BACKGROUND:Point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) or single-voxel spectroscopy (SVS) is always used in the previous researches of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and its regions of interest are mainly located in focal zones which can be observed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, both of them cannot manifest the changes of focal marginal zone. Contrarily, hydrogen magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) can det ect the all regions of brain.OBJECTIVE: To observe the 1H-MRS manifestations of patients with heroin spongiform leucoencephalopathy (HSLE) so as to analyze metabolic regularities of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr) and bilineurine (Cho) in brain.DESIGN: Case-contrast observation.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Three HSLE patients including 2 males and 1 female who were diagnosed with clinical imaging were selected from the Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital from August 2005 to August 2006, and all of them were regarded as the case group. In addition, 10 healthy volunteers were regarded as the control group.METHODS: Siemens Megnetom Vision Plus 1.5T superconductive magnetic resonance (MR) system and standard head coil were used in this study, and then, all subjects were checked with 1H-MRS.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of NAA, Cr and Cho in white matter of frontal, parietal and occipital lobes, metabolic maps of them and ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr.RESULTS: All 13 subjects were involved in the final analysis. ① NAA level: The level of NAA in white matter of frontal,parietal and occipital lobes of case 1 was lower than that of the subjects in the control group (79.50±21.65, 96.75±16.14,77.05±22.47; 146.07±15.49, 117.77±14.56, 120.83±16.02; P ＜ 0.05, 0.01); meanwhile, white matter of parietal lobes of case 2 and case 3 was also lower than that of subjects in the control group (87.50±7.89, 80.65±11.73, P ＜ 0.01). ② Cr level: There were no significant differences of the Cr level of all subjects in both case group and control group (P＞ 0.05).③ Cho level: Except white matter of frontal lobes in case 1, the level of Cho was lower in the case group than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.01). ④ Ratio of NAA/Cr was lower in the case group than that in the control group, and the radio of Cho/Cr was decreased remarkably. ⑤ Metabolic maps of NAA and Cr manifested a low signal in focal site. ⑥ Ratio of Cho/Cr was obviously reversed in focal marginal zone, but wave of lactic acid was not observed at the same time.CONCLUSION:The area with abnormal metabolites in HSLE patients showed by 1H-MRS is obviously larger than the visible lesion area showed by MRI.There are abnormal metabolites in the adjacent area of HSLE lesions.

Embryo Transfer ; Endometrium ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

Objective To evaluate the effects of tumor-associated macrophages on the proliferation,invasion and migration of human cutaneous malignant melanoma cells.Methods Cultured U937 human monocytic cells at logarithmic phase were classified into three groups to be pretreated with phorbol ester for 48 hours followed by 48-hour activation by phorbol ester (M polarization),lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 25 mg/L (M1 polarization),and interleukin (IL)-4 at 15 μg/L (M2 polarization) respectively.Then,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the levels of IL-12p70 and IL-10 in the supernatant of these activated cells.A375 human malignant melanoma cells were divided into four groups to be cultured alone or with M-,M1-and M2-polarized macrophages respectively.After additional culture for different durations (24,48 and 72 hours),methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was conducted to estimate the proliferative activity,and Transwell assay to evaluate the invasion and migration activity,of the A375 cells.Results The proliferation of A375 cells was accelerated by coculture with M-and M2-polarized macrophages,but inhibited by that with M1-polarized macrophages,with significant differences among the four groups in the proliferative activity at 48 and 72 hours (all P ＜ 0.05),but not at 24 hours (P ＞ 0.05).Invasion assay showed that the number of A375 cells that migrated through Transwell chambers was significantly larger in M2 and M groups (147.00 ± 7.92 and 113.22 ± 8.15 respectively),but smaller in the M1 group (56.44 ± 7.55),than in the control group (84.11 ± 6.07,all P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,migration assay revealed a significant increase in the number of A375 cells that migrated through Transwell chambers in the M2 and M(p) groups (198.33 ± 8.22 and 156.00 ± 8.83 respectively),but a significant decrease in the M1 group (97.11 ± 6.75) as compared with the control group (123.89 ± 7.01,all P＜ 0.05).Conclusions The proliferation,invasion and migration of A375 cells can be accelerated by IL-4-activated M2-polarized macrophages,but decelerated by LPS-activated M1-polarized macrophages.Phorbol ester tends to induce monocytic cells to differentiate into M2-polarized macrophages.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the features and treatment of male infertility induced by autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and compare the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for infertile men with ADPKD and those with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 21 cases of ADPKD-induced infertility, 15 treated by ICSI (group A), and another 164 cases of strictly matched CBAVD-induced infertility (group B). We compared the two groups in the couples' age, the number of ICSI oocytes, and the rates of fertilization, transferrable embryos, good embryos, embryos implanted, clinical pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy, early abortion, singleton and twins in the first cycle.

