The in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer technique has been widely applied in human insemination. The rate of successful insemination is gradual y rising, and the in-vitro fertilization directly determine the insemination outcome.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the difference between the two common using insemination methods, microdrop and open, in in-vitro fertilization and embryo development.
METHODS:A randomized study was conducted to compare microdrop and open insemination methods among non-male factor patients undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. A total of 1 175 cases were enrol ed in the research. There were 573 cases in the microdrop group, and 602 cases in open insemination group. The fertilization rate and embryo development in the two groups were compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The fertilization failure rate [total fertilization failure rate+low fertilization rate (<25%oocytes fertilized)] in the microdrop insemination group was higher than in the open insemination group (11.9%, 3.3%, P<0.001), while the good quality embryo rate and pregnancy rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (al P>0.05). The open insemination method is a simple insemination method with a lower fertilization failure rate. As the fertilization is a highly complicated process involving many extrinsic and intrinsic factors, further study is needed to confirm the effects of the two insemination methods on in-vitro fertilization outcome.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of the damage to peripheral nerves induced by Campylobacter jejuni exotoxin (CJT).

METHODS(1) Animal models: (1) The CJT was extracted from PEN 19-CJ and injected perineurally and intravenously to Wistar rats. (2) The sera and the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), taken from the rats immunized with the CJT, were injected perineurally at sciatic nerves of experimental rats and intravenously, respectively. (2) Histopathologic study of sciatic nerves: the animals were sacrificed and their sciatic nerves were examined for tease fibers, transverse section with toluidine blues staining and electron microscopy. (3) Immunohistochemistry: sections of sciatic nerves of either normal rats or human which were incubated with CJT and the sciatic nerves with pathological changes induced by CJT were obtained for observation of the binding capability of CJT with peripheral nerves by SABC and FITC-immunofluorescence methods, and nucleic acid hybridization techniques for detection of TNF-alpha mRNA expression in pathological sciatic nerves samples.

RESULTS(1) Remarkable peripheral neuropathies with axon degeneration and/or demyelination were found in the nerves induced by both CJT injection perineurally and intravenously. The axon degeneration was more obvious. Pathological changes were identified in 76.8% (2,763/3,600) of teasing fibers after perineural injection, but only 9.6% (230/2,400) of fibers were damaged in control group (P < 0.01). The peak severity of fiber damage was found on the 3rd day after CJT intravenous injection with the incidence of abnormal fibers was 19.5% (390/2,000), and abnormalities of 15.5% (310/2000) on the 14th day. However, no abnormal changes were demonstrated in control group (P < 0.01). So was in the groups injected with anti-CJT sera and the supernatants of PBMCs compared with control (P > 0.05). (2) Binding of CJT to the nerve was found dominant in the sciatic nerves taken from normal rats or human either incubated with CJT or in the pathological sciatic nerves induced by CJT to various degrees. The binding of CJT to all these nerves was determined. (3) After intravenous injection with CJT, no histopathologic change could be found in the other viscera of the rats, with the exception of remarkable pathological change in peripheral nerves.

CONCLUSIONS(1) CJT could remarkably damage the peripheral nerves in rats. Specific pathogenicity of CJT to peripheral nerves was well shown, because no histopathologic abnormalities could be found in the other viscera, such as brain, liver and kidney etc. although there was remarkable pathological change along the peripheral nerve in the animals. (2) No immunological pathogenicity of CJT could be demonstrated in the nerves of rats after immunization with CJT.

Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; blood ; Bacterial Toxins ; immunology ; toxicity ; Campylobacter jejuni ; immunology ; Exotoxins ; immunology ; toxicity ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nerves ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeling technology is a classic noninvasive tracing method, which has been widely used in the stem cell transplantation. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are currently one of the most promising seed cells for cell transplantation. Whether SPIO labeling can also be used to noninvasively trace induced pluripotent stem cells is rarely reported, and concern has been raised about whether SPIO markedly impacts the differentiation of iPSCs. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of SPIO labeling on the differentiation of iPSCs in vitro. METHODS: Rat fibroblasts were isolated and cultured. Efficient recombinant vector and plasmids that were packaged by virus and contained target genes (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc) were transfected into 293T cells for virus packaging and production. The packaging lentiviral vectors that contained target genes infected rat fibroblasts to obtain iPSCs. SPIO-labeled (experimental) or unlabeled (control) iPSCs were subjected to neural induction and differentiation. Prussian blue staining and transmission electron microscope observation were performed for SPIO-labeled iPSCs. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect neuron-specific enolase expression after induced differentiation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of neurons and glial cells differentiated from iPSCs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were dense iron particles in the cytoplasm of SPIO-labeled iPSCs shown by Prussian staining and under transmission electron microscope. Differentiated iPSCs were positive for neuron-specific enolase. In addition, the proportion of neurons and glial cells showed no difference between the experimental and control groups. To conclude, SPIO labeling has no obvious effect on the capacity of iPSCs differentiating into neurons. Reasonable application of this new cell labeling technique will promote the development of seed cells in regenerative medicine.

