[Causal relationship between relative abundance of gut microbiota and teratozoospermia: A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential causal relationship between gut microbiota and teratozoospermia. METHODS: We searched the database of Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) for gut microbiota- and teratozoospermia-related data. We used gut microbiota as an exposure factor, determined the instrumental variables according to the GWAS data on 18 340 participants released by the MiBioGen Alliance, and derived the outcome variables from the European data on teratozoospermia, with a sample size of 85 716, including 915 cases and 209 006 controls. Using inverse-variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression and the weighted median estimator (WME), we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis on the retrieved data, and estimated the causal relationship between gut microbiota and teratozoospermia based on the ß value. RESULTS: Two-sample MR analysis indicated that the class Erysipelotrichia, family Erysipelotrichaceae, family Streptococcaceae, genus Coprococcusl, genus Ruminococcaceae UCG009, genus Streptococcus, order Clostridialesm and order Erysipelotrichales were causally related with the increased risk, while the family Porphyromonadaceae with the decreased risk of teratozoospermia. CONCLUSION: The class Erysipelotrichia, family Erysipelotrichaceae, family Streptococcaceae, genus Coprococcusl, genus Ruminococcaceae UCG009, genus Streptococcus, order Clostridialesm and order Erysipelotrichales are one of the causes of teratozoospermia, related to the increased risk of the condition, while the family Porphyromonadaceae has a protective effect on sperm morphology, reducing the risk of teratozoospermia.

[Xiaozheng Granules combined with Jingqiankang Bacteriostatic Gelatin for chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and blood stasis: A clinical observation based on infrared thermography].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Xiaozheng Granules (XZG) combined with Jingqiankang Bacteriostatic Gelatin (JBG) on chronic prostatitis of the damp-heat and blood-stasis type based on infrared thermography (IRT). METHODS: This study included 120 cases of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and blood stasis treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine with oral XZG (the control group, n = 60) or oral XZG combined with anal administration of JBG (the trial group, n = 60), both for 4 weeks. We obtained the NIH-CPSI and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores of the patients, measured the temperatures in the belt-vessel, lower focal and inguinal regions by IRT before and after treatment, recorded the adverse reactions during the treatment, and compared them between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the NIH-CPSI and TCM syndrome scores were significantly decreased in the two groups of patients after treatment (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the trial than in the control group (P < 0.05), and after 1 hour of treatment, the temperatures in the Xiajiao (ï¼»34.09 ± 0.34ï¼½ vs ï¼»33.60 ± 0.40ï¼½ ℃, P < 0.05) and the groin region (ï¼»34.49 ± 0.28ï¼½ vs ï¼»33.78 ± 0.30ï¼½ ℃, P < 0.05) were remarkably reduced in the trial group, but showed no significant change in the control group (Xiajiao region: ï¼»34.02 ± 0.29ï¼½ vs ï¼»34.05 ± 0.26ï¼½ ℃, P > 0.05; groin region: ï¼»34.54 ± 0.25ï¼½ vs ï¼»34.51±0.22ï¼½ ℃, P > 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the temperatures in the Xiajiao and groin regions were even lower in the trial (ï¼»33.13 ± 0.41ï¼½ ℃ and ï¼»33.21 ± 0.29ï¼½ ℃) and the control group (ï¼»33.42±0.25ï¼½ ℃ and ï¼»33.86±0.29ï¼½ ℃) than the baseline and those after 1 hour of treatment (P < 0.05), and still more significantly in the former than in the latter group (P < 0.05). The total effectiveness rate was markedly higher in the trial group than in the control (88.14% vs 77.19%, P < 0.05), and no obvious adverse reactions were observed in neither group. CONCLUSION: XZG combined with JBG is a safe and effective treatment of chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and blood-stasis, which can significantly reduce the NIH-CPSI and TCM syndrome scores and IRT temperatures in the lower focal and inguinal regions of the patients.

