Efficacy of antioxidant therapy on sperm quality measurements after varicocelectomy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Antioxidants were proved to be efficient to improve the quality of spermatozoa after varicocelectomy. We carried out a systematic review and performed a meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant therapy in sperm parameters' quality after varicocelectomy during 3 or 6 months' treatment cycle. During research, randomised controlled trials were searched by MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and necessary parameters were compared between two groups after varicocelectomy. Finally, six studies including 576 patients were included in our meta‐analysis. As for sperm parameters, significant improvements of sperm concentration (p < .0001), sperm motility (p = .03), progressive sperm motility (p < .00001) and sperm morphology (p < .00001) were existed in antioxidant group 3 months after varicocelectomy. With regard to the 6 months' outcomes, sperm parameters were improved as well except sperm motility (p = .72) and progressive sperm motility (p = .57). Referring to pregnancy rate, no significant difference was existed between two groups (p = .36), and the FSH level of antioxidant group was lower than placebo group 3 or 6 months after varicocelectomy (3 months, p = .02; 6 months, p = .03). In conclusion, compared with the placebo, the antioxidant therapy after varicocelectomy can improve the quality of sperm parameters and construct a favourable living condition for spermatozoa by reducing FSH level.     

Canthaxanthin protects human sperm parameters during cryopreservation

Different antioxidants have been introduced to reduce oxidative stress during the cryopreservation. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of canthaxanthin on human sperm parameters during the freeze‐thaw process. This study was performed on 25 normozoospermic semen samples dividing into five groups including 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 25 µM of canthaxanthin. The prepared spermatozoa were cryopreserved by rapid freezing technique. Sperm motility, viability (eosin‐nigrosin), morphology (Papanicolaou), acrosome reaction (double staining), DNA denaturation (acridine orange), chromatin packaging (aniline blue and toluidine blue), and DNA fragmentation (sperm chromatin dispersion test) were evaluated before freezing and after thawing. All sperm parameters after thawing significantly were decreased compared to before freezing. Twenty‐five micromolar canthaxanthin could significantly improve the progressive and total motility, viability, normal morphology, chromatin packaging, acrosome integrity and DNA denaturation and fragmentation. Ten micromolar canthaxanthin significantly improved total motility, viability, normal morphology, chromatin packaging, acrosome integrity and DNA denaturation and fragmentation. Whereas, in 1 µM group, there were significant differences only in improvement of acrosome integrity, chromatin packaging (toluidine blue) and DNA denaturation and fragmentation. But, in 0.1 µM group, there were no significant differences in any of measured parameters. It seems that canthaxanthin ameliorates detrimental effects of cryopreservation on human sperm parameters.     

Effect of Human Placental Extract Treatment on Random-Pattern Skin Flap Survival in Rats

Background: Human placental extract (HPE), prepared from the placentas of healthy, postpartum females, displays various physiological activities, including antioxidative properties. In this study, a dorsal skin flap model was used to investigate the effect of HPE on flap viability in rats. Materials and methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent random-pattern skin flap surgeries. The animals were randomly divided among a control group and three treatment groups (localized injection (LI), 10 mg/kg/d localized HPE injections; low-dose treatment (LT), 10 mg/kg/d systemic HPE injections; high-dose treatment (HT), 40 mg/kg/d systemic HPE injections). Surviving skin flap areas were measured 7 days after surgery and tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin; vascular endothelial growth factor expression was determined immunohistochemically. To evaluate the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of HPE, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, and caspase-3 levels were examined. Results: Seven days after surgery, HPE-treated animals had significantly reduced necrotic areas, rats receiving the highest HPE dose demonstrated the greatest flap survival. In the HPE groups, the histopathological scores were lower than for the control group. Immunohistochemistry showed markedly more numerous vascular endothelial growth factor-positive cells in the HT group than in the C group. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower and glutathione peroxidase levels were higher in the HT group than in the C group. HPE treatment significantly inhibited apoptosis by lowering caspase-3 activity. Conclusions: HPE treatment yielded positive effects on flap survival, due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. These results suggest a new therapeutic approach for enhancing flap viability and accelerating wound repair.     

