Objective To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) and insulin-like growth factor binding-protein 1 (IGFBP-1) on development of ovarian follicles during gonadotropin stimulation in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay were used to determine the levels of IGF-Ⅰ, IGFBP-1 and estradiol (E 2) in serum and follicular fluid obtained during oocyte pick-up (OPU) in 32 IVF-embryo transfer cycles. Results (1) Serum IGFBP-1 levels increased with growth of follicles [(3 5?1 0) ?g/L during OPU, (2 1?0 5) ?g/L before stimulation, P 0 05]. Significant positive correlation was found between serum IGFBP-1 and serum E 2 [(3 5?1 0) ?g/L, (3 293? 1 361) pmol/L, r =0 41, P

Objective To study the effect of hypoxia ischemia on cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinases (caspase 3) activity in cerebral tissue of neonatal rat and probe into its significance Methods To induce hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD), the left carotid artery of rats at day 7 was ligated and animals were exposed to 8% oxygen for 2 hours 0 5,12,24,and 48 hours after HIBD, both ipsilateral and contralateral cerebral tissue were ditected and homogenized caspase 3 activity was measured by cleavage of the colorimetric substrate DEVD pNA Results Caspase 3 activity in ipsilateral cerebral tissue increased gradually after HIBD and peaked at 24 hours, and then decreased significantly at 48 hours( P 0 05) Conclusions Significant activation of caspase 3 after cerebral hypoxia ischemia strongly suggests that apoptosis is involved in HIBD Application of caspase inhibitors or other anti apoptotic agents may become a new therapeutics of HIBD

Objective　To study the effect of hypoxia-ischemia on cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases (caspase-3) activity in cerebral tissue of neonatal rat and probe into its significance. Methods　To induce hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD), the left carotid artery of rats at day 7 was ligated and animals were exposed to 8% oxygen for 2 hours. 0.5,12,24,and 48 hours after HIBD, both ipsilateral and contralateral cerebral tissue were ditected and homogenized. caspase-3 activity was measured by cleavage of the colorimetric substrate DEVD-pNA. Results　Caspase-3 activity in ipsilateral cerebral tissue increased gradually after HIBD and peaked at 24 hours, and then decreased significantly at 48 hours（P<0.001）. There were no significant changes in caspase-3 activity in the contralateral tissue at all time points (P>0.05）. Conclusions　Significant activation of caspase-3 after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia strongly suggests that apoptosis is involved in HIBD. Application of caspase inhibitors or other anti-apoptotic agents may become a new therapeutics of HIBD.

Objective To observe the relationship among follicular development and insulin-like growth factor Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) and IGF-Ⅰ receptor (IGF-ⅠR) mRNA during ovulation stimulation period in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Methods IGF-Ⅰ levels in serum samples obtained before (menstrual day 3) and after stimulated (at the time of ovum pick-up) and follicular fluid samples were measured by ELISA. The expression of IGF-Ⅰ mRNA in the granulosa cell obtained from follicular aspiration was determined by RT-PCR. Results There was no significant difference between IGF-Ⅰ levels of serum samples before or after stimulated and follicular fluid. In patients with less than 4 follicls (diameter≥14 mm) at the time of ovum pick-up the IGF-Ⅰ mRNA level was significantly lower than that in patients with more than 4 follicles. Conclusion The serum IGF-Ⅰ levels fail to predict the numbers of follicular development; the levels of IGF-ⅠR mRNA in granulosa cells forecast the responsiveness of ovary to the stimulation of gonadotropins in an IVF program.

Objective To study effect of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) of small subunit of human ribonucleotide reductase (RRM2) mRNA on cell line of human choriocarcinoma in vitro. Methods Two 20-mer gapmer ASODNs with a full phosphorothioate backbone were artificially synthesized, which were complementary to nucleotides 626-645 (a coding region) and 1572-1591 (a 3′untranslated region) of RRM2, respectively. ASODNs were transfected into JAR cells through oligofectamine. The survival rate was assessed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MMT) assay, and RRM2 expression was detected by immunoblot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Results Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide one (ASODN1) targeting the coding region significantly inhibited growth of JAR cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner and downregulated RRM2 expression in a time-dependent manner. ASODN1 at 100 nmol/L could inhibit significantly cell growth ( P =0.000), and the effects of ASODN1 on JAR cell proliferation were enhanced with increase of ASODN1 concentration and reached the peak point at 400 nmol/L concentration ( P =0.000). Cell growth was significantly inhibited by 200 nmol/L of ASODN1 after 24 h of treatment ( P =0.000). The effect of ASODN1 was at the maximum at 48 h ( P =0.000), and began to decrease at 72 h of treatment. RRM2 expression started to reduce after ASOND1 treatment for 12 hours, and was obviously downregulated at 24 h of treatment, and decreased to the lowest level at 48 h ( P

