The significance of the performance of conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) using sibling oocytes from couples with subfertile male or unexplained infertility was evaluated. A total of 410 sibling oocyte cumulus-corona complexes (OCCC) from 21 couples with subfertile male (group A) and 11 unexplained infertile couples (group B) were randomly divided, in order of retrieval, into two groups inseminated either by conventional IVF or by ICSI. The treatment outcomes and the influence of infertility factors on fertilization in each group were compared. The results showed that although the two pronuclear (2PN) fertilization rate per injected sibling oocytes was significantly higher after ICSI (group A: 68.2% +/- 28.8%; group B: 66.2% +/- 24.9%) than after conventional IVF (group A: 41.8% +/- 32.7%; group B: 40.1% +/- 22.1%), the other variables studied included: the fertilization rates of per allocated sibling oocytes IVF/ICSI, the fertilization rates of sibling oocytes IVF/ICSI after excluding failed IVF fertilization cycles, as well as the cleavage rates of normal fertilization were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Similarly, though the total fertilization failure rate in the IVF group (group A: 42.9%; group B: 36.4%) was significantly higher than in the ICSI group (group A: 4.8%; group B: 0), we did not cancel cycles due to the normal fertilization of sibling oocytes. Embryo transfer was possible in all 32 couples. There were 10 clinical pregnancies in the two groups. We also discovered a possible association between some semen parameters and sperm functions of group A, and women age and duration of infertility of group B and fertilization. It is suggested that adoption of the split IVF/ICSI technology in the above cases may help eliminate fertilization failures. This is also a useful method to investigate the effect of single factor on the employment of assisted reproductive technology.
Embryo Transfer ; Fertilization/*physiology ; *Fertilization in Vitro ; Infertility, Male/*therapy ; Oocytes/*physiology ; Semen/physiology ; Siblings ; Sperm Count ; *Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility/physiology

Objective To study the effects of the monoclonal anti idiotypic antibody NP30 active immunization on egg granuloma formation and hepatic fibrosis in Schistosoma japonicum infection. Methods ICR mice were actively immunized with NP30 100 ?g ?3 ip. every 10 days while the mice in control group were injected with SP2/0 ascites ip. simultaneously. After cercariae challenging,the mice were killed at the 4th, 8th,12th, 16th, 20th and 24th week, respectively.Mouse livers were removed and stained histochemically with VG and subjected to immunohistochemical assay of collagen type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and fibronectin(FN).The volume of egg granulomas and the content of collagen type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and FN were determined quantitatively by NYD 1000 Image Analysis System. Results The volume of egg granulomas in NP30 immunized group was much smaller than that of control group from the 12th week after cercariae challenge. The cellular components of egg granulomas in NP30 immunized group were significantly different from those of the control group,exhibiting two types of atypical egg granulomas were found.VG stain revealed that the average optical density of collagen in hepatic granulomas of experimental group was lower than that of control group.Immunohistochemical assay revealed that the contents of collagen type Ⅰ,Ⅲ and fibronectin in egg granulomas of experimental group were lower than those of control group. Conclusion NP30 vaccination may induce both cellular and humoral protective immunity to modulate egg granulomas and suppress liver fibrosis of schistosomiasis japonica.

Objective To explore the influence of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-7 ( MMP-7 ) levels and genetic polymorphism of MMP-7 - 181 A/G on the stability of carotid plaque.Method According to carotid ultrasound examination, 503 patients with carotid atherosclerotic lesions were consecutively recruited and divided into vulnerable plaque group (n = 118) and stable plaque group (n = 385).Plasma MMP-7 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and MMP-7 -181 A/G genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restiction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).Results Plasma MMP-7 levels in carotid vulnerable plaque group were significantly enhanced as compared to stable plaque group (t =5.49, P =0.00).The frequency of MMP-7 -181G allele in vulnerable plaque group was significantly higher than that in stable plaque group (11.4% vs 7.0% ,χ2 = 4.78, P= 0.029).Compared to AA genotype, the genotypes with - 181G allele (AG + GG) significantly increased susceptibility to carotid vulnerable plaque ( χ2 = 5.01, OR = 1.81, P = 0.025 ) .When further analyzing the relationship between genotype and plasma MMP-7 levels, no significant differences of plasma MMP-7 levels were observed between AA genotype and AG + GG genotype in stable plaque group.However, in vulnerable plaque group, plasma MMP-7 levels of AG + GG genotype were significantly higher than that of AA genotype( t = 2.62, P = 0.01).Conclusion The present findings suggest that plasma MMP-7 level may be a biomarker for carotid vulnerable plaque.Genetic polymorphism of - 181 A/G in MMP-7 promoter may affect the expression of MMP-7, and seems to be implicated in susceptibility to carotid vulnerable plaque.

