Association between MTHFR c.677C>T variant and erectile dysfunction among males attending fertility clinic / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Genetic risk factors have been shown to contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction. However, the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variants in the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear. In this study, we recruited 1254 participants who underwent ED assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5. The MTHFR c.677C>T variant was also measured by fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). No significant difference in the genotypic frequency of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism (CC, CT, and TT) was observed between men from the ED and non-ED groups. In addition, on binary logistic regression analysis, both crude and adjusted models showed that the risk of ED was not significantly associated with the C677T polymorphism. Interestingly, a significantly higher frequency of the 677TT polymorphism was found in severe and moderate ED (P = 0.02). The positive correlation between the MTHFR 677TT polymorphism and severe ED was confirmed by logistic regression analysis, even after adjusting for potential confounders (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-5.50, P = 0.02). These findings suggest a positive correlation between the MTHFR 677TT polymorphism and the risk of severe ED. Identification of MTHFR gene polymorphisms may provide complementary information for ED patients during routine clinical diagnosis.

Locking loop stitch with suture-bridge technique in repair of acute closed distal Achilles tendon rupture by using suture anchors / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore clinical efficacy of Locking loop stitch with suture-bridge technique in repair of acute closed distal Achilles tendon rupture by using suture anchors.@*METHODS@#From July 2019 to March 2021, 20 patients with acute closed distal Achilles tendon rupture were treated by minimally invasive suture anchor locking suture bridging repair technique. Among them, including 18 males and 2 females, aged from 19 to 52 years old with an average of(40.0±9.0) years old. Complications were observed, and recovery of ankle function was evaluated by American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society(AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot function scoring system before operation and 1 year after operation.@*RESULTS@#All patients followed up from 6 to 18 months with an average of (12.0±3.2) months. The incisions were healed at stageⅠwithout infection and skin necrosis occurred;no gastrocnemius nerve injury and deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities occurred;and no heel pain and Achilles tendon re-rupture occurred. AOFAS scores of ankle and hindfoot increased from(59.0±4.3) before opertaion to(95.1±2.6) at 1 year after operation (t=-32.1, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The effect of locking suture bridging with suture anchor nails to repair acute distal Achilles tendon rupture is definite, and it could reduce incidence of complications such as Achilles tendon re-rupture, nerve injury, and skin necrosis, which has advantages of small surgical trauma, reliable anastomosis method and good functional recovery, and is an ideal method for treating acute closed distal Achilles tendon rupture.

Association between semen collection time and semen parameters: an observational study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The process of semen collection plays a key role in the quality of semen specimens. However, the association between semen collection time and semen quality is still unclear. In this study, ejaculates by masturbation from 746 subfertile men or healthy men who underwent semen analysis were examined. The median (interquartile range) semen collection time for all participants was 7.0 (5.0-11.0) min, and the median time taken for semen collection was lower in healthy men than that in subfertile men (6.0 min vs 7.0 min). An increase in the time required to produce semen samples was associated with poorer semen quality. Among those undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), the miscarriage rate was positively correlated with the semen collection time. After adjusting for confounders, the highest quartile (Q4) of collection time was negatively associated with semen volume and sperm concentration. A longer time to produce semen samples (Q3 and Q4) was negatively correlated with progressive and total sperm motility. In addition, there was a significant negative linear association between the semen collection time and the sperm morphology. Higher risks of asthenozoospermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-3.25, P = 0.002) and teratozoospermia (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.10-3.55, P = 0.02) were observed in Q3 than those in Q1. Our results indicate that a higher risk of abnormal semen parameter values was associated with an increase in time for semen collection, which may be related to male fertility through its association with semen quality.

Association of sexually transmitted infection with semen quality in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

This study aims to compare the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with semen quality in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility. Semen samples were collected from 133 men who requested fertility evaluation. Seminal tract infection with Ureaplasma spp. (UU), Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) was assessed by PCR-based diagnostic assays. Among all patients, the prevalence of STIs was higher in men from couples with primary infertility than that in men from couples with secondary infertility (39.7% vs 21.7%, P = 0.03). The prevalence of UU was 28.8% and 13.3% in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility, respectively. Men from couples with primary infertility were more likely to be positive for UU than men from couples with secondary infertility (P = 0.04). Regarding the UU subtype, the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uuu) and Ureaplasma parvum (Uup; including Uup1, Uup3, Uup6, and Uup14) did not differ between the two groups. No associations between the prevalence rates of MH, MG, and CT were found in men from either infertility group. A lower sperm concentration was associated with STI pathogen positivity in men with primary infertility according to the crude model (P = 0.04). The crude and adjusted models showed that semen volume (both P = 0.03) and semen leukocyte count (both P = 0.02) were independently associated with secondary infertility. These findings suggest the importance of classifying the type of infertility during routine diagnosis of seminal tract infections.

