[Observation of effect of Wu Yun Liu Qi on reproductive hormones in varicocele patients].

Objective： To observe roproductive hormone levels in varicocele patients during a cycle (6 years) of Wu Yun Liu Qi, and explore whether the cycle had effect on the roproductive hormone levels. Methods： Data of roproductive hormone levels in varicocele patients from 2015 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. FSH、LH、T、PRL、E2 levels and T/E2 ratio were compared among the six years. According to Chinese sexagenary cycle heavenly stems and earthly branches of each year from 2015 to 2020 its yunqi characteristics were determined. Results: Totally data of 848 cases of varicocele patients were collected from 2015 to 2020. Among which, in 2015 (Yiwei year) there were 57 cases, in 2016 (Bingshen year) 83 cases, in 2017 (Dingyou year ) 133 cases, in 2018(Wuxu year) 156 cases, in 2019(Sihai year) 274 cases, and in 2020(Gengzi year) 145 cases. The levels of FSH、LH、PRL、T were not diferrent statistically from the six years except individual year. However, the level of E2 in 2016 when the Yunqi was Shao Yang Xiang Huo Si Tian and Jue Yin Feng Mu Zai Quan obviously higher than other years excpet 2018( All P< 0.05). And T/E2 ratio was lower in 2016 than other years except 2018 and 2020( All P< 0.05). Conclusions: Shi Xiang factors of Wu Yun Liu Qi had effect on roproductive hormone levels in varicocele patients, showing by higher E2 level in Yinshen year when the Shi Xiang factors may have bad effect on human fertility.

Enhancement in the active site exposure in a porphyrin-based PIL/graphene composite catalyst for the highly efficient conversion of CO2.

Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) have gained widespread attention in recent years due to their excellent properties similar to both ionic liquids and polymers. However, their further applications are limited because abundant and flexible ions easily block nanopores in the PIL catalysts, thus blocking the active sites and ultimately leading to decreased catalytic activity. This work reports the synthesis of a PIL/graphene composite catalyst (iPOP-ZnTPy@GNFs) based on an in situ surface preparation strategy, which effectively controlled the particle size and dispersion state of ionic liquids. The iPOP-ZnTPy@GNFs exhibited a larger surface area and more exposed active sites, which intensified the catalytic activity in the CO2 cycloaddition reaction with propylene oxide with almost double the reaction rate as compared to that of iPOP-ZnTPy-2 at 100 °C and S/C = 1000. As expected, the iPOP-ZnTPy@GNF catalyst efficiently converted epoxides to cyclic carbonates at room temperature or atmospheric pressure, which can significantly reduce the process cost. In addition, iPOP-ZnTPy@GNFs exhibited excellent broad substrate scope, catalytic diversity, and remarkable reusability. The reaction mechanism of CO2 cycloaddition was studied via density functional theory calculations and was validated by experimental findings. This work provides a feasible method for improving the utilization of active sites in PILs as a highly robust catalyst for CO2 cycloaddition and can be further extended to other types of catalytic reactions in practical applications.

[Effect of bilateral microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy on asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia: A report of 109 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of bilateral microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (BMSV) in patients with asthenozoospermia or oligozoospermia. METHODS: Totally 147 patients with male infertility received BMSV from January 2018 to May 2019, of whom 109 had complete data recorded. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, including the total sperm count per ejeculate, sperm concentration and sperm motility before and after surgery, and the rate of natural conception achieved during the follow-up. RESULTS: BMSV achieved a total effectiveness rate of 79.00% in improving the percentage of progressively motile sperm (a rise of ≥20%) and a marked effectiveness rate of 70.00% (a rise of ≥50%) in the 100 cases of asthenozoospermia as compared with the baseline, with a mean recovery time of (110.13 ± 37.43) days. Besides, a total effectiveness rate of 74.29% (an increase of ≥20%) and a marked effectiveness rate of 71.43% (an increase of ≥50%) were attained in the improvement of sperm concentration in the 35 cases of oligozoospermia, with a mean recovery time of (117.00 ± 48.79 ) days. A natural conception rate of 30.30% was observed during the follow-up. No severe adverse events occurred postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: BMSV is significantly effective for the treatment of asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia.

