Advances in Modeling of Multiple Myeloma in Mice / 中国医学科学院学报

Multiple myeloma(MM)is a systemic malignancy of plasma cells.Nowadays,the basic research on MM is flourishing with the continuous optimization and innovation of mouse models of MM.Heterologous mouse models of MM established with human-derived cells and immunodeficient mice have been applied in assessing drug efficacy,exploring drug resistance mechanisms,and observing tumor-bone marrow microenvironment interactions.In the last decades,the homologous mouse models of MM established with murine-derived cells or gene-editing technologies have been widely used in the research on the pathogenesis and drug development.Additionally,the stable modeling of targeted organ injury will be a key problem to be tackled in this field.This review summarizes the characteristics and application progress of mouse models of MM.

Progress in Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Modified Natural Killer Cells for Multiple Myeloma / 中国医学科学院学报

Although the development of novel drugs has significantly improved the survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) over the past decades,the lack of effective therapeutic options for relapsed and refractory MM results in poor prognosis.The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has achieved considerable progress in relapsed and refractory MM.Nevertheless,this therapy still has limitations such as cytokine release syndrome,neurotoxicity,and off-target effects.Natural killer (NK) cells,as a critical component of the innate immune system,play an essential role in tumor immunosurveillance.Therefore,CAR-modified NK (CAR-NK) cells are put forward as a therapeutic option for MM.The available studies have suggested that multiple targets can be used as specific therapeutic targets for CAR-NK cell therapy and confirmed their antitumor effects in MM cell lines and animal models.This review summarizes the anti-tumor mechanisms,biological characteristics,and dysfunction of NK cells in the MM tumor microenvironment,as well as the basic and clinical research progress of CAR-NK cells in treating MM.

Similarities and differences of myocardial metabolic characteristics between HFpEF and HFrEF mice based on LC-MS/MS metabolomics / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To reveal the similarities and differences in myocardial metabolic characteristics between heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) mice using metabolomics. Methods: The experimental mice were divided into 4 groups, including control, HFpEF, sham and HFrEF groups (10 mice in each group). High fat diet and Nω-nitroarginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) were applied to construct a"two-hit"HFpEF mouse model. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery was used to construct the HFrEF mouse model. The differential expression of metabolites in the myocardium of HFpEF and HFrEF mice was detected by untargeted metabolomics (UHPLC-QE-MS). Variable importance in projection>1 and P<0.05 were used as criteria to screen and classify the differentially expressed metabolites between the mice models. KEGG functional enrichment and pathway impact analysis demonstrated significantly altered metabolic pathways in both HFpEF and HFrEF mice. Results: One hundred and nine differentially expressed metabolites were detected in HFpEF mice, and 270 differentially expressed metabolites were detected in HFrEF mice. Compared with the control group, the most significantly changed metabolite in HFpEF mice was glycerophospholipids, while HFrEF mice presented with the largest proportion of carboxylic acids and their derivatives. KEGG enrichment and pathway impact analysis showed that the differentially expressed metabolites in HFpEF mice were mainly enriched in pathways such as biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, ether lipid metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism. The differentially expressed metabolites in HFrEF mice were mainly enriched in arginine and proline metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism, etc. Conclusions: HFpEF mice have a significantly different myocardial metabolite expression profile compared with HFrEF mice. In addition, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and arginine and proline metabolism are significantly altered in both HFpEF and HFrEF mice, suggesting that these metabolic pathways may play an important role in disease progression in both types of heart failure.

Comparison of active components in different parts of Perilla frutescens and its pharmacological effects / 中国中药杂志

Perilla frutescens is a widely used medicinal and edible plant with a rich chemical composition throughout its whole plant. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia categorizes P. frutescens leaves(Perillae Folium), seeds(Perillae Fructus), and stems(Perillae Caulis) as three distinct medicinal parts due to the differences in types and content of active components. Over 350 different bioactive compounds have been reported so far, including volatile oils, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, sterols, and fatty acids. Due to the complexity of its chemical composition, P. frutescens exhibits diverse pharmacological effects, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antidepressant, and antitumor activities. While scholars have conducted a substantial amount of research on different parts of P. frutescens, including analysis of their chemical components and pharmacological mechanisms of action, there has yet to be a systematic comparison and summary of chemical components, pharmacological effects, and mechanisms of action. Therefore, this study overviewed the chemical composition and structures of Perillae Folium, Perillae Fructus, and Perillae Caulis, and summarized the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of P. frutescens to provide a reference for better development and utilization of this valuable plant.

