Experimental research has recently shown that acupuncture induces the formation of opioid-like peptides (OLPs) in animals. In order to provide further evidence, we tested the beta-endorphin levels and other parameters...Experimental research has recently shown that acupuncture induces the formation of opioid-like peptides (OLPs) in animals. In order to provide further evidence, we tested the beta-endorphin levels and other parameters (VIP, lymphocyte subsets, NK cells and monocyte phagocytosis) in a group of 90 patients suffering from various painful disorders treated with acupuncture. Zusanli (St 36) and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints were selected. A homogeneous group of 30 subjects was used as control. Evaluation of the above parameters was made with 3 series of blood tests before treatment, 30 minutes and 24 hours after acupuncture treatment. In the acupuncture group, the following results were achieved: 1) A considerable increase in beta-endorphin levels remained high even 24 hours after acupuncture treatment. In addition, we demonstrated an inverted correlation between beta-endorphins and VIP; 2) 30 minutes after acupuncture session, 80% of the treated patients showed a significant increase of CD3 and CD4 values and an increase of CD8 24 hours after stimulation; 3) Monocyte phagocytosis was increased in 45% of the treated subjects 30 minutes from starting treatment, and in 100% of them after 24 hours. The percentage of NK cells was also increased in 40% of cases after 30 minutes, and in 50% after 24 hours. However, in the control group, no such significant changes in immune parameters were found.展开更多
Objective: To investigate membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 protein expression level in decidua and concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in serum in women with unexplained early spontaneou...Objective: To investigate membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 protein expression level in decidua and concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in serum in women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion, threatened abortion, and compare the levels with healthy pregnant women. Methods: Thirty-seven women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion, 27 women with threatened abortion, and 34 healthy pregnant women undergoing artificial abortion of pregnancy at 6 - 10 weeks of gestation were selected. Decidual samples were collected when women were undergoing artificial abortion, and blood samples were collected at the same time. The level of membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in decidua was detected by flow cytometer, and the concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in sera was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The percentages of membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 positive decidual cells were 16.42 ± 7.10 Mean ± SD for women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion and 13. 14 ± 6.30 for healthy pregnant women ( P < 0.05). Serum concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 was significantly higher in women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion than in healthy pregnant women and in women with threatened abortion, and no difference was found between healthy pregnant women and women with threatened abortion. Conclusion: Women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion present significantly higher expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 than healthy pregnant women, suggesting that over-expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 may contribute to the development of early spontaneous abortion.展开更多
In sex role reversed species, predominantly females evolve sexually selected traits, such as ornaments and/or weapons. Female ornaments are common and their function well documented in many species, whether sex role r...In sex role reversed species, predominantly females evolve sexually selected traits, such as ornaments and/or weapons. Female ornaments are common and their function well documented in many species, whether sex role reversed or not. However, sexually selected female weapons seem totally absent except for small wing spurs in three jacana species, present in both males and females. This poor female weaponry is in sharp contrast to the situation in species with conventional sex roles： males com- monly have evolved sexually selected weapons as well as ornaments. At the same time, females in many taxa have naturally se- lected weapons, used in competition over resources or in predator defence. Why are sexually selected weapons then so rare, al- most absent, in females？ Here I briefly review weaponry in females and the function of these weapons, conclude that the near ab- sence of sexually selected weapons begs an explanation, and suggest that costs of sexually selected weapons may exceed costs of ornaments. Females are more constrained when evolving sexually selected traits compared to males, at least compared to those males that do not provide direct benefits, as trait costs reduce a female＇s fecundity. I suggest that this constraining trade-off between trait and fecundity restricts females to evolve ornaments but rarely weapons. The same may apply to paternally investing males. Whether sexually selected weapons actually are more costly than sexually selected ornaments remains to be investigated展开更多
The role of female sex pheromones in natural selection, particularly as a means for species recognition to avoid the generation of hybrid offspring with low fitness, has been widely explored and is generally accepted ...The role of female sex pheromones in natural selection, particularly as a means for species recognition to avoid the generation of hybrid offspring with low fitness, has been widely explored and is generally accepted by scholars. However, the significance of sex pheromones in shaping mate choice （sexual selection） and in competition over breeding resources （social se- lection） has been largely ignored. The effect of sexual selection on sex pheromones as a sexually dimorphic signaling trait has been discounted because the amount of pheromone released by females is typically minute, while the role of sex pheromones in competition over breeding resources （other than mates） has not yet been considered. As a result of natural selection, variation in sex pheromones among females is expected to be low, and males are not expected to choose their mates among phero- mone-releasing conspecific females. Sexual selection, on the other hand, should drive the increase in pheromone variance among females, and males are expected to choose females based on this variation. Moreover, social selection resulting from more general social interactions, for example competition among females for breeding sites and food, should also promote variance among female sex pheromones. Here, we review the cttrrent evidence for each of the three selection processes acting on sex pheromones of female moths as an advertising trait. We suggest that the three selection types are not mutually exclusive but rather act together to promote different fimess components in diverse ecological situations展开更多