黄连解毒汤治疗新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)重型气营两燔证的中医方证关系及药理研究进展

自新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)疫情暴发以来,国家卫生健康委员会及各地相关单位陆续发布多个诊疗方案,其中重症期治疗推荐方剂中黄连解毒汤的中医证侯与《新型冠状病毒肺炎诊疗方案(试运行第七版)》中重型气营两燔证相应,可用于治疗气营两燔证。气营两燔证津液营阴耗损、正不敌邪,气营热毒炽盛,黄连解毒汤清热解毒,可通过祛邪达到扶正护阴的治疗目的。现代药理研究表明黄连解毒汤在治疗COVID-19重型气营两燔证中具有潜在的抗炎解热、抗病毒、抗氧化、调节机体免疫力、保护脏器组织等作用。通过对COVID-19重型气营两燔证的病机演变、黄连解毒汤的方证关系及现代药理作用进行梳理,分析黄连解毒汤治疗重型气营两燔证的中医方证关系及现代药理学基础,以期为黄连解毒汤用于COVID-19重型气营两燔证的有效治疗提供依据。     

含功能性油的水飞蓟宾超饱和自纳米乳的制备与体外评价

目的制备含功能性油的水飞蓟宾超饱和自纳米乳(SLB-S-SNEDDS),并对其进行表征及体外评价研究,以提高难溶性药物水飞蓟宾的生物利用度。方法铁氢化钾还原力与1,1-二苯基-2-苦肼基(DPPH)自由基清除实验筛选功能性油脂;伪三元相图考察乳化剂乳化能力;测定粒径、多分散指数(PDI)、Zeta电位等考察混合油相比例与载药量;相容性与溶出度实验筛选促过饱和物质并考察其质量浓度;从外观、粒径分布、自乳化效率、形态学等方面表征SLB-S-SNEDDS,并进行溶出度、抗氧化能力、细胞毒性等体外评价。结果所得SLB-S-SNEDDS处方为(1)小麦胚芽油/Capryol 90-Cremophor ELP-Transcutol HP与(2)沙棘籽油/Capryol 90-Cremophor ELP-Transcutol HP,1 g基质(包含0.043 g小麦胚芽油或沙棘籽油、0.387 g Capryol 90、0.380 g Cremophor ELP、0.190 g Transcutol HP),水飞蓟宾的添加量为各组分平衡溶解度之和的20%,Soluplus的添加量为上述总质量的0.1%。小麦胚芽油、沙棘籽油体系分别为淡黄色、亮黄色透明状均一液体,2种体系自乳化分散后均呈近球形白色扁平乳滴,粒径约为50 nm,乳化时间均为65 s。与药物原料及SLB-SNEDDS相比,SLB-S-SNEDDS中水飞蓟宾的累积溶出率8h内均维持在85%～110%,表明该体系能够显著提高药物的溶出度。SLB-S-SNEDDS与铁氰化钾反应后的吸光度(A值0.452～0.782,0.488～0.765)以及DPPH自由基清除率(39.09%～96.02%,30.54%～89.20%)均高于相应质量浓度下水飞蓟宾原料的A值与清除率(0.411～0.760,22.89%～63.21%),表明2种处方体系均能提高水飞蓟宾的抗氧化能力。细胞毒性实验结果显示,在5、10μmol/L药物浓度下,水飞蓟宾原料组、水飞蓟宾S-SNEDDS组及其相应的空白S-SNEDDS组细胞生存率均90%,说明SLB-S-SNEDDS及其所用辅料对人克隆结肠腺癌细胞(Caco-2)毒性较小、安全性较好。结论制备的含功能性油SLB-S-SNEDDS在提高水飞蓟宾累积溶出率的同时,增强了其抗氧化能力,为将超饱和自纳米乳(S-SNEDDS)用于改善难溶性药物水溶性及其生物活性提供有益参考。     

苓桂术甘汤中多糖结构组成及其抗氧化活性考察

目的:研究苓桂术甘汤中多糖的结构,包括单糖组成以及官能团检测,并对其抗氧化能力进行评估,为体外生物测定法运用于苓桂术甘汤的质量评价提供基础。方法:利用高效凝胶色谱对全方多糖分子量进行研究;进一步采用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)柱前衍生化法及红外光谱扫描分析全方多糖结构组成;采用1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)及羟基自由基测定全方粗多糖及精多糖的抗氧化能力。结果:全方多糖由单一峰组成,且相对分子质量为3 689 Da,主要由阿拉伯糖、甘露糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖、果糖组成,摩尔比为6. 85∶1. 00∶109. 21∶1. 04∶21. 82,其中葡萄糖和果糖为主要组成成分;红外结果显示聚糖结构中存在吡喃糖及糖醛酸,并且糖苷键存在2种立体异构(α-糖苷键及β-糖苷键);抗氧化研究发现全方多糖有一定清除DPPH自由基及羟基自由基的能力,粗多糖的活性优于精多糖。进一步采用LC-Q-TOF-MS对粗多糖中的其他成分进行定性分析,提示这与甘草中五环三萜类成分的吸附有关。结论:苓桂术甘汤中多糖及五环三萜类物质均是苓桂术甘汤抗氧化作用的物质基础,利用体外生物测定法测定抗氧化活性可作为全面控制苓桂术甘汤质量的评价指标。