Objective To investigate the effect of seafood intake on the urinary iodine level in women for exploring an alternative to iodine supplementation.Methods Healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant women, aged 20～40 years,were selected during their health examination in local women'S health care in 2006.The types of seafood and its intake frequency were recorded from these women.and urine and kitchen salt samples were collected for iodine determination.Results A total of 198 women including 148 pregnant and 50 non-pregnant women were recmitod for this study;they had a median level of urine iodine of 87.51 mg/L.The median levels of urine iodine of83.49,91.52,166.45μg/L in three group women classified as hardly,seldom and often intake of see food showed significant difference(X2=6.202,P<0.05).Urine iodine level in non-pregnant women taking seafood (90.94μg/L)was higher than that in pregnant women(84.79μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=3318.00,P<0.05).The urine iodine in pregnant women with seldom intake of seafood(94.46 μg/L)was significantly higher than that in the hardly intake women(83.28 μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=1257.5,P<0.05).During late period of gestation,the urinary iodine in the women ofthree statUS of hardly. Seldom and often intake of seafood were 81.93,97.97 and 140.18 μg/L,respective,with significant differences among them.Conclusions A certain amount of seafood taken every week Can increase urine iodine levels,and a direct relationship Was observed.Therefore,we suggest that it is necessary to advocate taking seafood to pregnant women for prevention of cretinism,particularly in the air.as where iodized salt was difficult to implement.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tpo and/or IL-11 gene modified stromal cells on the expansion of CD(34)(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in cord blood.

METHODSRetroviral vectors containing Tpo or IL-11 gene were constructed and used to transfect the stromal cell line HFCL. Tpo and/or IL-11 mRNA was assayed by Northern blot. Non-modified stromal cells were used, CD(34)(+) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from cord blood were expanded on gene-modified stromal cells for 7 days. The phenotype of CD(34)(+)CD(38)(-) primitive progenitors was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSHFCL expressed Tpo and/or IL-11 mRNA after transfected by the retroviral vectors. The percentages of CD(34)(+)CD(38)(-) primitive progenitors in the cultures of Tpo, IL-11 and Tpo + IL-11 modified HFCL were (1.8 +/- 0.24)%, (1.62 +/- 0.23)%, and (2.45 +/- 0.28)%, respectively, which were higher than that in the control [(0.8 +/- 0.23)%].

CONCLUSIONThe stromal cells modified by Tpo and/or IL-11 gene were able to enhance ex vivo expansion of CD(34)(+) and CD(34)(+)CD(38)(-) hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from cord blood.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase ; analysis ; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-11 ; genetics ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Thrombopoietin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between vasectomy and prostate cancer.

METHODSWe searched comprehensively the databases, CBMDisc, CMCC, CMAC, CNKI (from 1978 to January 6, 2009), and PubMed (from 1965 to January 6, 2009) using the key words "vasectomy" and "prostate cancer", screened the retrieved literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, performed a Meta-analysis with the software RevMan 4.2 after identification of the relevant data, and calculated the overall pooled OR (95% CI) as well as that of the association of prostate cancer with <20 and > or =20 yr vasectomy.

RESULTSA total of 20 088 cases and 232 506 controls in 27 reports (7 cohort and 20 case-control studies) were included in this investigation. The overall pooled OR (95% CI) was 1.10 (0.97-1.24), and those of <20 and > or =20 yr vasectomy were 0.94 (0.83-1.06) and 1.05 (0.90-1.23), respectively.

CONCLUSIONNo existing literature show any positive association between vasectomy and prostate cancer.

Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Vasectomy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on the apoptosis and P-glyco-protein (P-gp) expression of multidrug-resistant human leukemia K562/ADM cells, and the combined effects of As(2)O(3) with conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

METHODSMultidrug-resistant human leukemia cell line K562/ADM that overexpresses mdr-1 gene was used as the target cells. The cell proliferating activity was assessed with a MTT assay. Cell morphology was examined by light microscopy, confocal microscopy and electron-microscopy. P-gp expression, cell-cycle status were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSK562/ADM cells were highly resistant to adriamycin, and cross-resistant to daunorubicin and etoposide. As(2)O(3) at concentrations of 0.5 to 20 micromol/L inhibited the proliferation of K562/ADM cells, and K562/ADM cells were more sensitive to As(2)O(3) than their parent K562 cells did. As(2)O(3) induced marked apoptosis of K562/ADM cells showed by typical apoptotic morphological changes and the appearance of high sub-G(1) cell population. As(2)O(3) significantly inhibited the P-gp expression in K562/ADM cells, and exerted a synergistic effect on the enhancement of the cell sensitivity to adriamycin, daunorubicin and etoposide.

CONCLUSIONAs(2)O(3) induces growth-inhibition and apoptosis of multidrug-resistant K562/ADM cells, and augments synergistically the sensitivity of the cells to conventional chemotherapeutic agents via down-regulation of P-gp expression.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Synergism ; Etoposide ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Oxides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of seminal plasma levocarnitine with sperm concentration, vitality and motility.

METHODSEnrolled in this study were 64 infertile men, who were divided according to the results of routine sperm tests into a normozoospermia (n = 12), an oligozoospermia (n = 16), an asthenozoospermia (n = 20) and an oligoasthenozoospermia group (n = 16). The level of seminal plasma levocarnitine was detected by LC-MS-MS, the concentration of seminal plasma testosterone measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, the correlation of seminal plasma levocarnitine with sperm concentration, motility and vitality determined by bivariate correlation analysis with SPSS15.0, and so was the correlation between the carnitine and sperm concentration by partial correlation analysis with seminal plasma testosterone as a control variable to exclude the influence of testosterone.

RESULTSThe concentrations of total seminal plasma levocarnitine, free seminal plasma levocarnitine and seminal plasma acetolevocarnitine were (91.33 +/- 40.49) mg/L, (40.89 +/- 24.13) mg/L and (50.44 +/- 21.90) mg/L; the Pearson coefficients of correlation of the levocarnitine level with sperm motility, vitality and concentration were 0.161 (P = 0.235), 0.114 (P = 0.370) and 0.637 (P < 0.001), those of free seminal carnitine with sperm motility and vitality were 0.325 (P = 0.024) and 0.316 (P = 0.029), respectively, with the oligozoospermia group excluded, and that of partial correlation between the concentrations of seminal levocarnitine and sperm was 0.641 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe level of seminal plasma levocarnitine is positively correlated with sperm motility and vitality, and more significantly with sperm concentration.

Adult ; Carnitine ; analysis ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo translate the English version of The Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) into Chinese, evaluate its reliability and validity, and analyze its feasibility in the diagnosis of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSFollowing the forward-backward translation procedure, we developed the Chinese version of PEDT, which was then revised by andrologists and bilingual linguists. We enrolled subjects with or without PE from 15 urological or andrological clinics in China and obtained the information about their demographic characteristics, PEDT scores, and intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). We evaluated the internal consistency of PEDT using Cronbach alpha, was examined its reliability and stability by test-retest analysis, analyzed its correlation with IELT by Spearman correlation analysis, and tested its sensitivity and specificity by receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) analysis.

RESULTSTotally, 570 PE patients (aged [30.66 ± 7.11] years) and 226 non-PE men (aged [33.01 ± 5.41] years) were recruited, with the mean IELT of (1.34 ± 0.54) min in the former and (11.09 ± 7.5) min in the latter group. The Cronbach's alpha of the Chinese version of PEDT was 0.79, and the test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.75 (P < 0.01). The PEDT score was negatively correlated with IELT (Spearman's p = -0.52, P < 0.01). When the cutoff value of PE diagnosis was defined as 7.5, the sensitivity and specificity of PEDT were 0.80 and 0.78, and when as 8.5, they were 0.72 and 0.89, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese version of PEDT was demonstrated to have good internal consistency, reliability, and validity, as well as a high predictability for PE. It can be used as a reliable and convenient tool to screen PE among Chinese men.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Ejaculation ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Premature Ejaculation ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Reaction Time ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Translations

