Cancer stem cells (CSC) are capable of self-renewal and differentiation, properties that are critical to tumor growth, metastasis, and radioresistance. Eradication of CSC is the key to the success of cancer therapy. Conditionally replicative adenoviruses(CRAd) are a novel class of viral agents which selectively replicate in tumor cells but not in normal cells. CRAd can specifically target and eradicate CSC ,representing a promising cure for cancer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the 5'-flanking regulatory sequence methylation status of the Boule gene in the testis tissue of infertile men with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS).

METHODSWe collected biopsy samples of the testis tissue from 12 men with obstructive azoospermia (the control group) and 15 cases of SCOS, all without varicocele, cryptorchidism, or infectious disease. We extracted genomic DNA from the testis tissue of the SCOS patients, analyzed the characteristics of the 5'-flanking regulatory sequence of the Boule gene using the bioinformatics method, and detected the methylation status of the Boule gene by sodium bisulfite sequencing.

RESULTSA CpG island was observed in the 5'-flanking regulation region of the Boule gene. The methylation level of the Boule gene was remarkably higher in the SCOS group than in the obstructive azoospermia controls (61.4% vs 21.7%, P<0.01), with significant differences in the methylation levels of 14 CpG sites, namely, －58 bp, －50 bp, －48 bp, －38 bp, －28 bp, －24 bp, －20 bp, －15 bp, －1 bp, +5 bp, +8 bp, +15 bp, +29 bp, and +58 bp.

CONCLUSIONSThe methylation level of the Boule gene is significantly higher in the SCOS patients than in the obstructive azoospermia males, which suggests that the changes in Boule methylation may be associated with spermatogenic dysfunction.

Case-Control Studies ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Male ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; genetics ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between ambient air pollution and hospital emergency admissions in Beijing.

METHODSIn this study, a semi-parametric generalized additive model (GAM) was used to evaluate the specific influences of air pollutants (PM10, SO2, and NO2) on hospital emergency admissions with different lag structures from 2009 to 2011, the sex and age specific influences of air pollution and the modifying effect of seasons on air pollution to analyze the possible interaction.

RESULTSIt was found that a 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration of PM10 at lag 03 day, SO2 and NO2 at lag 0 day were associated with an increase of 0.88%, 0.76%, and 1.82% respectively in overall emergency admissions. A 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration of PM10, SO2 and NO2 at lag 5 day were associated with an increase of 1.39%, 1.56%, and 1.18% respectively in cardiovascular disease emergency admissions. For lag 02, a 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration of PM10, SO2 and NO2 were associated with 1.72%, 1.34%, and 2.57% increases respectively in respiratory disease emergency admissions.

CONCLUSIONThis study further confirmed that short-term exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with increased risk of hospital emergency admissions in Beijing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Seasons ; Young Adult