Caffeic acid phenethyl ester,a propolis polyphenolic,attenuates potentially cadmium-induced testicular dysfunction in mice

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) as environmental pollutant can induce severe damage, particularly to the testis. This study investigated the effects of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on testicular dysfunction induced by Cd. Adult mice were intraperitoneally injected with cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) with different doses of CAPE pretreatment. After CdCl₂ injection, body/testis weight ratio decreased, Cd levels accumulated and zinc levels decreased in testis. Furthermore, Cd intoxication caused a significant increase of oxidative stress levels, antioxidant enzymes activities, and glutathione levels. Interestingly, significant improvements were observed after the administration of CAPE. Our results demonstrated the protective effect of CAPE, linking Cd testicular dysfunction to oxidative stress.     

Per‐oral transgastric abdominal surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has several advantages over traditional surgery because it has been shown to be less invasive. The next logical step in the evolution of minimally invasive surgery may be to eliminate all abdominal incisions. The natural orifices provide a port of entry via the gastrointestinal tract to the peritoneal cavity. This approach would require the creation of a perforation, which is considered to be a major complication of endoscopy with significant morbidity and mortality. However, there are several recent studies that have described the technical feasibility and safety of a per‐oral transgastric approach to the peritoneal cavity using conventional endoscopes. Theoretically, this approach could reduce postoperative abdominal wall pain, wound infection, hernia formation, and adhesions. This article aims to summarize the current status of transgastric surgery, currently referred to as natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), and to address some of its future challenges.     

经肺动脉与支气管动脉血管造影的CTA观察原发肺癌的血供

目的用支气管动脉(BA)和肺动脉(PA)造影CTA观察肺癌血供情况。方法前瞻性观察6例支气管肺癌患者,分别行体循环动脉和肺动脉数字减影血管造影(DSA)后,留置BA导管与PA导管行CTBA与CTPA,观察BA与PA对肺癌的血供。结果CTPA上,无体动脉与左心强化的图像上肿瘤未见强化,有体动脉或左心强化的图像上见肿瘤边缘强化,CT强化值为10.0~45.6 Hu。CTBA上肿瘤部分明显强化,CT强化值为150.3~320.7 Hu,可见杂乱无章的肿瘤血管影,3例见纵隔淋巴结强化。结论本组病例观察表明原发性肺癌由BA为主的多发体循环动脉供血,未发现PA参与供血。     

Risk factors and ankle brachial indexes in cerebral infarction combined with peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND: Ankle brachial index(ABI)is widely involved in researches and clinical application of peripheral vascular injury of patients with diabetes (DM);however ,the application in cerebral infarction(CI)is rare.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible risk factor of cerebral infarction plus peripheral arterial disease(PAD),compare metabolic characteristics of patients who having CI plus PAD or only having CI,and understand the significance of ABI on screening and diagnosing CI plus PAD of lower limb.DESIGN: Contrast observation based on CI patients.SETTING: Deparment of Neurology,Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhang Autonomous Region.PARTICIPANTS:A total of 124 CI patients were selected from Department of Neurology.Nanxishan Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from July 2005 to April 2006,including 72 males and 52 females aged from 45 to 88 years.All patients met the diagnostic criteria of cerebrovascular disease established by National Academic Conference of Cerebrovascular Diseases in 1995 and determined as cerebral infarction with MRI or CT examination.All patients provided informed consent.There were 46 cases(37.2%)with CI plus PAD and 78 cases(62.8%)only with CI.METHODS: Blood pressure of bilateral ankles and upper extremities was measured at plain clinostatism with DINAMAP blood pressure monitor(GE Company).The ratio between average systolic pressure of lateral ankle and average systolic pressure of both upper extremities was regarded as ABI.The normal ABI was equal to or more than 0.9.If ABI＜0.9 occurred at one side,patients were diagnosed as PAD.On the second morning after hospitalization,blood was collected to measure fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose(PBG2h),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbAlc),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C).Among them,blood glucose.lipid and other biochemical markers were measured with enzyme chemistry assay and HbA1c was measured with HbA1c meter based on high liquid phase.Measurement data and enumeration data were compared with t test and Chi-square test.and multiple factors were deat with Logistic regression analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of correlation between ABI and metabolic markers with multivariate linear regression analysis;risk factors of CI plus PAD with Logistic regression analysis;comparisons of metabolic markers between PAD and non-PAD patients.RESULTS:All 124 patients with acute CI were involved in the final analysis.①Comparisons of metabolic markers:Levels of serum LDL-C and uric acid(UA)were higher of PAD patients than those of non-PAD patients(t=2.051 9,3.339 1,P＜0.05);however,there were no significant differences among other metabolic markers(P＞0.05).②Results of multivariate linear regression analysis:PBG2h,LDL.C and UA were obvious correlation with ABI of posterior tibial artery of lower limb and dorsal pedis artery rpartial regression coefficient:-0.231 to-1.010,P＜0.05).③Risk factors of CI plus PAD with Logistic regression analysis:Age.Smoking history,sum of CI focus(≥3)and LDL-C were independent risk factor of CI plus PAD(OR=1.524-5.422,P＜0.05-0.01 ).CONCLUSION:①Levels of serum LDL-C and UA of patients with CI plus PAD are high.②ABI of lower limbs is correlation with PBG2h,LDL-C and UA.In addition,measuring ABI is beneficial for early diagnosing PAD of lower limbs of patients who have poorly controlled blood glucose,abnormal lipid and poor renal function.③Age,LDL-C and sum of CI focus(≥3)are independent risk factors of CI plus PAD.It is of significance for screening non-PAD patients to evaluate risk degrees and prognosis and select therapeutic methods based on ABI measurement.     

