[Semen quality and HIV RNA level in HIV/AIDS male patients after treated by highly active antiretroviral therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the semen quality of the HIV/AIDS male patients after treated by the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and their potential of transmitting HIV/AIDS and provide some evidence for this cohort of males who wish for parenthood. METHODS: We collected semen samples from 20 HIV/AIDS male patients who had been treated by HAART for over 6 months and wished for parenthood. We examined sperm concentration, viability and total motility and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS) using the computer-assisted semen analysis system, measured the HIV-1 RNA loads in the semen by the Cobas Amplicor Monitor test, and counted CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The patients were aged 25－40 (30.7 ± 5.05) years. After treated by HAART for 6－26 (14.24 ± 12.26) months, the count of blood CD4+ T cells was significantly increased (341－1 058 ï¼»535.76 ± 212.021ï¼½ /µl) in comparison with the baseline (226－965 ï¼»422.38 ± 200.86ï¼½ /µl). Compared with the normal value, the semen volume was increased except in 1 case (≥2 ml) while total sperm motility was decreased in 13 cases (≥40%), and so were sperm concentration in 2 cases (≥15 × 106 / ml), sperm viability in 5 (58%), the percentage of progressively motile sperm in 18 (≥32%), and the percentage of MNS in 6 (≤4%). HIV-1 RNA in the peripheral blood was <20 copies/mL in all the cases and that in the seminal plasma was also <20 copies/ml in 18 cases but >20 copies/mL in the other 2 (ï¼»4.70 × 101ï¼½ and ï¼»2.2 × 102ï¼½ copies/ml, respectively). Of the 4 couples that had sex without protective measures for over 6 months, all the 4 female partners exhibited negative HIV antibodies in regular follow-up examinations and 1 achieved spontaneous pregnancy and healthy birth, with negative HIV-1 RNA in both the mother and the baby. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV RNA level is higher in the semen than in the blood of the HIV/AIDS male patients after HAART, which indicates the potential risk of their semen transmitting HIV/AIDS to their female partners. Their sperm concentration and total sperm motility are lower than the normal value, which suggests a decreased fertility.

Analysis of small RNAs derived from Chinese wheat mosaic virus.

The virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) of Chinese wheat mosaic virus (CWMV), a member of the genus Furovirus, were characterised from wheat plants by deep sequencing. CWMV vsiRNAs of 21-22 nt in length predominated, suggesting that there might be a conserved mechanism of DCL2 and DCL4 involvement in the biogenesis of vsiRNAs, as well as a common RNA silencing pathway in CWMV-infected wheat plants. The 5'-terminal base of vsiRNAs was biased towards A/U, suggesting that CWMV vsiRNAs might be loaded into diverse AGO-containing RISCs to disturb the gene expression of host plants. Possible targets for some of the vsiRNAs were predicted.

[Effect of baicalin on expression of heme oxygenase-1 in lung injury of rats associated with paraquat poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of baicalin (Bai) on lung injury, the level of TNF-alpha in cultured liquid of pulmonary interstitial macrophage and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in lung injury associated with paraquat poisoning. METHODS: Rats were randomizedly divided into four groups: control group, PQ group, Bai group (Bai, 300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and simple Bai group (Bai, 300 mg. kg(-1).d(-1)) (n = 10 in each group). The 2% PQ was injected (25 mg/kg) in PQ group. Bai was injected in the rats (300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 3 d) through caudal vein after paraquat poisoning in Bai group. In simple Bai group, Bai was injected in the healthy rats (300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 3 d). The samples were obtained three days after intraperitoneal administration of 2% paraquat (25 mg/kg). The injury of lung was estimated with HE dyeing and electron microscope. Pulmonary interstitial macrophage (PIM) were obtained, and then cultured for 24 hours. The content of TNF-alpha was evaluated. The expression of HO-1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of HO-1 protein was evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The lung tissue was normal in control group and simple Bai group. The degree of lung injury in PQ group was higher than that in control group by HE dyeing and electron microscope observation. The level of TNF-alpha expression in cultured PIM in Bai group [(484.2 +/- 39.5) microg/L] was lower than that in PQ group [(790.2 +/- 35.0) microg/L], but higher than that in the control group [(121.6 +/- 19.2) microg/L] (P < 0.05). The expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein [(59.8 +/- 5.40) and (122.0 +/- 31.98)] in Bai group were higher than those in PQ group [(45.9 +/- 5.82) and (77.92 +/- 10.23)] (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The lung injury associated with paraquat poisoning was alleviated by baicalin, which was possibly related to the decrease of level of TNF-alpha in cultured PIM and the increase of the expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein.

Cardiac risk stratification in patients with congestive heart failure: a catecholamines-beta-adrenoceptor-cAMP pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stratification risk of catecholamines-beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR)-cAMP pathway for cardiogenic death events in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: A total of 83 identified CHF patients with a baseline and follow-up plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E), lymphocytes beta-AR density (Bmax), and intralymphocyte cAMP content in peripheral blood were followed up. Major cardiogenic death events were registered. RESULTS: The period between the initial entry and the last follow-up measurement were 51 +/- 16 months, the total duration of clinical follow-up after the last measurement were 14 +/- 8 months. During follow-up, 39 patients died of cardiogenic (sudden death 17 patients, worsening heart failure 22 patients). Persistence of high NE, E, and cAMP from baseline to follow-up were confirmed as risk predicting factors of cardiovascular events. Persistence NE above 4.0 nmol/L, E above 3.5 nmol/L, and the intralymphocyte cAMP content above 3.5 pmd x mg(-1) x pro(-1) from baseline to follow-up were significant adverse prognostic predictors. The major cardiogenic death events rates per 100 patients-years were 1.33 and 4.82 in patients with NE below and above 4.0 nmol/L (HR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.08-7.33; P = 0.015); were 1.42 and 4.36 in the patients with E levels below and above 3.5 nmol/L (HR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.02-6.41; P = 0.019); were 1.81 and 4.67 in the patients with the intralymphocyte cAMP content below and above 3.5 pmd x mg(-1) x pro(-1) (HR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.04-6.83; P = 0.017), but difference was not significant between the beta-AR density below and above median. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent increase in circulating catecholamines and intralymphocyte cAMP content may increase the long-term mortality in CHF patients.