Expression of CLAUDIN-11 in the testicular tissue of the patient with non-obstructive azoospermia and its clinical significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To study the expression of CLAUDIN-11 in the testis tissue of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients with different severities and investigate its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two NOA patients were divided into a hypospermatogenesis (HS) group (n = 30) and a Sertoli cell only syndrome (SCO) group (n =32). The expression of CLAUDIN-11 in the testicular tissue of the patients was detected by immunohistochemistry, that of CLAUDIN-11 mRNA determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the levels of serum reproductive hormones measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of CLAUDIN-11 was mainly in the cytoplasm of the Sertoli cells around the seminiferous tubule wall in the HS group, but diffusely distributed in the membrane of the Sertoli cells in the SCO group. RT-qPCR revealed a significantly lower expression of CLAUDIN-11 mRNA in the HS than in the SCO group (0.008 ± 0.001 vs 0.013 ± 0.002, t = 10.616, P<0.01). The level of serum luteotropic hormone (LH) was also markedly lower in the HS than in the SCO group (［3.62 ± 1.34］ vs ［4.96 ± 3.10］ IU/L, P<0.05) and so was that of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (［5.36 ± 2.80］ vs ［10.65 ± 9.18］ IU/L, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The up-regulated expression of CLAUDIN-11 in Sertoli cells may play an important role in the development and progression of spermatogenic dysfunction in NOA patients.</p>

Expression of TEKT4 protein decreases in the ejaculated spermatozoa of idiopathic asthenozoospermic men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of the TEKT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We separated and purified the ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and detected the distribution and the expressions of TEKT4 mRNA and TEKT4 protein by RT-PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR revealed that the expression of TEKT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (0.59 +/- 0.13 vs 0.75 +/- 0.15, t = 4.325, P < 0.05), and Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (0.48 +/- 0.14 vs 0.69 +/- 0.13, t = 5.939, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of TEKT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.</p>

Shengjing tablets for semen non-liquefaction: a clinical study of 100 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and action mechanism of Shengjing Tablets in the treatment liquefaction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly assigned 150 patients with semen non-liquefaction to receive Shengjing Tablets group, n = 100) and vitamin E capsules (control group, n = 50) for 2 courses of 45 days each, followed by observation liquefaction time and other semen parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the first course, 68 of the patients in the treatment group 20 responded and 12 failed to respond; and after the second course, 84 were cured, 9 responded and 7 failed to respond, effective rate of 93.0%. In comparison, only 8 of the controls were cured, 8 responded and 34 failed to respond after medication. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the treatment showed obvious improvement in sperm motility and concentration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Shengjing Tablets may shorten the time liquefaction, and can be used as a safe and effective therapy for semen non-liquefaction.</p>

CatSper1 protein and idiopathic asthenozoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of the cation channel of sperm 1 (CatSper1) protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sperm samples from patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were separated by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and the distribution and expression of the CatSper1 protein were determined by immunocytochemistry. Western blotting was used to detect the different expressions of CatSper1 in the ejaculated sperm from the normal control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups, followed by statistical analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of CatSper1, located in the principle piece of the sperm tail, was reduced significantly in the samples from the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients as compared with the normal controls (t = 2.188, P = 0.042). The relative contents of the CatSper1 protein in the sperm of the control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups were 0.806 +/- 0.266, 0.669 +/- 0.207, 0.505 +/- 0.214 and 0.295 +/- 0.162, respectively, significantly decreased in the asthenozoospermia patients in comparison with the normal controls (P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of progressively motile sperm and the relative content of the CatSper1 protein (r = 0.633, P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decreased or abnormal expression of the CatSper1 protein may be a factor involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.</p>

Concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in umbilical cord serum and the influence on newborns birth outcomes in Shanghai / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in umbilical cord serum and analyze the influence of exposure to PBDEs during fetal stage on newborn birth outcomes in Shanghai.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty delivery women in a Shanghai hospital were surveyed by questionnaire, and the umbilical cord serum were collected from September 2006 to April 2007. All the delivery women were singleton pregnancies, excluding high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV infection and adverse medical history. Seven congeners (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154 and BDE-183) were measured by gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization-mass spectrometry and the influencing factors were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Newborns' length, weight, chest circumference, head circumference and body mass index (BMI) were (50.15 ± 0.75) cm, (3.49 ± 0.42) kg, (34.76 ± 1.51) cm, (35.03 ± 1.40) cm, (13.76 ± 1.36) kg/m(2), respectively. The median of Σ(7PBDEs) concentration in umbilical cord serum was 14.06 (1.03 - 379.73) ng/g lipid weight (lw). The detection rate of BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154 and BDE-183 were 22% (11/50), 22% (11/50), 98% (49/50), 72% (36/50), 76% (38/50), 90% (45/50) and 14% (7/50), respectively. The median (range) of PBDEs (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183) congeners were < LOD (< LOD-137.20 ng/g lw), < LOD (< LOD-33.17 ng/g lw), 7.54 ng/g lw (< LOD-94.01 ng/g lw), 1.57 ng/g lw (< LOD-46.95 ng/g lw), 0.63 ng/g lw (< LOD-79.08 ng/g lw), 0.63 ng/g lw (< LOD-22.30 ng/g lw) and < LOD (< LOD-21.63 ng/g lw), respectively. The newborns' BMI showed a negative correlation with BDE-99 (r = -0.347, P < 0.05) and BDE-154 (r = -0.292, P < 0.05). BDE-99 in low-length group (≤ 50 cm, 10.59 ng/g lw) was significantly higher (t = 2.32, P = 0.03) than that in high-length group (> 50 cm, 3.60 ng/g lw).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PBDEs were commonly detected in newborns' umbilical cord serum in this study. Our findings indicated that exposure to PBDEs adversely affected the development of the newborns.</p>

Expression of SEPT4 protein in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermic men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of the SEPT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples of ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men were separated and purified by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, the distribution and expression of SEPT4 in the sperm samples were determined by immunocytochemistry, and the expressions of SEPT4 mRNA and SEPT4 protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunocytochemistry showed that the expression of SEPT4, located in the annulus, was significantly reduced in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients (t = 3.452, P < 0.01). RT-PCR revealed that the expression of SEPT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (t = 3.521, P < 0.05). Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (t = 5.872, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of SEPT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.</p>

Reviews on antiviral activity of chemical constituents from plants / 中国中药杂志

This paper reviewed the progress in researches on antiviral activity of chemical constituents from plants in recent years, the antiviral activity and mechanism of action of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, coumarins and polysaccharoses were sammarszed, provided new leading compound for antivirus new drugs from the plares in prospect.