Exploring the Mechanisms of Yishen Tongluo Decoction on Repairing DNA Damage in Mouse Spermatogonia Cells Based on Whole Transcriptome Sequencing.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism through which Yishen Tongluo decoction (YSTL) repairs DNA damage caused by benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) in mouse spermatocytes (GC-2). The GC-2 cells were divided randomly into the control group, BPDE group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose YSTL groups of YSTL decoction. A comet assay was used to detect the DNA fragment index (DFI) of cells in each group. Based on the DFI results, whole transcriptome sequencing was conducted, followed by trend analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and ceRNA network analysis. Compared with the control group, the BPDE group reported a significant increase in the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) (p < .05). Compared with the BPDE group, the low-, high- and medium-dose YSTL groups had a significantly reduced DFI (p < .05). Whole-transcriptome sequencing revealed seven differentially expressed circRNAs, 203 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 3,662 differentially expressed mRNAs between the control group and the BPDE group. There was a total of 12 differentially expressed circRNAs, 204 miRNAs, and 2150 mRNAs between the BPDE group and the traditional Chinese medicine group. The pathways involved include DNA repair pathway, nucleotide excision repair pathway, base excision repair pathway, etc. The ceRNA network reported that Hmga2 was the core protein involved, novel_cir_000117 and mmu-miR-466c-3p were located upstream of Hmga2, and they were regulatory factors associated with Hmga2. Finally, we conclude that YSTL decoction may repair sperm DNA damage caused by BPDE through the novel_cir_000117-mmu-miR-466c-3p-Hmga2 pathway.

Transcriptomic and proteomic features of a mouse model of sperm DNA damage induced by benzo(a)pyrene.

This study replicated a mouse model of sperm DNA damage induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and the transcriptomic and proteomic features of the model were examined to clarify the pathways related to BaP-induced damage to sperm DNA. Male mice in the BaP group were subjected to BaP at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/d or an equivalent quantity of saline solution in the control group for 60 days. Subsequently, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in sperm was assessed using a sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). RNA-seq and data-independent acquisition (DIA) were used to identify the mRNA and protein expression patterns in the testis. The sperm DFI significantly increased in the BaP group. Compared to the control group, the BaP group exhibited differential expression of 240 genes (referred to as DEGs) and 616 proteins (referred to as DEPs). These molecules included Aldh1a1, Cyb5r3, Fads1, Oxsm, Rcn3, and Prss45. Pathways in cancer, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, metabolic pathways, and the MAPK signaling pathway were the primary areas where these genes showed enrichment. BaP can damage the DNA of sperm and affect metabolism, the PI3K-Akt pathway, and pathways associated with cancer signaling.

Causal relationship between worry, tension, insomnia, sensitivity to environmental stress and adversity, and erectile dysfunction: a study using Mendelian randomization.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and psychological states including worry, tension, insomnia, sensitivity to environmental stress and adversity (SESA). METHOD: This study the used two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) method. The study data was obtained from a pooled dataset of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The bi-directional MR analysis was performed using inverse variance weighting, weighted median method, and MR-Egger regression analysis to assess the causality between ED and psychological states including worry, tension, insomnia, SESA in terms of odd ratios (OR). The study tested for heterogeneity using the Cochran Q method and for multiple validity using the MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO methods. RESULTS: In forward MR analysis correlating worry, tension, insomnia, and SESA as exposures, no causal relationship was found between worry or tension and ED (p < 0.05). However, insomnia (p = 0.001, OR = 3.441, 95%CI = 1.593-7.435) and SESA (p = 0.004, OR = 1.804, 95%CI = 1.203-2.701) were found to have a significant causal effect on ED risk. The reverse MR analysis with ED as the exposure did not show any significant correlation (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Individuals with insomnia and SESA are at higher risk for developing ED. Clinical evaluation should be more thorough for these individuals. Insomnia can be treated simultaneously with psychological counseling to reduce the risk of ED. In addition, there is no evidence to suggest that worry and tension increase the risk of ED.

