Melatonin therapy adds extra benefit to varicecelectomy in terms of sperm parameters, hormonal profile and total antioxidant capacity: A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

In this study, we aimed at investigating the impact of melatonin supplementation on semen parameters, hormonal profile and total antioxidant capacity after varicocelectomy. Infertile male patients who were diagnosed with varicocele and underwent subinguinal varicocelectomy were included in the study. After performing subinguinal varicocelectomy, the patients were randomised into two groups: 27 receiving melatonin for 3 months and 27 as the placebo-controlled group receiving placebo for 3 months. The pre-operative parameters of semen analyses, hormonal profile and seminal oxidative stress status of both groups were compared with those of post-operative parameters. There were statistically significant improvements in post-operative parameters of semen analyses (sperm concentration, motility and proportions of normally formed spermatozoa), peripheral blood inhibin B and total antioxidant capacity in melatonin group compared with placebo group. In conclusion, melatonin therapy adds extra benefit to varicecelectomy in terms of sperm parameters, peripheral blood inhibin B and total antioxidant capacity; however, further studies including large number of samples are needed to make a proper decision on melatonin supplementation after varicocelectomy.

Effectiveness of rubber seed oil and flaxseed oil to enhance the α-linolenic acid content in milk from dairy cows.

This experiment was conducted to investigate effect of rubber seed oil compared with flaxseed oil when fed alone or in combination on milk yield, milk composition, and α-linolenic acid (ALA) concentration in milk of dairy cows. Forty-eight mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments according to a completely randomized design. Cows were fed a basal diet (control; CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 4% rubber seed oil (RO), 4% flaxseed oil (FO), or 2% rubber seed oil plus 2% flaxseed oil (RFO) on a dry matter basis for 9 wk. Feed intake, milk protein percentage, and milk fat levels did not differ between the treatments. Cows fed the RO, FO, or RFO treatments had a higher milk yield than the CON group (up to 10.5% more), whereas milk fat percentages decreased. Compared with the CON, milk concentration of ALA was substantially higher in cows receiving RO or RFO, and was doubled in cows receiving FO. The ALA yield (g/d) increased by 31.0, 70.3, and 33.4% in milk from cows fed RO, FO, or RFO, respectively, compared with the CON. Both C18:1 trans-11 (vaccenic acid) and C18:2 cis-9,trans-11 (conjugated linoleic acid; CLA) levels were higher in cows fed added flaxseed or rubber seed oil. The CLA yield (g/d) increased by 336, 492, and 484% in cows fed RO, FO, or RFO, respectively, compared with the CON. The increase in vaccenic acid, ALA, and CLA was greater in cows fed RFO than in cows fed RO alone. Compared with the CON, the milk fat from cows fed any of the dietary supplements had a higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids; conversely, the saturated fatty acids levels in milk fat were 30.5% lower. Insulin and growth hormones were not affected by dietary treatments; however, we noted an increase in both cholesterol and nonesterified fatty acids levels in the RO, FO, or RFO treatments. These results indicate that rubber seed oil and flaxseed oil will increase milk production and the concentration of functional fatty acids (ALA, vaccenic acid, and CLA) in milk fat while decreasing the content of saturated fatty acids.

MAPK signaling mediates sinomenine hydrochloride-induced human breast cancer cell death via both reactive oxygen species-dependent and -independent pathways: an in vitro and in vivo study.

Sinomenine, the main alkaloid extracted from the medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum, is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Recent studies have suggested its anti-cancer effect in synovial sarcoma, lung cancer and hepatic cancer. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for its anti-cancer effect still remains unclear. This study investigated the anti-tumor activity of sinomenine hydrochloride (SH), a hydrochloride form of sinomenine, in human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We found that SH potently inhibited cell viability of a broad panel of breast cancer cell lines. Two representative breast cancer cell lines, namely ER(-)/PR(-) MDA-MB-231 and ER(+)/PR(+) MCF-7, were used for further investigation. The results showed that SH induced G1/S cell cycle arrest, caused apoptosis and induced ATM/Chk2- and ATR/Chk1-mediated DNA-damage response in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. The anti-cancer effect of SH was regulated by increased expression levels of p-ERK, p-JNK and p-38 MAPK. Further studies showed that SH resulted in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of ROS by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) almost blocked SH-induced DNA damage but only mitigated SH-induced MAPK expression changes, suggesting that both ROS-dependent and -independent pathways were involved in MAPK-mediated SH-induced breast cancer cell death. The in vivo study demonstrated that SH effectively inhibited tumor growth without showing significant toxicity. In conclusion, SH induced breast cancer cell death through ROS-dependent and -independent pathways with an upregulation of MAPKs, indicating that SH may be a potential anti-tumor drug for breast cancer treatment.

