Deficiency of primate-specific SSX1 induced asthenoteratozoospermia in infertile men and cynomolgus monkey and tree shrew models.

Primate-specific genes (PSGs) tend to be expressed in the brain and testis. This phenomenon is consistent with brain evolution in primates but is seemingly contradictory to the similarity of spermatogenesis among mammals. Here, using whole-exome sequencing, we identified deleterious variants of X-linked SSX1 in six unrelated men with asthenoteratozoospermia. SSX1 is a PSG expressed predominantly in the testis, and the SSX family evolutionarily expanded independently in rodents and primates. As the mouse model could not be used for studying SSX1, we used a non-human primate model and tree shrews, which are phylogenetically similar to primates, to knock down (KD) Ssx1 expression in the testes. Consistent with the phenotype observed in humans, both Ssx1-KD models exhibited a reduced sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology. Further, RNA sequencing indicated that Ssx1 deficiency influenced multiple biological processes during spermatogenesis. Collectively, our experimental observations in humans and cynomolgus monkey and tree shrew models highlight the crucial role of SSX1 in spermatogenesis. Notably, three of the five couples who underwent intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection treatment achieved a successful pregnancy. This study provides important guidance for genetic counseling and clinical diagnosis and, significantly, describes the approaches for elucidating the functions of testis-enriched PSGs in spermatogenesis.

Removal of tetracycline by ultraviolet/sodium percarbonate (UV/SPC)advanced oxidation process in water.

Tetracycline (TC) was widely used and frequently detected in various water bodies, where the presence of TC posed a significant threat to the health of aquatic organisms. Furthermore, antibiotics were hardly degraded by biological treatment. Thus, in order to enhance the removal of TC, we proposed the use of a novel ultraviolet/sodium percarbonate (UV/SPC) advanced oxidation process and initiated an in-depth study. The study investigated the influence of oxidant dosage, initial pH, UV intensity, and TC concentration on the removal of TC. The results demonstrated that the UV/SPC system efficiently removed TC, with removal efficiency increasing as the SPC concentration increased. Within the pH range of 3-11, TC degradation exhibited minimal variation, indicating the UV/SPC system's strong adaptability to pH variations. The research on the impact of the water matrix on TC removal revealed that HCO3- had an inhibitory effect on TC degradation, while NO3- promoted TC degradation. Additionally, the presence of free radical species (·OH, ·CO3-, ·O2-) were detected and rate constants for the secondary reactions (k·OH,TC = 6.3 × 109 L mol-1·s-1, k·CO3-,TC = 3.4 × 108 L mol-1·s-1) were calculated, indicating that ·OH exhibited a stronger oxidative performance compared to ·CO3-. This study did not only present a novel strategy via UV/SPC to remove TC but also uncovered the unique role of ·CO3- for contaminant removal.

Knockdown of NR3C1 inhibits the proliferation and migration of clear cell renal cell carcinoma through activating endoplasmic reticulum stress-mitophagy.

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is closely associated with steroid hormones and their receptors affected by lipid metabolism. Recently, there has been growing interest in the carcinogenic role of NR3C1, the sole gene responsible for encoding glucocorticoid receptor. However, the specific role of NR3C1 in ccRCC remains unclear. The present study was thus developed to explore the underlying mechanism of NR3C1's carcinogenic effects in ccRCC. METHODS: Expression of NR3C1 was verified by various tumor databases and assessed using RT-qPCR and western blot. Stable transfected cell lines of ccRCC with NR3C1 knockdown were constructed, and a range of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to examine the effects of NR3C1 on ccRCC proliferation and migration. Transcriptomics and lipidomics sequencing were then conducted on ACHN cells, which were divided into control and sh-NR3C1 group. Finally, the sequencing results were validated using transmission electron microscopy, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, immunofluorescence co-localization, cell immunofluorescent staining, and Western blot. The rescue experiments were designed to investigate the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and mitophagy in ccRCC cells after NR3C1 knockdown, as well as the regulation of their intrinsic signaling pathways. RESULTS: The expression of NR3C1 in ccRCC cells and tissues was significantly elevated. The sh-NR3C1 group, which had lower levels of NR3C1, exhibited a lower proliferation and migration capacity of ccRCC than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Then, lipidomic and transcriptomic sequencing showed that lipid metabolism disorders, ER stress, and mitophagy genes were enriched in the sh-NR3C1 group. Finally, compared to the control group, ER stress and mitophagy were observed in the sh-NR3C1 group, while the expression of ATF6, CHOP, PINK1, and BNIP3 was also up-regulated (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Ceapin-A7, an inhibitor of ATF6, significantly down-regulated the expression of PINK1 and BNIP3 (P < 0.05), and significantly increased the proliferation and migration of ccRCC cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that knockdown of NR3C1 activates ER stress and induces mitophagy through the ATF6-PINK1/BNIP3 pathway, resulting in reduced proliferation and migration of ccRCC. These findings indicate potential novel targets for clinical treatment of ccRCC.

