UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis of chemical components of single decoction and combined decoction of Qige decoction reveals the differences between various preparation processes.

The aim of this work was to explore the differences between various pharmaceutical processes in combined solutions of a single decoction (QGHBY) and a combined decoction (QGHJY) of Qi-Ge decoction from the perspective of chemical composition changes, so as to further guide the clinical application of drugs. A combined solution of a single decoction and a combined decoction of Astragali Radix, Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Chachiensis Pericarpium was prepared with the same technological parameters. The chemical components of the two were detected and identified based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, and the different components were determined by principal component analysis. Eighty-eight compounds were identified in the pharmaceutical solution of Qi-Ge decoction. Principal component analysis revealed 11 different components of QGHBY and QGHJY with the conditions of Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) ≥ 1, fold change ≥ 2 and p < 0.05, among which hesperidin, hesperitin, isosinensetin, sinensetin and 5-demethylnobiletin were the components of Citri Reticulatae Chachiensis Pericarpium. The levels of these 11 different components in QGHJY were higher than those of QGHBY. The combined decoction is beneficial for the dissolution of flavonoids and other chemical components, and there is a significant difference in the content of chemical components between modern herbal concentrate granules and traditional decoctions.

Facile Access to High Solid Content Monodispersed Microspheres via Dual-Component Surfactants Regulation toward High-Performance Colloidal Photonic Crystals.

Monodispersed microspheres play a major role in optical science and engineering, providing ideal building blocks for structural color materials. However, the method toward high solid content (HSC) monodispersed microspheres has remained a key hurdle. Herein, a facile access to harvest monodispersed microspheres based on the emulsion polymerization mechanism is demonstrated, where anionic and nonionic surfactants are employed to achieve the electrostatic and steric dual-stabilization balance in a synergistic manner. Monodispersed poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-methacrylic acid) colloidal latex with 55 wt% HSC is achieved, which shows an enhanced self-assembly efficiency of 280% compared with the low solid content (10 wt%) latex. In addition, Ag-coated colloidal photonic crystal (Ag@CPC) coating with near-zero refractive index is achieved, presenting the characteristics of metamaterials. And an 11-fold photoluminescence emission enhancement of CdSe@ZnS quantum dots is realized by the Ag@CPC metamaterial coating. Taking advantage of high assembly efficiency, easily large-scale film-forming of the 55 wt% HSC microspheres latex, robust Ag@CPC metamaterial coatings could be easily produced for passive cooling. The coating demonstrates excellent thermal insulation performance with theoretical cooling power of 30.4 W m-2, providing practical significance for scalable CPC architecture coatings in passive cooling.

Severe cough and hemoptysis induced reopening of patent foramen ovale leading to significant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure in a patient with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension： A case report.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a perilous disease that precipitates right ventricular hypertrophy, induces right heart failure, and exerts deleterious ramifications on prognostic outcomes. The establishment of atrial communication can create a right-to-left shunt, thereby ameliorating hemodynamic parameters. Previous reports suggested that opening of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) was common in patients with severe PAH, but exhibited no discernible impact on long-term survival. We reported the case of a 39-year-old man with severe idiopathic PAH, who underwent reopening of the PFO due to severe cough and hemoptysis, followed by a marked amelioration in symptoms and a substantial decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure. The patient has survived for more than 12 years, persisting in World Health Organization functional class Ⅱ with mild PAH.

Photoinduced large magnetic change at room temperature and radical-quenched spin glass in a cyanide-bridged MnII-FeIII compound.

By the coordination assembly of a redox photoactive functional motif and a cyanide-bridged moiety, a cyanide-bridged MnII-FeIII compound with large photoinduced magnetic change at room-temperature due to photoinduced electron transfer was obtanied. This compound also shows unprecedented radical-quenched spin glass in molecule based magnets.

Research and progress of inflammasomes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

With the development of the social economy, unhealthy living habits and eating styles are gradually affecting people's health in recent years. As a chronic liver disease, NAFLD is deeply affected by unhealthy living habits and eating styles and has gradually become an increasingly serious public health problem. As a protein complex in clinical research, the inflammasomes play a crucial role in the development of NAFLD, atherosclerosis, and other diseases. This paper reviews the types, composition, characteristics of inflammasomes, and molecular mechanism of the inflammasome in NAFLD. Meanwhile, the paper reviews the drugs and non-drugs that target NLRP3 inflammasome in the treatment of NAFLD in the past decades. we also analyzed and summarized the related experimental models, mechanisms, and results of NAFLD. Although current therapeutic strategies for NAFLD are not effective, we expect that we will be able to find an appropriate treatment to address this problem in the future with further research on inflammasome.

