Dietary therapy of the herbal porridge improves the symptoms of functional dyspepsia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

This study (ISRCTN17174559) aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of a kind of herbal porridge (Hou Gu Mi Xi) on the clinical symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD). This was a single-center, single-dose, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 64 participants with FD (35 cases and 29 controls) for 2 months of intervention and 1 month of follow-up. The 7-point Global Overall Symptom Scale (GOSS), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and other indicators were assessed at baseline (day 0), at days 15, 30, and 60 of treatment, and at follow-up 1 month after the end of the intervention. Many participants with FD achieved remission of their epigastric symptoms at follow-up on the 90th day after treatment with herbal porridge compared to the placebo group (45.71% vs. 20.69%, p = .036). Furthermore, herbal porridge appeared to be effective in improving the quality of life of participants with FD, which was reflected in the rising SF-36 scores for physical role, bodily pain, emotional role, and mental health. Although adverse events were reported, there was no overall difference in the number of adverse events between the two groups (p = .578). Herbal porridge is another effective and safe method for improving the symptoms and quality of life in patients with FD.

Use of autologous iliac crest graft and free anterolateral femoral skin flap in diabetic foot ulcers: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot has a great impact on the life of patients. Its treatment involves a multi-disciplinary and multi-direction approach, which requires not only soft tissue repair, but also bone reconstruction and functional repair. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old Chinese man with a three-year history of diabetes was diagnosed with ulcers in his left foot. We performed a successful procedure, and the different strategies we adopted helped to avoid serious complications during treatment. The patient was treated with debridement, bone cement, iliac crest graft, and anterolateral femoral skin flap, and recovered well. CONCLUSION: There is a dearth of reports pertaining to treatment of diabetic foot in patients with midfoot bone and soft tissue loss. In this report, we present an effective method that we used to reconstruct the loss of midfoot in a patient with diabetic foot, illustrating a successful therapeutic strategy for saving limbs in this complex medical condition.

Maggot debridement therapy stimulates wound healing by altering macrophage activation.

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of maggot debridement therapy (MDT) on macrophages during the healing process of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The activation phenotype of macrophages during wound healing following MDT was evaluated using double staining immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, markers associated with macrophage activation were discovered using immunoblotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). During the process of diabetic wound healing following MDT, the presence and over-expression of M2 macrophages were observed, while the under-expression of M1 macrophages was noted. In addition, the activation markers of macrophages exhibited a correlation with the indicated Th1/Th2 cytokines. MDT interventions have the potential to modulate macrophage activity, thereby aiding in the healing of diabetic foot wounds.

Analyzing the Activity of Micafungin Combined with Tobramycin Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the potential effect of combining micafungin and tobramycin in vitro against biofilms of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. METHODS: Nine biofilm-positive clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were used in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of micafungin and tobramycin for planktonic bacteria were determined using the agar dilution method. The planktonic bacterial growth curve was plotted for micafungin treatment. Biofilms of these nine strains were treated with different concentrations of micafungin and combined with tobramycin in microtiter plates. Biofilm biomass was detected by crystal violet staining and spectrophotometry. Phenotypic reduction in biofilm formation and the eradication of mature biofilm were significant based on average optical density (p < 0.05). The kinetics of micafungin combined with tobramycin to eradicate mature biofilms was investigated in vitro using the time-kill method. RESULTS: Micafungin exhibited no antibacterial effect on P. aeruginosa, and tobramycin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) did not change in the presence of micafungin. Micafungin alone inhibited biofilm formation and eradicated established biofilms of all isolates in a dose-dependent manner, but the required minimum concentration varied. An increase in micafungin concentration resulted in an observed inhibition rate of 64.9% - 72.3% and achieved an eradication rate of 59.2% - 64.5%. Its combination with tobramycin exhibited synergistic effects, including inhibiting the biofilm formation of PA02, PA05, PA23, PA24, and PA52 isolates above 1/4 × MIC or 1/2 × MIC and eradicating mature biofilms of PA02, PA04, PA23, PA24, and PA52 above 32 × MIC, 2 × MIC, 16 × MIC, 32 × MIC, and 1 × MIC, respectively. Micafungin addition could eradicate biofilm-embedded bacterial cells more rapidly; at 32 mg/L, the biofilm eradication time lowered from 24 hours to 12 hours for the inoculum groups with 106 CFU/mL, and from 12 hours to 8 hours for 105 CFU/mL. Whereas at 128 mg/L, the time was lowered from 12 hours to 8 hours for the inoculum groups with 106 CFU/mL, and from 8 hours to 4 hours for 105 CFU/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Micafungin showed good anti-biofilm activity at low concentrations. The combination of micafungin with tobramycin displayed a synergistic effect in controlling P. aeruginosa biofilm.

