[Objective]To evaluate the role of mature cumulus cells from oocyte-cumulus complex(OCC)in in-vitro maturation(IVM)and establish a new culture technique which is convenient to carry out.[Methods]The cumulus cells of OCC were cut off and dispersed by 1 mL syringe.The cumulus cells were co-cultured with the immature oocytes retrieved from the COH cycles after they adherent to the bottom of the dish.The immature oocytes were experienced IVM procedures in different culture media.They were divided into 3 groups(the oocytes at germinal vesicle stage from one woman were allotted to the same group randomly).Group 1(solution A):basic culture medium+human follicular fluid(hFF);Group 2(solution B):solution A+ cumulus cells(OCC);Group 3(solution C):solution A+ OCC+ follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)+ epidermal growth factor (EGF).Then,the maturation rate,fertilization rate and formation rate of available embryo were observed.[Results]In 113 treatment cycles,298 immature oocytes were performed IVM with solution A,B,and C.The difference for 24 hour maturation rates among 3 groups wag statistically significant(A:45.2%,B:61.7%,C:78.2%,P＜0.05).There was no statistical difference for 25～48 hour maturation rates and normal fertilization rates of mature oocytes.The differences of cleavage rates and rescued embryo rates between group 1 and 2,group 1 and 3 were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The formation rates of available embryo showed an increasing trend from group 1,2,to 3.[Conclusion]After being dispersed by simply beat upon with syringe and adherent culture,the mature cumulus eells from mature OCCs in COH cycles,together with growth factors in the follicular fluid or extraneously supplemented,could promote the IVM of immature oocyte.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of the international union against cancer (UICC)stage,pathologic complete response (pCR),and the estimated treatment response as various means for prognostic stratifying patients after surgery in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who received preoperative radiotherapy (RT).MethodsA retrospective review was performed on 311 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received RT before the esophagectomy. Data collected included the demographics,the RT details,the pathologic findings,and the survival.Prognostic survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Logrank test.ResultsThe follow-up rate was 96.5％,89 and 43 patients,respectively were followed up more than 5 and 10 years.In univariate analysis,residual disease and the number of positive lymph node were predictors of the overall survival ( T-pCR,x2 =11.53,P =0.001 ;0,1 -3,≥4,x2=42.13,P=0.000,respectively).Further study found the 7th stage system of UICC cannot (can or cannot) entirely predict the prognosis of this group of patients.If categorizing the stages of their lymph nodes into three groups:N0(0),N1 (1-3) and N2(≥4)),and the modified UICC system can accurately distinguish ypStage Ⅰ with ypStage Ⅱ ( T0.3 N 1 M0 + T3 N0 M0 ) ( x2 =11.15,P =0.001 ) and ypStage Ⅱ with ypStage Ⅲ ( T4 N0-1 M0 and T0-3 N2 M0 ) ( x2 =23.39,P =0.000 ).ConclusionsThe pathologic post-radiotherapy T stage and the number of positive lymph node are predictors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving preoperative radiotherapy.The modified UICC stage system can be a better survival predictor than the 7th UICC stage system.