[Effect of bird-induced anus-lifting surgery combined with oral Relinqing Granules on LUTS/CP with damp heat syndrome: Evaluation by infrared thermal imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of bird-induced anus-lifting surgery (BIAL) combined with oral Relinqing Granules (RG) in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms / chronic prostatitis (LUTS/CP) with damp-heat syndrome using infrared thermal imaging (ITI). METHODS: This study included 165 cases of LUTS/CP with damp-heat syndrome treated in the Departments of Andrology and Urology of our hospital, which were divided into three groups of an equal number and treated by medication of oral tamsulosin hydrochloride at 0.2 mg, qd plus levofloxacin at 0.2 g bid (control), anus-lifting exercise (15 lifts once a day) combined with oral RG at 8 g tid (routine treatment) and BIAL (15 lifts once a day) combined with oral RG at 8 g tid (BIAL+RG), respectively, all for two weeks. We recorded the ITI indicators, NIH-CPSI and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores of patients before and after treatment, observed adverse reactions during the treatment, and compared them among the three groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, NIH-CPSI and SAS scores were significantly reduced in all the three groups after treatment (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the BIAL+RG (10.49 ± 2.97 and 49.73 ± 2.79) than in the control (21.15 ± 3.56 and 52.62 ± 5.38) and routine treatment groups (15.55 ± 2.77 and 52.35 ± 3.87) (P < 0.05). The ITI temperature at the related parts of the body was remarkably decreased in the three groups after treatment (P < 0.05), even lower in the BIAL+RG group (30.47 ± 1.61, 32.14 ± 1.25, 31.16 ± 1.58, 31.97 ± 1.19) than in the control (33.39 ± 0.6, 33.64 ± 1.07, 32.78 ± 0.58, 33.18 ± 0.78) and routine treatment groups (31.93 ± 1.14, 33.06 ± 0.8, 33.08 ± 0.82, 33.17 ± 1.05) (P < 0.05), with statistically significant difference from the baseline in the BIAL+RG group after 12 hours and 24 hours of treatment (ï¼»34.26 ± 0.06ï¼½ vs ï¼»32.65 ± 0.05ï¼½ and ï¼»32.72 ± 0.09ï¼½, P < 0.05), but not between the two time points (P > 0.05). The incidence rate of adverse reactions was markedly lower in the BIAL+RG and routine treatment groups than in the control (P < 0.05) but not significantly different between the BIAL+RG and routine treatment groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Bird-induced anus-lifting surgery combined with oral Relinqing Granules can safely and significantly improve infrared thermal imaging indicators and NIH-CPSI scores in LUTS/CP patients with damp-heat syndrome.

Repair mechanism of Yishen Tongluo formula on mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics.

CONTEXT: Plastics can break down into millions of microplastic (MPs, < 5 mm) particles in the soil and ocean. These MPs can then affect the function of the reproductive system. There is currently no effective solution to this problem aside from traditional Chinese medicine. We have previously used Yishen Tongluo formula (YSTL) to treat sperm DNA damage caused by some toxic substances. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the repair of mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics by YSTL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An animal model of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP)-induced sperm DNA damage was replicated by gavage of SPF ICR (CD1) mice PS-MPs at 1 mg/d and treated with YSTL at 11.89, 23.78 and 47.56 g/kg, respectively, for 60 days. The Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of each group was detected and compared. The target genes of YSTL identified by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. RESULTS: The DFI of the PS group (20.66%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.23%). The medium and high doses of the YSTL group (12.8% and 11.31%) exhibited a significant repairing effect. The most enriched pathway was PI3K/Akt. TBL1X, SPARC, hnRNP0, Map7D1, Eps8 and Mrpl27 were screened and SPARC was validated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The precise mechanism by which YSTL inhibits PD-MPs DNA damage may be associated with the PI3K/Akt pathway and SPARC. It provides a new direction for using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and repair reproductive system injury caused by MPs.

