Relationship between older coronary heart disease patients' phase II cardiac rehabilitation intentions, illness perceptions, and family caregivers' illness perceptions.

Background: Intention is an important factor in encouraging patients to receive cardiac rehabilitation. Illness perceptions of patients and individuals around them, such as family caregivers, may influence intention. However, no study has explored how family caregivers' illness perceptions enhance older coronary heart disease (CHD) patients' phase II cardiac rehabilitation intentions.

[Human urine-derived stem cell-derived exosomes improve diabetic erectile dysfunction in rats].

Objective: To investigate the improving effect of human urine-derived stem cell-derived exosomes (USC-Exo) on the endothelial function and erectile function of male rats with diabetic ED (DED) and explore their action mechanism.

Methods: USC-Exo were extracted from the culture medium of USC by ultracentrifugation and identified. Cavernous sinus endothelial cells (CCEC) were collected from SD male rats and cultured in endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EGM-2) (the normal control group), EGM-2 + L-glucose at 25 mM (the high glucose group), EGM-2 + L-glucose at 25 mmol/L) + USC-Exo at 10 μg/ml (the Exo group), and EGM-2 + L-glucose at 25 mmol/L + USC-Exo at 10 μg/ml) + 3-methyladenine at 2 mmol/L (the 3-MA group), respectively.

[Male fertility in the context of COVID-19: Concern and considerations].

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), more than 130,000 people worldwide have been infected. Many studies show that the testis is one of the organs with a high expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the receptor/binding protein of SARS-CoV-2, which has aroused public concerns about the possible damage to male fertility. This article presents a review and analysis of the existing literature, aiming to achieve an objective understanding of the significance of the ACE2 expression in the testis.

Cardioprotective effects of timosaponin B-II isolated from rhizome in a zebrafish model.

Timosaponin B-II (TB-II; (25S)-26-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3β-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl) oxy]-5β-furostan-22-ol is extracted from . Its anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-asthma properties have been widely explored. However, its effect on the heart has not been reported.

[A preliminary investigation on sexual arousal in blind males].

Objective: To explore the perception of the female partner's beauty, stimulating factors for sexual arousal, and the acquisition of sexual knowledge in blind males and analyze the related influencing factors.

Methods: Using a self-designed questionnaire and with the help of the Disabled Persons' Federation and the Association for the Blind of Ganzhou, we conducted an investigation among 54 blind males at an average age of 33.5 years, who met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled according to the rosters provided by the above institutions.

Metabolomic profiling of rat urine after oral administration of the prescription antipyretic Hao Jia Xu Re Qing Granules by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS.

Hao Jia Xu Re Qing Granules (HJ), is an effective clinically used antipyretic based on traditional Chinese medicine. Although its antipyretic therapeutic effectiveness is obvious, its therapeutic mechanism has not been comprehensively explored yet. In this research, we first identified potential biomarkers which may be relevant for the antipyretic effect of HJ based on urine metabolomics using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS).

[Testosterone supplementary therapy for type-2 diabetes mellitus males with hypogonadism: Controversy and analysis].

As more and more studies suggest that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely related to male hypogonadism, people begin to pay more attention to the role of testosterone in the development of T2DM and the effect and safety of testosterone supplementary therapy. There is some controversy in randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses about the effects of testosterone supplementation on the blood glucose level, androgen deficiency symptoms, and cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on the diagnosis of hypogonadism in T2DM males, differences in the therapeutic effects and safety of testosterone replacement among different studies, and rational use of testosterone supplementation for T2DM patients.

[Animal models of male genital tract chlamydia infection: An update].

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases in males and studies on its pathogenic and immunologic mechanisms are rather limited. Animal models play an important role in studying the pathogenesis, course and treatment of human diseases, and those of male genital tract chlamydial infection are relatively few and not well developed. This article focuses on the chlamydia species, animal species, infection route, infected organ, and infection process of chlamydia, as well as its impact on reproduction, aiming to provide some help for further studies of male genital tract chlamydial infection.

[Expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in the dorsal root ganglion in the rat model of orchialgia].

Objective: To explore the expressions of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and TRP ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and their action mechanisms in the rat model of orchialgia.

Methods: The models of orchialgia were established in male SD rats by injection of 2% acetic acid into the testis. Then the number of spontaneous pain responses and withdrawal latency in the model rats were recorded by behavioral tests and the expressions of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in T13－L1 DRGs determined by RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.

miRNA dysregulation and the risk of metastasis and invasion in papillary thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with an incidence continuing to grow every year. Although thyroid cancer as a whole is generally indolent and relatively easy to treat, some subtypes carry a higher rate of metastasis and cancer-related mortality. A growing number of studies have focused on the dysregulation of miRNAs in TC.

[Hypogonadism and the quality of life in male patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To compare the level of testosterone between type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy controls and to investigate the status of hypogonadism and the influence of hypopgonadism on the quality of life.

Methods: We collected serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and other clinical data from 166 T2DM patients aged over 30 years and 186 age-matched healthy controls. We investigated the quality of life (QoL) of the two groups of subjects using the questionnaires of Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM), Aging Male Symptoms (AMS), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Special Quality of Life for Diabetes Mellitus (DSQL).