OBJECTIVETo understand the timeliness of the notifiable communicable diseases surveillance system in Fujian province.

METHODSDatabase from the internet based communicable diseases reporting system was used.

RESULTSThe 50th percentile of time between the disease diagnosed and report recorded in medical faculties was 1 day in 2004 which was 6 days less than that in 2001 - 2003. The timeliness rate of 0 day was 46.46%, a 2.7 times over that in 2001 - 2003. The timeliness of notifiable communicable diseases surveillance system in different administrative areas, reporting units and on different diseases was significantly different. Time between the disease diagnosed and report recorded was the shortest in those cases reported by hospitals and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) hospitals at the county level and above, with 50th percentile as 0 day, but the timeliness rate of 0 day was 50.76% with 70.04% of the cases were reported from hospitals and TCM hospitals of county level and above. Length between the disease diagnosed and reported was the longest in those cases recorded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDCs) with the 50th percentile as 3 days. The source of cases recorded by CDCs came from hospitals at the township level, where there was no connection to internet but the reporting cards had to be sent to local CDCs. Time between the disease being diagnosed and reported was 2 days in those cases reported by hospitals at the township level. 21.21% of cases were recorded by hospitals of township level and CDCs. The 50th percentile of time shown between the reported records and confirmed by CDCs was 4 hours The 24 hour timeliness rate was 63.65%.

CONCLUSIONThe timeliness of the notifiable communicable diseases surveillance system had been improved significantly after the medical personnel recording the cases directly through internet. Timeliness could be further improved through access to internet at the hospitals of township level, training of staff and better hospital management systems.

China ; epidemiology ; Communicable Diseases ; epidemiology ; Databases, Factual ; Disease Notification ; methods ; Hospitals ; Internet ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: To compare the clinicopathological data and long-term survival of gastric cancer patients in China and Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1998 and 2009 in 2 high-volume institutions in both China (n=1,637) and Korea (n=2,231) were retrospectively evaluated. Clinicopathological variables, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and surgery-related complications were assessed for all patients and compared between the 2 institutions. RESULTS: Chinese patients included in the study were significantly older and had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than the Korean patients. Esophagogastric junction tumors were more frequent in Chinese patients. However, the number of patients with stage I gastric cancer, the number of harvested lymph nodes, and the number of total gastrectomies were significantly higher in the Korean population. Korean patients also presented with fewer undifferentiated tumors than Chinese patients. Furthermore, Korean patients had prolonged OS and PFS for stage III cancers only. BMI, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and distant metastases were all independent factors affecting OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Although China and Korea are neighboring Asian countries, the clinicopathological characteristics of Chinese patients are significantly different from those of Korean patients. Korean gastric cancer patients had longer OS and PFS than Chinese patients. Influencing factors included TNM stage, tumor invasion, and lymph node metastasis.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; China* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathology of palatopharyngeal muscle obtained from patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSThe samples from both groups were studied under HE, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-tetrazolium reductase (NADH- TR), modified Gomori trichrome (MGT) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) staining. There were 36 cases of OSAHS who received uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in the experimental group (including 6 mild, 6 moderate and 24 severe cases). There were 6 patients with chronic tonsillitis but without OSAHS as matched control group. Both groups were diagnosed by PSG.

RESULTSCentralized located nuclei and obvious variability of the size of fiber types were observed in both groups. The occurrence rate of the former were 1/6 in control group and 52.8% (19/36) in OSAHS, while the rate of the latter were 4/6 and 58.3% (21/36)respectively. A large number of fibers in both groups (control group 5/6, OSAHS group 28/36) presented an irregularly distributed staining for oxidative activity reaction in NADH stain.Endomysium connective tissue proliferation, a lobular or motheaten appearance, target-like fibers, ragged red fiber (RRF) and muscle necrosis were only observed in OSAHS group.While it was more common in serious OSAHS patients. Dominance of type 1 fibers were observed in matched control group in ATPase stain. Clusters of type 2 fibers or clusters of both type fibers were observed in OSAHS, especially more common in serious OSAHS. There was a predominance of the type 2 fibers in some OSAHS patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe observation of HE and special muscular stain identified that palatopharyngeal muscle of OSAHS patients had pathological lesion. The pathological changes included muscular lesion and abnormal distribution of different fiber types, the rate of type 1 fiber which maintained the opening of upper air way decreased.