The Function of BDNF and Its Receptor in the Male Genitourinary System and Its Potential Clinical Application.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as a member of the nerve growth factor family, has been mentioned more and more frequently in recent literature reports. Among them, content about the male genitourinary system is also increasing. Objective and Rationale: BDNF plays an important role in the male genitourinary system. At the same time, the literature in this field is constantly increasing. Therefore, we systematically summarized the literature in order to more intuitively show the function of BDNF and its receptor in the male genitourinary system and its potential clinical application. Search Methods: An electronic search of, e.g., PubMed, scholar.google and Scopus, for articles relating to BDNF and its receptor in the male genitourinary system. Outcomes: In the male genitourinary system, BDNF and its receptors TrkB and p75 participate in a series of normal physiological activities, such as the maturation and morphogenesis of testes and epididymis and maintenance of isolated sperm motility. Similarly, an imbalance of the circulating concentration of BDNF also mediates the pathophysiological process of many diseases, such as prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, male infertility, diabetes erectile dysfunction, penile sclerosis, and bladder fibrosis. As a consequence, we conclude that BDNF and its receptor are key regulatory proteins in the male genitourinary system, which can be used as potential therapeutic targets and markers for disease diagnosis.

Novel bi-allelic MSH4 variants causes meiotic arrest and non-obstructive azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is one of the most severe type in male infertility, and the genetic causes of NOA with meiotic arrest remain elusive. METHODS: Four Chinese families with NOA participated in the study. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) for the four NOA-affected patients in four pedigrees. The candidate causative gene was further verified by Sanger sequencing. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were carried out to evaluate the stage of spermatogenesis arrested in the patients with NOA. RESULTS: We identified two novel homozygous frameshift mutations of MSH4 and two novel compound heterozygous variants in MSH4 in four pedigrees with NOA. Homozygous loss of function (LoF) variants in MSH4 was identified in the NOA-affected patient (P9359) in a consanguineous Chinese family (NM_002440.4: c.805_812del: p.V269Qfs*15) and one patient with NOA (P21504) in another Chinese family (NM_002440.4: c.2220_2223del:p.K741Rfs*2). Also, compound heterozygous variants in MSH4 were identified in two NOA-affected siblings (P9517 and P9517B) (NM_002440.4: c.G1950A: p.W650X and c.2179delG: p.D727Mfs*11), and the patient with NOA (P9540) (NM_002440.4: c.G244A: p.G82S and c.670delT: p.L224Cfs*3). Histological analysis demonstrated lack of spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules of all patients and IHC showed the spermatogenesis arrested at the meiotic prophase I stage. Consistent with the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, all of these mutations were inherited from heterozygous parental carriers. CONCLUSIONS: We identified that six novel mutations in MSH4 responsible for meiotic arrest and NOA. And these results provide researchers with a new insight to understand the genetic etiology of NOA and to identify new loci for genetic counselling of NOA.

