexpression and RNAi of the key enzyme gene PnCAS involved in the phytosterol biosynthesis was achieved in P. notoginseng cells, thus exploring the biosynthetic regulation of P. notoginseng saponins(PNS) by the synergistic effect of PnbHLH overexpression and PnCAS RNAi. The results showed that the PnbHLH transcription factor interacted with the promoters of key enzyme genes PnDS, PnSS and PnSE in the biosynthetic pathway of PNS, and then regulated the expression levels of key enzyme genes and affected the biosynthesis of saponins indirectly. Further study indicated that the synergistic effect of PnbHLH overexpression and PnCAS RNAi was a more effective approach to regulate the biosynthesis of saponins. Compared with the wild type and PnCAS RNAi cells of P. notoginseng, the contents of total saponins and monomeric saponins(Rd, Rb_1, Re, Rg_1 and R_1) were increased to some extent in the cell lines of PnbHLH overexpression and PnCAS RNAi. This indicated that the two ways of forward regulation and reverse regulation of saponin biosynthesis showed superposition effect. This study explored a more rational and efficient regulation strategy of PNS biosynthesis based on the advantages of multi-point regulation of transcription factors as well as the down-regulation of by-product synthesis of saponins.

Effects of sperm DNA fragmentation index on semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes in intrauterine insemination / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To analyze the correlation of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) level with semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination of the husband (AIH) in the cycle of intrauterine insemination (IUI).@*METHODS@#We collected the clinical data on 777 cases of IUI, including female clinical indicators, male semen parameters, sperm DFI and pregnancy outcomes. According to the DFI level, we divided the patients into three groups: DFI < 15%, 15% ≤ DFI < 30% and DFI ≥ 30%.@*RESULTS@#The sperm DFI level was significantly elevated with the increased age of the males (P = 0.002) and closely related to the total number of motile sperm (P = 0.002) and total sperm motility (P = 0.000) before treatment, as well as to sperm concentration (P = 0.000), total sperm motility (P = 0.001) and total number of progressively motile sperm (P = 0.000) after density gradient centrifugation. The rate of clinical pregnancy was decreased in the DFI ≥ 30% group. There were no statistically significant differences between sperm DFI and the rates of clinical pregnancy and abortion.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Male age significantly affects the sperm DFI level. Sperm DFI is closely related to sperm motility and total number of progressively motile sperm, but not to the rates of clinical pregnancy and abortion in patients undergoing IUI. IUI can be used as an effective method of assisted reproduction for male infertility./.

Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Modified Erxian Decoction in Treating Osteoporosis with Yang Deficiency / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To observe the effect of modified Erxian decoction on the physical condition, pain in the lower back and joints, limb activity, bone density, bone metabolism and biochemical indexes in patients with osteoporosis caused by Yang deficiency, in order to explore the possible mechanism. Method::Totally 100 cases of osteoporosis with Yang deficiency were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 50 cases in each group. The control group was treated with basic anti-osteoporosis therapy, and the treatment group was give modified Erxian decoction combined with basic therapy for 6 weeks. Short physical performance battery (SPPB) scores of low back and joint pain and Yang deficiency symptom score before and after treatment were recorded and analyzed. before and after treatment, the changes of blood serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), L1-4, femoral neck bone mineral density(BMD), osteocalcin (BGP) and type I collagen peptide amino end level (P1NP) were measured. Result::The scores of lumbar back and joint pain, Yang deficiency symptom score, limb function and activity, lumbar spine 1-4 (L1-4), femoral neck BMD, Ca, P, BGP and P1NP between two groups before treatment had no statistically significant difference. After 6 weeks of treatment, limb activity score, L1-4, femoral neck BMD, serum Ca and P levels in treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The scores of the pain in the lower back and joints, Yang deficiency symptom score, BGP and P1NP in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion::Modified Erxian decoction can significantly alleviate the pain in the lower back and joints of patients with osteoporosis caused by Yang deficiency, enhance the limb function and activity status, improve the physical condition and bone density of patients, reduce bone conversion, with a good effect in treating and alleviating symptoms of osteoporosis caused by Yang deficiency.