Armored colloidal photonic crystals for solar evaporation.

Colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) with a highly ordered crystal structure have attracted great attention in displays, colorimetric sensors and solar energy utilization fields. However, the easily cracking microstructure, inferior assembly efficiency and low refractive index contrast result in poor structural colors. Herein, we develop core-shell poly(styrene-acrylic)@polypyrrole (P(St-AA)@PPy) colloidal nanoparticles by the in situ chemical coupling reaction via droplet microfluidic technology. By membrane separation-assisted assembly (MSAA) and electrostatic spraying strategies, the P(St-AA)@PPy colloidal nanoparticles are assembled into the CPC film, which presents high assembly efficiency and saturated angle-independent structural colors, due to the light-absorbing PPy shell and hydrogen-bond interaction between nanoparticles. Benefitting from these outstanding performances, the P(St-AA)@PPy film shows excellent photothermal properties, which can realize a solar vaporization rate of 1.5825 kg m-2 h-1, corresponding to a light-to-vapor efficiency of 94.20%, under 1.0 sun solar irradiance conditions. Our findings open a path for the design of functional CPCs and new-generation photothermal applications.

UV-vis/X-ray/thermo-induced synthesis and UV-SWIR photoresponsive property of a mixed-valence viologen molybdate semiconductor.

A new design strategy through the synergy of Mo(vi)-Mo(v) intervalence charge transfer and π(radical)-π(radical/cation) interactions is proposed to obtain semiconductors with photoresponsive ranges covering the whole UV-SWIR (ultraviolet-shortwave near-infrared; ca. 250-3000 nm) region. With this strategy, a viologen-based molybdate semiconductor with a UV-SWIR photoresponsive range was obtained through UV/X-ray irradiation or thermal annealing. The thermally annealed semiconductor has the highest conversion and the best photocurrent response in the range of 355-2400 nm.

Robust hydrophobic veova10-based colloidal photonic crystals towards fluorescence enhancement of quantum dots.

Hydrophobic photonic crystals (PCs) has been increasingly appreciated as a promising functional material due to their distinct surface characteristic of structural color and hydrophobicity. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate hydrophobic PCs via a one-step process. Inspired by the development of high-performance waterborne coatings, we propose an easy-to-perform and high-efficiency strategy to construct hydrophobic building blocks (diameter of 221, 247, 276 and 305 nm), where the umbelli-form hydrophobic long chain (veova10 Cn > 9) was loaded onto polystyrene (PS) colloidal particles in situ. Taking advantage of the hydrophobic driving force between the colloidal particles, large-scale colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) film with crack-free morphology was obtained efficiently. The derived CPCs exhibit robust mechanical stability, prominent hydrophobicity and excellent optical properties. In addition, the colloidal latex holds great potential toward PCs coatings on a variety of substrates (glass, plastic and steel) with excellent adhesiveness. Furthermore, we contrive to construct angle-independent structural color films and supraballs, and explore their application in quantum dots (QDs) fluorescence enhancement, which achieved an enhancement effect by more than eight times. From the standpoint of practical applications, we achieved the flexible high-brightness wearable light-emitting diode (LED) displays. This work will lay a foundation for the development of high-efficiency PCs building blocks, and indicate the direction for the meaningful application of CPCs.

Structurally diverse halosesquiterpenoids from the red alga Laurencia composita Yamada.

A phytochemical investigation on the MeOH extract of the red alga Laurencia composita Yamada led to the discovery of six new highly halogenated sesquiterpenoids, including two bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids (1 and 2), one nerolidol derivative (7), and three chamigrane-type sesquiterpenoids (9, 10, and 18), together with 13 known sesquiterpenoids. Their structures, including relative configuration, were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and by comparison with data for related known compounds. The absolute configuration at C-10 of laurecomposin A (1) was determined by the modified Mosher's method. Halonerolidol (7) is the first naturally occurring halogenated nerolidol derivative, while compositacin L (9) represents the third example of chamigranes having a C-10 carbonyl group. Antifungal, antibacterial, and receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitory activities of these isolates were evaluated. The results showed that compounds 1-3 and 5 exhibited significant antifungal activity against Microsporum gypseum (Cmccfmza) with MIC values of 4, 8, 8, and 4 µg/mL, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1-3 and 5 also displayed promising antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus Newman strain with MIC values ranging from 10.9 to 26.8 µg/mL.