A successful process of treatment with necrotizing fasciitis of upper extremities in patients with diabetes mellitus: a case report.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) represents a rapidly progressive, life-threatening infection involving the fascia and subcutaneous tissue. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to treat, especially in diabetic patients. Case presentation: This case report presents on a patient with diabetes mellitus rapidly developed a NF of the upper extremities following a minor trauma in the palmar of greater thenar. In the initial stages of her hospital admission, severe hand soft tissue infection, and systemic toxicity is the most prominent clinical manifestation. During her hospitalization, efficacious multidisciplinary treatment was carried out to avoid severe consequences. Clinical discussion and conclusion: The objective of this case report is to present a successful individual strategy in a complex case to standardize the treatment process. Accurate and standardized management can improve the prognosis of patients affected from upper extremities NF of diabetic avoiding and severe complications and saving lives.

The single-cell atlas of cultured human endometrial stromal cells.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically analyze the cell composition and transcriptome of primary human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) and transformed human endometrial stromal cells (THESCs). DESIGN: The primary HESCs from 3 different donors and 1 immortalized THESC were collected from the human endometrium at the midsecretory phase and cultured in vitro. SETTING: Academic research laboratory. PATIENT(S): None. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis. RESULT(S): We found the individual differences among the primary HESCs and bigger changes between the primary HESCs and THESCs. Cell clustering with or without integration identified cell clusters belonging to mature, proliferative, and active fibroblasts that were conserved across all samples at different stages of the cell cycles with intensive cell communication signals. All primary HESCs and THESCs can be correlated with some subpopulations of fibroblasts in the human endometrium. CONCLUSION(S): Our study indicated that the primary HESCs and THESCs displayed conserved cell characters and distinct cell clusters. Mature, proliferative, and active fibroblasts at different stages or cell cycles were detected across all samples and presented with a complex cell communication network. The cultured HESCs and THESCs retained the features of some subpopulations within the human endometrium.

[Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Shuxuetong Injection in treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy].

The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Shuxuetong Injection in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN). PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, CNKI, VIP, SinoMed, and Wanfang were searched for randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of Shuxuetong Injection in the treatment of DPN from database inception to July 18, 2021. Literature screening was carried out according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the required information was extracted. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included trials, and RevMan 5.3 was used for Meta-analysis. Finally, six articles were included, involving 507 patients. The overall quality of included RCTs was not high. As revealed by Meta-analysis results, in terms of DPN score, one trial showed a significant difference in the experimental group before and after treatment, and the symptom of the experimental group was significantly improved compared with that in the control group after treatment. After treatment, a significant difference in DPN scores of the experimental group and the control group was observed(P<0.05), and the symptom improvement of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group. In terms of sensory nerve conduction velocity(SCV), the experimental group was superior to the control group in improving conduction velocities(MD_(median SCV)=4.45, 95%CI[2.79, 6.10], P<0.000 01; MD_(peroneal SCV)=6.70, 95%CI[5.64, 7.75], P<0.000 01; MD_(posterior tibial SCV)=4.03, 95%CI[0.56, 7.49], P=0.02). In terms of motor nerve conduction velocity(MCV), compared with the conditions before treatment, the conduction velocities of median nerve, peroneal nerve, and posterior tibial nerve in both groups increased after treatment(P<0.01). The experimental group was superior to the control group in improving MCV after treatment(P<0.05). In terms of average blood glucose change, there is no statistical significance of the improvement of average blood glucose between experimental group and the control group(MD=-0.15, 95%CI[-0.82, 0.51], P=0.65). In terms of overall response rate, the curative effect of the experimental group in the treatment of DPN was superior to that of the control group(RR=1.23, 95%CI[1.11, 1.37], P=0.000 1). In terms of adverse events, no obvious adverse events were reported in the included RCTs. In light of existing data and indexes, the clinical efficacy of Shuxuetong Injection combined with western medicine in the treatment of DPN may be superior to that of conventional western medicine. It can improve the clinical symptoms, SCV, MCV, and average blood glucose of DPN, with good safety. However, existing clinical trials are few and the quality is low. It is recommended to further verify the above conclusions with internationally recognized outcome indicators.

