[Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids reduce the expression of GM-CSF in the testis of oligozoospermia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCF) on the expression of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the testis of the rat with oligozoospermia (OZ). METHODS: Thirty SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups of equal number, blank control, OZ model control and CCF intervention. The OZ model was established in the latter two groups by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at 30 mg/kg qd for 5 successive days. From the 6th day, the rats in the CCF intervention group were treated intragastrically with mixed suspension of CCF at 5 mL/kg and those in the other two groups with normal saline, all for 4 weeks. The epididymal sperm concentration and motility and the testicular morphology were examined and the expression of GM-CSF in the testis tissue detected with the SELDI Protein Chip. RESULTS: Compared with the rats in the blank control and CCF intervention groups, the OZ model controls showed dramatically decreased epididymal sperm concentration and motility (both P < 0.01) and significant morphological changes in the testis with deformed seminiferous tubules and reduced number and disordered arrangement of spermatogenic cells. Normal testicular morphology was observed in the CCF intervention group and there were no statistically significant differences in sperm concentration and motility between the CCF intervention and blank control groups (P > 0.05). The expression of GM-CSF was significantly up-regulated in the testis tissue of the OZ model controls but lower than the minimum value obtained with the SELDI Protein Chip in the blank control and CCF intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids can significantly down-regulate the expression of GM-CSF in the testis of the rats with cyclophosphamide-induced oligozoospermia.

[Excessive fluoride increases the expression of osteocalcin in the mouse testis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of excessive fluoride on the levels of osteocalcin and testosterone in the testis of the male mouse. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were equally randomized into a normal control and a fluorosis model group, the former fed on distilled water while the latter on a solution of sodium fluoride (100 mg/L) in distilled water, both for 12 weeks. Then, the level of osteocalcin in the testis tissue was measured with the immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) method and those of osteocalcin and testosterone in the serum determined by ELISA. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of fluoride intervention, the level of serum osteocalcin was significantly higher in the fluorosis models than in the normal controls (ï¼»68.05 ± 5.32ï¼½ vs ï¼»47.50 ± 5.73ï¼½ pg/mL, F = 11.901, P = 0.008), while that of testosterone markedly lower in the former than the latter group (ï¼»8.07 ± 1.35ï¼½ vs ï¼»12.94 ± 3.09ï¼½ ng/mL, F = 2.313, P = 0.006). The results of immunohistochemical SP showed the expression of osteocalcin in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of the fluorosis models, which was evidently higher than in the normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve-week intake of 100 mg/L fluoride solution can decrease the level of testosterone and increase the expression of osteocalcin in the testis of the male mouse.

Clinical outcome of endoprosthetic replacement for failed treatment of intertrochanteric fractures: A retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment methods for the failed internal fixation in elderly patients suffering from several osteoporostic fractures are still inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of endoprosthetic replacement for failure treatment of intertrochanteric fracture. METHODOLOGY: A total of 13 patients with failed internal fixation for intertrochanteric fracture were collected between January 2002 and October 2009. All of them were treated with endoprosthetic replacement and followed up till October 2010. Four of them received total hip replacement and the remained nine received artificial bipolar femoral head replacement. Clinical and functional outcomes of patients were assessed. RESULTS: Of 13 patients, nine were females and four were males with the mean age of 76.5 years (SD, 11.7, range, 58-92 years) at the time of fracture. The average time of operation and follow-up was 124 minutes (89-187minutes) and 31 months (14-68 months), respectively. The average blood loss during the operation was 631 ml (450-1560 ml). All patients showed good pain relief and functional improvement. Final post-operative Harris and WOMAC scores were significantly improved from pre-operative levels (P<0.05). Only five patients showed operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding indicated that endoprosthetic replacement is an effective salvage procedure for failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients with effective pain relief and functional improvement as well as few serious complications.

Predictive impact of common variations in DNA repair genes on clinical outcome of osteosarcoma.

We aimed to assess the role of XPG, XPC and MMS19L polymorphisms on response to chemotherapy in osteosarcomas, and the clinical outcomes. One hundred and eighty five osteosarcoma patients who were histologically confirmed were enrolled in our study between January 2007 and December 2009. Genotyping of XPG, XPC and MMS19L was performed in a 384-well plate format on the MassARRAY® platform. Individuals with XPG TT genotype and T allele were more likely to be better response to chemotherapy than CC genotype, with the OR (95% CI) of 4.17 (1.64-11.54) and 2.66 (1.39-5.11), respectively. Those carrying MMS19L TT genotype and T allele showed better response to chemotherapy, with ORs (95% CI) of 4.8 (1.56-17.7) and 2.3 (1.22-4.36), respectively. Patients carrying TT genotype of XPG and MMS19L showed a significantly longer overall survival than CC genotype, with a 0.47 and 0.30-fold risk of death when compared with the wild-type of the gene. XPG and MMS19L are correlated with response to chemotherapy and prognosis of osteosarcoma, so that they could be used as predictive markers for prognosis.