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy combined with holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of subrenal calyx calculus, and comparing with digital flexible ureteroscope and modular flexible ureteroscope with holmium lithotripsy for the difference of the efficacy of the treatment of subrenal calyx calculus. Methods Review of the clinical data of 93 patients with subrenal calyx calculus, of which 48 cases were treated with digital flexible ureteroscope (digital flexible ureteroscope group, DFU group), 45 cases with modular flexible ureteroscope treatment (modular flexible ureteroscope group, MFU group), lithotripsy effect and complications were compared between the two groups. Results The mean operation time, one-session stone-free rate were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in hospital stay, the success rate of looking for calculus, complication and hospitalization expense (P > 0.05). Conclusion With digital flexible ureteroscope and modular flexible ureteroscope treatment of subrenal calyx calculus all are safe and effective. The use of DFU than the use of MFU in the treatment of subrenal calyx calculus operation time is shorter, stone-free rateis higher, the effect is better. There is little difference between their hospitalization expenses, but the use of MFU can reduce the cost of the department.

The objective of study was to compare the influences of wortmannin on platelet aggregation and platelet membrane surface glycoproteins GPIb expression after thrombin receptor activation, and to investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in the course of thrombin receptor activation. Peptide SFLLRN (PAR1-AP) and AYPGKF (PAR4-AP) were used for stimulating platelet, and the changes of platelet aggregation and GPIb were analyzed with 100 nmol/L wortmannin (inhibitor of PI3-K) and 10 micromol/L wortmannin (inhibitor of MLCK). The results indicated that the platelet activation was influenced by either concentration of wortmannin in response to PAR stimulation. Platelet aggregation was apparently inhibited by 10 micromol/L wortmannin through both PAR peptides, and was slightly inhibited by 100 nmol/L wortmannin only under PAR1-AP activation. In addition, GPIbalpha internalization was partly inhibited by 100 nmol/L wortmannin in response to PAR1 (p < 0.05 at 1, 2, 5 min) and PAR4 (p < 0.05 at 2, 5, 10 min) activation. Meanwhile, 10 micromol/L wortmannin induced little change for GPIbalpha centralisation in the course of PAR activation, with a delayed restoration of surface GPIbalpha observed under PAR1-AP activation, and no change of GPIbalpha redistribution existed under PAR4-AP activation. It is concluded that the different roles of PI3-K and MLCK exist in the course of thrombin receptor activation. PI3-K accelerates the short course of GPIb centralisation for two PAR signal pathways, while MLCK inhibits the restoration of GPIbalpha in PAR1 pathway.
Adult ; Androstadienes ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; metabolism ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation ; Receptors, Thrombin ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Objective To develop a registration method for 3D human atlas models by using geometric information of the vertices so as to lay a foundation for statistical modeling of atlas. Methods Based on CT images of the normal human, thirty 3D models of human atlases were created and marked by the manual selected points, including 1 standard module, 20 training sets and 9 testing samples. The training sets were first registered with the standard module, including calculation on geometric information of the individual vertex and optimization process of weight coefficients in the registration models. By minimizing the energy function defined with the Euclidean distances between the automatic registered points and the manual selected points in training sets, the optimized weight coefficients could be obtained. The testing samples were then registered with the standard module to calculate the Euclidean distances between the automatic registered points and the manual selected points. The results were then compared with the training sets to evaluate the stability of the registration method. Results The registration function and the corresponding optimized weight coefficients were obtained, and the average errors for the training sets and testing samples were 1.983 mm and 2.045 mm, respectively. Further statistical analysis showed that there were no obvious differences in the error distributions among the training sets and testing samples. Conclusions The accuracy and stability of the proposed registration method meet the requirement in medical applications, and it can provide automatic registration of points of interest on human atlas models and be used for element classification in statistical modeling.