Spatial transcriptomic profiles of mouse uterine microenvironments at pregnancy day 7.5†.

Uterine dysfunctions lead to fertility disorders and pregnancy complications. Normal uterine functions at pregnancy depend on crosstalk among multiple cell types in uterine microenvironments. Here, we performed the spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA-seq assays to determine local gene expression profiles at the embryo implantation site of the mouse uterus on pregnancy day 7.5 (D7.5). The spatial transcriptomic annotation identified 11 domains of distinct gene signatures, including a mesometrial myometrium, an anti-mesometrial myometrium, a mesometrial decidua enriched with natural killer cells, a vascular sinus zone for maternal vessel remodeling, a fetal-maternal interface, a primary decidual zone, a transition decidual zone, a secondary decidual zone, undifferentiated stroma, uterine glands, and the embryo. The scRNA-Seq identified 12 types of cells in the D7.5 uterus including three types of stromal fibroblasts with differentiated and undifferentiated markers, one cluster of epithelium including luminal and glandular epithelium, mesothelium, endothelia, pericytes, myelomonocytic cell, natural killer cells, and lymphocyte B. These single-cell RNA signatures were then utilized to deconvolute the cell-type compositions of each individual uterine microenvironment. Functional annotation assays on spatial transcriptomic data revealed uterine microenvironments with distinguished metabolic preferences, immune responses, and various cellular behaviors that are regulated by region-specific endocrine and paracrine signals. Global interactome among regions is also projected based on the spatial transcriptomic data. This study provides high-resolution transcriptome profiles with locality information at the embryo implantation site to facilitate further investigations on molecular mechanisms for normal pregnancy progression.

[Exploration and reflection on evaluation methodology of human use experience for new Chinese drug development].

The "triple combination" review system provides an opportunity for the transformation of human use experience into new Chinese drugs. However, there are some methodological and technical limitations in the assessment of human experience. Hence, the efficacy and safety evaluation methods should be established in accordance with the characteristics of Chinese herbs. This study summarized some evidence-based methodology to promote the transformation of human use experience to new Chinese drugs, mainly including the individualized pragmatic randomized controlled trial(RCT), cluster RCT, single-case RCT, single arm RCT with objective performance criteria, and partially nested RCT. As the real world data can be used to support the transformation of human experience, attention should be paid to convenient and efficient collection of data, prudent selection of design types, and adoption of appropriate ana-lysis methods to deal with confounding bias, including multi-factor regression model and propensity score. The newly proposed mixed research method can also be utilized to assess the human use experience, which is suitable for mining the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and expert experience from different aspects. Meanwhile, considering the study design requirements and TCM cha-racteristics, this study put forward the common problems and solutions in the development of new Chinese drugs based on human use experience, including how to select the feasible outcome indicators, how to collect prescription data in the case of herb and dosage adjustment, and how to evaluate the comprehensive effectiveness of TCM from the perspective of "combination of disease and syndrome".

[Application and significance of mixed methods research in traditional Chinese medicine and narrative medicine].

Since narrative medicine was introduced in China, it has been widely used in medical education and clinical practice. The research on narrative medicine in China is especially characterized by its combination with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). At present, the research on narrative medicine in China is still in the stage of small-scale practicing and theory advocating. Besides, there is also a lack of guidance on experimental design methodology for clinical application, which leads to few high-quality studies in this field. The present study reviewed the current high-quality research on narrative medicine to discuss the value and prospects of mixed methods research in narrative medicine. In addition, the common design, application procedures, and notes of mixed methods research were explained to provide references for the extensive applications of narrative medicine in the medical field, especially TCM clinical practice, education, and scientific research.

