The Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Activity of Wheat Germ and Wheat Germ Protein in High-Fat Diet-Induced Rats.

Background: So far, no articles have discussed the hypolipidemic effect of wheat germ protein in in vivo experiments. Objective: In this study, we investigated the effects of wheat germ protein (WGP, 300 mg/kg/day) and wheat germ (WG, 300 mg/kg/day) on cholesterol metabolism, antioxidant activities, and serum and hepatic lipids in rats fed a high-fat diet through gavage. Methodology: We used 4-week-old male Wistar 20 rats in our animal experiment. Biochemical indicators of fecal, serum and liver were tested by kits or chemical methods. We also conducted the cholesterol micellar solubility experiment in vitro. Results: After 28 days of treatment, our results showed that WGP significantly reduced the serum levels of total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05), improved the enzymatic activities of cholesterol 7-α hydroxylase (p < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (p < 0.01) and increased bile acid excretion in feces (p < 0.05). Conclusion: WG did not significantly increase bile acid excretion in feces or decrease serum levels of total cholesterol. Moreover, WGP and WG both presented significant antioxidant activity in vivo (p < 0.05) and caused a significant reduction in cholesterol micellar solubility in vitro (p < 0.001). Therefore, WGP may effectively prevent hyperlipidemia and its complications as WGP treatment enhanced antioxidant activity, decreased the concentration of serum lipids and improved the activity of enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism.

[Clinical analysis of 87 cases of testicular tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnosis and treatment of testicular tumor. METHODS: Eighty-seven cases of testicular tumor were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Of the total number, 79 cases were pathologically diagnosed as germ cell tumor (90.1%), among which there were 44 cases of seminoma (55.7%) and 7 cases of benign tumor (8.1%). Nonseminoma germ cell tumor (NSGCT) was found mainly among those under 5 and from 18 to 40 years of age, while seminoma chiefly among those beyond 17, and testis tumor was rare among those between 5 and 17 years old (1 case only). Three-year and 5-year survival rates of seminoma and NSGCT were 90.6% and 81.3%, and 83.3% and 56.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: (1) Testicular tumors are mostly germ cell tumors. (2) NSGCT develops mainly among those under the age of 5 and from 18 to 40. (3) Seminoma is rare in those under 18. (4) Testicular tumor rarely develops among those between 5 and 17 years old. (5)Three-year and 5-year survival rates for seminoma are higher than those for NSGCT.