Challenges and countermeasures of Investigator-Initiated Trial of oncology / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Objective:In order to put forward relevant measures and suggestions to improve the quality of the Investigator-Initiated Trials of oncology in medical institutions.Methods:Through literature research, comparative study, combined with the implementation and management of investigator initiated trials, the current status and challenges of the administration of these trials were analyzed.Results:Investigator-Initiated Trials of oncology become increasingly important. However, its quality is poor compared with Industry-Sponsored Trials due to insufficient funds and lack of effective supervision. Besides, four main challenges as follows were identified: lack of clinical research professionals, the quality concerns of ethical review in some institutions, insufficient funding for clinical research, and imperfect quality management system.Conclusions:Based on the actual needs of IITs of oncology, medical institutions should strengthen the talent cultivation, establish electronic information management platform, increase project support, strengthen scientific research supervision and deepen the awareness of risk prevention to improve the quality of investigator initiated trials.

Treatment of intrauterine adhesions in rats with hypoxia-cultured BMSC-derived exosomes / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To perform intrauterine adhesion modeling, and to investigate the repair effect of hypoxic treated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and their derived exosomes (BMSC-exo) on endometrial injury. Methods: BMSC and their exosomes BMSC-exo extracted from rats' femur were cultured under conventional oxygen condition (21%O2) or hypoxia condition (1%O2). Intrauterine adhesion modeling was performed on 40 healthy female SD rats by intrauterine injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide after curettage. On the 28th day of modeling, 40 rat models were randomly divided into five groups, and interventions were performed: (1) NC group: 0.2 ml phosphate buffered solution was injected into each uterine cavity; (2) BMSC group: 0.2 ml BMSC (1×106/ml) with conventional oxygen culture was injected intrauterine; (3) L-BMSC group: 0.2 ml of hypoxic cultured BMSC (1×106/ml) was injected intrauterine; (4) BMSC-exo group: 0.2 ml of BMSC-exo cultured with conventional oxygen at a concentration of 500 μg/ml was injected into the uterine cavity; (5) L-BMSC-exo group: 0.2 ml hypoxic cultured BMSC-exo (500 μg/ml) was injected intrauterine. On the 14th and 28th day of treatment, four rats in each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation after anesthesia, and endometrial tissues were collected. Then HE and Masson staining were used to observe and calculate the number of glands and fibrosis area in the endometrium. The expressions of angiogenesis related cytokines [vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and CD31], and fibrosis-related proteins [collagen-Ⅰ, collagen-Ⅲ, smooth muscle actin α (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)] in endometrial tissues were detected by western blot. Results: (1) HE and Masson staining showed that the number of endometrial glands in L-BMSC group, BMSC-exo group and L-BMSC-exo group increased and the fibrosis area decreased compared with NC group on the 14th and 28th day of treatment (all P<0.05). Noteworthily, the changes of L-BMSC-exo group were more significant than those of BMSC-exo group (all P<0.05), and the changes of BMSC-exo group were greater than those of BMSC group (all P<0.05). (2) Western blot analysis showed that, compared with NC group, the expressions of collagen-Ⅲ and TGF-β1 in BMSC group, L-BMSC group, BMSC-exo group and L-BMSC-exo group decreased on the 14th and 28th day of treatment (all P<0.05). As the treatment time went on, the expressions of fibrosis-related proteins were different. Compared with BMSC group, the expressions of collagen-Ⅲ, α-SMA and TGF-β1 in the BMSC-exo group and L-BMSC group decreased on the 28th day (all P<0.05). Moreover, the expressions of collagen-Ⅲ and TGF-β1 in L-BMSC-exo group were lower than those in BMSC-exo group on the 28th day (all P<0.05). And the expressions of collagen-Ⅰ, α-SMA and TGF-β1 in L-BMSC-exo group were lower than those in L-BMSC group on the 28th day (all P<0.05). (3) The results of western blot analysis of VEGFA and CD31 showed that, the expressions of VEGFA and CD31 in BMSC group, L-BMSC group, BMSC-exo group and L-BMSC-exo group increased on the 14th and 28th day of treatment compared with NC group (all P<0.05). Treatment for 28 days, the expressions of VEGFA and CD31 in BMSC-exo group and CD31 in L-BMSC group were higher than those in BMSC group (all P<0.05). Moreover, the expressions of VEGFA and CD31 in L-BMSC-exo group were higher than those in BMSC-exo group and L-BMSC group on the 28th day (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Treatment of BMSC and their exosomes BMSC-exo with hypoxia could promote endometrial gland hyperplasia, inhibit tissue fibrosis, and further repair the damaged endometrium in rats with intrauterine adhesion. Importantly, hypoxic treatment of BMSC-exo is the most effective in intrauterine adhesion rats.