[A new phloroglucinol compound from Dryopteris fragrans].

Two phloroglucinol compounds(1-2) were isolated and purified from 95% ethanol extract of Dryopteris fragrans through various column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, medium pressure column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated as 2',4',6'-trihydroxy-5'-methyl acetate-3'-methyl-1'-butyrophenone(1) and aspidinol B(2) based on their chemical and physicochemical methods and spectroscopic data. Compound 1 is a new phloroglucinol compound named "dryofraginol".

[Effects of aerobic exercise on PPARα signaling in diabetes rats and its association with PPARγ].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the improved effects of 4-week aerobic exercise on blood glucose and lipid of diabetes mellitus (DM) rats and its association with peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR)α signaling and PPARγ. METHODS: Six-week old male SD rats were fed with 8-week high-fat diet following a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish DM models rats. Except control group rats (fed with ordinary diet), DM model rats were randomly divided into DM group, trained DM group (TDM), TDM plus PPARγ agonist pioglitazone group (TDP), and TDM plus PPARγ inhibitor GW9662 group (TDG), 8 rats in each group. TDM, TDP and TDG rats were undertaken a medium-intensity incremental treadmill training for 4 weeks, once a day and 6 days a week (1st week: 15 m/min speed lasting for 30 min; 2nd week: 15 m /min for 60 min; 3rd week: 20 m/min for 60 min; 4th week: 20 m/min for 90 min). All the rats were fed with ordinary diet during 4-week exercise. The rats were anesthetized and blood samples were collected at 36 h after the last exercise, and liver and gastrocnemius were collected after the rats were sacrificed. Fasting blood glucose and blood lipid were detected (blood glucose, insulin and TC, TG, HDL and LDL). The protein levels of PPARα, adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) in the liver and gastrocnemius of the rats were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: ①Compared with control rats, the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL, and FBG (＞11.1 mmol/L) in DM rats were significantly increased, indicated the successful establishment of DM rats. ②Compared with DM rats, accompanied with the improvements of fasting blood glucose and blood lipid, the protein levels of PPARα, AMPK and CPT1 were significantly increased in the liver and gastrocnemius of TDM rats. ③Compared with TDM rats, no significant changes were found in TDG rats including the protein levels of PPARα and CPT1 (liver and gastrocnemius) as well as AMPK (liver), except for a decrease of AMPK in gastrocnemius; while the protein levels of PPARα, AMPK and CPT1 were all increased in the liver and gastrocnemius of TDP rats. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise-induced improvements of blood glucose and blood lipid was related to the up-regulation of AMPK-PPARα-CPT1 signaling pathway in the liver and muscle of DM rats. The exercise-induced enhancement of PPARα in DM rats was unrelated to PPARγ, but PPARγ activation could further increase the protein levels of AMPK-PPARα-CPT1 in TDM rats.

Cask methylation involved in the injury of insulin secretion function caused by interleukin1-ß.

Islet inflammation severely impairs pancreatic ß-cell function, but the specific mechanisms are still unclear. Interleukin1-ß (IL-1ß), an essential inflammatory factor, exerts a vital role in multiple physio-pathologic processes, including diabetes. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) is an important regulator especially in insulin secretion process. This study aims to unveil the function of CASK in IL-1ß-induced insulin secretion dysfunction and the possible mechanism thereof. Islets of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and INS-1 cells stimulated with IL-1ß were utilized as models of chronic inflammation. Insulin secretion function associated with Cask and DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) expression were assessed. The possible mechanisms of IL-1ß-induced pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction were also explored. In this study, CASK overexpression effectively improved IL-1ß-induced islet ß-cells dysfunction, increased insulin secretion. DNA methyltransferases and the level of methylation in the promoter region of Cask were elevated after IL-1ß administration. Methyltransferase inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) and si-DNMTs partially up-regulated CASK expression and reversed potassium stimulated insulin secretion (KSIS) and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) function under IL-1ß treatment in INS-1 and rat islets. These results reveal a previously unknown effect of IL-1ß on insulin secretion dysfunction and demonstrate a novel pathway for Cask silencing based on activation of DNA methyltransferases via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and modification of gene promoter methylation.