Management of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis in Non-hospitalized and hospitalized patients

Proper management of antibiotic-associated pseudo membranous colitis is not clear. This article is to investigate proper treatment of antibiotic-associated pseudo membranous colitis. Data of 67 patients [aged 18-69 years, with 31 males and 46 females] with antibiotic-associated pseudo membranous colitis were retrospectively analyzed including the demography, antibiotics to induce and for treatment of the pseudo membranous colitis, and other supportive measures. All 67 patients had a positive cytotoxin test, which confirmed the pseudo membranous colitis. Antibiotics which induced the pseudo membranous colitis included clindamycin, ofloxacin, piperacillin, cefatriaxone, penbritin and ceftazidime. Once the correct diagnosis was made, the culprit antibiotics were discontinued immediately, and narrow-spectrum antibiotics like metronidazole and vancomycin were administered in combination with correction of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, use of vitamins C and B complex to repair the intestinal mucosa, and avoidance of antispasmodic and antidiarrheal agents. After appropriate treatment for 2-20 days, all patients recovered with no sequela. Sixty-two patients were clinically cured while five [7.5%] had diarrhea recurrence within two months of the end of therapy. Retreatment with tapering and extended period of metronidazole and/or vancomycin led to complete recovery of the patients. Multiple antibiotic agents are associated with pseudo membranous colitis, and correction of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities and use of vitamins to repair the intestinal mucosa should be performed to speed up the cure process

Ultra-rapid cryopreservation of human spermatozoa with different concentrations of sucrose / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of ultra-rapid freezing of human spermatozoa in the cryogenic vial with different concentrations of sucrose solution.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We divided 40 normal semen samples prepared with the routine swim-up technique into 6 aliquots, 1 as the control and the other 5 cryopreserved with sucrose solution at the concentrations of 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 mol/L, respectively. After thawing, we determined and compared the motility, progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity of the sperm among the 6 groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The motility, progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity of the sperm were significantly lower after thawing than before cryopreservation ([96.2 +/- 1.8]%, [93.8 +/- 2.8]% and [99.0 +/- 0.8 ]%) (P<0.05). Post-thawing sperm motility was (55.5 +/- 6.3)% in the 0.20 mol/L sucrose group, significantly higher than in the 0.15, 0.25 and 0.30 mol/L groups ([45.9 +/- 6.6]%, [50.4 +/- 9.4]% and [45.5 +/- 11.2]%) (P<0.05), and it was (53.6 +/- 5.0)% in the conventional freezing group, with no statistically significant difference from the 0.20 and 0.25 mol/L sucrose cryopreservation groups (P> 0.05), but remarkably higher than in the 0.15 and 0.30 mol/L groups (P<0.05). Post-thawing progressive sperm motility exhibited no statistically significant differences between the 0.20 mol/L sucrose and conventional freezing groups ([44.4 +/- 7.4]% vs [42.3 +/- 8.1]%, P>0.05), but markedly higher in both than in the 0.15, 0.25 and 0.30 mol/L sucrose groups ([37.1 +/- 8.3 ]%, [33.1 +/- 9.2]% and [22.0 +/- 9.1]%) (P<0.05). Post-thawing plasma membrane integrity was significantly higher in the 0.20 mol/L sucrose cryopreservation group ( [70.1 +/- 6.9]%) than in either the conventional freezing group ([63.1 +/- 6.8]%) or the 0.15, 0.25 and 0.30 mol/L sucrose groups ([57.7 +/- 8.3]%, [63.5 +/- 10.7]% and [57.8 +/- 12.9]%) (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As a simple, safe and effective method, ultra-rapid freezing with sucrose solution at the final concentration of 0.20 mol/L can be used for the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa.</p>

