Jiaji (EX-B2)-Based Electroacupuncture Preconditioning Attenuates Early Ischaemia Reperfusion Injury in the Rat Myocardium.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture preconditioning was able to reduce the extent of ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints had cardioprotective effects against myocardial I/R injury. However, the molecular mechanism remains inconclusive. METHODS: Wistar rats were pretreated with electroacupuncture for 7 days at the Neiguan (PC6), T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Quchi (LI11) acupoints, which belong to different meridians. Then, we investigated the genome-wide gene expression profiles of rats prestimulated at these acupoints after I/R injury. RESULTS: Our study revealed previously unknown cardioprotective roles of T4-T5 Jiaji (EX-B2) acupoints in the I/R progression. The extent of myocardial injury was significantly decreased in the Jiaji group compared with the I/R group. In addition, our data are among the first to link the EA preconditioning at Neiguan (PC6) acupoints and circadian rhythm in the I/R model. Also, for the first time, we explored the meridian and acupoint specificity involved in EA pretreatment at the heart meridian, in which Yanglingquan and Quchi acupoints were selected as the control group for heart-divergent-meridian and nonheart-meridian acupoints. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that EA pretreatment at Jiaji alters genome-wide gene expression and protects the rat myocardium against I/R injury, which are most likely through neurohumoral regulation.

Success rates of in vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection in men with serum anti-sperm antibodies: A consecutive cohort study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) are assumed to be a possible causative factor for male infertility, with ASAs detected in 5%-15% of infertile men but in only 1%-2% of fertile ones. It remains unclear whether ASAs have an adverse effect on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This study investigated differences in the rates of fertilization, pregnancy, and live births associated with serum ASA-positive and ASA-negative men following IVF or ICSI. Five hundred and fifty-four consecutive infertile couples undergoing IVF (n = 399) or ICSI (n = 155) were included. The two-sample two-sided t-test and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis. Lower rates of fertilization (41.7% vs 54.8%, P = 0.03), good embryos (18.9% vs 35.2%, P = 0.00), pregnancy (38.5% vs 59.4%, P = 0.00), and live births (25.8% vs 42.5%, P = 0.00) were observed in men of the IVF group with a positive serum ASA than in those with a negative ASA. ASA positivity/negativity correlated with pregnancy rates (P = 0.021, odds ratio [OR]: 0.630, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.425-0.932) and live birth rates (P = 0.010, OR: 1.409, 95% CI: 1.084-1.831) after controlling for the female serum follicle-stimulating hormone level and the couple's ages at IVF. Women coupled with ASA-positive men had lower live birth rates with IVF than with ICSI (25.8% and 47.4%, respectively; P = 0.07). Women coupled with ASA-positive men had lower rates of pregnancy and live births following IVF than those coupled with ASA-negative men but had a similar outcome with ICSI.

Success rates of in vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection in men with serum anti-sperm antibodies: a consecutive cohort study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) are assumed to be a possible causative factor for male infertility, with ASAs detected in 5%-15% of infertile men but in only 1%-2% of fertile ones. It remains unclear whether ASAs have an adverse effect on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This study investigated differences in the rates of fertilization, pregnancy, and live births associated with serum ASA-positive and ASA-negative men following IVF or ICSI. Five hundred and fifty-four consecutive infertile couples undergoing IVF (n = 399) or ICSI (n = 155) were included. The two-sample two-sided t-test and Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis. Lower rates of fertilization (41.7% vs 54.8%, P = 0.03), good embryos (18.9% vs 35.2%, P = 0.00), pregnancy (38.5% vs 59.4%, P = 0.00), and live births (25.8% vs 42.5%, P = 0.00) were observed in men of the IVF group with a positive serum ASA than in those with a negative ASA. ASA positivity/negativity correlated with pregnancy rates (P = 0.021, odds ratio [OR]: 0.630, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.425-0.932) and live birth rates (P = 0.010, OR: 1.409, 95% CI: 1.084-1.831) after controlling for the female serum follicle-stimulating hormone level and the couple's ages at IVF. Women coupled with ASA-positive men had lower live birth rates with IVF than with ICSI (25.8% and 47.4%, respectively; P = 0.07). Women coupled with ASA-positive men had lower rates of pregnancy and live births following IVF than those coupled with ASA-negative men but had a similar outcome with ICSI.

[Effect of "Jiaji"(EX-B 2)-electroacupuncture Preconditioning on Expression of Cytochrome P 450 Signaling Pathways in Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of "Jiaji"(EX-B 2)-electroacupuncture(EA) preconditioning on the myocardium and expression of cytochrome P 450 signaling pathways of myocardial cells in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MI/RI) rats. METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, Jiaji, Neiguan(PC 6), Yanglingquan(GB 34) and Quchi(LI 11) groups (n=10 in each group). MI/RI model was established by occlusion of the descen-ding anterior branch of the left coronary artery. EA preconditioning was respectively applied to EX-B 2, PC 6, GB 34 and LI 11 for 30 min, once daily for 7 days. The ECG-ST segment was detected before and after the modeling. The contents of serum creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were detected by ELISA and microplate method separately. The expression levels of myocardial CYP 450 related genes cyp 1 a 1, cyp 2 b 2, cyp 2 c 11, cyp 4 a 2 were detected by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: Thirty minutes after ligation the changes of ECG-ST segment displacement of the Jiaji group and Neiguan group were signifi-cantly lower than that of the model group(P<0.01), and the change was significantly lower in the Neiguan group than in the model group(P<0.01) 30 minutes after reperfusion. Compared with the sham operation group, the activities of serum CK-MB and LDH were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the activities of serum CK-MB and LDH were significantly decreased in the Jiaji, Neiguan and Yanglingquan groups (P<0.01). Compared with the Jiaji group, the activity of serum LDH was significantly increased in the Quchi group, while the activities of serum CK-MB were significantly increased in the Quchi and Yanglingquan groups (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the expression levels of myocardial cyp 1 a 1 and cyp 2 b 2 mRNAs were significantly higher in the model group(P<0.01), while the expression of cyp 2 c 11 mRNA was lower(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of cyp 1 a 1 and cyp 4 a 2 mRNAs were lower in the Jiaji, Neiguan and Yanglingquan groups (P<0.01), while the expressions of cyp 2 b 2 and cyp 2 c 11 mRNAs were higher(P<0.01). Compared with the Jiaji group, the expression of cyp 1 a 1 mRNA was lower in the Neiguan group, while the expression of cyp 2 b 2 mRNA was higher(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA preconditioning at Jiaji(EX-B 2) can reduce serum myocardial enzymes of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion rats, lower the ST segment of electrocardiogram, up-regulate myocardial CYP 450 epoxygenase cyp 2 b 2 and cyp 2 c 11 mRNAs expression, down-regulate ω-hydroxylase cyp 1 a 1 and cyp 4 a 2 mRNAs expression, thus play a role in myocardial protection.

