Objective To observe the effects of exercise on serum adiponectin and adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) level in skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant rats. Methods A total of 30 healthy male rats were randomly divided into a control group ( NC, n = 8) and a high-fat group ( HF, n = 22), fed with normal chow and high fat diet, respectively. Eighteen weeks later, the high-fat group was randomly divided into a high-fat diet control group (HC, n = 10) and an exercise group (HE, n = 12). The HC and HE group were continually fed with high fat diet, while the HE group was administered with swimming training for 6 weeks in addition at the same time. After 24 weeks, the insulin sensitivity index was calculated, and serum adiponectin level was detected by using ELISA. The expressions of AdipoR mRNA in skeletal muscle were detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results After 18 weeks, compared to NC group, the insulin sensitivity index of HF group decreased significantly. It suggested that insulin resistance appeared in HF group. Twenty-four weeks later, compared to NC group, the ISI of HC group was significantly decreased, meanwhile the level of serum adiponectin, expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNA in skeletal muscle of HC group were 71.9% , 59.9% and 69.2% of those of the NC group, respectively; compared to HC group, the ISI was increased significantly by exercise, meanwhile the expression of AdipoR1 mRNA in skeletal muscle was significantly increased by 1.33 times, however the level of serum adiponectin and the expression of AdipoR2 mRNA in skeletal muscle were not altered in HE group. Conclusion Six weeks of exercise improves insulin sensitivity through increasing the expression of AdipoRI mRNA in skeletal muscle.

Objective: To study the effect of wortmannin (WM), a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, on the proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia cells and the possible mechanism. Methods: Human leukemia cell line K562 was treated with different concentrations of WM. The proliferation of K562 cells was examined by MTT assay. DNA damage in K562 cells was examined by single cell gel electrophoresis assay, and apoptosis of K562 cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining. The expressions of total Akt, phosphorate-Akt (p-Akt), and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: WM inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with the IC((50) value of 24 h being 25 nmol/L. WM also induced apoptosis of K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. DNA damage in K562 cells was demonstrated by appearance of comet tail after treatment with WM, with the rate of DNA tail and the tail length being significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). WM dose-dependently inhibited P-Akt and NF-κB p65, but not the total Akt, mRNA and protein expressions. Conclusion: WM can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, probably through down-regulation of phosphorate PI3K/Akt signal pathway and NF-κB expression.

AIM: To explore the activation effect of calcium ionophore A23187 on unfertilized human mature oocytes after conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: Thirty-seven unfertilized mature oocytes from IVF and 41 after ICSI were included in our experiment. They were incubated in 5 ?mol/L calcium ionophore A23187 for 5 minutes. Second polar body extrusion and pronuclear formation were recorded 12-16 hours later. The activated oocytes were cultured for another 2 days in vitro. RESULTS: Activation rate of unfertilized oocytes from conventional IVF and ICSI were 64.9%(24/37)and 73.2%(30/41), respectively. Among 41 unfertilized oocytes after ICSI treated with A23187, 30 were activated and 24 had 2 polar body (PB) and 2 pronuclear (PN). But for the unfertilized oocytes from conventional IVF only 20% activated oocytes had 2 PN and 2 PB. The percentage difference of oocytes containing 2 PB and 2 PN between the two groups was significant ( P

