Objective To explore the impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on pregnancy outcomes in early pregnancy wom-en. Methods Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG antibodies in the peripheral blood of 2 993 early pregnant women were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). According to the test results,the infected ones were divided into an acute in-fection group,a previous infection group,and an active infection group,and 200 pregnant women without Toxoplasma infection were randomly chosen as a control group,and the pregnancy outcomes of the four groups were followed up and the results were compared. Results There were 286 women infected with Toxoplasma gondii,with the infection rate of 9.56%(286/2 993),in which 43 cases were diagnosed as acute infection,156 were previous cases,and the other 87 were active infection ones. The inci-dences of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the above 3 groups and the control group were 13.95%(6/43),1.92%(3/156),5.75%(5/87)and 1.50%(3/200),respectively. The incidences of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the acute infection group and active in-fection group were both higher than that in the control group,the differences were statistically significant(both P<0.05),while there was no significant difference between the previous infection group and control group(P>0.05). Conclusion Acute and ac-tive Toxoplasma gondii infections are closely associated with the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in early pregnant wom-en;therefore,Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibody should be included in the routine inspection items of the pre-pregnancy physical examination for child-bearing age women.

Objective To discuss the test efficiency of three methods for detecting Toxoplasma IgG antibody. Methods To-tally 304 specimens were detected parallelly for Toxoplasma IgG antibody by using the gold marked method,indirect hemagglutina-tion test(IHA),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the sensitivity,specificity and Youden index of these methods were compared. Results The detection sensitivities of gold marked method,IHA,and ELISA for Toxoplasma IgG anti-body were 85.5%,89.8%and 91.9%respectively(χ2=4.12,P>0.05);the specificities were 92.4%,96.6%and 97.5%respec-tively(χ2=4.06,P>0.05). The detection efficiency and Youden index of ELISA were 94.1%and 0.89 respectively,being high-er than those of IHA and gold marked method. Conclusion The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA method for Toxoplasma IgG antibody are higher,and in addition,it can be automated. Therefore,it is suitable for large-scale Toxoplasma IgG antibody screening.

Objective To investigate the effect of anti-Mlllerian hormone (AMH) on hormone secretion and P450 aromatase mRNA expression from cultured human luteinized granulosa cells. Methods Human luteinized granulose cells were derived from 10 patients treated by in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation (IVF-ET) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from June to December 2006. Granulose cells were divided into group A, B, C, D, E depending on different concentration of AMH,testosterone group and blank group. 1×10-7moL/L testosterone and 1,5,10,20,50 μg/L AMH were added into the culture medium of group A,B,C,D and E. 1×10-7mol/L testosterone was added into the culture medium of testosterone group while no other ingredient was added into the medium of blank group. Estrogen levels in supernates were measured at 24,48,72 hours after cell incubation. RT-PCR was performed to detect the P450 aromatase mRNA expression in group B, C, D, E and testosterone group at 72 hours after cell incubation. Results (1) Estrogen levels in supernates of granulose cell culture at 24,48,72 hours were (8.529±0.381)×104, (10.977±0.436)×104, (13.309±0.506)×104 pmol/L in group A, (7.027±0.276)×104, (9.167±0.300)×104, (10.794±0.555)×104 pmol/L in group B, (6.039±0.226)×104,(7.585±0.548)×104, (8.797±0.518)×104 pmol/L in group C, (5.118±0.460)×104, (5.716±0.496)×104, (6.205±0.667)×104 pmol/L in group D, (4.932±0.148)×104, (5.323±0.184)×104,(5.629±0.212)×104 pmol/L in group E. When compared with blank group [(0.001±0.001)×104,(0.006±0.003)×104, (0.029±0.011)×104 pmol/L], the statistical differences were observed in group A,B,C,D,E(P<0.01) ; when compared with testosterone group [ (8.418±0.569)×104, (10.841±0.689)×104, (13.301±0.637)×104 pmol/L], the statistical differences were observed in group B,C,D and E(P<0.01) ; statistical differences were also observed in group C, D and E when compared with group B, and also group D and E when compared with group C(P<0.01). No significant difference was observed between group D and E (P>0.05). In group A, B, C, D, E and testosterone group, the estrogen levels at 24 hours after cell culture were significantly lower than those at 48 and 72 hours (P<0.01) ; statistical difference was observed between estrogen levels at 48 and 72 hours(P<0.01). No significant difference was observed among 24,48 and 72 hours in blank group (P>0.05). (2) Relative ratios of intensity of P450 aromatase/β-actin at72 hours of cell culture in group B,C,D and E were 0.6148±0.0046, 0.5156±0.0012, 0.4698±0.0027 and 0.4282±0.0017, respectively, which were statistically lower than that in testosterone group (0.8224±0.0021, P<0.01) ;statistical differences were also observed in group C, D and E when compared with group B, and also group D and E when compared with group C(P<0.01). No significant difference was observed between group D and E (P>0.05). Conclusion It is suggested that AMH might affect estrogen synthesis by inhibiting P450 aromatose activity so that lead to hyperandrogenism microenvironment in local ovary.