Donor MHC gene to mitigate rejection of transplantation in recipient mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Donor organ rejection continues to be a significant problem for patients receiving transplants. We therefore tested whether transferring a donor's major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene to the recipient would mitigate the rejection of transplanted hearts in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>H-2K(k) gene from donor mice was amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligated into a mammalian expression vector, which was then transfected into thymus ground mass cells collected from the recipients. Clones stably expressing the transgene were then injected into the recipients' thymus visualized using ultrasound. Control mice were administered cells previously transfected with empty vector. Following heart transplantation, cardiac activity was monitored electrocardiographically. Recipient thymus cells were tested for MHC antigenicity using flow cytometry and spleen cells were subjected to mixed lymphocyte culture tests. Finally, the transplanted hearts were sectioned, stained and examined under light microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Southern analysis following nested PCR revealed clear expression of H-2K(k) gene. Following transplantation, electrocardiosignals were detectable highly significantly longer in recipients administered thymal cells expressing donor H-2K(k) than in those receiving control cells. Flow cytometric analysis using an anti-H-2K(k) antibody confirmed its expression in H-2K(k) treated recipients but not in control mice. Mixed lymphocyte cultures containing H-2K(k) treated cells showed significantly less proliferation than those containing control cells. Hearts from control mice showed substantially greater lymphocyte infiltration than those from H-2K(k) treated mice and large areas of necrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rejection of transplanted hearts can be mitigated substantially by introducing the donor's MHC into the recipient.</p>

Activated Protein C Protects Myocardium Via Activation of Anti-apoptotic Pathways of Survival in Ischemia-reperfused Rat Heart

Activated protein C (APC) is known to be beneficial on ischemia reperfusion injury in myocardium. However, the protection mechanism of APC is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of APC on myocardial ischemic damage. Artificially ventilated anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 30 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 hr of reperfusion. Rats were randomly divided into four groups; Sham, I/R, APC preconditioning and postconditioning group. Myocardial infarct size, apoptosis index, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Bcl-2, Bax and cytochrome c genes and proteins were assessed. In APC-administrated rat hearts, regardless of the timing of administration, infarct size was consistently reduced compared to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rats. APC improved the expression of ERK1/2 and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 which were significantly reduced in the I/R rats. APC reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic genes, Bax and cytochrome c. These findings suggest that APC produces cardioprotective effect by preserving the expression of proteins and genes involved in anti-apoptotic pathways, regardless of the timing of administration.

(99)Tc(m)-MIBI exercise stress single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging of patients with myocardial bridge / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the exercise single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging of patients with myocardial bridge and assess the association between myocardial ischemia and extent of myocardial systolic compression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventeen patients with myocardial bridge diagnosed by coronary angiogram were included and underwent exercise SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Abnormal SPECT perfusion imaging was evidenced in 12 out of 17 patients with myocardial bridge (2 out of 6 patients with systolic compression induced stenosis < 50%, 3 out of 4 patients with systolic compression induced stenosis between 50% - 75% and 7 out of 7 patients with the systolic compression induced stenosis between 75% - 100%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Exercise stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging could detect myocardial ischemia in patients with myocardial bridge and abnormal perfusion is positively related to the extent of systolic compression induced stenosis.</p>

Effects of behavioral intervention on mental health and quality of life of inpatients with coronary heart disease / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the effects of behavioral intervention on mental heath and quality of life of inpatients with coronary heart disease. Methods Eighty cases with coronary heart disease were randomly divid-ed into intervention group(n=40) and the drug treatment group(n=40). SF-36,SCL-90,EPQ,HAMA,HAMD were applied to assess the mental health state and quality of life. Results After 6-months, the score of SF-36,SCL-90,EPQ,HAMA, HAMD,and N score of EPQ in intervention group were more significantly proved than the drug treatment group SF-36:(84.7±16.2)vs(68.3±10.6); P <0.01; SCL-90:(83.5±4.2)vs(148.6±3.2)], P<0.05;EPQ-N:(43.8±4.2)vs(52.8±3.1), P<0.01;HAMA:(10.4±3.4)vs(15.1±5.1), P <0.01; HAMD: (11.4±3.8) vs (17.9±4.6), P< 0.01). Conclustion Behavioral intervention effectively im-proves mental state and quality of life of patients with coronary heart disease.