【Objective】To perform preimplanation genetic diagnosis by using dual color fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH).【Methods】The chemical and mechanical division methods were used to perform embryo biopsy in 3 cases of Robertsonian translocation t (13q14q).Vysis LSI 13q14 and Tel Vysion 14q probes were used to detect the blastomeres biopsied from the IVF embryos of the patients.FISH analysis was performed to select normal or balanced karyotype embryos ,which then were transfered into the uterus.【Results】Total of 23 oocytes were retrieved in 3 treatment cycles.Fertilization rate was 79%.14 embryos were available for embryo biopsy.Among them,9 embryos were biopsied by chemical division method,with further cleavage rate of 67%;5 embryos were biopsied by mechanical division method,with further cleavage rate of 40%.Single embryo was diagnosed as normal karyotype or balanced respectively in 2 treatment cycles.Both of them were transfered into the uterus.One clinical normal on-going pregnancy was achieved,the diagnosis was confirmed by amniocyte karyotype analysis.【Conclusion】Preimplanation genetic diagnosis can be used to resolve the problem of fertility for Robertsonian Translocation Carriers.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in assessment of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice feeding with western diet.Methods Sixteen ApoE knockout mice in 8 weeks age were selected,then divided into two groups.One group was fed with west diet as high-fat group,and another group was fed with normal diet as control group.Intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque area in the aortic root were assessed by UBM in two groups after 8 weeks and 16 weeks.And the measurements of UBM were compared with results of histopathology and blood-fat.ResultsThicken wall and plaque could be find in aortic root in control group and high-fat diet group byUBM.IMT and plaque area in high-fat diet group was significantly higher than those of control group ( P ＜ 0.05).The IMT and plaque area in UBM were good correlation with histopathology ( rwas 0.81 and 0.70 respectively).The triglyceride(TC) and total cholesterol in high-fat diet group was significantly higher than those of control group ( P ＜0.05),and IMT in UBM were increased with the elevated level of TC,there was a positive correlation between IMT and TC( r =0.528).ConclusionsWestern diet can accelerate the process in formation of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE knockout mice.UBM can be used to observe this prograss noninvasively in vivo mice.

OBJECTIVETo screen the point mutation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene in Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients, characterize the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype and discuss the molecular pathological mechanism of FH.

METHODSA patient with clinical phenotype of homozygous FH and her parents were investigated for mutations in the promoter and all eighteen exons of the LDL-R gene. Screening was carried out using Touch-down PCR and direct DNA sequencing; multiple alignment analysis by DNASIS 2.5 was used to find base alteration, and the LDL-R gene mutation database was searched to identify the alteration. In addition, the apolipoprotein B gene (apo B) was screened for known mutations (R3500Q) that cause familial defective apo B100 (FDB) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSTwo new heterozygous mutations in exons 4 and 9 of the LDL-R gene were identified in the proband (C122Y and T383I) as well as her parents. Both of the mutations have not been published in the LDL-R gene mutation database. No mutation of apo B100 (R3500Q) was observed.

CONCLUSIONTwo new mutations (C112Y and T383I) were found in the LDL-R gene, which may result in FH and may be particularly pathogenetic genotypes in Chinese people.

Adult ; Apolipoproteins B ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; China ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH ) in preimplantation gender diagnosis.

METHODSPreimplantation gender diagnosis was performed in 2 female hemophilia A carriers, 1 male patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and 2 male patients with Y chromosome abnormality. Embryo sex was identified by FISH in total of 6 treatment cycles.

RESULTSA total of 123 cumulus-oocytes were retrieved in 6 treatment cycles. Sixty-one embryos were available for embryo biopsy. The success rate of biopsy was 86.9% (53/61), with a further cleavage rate of 62.3% (33/53). In the FISH procedure, one cell was lost during fixation, leading to a 98.1% (52/53) fixation rate. Totally, 16 female embryos and 3 male embryos were transferred to 5 patients in 6 cycles. Three healthy babies were born. The diagnosis was confirmed by subsequent analysis of amniocytes and embryonic buds after embryo reduction.

CONCLUSIONSFISH is an efficient and reliable technique for determining the sex of human preimplantation embryos. Selective abortion and births of affected children can be avoided by preimplantation gender diagnosis.

Adult ; Amniocentesis ; Biopsy ; Blastocyst ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Sex Determination Analysis

Objective: During the lockdown of cities and home quarantine, media became the only way for people to conveniently get coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related information. And media engagement was closely related to psychological outcomes. But fewer researchers took COVID-19-related posting behaviors into consideration. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining the differences in psychological outcomes between people who posted COVID-19-related content on social media and those who did not. Methods: The present study included 917 participants (304 males, 613 females) who had answered the questionnaires of media engagement, positive affect, negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress, satisfaction with life, death anxiety, and meaning in life. Results: Results of t-tests showed that the Post group had lower levels of negative affect, anxiety, stress, and death anxiety than the Not Post (Npost) group. Network comparison tests indicated that the Npost group’s network and the Post group’s network differed in global strength, two edge-weights, and node centrality indices. Conclusion The results indicated that more attention should be paid to people who did not post any COVID-19-related content, especially when they have higher levels of stress and depression to prevent comorbidities. And for people who posted content, more attention should be paid when they have a higher level of negative affect.