Effects of Iron Supplementation on Testicular Function and Spermatogenesis of Iron-Deficient Rats

Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world. Previous studies have shown that iron deficiency increases oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant enzymes, and studies of male infertility indicated that oxidative stress may affect male reproductive functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iron supplementation on spermatogenesis and testicular functions in iron-deficient rats. Three-week-old male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups: an iron-adequate control (AI group, 35 ppm FeSO₄) and an iron-deficient group (ID group, <5 ppm FeSO₄). After three weeks, the iron-deficient group was divided into an original iron-deficient group and five iron-supplemented groups, the latter fed diets containing different doses of FeSO₄ (6, 12, 18, 24, and 35 ppm). After five weeks, blood and testis tissue were analyzed. We presented as median (interquartile range, IQR) for continuous measurements and compared their differences using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the Mann–Whitney U test among groups. The results showed that as compared with the AI group, the ID group had significantly lower serum testosterone and poorer spermatogenesis (The medians (QR) were 187.4 (185.6–190.8) of AI group vs. 87.5 (85.7–90.4) of ID group in serum testosterone, p < 0.05; 9.3 (8.8–10.6) of AI group vs. 4.9 (3.4–5.4) of ID group in mean testicular biopsy score (MTBS], p < 0.05); iron supplementation reversed the impairment of testis tissue. In the testosterone biosynthesis pathway, iron supplementation improved the lowered protein expressions of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases caused by iron deficiency. Additionally, decreased activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase, and increased cleaved-caspase 8 and caspase 3 expression, were found in the iron-deficient rats. The iron-supplemented rats that received > 12 ppm FeSO₄ exhibited improvements in antioxidant levels. In conclusion, iron supplementation can abrogate testis dysfunction due to iron deficiency through regulation of the testicular antioxidant capacity.     

耳穴压豆法治疗失眠症的护理研究

目的:探讨耳穴压豆法治疗失眠症的效果及方法。方法:将我院失眠症患者60例采用耳穴压豆法实施护理,追踪随访临床效果。结果:治疗后患者入睡时间小于30分钟人数明显多于治疗前,比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后患者睡眠时间大于6h人数明显多于治疗前,比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。本组总有效率达98.33%。结论:耳穴压豆法治疗失眠症的效果明确,值得应用。     

7,7'-Dimethoxyagastisflavone-induced apoptotic or autophagic cell death in different cancer cells

7,7'-Dimethoxyagastisflavone (DMGF), a biflavonoid isolated from the needles of Taxus × media cv. Hicksii, was evaluated for its antiproliferative and antineoplastic effects in three human cancer cell lines. Interestingly, DMGF caused cell death via different pathways in different cancer cells. DMGF induced apoptosis, activated caspase-3 activity and changed the mitochondrial membrane potential in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. However, the apoptotic pathway is not the major pathway involved in DMGF-induced cell death in A549 human lung cancer cells and HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Treatment with 3-MA, an inhibitor of autophagy, significantly decreased DMGF-induced cell death in HepG2 and A549 cells, but did not affect DMGF-induced cell death in HT-29 cells. Following DMGF treatment, the HepG2 cells increased expression of LC3B-II, a marker used to monitor autophagy in cells. Thus, DMGF induced apoptotic cell death in HT-29 cells, triggered both apoptotic and autophagic death in A549 cells and induced autophagic cell death in HepG2 cells.     

“Pincer movement”: Reversing cisplatin resistance based on simultaneous glutathione depletion and glutathione S-transferases inhibition by redox-responsive degradable organosilica hybrid nanoparticles

The therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin has been restricted by drug resistance of cancers. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) detoxification of cisplatin under the catalysis of glutathione S-transferases (GST) plays important roles in the development of cisplatin resistance. Herein, a strategy of “pincer movement” based on simultaneous GSH depletion and GST inhibition is proposed to enhance cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Specifically, a redox-responsive nanomedicine based on disulfide-bridged degradable organosilica hybrid nanoparticles is developed and loaded with cisplatin and ethacrynic acid (EA), a GST inhibitor. Responding to high level of intracellular GSH, the hybrid nanoparticles can be gradually degraded due to the break of disulfide bonds, which further promotes drug release. Meanwhile, the disulfide-mediated GSH depletion and EA-induced GST inhibition cooperatively prevent cellular detoxification of cisplatin and reverse drug resistance. Moreover, the nanomedicine is integrated into microneedles for intralesional drug delivery against cisplatin-resistant melanoma. The in vivo results show that the nanomedicine-loaded microneedles can achieve significant GSH depletion, GST inhibition, and consequent tumor growth suppression. Overall, this research provides a promising strategy for the construction of new-type nanomedicines to overcome cisplatin resistance, which extends the biomedical application of organosilica hybrid nanomaterials and enables more efficient chemotherapy against drug-resistant cancers.KEY WORDS: Cancer therapy, Cisplatin, Drug resistance, Glutathione depletion, Glutathione S-transferases, Disulfide bonds, Organosilica hybrid nanoparticles, Ethacrynic acid     

Self-assembled sonogels formed from 1,4-naphthalenedicarbonyldinicotinic acid hydrazide

In this paper, we report self-assembled sonogels formed from 1,4-naphthalenedicarbonyldinicotinic acid hydrazide (NDC-NN3) in some liquids including ethanol, tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,4-dioxane, n-propanol, n-butanol and n-pentanol. When the clear solution of NDC-NN3 in the selected liquids mentioned above at a suitable concentration was irradiated with ultrasound waves at room temperature, a sonogel was formed. Upon heating, the sonogel dissolved gradually and finally became a clear solution again. Upon cooling the hot solution to room temperature, the solution state did not change even after standing for a few days. Nevertheless, if the solution underwent sonication for a certain time, a stable gel was obtained again. The critical gelation concentrations (CGCs) of NDC-NN3 in ethanol, THF, 1,4-dioxane, n-propanol, n-butanol and n-pentanol are 10, 8, 6, 8, 6 and 8 mg mL⁻¹, respectively. The obtained sonogels display excellent mechanical properties. The crystal structure of NDC-NN3 suggests that the naphthalene ring, hydrazide group and the position of N in the pyridine ring mediate the self-assembly process. Upon sonication, the formation of suitable π–π stacking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding drives the gelator molecules to self-assemble into fibers, spheres and micro-burdock-shaped balls in various solvents, which ultimately confine the liquids.

Ultrasound-induced gelation of a novel type of gelator, 1,4-naphthalenedicarbonyl- dinicotinic acid hydrazide, is reported. The gelator self-assembled into various architectures in different solvents.     

大剂量甲氨蝶呤静脉给药时间对淋巴瘤患者脑脊液中药物浓度的影响

背景与目的:甲氨蝶呤(methotrexate,MTX)在脑脊液中高于最小有效治疗浓度是治疗中枢淋巴瘤的必要条件,目前尚不明确大剂量MTX(high doseMTX,HD-MTX)静脉给药时间对MTX穿透血脑屏障的影响.本研究探索HD-MTX静脉不同给药时间对脑脊液中MTX浓度的影响,以获得更好的中枢淋巴瘤防治效果并尽可能减少MTX外周毒性.方法:34例非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者分别接受MTX 1～3g/m2 6 h持续静脉给药或24 h持续静脉给药,其中17例交替使用两种给药方法;采用高效液相色谱法检测MTX停药0 h、24 h、48 h的MTX血清浓度,及停药0 h后脑脊液中MTX浓度;比较两组血中和脑脊液中MTX浓度以及毒性反应,并对影响MTX浓度的因素进行相关分析.结果:给药结束时6 h给药组的MTX血清浓度显著高于24 h给药组:自身对照结果6 h给药组的脑脊液中MTX浓度为0.70 Ixmol/L,明显高于24 h给药组的0.49 Ixmol/L(校正值,P=0.044).MTX的脑脊液浓度与血清浓度呈正相关,中枢侵犯患者脑脊液MTX浓度显著高于无中枢侵犯的患者.自身对照结果6 h组和24 h组Ⅱ～Ⅳ度粘膜炎的发生率分别15.4%和37.8%.Ⅲ～Ⅳ度骨髓抑制的发生率分别为46.2%和67.6%.结论:在提高MTX的中枢浓度和降低外周毒性方面,HD-MTX 6 h给药方案优于24 h给药方案.     

晚期糖基化终产物对肾小球系膜细胞表达Fractalkine的诱导作用

目的 探讨晚期糖基化终产物（AGE）对肾小球系膜细胞表达Fractalkine（Fkn）的影响. 方法 体外培养大鼠肾小球系膜细胞,实验设AGE组:加入AGE BSA ( 100 mg/L);对照组:加入牛血清清蛋白（BSA）（100 mg/L）;PDTC组:先加入PDTC100 μmol/L 孵育1 h,再加入AGE BSA ( 100 mg/L) ;AGE抗体组:先加入抗AGE 抗体(100 mg/L IgG) 孵育2 h后,再加入AGE BSA ( 100 mg/L).培养所需时间收集细胞,检测Fkn mRNA及蛋白表达,激光共聚焦显微镜检测NFκB活化. 结果 AGE诱导体外培养的大鼠系膜细胞大量表达Fkn mRNA及蛋白,PDTC和AGE抗体显著抑制AGE诱导系膜细胞表达Fkn mRNA及蛋白.经AGE刺激后NF κB/P65迅速核转位,30 min达高峰。 结论 AGE通过活化NF κB诱导肾小球系膜细胞表达Fkn.     

Investigation of Potential Use of Soybean Protein Isolate–Chinese Bayberry Tannin Extract Cross-Linked Films in Packaging Applications

The possibility of using commercial bayberry tannin (BT) from a Chinese source as a cross-linker and functional additive to develop soybean protein isolate (SPI)-based films was explored in this study by using the solvent casting method. In particular, the impacts of BT loading on the tensile strength, microstructure, thermal stability, water resistance and antioxidant capacity were fully investigated. The results reveal that SPI incorporated with BT yielded a phenolic–protein hybrid whose relevant films exhibited an improvement in tensile strength of around two times greater compared with native SPI as a result of the formed interactions and covalent cross-links, which could be proven using FTIR spectroscopy. The introduction of BT also led to the compact microstructure of SPI–BT films and enhanced the thermal stability, while the water vapor permeability was reduced compared with the control SPI film, especially at high loading content of tannin. Additionally, the use of BT significantly promoted the antioxidant capacity of the SPI-based films according to DPPH radical scavenging assay results. On this basis, Chinese bayberry tannin is considered a promising natural cross-linker and multifunctional additive that can be dedicated to developing protein-derived films with antioxidant activity for food packaging applications.