Objective This study was designed to investigate the correlationship between plasma metastin and pathogenesis of adolescent women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).MethodsFrom Jan 2006 to Jun.2006.42 PCOS patients including 19 adolescent women and 23 adults with syndrome were treated in Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University.According to the range of age,those patients were divided into 19 cases in adolascent group(≤19 years)and 23 cases in aduh group(＞19 years).Meanwhile,20 adolescent women were matched as controls.Blood samples were collected between day 1 and day 5 of a spontaneous bleeding episode in the PCOS groups and a menstrual cycle of the controls.The Jevels of luteinizing hormone(LH)，follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)，testosterone(T)，free T(FT)，dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEAS)，sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG)，insulin，glucose，and metastin were detected from day 1 to day 5 of spontaneous bleeding or withdrawal bleeding by progesterone.On the next day,oral glucose tolerance test(75 g)and insulin release test were performed on those above patients and controls.The area under carve(AUC),the ratio of fasting blood glucose to insulin(GIR)and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance jndex ( HOMA-IR)were calculated.Results(1)The level of hormone:the level of LH was in(12±7)U/L in adult group and(12±8)U/L in adolescent PCOS group，which were significantly higher than(6±4)U/L in controls(P＜0.05).The level of FT was(2.3±1.2)pmol/L in adult group，which was significantly higher than(1.3±0.8)pmol/L in adolescent group and(1.1±0.5)pmol/L in control roup(P＜0.05).It was observed that the level of(3.1±2.7)μmol/L in adolescent group was significantly lower than(6.3±2.7)μmol/L in control group(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the level of FAI of 5.6±4.1 in adult group was significantly higher than 3.0±1.3 in control group(P＜0.05).No significant difference in FSH，T and SHBG levels among three groups were observed (P＞0.05).(2)Metastin and metabolism:Both the levels of fasting blood insulin,2-hour insulin and AUC of insulin were(13±7)mU/L，(88±59)mU/L and(133±80)mU·L-1·min-1 in adolescent group，which were significantly higher than(7±3)mU/L，(57±29)mU/L and(82±34)mU·L-1·min-1 in control group.The fasting blood insulin of(13±7)mU/L in adolescent group was significantly higher than (9±5)mU/L in adult group.The level of fasting blood glucose and 2-hour glucose were(5.01±0.44)mmol/L and(6.48±1.16)mmol/L in adult group，which were significantly higher than(4.68±0.29)mmol/L and(5.44±0.83)mmol/L in control group and(4.67±0.30)mmol/L and(5.93±1.44)mmol/L in adolescent group.The glucose AUC of(9.99±1.85)mmol·L-1·min-1 in adult group was significantly higher than(8.42±1.53)mmol·L-1·min-1 in control group(P＜0.05).HOMA-IR of 2.6±2.0 in adolescent group was significantly higher than 1.4±0.7 in control group.GIR of 10±8 in adolescent group was significantly lower than 16±10 in control group(P＜0.05).The metastin level of (0.25±0.19)pmol/L in adolescent group and(0.29±0.29)pmol/L in adult group were all significantly higher than(0.18±0.23)pmol/L in control group(PPh glucose were observed(r=0.256，0.286 and 0.267.P=0.044.0.025 and 0.043).Conclusions The expression of metastin in adolescent PCOS women was significantly higher that of normal adolescent women The increased level of metastin might be associated with pathogenesis of adolescent women with PCOS.

Objective To compare the difference of serum adiponectin levels between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and age, boby mass index (BMI) and insulin-resistance index matched controls, and explore its influence factors.Methods Case-control study, involving 97 women with PCOS and 116 age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) matched controls.Hormone profiles, and serum adiponectin levels were measured and compared.Hormone profiles and serum adiponectin levels were compared among the four PCOS phenotypes.Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors affecting serum adiponectin levels.Results (1) Serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in PCOS group [(21 ± 16) mg/L] than controls [(25± 13) mg/L, P=0.038], and the same result in stratified analysis on weight height ratio (WHR, ≥0.8 and ＜0.8).(2) There was statistical differences in testosterone among different four PCOS phenotypes (P=0.001), there were no statistical differences in FSH, LH, WHR and serum adiponectin levels among four PCOS phenotypes (P＞0.05).(3) WHR and PCOS status were independent determinants of serum adiponectin levels (P＜0.05).Conclusions Low serum adiponectin levels in the women with PCOS is correlated with PCOS per se, independent of insulin resistance and obese.This fact supports the further study of the effect of adiponection in the pathophysiology of PCOS and its log-term impact.