RESULTSAfter 28 cycles of ICSI, 10 of the 15 ADPKD-induced infertility patients achieved clinical pregnancy, including 7 cases of live birth, 1 case of spontaneous abortion, and 2 cases of pregnancy maintenance. No significant differences were observed between groups A and B in the couples' age, the wives' BMI, or the numbers of ICSI oocytes and embryos transplanted (P >0.05), nor in the rates of ICSI fertilization (72.64% vs 76.17%), transferrable embryos (51.28% vs 63.24%), quality embryos (38.46% vs 49.83%), embryo implantation (17.64% vs 38.50%), abortion (0 vs 9.23%), singleton (50% vs 81.54%) and twins (50% vs 18.46%). However, the rates of clinical pregnancy (13.33% vs 42.68%, P = 0.023 <0.05) and biochemical pregnancy (13.33% vs 39.63%, P = 0.032 <0.05) were significantly lower in group A than in B.

CONCLUSIONICSI is effective in the treatment of male infertility induced by either ADPKD or CBAVD, but the ADPKD cases have a lower success rate than the CBAVD cases in an individual cycle. The affected couples should be informed of the necessity of prenatal genetic diagnosis before embryo implantation and the inevitable vertical transmission of genetic problems to the offspring.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; therapy ; Oocytes ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant ; complications ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Vas Deferens ; abnormalities

AIM: To determine the distribution and frequency of functionally important allelic variants in the cytochromes P450 (CYP) 2C19, arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), and thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) genes in the Han Chinese population and compare them with those of other ethnic populations.METHODS: Genotyping was carried out in a total of 210 unrelated Han Chinese volunteers derived from He-nan area. CYP2C19 variants ( * 2 and * 3), NAT2 variants ( * 6 and * 7), and TPMT variants ( * 3A, * 3B, and * 3C) were detected using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)assays. Detection of NA T2 * 5 and TPMT * 2 were performed using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assays. RESULTS: Allele frequencies of CYP2C19 * 2 and * 3 occurred with 34.76 % and 6.4 %, respectively.Thirty-one persons ( 14.8 % ) carried two of these CYP2C19 alleles responsible for poor metabolizing activity.The frequencies of specif ic NAT2 alleles were 59.1%, 4.1%, 26.4 %, and 9.5 % for * 4 (wild-type), * 5(341C), * 6 (590A), and * 7 (857A), respectively. Genotyping of three different single nucleotide polymorphisms in the NA T2 gene revealed that the frequency of slow acetylators was 19.5 %. TPMT * 3C had an allelic frequency of 1.2 %. TPMT* 2, TPMT * 3A, or TPMT* 3B was not detected in the analysed samples. CONCLUSION: The overview of allele distribution for drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP2C19, NAT2, and TPMT among a Han Chinese population shows obvious difference to Caucasians. The data will be useful for clinical pharmacokinetic investigation and drug dosage administration to Han Chinese population.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictive value of the sperm quality to fertilization outcomes after short-time insemination.MethodsA total of 558 cycles of short-time insemination in the Reproductive Medical Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital during January 2009 to June 2010 excluding patients aged ＞ 38 years and M Ⅱ oocyte number ＜ 3 were analyzed retrospectively.According to whether undergo rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection( Re-ICSI),all cycles were divided into in vitro fertilization (IVF)group (472 cycles) and rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Re-ICSI) group (86 cycles).Both IVFgroup and Re-ICSI group were subdivided into primary infertility and secondary infertility according to previous history of pregnancy.269 primary infertility cycles and 203 secondary infertility cycles were characterized in IVF group; and 64 primary infertility cycles and 22 secondary infertility cycles were characterized in Re-ICSI group.x2 test was applied for comparison of embryo plant rate,clinical pregnancy rate,early miscarriage rate between IVF and Re-ICSI groups,while Fisher test was used for comparison of live birth rate.and Mann-Whitney U test was utilized for comparison of duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity between IVF and Re-ICSI groups.ResultsThe embryo plant rate,clinical pregnancy rate,early miscarriage rate,live birth rate of IVF group were:29.4％,44.9％,13.4％,37.0％ respectively; the above indicators in Re-ICSI group were:25.7％,34.6％,10.7％,29.6％ respectively,the differences of the indicators between the two groups had no statisticalsigmficance (x2 =0.869,2.963,0.010,P =0.351,0.085,0.922,0.098).Median of duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity of primary infertility cycles in IVF group were:4.00(3.00 -6.00) years,58.37(33.64 - 102.27) × 106,81.09％ (79.41％ -88.69％ ),76.30 (48.50 - 92.46 ) μIU/106 sperm respectively ; in Re-ICSI group were:5.00 ( 3.25 -8.00) years,36.33 (20.59 -64.43 ) × 106,85.5％ (81.28％ - 89.02％ ),47.14( 31.61 -90.24) μIU/106 sperm respectively,the differences of them between the two groups had statistical significance (Z =-2.617, -3.505, -3.553, -3.530,P =0.009,0.000,0.000,0.000).Median of duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity of secondary infertility cycles in IVF group were:5.00 (3.00 -7.00) years,63.00 (34.20 - 107.73 ) × 106,81.29％ (79.90 -86.09) ％,78.34 ( 53.87 - 98.00) μIU/106 sperm respectively,in Re-ICSI group were:5.00 ( 3.75 -7.00) years,28.80 ( 18.57 - 48.56 ) × 106,88.79％ ( 84.04 - 95.64 ) ％,54.70 ( 39.73 - 76.77 ) μIU/106 sperm respectively,the differences of them between the two groups showed statistical significance except duration of infertility (Z =- 0.338,- 3.505,- 3.553,- 3.530,P =0.735,0.000,0.000,0.006).ConclusionThe duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity have predictive value of fertilization outcomes after short-time insemination.