Internal quality control of sperm concentrations in semen analysis: establishment of a method / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for internal quality control (IQC) of sperm concentration test in the laboratory.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We set the concentrations of frozen semen at 20 x 10(6) and 80 x 10(6) as low and high concentrations of putative IQC products, with QC-BEADSTM quality control beads (QCBs) as the control. Using the double-blind method, four technicians determined the sperm concentrations of the IQC products and QCBs by computer-assisted sperm analysis, and drew a quality control chart (Xbar chart and Sbar chart) for each product. Through a month of continuous detection, we calculated and compared the intra- and inter-batch coefficients of variation (CV%) of the quality control products of high and low concentrations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The intra-batch coefficients of variation of the assumed IQC products of high and low concentrations were CV3.5% and CV2.4%, and their inter-batch coefficients of variation were CV10.2% and CV9.6%. The intra-batch coefficients of variation of the QCBs of high and low concentrations were CV5.1% and CV7.1%, and their inter-batch coefficients of variation were CV7.1% and CV8%. The intra-batch coefficients of variation of both IQC products and QCBs of high and low concentrations were <10%, and their inter-batch coefficients of variation were <15%, which conformed to Levey-Jennings quality control principles and achieved IQC purposes. No significant differences were found in either intra- or inter-batch coefficients of variation between the IQC products and QCBs of high and low concentrations (P>0.05), indicating that assumed IQC products can replace QCBs for internal quality control in the laboratory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The IQC method we established for determining sperm concentration is simple, feasible and reliable.</p>

Use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection for obstructive azoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PESA-ICSI) in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-nine cases of obstructive azoospermia treated in our center from Sep 2008 to Aug 2009 were divided into an L-carnitine (n = 43) and a control group (n = 36), the former given oral L-carnitine at 1 g bid for 3 months before PESA-ICSI, while the latter left untreated. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes as well as the number and rate of good embryos.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes. But the number and rate of good embryos were significantly higher in the L-carnitine than in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Three-month oral medication of L-carnitine before PESA-ICSI can raise the number and rate of good embryos in obstructive azoospermia patients and therefore benefit the therapeutic outcome.</p>

Effects of two different cryoprotectants on the motility of post-thaw human sperm / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of the cryoprotectant containing glucose and that containing sucrose on the motility of post-thaw human sperm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cryoprotectant containing glucose and that containing sucrose were applied to 50 semen samples and the motility of the post-thaw human sperm was compared before and after cryopreservation and between the study groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The forward motility and total motility of the sperm were (58.4 +/- 5.7)% and (63.4 +/- 6.1)% before cryopreservation, (43.8 +/- 7.6)% and (48.4 +/- 7.6)% after thawing with the cryoprotectant containing glucose, and(42.6 +/- 8.9)% and (48.0 +/- 8.5)% after thawing with the cryoprotectant containing sucrose. Decreased sperm motility was observed after cryopreservation, with statistic significance (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the forward and total motility of the post-thaw sperm between the two cryoprotectants.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cryopreservation inflicts obvious damage on sperm. Sucrose is a feasible sperm cryoprotectant.</p>

Early apoptotic changes in human spermatozoa and their relationships with conventional semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate whether early apoptotic changes in spermatozoa can be significant markers for sperm quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two early apoptotic changes in the semen of 56 men were assessed using Annexin V (AN)/propidium iodide (PI) staining for phosphatidylserine externalization and JC-1 staining for mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The results were compared with conventional semen parameters and DNA fragmentation identified using the TUNEL assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The different labeling patterns in the bivariate Annexin V/PI analysis identified four distinctive spermatozoa populations. The percentage of AN(-)/PI(-) spermatozoa positively correlated with conventional semen parameters and MMP, but negatively correlated with TUNEL (+) spermatozoa. As for the AN(-)/PI(+) fraction, we found an opposite result in comparison to AN(-)/PI(-) spermatozoa. The level of early apoptotic AN(+)/PI(+) spermatozoa negatively correlated with MMP and sperm motility. The level of late apoptotic AN+/PI+ spermatozoa negatively correlated with conventional semen parameters and MMP, and positively correlated with TUNEL (+) spermatozoa. MMP positively correlated with conventional semen parameters, but negatively correlated with TUNEL (+) spermatozoa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although early apoptotic AN+/PI(-) spermatozoa only negatively correlates with sperm motility, the differences in proportion of each subpopulation of spermatozoa (especially, the percentage of AN(-)/PI(-) spermatozoa), and decreased MMP might be significant markers for diagnosing male infertility. They possibly bring additional information to predict the outcome of in vitro fertilization.</p>