Clinical features of acute kidney injury in patients with nephrotic syndrome and minimal change disease: a retrospective, cross-sectional study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Minimal change nephropathy (MCD) is a common pathological type of nephrotic syndrome and is often associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and related factors of AKI in patients with MCD and nephrotic syndrome.@*METHODS@#Patients from Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital who were diagnosed with pathological renal MCD with clinical manifestations of nephrotic syndrome were included from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017. Patients diagnosed with membranous nephropathy (MN) by renal biopsy from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017 are included as a control population. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients as well as the percentages and clinical characteristics of AKI in different age groups. We assessed the correlation of pathological characteristics with serum creatinine using multivariate linear regression analysis.@*RESULTS@#A total of 367 patients with MCD were included in the analysis, with a sex ratio of 1.46: 1 (male: female) and an age range of 6 to 77 years. Among all the patients, 109 developed AKI (29.7%), and of these patients, 85 were male (78.0%). In the 586 patients with MN, 27 (4.6%) patients developed AKI. The percentage of AKI in MCD patients was significantly higher than that in MN patients (χ2 = 41.063, P < 0.001). The percentage of AKI increased with age in the MCD patients. The percentage of AKI in patients aged 50 years or older was 52.9% (46/87), which was significantly higher than that [22.5% (63/280)] in patients under 50 years (χ2 = 6.347, P = 0.013). We observed statistically significant differences in age (43 [27, 59] years vs. 28 [20, 44] years, Z = 5.487, P < 0.001), male (78.0% vs. 51.4%, χ2 = 22.470, P < 0.001), serum albumin (19.9 ± 6.1 g/L vs. 21.5 ± 5.7 g/L, t = 2.376, P = 0.018), serum creatinine (129.5 [105.7, 171.1] μmol/L vs. 69.7 [57.7, 81.9] μmol/L, Z = 14.190, P < 0.001), serum urea (10.1 [6.2, 15.8] mmol/L vs. 4.7 [3.6, 6.4] mmol/L, Z = 10.545, P < 0.001), IgE (266.0 [86.7, 963.0] IU/ml vs. 142.0 [35.3, 516.5] IU/ml, Z = 2.742, P = 0.007), history of diabetes (6.4% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.009), and history of hypertension (23.9% vs. 5.1%, χ2 = 28.238, P < 0.001) between the AKI group and the non-AKI group. According to multivariate linear regression analysis, among the renal pathological features analyzed, renal tubular epithelial cell damage (β = 178.010, 95% CI: 147.888-208.132, P < 0.001) and renal interstitial edema (β = 28.833, 95% CI: 11.966-45.700, P = 0.001) correlated with serum creatinine values.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The percentage of AKI in MCD patients is significantly higher than that in MN patients. Patients over 50 years old are more likely to develop AKI. Renal tubular epithelial cell injury and renal interstitial edema may be the main pathological lesions that are associated with elevated serum creatinine in patients with MCD.

Characterization of Lysine Monomethylome and Methyltransferase in Model Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 / 基因组蛋白质组与生物信息学报·英文版

Protein lysine methylation is a prevalent post-translational modification (PTM) and plays critical roles in all domains of life. However, its extent and function in photosynthetic organisms are still largely unknown. Cyanobacteria are a large group of prokaryotes that carry out oxygenic photosynthesis and are applied extensively in studies of photosynthetic mechanisms and environmental adaptation. Here we integrated propionylation of monomethylated proteins, enrichment of the modified peptides, and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to identify monomethylated proteins in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis). Overall, we identified 376 monomethylation sites in 270 proteins, with numerous monomethylated proteins participating in photosynthesis and carbon metabolism. We subsequently demonstrated that CpcM, a previously identified asparagine methyltransferase in Synechocystis, could catalyze lysine monomethylation of the potential aspartate aminotransferase Sll0480 both in vivo and in vitro and regulate the enzyme activity of Sll0480. The loss of CpcM led to decreases in the maximum quantum yield in primary photosystem II (PSII) and the efficiency of energy transfer during the photosynthetic reaction in Synechocystis. We report the first lysine monomethylome in a photosynthetic organism and present a critical database for functional analyses of monomethylation in cyanobacteria. The large number of monomethylated proteins and the identification of CpcM as the lysine methyltransferase in cyanobacteria suggest that reversible methylation may influence the metabolic process and photosynthesis in both cyanobacteria and plants.