Objective To study the effects of ankle-foot retractor on ankle joint motion and equilibrium function of stroke hemiplegic patients.Methods 74 patients were divided into two groups: observation group (n=36) and control group (n=38). The control group was trainedby routine rehabilitation training program and electro-uprise bed, the observation group was trained by ankle-foot retractor based on routinerehabilitation training program. The effect was evaluated after 8 weeks. Results After training, either the observation group or the controlgroup showed significant improvement at motion of ankle joint, activity of daily living (ADL), and equilibrium function, but the observationgroup was better than the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion Ankle-foot retractor plays a positive role on motion of ankle joint, ADL andequilibrium function in stroke patients.

ObjectiveTo study the effects of treadmill training on balance of convalescent stroke patients.Methods61 patients were divided into 2 groups :observed group(31 cases) and control group(30 cases).The patients of control group were trained with routine rehabilitation training program, the patients of observed group were trained with treadmill training in addition. They were evaluated with Berg balance scale before and 8 weeks after treatment. ResultsAfter training, either observed group or control group showed significant improvement at equilibrium function, but the equilibrium function improved more in observed group (P<0.05). ConclusionTreadmill training plays a positive role on balance recovery in convalescent stroke patients.

In this study, the COI barcode was used to identify the Scolopendra medicinal materials and its adulterants in order to provide a new method for the identification of Scolopendra. Genomic DNA was extracted from the experimental samples. The COI sequences were amplified and sequenced bi-directionally. Sequence alignment and NJ tree construction was carried out by MEGA6.0 software. The results showed that the COI sequences can be obtained from all experimental samples. The average inter-specific K2P distance of Scolopendra was 0.222 and the minimum inter-specific distance was 0.190. All the Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans medicinal samples clustered into a clade in the NJ tree and can be distinguished from its adulterants. In a conclusion, COI can be used to correctly identify Scolopendra medicinal materials, and it will be a potential DNA barcode for identifying other animal medicinal materials.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Scorpions ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics

[Summary] Sixty-one patients suffering from pituitary apoplexy( PA) were mainly diagnosed according to pathologic findings, and were collected from case record, pathology, and MRI databases. They were classified into 4 types according to the clinical condition: the insidious type was characterized with only positive pathological findings;the asymptomatic type had both positive pathologic and MRI findings; the subacute type had PA associated symptoms longer than 2 weeks; and the acute type had PA associated symptoms for 2 weeks or less. The latter 2 types had positive pathological and MRI findings additionally. The basic lesions, acute or chronic symptoms, endocrinopathies and MRI findings were compared among 4 types. Results showed as followed. In all patients, there were headache(60. 7% ), blurred vision(55. 7% ), vomiting(21. 3% ), and dizziness(14. 8% ). Apoplexy associated symptoms comprised severe headache (24. 6% ), rapid vision loss (29. 5% ), and blepharopotosis or diplopia (9. 83% ). Insidious, asymptomatic, subacute, and acute types were composed of 15 (24. 6% ), 9 (14. 8% ), 19 (31. 1% ), and 18 (29. 5% ) cases, respectively. Aging and intracranial space-occupying symptoms as first complaint showed increasing trend from mild to severe types(both P<0. 05), while in chronic course it showed decreasing trend(P<0. 05). Acute massive symptoms(P<0. 01), and non-functional tumor(P<0. 01) in the 2 clinical types were much more frequent than in the two mild types. Half or more pituitary-target glands showed impaired functions in each type, and the impairment showed increasing trend through mild to severe types(P<0. 01). The present study provided a brief typing system in order to expand PA concept to a wider span covering various conditions. Some differences in tumor composition and endocrinopathies existed among the four types.