The effect of dietary supplementation with phytase transgenic maize and different concentrations of non-phytate phosphorus on the performance of laying hens.

1. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with phytase transgenic corn (maize) (PTC) which has a phytase activity of 21 000 units (U) phytase per kg of maize on productive performance, egg quality, tibia bone quality and phosphorus (P) excretion in laying hens. 2. In the experiment, 1800 44-week-old Hy-line brown laying hens were divided into 5 groups with 6 replicates per group and 60 hens per replicate. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. The layers in the control group (control) were given a basal diet with 0.36% non-phytate P (NPP), while the treatment groups received diets containing 360 U of exogenous phytase/kg with 0.26% NPP (EP) or 360 phytase U of PTC/kg diet with 0.26% (PTC1), 0.21% (PTC2) or 0.16% (PTC3) NPP. 3. The results showed that there was no significant difference in egg production, average daily feed intake, feed efficiency, rate of broken or soft-shell egg production or egg mass among the treatments. There was no significant difference in eggshell thickness or eggshell strength. On the other hand, no differences in any of the bone variables were found between treatments. The faecal P percentage content in EP, PTC1, PTC2 and PTC3 groups was significantly lower than the control group. 4. In summary, the PTC could be used in the feed of laying hens instead of EP to reduce P excretion without effecting production and bone mineralisation.

Effects of different sources and levels of dietary gossypol on gossypol residues in plasma and milk of lactating cows.

Free gossypol residues in tissues or milk from feeding whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal were measured for their effect on health of dairy cows and humans. Forty lactating cows were randomly assigned to 5 treatments in a 60-d experiment to investigate the effects of sources and dietary level of gossypol on plasma and milk gossypol concentrations in lactating cows. Five experimental diets had identical net energy for lactation and crude protein content on a dry matter (DM) basis. Soybean meal was the main protein ingredient used in the control diet. Cottonseed meal (CSM) or whole cottonseed (WCS) substituted for part of the soybean meal in the other 4 diets. Gossypol levels in the 5 diets were 0 (control), 91.15 mg/kg of DM in CSM1, 117.31mg/kg of DM in CSM2, 385.43 mg/kg of DM in WCS1, and 611.13 mg/kg in WCS2. Yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk were significantly higher for cows in the WCS2 group; cows in the CSM1 and WCS1 groups showed no differences but both were numerically higher than the control and CSM2 groups. Milk protein concentration was lower for cows consuming WCS1 compared with the control group. Lactose concentration was lower for cows in the CSM2 group compared with the WCS2 group, but no differences were observed among other diets. Aspartate aminotransferase in serum was significantly higher for the WCS2 group compared with the control and WCS1 groups, but no difference was observed with the CSM1 and CSM2 groups. Concentrations of gossypol in plasma and milk of cows in the WCS1 and WCS2 groups were both higher than those of the other groups. No adverse effects were observed on cows fed diets containing 12.0% CSM, and no gossypol was found in plasma and milk. When WCS comprised 15% of the diet DM, yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk were increased in cows and gossypol was detected in plasma and milk but not at harmful levels.

L-malate reverses oxidative stress and antioxidative defenses in liver and heart of aged rats.

The intracellular levels of antioxidant and free radical scavenging enzymes are gradually altered during the aging process. An age-dependent increase of oxidative stress occurring throughout the lifetime is hypothesized to be the major cause of aging. The current study examined the effects of L-malate on oxidative stress and antioxidative defenses in the liver and heart of aged rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups, each group consisting of 6 animals. Group Ia and Group IIa were young and aged control rats. Group Ib and Group IIb were young and aged rats treated with L-malate (210 mg/kg body weight per day). L-malate was orally administrated via intragastric canula for 30 days, then the rats were sacrificed and the liver and heart were removed to determine the oxidant production, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative defenses of young and aged rats. Dietary L-malate reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation in the liver and heart of the aged rats. Accordingly, L-malate was found to enhance the antioxidative defense system with an increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increased glutathione (GSH) levels in the liver of aged rats, a phenomenon not observed in the heart of aged rats. Our data indicate that oxidative stress was reversed and the antioxidative defense system was strengthened by dietary supplementation with L-malate.