Influence of Familiarity on Energy Intake and Plasma Gut Hormone Concentration in Lean and Overweight Young Male Students / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study is to examine the influence of familiarity on energy intake, eating behavior, and concentration of the plasma gut hormones in lean and overweight young male subjects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-eight lean and twenty-eight overweight participants were recruited. Their food consumption was documented and analyzed when they had a test meal while they were paired with friends or strangers at the same weight stature. Their eating behavior was recorded with cameras hidden in the carton, and postprandial plasma gut hormone concentration were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with overweight strangers (OS), overweight friends (OF) had increased food consumption, prolonged and decreased number of chews per 10 g food. Compared with OS, postprandial plasma concentration of cholecystokinin-8 was significantly lower in OF group at 30, 60, and 90 min, whereas the concentration of glucagon-like peptide 1 was significantly lower at 60 and 90 min. Plasma ghrelin concentration was significantly higher in the OF group than that in the OS group at 90 and 120 min. No significant differences in gut hormone concentration were observed between lean strangers (LS) and lean friends (LF) groups at all time points.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Familiarity plays an important role in increasing energy intake and in changing of postprandial gut hormone concentration in overweight individuals.</p>

Value of Elasticity Contrast Index of Ultrasonography in Differentiating Benign and Malignant Cervical Lymph Nodes / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of elasticity contrast index(ECI)in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes.Methods Cervical lymph nodes of 48 patients were examined by traditional ultrasound and ECI in Peking University Third Hospital between December 2016 and April 2017. Patients were further divided into free-hand group and non-free-hand group according to the use of manual compression or not. With pathological or clinical follow-up results as the gold standard,we compared the diagnostic values of traditional ultrasound,ECI,and their combination in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lymph nodes.Results Totally 138 lymph nodes were collected from 46 patients,among which 76 were benign and 62 were malignant. The ECI value of malignant lymph nodes(1.69±0.89)were significantly higher than that of benign lymph nodes(1.32±0.87)(t=-2.46,P=0.015).The area under receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve for traditional ultrasound in discrimination of malignant cervical lymph nodes with benign ones was 0.899,with an optimal cut-off value of 7,which had a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 84.2%. The area under ROC curve for ECI was 0.649,with an optimal cut-off value of 1.25,which had a sensitivity of 59.7% and a specificity of 60.5%. For their combination,the area under ROC curve was 0.724,with a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 51.3%. In the group without using free-hand technique,the mean ECI value was 1.77±0.94 for malignant nodes,which was significantly higher than that(1.26±0.81)for benign nodes(t=-3.09,P=0.003). In the group requiring free-hand technique,the ECI value for malignant nodes was 1.33(1.01,1.44),showing no significant difference with benign ones[1.32(0.78,2.18);z=-0.20,P=0.843].Conclusions Conventional ultrasound has higher diagnostic value than ECI and their combination in differentiating benign and malignant lymph nodes. The role of ECI in evaluating other organs requires further investigations.

Study on prevention effect of Zishen Yutai pill combined with progesterone for threatened abortion in rats