A pair of new isoflavonoid enantiomers from Dalbergia benthamii Prain / 药学学报

Thirteen isoflavones were separated and purified from an ethanol extract of the rhizome of Dalbergia benthamii Prain by using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, recrystallization et al. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis such as MS, 1D/2D-NMR as dalbergibenthamin (1), butesuperin A (2), xanthocercin A (3), butesuperin B (4), di-O-methylalpinum isoflavone (5), 2′-deoxgisoaunculutin (6), robustone (7), 4′-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-isoflavone (8), formononetin (9), 6″-O-rhamnosyldaidzin (10), 3′,4′-di-O-methylene-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-6-isopentenyl isoflavone (11), derrubone dimethyl enter (12), and derrubone (13). Compound 1 is a pair of new isoflavonoid enantiomers, compound 12 is a new natural product and compounds 1-7 and 10-13 were obtained from D. benthamii Prain for the first time. In vitro cytotoxic activities of the compounds were explored by MTS testing with HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and SW480 cell lines. Results show that compound 8 significantly inhibited cellular proliferation. The IC50 of compound 8 in A-549 and SW480 cells was 16.68 ± 0.19 and 15.21 ± 0.60 μmol·L-1.

The effect and mechanism of short-chain fatty acid regulate tacrolimus-related hyperglycemia in mice / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on the side-effect of tacrolimus on blood glucose.Methods:The C57BL/6 mice were treated with tacrolimus orally (10 mg/kg, tacrolimus group), tacrolimus plus 150 mmol/L sodium butyrate and isovalerate mixed solution (SCFAs group), broad-spectrum antibiotics (antibiotic group), and tacrolimus plus broad-spectrum antibiotics (tac&abx group). After 8 weeks intervention, the fasting blood glucose (FBG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) were tested as indicators of glucose metabolism, and the gut microbiota, SCFAs concentration in the ileocecal, serum glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), fasting serum insulin, and GLP-1 expression in intestinal mucosa were performed for intestinal-glucose metabolism mechanism.Results:The FBG and HbA1c were significantly increased in tacrolimus group[(7.31±0.97)mmol/L, (8.34±1.12)%] than control group [(5.23±0.30)mmol/L, (4.32±0.80)%, all P<0.05], which remained normal in antibiotic group [(4.92±0.31)mmol/L, (5.61±0.98)%)], tac&abx group[(5.95±0.37)mmol/L, (4.56±0.26)%] and SCFAs groups [(5.87±0.68)mmol/L, (5.07±1.79)%]. The OGTT in the tacrolimus group showed glucose tolerance impairment, while other groups remained normal. The ileocecal butyric acid and isovaleric acid concentrations in the tacrolimus group were (722.3±262.2) μg/g and (10.0±5.1)μg/g, lower than the control group[ (1 321.3±165.5) μg/g, (19.7±3.6)μg/g, P<0.05]. The above acids in the SCFAs group remained normal as in the control group [(1 375.7±451.6) μg/g, (24.5±11.5)μg/g)]. The fasting serum insulin in the tacrolimus group decreased significantly to (3.2 ± 0.6)mIU/L, compared with control[ (4.4±0.9) mIU/L]and SCFAs groups [(7.0±1.1) mIU/L]. The GLP-1 test indicated a significant decrease in the tacrolimus group[ (4.7±2.9)pg/ml, P<0.05] compared with the SCFAs group and control group [(42.5±19.9) pg/ml, (33.1±9.1) pg/ml]. Conclusions:Tacrolimus affects glucose metabolism through the SCFAs-associated GLP-1 pathway in the intestine, and oral supplementation with mixed SCFAs provides a new insight for the prevention and treatment of tacrolimus-induced hyperglycemia in transplant recipients.

