OBJECTIVETo investigate the values of the sperm deformity index (SDI), acrosome abnormity rate (AAR), and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of optimized sperm in the prediction of fertilization failure (fertilization rate < 25%) in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF).

METHODSWe selected 695 cycles of conventional IVF for pure oviductal infertility in this study, including 603 cycles of normal fertilization and 92 cycles of fertilization failure. On the day of oocyte retrieval, we examined sperm morphology, acrosome morphology, and DNA fragmentation using the Diff-Quik, PSA-FITC and SCD methods. We established the joint predictor (JP) by logistic equation and analyzed the values of different parameters in predicting fertilization failure with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSThe fertilization rate was negatively correlated with SDI (r = - 0.07; P = 0.03), AAR (r = -0.49; P < 0.01), and DFI (r = -0. 21; P < 0.01). The SDI, AAR, and DFI in the normal fertilization group were 1.24 ± 0.20, (7.75 ± 2.28)%, and (7.87 ± 3.15)%, and those in the fertilization failure group were 1.42 ± 0.15, (12.02 ± 3.06)%, and (13.32 ± 4.13)%, respectively, all with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). SDI, AAR, and DFI were all risk factors of fertilization failure ( OR = 2.68, 14.11, and 3.85; P = 0.01, < 0.01, and < 0.01). The areas under the ROC curves for SDI, AAR, DFI, and JP were 0.651 ± 0.033, 0.895 ± 0.019, 0.789 ± 0.022, and 0.915 ± 0.017, respectively. According to the Youden index, the optimal cut-off values of SDI, AAR, and DFI obtained for the prediction of fertilization failure were approximately 1.45, 10%, and 12%.

CONCLUSIONThe SDI, AAR and DFI of optimized sperm are closely associated with the fertilization rate, and all have the value for predicting fertilization failure in IVF. The AAR is more valuable than the other single predictors, but JP is more effective than the AAR.

Acrosome ; Area Under Curve ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities ; ultrastructure

Objective To explore the advantages and application of adjustable shunt valve in treatment of chil-dren with Communicating hydrocephalus. Methods Eighty six consecutive children undergoing surgery treatment for Communicating hydrocephalus from January 2006 to July 2011 were included in this retrospective study. Fifty cases re-ceived adjustable shunt valve whereas the rest received standard shunt valve. Results The success rate was 84.00% in the adjustable shunt valve group and 63.89%in the standard shunt valve group. Complication rate was 16.00%in the ad-justable shunt valve group and 36.11% in the standard shunt valve group. Inadequate and excessive shunt rate was 69.23% in the standard shunt valve group and zero% in adjustable shunt valve group. Compared with standard shunt valve group, adjustable shunt valve group had significantly higher success rate and lower complication rate (All P<0.05). Conclusions Adjustable shunt valve effectively reduce the complication rate and improve the success rate. In addition, adjustable shunt valve is superior to standard shunt valve in the treatment of children with communicating hydrocephalus because it fits for the development of children.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the DNA integrity of optimized sperm on the embryonic development and clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSThis study included 605 cycles of conventional IVF-ET for pure oviductal infertility performed from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. On the day of retrieval, we examined the DNA integrity of the sperm using the sperm chromatin dispersion method. According to the ROC curve and Youden index, we grouped the cycles based on the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) threshold value for predicting implantation failure, early miscarriage, and fertilization failure, followed by analysis of the correlation between DFI and the outcomes of IVF-ET.

RESULTSAccording to the DFI threshold values obtained, the 605 cycles fell into four groups (DFI value < 5%, 5-10%, 10-15%, and ≥ 15%). Statistically significant differences were observed among the four groups in the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, implantation, clinical pregnancy, early miscarriage, and live birth (P < 0.05), but not in the rates of multiple pregnancy, premature birth, and low birth weight (P > 0.05). DFI was found to be correlated negatively with the rates of fertilization (r = -0.32, P < 0.01), cleavage (r = -0.19, P < 0.01), high-quality embryo (r = -0.40, P < 0.01), clinical pregnancy (r = -0.20, P < 0.01), and live birth (r = -0.09 P = 0.04), positively with the rate of early miscarriage (r = 0.23, P < 0.01), but not with the rates of multiple pregnancy (r = -0.01, P = 0.83), premature birth (r = 0.04, P = 0.54), and low birth weight (r = 0.03, P = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONThe DNA integrity of optimized sperm influences fertilization, embryonic development, early miscarriage, and live birth of IVF-ET, but its correlation with premature birth and low birth weight has to be further studied.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chromatin ; ultrastructure ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; ROC Curve ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