[The causal relationship between gut microbiota and male reproductive and sexual health].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use the MR method to explore the causal relationship between 211 gut microbiota and male reproductive and sexual health. METHODS: The MiBioGen alliance published genome-wide association study (GWAS) related genetic variation data was used as instrumental variables (IVs) for gut microbiota, and the Finngen biobank GWAS related genetic variation data was used as IVs for male infertility, abnormal sperm, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, and testicular dysfunction. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used as the MR analysis method, the results were evaluated according to the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of the effect measures, and data sensitivity analysis was performed. RESULTS: The results showed that 6 types of gut microbiota were related to male infertility, 12 types were related to abnormal sperm, 5 types were related to sexual dysfunction, 4 types were related to erectile dysfunction, and 4 types were related to testicular dysfunction. And there was no abnormality in the data sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: The intestinal microbiota is closely related to male reproductive and sexual health.

[Exploration of erectile dysfunction syndrome and syndrome differentiation based on latent structure].

OBJECTIVE: In order to exploring Erectile Dysfunction(ED) syndrome and syndrome differentiation based on latent structure to provide objective evidence to support Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) dialectic. METHODS: Cases and clinical experience in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in Chinese medicine in CNKI, Wanfang Database, cqVIP Database, were searched. Time from the database construction to January, 2023. Extraction and specification of symptom data with reference to national standards. Lantern 5.0 software was used to make the latent structure of the data based on LTM-EAST method. Latent probability, conditional probability, information coverage, mutual information and other data were combined to manually interpret the model and perform clustering analysis on the latent classes to analyze the symptomatic features and clinical evidence of erectile dysfunction and establish the rules of identification. RESULT: A total of 361 cases of erectile dysfunction were included, 21 latent variables were constructed, 9 comprehensive clustering models and 13 discriminative rules were established. The pathological factors of the obtained erectile dysfunction are dampness, heat, yin deficiency, blood stasis, spleen deficiency, kidney deficiency, liver depression, and qi stagnation. The certificate types are stasis of blood, liver qi stagnation, damp-heat entrapment (dampness is heavy, heat is heavy, damp-heat is heavy), yin deficiency (yin deficiency with heat, kidney yin deficiency), vital fire failure, qi deficiency (qi deficiency with heat, kidney qi deficiency), heart and spleen deficiency, panic injury to kidney, spleen and kidney deficiency. CONCLUSION: The common types of erectile dysfunction obtained are generally consistent with existing guidelines, but more subcategories exist in the certificate type. The presence of symptoms that cannot be well matched in some of the certificate types is presumed to be due to the complex pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction common compound evidence, many evidence models are seen in the main symptoms of liver qi stagnation evidence pulse strings, suggesting that clinical treatment should pay attention to the regulation of emotional and moral, to ease the patient's emotions. The corresponding dialectical rules can quantify the dialectical criteria and provide an objective basis for non-TCM professionals to clinically determine the TCM evidence type of patients.

