Protective effects of new Wenshen Shengjing Decoction on cyclosporine-induced impairment of testosterone synthesis and spermatogenic apoptosis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential protective effects of new Wenshen Shengjing Decoction (new WSSJD; including , Panax ginseng, Cynomorium songaricum, Cistanche deserticola, Radix Astragali, and Angelica sinensis) on cyclosporine-induced impairment of testosterone synthesis and spermatogenic apoptosis in mice. A total of 90 adult male Kunming mice were divided into the following 6 groups: Control (no intervention), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO; received only DMSO), cyclosporine A (CsA), clomifene citrate (CC; CsA + CC, 15 mg/kg/day), WSSJD (CsA + WSSJD, crude drug 12 g/kg/day) and new WSSJD (CsA + new WSSJD, crude drug 12 g/kg/day). All mice were treated for 30 days via oral gavage.

Immunomodulatory function of whole human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a critical role in immune modulation. However, immunomodulatory function of whole human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) remains unclear. In this study, UC-MSCs were separated from whole umbilical cord using a single enzyme digestion.

[Anti-prostate cancer effect of roemerine: An experimental study].

Objective: To investigate the anti-prostate cancer (PCa) effect of roemerine in vitro and in vivo in the mouse model of PCa.

Methods: We detected the effects of roemerine on the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of PCa cells DU145, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22RV1, screened out the sensitive cell line and constructed a tumor-bearing model in mice for verification of the antitumor efficacy of roemerine in vivo.

Results: Roemerine inhibited the proliferation and migration of the DU145, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22RV1 cells and induced their apoptosis in different degrees, particularly those of the LNCaP cells.

Expression of soluble programmed death-1 protein in peripheral blood regulatory T cells and its effects on rheumatoid arthritis progression.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of the soluble programmed death‑1 (sPD-1) protein, which is released by peripheral blood regulatory T cells (Treg) during the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). From October 2012 to May 2014, 82 RA patients (RA group) and 90 healthy volunteers (healthy controls; HC) were recruited. Cluster of differentiation (CD)4, CD25 and forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3 (Foxp3) and expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and Foxp3 were detected by flow cytometry.

Use of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Brain Death in Patients with Severe Cerebral Injury.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the use of transcranial Doppler (TCD) for diagnosis of brain death in patients with severe cerebral injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study enrolled 42 patients based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were divided into either the brain death group or the survival group according to prognosis.

Catalpol inhibits apoptosis in hydrogen peroxide-induced cardiac myocytes through a mitochondrial-dependent caspase pathway.

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside, has been reported to inhibit apoptosis of neuron and endothelial cells. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of catalpol-mediated cardioprotection. The rat embryonic ventricular myocardial cell line (H9c2) cells were first incubated with catalpol, and then exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

Low LKB1 Expression Results in Unfavorable Prognosis in Prostate Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to compare the expression of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in prostate cancer (PCa) tissues and the paired adjacent tissues, then to evaluate the statistical relationship between LKB1 expression and prognosis of PCa patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The relative expression of LKB1 at mRNA level was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression of LKB1 at protein level was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method.

[Regulatory Role of Nitric Oxide in Development and Hatching of Mouse Blastocysts].

Objective: To determine the regulatory role and mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) in the development and hatching of mouse blastocysts.

Methods: The Kunming female mice were superovulated and then mated with mature male mice. On the day 2.

In silico analysis of the molecular mechanism of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO) is a common disease in females >50 years of age worldwide and is becoming an increasing burden to society. The present study aimed to assess the molecular mechanism of PO using bioinformatic methods. The gene expression data from patients with PO and normal controls were downloaded from the ArrayExpress database provided by European Bioinformatics Institute.

Inhibitory effects of preimplantation exposure to bisphenol-A on blastocyst development and implantation.

The effect of preimplantation exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) on blastocyst development and implantation is investigated. Mice were orally administered with BPA (200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg/day) from Day 0.5 to Day 3.

Synergistic immunotherapeutic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide and interferon-α2b on the murine Renca renal cell carcinoma cell line in vitro and in vivo.

Novel therapeutic strategies to improve clinical efficacy in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are required. The possibility of combination therapy with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and recombinant interferon (IFN)‑α2b remains to be elucidated in RCC. The present study investigated the putative synergistic immunotherapeutic roles of LBP and IFN‑α2b against RCC in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of BMP-6 on development and maturation of mouse preantral follicles .