Bi-allelic SHOC1 loss-of-function mutations cause meiotic arrest and non-obstructive azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: The genetic causes of human idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) with meiotic arrest remain unclear. METHODS: Two Chinese families with infertility participated in the study. In family 1, two brothers were affected by idiopathic NOA. In family 2, the proband was diagnosed with idiopathic NOA, and his elder sister suffered from infertility. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted in the two patients in family 1, the proband in family 2 and 362 additional sporadic patients with idiopathic NOA. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the WES results. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and meiotic chromosomal spread analyses were carried out to evaluate the stage of spermatogenesis arrested in the affected cases. RESULTS: We identified compound heterozygous loss of function (LoF) variants of SHOC1 (c.C1582T:p.R528X and c.231_232del:p.L78Sfs*9, respectively) in both affected cases with NOA from family 1. In family 2, homozygous LoF variant in SHOC1 (c.1194delA:p.L400Cfs*7) was identified in the siblings with infertility. PAS, IHC and meiotic chromosomal spread analyses demonstrated that the spermatogenesis was arrested at zygotene stage in the three patients with NOA. Consistent with the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, all of these SHOC1 variants were inherited from heterozygous parental carriers. Intriguingly, WES of 362 sporadic NOA cases revealed one additional NOA case with a bi-allelic SHOC1 LoF variant (c.1464delT:p.D489Tfs*13). CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report identifying SHOC1 as the causative gene for human NOA. Furthermore, our study showed an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance in the NOA caused by SHOC1 deficiency.

Study on cryopreservation of mouse single seminiferous tubule.

Cryopreservation of single seminiferous tubule is significant for fertility preservation, especially for male patients with cryptorchidism, Y-chromosome deletion and orchitis. However, there are few studies on cryopreservation of single seminiferous tubule. This study proposes several improved strategies for cryopreservation of single seminiferous tubule in mice. First, single seminiferous tubule was cryopreserved with modified slow freezing and vitrification methods. The results showed that the apoptosis negative rates of spermatogenic cells in single seminiferous tubule with modified slow freezing method were significantly higher than vitrification with plastic slide. Then, plastic slide and two metal vitrification carriers with high thermal conductivity, copper mesh and aluminum foil, were used to vitrify single seminiferous tubule. The metal carriers could improve the outcome of vitrification than plastic slide. The apoptosis negative rates of spermatogenic cells in the aluminum foil group was significantly higher than that in the copper mesh group. Finally, single seminiferous tubule was perfused with CPAs by micro-injection technique and vitrified. The results of cryo-microscopy experiments showed that the ice crystals formed inside the injected seminiferous tubule was reduced during the cooling process, the apoptosis negative rate of spermatocytes, spermatids and Sertoli cells were significantly higher than that of the non-injection group, indicating that the injection technique can effectively improve the effect of vitrification. This study has potential clinical value for in-vitro culture of spermatogonial stem cells and autologous testicular tissue grafting in patients with azoospermia.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism predicts left ventricular hypertrophy in maintenance hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: To verify that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of vitamin D receptor (VDR) may lead to genetic susceptibility to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), the present study was designed to study four SNPs of VDR associated with LVH in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients of Han nationality. METHODS: 120 MHD patients were recruited at Department of Nephrology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University to analyze the expression of genotype, allele and haplotype of Fok I, Bsm I, Apa I and Taq I in blood samples, and to explore their correlation with blood biochemical indexes and ventricular remodeling. RESULTS: The results showed that the risks of CVD included gender, dialysis time, heart rate, SBP, glycated hemoglobin, calcium, iPTH and CRP concentration. Moreover, LAD, LVDd, LVDs, IVST and LVMI in B allele of Bsm I increased significantly. Fok I, Apa I and Taq I polymorphisms have no significant difference between MHD with LVH and without LVH. Further study showed that VDR expression level decreased significantly in MHD patients with LVH, and the B allele was positively correlated with VDR Expression. CONCLUSION: VDR Bsm I gene polymorphism may predict cardiovascular disease risk of MDH patients, and provided theoretical basis for early detection and prevention of cardiovascular complications.