Directed self-assembly of viologen-based 2D semiconductors with intrinsic UV-SWIR photoresponse after photo/thermo activation.

Extending photoresponse ranges of semiconductors to the entire ultraviolet-visible (UV)-shortwave near-infrared (SWIR) region (ca. 200-3000 nm) is highly desirable to reduce complexity and cost of photodetectors or to promote power conversion efficiency of solar cells. The observed up limit of photoresponse for organic-based semiconductors is about 1800 nm, far from covering the UV-SWIR region. Here we develop a cyanide-bridged layer-directed intercalation approach and obtain a series of two viologen-based 2D semiconductors with multispectral photoresponse. In these compounds, infinitely π-stacked redox-active N-methyl bipyridinium cations with near-planar structures are sandwiched by cyanide-bridged MnII-FeIII or ZnII-FeIII layers. Radical-π interactions among the infinitely π-stacked N-methyl bipyridinium components favor the extension of absorption range. Both semiconductors show light/thermo-induced color change with the formation of stable radicals. They have intrinsic photocurrent response in the range of at least 355-2400 nm, which exceeds all reported values for known single-component organic-based semiconductors.

Influence of freezing temperature before freeze-drying on the viability of various Lactobacillus plantarum strains.

Although freeze-drying is an excellent method for preserving microorganisms, it inevitably reduces cell activity and function. Moreover, probiotic strains differ in terms of their sensitivity to the freeze-drying process. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the variables relevant to this process. The pre-freezing temperature is a critical parameter of the freeze-drying process, but it remains unclear whether the optimal pre-freezing temperature differs among strains and protectants. This study explored the effects of 4 different pre-freezing temperatures on the survival rates of different Lactobacillus plantarum strains after freeze-drying in the presence of different protectants. Using phosphate-buffered saline solution and sorbitol as protectants, pre-freezing at -196°C, -40°C, and -20°C ensured the highest survival rates after freeze-drying for AR113, AR307, and WCFS1, respectively. Using trehalose, pre-freezing at -20°C ensured the best survival rate for AR113, and -60°C was the best pre-freezing temperature for AR307 and WCFS1. These results indicate that the pre-freezing temperature can be changed to improve the survival rate of L. plantarum, and that this effect is strain-specific. Further studies have demonstrated that pre-freezing temperature affected viability via changes in cell membrane integrity, membrane permeability, and lactate dehydrogenase activity. In summary, pre-freezing temperature is a crucial factor in L. plantarum survival after freeze-drying, and the choice of pre-freezing temperature depends on the strain and the protectant.

Nontargeted urine metabolomics analysis of the protective and therapeutic effects of Citri Reticulatae Chachiensis Pericarpium on high-fat feed-induced hyperlipidemia in rats.

In this study, we focused on studying the changes in urine metabolites in hyperlipidemic rats using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) and metabolomics, as well as the effect of Citri Reticulatae Chachiensis Pericarpium (CRCP) on hyperlipidemia. These urine samples were examined by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS to obtain MS data. The MS data were analyzed by principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis to identify the differential metabolites. CRCP reduced the body weight and levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and abnormally decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hyperlipidemic rats, which were significantly raised by a high-fat diet. Twenty-seven potential biomarkers were identified within the complex sample matrix of urine. Fourteen biomarkers increased in the hyperlipidemia rats compared with normal rats. Meanwhile, 13 biomarkers decreased. CRCP reversed abnormal changes in biomarkers, including 5-l-glutamyl-taurine, 5-aminopentanoic acid, cis-4-octenedioic acid and 2-octenedioic acid. These biomarkers show that hyperlipidemia is related to the metabolic pathways of taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and arginine and proline metabolism. CRCP mainly prevents hyperlipidemia by intervening in these metabolic pathways.

MOF-Based Photonic Crystal Film toward Separation of Organic Dyes.

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-directed photonic structure materials have inspired great attention for extended and enhanced functions. However, the direct construction of photonic crystals (PCs) with MOF particles as building blocks still remains a challenge. Herein, we designed and synthesized monodisperse polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer-modified zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) particles (PAMAM@ZIF-8) via a postsynthetic method, rendering ZIF-8 with hydrophilicity. It was found that the PAMAM@ZIF-8 particles could directly assemble into a uniform photonic structure and effectively suppressed the coffee-ring effect, forming homogeneous PC films with different structural colors. A PC pattern with angle-dependent colors was also achieved, which might have potential applications in the field of anticounterfeiting printing. More importantly, by taking advantages of a membrane separation-assisted assembly process, a colorful and robust PC film was accomplished on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The hierarchal PAMAM@ZIF-8/rGO film demonstrates a superior separation ability toward organic dye solutions, which enriches the function of PC materials. This work gives a new insight into the fabrication of MOF-based functional PC materials, which will extend the application of PCs in the high selective and effective separation field.