OBJECTIVE@#To observe preventive and therapeutic effects and the mechanism of actions on Zishen Yutai pill combined with progesterone on threatened abortion in rats.@*METHODS@#After pregnancy, 50 SPF female SD rats were selected and divided into control group, model group, progesterone group, Zishen Yutai pill group, and progesterone plus Zishen Yutai pill group (combination group), with 10 rats in each group. The rats of control group and abortion model group were lavaged with 2 mL/kg normal saline on pregnancy day 1 for continuous 10 days. Rats in Zishen Yutai pill group were given 1.575 g/kg/d of Zishen Yutai pill for intragastric administration for continuous 10 days. Rats in progesterone group were given intramuscular injection treatment of 0.1 mL/d progestin, continuous for 10 days. Rats in combination group were given injection therapy of aqueous solution of Zishen Yutai pill for continuous 10 days, and other treatments were the same as previous two groups. Abortion model were established then and live births, numbers of abortion and average rate of abortion were compared between the five groups. Peripheral blood was collected to detect the estradiol (E2) and progestational hormone (P), and obtain ratio of Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-2, INF-γ, IL-4, IL-10).@*RESULTS@#Significant more live births of rats were found in the control group compared with other four groups (P  0.05) but these levels in the control group and Zishen Yutai pill group were significant lower than that of progesterone group and joint group (P < 0.05). The maternal-fetal interface IL - 4/IL - 2, IL - 10/IL - 2 of model group were balanced deviating to Th1, while the IL-4/IL-2, IL-10/IL-2 of progesterone group, Zishen Yutai pill group and joint group were balanced deviating to Th2, and joint group' deviation was better than progesterone group and Zishen Yutai pill group (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Zishen Yutai pill combined with progesterone has a significant control effect for threatened abortion, which can obviously increase contents of maternal serums E2 and P, and regulate the Th1/Th2 balance with a remarkable effect.

Effect of secretin on the expression of cPLAand mPGEs-1 in mouse endometrial stromal cell during early pregnancy / 生理学报

Secretin, a gastrointestinal peptide, has been found to be expressed in mouse endometrial stromal cells (mESCs) during early pregnancy. In order to further investigate the function of secretin during embryo implantation, the expression levels of secretin, secretin receptor, cytosolic phospholipase A(cPLA) and membrane prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGEs-1) were detected in the mice uterus from day 4 to 8 of pregnancy by real-time PCR, ELISA and in situ hybridization. mESCs isolated and cultured from day 4 of pregnancy were transfected with secretin expression vectors or treated with H89, a PKA inhibitor. Then the expression levels of cPLA, mPGEs-1 and cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. The concentration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE) in the supernatant was determined by ELISA. The result showed that secretin, cPLAand mPGEs-1 mRNA expression increased gradually in implantation sites from day 5 to day 7 of pregnancy with the same tendency. The secretin levels in serum were significantly higher on days 6, 7 and 8 of pregnancy than that on day 5 of pregnancy. The concentration of secretin was significantly higher in implantation sites on days 6, 7 than that in non-implantation site on day 5. Transfection of secretin expression vector promoted cPLA, p-cPLAand mPGEs-1 expressions in mESCs, but not PGElevel in the supernatant. H89 could effectively inhibit the expression of CREB, p-CREB, p-cPLAand cPLAinduced by secretin. The results showed that the increased secretin expression in mESCs during embryo implantation may promote p-cPLA, cPLAand mPGEs-1 expression, and the promotion may be through PKA signaling pathway.

Clinical observation of imaging expression and operation treatment for intramedullary schwannoma of thoracolumbar spine / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the imaging characteristics and operation outcomes of intramedullary schwannoma in thoracolumbar spine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2005 to December 2012,17 patients with intramedullary schwannoma in thoracolumbar spine were operated through posterior approach, including 11 males and 6 females with an average age of 53 years old ranging from 46 to 67 years old. The courses of disease ranged from 3 to 5 years (averaged 3.3 years). Thoracic patients manifested chest and back pain,numbness and inability on lower limb gradually, unsteady gait. Lumbar patients manifested low back pain,radiating pain and numbness on lower limb, intermittent claudication. Preoperative VAS score was 5 to 8 with an average of 6.12. Eleven patients suffered from never injury, 4 cases were grade C, 5 cases were grade D and 2 cases were grade E according to Frankel classification. Three patients were injured on thoracic segments, 5 patients were on thoracolumbar segments, 3 patients on lumbar segments and 6 patients on lumbosacral segment confirmed by CT and MRI. Five patients were epidural, 12 were intradural extramedullary. Six patients underwent spinal decompression and tumor resection simply, eleven patients underwent spinal decompression, tumor resection, internal fixation and bone graft fusion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No injury of blood vessel or spinal cord occurred during operation, cutting healed well. All patients were followed up from 12 to 60 months with an average of 32 months. Chest and back pain, low back pain, radiating pain and numbness on lower limb were improved significantly. VAS score at final follow-up was 0 to 3 (averaged 1.5). According to Frankel classification, 5 cases were grade D, and 6 cases were grade E at final follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MRI is an effective method in diagnosis of intramedullary schwannoma in thoracolumbar spine. Operative method is choosed by imaging expression, and the aim is effectively decompression of spine, reconstruction of stability of spine.</p>