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Counteracts Advanced Glycation End Products-Induced Corpus Cavernosal Endothelial Cell Dysfunction via Activating Mitophagy.

Injury to corpus cavernosal endothelial cells (CCECs) is an important pathological basis of diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED), while low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to improve erectile function in DMED. To further understand its therapeutic mechanism of action, in this study, we first demonstrated increased apoptosis and shedding in the CCECs of DMED patients, accompanied by significant mitochondrial injury by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy of corpus cavernosum tissue. Next, we used advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to simulate the diabetic environment in vitro and found that AGES damaged mitochondria and inhibited angiogenesis in CCECs in a dose-dependent manner, while LIPUS treatment significantly reversed its effects. Mechanistic studies based on transcriptome sequencing showed that LIPUS significantly up-regulated LC3 and PARKIN protein levels in mitochondria, promoted mitophagy, and affected mitochondrial dynamics and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, the protective effects of LIPUS were abrogated when mitophagy was inhibited by 3-methyladenine. In summary, LIPUS exerted potent inhibitory effects on AGES-induced CCEC failure via mitophagy, providing a theoretical basis for DMED treatment that encompasses the protection of endothelial structure and function.

Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Alleviates Human Testicular Leydig Cell Senescence In Vitro.

Aging has a significant negative impact on human testicular function; steroidogenesis is gradually impaired, and testosterone replacement therapy still has many risks. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been used as a novel non-invasive treatment for male erectile dysfunction and other fields, and has been shown to increase testosterone levels in animal models. Testosterone is synthesized and secreted by Leydig cells (LCs), and the serum testosterone level decreases after aging due to the LCs senescence. However, the effect of LIPUS on human senescent LCs has not been reported. In this study, human senescent LCs were isolated and stimulated with different energy intensities in vitro, and cell morphology, cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell senescence levels, lipid droplet number, testosterone and INSL3 secretion levels were tested and analyzed. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (QPCR) and Western Blot were performed to compare cell senescence characteristics and the expression profile of key pathways of testosterone secretion, and transcriptome analysis was performed to explore the signaling pathways of LCs alteration after LIPUS stimulation. It was safe and effective to stimulate LCs with the 75 mW/cm2 energy of LIPUS in vitro, which not only improved the senescence phenotype, but also effectively enhanced the secretory function of LCs in vitro, and increased the expression of key pathways of the testosterone synthesis pathway. These results suggest that LIPUS could be used as a novel treatment to human senescent LCs with decreased testosterone secretion levels in vitro.

Vitrification with microinjection of single seminiferous tubules: an efficient cryopreservation approach for limited testicular tissue.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is vitrification with microinjection of single seminiferous tubules an efficient cryopreservation approach for limited testicular tissue? DESIGN: Testicular tissue from 10 patients with normal spermatogenesis were assigned to a fresh control group or one of the following cryopreservation procedures: uncontrolled slow freezing (USF) using either 1.5 or 2.1 M DMSO combined with sucrose and vitrification with or without single seminiferous tubules microinjection. RESULTS: Single seminiferous tubules microinjected with cryoprotective agents (CPA) enhanced the penetration of CPA compared with CPA-treated testicular tissue fragments. Microinjection of seminiferous tubules (VLP) maintained tubule structural integrity and germ cell numbers, and reduced spermatogonial apoptosis after cryopreservation compared with vitrification without microinjection (apoptosis rate: VLP versus vitrification without microinjection, P = 0.047; VLP versus USF, P= 0.049). Freezing of single seminiferous tubules using 0.25-ml straws and traditional sperm freezing methods protected sperm retrieval and recovery rates, and the progressive motility index. CONCLUSIONS: Vitrification of single seminiferous tubule with microinjection of low CPA concentration is an effective approach to testicular cryopreservation.

