Shao-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang (SFZYT) is reportedly beneficial to sperm. In this study, we examined sperm acrosomal activity and serum free radical changes to evaluate the possible mechanism of SFZYT. A clinical study evaluated the sperm count and motility in 36 patients with chronic prostatitis before and after treatment for 60 days. The results revealed a significant increase in sperm motility after treatment as evaluated by computer-assisted semen analysis (17.27 +/- 9.00 versus 28.29 +/- 10.00, p < 0.01). An increase in sperm quantity and quality was observed by count and morphology with a high-powered intravital microscope. To gain an understanding of the mechanisms that caused this effect, we assessed sperm acrosin activity levels before (10.6 micro lu/10(6)) and after medication (28.6 micro lu/10(6)) (p < 0.01). The levels of the free radicals was relatively higher before medication, 2144, compared to a normal value of 780 after medication (p < 0.01). In conclusion, SFZYT increased the motility and quality of human semen and this increase is related to an increase in sperm acrosin activity. SFZYT also works as a sperm antioxidant and antiaging agent.
Acetylator polymorphism in man results from differential expression of human liver N-acetyltransferase. NAcetyltransferase enzyme activity has been demonstrated to be involved in some types of chemical carcinogenesis. Paclitaxel (taxol) had been shown to affect N-acetyltransferase activity of human lung cancer cells. In this study, paclitaxel was chosen to investigate the effects of arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity (N-acetylation of substrate), gene expresssion and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct formation in human bladder carcinoma cell lines (T24 and TSGH 8301). The Nacetyltrasnsferase activity (N-acetylation of substrates) was determined by high performance liquid chromatography assaying for the amounts of acetylated 2-aminofluorene and p-aminobenzoic acid and nonacetylated 2-aminofluorene and p-aminobenzoic acid. Intact human bladder carcinoma T24 and TSGH 8301 cells were used for examining N-acetyltransferase activity, gene expression and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct formation. The results demonstrated that the N-acetyltransferase activity, gene expression (NAT1 mRNA) and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct formation in intact human bladder carcinoma cells were inhibited and decreased by paclitaxel in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of paclitaxel on the apparent values of Km and Vmax of N-acetyltransferase enzyme from intact human bladder carcinoma cells were also determined in these cell lines. A marked influence of paclitaxel was observed on the decreasing apparent values of K m and V max from intact human bladder carcinoma cells (T24 and TSGH 8301). Thus, paclitaxel is an uncompetitive inhibitor to the NAT enzyme.
To reduce the cost of fuel and heat loss from pipe surfaces, insulation needs to cover pipes when high temperature fluids are transported through them. Mineral wool has not only low heat conductivity but also good thermal and flame resistant properties. It can be used in a wide range of applications. To improve the performance of thermal insulation, it can be used in a composite material in combination with other insulating materials. Aerogel is regarded as one of the most promising high performance thermal insulation materials today, but only limited commercial products are available thus far due to cost and reliability factors. In this study, aerogel is produced in mineral wool using an ambient pressure drying process. The purpose of this study is to investigate the thermal performance of mineral wool-aerogel composite to meet the requirements for industrial applications. The experimental results indicated that silica aerogel can be successfully produced in mineral wool using an ambient pressure drying process. The cost and production time of this proposed process can be significantly decreased. As aerogel is mixed with mineral wool, the measured thermal conductivity of mineral wool-aerogel composite can be reduced from 0.071 to 0.055 W/m·K.
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