米索前列醇预防产后出血的临床观察

产后出血是分娩常见并发症，严重者危及产妇生命，预防产后出血是减少产妇病死率的重要内容之一。为探寻一种安全、简单、高效的预防方法，在产后立即给产妇一次性口服米索前列醇600μg，通过增强子宫收缩，预防产后出血，临床效果显著。现报告如下。     

hs-CRP、TAS联合血脂检测在早老性痴呆症诊断中的应用研究

[目的]研究超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、总抗氧化状态（TAS）联合血脂检测在早老性痴呆症诊断中的应用价值：[方法]选择浦东新区精神卫生中心早老性痴呆专科门诊患者54例，作超敏C反应蛋白、总抗氧化状态与血脂检测。[结果]与对照组比较，实验组hs-CRP、TAS差异非常显著，t1=4．55，t2=2．79，P1〈0．001，P2〈0．01；血脂中甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白B、Lp（a）差异显著；t1=3.01，P1〈0．01，t2=2．21，P2〈0．05，t3=2．64，P3〈0．01，t4=1．91，P4〈0．05。[结论]超敏C反应蛋白、总抗氧化状态联合血脂（甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、载脂蛋白B、Lp（a））检测对实验室诊断早老性痴呆症具有较好敏感性和特异性，临床应用前景乐观。     

Perspectives on Health Among Adult Users of Illicit Stimulant Drugs in Rural Ohio

CONTEXT: Although the nonmedical use of stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine is increasingly common in many rural areas of the United States, little is known about the health beliefs of people who use these drugs. PURPOSE: This research describes illicit stimulant drug users' views on health and health-related concepts that may affect their utilization of health care services. METHODS: A respondent-driven sampling plan was used to recruit 249 not-in-treatment, nonmedical stimulant drug users who were residing in 3 rural counties in west central Ohio. A structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers was used to collect information on a range of topics, including current drug use, self-reported health status, perceived need for substance abuse treatment, and beliefs about health and health services. FINDINGS: Participants reported using a wide variety of drugs nonmedically, some by injection. Alcohol and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs in the 30 days prior to the interview. Powder cocaine was used by 72.3% of the sample, crack by 68.3%, and methamphetamine by 29.7%. Fair or poor health status was reported by 41.3% of the participants. Only 20.9% of the sample felt they needed drug abuse treatment. Less than one third of the sample reported that they would feel comfortable talking to a physician about their drug use, and 65.1% said they preferred taking care of their problems without getting professional help. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulant drug users in rural Ohio are involved with a range of substances and hold health beliefs that may impede health services utilization.