Application studies on the gene diagnosis and carrier detection of hemophilia A by using polymerase chain reaction-conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a simple, rapid and easy method for screening the gene mutation in hemophilia A, which was further applied to a direct diagnosis and carrier detection at gene level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four clinically diagnosed hemophilia pedigrees, including all the hemophilia patients and female members, were tested for the introns 22 and 1 in factor VIII gene by using inversion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and regular PCR techniques. All the 26 exons of factor VIII gene were consecutively screened in the 17 patients manifesting non-inverted sequences in intron 22 by using PCR, subsequently all the 37 amplicons resulted from 26 exons were analyzed by conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE), finally the mutated exons were subjected to sequencing verification. According to the mutation results, mothers and twin sisters of the hemophilia probands were tested by CSGE or subjected to nucleotide sequencing directly, to ascertain if those individuals had the same mutation or were the carriers of disease-causing gene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intron 22 inversion was detected in 7 hemophilia probands out of 24 hemophilia pedigrees, intron 1 inversion was not detected in these pedigrees. Single-base mutations distributed in different exons of factor VIII gene were detected in 13 pedigrees with family history and 3 sporadic pedigrees, diagnosed as non-inverted 22 intron patients. By comprehensive usage of PCR-CSGE and nucleotide sequencing, the positive rate and the diagnosable rate of gene diagnosis or carrier detection in the 24 hemophilia pedigrees was 94.12% and 100% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PCR-CSGE is a highly sensitive and special assay for detecting single base mutation. By integrated utilization of introns 22 and 1 of factor VIII gene detection and PCR-CSGE genotyping, combining with nucleotide sequencing, a direct diagnosis of all hemophilia pedigrees be could nearly make at gene level, including the sporadic families. This method might be used to screen new mutation theoretically and ascertain the mutation type. It is a simple, rapid and low-cost method, possessing unique advantages in direct diagnosis of hemophilia A and carrier screening. It should have important application value in hemophilia diagnosis.</p>

The effect of danshen on the angiogenesis of the frozen-thawed human fetal ovarian tissue after transplantation / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>(1) To investigate the mRNA expression of the key angiogenic growth factors in the grafts after transplantation. (2) To investigate the potential impact of danshen (Chinese traditional medicine) administration on grafts angiogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The frozen-thawed ovarian tissue from aborted fetus were xenografted into the renal capsule of the nude mice, recovered 48 h, 7 d and 28 d after respectively. Either danshen or saline (as the control) was administered after transplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA levels of VEGF showed a temporary raise in 48 h after transplantation, then decreased in one week, and no significant difference was fund between the control group and danshen group. Ang-2 was increased in 48 h after transplantation, when Danshen group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The microvessel density significantly increased in all the tissues after transplantation. The control group peaked on day 7 after transplantation, while danshen group peaked in 48 h and kept correspondingly steady after that.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early angiogenesis began within 48 h after transplantation of the thawed human fetal ovarian tissue, and its microvessel density peaked within the first week after transplantation. Our results also suggested that the use of danshen injection in conjunction with transplantation could facilitate revascularization of the grafts.</p>

The effect of protease-activated receptor2 on rat apoptotic cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia reperfusion injury / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) on rat apoptotic cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 each): sham-operation group, I/R (ligating the left coronary artery for 30 minutes and followed by 120 minutes reperfusion) group and three SLIGRL-NH2 groups treated with intravenous PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2 at different doses (0.5, 1, 3 mg/kg) 5 minutes before reperfusion. Apoptic cardiomyocytes was detected by TUNEL staining and by DNA ladder on agarose gel electrophoresis. Bax and Bcl-2 expression in myocardium was analyzed by immunohistochemical technique. The mRNA expression of PAR-2 was determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The apoptosis index and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly increased in IR group and SLIGRL-NH2 groups than those in sham group (P < 0.05-0.01). (2) Compared with I/R group, the apoptosis index and the expression of Bax were significantly reduced while the expression of Bcl-2 and PAR-2 mRNA were significantly upregulated by SLIGRL-NH2 in a dose-dependent manner. (3) DNA Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated that DNA ladder existed in I/R and 0.5 mg/kg SLIGRL-NH2 group, but not in 1, 3 mg/kg SLIGRL-NH2 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2 could reduce myocardial apoptosis by upregulating the Bcl-2 and PAR-2 mRNA level and downregulating Bax expression in a dose-dependent manner in this rat I/R model.</p>

Excitatory postsynaptic potential evoked by stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the cerebellum in crucian carp Mauthner cell / 生理学报