[Pollen morphology of bee plants in Changbai Mountain area].

OBJECTIVE: To develop and utilize the bee plants and bee products in Changbai Mountain area, the representative area of alpine plants in northeast China featuring abundant resources of bee plants. METHOD: The pollen of bee plants was observed and studied by LM and SEM. RESULT: The pollen is morphologically oblate, suboblate, spheroidal and prolate. The external sculpture is commonly reticulate, striate and echinulate. CONCLUSION: Plant pollen identification criteria have been furnished for the development of bee plant resources as well as the inspection of bee products in Changbai Mountain area.

[Efficacy of xiaoxingzhang guttae ophthalmic eye drops in the treatment of experimental herpes simplex keratitis].

The new guttae ophthalmic Xiaoxingzhang (XXZ) was extracted from Radix Actinidiae, a traditional Chinese herbal drug. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of XXZ on type I Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) in virus cell cultures is 165.48-174.73 micrograms/ml. However, XXZ concentrations greater than 400 micrograms/ml did not cause any microscopically visible disruption of vero cells. The efficacy of XXZ in the treatment of experimental Herpes Simplex Keratitis (HSK) in rabbits is higher than that of idoxuridine. The effective doses of XXZ are not toxic to corneal epithelium. The results suggest that XXZ as a new anti-HSV preparation is potentialy useful in the treatment of patients with HSK.

[The effect of electro-acupuncture of "neiguan" acupoint on cortical potential evoked by stimulating C-fibers of splanchnic nerve].

In this paper the averaged cortical evoked potential (C-CEP) induced by stimulating the C-fibers of the splanchnic nerve was used as an index of visceral pain to further study the effects of acupuncture and morphine on it. Experiments were carried out on 35 cats anesthetized with chloralose and immobilized with flaxedil. The splanchnic nerve was stimulated with electric pulses of varied strength and blocked by a galvanic current so as to cause A- or C-fibers input selectively. The cortical evoked potential was recorded on the contralateral post-sigmoid gyrus and averaged by TQ-19 Medical Data Processor. The compound action potential of splanchnic nerve was monitored. "Neiguan" acupoint was stimulated with electric pulses (0.1ms, 4v and 5Hz). The results were as follows: 1) when "Neiguan" acupoint, was excited with the electric pulses, C-CEP and the late component of A-CEP which was evoked by stimulating A-fibers of splanchnic nerve were obviously reduced in amplitudes. It was suggested that electro-acupuncture (EA) of "Neiguan" acupoint could inhibit visceral pain (the slow and fast pain). 2. After intravenous injection of morphine, the amplitudes of C-CEP and the late component of A-CEP were depressed significantly, indicating that C-CEP might reflect the visceral slow pain and the late component of A-CEP reflect the fast pain. 3. Naloxone could block partially the inhibitory effect of EA of "Neiguan" acupoint on C-CEP, suggesting that the inhibition of EA might be associated with the release of endogenous opiate like substances.

[The effect of electrical stimulation of the head of caudate nociceptive neuronal activities in the mesencephalon reticular formation and its relation to the acupuncture effect].

38 rabbits were anesthetized with chloralose and urethane. As soon as the animal recovered its consciousness it was immobilized with flaxedil and artificial respiration. The electrical activities of the nociceptive neurons were recorded by glass microelectrodes (tip 1-3 microns) in the ranges P7-11 R2-3 HO+1-6, with the aid of a stereotaxic apparatus. 116 of the nociceptive units responded to noxious stimuli which applied to the peroneal nerve with a short train of pulses. Among them, 64 units (55%) responded by an increase in frequency of the discharge to noxious stimuli (pain-excitation neuron, PEN). In contrast, there were 52 units (45%), which responded to noxious stimuli quite differently, by having a decrease in the frequency of the discharge (pain-inhibition neuron, PIN). Similar results were obtained by the stimulation of the head of caudate nucleus with the same train of pulses: an excitatory effect was observed in PEN, and an inhibitory effect in PIN. However, after electroacupuncture by penetrating acupoint "Hegu" or dolantin given intravenously, under the same conditions used above. We again stimulated both the head of caudate nucleus, eliciting an inhibitory effect on PEN. And a reduction of inhibition or release from it on PIN. From the results presented, it indicated that head of caudate nucleus was connected with the modulation of the nociceptive neuronal activity in M.R.F. and was related to the effect of acupuncture. The effect of atropine on the head of caudate nucleus stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)