Historical evolution of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods / 中国中药杂志

China has a long history of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing with multiple methods available. The pre-sent study collated and summarized the Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing methods recorded in 23 related herbal medicine books, all editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the 1988 edition of National Regulations for Processing of Chinese Medicine, and 20 current local processing specifications and standards. The results demonstrated various processing methods of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, such as removing residual part of stem, plantlet, or soil, smashing, filing, cutting, decocting, washing with wine, soaking in wine, and stir-frying with wine or blood from pig heart, while raw and wine-processed products are mainly used in modern times. Due to the lack of unified standards, the phenomena of multiple methods adopted in one place and different methods in different places have led to uneven quality of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma pieces, even affecting the safety and effectiveness of its clinical medication. This study is expected to provide a reference for the development of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma processing and its rational medication.

Expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in the testicular tissues of azoospermia patients with different pathological alterations / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of inhibin B betaB subunits in human testicular tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-three cases of the azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20), maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Immunohistochemical staining for inhibin B betaB subunits was conducted on the paraffin-embedded sections of different spermatogenesis to localize inhibin B betaB subunits in the seminiferous tubules.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemically, positive products of inhibin B betaB subunits were found in both the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues of the testis as brown or yellow particles in the cytoplasm. Leydig cells and early intermediate spermatogenic cells showed a very strong positivity; Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules were mostly positive; peritubular myoid cells showed a weak positive staining; but no positive expression of inhibin B betaB subunits was found in late spermatids and mature sperm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inhibin B may be produced by both Sertoli cells and early spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules.</p>

Relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment in seminiferous tubules and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia and to verify the significance of INH B in evaluating spermatogenesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-three cases of azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy for the purpose of diagnosis. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20); maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Serum INHB and FSH, LH, T concentrations were tested before testicular biopsy for each patient respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The INHB levels were (20. 85 +/- 18.78) pg/ml, (67.25 +/- 40.98) pg/ml, (73.63 +/- 25.54) pg/ml and (149.48 +/- 27.92) pg/ml in the above four groups, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference in the level of serum INH B between maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis groups (P > 0.05), and there was a very significant difference in almost normal spermatogenesis group and the other three groups, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the concentration of serum FSH when maturation arrest group compared with spermatogenesis group (P > 0.05), whereas between the other two groups and between each of them and maturation arrest or almost normal spermatogenesis there was a very significant difference in the level of serum FSH (P < 0.05); The concentrations of LH and T were not significantly different among the four groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum INHB concentration was decreased when spermatogenesis got impaired. It dropped the most markedly in Sertoli cell-only syndrome group. INH B reflects directly the spermatogenic function in seminiferous tubules of the testis. Therefore, it could be considered valuable for spermatogenesis and potential fertility in patients with azoospermia.</p>