Objective To study the effects of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the expression of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), reactive oxygen species(ROS) and on the proliferation of cells as well as secretion of six proinflammmatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 levels in SKOV3 cells. And to explore the mechanism of SKOV3 cells in regulation. Methods Cultured primary SKOV3 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of LPS (0.01 μg/ml, 0.1 μg/ml, 1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml) for 4 h, the TLR4 expression in SKOV3 cells were examined by flow cytometry;1 μg/ml LPS stimulated SKOV3 for 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h respectively, the TLR4 expression and cell cycle in SKOV3, cell proliferation, ROS level as well as cells and TNF-α and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 levels in the culture medium were assayed by flow cytometry, MTT, CBA assay respectively. Results LPS with different concentrations of LPS stimulation in-duced an increased TLR4 expression, however, the expression was reduced when LPS concentration up to 10 μg/ml. LPS stimulation for 4 h, 8 h induced an increased TLR4 expression and cell proliferation. Stimulated for 24 h, however, the TLR4 expression and cell growth were inhibited in S period. Meanwhile, LPS stimulation for 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h induced a higher ROS secretion in comparison with control group. LPS stimulation induced a stronger cytokine response in comparison with control group, as demonstrated by the production of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 secretion in cultured SKOV3 cells, while IL-10 and IL-12 with low expression have no obvious difference in the all medium samples. Conclusion TLR4 expression, cell proliferation, ROS and proin-flammmatory cytokine secretion could be induced in SKOV3 through LPS stimulation. The study provide new ex-periment evidences for human ovarian cells SKOV3 immunity regulation and inflammation reaction to promote cells inhibition after LPS stimulation.

Objective:To study the relationship between telomerase activity and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods:Telomerase activity and expression of PCNA in 68 cases of OSCC,34 cases of epithelium immediately adjacent to carcinomas and 12 cases of normal oral mucosa were detected by TRAP-PCR-ELISA and immunohistochemical SP method. Results:The positive rate of telomerase in OSCC, the epithelium immediately adjacent to carcinomas and the normal oral mucosa was 67.65%(46/68), 8.82%(3/34) and 0(0/12) respectively. Telomerase activity in OSCC was related to the grade of the clinicopathology(P

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the distribution and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria separated from ascites of patients in Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from 2015 to 2021, and to provide a basis for rational clinical antimicrobial agents. Methods　Bacterial culture, bacterial identification and drug sensitivity analysis were performed on 1 058 non-duplicate ascites culture specimens from January 2015 to December 2021. The clinica1 and microbiologica1 data were ana1yzed by WHONET 5.6 and SAS 9.4 Results　Of the 1 058 specimens, 586 (55.39%) were positive for pathogenic bacteria, with a total of 781 strains isolated. There was no significant trend of increase or decrease in the positivity rate over different years. Male children (63.99%) were more prevalent than female children. Appendicitis (59.22%) was the most common disease and Escherichia coli was the most common causative bacteria. Among neonates (≤28 d), the bacteria with the highest detection rate were Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.50%) and Enterococcus faecium (23.50%), while among children (>28 d), the highest detection rate was Escherichia coli (35.98%). Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 64.79% of the 781 strains, mainly Escherichia coli (38.28%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.58%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.89%); Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 29.45%, mainly Enterococcus faecium (8.58%), Streptococcus constellatus (2.69%), and Enterococcus avium (2.43%); fungi accounted for 1.66% and anaerobic bacteria accounted for 4.10%. The resistance rates of Escherichia coli to cefoperazone/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem and meropenem were 6.02%, 4.35%, 4.35%, and 3.68%, respectively. The resistance rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae to these drugs were 59.70%, 59.70%, 50.75% and 53.73% respectively. Linezolid-resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium were found. Conclusion　Appendicitis is the most common abdominal infection in children, and the distribution of ascites pathogens varies with ages and diseases. The pathogenic bacteria are mainly Gram-negative bacteria, and the drug resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae was more serious. It is particularly important to use antibiotics correctly and rationally to reduce the emergence of drug resistant bacteria.

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and possible gene mutation sites of Chinese patients in order to improve the clinician's understanding of CHARGE syndrome. Methods Clinical data were collected and blood samples were obtained from the proband of CHARGE syndrome and their relatives. The peripheral blood DNA was extracted and sequenced by PCR amplification. Mutation sites were verified by Sanger sequencing. Results For the first proband, a heterozygous mutation was detected in the intron 10 of CHD7 gene. His parents and brother did not have mutation. For the second proband, total repeat sequence in exon 7 of CHD7 gene was detected. His father carried the same mutation and his mother did not have mutation. Conclusion For the patients who are diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome based on the clinical manifestations, genetic mutation detection should be proceeded. It is useful for studying possible genetic pathogenesis and enhancing the awareness of clinicians.

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; complications ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the synergistic cytotoxicity of TRAIL and paclitaxel on laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line Hep-2. METHOD: Hep-2 cells were exposed to various concentrations of TRAIL and paclitaxel respectively or jointly. The inhibition rate was measured by CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis rate and the expressions of DR4, DR5, DcR1 and DcR2 in Hep-2 cells were detected by flow cytometry methods. RESULT: Hep-2 cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by TRAIL. Paclitaxel could enhance its sensitivity to TRAIL by up-regulating the expressions of TRAIL death receptors in Hep-2 cells. CONCLUSION The resistance of Hep-2 cell to TRAIL could be overcome by paclitaxel. TRAIL and paclitaxel have synergistic killing effects on Hep-2 cells, so they might have a promising prospect in clinical therapy of laryngeal squamous carcinoma.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology