Effect of Electroacupuncture on Spermatogenesis in Rats with Oligozoospermia of Insufficiency of Shen (Kidney) Essence Syndrome

Objective: To assess the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on expression of cytoskeletal proteins from Sertoli cells(SCs) and spermatogenesis in rats with oligozoospermia of insufficiency of Shen(Kidney)essence syndrome(OIKES).Methods: Twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups using a random number table: control,tripterygium glycosides(TG) treatment,sham and EA groups(n=5 in each group).A rat model of OIKES was established by oral gavage with TG.The EA group was treated with TG and received EA at Shenshu(BL 23) and Zusanli(ST 36) acupoints for 20 min,once daily for 30 days,while the sham group received EA at identical acupoints with skin penetration without stimulation.After 30 days,the ?nal body weight and coef?cients for the testis and epididymis were calculated and sperm parameters were measured.Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect expression of vimentin and α-tubulin in SCs and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) immunoreactivity in germ cells.Apoptosis in germ cells was quanti?ed by the transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling assay.Results: Compared with the control group,the final body weight and testis/epididymis coefficients of rats in the TG-treated group were not significantly different,but the sperm count and motility were lower(P0.05).Expressions of vimentin and α-tubulin were also signi?cantly weaker(P0.01).The PCNA immunoreactivity of germ cells was decreased(P=0.059),whereas the apoptotic index of germ cells was increased signi?cantly(P0.01).In contrast,EA at BL 23 and ST 36 acupoints signi?cantly improved the ?nal body weight as well as the sperm count,concentration and motility(P0.01 or P0.05).EA increased expression of vimentin and α-tubulin in SCs markedly,and signi?cantly enhanced PCNA immunoreactivity with decreased apoptosis in germ cells(P0.01 or P0.05).Conclusions: EA at BL 23 and ST 36 acupoints has protective effects on spermatogenesis in rats with OIKES.This effect seems to be achieved by attenuating TG-induced disruption of cytoskeletal protein in SCs.     

Chest wall pain following lung stereotactic body radiation therapy using 48 Gy in three fractions: A search for predictors

Purpose

Chest wall pain is an uncommon but bothersome late complication following lung stereotactic body radiation therapy. Despite numerous studies investigating predictors of chest wall pain, no clear consensus has been established for a chest wall constraint. The aim of our study was to investigate factors related to chest wall pain in a homogeneous group of patients treated at our institution.

Alveolar crest contour changes after guided bone regeneration using different biomaterials: an experimental in vivo investigation

To evaluate the changes in alveolar contour after guided bone regeneration (GBR) with two different combinations of biomaterials in dehiscence defects arou     

体外受精胚胎移植中异常受精的原因分析

当前，体外受精-胚胎移植技术(in vito fertilization,IVF-ET)是治疗不孕不育问题的重要手段之一。1978年世界上第一例试管婴儿自英国诞生以来，已有成千上万的不孕不育夫妇通过这项技术获得了后代，随这项技术的发展，促排卵技术、配子的体外受精技术、胚胎的体外培养技术不断得到改善，但目前仍有许多夫妇因为各种原因导致不能受孕，受精失败就是原因之一。有文献指出：夫妇双方在排除男性不育的因素之后，传统IVF-ET的受精失败率仍然在2-3％[1]，受精失败的模式包括：卵子完全不受精及卵子的异常受精。临床上卵子完全不受精或受精率低时，可以通过补救ICSI来进行挽救，但卵子异常受精情况的发生目前还无法进行挽救，这导致卵子的利用率低下，增加了患者的经济与精神负担。因此，如何预防和降低异常受精的发生将成为改善IVF-ET总体结局的重要环节,本文拟将体外受精过程中出现的可能影响受精结局的问题进行逐一探讨。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎中医认识初探

新型冠状病毒肺炎中医属"寒湿疫"范畴,以湿邪为病机核心,以肺为病位中心,以脾胃盛衰为疾病进退的关键。治疗与预防调护方面,急性期,卫气同调,宜宣清和化;恢复期,肺脾同治,宜清补轻宣,注重饮食、情志调摄;谨慎使用抗病毒、抗生素、激素及液体疗法。