The significance of the performance of conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) using sibling oocytes from couples with subfertile male or unexplained infertility was evaluated. A total of 410 sibling oocyte cumulus-corona complexes (OCCC) from 21 couples with subfertile male (group A) and 11 unexplained infertile couples (group B) were randomly divided, in order of retrieval, into two groups inseminated either by conventional IVF or by ICSI. The treatment outcomes and the influence of infertility factors on fertilization in each group were compared. The results showed that although the two pronuclear (2PN) fertilization rate per injected sibling oocytes was significantly higher after ICSI (group A: 68.2% +/- 28.8%; group B: 66.2% +/- 24.9%) than after conventional IVF (group A: 41.8% +/- 32.7%; group B: 40.1% +/- 22.1%), the other variables studied included: the fertilization rates of per allocated sibling oocytes IVF/ICSI, the fertilization rates of sibling oocytes IVF/ICSI after excluding failed IVF fertilization cycles, as well as the cleavage rates of normal fertilization were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Similarly, though the total fertilization failure rate in the IVF group (group A: 42.9%; group B: 36.4%) was significantly higher than in the ICSI group (group A: 4.8%; group B: 0), we did not cancel cycles due to the normal fertilization of sibling oocytes. Embryo transfer was possible in all 32 couples. There were 10 clinical pregnancies in the two groups. We also discovered a possible association between some semen parameters and sperm functions of group A, and women age and duration of infertility of group B and fertilization. It is suggested that adoption of the split IVF/ICSI technology in the above cases may help eliminate fertilization failures. This is also a useful method to investigate the effect of single factor on the employment of assisted reproductive technology.
Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; physiology ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Oocytes ; physiology ; Semen ; physiology ; Siblings ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; physiology

Objective To investigate the association of serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) and a functional polymorphism in the promoter - 82A/G of the MMP-12 gene with acute atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods All 608 cascs of acute ACI and 374 healthy controls were included in the study.Serum levels of MMP-12 were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At the same time,polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed on the - 82A/G polymorphism in the MMP-12 gene.Results The serum levels of MMP-12 in ACI group (( 17.36 ± 9.12) ng/ml) were not significantly higher than those in the healthy control group ( ( 17.42 ± 7.70) ng/ml,t ＝ 0.047,P =0.962).The frequency of the AG + GG genotypes was not significantly different between the two groups (7.6％ vs 5.9％,x2 =0.281,P =0.584),and the frequencies of the G allele were 3.8％ and 2.9％ in the ACI group and the control group respectively which were also not significantly different between the two groups ( x2 =0.746,P =0.374).Conclusion There is no correlation between serum level with genetic polymorphism in MMP-12 promoter (-82A/G) and cerebral infarction.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between -1296T/C and -915A/G polymorphisms in the promoter region of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-3 gene (TIMP-3) and atherosclerotic cerebral infarction in an ethnic Han Chinese population.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were collected from 485 patients with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction and 525 healthy controls. Serum levels of TIMP-3 were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The polymorphisms of the TIMP-3 gene were analyzed with DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies in -1296T/C and -915A/G between the patients and healthy controls (chi-square: 5.227 and 5.869; P: 0.022 and 0.015, respectively). Besides, there was a strong linkage disequilibrium between -1296T/C and -915A/G (D'=1.0, r(2)=0.991). The serum levels of TIMP-3 in patients were significantly higher than the control group [(248.90 ± 97.10) pg/mL vs. (200.17 ± 79.70) pg/mL, t=2.098, P=0.039].

CONCLUSIONThe -1296T/C and -915A/G polymorphisms of the TIMP-3 gene are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cerebral infarction in ethnic Han Chinese and may be used as molecular markers for the disease. There is also strong linkage disequilibrium between the two loci.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 ; blood ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between cerebral infarction (CI) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the exon of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-14) gene in Chinese Han population.

METHODSFive hundred seventy four patients with CI and 463 healthy individuals were recruited. Serum MMP-14 level was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). rs1042704 and rs2236307 polymorphisms of the MMP-14 gene were genotyped with a TaqMan assay. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to analyze the risk factors of CI.

RESULTSA significant lower risk of CI was found in individuals with MMP-14 rs2236307 TC and CC genotypes (vs. TT genotype: P<0.05). The frequencies of MMP-14 rs2236307 C allele were significantly different between the CI group (37.46%) and the control group (43.95%) (P=0.003). Serum level of MMP-14 was higher in the CI group (P=0.003) and was also higher in the group with MMP-14 rs2236307 TT genotype compared with those with CT and CC genotypes (P=0.000; P=0.009). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the MMP-14 rs2236307 CT+CC genotypes was a protective factor, and that history of hypertension, smoking status, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were the independent risk factors of CI (AOR:2.027, 1.302, 1.296, 1.434, 2.087; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rs2236307 polymorphism of MMP-14 gene is associated with CI, for which the C allele maybe a protective factor. No association of MMP-14 gene rs1042704 polymorphism with CI has been found.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Female ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

