Response rules of pressing pain on back section in Governor Vessel in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease / 中国针灸

The response rules of pressing pain on the back section in the Governor Vessel in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) were studied to provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of GERD. Seventy-six cases of GERD were included into an observation group while 30 healthy volunteers were recruited into a control group. A mechanical measurement device of pressing pain that could measure the pain threshold was adapted to observe the pressing pain on the back section in the Governor Vessel in GERD patients and healthy volunteers. The test area is from spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra to that of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T1 -T12), including acupoints and non-acupoints on the Governor Vessel. As a result, in the observation group the pain threshold of T5-T7 spinous process clearance, which was the location of Shendao (GV 11), Lingtai (GV 10) and Zhiyang (GV 9), was lower than that in the control group (all P < 0.05). This result indicated that there was significant pressing pain in T5-T7 spinous process clearance in patients with GERD, which could be taken as an important auxiliary diagnosis and a new thinking method in the treatment of GERD with acupuncture.

Restore of the ancient "moxibustion the pulse" method / 中国针灸

The manipulation of ancient "moxibustion the pulse" method are replicated and discussed through literature review. It turned out that the old year moxa was the best material for moxibustion in ancient times because of its mild heat power and uninjurious to the skin or blood and vessels; it was believed by the ancient people that the ideal fire to light moxa which could play the curative effect best was "sunfire" (lighted through the bronze concave mirror focussing) while the prohibited were "eight kinds of wood fire"; the moxibustion area were the convergence of the pulse on limb ends. The way to determine the time and amount of moxibustion were various, but in general the moxa amount was larger; still after moxibustion, proper exercise and diet were recommended, the nursing methods of the moxibustion sore were recorded. In ancient times, moxibustion was not only a treatment method but also an unique culture carrier to reflect the faith and worship.

Genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase T1 gene and susceptibility to idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in northwestern China / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the association of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphism in patients with idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in the northwestern China population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In the case-control study, GSTT1 genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with peripheral blood DNA samples from 78 patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 103 patients with idiopathic oligospermia and 156 age-matched controls with normal sperm concentration and motility, according to the criteria adapted from World Health Organization guidelines. All of the patients and controls were from northwestern China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There is a significant association between GSTT1 null genotype with idiopathic azoospermia risk (odds ratio [OR]: 2.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-4.20, P=0.003) or idiopathic oligospermia risk (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17-3.27, P=0.010).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GSTT1 null genotype is a predisposing risk factor for sporadic idiopathic azoospermia or oligospermia in northwestern China.</p>

Genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase T1 associated with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of glutathioneS-transferase T (GSTT1) gene polymorphism with azoospermia and oligospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Semen samples from 34 patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 40 patients with idiopathic oligospermia and 53 healthy controls with normal sperm concentration and motility were assessed according to the standards of WHO. The GSTT1 genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with peripheral blood DNA samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of null GSTTI genotypes in the patients with idiopathic azoospermia, idiopathic oligospermia and the healthy controls were 76.5%, 72.5% and 49.1%, respectively. There was a significant association between the null alleles of GSTT1 and idiopathic azoospermia (odds ratio 3.13, 95% CI 1.20-8.16, P = 0.020) and idiopathic oligospermia (odds radio 2.53, 95% CI 1.06-6.11, P = 0.038).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The null alleles of GSTTI are a strong predisposing risk factor for idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia.</p>

Effect of oxidative damage to human sperm in vitro on mitochondrial tRNa LeuUUR gene / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the oxidative damage to human sperm mitochondrial tRNA LeuUUR gene by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Spermatozoa of normal physiological function selected from semen samples by Percoll gradient centrifugation technique were used as normal sperm models, which were divided into two groups of 20 cases each, a damage group and a control group, the former treated with hypoxanthine xanthine oxidase system and the latter left untreated, both incubated at 37 degrees C in aerobic environment for 60 minutes. Sperm DAN was extracted, and digestion by the enzymes fpg and ligation-mediated PCR ( LM-PCR) was performed to map the damage to mitochondrial tRNA LeuUUR gene. The spermatozoa were labeled with specific fluorescent probe of Rhodamine 123 to measure mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) by flow cytometry and observe sperm function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, after the normal spermatozoa were incubated with ROS, MMP of the spermatozoa significantly decreased ( 116. 27+/-11.72 vs 64.00+/-4. 88) , P <0.05. Digestion by the enzymes fpg and LM-PCR showed damage to mitochondrial tRNA LeuUUR, gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reactive oxygen species may inflict oxidative damage on sperm mitochondrial tRNA LeuUUR gene and thus affect sperm function ( as shown by significant decrease in MMP), resulting in infertility.</p>