A Smart Photochromic Semiconductor: Breaking the Intrinsic Positive Relation Between Conductance and Temperature.

Breaking the intrinsic rule of semiconductors that conductivity increases with increase of temperature and realizing a dramatic dropping of conductivity at high temperature may arouse new intriguing applications, such as circuit overload or over-temperature protecting. This goal has now been achieved through T-type electron-transfer photochromism of one organic semiconductor assembled by intermolecular cation⋅⋅⋅π interactions. Conductivity of the viologen-based model semiconductor (H2 bipy)(Hox)2 (H2 bipy=4,4'-bipyridin-1,1'-dium; ox=oxalate) increased by 2 orders of magnitude after photoinduced electron transfer (a record for photoswitchable organic semiconductors) and generation of radical cation⋅⋅⋅π interactions, and fell by approximately 81 % at 100 °C through reverse electron transfer and degeneration of the radical cation⋅⋅⋅π interactions. The model semiconductor has at least two different electron transfer pathways in the decoloration process.

Discrimination of Citrus reticulata Blanco and Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' as well as the Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' within different storage years using ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry based metabolomics approach.

Using ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOFMS) based metabolomics, we focused on developing a method for the comprehensive distinction between Citri Reticulatae Blanco Pericarpium(CRBP) and Citri Reticulatae Chachi Pericarpium (CRCP), as well as the CRCP within different storage years in this study. Through this, we hope to enhance Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP) Quality Control system. Using UNIFI software and an online database identified chemical components in the 3-30 years CRCP(40 batches) and CRBP (10 batches)samples, and multivariate statistical analysis methods and heat-map were applied to distinguish between CRCP and CRBP and CRCP in different storage years. The results showed that a total of 92 compounds were identified from CRCP and CRBP samples, most of which were flavonoids. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) indicated that it can effectively distinguish between CRBP and CRCP and various storage years CRCP, and 19 metabolites were identified as potential markers for distinguishing between CRBP and CRCP, and 15 potential markers showed a higher level of CRCP than CRBP. At the same time, 31 metabolites were identified to distinguish CRCP in different storage years, metabolite levels increased in 3-10 years and decreased after 15-30 years. Therefore, this approach can effectively distinguish between CRCP and CRBP and CRCP with different storage years, and may also provide a feasible strategy for the certification of Chinese herbal medicines from different species and storage years.

High proton conduction in an excellent water-stable gadolinium metal-organic framework.

A new metal-organic framework with excellent water stability, {H[(N(CH3)4)2][Gd3(NIPA)6]}·3H2O (1, H2NIPA = 5-nitroisophthalic acid), displays a proton conductivity of 7.17 × 10-2 S cm-1 (at 75 °C and 98% relative humidity), which is among the highest values for proton-conducting MOFs.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration associated with cerebellar hypermetabolism: Case report.

RATIONALE: Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is an immune-mediated neurological deficit affecting the cerebellum. Anti-Yo antibody positive PCD is a rare occurrence most likely associated with gynecologic or breast malignancies. The identification of the underlying tumor is a diagnostic challenge in many of these patients. PATIENT CONCERNS: We present a 68-year-old woman with acute symptoms of PCD as a first sign of underlying occult malignancy. Further investigation revealed a positive anti-Yo antibody. Although brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unremarkable, positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) revealed intense hypermetabolism of cerebellum and diffused hypometabolism in the rest of brain. On 1-year follow-up, despite the primary malignancy is still unknown, her symptoms improved significantly after immunotherapy. DIAGNOSES: Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was given IV methylprednisolone 500 mg once a day for 5 consecutive days, followed by oral prednisone 60 mg once a day for 3 months. OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms were gradually improved during the hospitalization period. On one year follow up, she was able to walk independently and perform some simple tasks. LESSONS: Cerebellar hypermetabolism in PCD suspected patients may help confirming the diagnosis in an earlier stage and may predict a better outcome after immunotherapy.

[KLF5 modulates proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells subjected to cyclic tensile stress].