Objective　To investigate the number of follicles and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-ⅠR) in stimulated cycles. Method　IGF-ⅠR mRNA and IGF-ⅠR in granulosa cells obtained during oocyte retrieval were respectively measured by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Western blot technique. Results　The expression of IGF-ⅠR mRNA in poor responders (follicles≤3) was much lower than in normal responders (follicles 4～13) and high responders (follicles≥14) (1.70±0.23, 2.92±0.49,4.22±1.50 respectively). Similar results were obtained for IGF-ⅠR (1.32±0.31, 2.01±0.72, 4.39±2.31 respectively). Conclusion　The expression of IGF-ⅠR correlated with the effects of gonadotropin hormone on follicular development.

Objective　To study the histologic source, clinical features and treatment methods of leiomyoma of the vagina. Methods　From January of 1988 to January of 1999, 25 patients with leiomyoma of the vagina were retrospectively analyzed. Results　The clinical features of leiomyoma of the vagina were slow in growth and solitary in number. Leiomyoma of the vagina can be recurrence and sarcomatous change. The symptoms of leiomyoma of the vagina depended on the size and location of the leiomyoma. Treatment consisted of surgical excision by vagina. Conclusions　Leiomyoma of the vagina is a rare condition. Whenever such a tumor is detected, it has to be removed immediately to prevent further growing and sarcomatous change in the future.

Objective To detect the expression of aromatase P450 and estrogen receptor (ER) in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in endometriosis and their correlation with endometriosis. Methods Forty patients who had undergone operation because of endometriosis (all were stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ according to the revised American Fertility Society classification) were enrolled and 83 tissue specimens from different locations of disease foci were obtained and divided into five groups according to the location: group Ⅰ, eutopic endometrium of 25 cases; Group Ⅱ, ovarian endometriosis tissues of 23 cases; Group Ⅲ, vagina-rectum endometriosis tissues of 11 cases; Group Ⅳ, peritoneum endometriosis tissues of eight cases; and group V, uterine serosa endometriosis tissues of 16 cases. Control group consisted of normal endometrium taken from 20 fertile women who had endometrial curettage before placement of intrauterine device. The routine two-step immunohistochemical technique was used to measure the expression of aromatase P450 and ER in endometrial cells. Results Expressions of aromatase P450 and ER in group Ⅰ [histochemistry score (H-score), 2.6?1.0, 3.8?0.5] were significantly higher than those in control group (both P

AIM: To investigate the growth inhibition of Candida albicans mediated by vaginal epithelial cells and determine if estrogen affects the anti-fungal activity. METHODS: C_ 57BL/6J mice vaginae from estrogen treatment group, diestrus group and ovariectomized group were excised, respectively. The vaginae were dissociated into single cell suspension by dispase and collagenaseⅠ. The epithelial nenriched cells were used as effector cells. Blastoconidia of C. albicans were used as target cells. After coincubation of effector with target for 9 h, the target cells growth density was observed, percent growth inhibition was calculated, and ultra-structural changes were observed. RESULTS: After coincubation of effector cells with target cells for 9 h, growth density of C. albicans was visibly reduced and it's growth activity was inhibited. Compared to ovariectomized group and diestrus group, vaginal epithelial cells from estrogen-treated mice had less ability to inhibit the growth of C. albicans (P

Objectives To investigate HPV infection and its correlati on with the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibito r of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Meth ods HPV6/11 and 16/18 DNA were detected using in situ hybridization in 26 case s of VSCC, 21 cases of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and 10 specimens o f normal skin. The expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was measured by immunohistoche mical method in these three groups. Results The infection rates of HPV6/11 and 16/18 in VSCC and VIN were 69.23% (18/26) and 38.46% (10/26), 42.86% (9/21) and 28.57% (6/21) respectively, and no HPV6/11 or 16/18 DNA was discovered in norma l skin epidermis. The expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in VSCC, VIN and norm al skin epidermis were 92.31%(24/26) and 76.92% (20/26), 90.45% (19/21) and 80.9 5% (17/21), and 80.00% (8/10) and 50.00% (5/10) respectively. MMP-9 expression in HPV positive lesions was higher than that in HPV negative lesions, but no sig nificant difference of TIMP-1 expression was observed in HPV positive and negati ve lesions. Conclusions HPV infection may play a role in the development of VS CC. The higher expression of MMP-9 comparing with that of TIMP-1 may be an early marker of tumor progression in VSCC, and HPV infection may facilitate the invas ion and metastasis of VSCC.