Establishment of osteoblast primary cilia model removed by chloral hyrate / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish osteoblast model, primary cilla model was removed by chloral hyrate, observe effects of osteoblast primary cilla moved on enhancing ALP staining and calcified nodules staining in electromagnetic field.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three 3-day-old male SD rats weighed between 6 and 9 g were killed, cranial osteoblast was drawed and adherencing cultured respectively. Cells were subcultured and randomly divided into 4 groups until reach to fusion states. The four groups included chloral hydrate non-involved group (control group), 2 mM, 4 mM and 8 mM chloral hydrate group, and cultured in 37 °C, 5% CO2 incubator for 72 h. Morphology of primary cilla was observed by laser confocal scanning microscope, and incidence of osteoblast primary cilia was analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. Cells in the correct concentration group which can removed cillia most effectively were selected and divided into 3 groups, including control group (C), Electromagnetic fields group (EMFs), and EMFs with 4 mM chloral hydrate group. DMEM nutrient solution contained 10%FBS were added into three groups and cultured for 9 days and formation of ALP were observed by histochemical staining of alkaline phosphatase. After 12 days' cultivation, formation of mineralization nodes was observed by alizarin red staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group and 2mM chloral hydrate group,4 mM chloral hydrate group could effectively remove osteoblast primary cilla (P<0.01). Removal of osteoblast primary cilla could weaken the formation of ALP and mineralization nodes in osteoblast in EMFS. Compared with EMFs group, the area of ALP and mineralization nodes in EMFs with 4 mM chloral hydrate group were decreased obviously (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>4mM chloral hydrate could effectively remove osteoblast primary cilia. Primary cilla participate in EMFs promoting formation of ALP and mineralization nodes in osteoblast and provide new ideas for exploring mechanism of EMFs promoting osteoblast maturation and mineralization.</p>

Comparative study on effect of osthole and genistein on peak bone mass in rats / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the ability of osthole (OST) and genistein (GEN) in enhancing bone peak bone mass of rats to prevent osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six female one-month-old SD rats of (125 +/- 3) g body weight were randomly divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group, one group was orally administered osthole at 9 mg x kg(-1) d(-1), one group was given genistein at 10 mg x kg(-1) d(-1) and another was given equal quantity of distilled water as the control. The body weight was monitored weekly and the bone mineral density (BMD) of total body was measured every month. All rats were sacrificed after three months, the femoral bone mineral density, the serum levels of osteocalcin (OC) and anti-tartaric acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) were measured by Elisa. The bone microarchitectures were analyzed with micro-CT and the bone biomechanics properties were tested with universal material machine.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were observed between O-treated or GEN group and the control for the food-intake and body weight during three months. However, the rats treated with OST had significant higher BMD for both total body and femur than the control and GEN group. The O-treated rats also had higher level of serum OC and lower level of TRACP 5b. Besides, they owned bigger bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number but smaller trabecular spacing. In the three point bending tests of femurs,they were found to have larger maximum load, the young's modulus and structural model index (SMI).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Orally administered osthole could efficiently increase the peak bone mass of rats,which provide new ideas for preventing osteoporosis.</p>

Effect of different-intensity SEMFs on bone mineral density and histomorphometry in SD rats / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of different-intensity sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (SEMFs) on bone mineral density (BMD) and histomorphometry in SD rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A (a control group), group B (0.1 mT group) and group C (0.6 mT group). The rats in group B and C were exposed to 50 Hz SEMFs 3 hours each day. However,the magnetic intensity was different between group B and group C:0.1 mT for group B and 0.6 mT for group C. After 8 weeks, all the animals were killed. Changes of BMD and histomorphometric properties were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with group A, the BMD of whole body, femur and vertebrae of rats in group B increased significantly; the area percentage, number and width of bone trabeculae in vertebrae and femur of rats in group B were larger than those of group A; but the resolution of bone trabeculae of rats in group B was lower than that of group A. The trabecular number in group C rats were significantly decreased, compared with that in group A rats. The outcome of double fluorescence labeling in group B was found to be significantly different with that in group A. But the difference between rats in group A and C was not significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study demonstrates that 50 Hz 0.1 mT SEMFs can increase BMD, improve bone tissue microstructure and, promote bone formation.</p>

Protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate against sperm abnormality in mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on mouse sperm in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 64 six-week-old male Kuming mice were randomly divided into eight groups of equal number to be treated with normal saline (negative control), Cyclophosphamide (CP) at 30 mg/kg (positive control), and CP followed by EGCG (experimental) at 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg, respectively, given every other day for 10 days. At 4 and 5 weeks after treatment, the bilateral testes of the mice were harvested for examination of sperm abnormality.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EGCG did not increase the rate of CP-induced sperm abnormality in the mice, but reduced it instead with the prolonged time of treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGCG protects mouse sperm in vivo.</p>

The construction of over-expression vector for Panax notoginseng SS gene and its transformation / 药学学报

PNS (Panax notoginseng saponins) is the main medical bioactive component in Panax notoginseng. The medical value of PNS cannot be extended because of its low production. With the deep study of saponins biosynthetic pathway, the control of PNS biosynthesis through metabolic engineering has gradually become possible. In this study, the Squalene synthase (SS) over-expression vector was established. By the way of agrobacterium-mediated method, the vector was transfered and integrated into the Panax notoginseng genome. The result of the PCR detection and the saponin content detection shows that over-expression SS is able to produce high level of Panax notoginseng saponins, and confirms the regulatory function of SS in the biosynthesis of ginsenosides in Panax notoginseng. It provides a theoretical basis and technical basis for the construction of PNS homologous or heterologous efficient expression system in the future.

Analysis of postoperative recurrence reason and observation of reoperation outcome for spinal tuberculosis / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the reason of postoperative recurrence of spinal tuberculosis and observe the clinical outcome of these patients in reoperation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2002 to May 2010,27 patients with postoperative recrudescent spinal tuberculosis were treated. There were 15 males and 12 females with an average age of 36.5 years old (ranged, 21 to 65). The risk factors and effect strength associated with postoperative recrudescent spinal tuberculosis were compared by Logistic regression analysis. Individual operation was performed according to the major reason. Re-operative methods including debridment in 5 cases, debridment and sinuses resection in 7 cases, one stage debridement and bone grafting via anterior approach and internal fixation via posterior approach in 8 cases, one stage bone grafting and internal fixation via posterior approach combined with CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage and local chemotherapy in 2 cases, CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage and local chemotherapy in 5 cases. Antituberculosis drugs were regularly used in all patients after operation. The ESR, X-ray and 3D-CT were regularly performed to estimate the progress of tuberculosis and condition of bony fusion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The risk factors associated with postoperative recrudescent spinal tuberculosis were complicated, including no regularly used antituberculosis drugs before and after operation, no early diagnosis and treatment of the postoperative fluidify, malnutrition, no thoroughly debridement during operation and poor spinal stability after operation, according to effect strength to arrange. There was no injury of blood vessel,spinal cord or ureter during reoperation. The follow-up period was from 12 to 36 months with an average of 24 months. Tuberculosis symptoms disappeared after reoperation and no complications such as tuberculosis recurrence, infection of incision, sinuses formation and internal fixation failure were found in the patients. ESR recovered normal in follow-up and bone graft obtained fusion at 8 to 12 months after operation and internal fixation position was normal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The reoperative reasons of spinal tuberculosis are complicated and multifactorial. The diagnosis and treatment are difficult. It is important to analyze the recrudescent reasons thoroughly before operation,emphasize the application of regularly antituberculosis drugs and individual operation, meanwhile, reinforce nourishment and supportive treatment.</p>