Locking plate combined with titanium cable for Neer type II distal clavicle fractures.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy about the optimal strategy treatment of unstable distal clavicle fractures. We explored use of a surgical strategy: combination of a distal clavicle locking plate and a titanium cable. The purpose of this retrospective case series study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of this new strategy in treating Neer type II distal clavicle fractures. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with Neer type II distal clavicle fracture were treated with a distal clavicle locking plate and a titanium cable. All patients were followed for at least one year. We retrospectively collected and reviewed follow-up data. The clinical outcomes were assessed for union rate, functional score, and complication rate. RESULTS: All patients achieved bony union within 6 months. The average follow-up period was 20.6 months (range12-48 months). The mean Constant score at one-year follow-up was 94.6 ± 3.3 (range 84-98), and the mean UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) score was 33.3 ± 2.6 (range 27-35). Only one complication (wound infection) was observed during follow-up. Two patients received another operation for implant removal due to local irritation. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a distal clavicle locking plate in combination with a titanium cable for treatment of Neer type II fractures results in high union rate, a low complication rate, and good shoulder function. This combined surgical strategy can be considered an effective method for treating unstable distal clavicle fractures.

Vasal vessel-sparing microsurgical single-armed vasoepididymostomy to epididymal obstructive azoospermia: A retrospective control study.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vasal vessel-sparing modified single-armed 2-suture longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (SA-LIVE) to epididymal obstructive azoospermia patients. Forty consecutive epididymal obstructive azoospermia cases, who underwent microsurgical vasoepididymostomy in Shanghai General Hospital from January 2019 to October 2019, were included in this study. Twenty cases underwent SA-LIVE (group A), and 20 cases underwent vasal vessel-sparing SA-LIVE (group B). Until March 2021, the mean follow-up period was 16.9 ± 4.1 (12-23) months. The overall patency rate was 82.5%, and 80% and 85% for group A and group B respectively. The mean time to achieve patency was 4.11 ± 2.74 months. The overall natural pregnancy rate was 51.5%(17/33) at the mean follow-up of 16.9 months. The natural pregnancy rate was 50.0% for group A and 52.9% for group B (p > .05). At the time of 6 months post-operation, the patency rate was 70% for group A and 80% for group B (p = .465); the natural pregnancy rate was 0% for group A and 31.3% for group B (p = .022). Vasal vessel-sparing SA-LIVE is safe and effective to achieve favourable patency and pregnancy rates. Preserving vasal vessel would improve natural pregnancy rate at a very early stage.

A modified single-armed microsurgical vasoepididymostomy for epididymal obstructive azoospermia: intraoperative choice and postoperative consideration.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and the duration required for the sperm to return to the ejaculate after a modified single-armed 2-suture longitudinal intussusception vasoepididymostomy (SA-LIVE). METHODS: From March 2015 to December 2018, 134 patients with epididymal obstruction azoospermia underwent the modified single-armed vasoepididymostomy at Shanghai General Hospital. The outcomes and clinical findings were documented and evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 17 (range: 3-36) months. RESULTS: Patency was assessed by the return of sperm in the ejaculate. The overall patency rate was 55.2%, and the patency rates were 58.9, 40.7, 36.4, and 58.9% for bilateral surgery, unilateral surgery, proximal anastomosis, and distal anastomosis, respectively. The average time to achieve patency was 4.11 ± 2.74 months. In the first 6 months, 87.8% (65/74) patency patients reported sperm in the ejaculate. The overall pregnancy rate was 40.9% (29/66) at the follow-up of 3-36 months, and the natural pregnancy rate was 30.3% (20/66). The natural pregnancy rate was 32.1% post-bilateral surgery and 33.3% for the site of distal anastomosis; surprisingly, it was 0% for the site of proximal anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Modified SA-LIVE is safe and may achieve favorable patency and pregnancy rates. When double-armed sutures are not accessible, single-armed may be preferable. The expected patency time was within 1 year. Moreover, because of the low natural pregnancy rate for proximal anastomosis, sperm banking is preferred to SA-LIVE.