Application of double plasma molecular adsorption system in children with acute liver failure / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the efficacy and safety of double plasma molecular absorption system (DPMAS) in the treatment of pediatric acute liver failure (PALF).@*METHODS@#A prospective analysis was performed on the medical data of children with PALF who were hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Hunan Children's Hospital, from March 2018 to June 2020. The children were randomly divided into two groups:plasma exchange group (PE group) and DPMAS group (@*RESULTS@#Compared with the PE group, the DPMAS group had a significantly lower number of times of artificial liver support therapy and a significantly shorter duration of ICU stay (@*CONCLUSIONS@#DPMAS is safe and effective in the treatment of PALF and can thus be used as an alternative to artificial liver support therapy.

The value of MRI in assessment of the functional disorders of stress urinary incontinence in women / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To investigate the application value of MRI in evaluating the disorders of pelvic floor in female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods:From January 2017 to January 2019, the patients in the SUI group and the control group of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University were prospectively collected. Some patients in the SUI group were treated with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). The dynamic MR was performed in both SUI patients and volunteers, and the following functional MR parameters were assessed between two groups: the urethral length and urethral hypermobility; the opening of urethral and bladder neck; and the pelvic organ prolapse. For SUI patients, the functional changes of the pelvic floor on MRI after TVT was also analyzed. Chi-square test, rank-sum test and t test were used. Results:Comparing with the control groups ( n=25), the urethral hypermobility, shortening functional urethral length, bladder neck funneling and urethra opening were significantly associated with SUI group ( n=33). Thirty one patients were treated with TVT, 12 of them were reexamined with MRI at 3 to 6 months after operation. Postoperative MR showed that SUI patients had lower risk of the urethral opening and bladder neck funneling ( P<0.05). There were significant differences in the length of functional urethra, angle of urethra movement, H-line, M-line, bladder funnel sign, urethra opening and bladder prolapse between the two groups ( P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the bladder funnel sign and urethra open sign before and after TVT ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the degree of bladder prolapse and uterus prolapse, length of urethra and angle of urethra movement between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:MRI can accurately evaluate pelvic floor function of SUI patients. However, TVT did not significantly improve weak pelvic supporting structures and pelvic organ prolapse.

Measurement of central corneal thickness in myopia patients by five methods / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To study the reliability of Pentacam, OCT, Tomey OA-2000, IOL Master700, and A ultrasound pachymetry in the measurement of central corneal thickness(CCT)in myopic eyes. <p>METHODS: CCTs of 56 myopic patients(112 eyes)were measured using Pentacam, RTVue OCT, Tomey OA-2000, IOL Master 700, and A ultrasound pachymetry(NIDEK US-500). The difference, correlation, and consistency were statistically analyzed using average values taken from the five devices and the measured values produced by each device. <p>RESULTS: CCTs of 112 eyes were determined using Pentacam(530.17±25.08)μm, OCT(519.79±26.90)μm, Tomey OA-2000(521.75±26.51)μm, IOL Master 700(519.53±28.15)μm, and A ultrasound pachymetry(542.23±26.88)μm. The average value across all five devices was 526.69±26.08μm. The results of root mean square error(RMSE)and theil inequality coefficient(TIC)showed that the degree of deviation from the average of the values measured using Pentacam was the smallest. The other four devices were, from least deviation to most, Tomey OA-2000, OCT, IOL Master 700, and A ultrasound pachymetry. Typical correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between the measured values of Pentacam, OCT, Tomey OA-2000, IOL Master 700, and A ultrasound pachymetry and the average values were <i>ρ</i>=0.957, <i>P</i>=0.950, <i>P</i>=0.953, <i>P</i>=0.930, and <i>ρ</i>=0.949, respectively. The results of correlation coefficient showed that Pentacam and Tomey OA-2000 had the closest correlation with the average value. The other three were, in order of closest to furthest correlation, OCT, A ultrasound pachymetry and IOL master 700. The results also showed that the measurements of Pentacam and Tomey OA-2000 were more reliable, which was consistent with the clinical situation. The results of Bland-Altman analysis showed that the five groups of measurements were closely consistent with the average values, and the CCT measurements of Pentacam and Tomey OA-2000 were the most consistent with the average values.<p>CONCLUSION: Among the five instruments, Pentacam and Tomey OA-2000 produced results that were closest to the average value in CCT measurement, with the best correlation and consistency. Their measurement methods are more objective and safer than A-scan, so they may provide better reference data for clinical practice.