Transcriptomic and proteomic characteristics of the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced sperm dna damage mouse model.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most common organic pollutants and is added to various plastic products as a plasticizer. DEHP oxidative metabolite content in the human body is associated with DNA damage in sperm and decreased testosterone levels in blood. In this study, a DEHP-induced sperm DNA damage mouse model was replicated and improved, and the transcriptomic and proteomic characteristics of the model were observed. Male mice in the two groups were exposed to DEHP 1 g/kg/d or the same amount of normal saline for 60 days, and the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was detected by a sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). The mRNA and protein expression profiles of the testis were detected by RNA-seq and data-independent acquisition (DIA). The sperm DFI of the DEHP group was significantly increased. Compared with the control group, 111 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 2147 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), such as Lamb2, Ahnak, Tkt, Dnah8 and Tbl2, were found in the DEHP group. These genes were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, pathways in cancer and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Our results showed that DEHP 1 g/kg/d can induce sperm DNA damage in a male mouse model after 60 days of intragastric administration. The reproductive toxicity of DEHP may be related to metabolic pathways in cancer and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Clinical study of Wuwei Fuzheng Yijing formula in the treatment of sperm DNA damage in male infertility: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of male infertility is increasing in recent years, and the semen routine examination of some patients is normal, but the semen pathological examination shows that the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is high, and the patients' clinical manifestations are infertility or recurrent abortion of their spouses. At present, there is no special treatment for male infertility caused by high DFI, and traditional Chinese medicine compound prescription shows potential value in the treatment of male infertility. Wuwei Fuzheng Yijing formula (WFY) is an effective prescription for the treatment of sperm DNA damage in male infertility, but there is no strict clinical trial to support its application. Therefore, we designed a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of WFY in patients with sperm DNA damage in male infertility. METHODS: In this randomized controlled study, 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into WFY group and levocarnitine oral solution group. The treatment period was 12 weeks. The main observation index was sperm DFI, and the secondary observation index was sperm concentration, motility, survival rate, and TCM syndrome score. Safety observation indicators will include electrocardiogram, blood tests (including blood routine tests, liver and renal function), routine urine tests, and routine stool tests. All results were evaluated at the 4th and 8th week of the baseline, and the end of treatment. DISCUSSION: This study will provide a basis for the efficacy and safety of WFY in the treatment of sperm DNA damage in male infertility with spleen and kidney qi deficiency and blood stasis.

Transcriptomics and proteomics analysis to explore the mechanism of Yishen Tongluo formula repairing sperm DNA damage in rats.

The sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is an objective indicator of male fertility. Currently, effective treatments for high sperm DFI are limited and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has certain advantages in this aspect. Yishen Tongluo formula (YSTL), a TCM formula, has been found to reduce DFI in patients. To better understand the mechanisms underlying its activity, we used transcriptomics and proteomics to analyse the potential target gene YSTL repairing tripterygium glycosides (TGs)-mediated sperm DNA damage in rats, followed by validation analyses using RT-qPCR and western blotting, which showed that relative to the control group, DFI was markedly elevated in the TGs group, but markedly lower in the YSTL group relative to the TGs group. KEGG pathway analysis of 119 differentially expressed genes and 158 DEPs identified using trend analysis revealed that they were enriched for apoptosis and base excision repair at the transcriptomic level and for microRNAs in cancer and complement and coagulation cascades at the proteomic level. Ttr and Pnpla2 were identified as potential target genes for YSTL. Our data show that YSTL can protect rat sperm DNA from TGs-induced damage, which may be related to apoptosis, DNA repair and other pathways, and the possible target genes are Ttr and Pnpla2.

Methylation status of TK1 correlated with immune infiltrates in prostate cancer.

TK1 is overexpressed in numerous cancers and is associated with to a poor prognosis. However, the relationship between methylation status of TK1 and Immune Infiltrates in Prostate Cancer (PCa) is unknown. The goal of this study was to use comprehensive bioinformatic analyses to elucidate the involvement relationship between methylation status of TK1 and Immune Infiltrates in PCa. TK1 mRNA expression and methylation data in PCa were investigated via GEPIA, TIMER, and UALCAN coupled with MEXPRESS data resources. We employed the LinkedOmics data resource to determine the signaling cascades linked to TK1 expression. Single-cell analysis was performed using the CancerSEA data resource. GeneMANIA and CancerSEA were used to analyze the correlation between TK1 and TK1 coexpressed genes. In addition, TIMER and TISIDB were adopted to assess tumor-invading immune cells and immunomodulators. CTD was utilized to detect the drugs acting on TK1. This study found that TK1 was overexpressed in PCa, and its contents were linked to tumor stage and prognosis. Genes co-expressed with TK1 were enriched in cascades involved in the ribosome, cell cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, DNA replication, oocyte meiosis, and the proteasome. The expression of TK1 along with its methylation status was found to be linked to tumor-invading immune cells, as well as PCa immunomodulators. We also examined the prospect of employing TK1 as a possible target for PCa therapy. This work provides the clinical value of TK1 hypermethylation in PCa and highlights new insights into its novel immunomodulatory functions.

