Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen qu...Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017–2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 106 (0.09 × 106–0.27 × 106) ml and 12.21 × 106 (4.52 × 106–19.91 × 106) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.展开更多
Stroke may cause upper motor neurons lesions, and thus limb spasm may occur. Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt the environment and experience when the nervous system is damaged. Ac...Stroke may cause upper motor neurons lesions, and thus limb spasm may occur. Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt the environment and experience when the nervous system is damaged. Acupuncture can relieve the relevant pathological status due to stroke by enhancing brain plasticity. Specifically, acupuncture may finally achieve the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters by inhibiting the expression of neurotransmitter GABA, neurotrophic factor BDNF and proteins related to synaptic plasticity. This article analyzed and summarized that taking advantage of nervous plasticity the acupuncture could regenerate nervous cells and restore the related regulation of the movement by upper motor neurons, so as to relieving limb spasticity. It also summarized the research and application of acupuncture in regulating related signals, providing a systematic thought for the future study on acupuncture in the treatment of stroke induced limb.展开更多
基金supported by the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation(No.2022A1515011705).
文摘Extensive studies have identified potential adverse effects on semen quality of obesity, based on body mass index, but the association between body fat distribution, a more relevant indicator for obesity, and semen quality remains less clear. We conducted a longitudinal study of 4304 sperm donors from the Guangdong Provincial Human Sperm Bank (Guangzhou, China) during 2017–2021. A body composition analyzer was used to measure total and local body fat percentage for each participant. Generalized estimating equations were employed to assess the association between body fat percentage and sperm count, motility, and morphology. We estimated that each 10% increase in total body fat percentage (estimated change [95% confidence interval, 95% CI]) was significantly associated with a 0.18 × 106 (0.09 × 106–0.27 × 106) ml and 12.21 × 106 (4.52 × 106–19.91 × 106) reduction in semen volume and total sperm count, respectively. Categorical analyses and exposure-response curves showed that the association of body fat distribution with semen volume and total sperm count was stronger at higher body fat percentages. In addition, the association still held among normal weight and overweight participants. We observed similar associations for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb body fact distributions. In conclusion, we found that a higher body fat distribution was significantly associated with lower semen quality (especially semen volume) even in men with a normal weight. These findings provide useful clues in exploring body fat as a risk factor for semen quality decline and add to evidence for improving semen quality for those who are expected to conceive.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China:81673886Key R&D plan of the autonomous Region:2021BEB04023School level project of Ningxia Medical University:XT2020025。
文摘Stroke may cause upper motor neurons lesions, and thus limb spasm may occur. Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt the environment and experience when the nervous system is damaged. Acupuncture can relieve the relevant pathological status due to stroke by enhancing brain plasticity. Specifically, acupuncture may finally achieve the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters by inhibiting the expression of neurotransmitter GABA, neurotrophic factor BDNF and proteins related to synaptic plasticity. This article analyzed and summarized that taking advantage of nervous plasticity the acupuncture could regenerate nervous cells and restore the related regulation of the movement by upper motor neurons, so as to relieving limb spasticity. It also summarized the research and application of acupuncture in regulating related signals, providing a systematic thought for the future study on acupuncture in the treatment of stroke induced limb.