[Method of Dividing the Value of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution Risk Screening: Using Cd as an Example].

The Soil Environmental Quality Risk Control Standard for Soil Contamination of Agricultural Land (GB 15618-2018) provides the risk screening value of soil environmental quality in China; however, because of differences in soil composition, and physical and chemical properties in different regions, this value has limitations for certain regions. Based on the limits of pollutants in crops given in the National Food Safety Standards Limits of Pollutants for Foods (GB 2762-2017), and using Cd in the soil of the main farming areas in southeastern Chongqing as an example, the content of the elemental biological effective state was determined for the suggested screening value. This method can provide a reference and method for improving the heavy metal and healthy element thresholds of soils with high or low bioavailability, and that are rich in Se content, among other factors.

[HPV infection of the external genitalia in men whose female partners have cervical HPV infection].

OBJECTIVE: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a necessary cause of cervical cancer and is also closely related to penile cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and anal cancer in males. However, few studies are reported on male HPV. This study aimed to investigate HPV infection of the external genitalia in men whose female partners have cervical HPV infection. METHODS: We collected the relevant data on the male outpatients whose partners had cervical HPV infection in our Department of Urology and Andrology from August to December 2016. We obtained samples with nylon swabs from the glans penis, corona, inner layer of the prepuce and penile body and detected different types of HPV infection using the Hybribio HPV typing kit, PCR and membrane hybridization. RESULTS: Valid data were collected from 140 males, which showed 83.5% of HPV infection of the external genitalia, including 60 cases of HPV6 (43.2%), 27 cases of HPV16 (19.4%), 14 cases of HPV39 (10.1%), 13 cases of HPV18 (9.4%), 13 cases of HPV58 (9.4%), and 13 cases of HPV52 (9.4%). Redundant prepuce was found in 75.5% of the males, but there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence rate of HPV infection between the normal and redundant prepuce groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Men who have the female partners with positive cervical HPV are at high risk of HPV infection and therefore need to be screened and treated so as to reduce HPV infection in both sexes.

[Relationship of abnormal sperm DNA methylation with early spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the abnormal sperm DNA methylation level and early spontaneous abortion. METHODS: We randomly selected 98 males who met the inclusion criteria and whose wives suffered from unexplained abortion or embryo abortion, and included another 46 normal healthy men present for pre-pregnancy check-up as controls. We examined the semen quality and sperm morphology, obtained the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by modified sperm chromatin dispersion, and measured the sperm DNA methylation level using the methylated DNA quantification kit and the colorimetric method. RESULTS: Compared with the normal controls, the men in the unexplained abortion group showed a significantly lower rate of big-halo sperm (ï¼»45.50 ± 26.27ï¼½ vs ï¼»36.49 ± 23.06ï¼½%, P = 0.038), a higher rate of abnormal-head sperm (ï¼»77.08± 12.21ï¼½ vs ï¼»81.09± 10.89ï¼½%, P = 0.049), and a lower level of sperm DNA methylation (ï¼»0.47 ± 0.33ï¼½ vs ï¼»0.36 ± 0.26ï¼½ ng/µl, P = 0.035). The sperm DNA methylation level was positively correlated with the percentage of big-halo sperm (OR=0.546, P<0.01). Multivariate regression analysis manifested that sperm head abnormality was an independent risk factor of early spontaneous abortion or embryo abortion (OR=1.032, P = 0.049), while the high methylation level was protective factor against early spontaneous abortion or embryo abortion (OR=0.244, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal level of sperm DNA methylation may be one of the important reasons for early spontaneous abortion or embryo abortion.