Repair mechanism of Wuwei Fuzheng Yijing formula in di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate-induced sperm DNA fragmentation in mice.

CONTEXT: Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a known persistent organic pollutant, can increase the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism underlying the repair of DEHP-induced sperm DNA damage in mice by Wuwei Fuzheng Yijing (WFY) formula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The potential targets of WFY and sperm DNA fragment (SDF) were obtained from the TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, OMIM and GeneCards. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, GO and KEGG pathway analyses of WFY-SDF were constructed. An animal model of DEHP-induced sperm DNA damage was replicated by gavage of SPF ICR (CD1) mice DEHP at 1 g/kg/d and treated with WFY at 8.92, 17.84 and 35.67 g/kg, respectively, for 60 d. Sperm DFI of each group was detected and compared. The target genes of WFY identified by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were validated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Network pharmacology pathway analysis indicated that PI3K/Akt was the potential target of WFY on SDF. The DFI of the DEHP group (25.48%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.02%). The high-dose WFY group (19.05%) exhibited the most significant repairing effect. The related pathways were PI3K/Akt and metabolic. Aass, Aldh1a7, GSTA3, betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase (Bhmt), Mug2 and Svs1 were screened and Bhmt was validated. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: WFY can repair sperm DNA damage caused by DEHP, and the mechanism may be related to PI3K/Akt and metabolic pathways, and Bhmt. This provides a new direction for using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and repair reproductive system injury caused by pollutants.

Microplastics May Be a Significant Cause of Male Infertility.

Due to the problematic degradation properties of plastics, the decomposition of plastic results in the formation of numerous microplastics (MPs), less than 5 mm in diameter. These MPs enter the soil and the ocean, eventually passing through the air, water, or food chain back to the human body and harming human health. In the last 80 years, male semen analysis parameters have shown a significant decline for unknown reasons, speculated to be caused by pollutants. No studies examined the relationship between human MP exposure and male infertility. In this article, we reviewed the relevant animal experimental research literature in recent years and calculated that the minimum human equivalent dose of MPs leading to abnormal male semen quality is 0.016 mg/kg/d. The literature comparison found that MP exposure in Japan and South Korea was close to this value. These results suggest that MPs can affect male semen quality and that MPs may significantly impact male fertility.

[Huayu Jiedu Shengjing Decoction improves semen quality and reduces TCM syndrome scores in patients with varicocele-induced asthenospermic infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of "Huayu Jiedu Shengjing Decoction" (HJSD) in the treatment of varicocele (VC)-induced asthenospermic infertility and its action mechanism. METHODS: Using computer-generated random numbers, we equally divided 88 patients meeting the study criteria into an experimental and a control group, the former treated orally with HJSD plus or minus, while the latter with Maizhiling Tablets and levocarnitine, both for a course of 12 weeks. After medication, we obtained TCM syndrome scores, sperm motility, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), the seminal cord venous ultrasonographic index, and levels of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the seminal plasma from the patients, compared the therapeutic effects between the two groups, and analyzed the correlation among the obtained parameters. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate was dramatically higher in the experimental than in the control group (86.04% vs 73.74%, P < 0.01). The TCM syndromes scores, sperm motility, sperm DFI, and seminal plasma NO, ROS and SOD were all more significantly improved in the former than in the latter group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Huayu Jiedu Shengjing Decoction can improve semen quality and reduce TCM syndrome scores without adverse reactions in patients with VC-induced asthenospermic infertility, which may be attributed to its effect of improving antioxidation and local blood flow.