[Thoughts and suggestions on arrangement, analysis and summary of medical data during COVID-19 epidemic].

The analysis and utilization of clinical scientific research data is an effective means to promote the progress of diagnosis and treatment, and a key step in the development of medical sciences. During the epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), how to transform the limited diagnostic data into clinical research resources has attracted much attention. Based on the low efficiency of data collection and extraction, the inconsistency of data analysis, the irregularity of data report and the high timeliness of data update during the epidemic, this paper briefly analyzed the background and reasons of data application under the current situation, and then discusses the problems and feasible solutions of clinical data applications under the epidemic situation and, more importantly, for future medical clinical research methods. We put forward several methodological suggestions: ① gradually improve the medical big data model and establish the national medical health data center; ② improve the scientific research literacy of medical staff and popularize the basic skills and knowledge of GCP; ③ promote a scientific, networked and shared data collection and management mode; ④ use the mixed research method and collective analysis to improve the efficiency of clinical data analysis; ⑤ pay attention to narration of the medical feelings and emphasize the humanistic data of clinical medicine. It is expected to promote the standardized and reasonable use of clinical scientific research data, the rigorous integration of expert opinions, and ultimately the development of big data for national health care.

[Thoughts and suggestions on analysis of death cases report during COVID-19 epidemic].

It is an essential task to discuss the death cases for clinicians. During the emergent public events, the report and analysis of death cases is of far-reaching significance. The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) has brought huge losses to China, and the medical system has been sustaining tremendous pressure. The best weapon to defeat the epidemic is medical data and related scientific research, of which the systematic analysis and efficient use of death cases is a key step. Based on the incomplete record of death case report, the lack of humanistic perspective and patient report, every department and institution is facing great challenge in terms of data management. Given that the relevant systems need to be improved, and that the integration of standardized reports and clinical research is not mature,as well as other problems, we put forward several methodological suggestions: ① Establish national medical and health data center and improve relevant laws and regulations. ② Increase investment in medical data management and start data collection and analysis as early as possible during the epidemic. ③ Refine the content of death case report and promote the standardization of report. ④ Pay close attention to the report of death cases, review, summary and analysis. More importantly, we should continue to build and improve platforms and programs related to disease control, carry out epidemic-associated scientific research, enhance the managing efficiency of public health data, elevate the anti-risk capability of our medical system, and promote the steady progress of the health China strategy.

Maggot excretions/secretions promote diabetic wound angiogenesis via miR18a/19a - TSP-1 axis.

AIMS: The impaired angiogenesis is one of the main factors affecting the healing of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) wounds. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) promotes granulation tissue growth and angiogenesis during DFU wound healing. Non-coding microRNAs can also promote local angiogenesis in DFU wounds by regulating wound repairing related gene expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of microRNAs in MDT promoting DFU wound angiogenesis. METHODS: In this study, we applied MDT to treat DFU wound tissue and detect the expression of the miR-17-92 cluster. In vitro experiments, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with maggot excretions/secretions (ES), the miR-17-92 cluster and the predicted target gene expression were measured. Tube formation assay and cell scratch assay were performed when inhibition of miR-18a/19a or overexpression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) were used in this study. RESULTS: miR-18a/19a transcription significantly up-regulated and TSP-1 expression down-regulated in patients wound tissue and in HUVECs. Inhibition of miR-18a/19a or overexpression of TSP-1 partially blocked the migration and tube formation ability stimulated by ES. CONCLUSION: Targeted activation of miR-18a/19a transcription levels and subsequent regulation of TSP-1 expression may be a novel therapeutic strategy for DFU.