[Semen quality and its influencing factors in preconception males in Nanjing area].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the semen quality and its influencing factors in preconception males in Nanjing area so as to provide some evidence for working out effective intervention measures. METHODS: Totally 687 men receiving preconceptional physical examination were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the subjects along with an analysis of their semen quality. RESULTS: The median of sperm concentration was 63.3 x 10(6)/ml (95% CI [19.88-119] x 10(6)/ml). The median of grade a sperm was 33.03% (95% CI [19.38-55.05]%), that of grade a + b sperm was 52.08% (95% CI [39.53-69.37]%), and that of teratosperm was 91.75% (95% CI [69-100]%). The median concentration of seminal plasma PMN-elastase was 195.55 ng/ml (95% CI [76.16-3330.38] ng/ml) and that of seminal plasma zinc was 7.62 µmol/L (95% CI [1.5-23, 45] µmol/L). The positive rates of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) were 42.4%, 0.3%, and 2.4%, respectively. The median of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of those whose wives had a history of adverse pregnancy was 20.25% (95% CI [2.15-68.25]%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that mental stress (OR 1.567, 95% CI [1.081-2.27]) and sedentariness (OR 1.772, 95% CI [1.211-2.592]) were independent risk factors for asthenospermia. CONCLUSION: The sperm quality of preconception males in Nanjing area is not encouraging, and it can be improved by changing undesirable lifestyle and reducing mental stress.

Topoisomerase I inhibitors, shikonin and topotecan, inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of glioma cells and glioma stem cells.

Gliomas, the most malignant form of brain tumors, contain a small subpopulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs) that are implicated in therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. Topoisomerase I inhibitors, shikonin and topotecan, play a crucial role in anti-cancer therapies. After isolated and identified the GSCs from glioma cells successfully, U251, U87, GSCs-U251 and GSCs-U87 cells were administrated with various concentrations of shikonin or topotecan at different time points to seek for the optimal administration concentration and time point. The cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis were detected using cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometer to observe the inhibitory effects on glioma cells and GSCs. We demonstrated that shikonin and topotecan obviously inhibited proliferation of not only human glioma cells but also GSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. According to the IC50 values at 24 h, 2 µmol/L of shikonin and 3 µmol/L of topotecan were selected as the optimal administration concentration. In addition, shikonin and topotecan induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 and S phases and promoted apoptosis. The down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression with the activation of caspase 9/3-dependent pathway was involved in the apoptosis process. Therefore, the above results showed that topoisomerase I inhibitors, shikonin and topotecan, inhibited growth and induced apoptosis of GSCs as well as glioma cells, which suggested that they might be the potential anticancer agents targeting gliomas to provide a novel therapeutic strategy.

[Study on the chemical constituents of Gastrodia elata].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Gastrodia elata. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization and their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. RESULTS: The structures of 14 compounds were identified as: p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (1), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (2), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (3), 4, 4'-dihydroxy, dibenzyl ether (4), 4-hydroxymethyl benzyl-4'-hydroxy-3'-(4"-hydroxy benzl) benzyl ether (5), 4-ethoxybenzyl alcohol (6), anisic alcohol (7), bis(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl) methane (8), 4, 4'-dihydroxydiphenyl methane (9), 2, 4-bis(4'-hydroxy-benzyl)-phenol (10), 4-( methoxymenthyl) benzene-1, 2-diol (11), p-methylphenyl-1 -O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), N6-(4'-hydroxybenzl) -adenosine (13) and beta-sitosterol (14). CONCLUSION: Compounds 6 - 8 and 11 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Treatment of varicocele by microsurgical varicocelectomy: report of 94 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of microsurgical varicocelectomy in the treatment of varicocele. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 94 varicocele patients treated by microsurgical varicocelectomy, of whom 36 complained of testicular pain or dragging and distending discomfort, and 58 infertility or oligoasthenospermia. Microsurgical varicocelectomy was performed through inguinal or subinguinal approach. Complications were observed and semen parameters detected through follow-up visits at 1, 3 and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: Testicular pain or discomfort disappeared in 21 (65.6%) of the 32 followed-up patients who had complained of such symptoms, was relieved in 6 (18.8%), and remained unimproved in the other 5 (15.6%). The 56 followed-up patients with infertility or oligoasthenospermia all showed significantly improved sperm concentration and motility (grade a + b sperm), (15.47 +/- 3.21) x 10(6)/ml and (13.34 +/- 5.16)% at 3 months, and (18.39 +/- 4.05) x 10(6)/ml and (17.23 +/- 4.69)% at 6 months after operation, as compared with (8.26 +/- 1.68) x 10(6)/ml and (5.25 +/- 1.09)% preoperatively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Microsurgical varicocelectomy can effectively improve symptoms and semen parameters in varicocele patients.