[Yishen Tongluo Prescription for repairing benzo(a)pyrene-induced sperm DNA damage in male rats: Effect and mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the repairing effect of Yishen Tongluo Prescription (YTP) on sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in male rats exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Thirty Wistar male rats were equally randomized into a blank control, a BaP-exposure and a YTP intervention group, those in the latter two groups exposed to BaP at 20 mg/kg/d for 60 consecutive days, and those in the YTP intervention group treated intragastrically with YTP from the 31st day of BaP exposure for a total of 30 days. After the last administration, the sperm DFI of the rats was detected by sperm chromatin structure analysis, the levels of FSH, LH and T in the serum and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the testis were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the blank controls, the rats in the BaP-exposure group showed significantly increased DFI ( ï¼»4.23 ± 1.40ï¼½% vs ï¼»12.46 ± 3.07ï¼½%, P < 0.05), serum FSH (ï¼»1.76 ± 0.31ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.53 ± 0.28ï¼½ U/L, P < 0.05) and LH (ï¼»30.59 ± 2.14ï¼½ vs ï¼»39.72 ± 2.80ï¼½ U/L, P < 0.05), decreased levels of serum T (ï¼»5.33 ± 0.43ï¼½ vs ï¼»4.42 ± 0.38ï¼½ nmol/L, P < 0.05) and testicular SOD (ï¼»166.18 ± 3.74ï¼½ vs ï¼»113.23 ± 10.76ï¼½ U/ml, P < 0.05) and ATP (ï¼»41.23 ± 2.21ï¼½ vs ï¼»33.48 ± 2.74ï¼½ mol/L, P < 0.05), and elevated contents of MDA (ï¼»7.55 ± 0.93ï¼½ vs ï¼»10.59 ± 1.17ï¼½ nmol/ml, P < 0.05) and NO (ï¼»44.23±4.47ï¼½ vs ï¼»54.49 ± 3.13ï¼½ mol/L, P < 0.05). All the above parameters returned to normal after YTP intervention (DFI: ï¼»5.73 ± 2.46ï¼½%, FSH: ï¼»2.07 ± 0.45ï¼½ U/L, LH: ï¼»33.94 ± 4.44ï¼½ U/L, T: ï¼»4.96 ± 0.24ï¼½ nmol/L, SOD: ï¼»135.22 ± 7.26ï¼½ U/ml, ATP: ï¼»38.26 ± 2.14ï¼½ mol/L, MDA: ï¼»8.37 ± 1.29ï¼½ nmol/ml, NO: ï¼»48.36 ± 3.98ï¼½ mol/L), with statistically significant difference from those in the BaP-exposure group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Yishen Tongluo Prescription can repair BaP-induced sperm DNA damage in male rats, which may be attributed to its effects of suppressing oxidative damage.

[Mechanism of Yishen Tongluo Recipe reducing benzo(a)pyrene-induced sperm DNA damage: Exploration based on the BER pathway].

Objective: To explore the repairing effect of Yishen Tongluo Recipe (YTR) on sperm DNA damage and its action mechanism in male rats exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). METHODS: Thirty-three adult male Wistar rats were equally divided into a normal control, a model control and a YTR intervention group. Sperm DNA damage was induced in the latter two groups of rats by exposing them to BaP at 20 mg/kg/d for 60 days, and the animals in the YTR group received a 30-day gavage administration of YTR suspension at 0.1 ml/10 g/d from the 31 day. Then the testis tissue of the rats was collected for examination of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by fluorescence flow cytometry and determination of the expressions of APE1, FEN1, XRCC1 (and phosphorylated) proteins and mRNA in the BER pathway by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: After intervention, the sperm DFI was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and the expressions of APE1, FEN1, XRCC1 (and phosphorylated) proteins and mRNA remarkably increased in the YTR group compared with the model controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Yishen Tongluo Recipe can reduce benzo(a)pyrene-induced sperm DFI in male rats by up-regulating the expression levels of APE1, FEN1, XRCC1 (and phosphorylated) proteins and improving the ability of sperm DNA base excision repair.

[Luobufukebiri Pills improve semen quality and seminal plasma-related biochemical indexes in patients with asthenospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of Luobufukebiri Pills (LP) on asthenospermia and its action mechanism. METHODS: A total of 206 patients with asthenospermia in Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2018 to December 2018 were randomly assigned to receive oral LP (the experimental group, n = 103) bid 10 pills each time or vitamin E soft capsules (the control group, n = 103) bid 100 mg each time for a course of 12 weeks. We compared the semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, levels of α-glucosidase (α-Glu), fructose (Fru), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the seminal plasma, and the number of pregnancies between the two groups of patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: All the patients finished the experiment except 1 in the control group due to personal reasons. After 12 weeks of medication, the patients in the experimental group showed significant increases over the baseline in sperm concentration (ï¼»36.27 ± 11.05ï¼½ vs ï¼»25.96 ± 8.63ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05), grade a sperm (ï¼»16.92 ± 5.72ï¼½% vs ï¼»9.34 ± 3.18ï¼½%, P < 0.05), grade a+b sperm (ï¼»36.08 ± 6.84ï¼½% vs ï¼»19.88 ± 4.65ï¼½%, P < 0.05), total sperm motility (ï¼»50.37 ± 10.38ï¼½% vs ï¼»24.62 ± 6.12ï¼½%, P < 0.05), and the levels of α-Glu (ï¼»46.94 ± 9.16ï¼½ vs ï¼»32.25 ± 8.30ï¼½ U/ml, P < 0.05), Fru (ï¼»28.08 ± 5.72ï¼½ vs ï¼»16.38 ± 4.62ï¼½ µmol/ml, P < 0.05) and SOD (ï¼»182.28 ± 18.44ï¼½ vs ï¼»100.37 ± 10.22ï¼½ U/ml, P < 0.05), but a decrease in the content of seminal plasma MDA (ï¼»10.37 ± 2.93ï¼½ vs ï¼»15.62 ± 4.68ï¼½ nmol/ml, P < 0.05). Increases were also observed in the control group over the baseline in grade a sperm (ï¼»12.40 ± 6.33ï¼½% vs ï¼»9.26 ± 2.94ï¼½%, P < 0.05), grade a+b sperm (ï¼»25.42 ± 5.24ï¼½% vs ï¼»19.43 ± 4.17ï¼½%, P < 0.05), total sperm motility (ï¼»40.22 ± 9.72ï¼½% vs ï¼»23.99 ± 5.77ï¼½%, P < 0.05), and levels of α-Glu (ï¼»40.31 ± 8.22ï¼½ vs ï¼»31.06 ± 7.51ï¼½ U/ml, P < 0.05) and SOD (ï¼»139.71 ± 14.08ï¼½ vs ï¼»102.11 ± 9.24ï¼½ U/ml, P < 0.05), but a decrease in the content of seminal plasma MDA (ï¼»12.72 ± 3.11ï¼½ vs ï¼»15.62 ± 4.68ï¼½ nmol/ml, P < 0.05). The total clinical effectiveness rate was remarkably higher in the experimental than in the control group (87.38% vs 58.82%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Luobufukebiri Pills are safe and effective for the treatment of asthenospermia, which may be attributed to their ability of improving oxidative stress damage.

Characteristics of Chinese Medicine Education Under British Education System in New Zealand.

With the globalisation of Chinese medicine (CM), the local CM education institutions were established in many other countries outside of China. These CM education institutions have formed a new mode in CM education after integrating with local culture, law and national conditions. This article takes New Zealand CM education institutions as an example to discuss the characteristics of CM education under the British education system, aiming to provide ideas on CM education in China and other countries.