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression of Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) under cyclic tensile stress (CTS) and its effect on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs. METHODS: hPDLCs were primarily cultured in vitro by tissue explant and enzyme digestion method. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of KLF5 in hPDLCs stimulated by 10% CTS at a frequency of 0.5 Hz for 1, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h, respectively．KLF5 was then knocked-down in hPDLCs using siRNA (si-KLF5) and its mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Meanwhile, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) was overexpressed in KLF-5 silenced hPDLCs by using pcDNA3.1-FGF2. After stimulation with CTS for 8 h, the proliferation of hPDLCs was assayed by CCK-8 kit, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was assayed by ALP kit, the mRNA expression of Runx2 and Osterix was examined by RT-PCR, and the protein expression of Runx2, Osterix, FGF2, GSK-3ß, P-GSK-3ß (ser 9), ß-catenin was determined by Western blot. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: Stimulation with 10% CTS time-dependently induced mRNA and protein expression of KLF5 in hPDLCs. Transfection of si-KLF5 significantly reduced the proliferation of hPDLCs, decreased ALP activity and expression of Runx2 and Osterix in hPDLCs stimulated by 10% CTS. Simultaneously, CTS-induced activation of FGF2-GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway was also inhibited by si-KLF5 transfection. However, overexpression of FGF2 can partly neutralized the inhibitiory effect of si-KLF5 on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs subjected to 10% CTS. CONCLUSIONS: KLF5 promotes proliferation and osteogenesis differentiation of hPDLCs subjected to cyclic tensile stress through FGF2-GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Association between X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1(XRCC1) Arg399Gln polymorphism and endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE(S): X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1(XRCC1) gene is one of the DNA repair pathway genes playing a vital role in endometriosis risk. Various studies have explored the association between them, however, the results remained inconsistent. So to confirm the association between XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and the risk of endometriosis, a meta-analysis was conducted. STUDY DESIGN: PubMed, Web of Science, Science Director, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data databases were searched to identify the all relevant studies before Sep. 30, 2016 focusing on the association between XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and the risk of endometriosis. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated and analyzed by Review Manager 5.2 and Stata 12 to assess the strength of the association. Meanwhile, Begg's test was used to check the publication bias. RESULTS: The present meta-analysis identified 6 studies with 646 cases and 616 controls. The overall analysis revealed that the AA genotype exhibited a significant association with a decreased risk for endometriosis compared with GG (OR=0.43, 95%CI=0.20-0.94, P=0.03), GA (OR=0.57, 95%CI=0.35-0.95, P=0.03) and GG+GA (OR=0.54, 95%CI=0.31-0.96, P=0.04) respectively. In addition, subgroup analyses based on varied regions indicated that a total comparisons of allelic and various genetic models had statistical significances among Asians (A allele vs. G allele: OR=0.62, 95%CI=0.48-0.81, P=0.0004; AA vs. GG: OR=0.22, 95%CI=0.11-0.46, P<0.0001; AA vs. GA: OR=0.32, 95%CI=0.16-0.63, P=0.001; AA vs. GG+GA: OR=0.28, 95%CI=0.14-0.54, P=0.0002; AA+GA vs. GG: OR=0.28, 95%CI=0.14-0.54, P=0.008) but not among Middle Eastern. The Begg's test did not reveal any obvious publication bias in the present study. CONCLUSION(S): Our meta-analysis suggested that Arg399Gln in XRCC1 was associated with endometriosis risk. And especially in Asians, the A allele might be a preventive factor for this disease. Further well-designed researches with larger sample size and various regions are required to validate our conclusion.

Associations of C677T polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene with male infertility risk: A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is one of the key enzymes in folate metabolism. But the association between polymorphism and the risk of male infertility is still controversial. Therefore, this study used a meta-analysis on the collection of data to analyze MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism (known as c.665 C>T, rs1801133, p.Ala222Val). METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan fang. Data were searched to identify eligible studies. We sifted the data collection by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium calculator and used odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to conduct data through RevMan5.0 and StataSE12.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies have 3853 patients with infertility and 3613 healthy controls in this meta-analysis. Our results showed that T variant of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of male infertility (forT vs. C: OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.18-1.63; for TT vs. CC: OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.36-2.54; for CT vs. CC: OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.03-1.74; for TT vs. CT: OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.26-1.84; for TT vs. CT+CC: OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.19-1.70; for TT+CT versus CC: OR=1.46, 95%CI=1.05-2.04). In addition, the results indicated that T allele had the positive association which was driven by East-asian populations (random: OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.2-1.74; fixed: OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.20-1.61), Middle-eastern populations (random: OR=1.30, 95% CI=1.05-1.63; fixed: OR=1.30, 95% CI=1.05-1.63) and Mixed-race (random: OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.35-2.85; fixed: OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.20-1.43). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with male infertility.