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) on the growth and maturation of mouse follicles . Preantral follicles isolated from mice were incubated with recombinant human BMP-6 (rhBMP-6) before analysis. BMP-6 expression was detected by immunofluorescence and western blot.

CT perfusion assessment of Moyamoya syndrome before and after direct revascularization (superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass).

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of CT perfusion (CTP) for the assessment of superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis in patients with Moyamoya syndrome (MMS).

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-four consecutive MMS patients, who underwent unilateral STA-MCA bypass surgery, received CTP before and after surgery. The relative perfusion parameter values of surgical hemispheres before treatment were compared with post-treatment values.

Association between MTHFD1 polymorphisms and neural tube defect susceptibility.

Objectives: Neural tube defect (NTD) is a common disease among neonates with multiplex symptom and complex origins, and the exact mechanism of NTD has not been definitely elucidated. Nevertheless, it is hypothesized that NTD risk can be prevented by periconceptional folic acid in folate metabolism. The methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1) gene has been proved to play an important role in folate metabolism, which was strongly associated with the high risk for NTD.

Preparation and identification of transfer factor specific to Staphylococcus aureus in vitro.

The objective of the study was to explore the methods for preparing transfer factor specific to Staphylococcus aureus (SA-STF) in vitro. Under the optimum conditions, the spleen cells of rabbits were immunized with SA in vitro to prepare SA-STF, and the immune activities were identified with the phagocytosis and sterilization, skin delayed-type hypersensitivity, and immune protection tests. The concentration of polypeptide was 2.

Luminal (Her2 negative) prognostic index and survival of breast cancer patients.

Purpose: The group of luminal (Her2 negative) is distinguished from other subtypes of breast cancer. We aimed to produce a prognostic index specific for luminal (Her2 negative) subtype breast cancer that could assist clinical treatment.

Methods: The test set comprised 406 consecutive luminal (Her2 negative) breast cancer patients.

In silico Analysis of TCR Vβ7 of Two Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: To compare the sequences and crystal structures of variable region of beta chain 7 (Vβ7) of T cell receptor (TCR) of two patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Patients And Methods: The skewness of TCR Vβ7 of two T1DM patients were detected with real-time florescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) melting curve analysis technique followed by being sequenced, the crystal structures of them were simulated according to CPH models 2.0 Server, IMGT database, and RasMol 2 software.

[Histone modifications during spermatogenesis and male infertility].

Many pathological phenomena of male infertility are related to epigenetic changes in male germ cells. Epigenetic regulation during spermatogenesis plays an important role in mitotic/meiotic divisions and spermiogenesis. The histones have various post-translational modifications on different amino acid residues during spermatogenesis.

Preparation, characterization, and determination of immunological activities of transfer factor specific to human sperm antigen.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to prepare, characterize, and determine immunological activities of specific transfer factor (STF) specific to human sperm antigen (HSA) for the preparation of antisperm contraceptive vaccine that can be used as an immunocontraceptive. METHODS.

Comparing TCR beta chain variable gene profile skewness between children with tuberculosis and BCG-vaccinated children.

Background: We compared the T cell antigen receptor (TCR-BV) gene families of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) between children with tuberculosis (TB) and those inoculated with the Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine.

Methods: The total RNA was extracted from PMBC of 15 TB children, 15 BCG-vaccinated children and 15 healthy controls. The RNAs were reverse-transcribed and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Protective effects of VEGF treatment on focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of VEGF treatment on focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Rats were administered PBS or VEGF at concentrations of 10, 20 or 30 µg/ml. The effects of VEGF on the rat infarct volume and neurological deficits were investigated.

[Application of epiglottis with sternohyoid muscle in the surgery for laryngeal cancer].

Objective: To explore and evaluate the application of epiglottis with sternohyoid muscle in the surgery for laryngeal cancer.

Methods: Two fifty patients with laryngeal cancer were treated by partial laryngectomy and the laryngeal defects were reconstructed by epiglottic flap and sternohyoid muscle fascia flap. The staging of tumors: T2N0M0 23 cases, T3N1M0 14 cases, T3N2M0 13 cases.

[Effect of tripterygium glycosides on serum interleukin-1beta, interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon-gamma levels in patients with Behcet's disease].

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanism of action of tripterygium glycosides (TG) for treatment of Behcet's disease (BD) through observing its effect on serum levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

Methods: Thirty primarily treated BD patients (BD group) were treated with TG 30 mg/d orally for 3 months, and a control group consisting of 30 healthy persons was set up. Serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-2, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were detected by radio-immunosorbent assay (RIA) before and after treatment respectively.