Objective:To identify the clinical significance of CDK5 in colon cancer tissues.Methods:Two hundred colon cancer tissues were tested for CDK5 expression by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. The correlation between CDK5 expression and clinicopathological features, prognosis and peripheral inflammation-related cells was analyzed.Results:CDK5 was low expressed in 100 cases (50.0%), and high in another 100 cases (50.0%). Longer time to tumor progression ( P=0.026) and overall survival ( P=0.035) were observed in patients with high CDK5 expression. By multivariate analysis , the expression of CDK5 was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis ( HR=0.45,95% CI: 0.21-0.99, P=0.049). The expression of CDK5 was not related to the counts of white blood cells and neutrophils ( P>0.05). Prognosis of patients with a positive lymph node ratio less than 0.15 was significantly better than that of patients with a higher lymph node ratio ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Patients with low CDK5 expression have poor prognosis, and CDK5 expression is not related to the counts of peripheral white blood cells and neutrophils.

OBJECTIVE To study the “property-effect” correlation material basis of the classic famous prescription Taohe chengqi decoction in removing blood stasis and purging heat. METHODS The rat model of blood storage syndrome was established to investigate the effects of Taohe chengqi decoction （17.29 g/kg） and its property grouping components [bitter-cold property group （Rhei Radix et Rhizoma+Natrii Sulfas） 9.43 g/kg， pungent-warm property group （Cinnamomi Ramulus+Persicae Semen） 4.71 g/kg， sweet-flat property group （Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma） 3.14 g/kg] on coagulation indexes （prothrombin time， prothrombin activity， activated partial thrombin time， fibrinogen， thrombin time and endothelin-1） and inflammation indicators （C- reactive protein， tumor necrosis factor-α and superoxide dismutase） in rats. On the basis of determining the dominant property groups， ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to identify the components. The molecular docking was performed， and the components with binding energy ≤－5.0 kcal/mol were selected as the basis of “property-effect” correlation material basis. RESULTS Taohe chengqi decoction total prescription group and pungent-warm property group could significantly improve the coagulation indexes of model rats （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， and the total prescription group and bitter-cold property group could significantly improve the inflammation indexes of model rats （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The pungent-warm property group was the dominant property group for removing blood stasis，and the bitter-cold property group was the dominant property group for purging heat. Thirty-two and thirty-five components were identified from the pungent-warm property group and bitter-cold property group， respectively. With binding energy ≤－5.0 kcal/mol， there were 10 components （abscisic acid， 3，4-dihydroxypheny- lethanol， procyanidin B1， etc.） in the pungent-warm property group and 13 components （baicalein， aloe-emodin， demethylwedelolactone， etc.） in the bitter-cold property group. CONCLUSIONS Taohe chengqi decoction has the effect of removing blood stasis and purging heat， and its material basis comes from pungent-warm property group （Cinnamomi Ramulus， Persicae Semen） and bitter-cold property group （Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， Natrii Sulfas） respectively.

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects of Shaoyao gancao decoction （SGD） on acute lung injury （ALI） in rats and its effects on the intestinal flora. METHODS Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group （CON group， normal saline）， model group （MOD group， normal saline）， positive control group （DEX group， 5 mg/kg dexamethasone）， SGD low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （SGD-L， SGD-M， SGD-H groups， 5.8， 11.6， 23.2 g/kg， calculated by crude drug）， with 10 rats in each group. Each group was given relevant medicine 10 mL/kg intragastrically， for 7 consecutive days. Thirty minutes after the last administration， CON group was given constant volume of normal saline via airway infusion， and other groups were given lipopolysaccharide （5 mg/kg） via airway infusion to induce ALI model. After 12 hours of modeling， the lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio was calculated， and the contents of interleukin 1β （IL-1β）， IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α（TNF-α） in rat bronchial alveolar lavage fluid （BALF） were all detected； the pathological changes of lung tissue were observed after hematoxylin-eosin staining. The intestinal flora of rat feces was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing technology， and the correlation of differential bacteria genera with inflammatory factors was also analyzed. RESULTS Compared with MOD group， the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue of rats in each SGD dose group was decreased， and the thickening of alveolar septum and pulmonary edema improved； lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio， the levels of IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. SGD （low dose） could improve the intestinal flora disorder in ALI rats， restore the diversity and richness of intestinal flora， regulate the structure of flora， reduce the abundance of Lactobacillus， Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella， and increase the abundance of Firmicutes， Lachnospira， Ruminococcus， Clostridia，Dubosiella and Akkermansia. Through correlation analysis， it was found that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus， Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella was positively related to the levels of inflammatory factor IL-1β， IL-6 and TNF-α （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The relative abundance of Lachnospira， Dubosiella， Firmicutes was significantly negatively correlated with the levels of inflammatory factors mentioned above （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS SGD may improve ALI by reducing lung tissue injury and inflammatory response and regulating flora structure in rats.