Identification of three novel SRD5A2 mutations in Chinese patients with 5α-reductase 2 deficiency / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

In this study, we investigated the genetics, clinical features, and therapeutic approach of 14 patients with 5α-reductase deficiency in China. Genotyping analysis was performed by direct sequencing of PCR products of the steroid 5α-reductase type 2 gene (SRD5A2). The 5α-reductase activities of three novel mutations were investigated by mutagenesis and an in vitro transfection assay. Most patients presented with a microphallus, variable degrees of hypospadias, and cryptorchidism. Eight of 14 patients (57.1%) were initially reared as females and changed their social gender from female to male after puberty. Nine mutations were identified in the 14 patients. p.G203S, p.Q6X, and p.R227Q were the most prevalent mutations. Three mutations (p.K35N, p.H162P, and p.Y136X) have not been reported previously. The nonsense mutation p.Y136X abolished enzymatic activity, whereas p.K35N and p.H162P retained partial enzymatic activity. Topical administration of dihydrotestosterone during infancy or early childhood combined with hypospadia repair surgery had good therapeutic results. In conclusion, we expand the mutation profile of SRD5A2 in the Chinese population. A rational clinical approach to this disorder requires early and accurate diagnosis, especially genetic diagnosis.

Application of dexmedetomidine in children with agitation during ventilator weaning / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical effect and safety of dexmedetomidine in children with agitation during ventilator weaning.@*METHODS@#A prospective open observational study was performed for children who were admitted to the intensive care unit and experienced mechanical ventilation between March 2017 and August 2018. They were given dexmedetomidine due to the failure in the spontaneous breathing test (SBT) caused by agitation. A sedation-agitation scale score of ≥5 was defined as agitation. The children were observed in terms of the sedation state at 0.5, 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours after the administration of dexmedetomidine, blood gas parameters before extubation and at 1, 24, and 48 hours after extubation, vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate and mean arterial pressure) before SBT, before extubation, and at 10, 60, and 120 minutes and 24 hours after extubation, and incidence rates of adverse events related to the use of dexmedetomidine.@*RESULTS@#A total of 19 children were enrolled in this study. All the children were in a state of agitation at the time of enrollment. At 0.5, 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours after the administration of dexmedetomidine, 12, 17, 17, 18, and 18 children respectively reached the sedation state. There were no significant differences in the oxygenation index, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, heart rate, respiratory rate, and mean arterial pressure at each time point before and after extubation (P>0.05). No adverse events were observed, such as severe hypotension and respiratory depression, and only one child experienced reversible bradycardia.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Dexmedetomidine is safe and effective in children with agitation during ventilator weaning, but prospective randomized controlled trials are needed for verification.

Guiding value of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring index in clinical prevention and treatment of elderly hypertensive population / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To study the application value of dynamic monitoring of blood pressure in the prevention and treatment of elderly hypertension. Methods 519 hypertensive patients from December 2017 to December 2018 were monitored with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and were divided into the elderly group (≥60 years old, 264 cases) and the control group (<60 years old, 255 cases). The results of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in two groups were analyzed, which inclued the circadian rhythm of blood pressure, blood pressure, pulse pressure, coefficient of variation of blood pressure, blood pressure load value, average heart rate and morning blood pressure surge. Results The incidence of abnormal circadian rhythm of ambulatory blood pressure in the elderly group was 76.5%. Compared with the control group, there were differences in the indexes of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), diastolic blood pressure load value (DBPLV), pulse pressure (PP), 24 h average heart rate (24 hAHR), systolic blood pressure coefficient of variation (SBPCV), 24 h diastolic blood pressure coefficient of variation (24 h DBPCV) and morning diastolic blood pressure surge (MDBPS) between the two groups(all P<0.05). There were differences in 24 h systolic blood pressure (24hSBP), night systolic blood pressure (nSBP), night diastolic blood pressure (nDBP), night pulse pressure (nPP), day systolic blood pressure load value (dSBPLV), ninght systolic blood pressure load value (nSBPLV), 24 h SBPCV, 24 h dDBPCV and other indicators among different blood pressure types in the elderly group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring indicators have important guiding value for the prevention and treatment of elderly hypertension.