[Diagnostic value of high-field MRI for Peyronie's disease].

Objective: To analyze the MRI manifestations of Peyronie's disease and investigate the value of high-field MRI in the diagnosis of the disease.

Methods: Using a small surface coil, we performed 3.0 Tesla MRI for 14 patients with clinically diagnosed Peyronie's disease.

ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 74 (ERF74) plays an essential role in controlling a respiratory burst oxidase homolog D (RbohD)-dependent mechanism in response to different stresses in Arabidopsis.

Recent studies indicate that the ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR VII (ERF-VII) transcription factor is an important regulator of osmotic and hypoxic stress responses in plants. However, the molecular mechanism of ERF-VII-mediated transcriptional regulation remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of ERF74 (a member of the ERF-VII protein family) by examining the abiotic stress tolerance of an ERF74 overexpression line and a T-DNA insertion mutant using flow cytometry, transactivation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays.

[Smoking impairs endothelial function in ED patients].

Objective: To determine whether smoking affects the endothelial function of young ED patients with no cardiovascular disease.

Methods: This study included 69 ED patients (21 smokers and 48 non-smokers) and 16 age-matched normal healthy controls. All underwent measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and examinations of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose.

[Transrectal ultrasonography in the etiological diagnosis of male obstructive azoospermia: analysis of 695 cases].

Objective: To assess the role of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in the etiological diagnosis of male obstructive azoospermia.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and TRUS findings of 695 patients with obstructive azoospermia from January 2007 to May 2009.

Results: Concerning the etiology of obstructive azoospermia, the main TRUS findings included ejaculatory duct abnormality (29.

[Daily medication of low-dose tadalafil improves endothelial function and erectile hardness of ED patients].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of daily medication of low-dose tadalafil on the improvement of endothelial function and erectile hardness in erectile dysfunction (ED) patients.

Methods: A total of 60 ED patients and 24 controls were treated with oral tadalafil at 5 mg/d for 6 - 8 weeks, and evaluated by international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5), erectile hardness grading scale (EHGS) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) test before and after the treatment. All the data obtained were analyzed by independent-sample and paired-sample t tests, respectively.

[Clinical study of strengthening pi and nourishing shen therapy combined with Western medicine on patients with glucocorticoid resistant myasthenia gravis].

Objective: To study the effect of strengthening Pi and nourishing Shen therapy (SPNST) in treating patients with glucocorticoid resistant myasthenia gravis (GR-MG).

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with MG were enrolled, who were relapse cases after treated by cholinesterase inhibitor with systemic glucocorticoid treatment and showed resistance to glucocorticoid. All were treated by Western medicines, methylprednisolone (MP) and pyridostigmine bromide (PSB), together with Chinese medicine (CM) given according to their syndrome types, namely, for the 15 patients of Pi-Shen qi-yin deficiency type, Buzhong Yiqi Pill and Liuwei Dihuang Pill, and for the 12 patients of Pi-Shen yang-deficiency type, Buzhong Yiqi Pill and Zishen Yutai Pill.

[Surgical treatment of obstructive azoospermia: a report of 56 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of 56 cases of obstructive azoospermia, 43 of them with ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO), and the other 13 suspected of epididymal obstruction. The diagnostic methods included semen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and vasography when necessary.

[Analysis of the risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to mechanical ventilation and prognosis of the patients].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to mechanical ventilation and the prognosis of patients.

Methods: A retrospective case-controlled study was conducted to analyze the culture results of the pulmonary secretions in patients with pulmonary fungal and nonfungal infections in association with mechanical ventilations. The risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to mechanical ventilation were identified and their impact on the clinical outcome of the patients was evaluated.

[Effects of the degrees of anxiety and depression on the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the patient of insomnia].

Objective: To probe factors of influencing therapeutic effects of acupuncture in the patient of insomnia.

Methods: According to scores of degrees of anxiety and depression, 52 cases of insomnia were divided into 3 groups, group I (mild or less degree) and group II (moderate degree) and group II (serious degree). The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were compared before and after treatment in the 3 groups, and between two groups after treatment.

[Experimental research on effect of human mesenchymal stem cells induced by shenqi fuzheng injection in cerebral infarction].

Objective: To investigate the effect of shenqi fuzheng injection (SFI) in inducing differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in brain stem and its effect on nervous function in model rats of cerebral infarction.

Methods: Middle cerebral artery occlusion model rats were made, and hMSCs was injected into their brain after being amplified in vitro and incubated with SFI for 0.5 h, then the survival, migration and differentiation of hMSCs in brain stem as well as the change of nervous function in model rats were observed.

[Redox-dependent changes in structure and function of hHSF1].

To evaluate the effects of cysteine-SH-directed regents on the redox status, structure and function of human heat shock transcription factor 1 (hHSF1), treatment in vitro of hHSF1 with 0.3 0.5 mmol/L oxidizing reagent diamide (DM) and treatment in vivo of HeLa cells with 1 mmol/L buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, promoted the formation of a compact, intramolecularly disulfide-crosslinked, stable monomeric form of ox-hHSF1, and blocked the trimerization and activation of HSF1.