Management of thyroid carcinoma with metastases in the upper mediastinum and axillary area / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of thyroid carcinoma with the upper mediastinal and axillary metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six cases of thyroid carcinomas with metastases to mediastinum and axillary, in addition to the neck, undergoing surgeries from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed. Five cases was papillary carcinoma and one was follicular carcinoma. Of six patients, five underwent surgical treatment at least one time previously and one of them received a radiotherapy with total dose of 60 Gy. (131)I treatment and thyroxine were used postoperatively in all cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The numbers of metastatic nodes in the axillary were 2/7, 3/12, 2/6, 1/5, 3/7 and 3/10 respectively, while the numbers in the upper mediastinum ranged from 2 to 6, with a 4.3 average, a metastatic lymph node in the retropharyngeal space was also found in one patient. Horner's sign occurred in three cases, temporary hypocalcemia in two cases and chylous fistula in one case. No injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve or to important vessels. Neck or lower mediastinum recurrence and new lung metastasis occurred in three cases separately. No recurrence in the upper mediastinum or axillary area was found with the follow-up of 23-77 months. One died of heart disease 4 years after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The surgical treatment of node metastases in the upper mediastinum and axillary from the well-differentiated thyroid cancer is safe and has a promising outcome.</p>

Mechanisms of icariin in regulating bone formation of osteoblasts and bone resorption of osteoclasts / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the molecular mechanisms of icariin (ICA) in regulating the bone formation of osteoblasts and the bone resorption of osteoclasts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary osteoblast cell cultures were obtained from newborn rat calvarial. Calcified nodules were stained by alizarin red. The mRNA levels of osterix (OSX), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Collagen1, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-ΚB ligand (RANKL) were analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, the protein levels of OPG, RANKL, and Collagen1 were examined by Western blotting, and the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration of osteoblasts was measured on a flow cytometer using the Cellquest program.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, ICA markedly promoted bone formation by significant up-regulating the gene expressions of OSX, Runx-2,ALP, and Collagen1, the protein expression of Collagen1(all P<0.01), and the Ca(2+) concentration. Furthermore, ICA remarkably inhibited bone resorption by significant up-regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of OPG as well as the OPG/RANKL ratio.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ICA could promote bone formation of osteoblasts through inducting the gene expressions of OSX,Runx-2, ALP and Collagen1, and the protein expressions of Collagen1, and by increasing the Ca (2+) concentration. Moreover, ICA could inhibit bone resorption of osteoclasts through regulating OPG/RANKL signal pathway.</p>

Effects of icariin and genistein on peak bone mass in rats / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of icariin (ICA) and genistein (GEN) on rats bone peak mass and thus screen for a drug that can more effectively prevent osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 36 one-month SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: ICA group [25 mg/(kg·d), intragastric administration], GEN group [10 mg/(kg·d), intragastric administration], and control group (fed with equal volume of distilled water). The body weight was monitored weekly and the bone mineral density of total body was measured monthly. All rats were sacrificed three months later. The femoral bone mineral density and the serum levels of osteocalcin and anti-tartaric acid phosphatase 5b, N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen, and C-terminal propeptide of type 1collagen were measured. The bone microarchitectures were analyzed with micro-CT and the bone biomechanics properties were tested with universal material machine.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The body weight and organ index showed no significant difference among these three groups(P>0.05). No obvious pathological change was found. The bone mineral density was also not significantly different in the first and second months; however, in the third months, the ICA group had significant higher bone mineral density for both total body and femur than those in the control and GEN group (P<0.05). The same trends were found for both femur bone mineral density and whole-body bone mineral density (P<0.05). The ICA group also had significantly higher serum levels of osteocalcin (P<0.05) and lower level of anti-tartaric acid phosphatase 5b(P<0.05). Besides, rats in the ICA group had significantly larger bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number than the control group, whereas the trabecular spacing and model coefficients were signicantly lower(all P<0.05), which, however, were not significantly different between ICA group and GEN group (P>0.05). Femoral maximum load, Youg's modulus, and yield load were significantly higher in these two groups than in the control group (P<0.05), which, again, were not significantly different between ICA group and GEN group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Orally administered ICA is more efficient than GEN in inhibiting resorption and promoting bone formation, and thus can dramatically improve the peak bone mineral density and bone quality.</p>