Application of ARIMA model and BP neural network model in prediction of tuberculosis incidence in Gansu Province / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To investigate the predictive effect of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and back propagation neural network (BPNN)in the prediction of tuberculosis incidence in Gansu Province, and to select appropriate models to predict the incidence. Methods Based on the data of tuberculosis in Gansu Province from 1997 to 2017, the ARIMA time series model and BP neural network model were established to predict the incidence from 2018 to 2019, and the prediction accuracy and modeling effect of the two models were compared. Results For the incidence of tuberculosis in Gansu Province in 2018 and 2019, the ARIMA model predicted results were 55.1075, 54.5373, MSE=92.24, MAE=7.5313, MAPE=9.26%; BP neural network model predicted results were 62.0132, 73.4460, MSE= 9.6575, MAE = 1.1449, MAPE = 1.68%. Conclusions The BP neural network model has a better predictive effect on the incidence of tuberculosis in Gansu Province, and it shows that the incidence of tuberculosis in Gansu Province will increase slightly from 2018 to 2019.

Correlation of reproductive hormone levels and seminal plasma oxidative stress with semen quality in obese males / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the correlation of the levels of reproductive hormones and oxidative stress in the seminal plasma with semen parameters in obese males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the body mass index (BMI), we divided 138 infertile men into three groups: normal (BMI <24 kg/m2, n = 48), overweight (24 kg/m2≤BMI<28 kg/m2, n = 47), and obesity (BMI ≥28 kg/m2, n = 43). We determined the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in the serum by electrochemiluminescence and measured the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the seminal plasma by ELISA, compared the above indexes among the three groups, and analyzed their correlation with the semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, and percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The semen volume was significantly lower in the obesity than in the normal group (［2.63 ± 0.74］ vs ［3.37 ± 1.00］ ml, P < 0.05), and so was the percentage of PMS in the overweight and even lower in the obesity than in the normal group (［47.91 ± 12.89］ and ［41.27 ± 15.77］ vs ［54.04 ± 13.29］%, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group, both the overweight and obesity groups showed markedly decreased levels of serum T (［4.83 ± 1.42］ vs ［3.71 ± 1.22］ and ［3.49 ± 1.12］ ng/ml, P<0.05), T/LH ratio (1.53 ± 0.57 vs 1.19 ± 0.54 and 0.97 ± 0.51, P<0.05), SOD (［112.05 ± 10.54］ vs ［105.85 ± 6.93］ and ［99.33 ± 8.39］ U/ml, P<0.05), and GSTs (［31.75±6.03］ vs ［29.54±5.78］ and ［29.02±4.52］ U/L, P<0.05), but remarkably increased seminal plasma ROS (［549.93±82.41］ vs ［620.61±96.13］ and ［701.47±110.60］ IU/ml, P<0.05) and MDA (［7.46 ± 2.13］ vs ［8.72 ± 1.89］ and ［10.47 ± 2.10］ nmol/L, P<0.05). BMI was correlated positively with ROS and MDA, but negatively with the semen volume, PMS, T, T/LH, SOD and GSTs (P<0.05); LH negatively with sperm concentration, total sperm count and GSTs (P<0.05); PRL negatively GSTs (P<0.05); E2 positively with SOD (P<0.05); T positively with SOD (P<0.05) but negatively with MDA (P<0.05); T/LH positively with PMS and SOD (P<0.05) but negatively with ROS and MDA (P<0.05); SOD positively with semen volume, PMS and GSTs (P<0.05) but negatively with ROS and MDA (P<0.05); GSTs negatively with sperm concentration; total sperm count and MDA (P<0.05); ROS positively with MDA (P<0.01) but negatively with PMS (P<0.05); and MDA negatively with semen volume (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent factors influencing the semen volume were BMI and GSTs, those influencing the total sperm count were BMI and T, and those influencing PMS were BMI and MDA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Increased BMI induces changes in the levels of male reproductive hormones and seminal plasma oxidative stress and affects semen quality, which may be associated with male infertility.</p>

