Animals ; Colonoscopy ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins ; metabolism ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; Rodentia

OBJECTIVETo investigate the semen quality of cancer patients and search for a better way of sperm cryopreservation for them.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the quality of the semen from 43 cancer patients under cryopreservation in the Sperm Bank of Zhejiang Province, and compared the semen parameters between the cancer patients and 248 normal donors as well as between the testicular cancer cases (n=22) and non-testicular cancer cases (n=21).

RESULTSThe cancer patients exhibited significantly lower semen quality than the normal donors as in sperm concentration (60.90 x 10(6)/ml vs 74.27 x 10(6)/ml), progressive motility (41.07% vs 51.79%), and recovery rate (49.98% vs 57.33%) (all P <0.05). Furthermore, the progressive sperm motility and sperm recovery rate after freezing were significantly decreased in the testicular cancer cases (15.68% and 42.81%) than in the non-testicular cancer cases (28.36% and 57.53%) (both P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSemen quality declines in cancer patients, and therefore early sperm cryopreservation is essential for them. Due to the poor sperm motility and recovery rate of testicular cancer patients after freezing, further investigation is required on the improvement of sperm cryopreservation methods.

Adult ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testicular Neoplasms

Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Among its various active components, glycyrrhizic acid is believed to be the marker component. Squalene synthase (SQS) and beta-amyrin synthase (beta-AS) are key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway of glycyrrhizic acid in G uralensis. To reveal the effects of co-expression of SQS1 and beta-AS genes on this pathway, 7 yeast expression vectors harboring different SQS1 variants and beta-AS were constructed and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as fusion proteins. TLC and GC-MS results showed that co-expression of SQS1 and beta-AS enhanced the accumulation of beta-amyrin. The effects of SQS12 were more obvious than the other two SQS1 variants. This study is significant for further investigations concerned with exploring the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizic acid in vitro and strengthening the efficacy of G. uralensis by means of increasing the content of glycyrrhizic acid.
Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Intramolecular Transferases ; metabolism ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Azoxymethane ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Precancerous Conditions ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; beta Catenin

Objective To determine the diagnostic value of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin(anti- MCV)antibodies for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods The anti-MCV were determined in 136 patients with RA,80 non-RA patients and 19 normal peoples.The diagnostic value of anti-MCV was assessed and compared with anti-CCP,AKA and RF.Results The sensitivity and specificity of anti-MCV in the 136 RA patients was 95.6% and 80.8% respectively,there was significanl difference between the test group and the control group(P

Objective To observe the role of rosiglitazone in unclipped kidneys of two-kidney- one-clip hypertensive rats and examine its relationship to angiotensinⅡreceptors.Methods Two- kidney-one-clip hypertensive rats were divided randomly into 4 groups as follows:positive control group (CONT),traditional antihypertensive drugs group (TAHD,reserpine 50?g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1), dihydralazine 6.25 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) and hydrochlorothiazide 6.25 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),regular-dose rosiglitazone group (RRGL,rosiglitazone 5 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)),and high-dose rosiglitazone group (HRGL, rosiglitazone 20 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)).Sham operation rats were as negative controls.Each group had 8 rats. Animals were monitored and sacrificed at 10th week.Results Blood systolic pressure in TAHD group and HRGL group was significantly lower than that in CONT group [TAHD(137?27 ) mm Hg and HRGL (143?16) mm Hg vs CONT (191?25 ) mm Hg,P＜0.05],but no significant difference between the former two groups was found.Nor did the blood systolic pressure between RRGL group [(176?18) mm Hg] and CONT group.At 10th week,rats in SHAM group and treated groups had lower urinary urinary protein excretion rate,glomerular injury score and wall-to-lumen ratio of arteriole than those in CONT group [vs CONT urinary protein excretion rate (44.60?17.40) mg/24 h,P＜0.05; vs CONT glomerular injury score 60.85?33.05,P＜0.05;vs CONT wall-to-lumen ratio of arteriole 2.33?1.01,P＜0.01,except TAHD group].Though with the similar level of blood pressure,blood glucose and lipid,HRGL,compared with TAHD group showed lower urinary protein excretion rate [HRGL (16.78?3.50) mg/24 h vs TAHD (27.94?12.79) mg/24 h,P＜0.05],decreased glomerular injury score (HRGL 18.04?7.76 vs TAHD 27.92?6.39,P＜0.05) and wall-to-lumen ratio of arteriole (HRGL 1.75?0.38 vs TAHD 2.16?0.90,P＜0.05) in the cortexes of unclipped right kidneys.The expression of type 1 angiotensinⅡreceptor (AT1R) mRNA was no difference in HRGL group and TAHD group,but the expression of type 2 angiotensinⅡreceptor (AT2R) mRNA was more intensive in HRGL group.Conclusion Rosiglitazone can protect the kidneys from hypertensive injury,especially in high dose.The beneficial effects seem incompletely dependent on the metabolism modulating and reduction of blood pressure,but in relationship to the upregulation of AT2R mRNA.

AIM: To investigate the incidence of trachoma in children aged 1 to 9y in Hainan Province and determine high-risk trachoma endemic and non-endemic areas in Hainan, and thus provide evidence for developing trachoma control and prevention therapy.METHODS:The areas of investigation were chosen on the basis of past literatures, expert interviews and survey on the spot.In 2013, Hainan Provincial Office of Blindness Prevention carried out the survey in 7 counties including Dongfang City, Wuzhishan City, Ledong County, Baisha County, Baoting County, Lingao County and Changjiang County.In these districts, 356 pupils including 192 boys and 164 girls were examined, their age ranging from 1 to 9 and their average age being 7 years old.The targeted students received the trachoma rapid assessment by the adoption of simplified trachoma classification system which was recommended by the World Health Organization.RESULTS: No case of active trachoma was found among the 356 students.CONCLUSION:The prevalence rate of trachoma in children under 9 years is less than 5% in Hainan Province.Active trachoma is not a public health issue in Hainan Province.

Adolescent ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Femur ; pathology ; Fibroma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male