文摘Experimental research has recently shown that acupuncture induces the formation of opioid-like peptides (OLPs) in animals. In order to provide further evidence, we tested the beta-endorphin levels and other parameters (VIP, lymphocyte subsets, NK cells and monocyte phagocytosis) in a group of 90 patients suffering from various painful disorders treated with acupuncture. Zusanli (St 36) and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints were selected. A homogeneous group of 30 subjects was used as control. Evaluation of the above parameters was made with 3 series of blood tests before treatment, 30 minutes and 24 hours after acupuncture treatment. In the acupuncture group, the following results were achieved: 1) A considerable increase in beta-endorphin levels remained high even 24 hours after acupuncture treatment. In addition, we demonstrated an inverted correlation between beta-endorphins and VIP; 2) 30 minutes after acupuncture session, 80% of the treated patients showed a significant increase of CD3 and CD4 values and an increase of CD8 24 hours after stimulation; 3) Monocyte phagocytosis was increased in 45% of the treated subjects 30 minutes from starting treatment, and in 100% of them after 24 hours. The percentage of NK cells was also increased in 40% of cases after 30 minutes, and in 50% after 24 hours. However, in the control group, no such significant changes in immune parameters were found.
文摘Objective: To investigate membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 protein expression level in decidua and concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in serum in women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion, threatened abortion, and compare the levels with healthy pregnant women. Methods: Thirty-seven women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion, 27 women with threatened abortion, and 34 healthy pregnant women undergoing artificial abortion of pregnancy at 6 - 10 weeks of gestation were selected. Decidual samples were collected when women were undergoing artificial abortion, and blood samples were collected at the same time. The level of membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in decidua was detected by flow cytometer, and the concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in sera was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The percentages of membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 positive decidual cells were 16.42 ± 7.10 Mean ± SD for women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion and 13. 14 ± 6.30 for healthy pregnant women ( P < 0.05). Serum concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 was significantly higher in women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion than in healthy pregnant women and in women with threatened abortion, and no difference was found between healthy pregnant women and women with threatened abortion. Conclusion: Women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion present significantly higher expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 than healthy pregnant women, suggesting that over-expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 may contribute to the development of early spontaneous abortion.
文摘In sex role reversed species, predominantly females evolve sexually selected traits, such as ornaments and/or weapons. Female ornaments are common and their function well documented in many species, whether sex role reversed or not. However, sexually selected female weapons seem totally absent except for small wing spurs in three jacana species, present in both males and females. This poor female weaponry is in sharp contrast to the situation in species with conventional sex roles： males com- monly have evolved sexually selected weapons as well as ornaments. At the same time, females in many taxa have naturally se- lected weapons, used in competition over resources or in predator defence. Why are sexually selected weapons then so rare, al- most absent, in females？ Here I briefly review weaponry in females and the function of these weapons, conclude that the near ab- sence of sexually selected weapons begs an explanation, and suggest that costs of sexually selected weapons may exceed costs of ornaments. Females are more constrained when evolving sexually selected traits compared to males, at least compared to those males that do not provide direct benefits, as trait costs reduce a female＇s fecundity. I suggest that this constraining trade-off between trait and fecundity restricts females to evolve ornaments but rarely weapons. The same may apply to paternally investing males. Whether sexually selected weapons actually are more costly than sexually selected ornaments remains to be investigated
文摘The role of female sex pheromones in natural selection, particularly as a means for species recognition to avoid the generation of hybrid offspring with low fitness, has been widely explored and is generally accepted by scholars. However, the significance of sex pheromones in shaping mate choice （sexual selection） and in competition over breeding resources （social se- lection） has been largely ignored. The effect of sexual selection on sex pheromones as a sexually dimorphic signaling trait has been discounted because the amount of pheromone released by females is typically minute, while the role of sex pheromones in competition over breeding resources （other than mates） has not yet been considered. As a result of natural selection, variation in sex pheromones among females is expected to be low, and males are not expected to choose their mates among phero- mone-releasing conspecific females. Sexual selection, on the other hand, should drive the increase in pheromone variance among females, and males are expected to choose females based on this variation. Moreover, social selection resulting from more general social interactions, for example competition among females for breeding sites and food, should also promote variance among female sex pheromones. Here, we review the cttrrent evidence for each of the three selection processes acting on sex pheromones of female moths as an advertising trait. We suggest that the three selection types are not mutually exclusive but rather act together to promote different fimess components in diverse ecological situations