Correlation of insulin resistance with male reproductive hormone levels and semen parameters / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the influence of insulin resistance on male reproductive hormones and semen quality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the electrochemiluminescence method, we measured the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in the serum of 83 infertile males. We detected the levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) and calculated the insulin resistance index presented as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Based on HOMA-IR, we divided the patients into three tertile groups, T1 (HOMA-IR 0.36－0.55, n = 27), T2 (HOMA-IR 0.56－0.80, n = 28) and T3 (HOMA-IR 0.81－1.97, n = 28), obtained their semen parameters by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and analyzed the correlation of HOMA-IR with male reproductive hormone levels and semen parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the elevation of HOMA-IR, the patients of the T1, T2 and T3 groups showed significant decreases in the serum T level (［14,26 ± 4.27］ vs ［14.75 ± 5.00］ vs ［11.62 ± 3.68］ nmol/L, P <0.05) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) (［51.04 ± 15.10］% vs ［48.04 ± 16.24］% vs ［37.84 ± 18.23］%, P <0.05). HOMA-IR was correlated negatively with the serum T level (r = －0.333, P = 0.002), semen volume (r = －0.23, P = 0.029) and PMS (r = －0.27, P = 0.015), and so was FINS with the serum T level (r = －0.327, P = 0.003) and PMS (r = －0.315, P = 0.004), while the semen volume was correlated positively with the levels of serum T (r = 0.221, P = 0.048) and FSH (r = 0.222, P = 0.047). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR was an independent influencing factor for PMS and the body mass index (BMI) was that for the semen volume and total sperm count.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Insulin resistance may reduce semen quality by changing the levels of male reproductive hormones.</p>

Fast Identification Analysis on Chemical Constituents in Mori Folium by Using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Method / 中国中医药信息杂志

Obejective To conduct fast identification analysis on chemical constituents of Mori Folium UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method.Methods ACQUITY UPLC-Q-TOF/MS spectrometer was used, acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1％ formic acid) as mobile phase with gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min, with ESI negative ion mode detection, data analysis with Masslynx4.1 software.Results According to the retention time provided by the mass spectrometry, the exact molecular weight and the secondary mass spectrometry were used to analyze the fragments by referring to literature, and 19 chemical constituents of Mori Folium were identified and deduced.Conclusion The method can analyze the chemical constituents of Mori Folium rapidly, sensitively and comprehensively, and provide the basis for the study of the pharmacological basis of Mori Folium.

Expressions of SP and NK1R in eosinophil-enriched blood cells from patients with atopic dermatitis / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

Objective To investigate the expressions of substance P(SP)and neurokinin receptor(NK1R)in eosinophil-enriched cells from patients with atopic dermatitis(AD)so as to elucidate their possible roles in AD. Methods Blood samples were collected from healthy controls(HCs)and AD patients,and incubated with the extracts of Artemisia pollen,dust mite,and Platanus pollen for 1 h.The expressions of SP and NK1R in eosinophil-enriched cells were detected by flow cytometry.Results Level of NK1R in eosinophil-enriched cells from AD patients increased by 41% compared with that of HCs when cultured with the medium only(P= 0.001).In addition,the expression of SP in AD patients decreased by 1.17 folds(P＜0.001),and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)of SP+eosinophils decreased by 55%(P＜0.001).However,allergens had little effect on the expressions of SP and NK1R in eosinophil-enriched cells from AD patients and HCs.Conclusion Upregulated expression of NK1R in AD indicates that eosinophil-derived NK1R may play an important role in AD.Antagonists or blockers of NK1R might be effective preparations for AD treatment.

Study on dispensability of Chinese materia medica pharmaceutical system based on supramolecular imprinting template characteristics / 中草药

According to foundations of previous explications of basic theories of the Chinese materia medica (CMM) with supramolecular chemistry as “Qi chromatograpy”, we further analyzed the intrinsic characteristics of supramolecular “imprinting templates” aggregation, and then discussed on aspects of the development direction, characteristics, key issues to be solved as well as countermeasures by combining the historical development of CMM preparations. Under the guidance of supramolecular theories of CMM, CMM preparations can establish the system that are originated form the materials which are of “medical elements” direction with explicit reaction on supramolecular “imprinting templates” of human body and carrying out “Qi chromatography”, and implementing the integration of determinacy for single administration and compatibility for combination applications.