Beneficial effect of tamsulosin combined with dapoxetine in management of type III prostatitis with premature ejaculation.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin combined with dapoxetine in the treatment of type IIIB chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) that is complicated by premature ejaculation (PE), a total of 251 CP/CPPS patients with PE were recruited from nine hospitals across China and were randomly divided into two groups: one received tamsulosin as a control, and the other received a combination therapy of tamsulosin and dapoxetine. Follow-up was conducted at four time points, and indicators describing CP/CPPS and PE were compared between the two groups. In all, 223 patients were followed up at least once, and 114 patients completed all of the treatment process. The combination group showed more improvement in the symptoms of both PE and CP/CPPS, including thrust number (50.5 vs. 45), premature ejaculation profile score (11.39 vs. 6.96), intravaginal ejaculation latency time (5.95 min vs. 2.63 min) and the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (7.44 vs. 11.81) in comparison with the tamsulosin group. In conclusion, for CP/CPPS patients with PE, tamsulosin combined with dapoxetine provided better therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of not only PE symptoms but also CP/CPPS indicators in comparison with tamsulosin monotherapy.

Effect of the valine-to-lysine ratio on the performance of sows and piglets in a hot, humid environment.

To determine the effect of the valine-to-lysine (Val: Lys) ratio on the performance of sows and piglets in a hot, humid environment, eleven Large White × Landrace sows (parity 2 or 3) were selected and randomly assigned to 3 groups. The diets contained total dietary Val: Lys ratios of 0.72, 0.87, or 1.01:1. Sows were fed from d 29 prepartum to d 21 postpartum in a hot, humid environment (temperature: 22-31 ℃, relative humidity: 69-96%). The results showed that dietary valine improved the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows in wk3 of the lactation and the average daily gain (ADG) of the piglets from day 7-14 after farrowing. Dietary valine increased the concentrations of lactose in colostrum and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in piglet serum. Additionally, dietary valine affected metabolite and metabolic hormone concentrations. The increase in the ratio of dietary Val: Lys decreased the blood urea nitrogen and increased serum glucose in the sows and increased serum albumin in the piglets. In addition, increasing dietary Val: Lys increased the serum concentration of estradiol-17ß in the sows. In conclusion, in a hot, humid environment, dietary valine could improve the performance of sows and piglets by increasing colostrum lactose and serum immunoglobulin concentration in piglets and by influencing serum glucose in sows.

[Qilin Pills promote testicular spermatogenesis in azoospermia mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Qilin Pills (QP) in facilitating the recovery of spermatogenic function in azoospermia (AS) mice and to explore its mechanism of regulating testicular spermatogenesis. METHODS: Fifteen 4-week-old male mice were equally randomized into an AS model control, a low-dose QP and a high-dose QP group. The AS model was established in the mice by intraperitoneal injection of busulfan at 35 mg/kg. After modeling, the animals in the low- and high-dose QP groups were treated with Qilin Pills intragastrically at 2 000 and 8 000 mg/kg/d respectively while those in the model control group fed on a normal diet, all for 28 days. Then, all the mice were sacrificed for examination of the ultrastructures of the epididymis and testis by HE staining, detection of the specific markers of spermatogenic, Sertoli and Leydig cells by Western blot, and determination of the expressions of these markers in the testis tissue by immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: The number of spermatogenic cells in the testis tissue was significantly decreased in the AS model controls, with no spermatozoa in most of the seminiferous tubules in the epididymis (Johnsen's score: 5.2 ± 0.5). In the high-dose QP group, spermatogenic cells were tightly arranged with distinct layers in the seminiferous tubules, with a large number of spermatozoa but no non-sperm cells in the lumens of the epididymis (Johnsen's score: 9.4 ± 0.6). The number of spermatogenic cells in the testis was increased in the low-dose QP group with some spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules as compared with that in the model control, but lower than in the high-dose group (Johnsen's score: 7.6 ± 0.6). The Johnsen's score was significantly lower in the model control than in the high- and low-dose QP groups (P < 0.01), and higher in the high-dose than in the low-dose QP group (P < 0.05). The expressions of the specific markers of Sertoli cells SCF, BMP4, SYCP3, DMC1 and Ki67 were also remarkably lower in the model control than in the high- and low-dose QP groups (P < 0.01), and higher in the high-dose than in the low-dose QP group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups of mice in the markers of spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) and undifferentiated SSCs UCHL1, STRA8, NGN3 and PLZF3 (P > 0.05). The expressions of the spermatocyte markers DMC1 and SYCP3 were markedly lower in the model control than in the high- and low-dose QP groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and higher in the high-dose than in the low-dose QP group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The Ki67 fluorescence signals were distributed in the spermatogonia, with a higher intensity in the model control than in the high- and low-dose QP groups. The acrosome marker PNA was found mainly in the seminiferous tubules, with abundant fluorescence signals in the high- and low-dose QP groups but no obvious dot signals in the model controls. CONCLUSIONS: Qilin Pills may contribute to the meiosis of spermatogonia and promote spermatogenesis by improving the function of Sertoli cells in the testis.