Inhibitory effect of GSPE on RAGE expression induced by advanced glycation end products in endothelial cells.

Advanced glycation end products' (AGEs) engagement of a cell-surface receptor for AGEs (RAGE) has been causally implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications via induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent alteration of many gene expressions, including RAGE itself. Grapeseed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE), which is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, has been reported to possess potent radical-scavenging and antioxidant properties and to display significant cardiovascular protective action. In this study, we investigated whether GSPE could inhibit AGE-induced RAGE expression through interference with ROS generation in human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) was prepared by incubating BSA with high-concentration glucose. Stimulation of cultured HUVECs with 200 microg/mL of AGE-BSA significantly enhanced intracellular ROS formation and subsequently upregulated the protein and mRNA expression of RAGE; unmodified BSA and GSPE alone had no effect. However, GSPE preincubation markedly downregulated AGE-induced surface expression of RAGE in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. In AGE-stimulated HUVECs, GSPE also dose-dependently decreased RAGE mRNA levels and inhibited AGE-induced ROS generation at defined time periods. These results demonstrate that GSPE can inhibit enhanced RAGE expression in AGE-exposed endothelial cells by suppressing ROS generation, thereby limiting the AGE-RAGE interaction. Hence, GSPE may have therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of vascular complications in diabetic patients.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts inhibit vascular cell adhesion molecule expression induced by advanced glycation end products through activation of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma.

Although evidence has shown that grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE) can selectively inhibit cell adhesion molecule expression induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), the underlying molecular mechanism has not been extensively characterized. To study the antiinflammation mechanism of GSPE, we investigated the effect of GSPE on Von Willebrand factor (vWF) content and the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) induced by AGEs and the effect of GSPE on peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) and receptor for AGEs (RAGE) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were preincubated with or without GSPE of different concentrations (10 mg/L, 50 mg/L, and 100 mg/L) for 4 hours before being treated with 200 mg/L AGEs or unmodified bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 24 hours. The expression of RAGE and PPAR gamma was investigated by Western blot. VCAM-1 expression was measured by flow cytometry and vWF content by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that GSPE significantly inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 in HUVEC and reduced the content of vWF in culture fluid induced by AGEs in a dose-dependent manner. AGEs activated the expression of RAGE and inhibited PPAR gamma expression in HUVEC, whereas GSPE inhibited the expression of RAGE through activation of PPAR gamma in HUVEC simultaneously. These findings indicated that GSPE inhibited the cell inflammatory factor expression and protected the function of endothelial cell through activation of PPAR gamma expression and inhibition of RAGE expression.

Selective inhibition by grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts of cell adhesion molecule expression induced by advanced glycation end products in endothelial cells.

The interaction of advanced glycation end products (AGE) with their cell surface receptors for AGEs (RAGE) has been causally implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications and has been shown to stimulate cell adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells via induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Alternatively, grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE), which are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds, have been reported to possess potent radical scavenging and antioxidant properties and to display significant cardiovascular protective action. In this study, we investigated whether GSPE could inhibit AGE-induced cell adhesion molecule expression through interference with ROS generations in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) was prepared by incubating BSA with a high concentration of glucose. Stimulation of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells with 200 microg/mL of AGE-BSA significantly enhanced intracellular ROS formation and subsequently upregulated the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), whereas both unmodified BSA and GSPE alone were without effect. However, preincubation of different concentrations of GSPE markedly downregulated AGE-BSA-induced VCAM-1 expression at the surface protein and mRNA level in a concentration-dependent manner, but the increased ICAM-1 expression was not affected by GSPE treatment. Meanwhile, the inhibition by GSPE of intracellular ROS generation was also observed at defined time periods. These results demonstrate that GSPE can inhibit the enhanced VCAM-1 expression but not ICAM-1 in AGE-exposed endothelial cells by suppressing ROS generation. Hence, GSPE may have therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of vascular complications in patients with diabetes.