[Electroacupuncture Treatment Conduced Before and After Surgery Is Better in Promoting Reco-very of Gastrointestinal Function in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Resection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at different time-points on postoperative gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: Eighty patients with colorectal cancer undergoing laparotomy were randomly assigned to intravenous anesthesia, EA A, EA B, and EA C groups (n＝20 cases in each group). All the patients in the four groups received intravenous anesthesia with midazolam, sufentanil, cisatracurium besylate and Propofol, postoperative gastrointestinal decompression and drug analgesia. EA (2－3 mA, 2 Hz) was applied to Zhongwan (CV 12) and Tianshu (ST 25), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xiajuxu (ST 39) on the right side for 30 min, once (one day before surgery) in the EA A group, twice (one day and 30 min before surgery) in the EA B group, and 3 times (one day, 30 min before and one day after surgery) in the EA C group. The acupoints used after surgery were PC 6, ST 36, ST 37 and ST 39. The time of postoperative ventilation, defecation, food-intake and water drinking, stomach tube removal and abdominal drainage tube removal, the volumes of stomach tube drainage and abdominal drainage, and postoperative adverse reactions were recorded. RESULTS: The first ventilation time, after surgery in the EA C group was significantly earlier than those in the intravenous anesthesia, EA A and EA B groups (P<0.05); and the water intake and abdomicnal drainage tube removal time after surgery in the EA C group were significantly earlier than those in the intravenous anesthesia group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found among the 4 groups in the time of defecation, food intake, stomach tube removal, stomach tube drainage and abdominal drainage volumes, and numbers of patients with nausea, vomiting, fever and other adverse reactions (P>0.05)．. CONCLUSION: EA treatment combined with intravenous anesthesia conducted before and after surgery is effective in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing colorectal cancer laparotomy, and is obviously better than simple pre-operative EA.

Tirucallane-type triterpenoids from the fruits of Phellodendron chinense Schneid and their cytotoxic activities.

Eleven triterpenoids were isolated from the fruits of Phellodendron chinense Schneid, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The results show that four new tirucallane-type triterpenoids 1, 2, 5, and 6 and seven known compounds 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 were isolated. Structurally, compound 6 was uncommon; it has a chlorine atom instead of a methyl group at the C-20 position. The cytotoxicities of the compounds was evaluated against the in vitro proliferation of four human tumor cell lines HEL, K562, MDA, and PC3 using adriamycin as the positive control. Compound 1 showed a similar cytotoxicity as the positive control; compounds 3 and 10 showed moderate cytotoxicities compared to the control (P<0.05). This indicates that these compounds have great potential for the development of new antitumor drugs.

Quantitative analysis of pancreatic polypeptide cell distribution in the human pancreas.

The pancreatic islet is mainly composed of beta-, alpha- and delta-cells with small numbers of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and epsilon cells. It is known that there is a region in the head of the pancreas that is rich in PP-cells. In the present study, we examined the distribution of PP-cells, and assessed the influence of the PP-cell rich region to quantify the total islet mass. Pancreatic tissues were collected from donors with no history of diabetes or pancreatic diseases (n = 12). A stereological approach with a computer-assisted large-scale analysis of whole pancreatic sections was applied to quantify the entire distribution of endocrine cells within a given section. The initial whole pancreas analysis showed that a PP-cell rich region was largely restricted to the uncinate process with a clear boundary. The distinct distribution of PP-cells includes irregularly shaped clusters composed solely of PP-cells. Furthermore, in the PP-cell rich region, beta- and alpha-cell mass is significantly reduced compared to surrounding PP-cell poor regions. The results suggest that the analysis of the head region should distinguish the PP-cell rich region, which is best examined separately. This study presents an important implication for the regional selection and interpretation of the results.

[Study on the relationship between partial deletions in the azzospermia factor C region of Y chromosome and male infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the partial deletions in the azzospermia factor(AZFc) region of Y chromosome and male infertility. METHODS: Multiplex PCR technology was performed to screen the partial deletions in the AZFc region in 158 azoospermia, 160 severe oligozoospermia and 135 oligozoospermia patients and 236 men with normal spermatogenesis.For samples with gr/gr, b2/b3 recombinogenic deletions, author applied RFLP method to identify which DAZ gene doublet deletion was involved. RESULTS: The gr/gr and b2/b3 were two types of common deletions detected. There were significant differences in the b2/b3 deletion in patients with oligozoospermia and severe oligozoospermia compared to the controls (both P< 0.05). However, there was no difference for the gr/gr deletion between the patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the b2/b3 deletion might be a risk factor to spermatogenic impairment and might lead to male infertility.