High resolution snapshot imaging spectrometer using a fusion algorithm based on grouping principal component analysis.

We reported a high resolution snapshot imaging spectrometer (HR-SIS) and a fusion algorithm based on the properties of the HR-SIS. The system consists of an imaging branch and a spectral branch. The imaging branch captures a high spatial resolution panchromatic image with 680 × 680 pixels, while the spectral branch acquires a low spatial resolution spectral image with spectral resolution of 250 cm-1. By using a fusion algorithm base on grouping principal component analysis, the spectral image is highly improved in spatial resolution. Experimental results demonstrated that the performance of the proposed algorithm is competitive with other state-of-the-art algorithms. The computing time for a single frame is less than 1 min with an Intel Core i5-4200H CPU, which can be further reduced by utilizing a graphics processing unit (GPU).

Treatment of pelvic fractures through a less invasive ilioinguinal approach combined with a minimally invasive posterior approach.

BACKGROUND: Unstable pelvic fractures usually result from high-energy trauma. There are several treatment modalities available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of a new less invasive ilioinguinal approach combined with a minimally invasive posterior approach technique in patients with unstable pelvic fractures. We also address the feasibility, validity, and limitations of the technique. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with unstable pelvic fractures were treated with our minimally invasive technique. The anterior pelvic ring fractures were treated with a less invasive ilioinguinal approach, and the sacral fractures were treated with a minimally invasive posterior approach. The clinical outcome was measured using the Majeed scoring system, and the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated. The patients were followed up for 13 to 60 months (mean, 24 months). RESULTS: Anatomical or near to anatomical reduction was achieved in 26 (70.3 %) of the anterior pelvic ring fractures and a satisfactory result was obtained in another 11(29.7 %). For the posterior sacral fractures, excellent reduction was obtained in 33 (89.2 %) of the fractures, with a residual deformity in the other 4 patients. One superficial wound infection and two deep vein thromboses occurred, all of which resolved with conservative treatment. The clinical outcome at one year was "excellent" in 29 patients and "good" in 8 patients (Majeed score). CONCLUSIONS: The satisfactory results showed that a reduction and fixation of unstable pelvic fractures is possible through a combination of a limited ilioinguinal approach and posterior pelvic ring fixation. We believe our method is a new and effective alternative in the management of pelvic fractures.

A hybrid neural network-based intelligent body posture estimation system in sports scenes.

Body posture estimation has been a hot branch in the field of computer vision. This work focuses on one of its typical applications: recognition of various body postures in sports scenes. Existing technical methods were mostly established on the basis of convolution neural network (CNN) structures, due to their strong visual information sensing ability. However, sports scenes are highly dynamic, and many valuable contextual features can be extracted from multimedia frame sequences. To handle the current challenge, this paper proposes a hybrid neural network-based intelligent body posture estimation system for sports scenes. Specifically, a CNN unit and a long short-term memory (LSTM) unit are employed as the backbone network in order to extract key-point information and temporal information from video frames, respectively. Then, a semi-supervised learning-based computing framework is developed to output estimation results. It can make training procedures using limited labeled samples. Finally, through extensive experiments, it is proved that the proposed body posture estimation method in this paper can achieve proper estimation effect in real-world frame samples of sports scenes.