In the present experiments, the characteristics of the electrical responses to stimulation of the cerebellum in crucian carp Mauthner cell were explored with microeletrode intracellular recording technique. A composite excitatory postsynaptic potential (cerebellum-evoked EPSP) could be induced from the soma, the ventral dendrite and the proximal end of the lateral dendrite in crucian carp Mauthner cell (M-cell) on either side by stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the cerebellum. The cerebellum-evoked EPSP presented characteristics of relatively short latency (0.63+/-0.09 ms), longer duration (5.49+/-1.13 ms), graded amplitude and dependence on stimulation frequency. Stimulation of the cerebellum with higher intensity always activated the M-cell orthodromically. Multiple intracellular recordings showed that the cerebellum-evoked EPSP originated in the distal end of the ventral dendrite. The results suggest that the cerebellum-M-cell pathway is probably composed of a group of neuron chains with different numbers of synaptic relays projecting to the distal end of the ventral dendrite in order of length of the chains.

The Effect of Buffered Versus Non - Buffered Lidocain as an Additive to Triamcinolone Acetonide Suspension on Intralesional Injection for Alopecia Areata / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Intralesional injection of corticosteroids has widely been used for the t,reatment of alopecia areata. The pair produced during the repeated multiple injection procedures is an actual therapeutic obstacle in both adult and child patients. Buffering of the local anesthetics is known to reduce the pain. OBJECTIVE: The purpos; of this study was to evaluate the degree of pain reduction and hair regrowing effect by the use of buffered lidocain-triamcinolone acetonide suspension(BLT) compared with nonbuffered lidocairi triamcinolone acetonide suspension(LT) in the intralesional injection of alopecia areata. METHODS: We evaluat d the degree of pain reduction by the use of BLT compared with LT in the intralesional injection in 40 cases of alopecia areata. The pain was ineasured by patients verbal pain score from zerc to ten and simultaneously observed if there were be any differences in hair regrowing bet,ween the two groups. RESULTS: 1. Remarkable reduction of the pain du~ring the inject,ion was noted by the buffering agent and the pain was further reduced by the vertical insertion of the needle. The pain score of BLT was 1.5 by vertically inserted injections and 2.4 by ~30 degree angle injections while the pain score of LT was 4.4 by the vertical and 5.6 by t.he 30 degree, Z. The mean time for appearance of regrowing hairs was 3.6 weeks in the BLT area and 4.0 weeks in the LT area. The use of BLT area showed a statistically faster response than the LT area. CONCLUSION: The use ot BLT is recommended not only by it,s remarkable effect on pain reduction but also by its sigriificantly accelerated hair regrowing effect in the trea~tment of alopecia areata.

The Effect of Buffered Versus Non - Buffered Lidocain as an Additive to Triamcinolone Acetonide Suspension on Intralesional Injection for Alopecia Areata / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Intralesional injection of corticosteroids has widely been used for the t,reatment of alopecia areata. The pair produced during the repeated multiple injection procedures is an actual therapeutic obstacle in both adult and child patients. Buffering of the local anesthetics is known to reduce the pain. OBJECTIVE: The purpos; of this study was to evaluate the degree of pain reduction and hair regrowing effect by the use of buffered lidocain-triamcinolone acetonide suspension(BLT) compared with nonbuffered lidocairi triamcinolone acetonide suspension(LT) in the intralesional injection of alopecia areata. METHODS: We evaluat d the degree of pain reduction by the use of BLT compared with LT in the intralesional injection in 40 cases of alopecia areata. The pain was ineasured by patients verbal pain score from zerc to ten and simultaneously observed if there were be any differences in hair regrowing bet,ween the two groups. RESULTS: 1. Remarkable reduction of the pain du~ring the inject,ion was noted by the buffering agent and the pain was further reduced by the vertical insertion of the needle. The pain score of BLT was 1.5 by vertically inserted injections and 2.4 by ~30 degree angle injections while the pain score of LT was 4.4 by the vertical and 5.6 by t.he 30 degree, Z. The mean time for appearance of regrowing hairs was 3.6 weeks in the BLT area and 4.0 weeks in the LT area. The use of BLT area showed a statistically faster response than the LT area. CONCLUSION: The use ot BLT is recommended not only by it,s remarkable effect on pain reduction but also by its sigriificantly accelerated hair regrowing effect in the trea~tment of alopecia areata.