Adult ; Humans ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Palate ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Pharynx ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) on the diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGID) based on the Rome IV standard in infants and young children.

METHODSA total of 84 children aged 1 month to 3 years who were diagnosed with CMPA were enrolled as the case group, and 84 infants and young children who underwent physical examination and had no CMPA were enrolled as the control group. The pediatricians specializing in gastroenterology asked parents using a questionnaire for the diagnosis of FGID based on the Rome IV standard to assess clinical symptoms and to diagnose FGID.

RESULTSThe case group had a significantly higher incidence rate of a family history of allergies than the control group (P<0.05). In the case group, 38 (45%) met the Rome IV standard for the diagnosis of FGID, while in the control group, 13 (15%) met this standard (P<0.05). According to the Rome IV standard for FGID, the case group had significantly higher diagnostic rates of reflex, functional diarrhea, difficult defecation, and functional constipation than the control group (P<0.05). The children who were diagnosed with FIGD in the control group were given conventional treatment, and those in the case group were asked to avoid the intake of cow's milk protein in addition to the conventional treatment. After 3 months of treatment, the case group had a significantly higher response rate to the treatment than the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn infants and young children, CMPA has great influence on the diagnosis of FGID based on the Rome IV standard. The possibility of CMPA should be considered during the diagnosis of FGID.

Objective To detect the dynamic visual acuity ( DVA) before and after vestibular habituation of subjects in order to optimize the DVA assessment criteria .Methods The vestibular function examination system was applied to the detection of static and dynamic visual function in 16 healthy subjects .Results When the speed of left or right swinging was fast enough , DVA before and after vestibular habituation was different .Conclusion Subjects with vestibular habituation can reduce their sensitivity to the vestibular system , the changes in DVA are better than before habituation , and the vestib-ular function adaptability training may have effect on DVA .

OBJECTIVETo explore the short-term outcomes and safety of complete mesocolic excision (CME) in elderly patients with colon cancer.

METHODSThe clinical pathological factors of 71 patients with colon cancer undergoing CME procedure by the same group of surgeons were analyzed retrospectively from November 2009 to February 2012. The elderly group(≥70 years) and the non-elderly group(<70 years) were compared regarding short-term outcomes and safety.

RESULTSSimilar extent of resection could be achieved in the elderly and non-elderly groups in terms of area of mesentery[(13 049±4332) vs. (13 163±4725) mm2, P=0.916], distance between the tumor and the high ligation site[(95±22) vs. (98±20) mm, P=0.516], distance between normal bowel and high ligation site [(130±25) vs. (128±25) mm, P=0.731], the length of colon [(262±60) vs. (245±49) mm, P=0.212], and lymph nodes retrieved(22.0±6.4 vs. 24.8±9.9, P=0.168). The mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, drainage removal time, diet resumption, drainage volume in three days after surgery, and hospital deaths showed no statistical significances(all P>0.05), while hospital stay and expenses of the elderly group were significantly increased(both P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONElderly patients undergoing elective CME operation can achieve similar operative extent and lymph nodes harvest, and the surgical risk is not increased.

Aged ; Colectomy ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Ligation ; Lymph Nodes ; Mesentery ; Mesocolon ; surgery ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEPoisonous plants are a deadly threat to public health in China. The traditional clinical diagnosis of the toxic plants is inefficient, fallible, and dependent upon experts. In this study, we tested the performance of DNA barcodes for identification of the most threatening poisonous plants in China.

METHODSSeventy-four accessions of 27 toxic plant species in 22 genera and 17 families were sampled and three DNA barcodes (matK, rbcL, and ITS) were amplified, sequenced and tested. Three methods, Blast, pairwise global alignment (PWG) distance, and Tree-Building were tested for discrimination power.

RESULTSThe primer universality of all the three markers was high. Except in the case of ITS for Hemerocallis minor, the three barcodes were successfully generated from all the selected species. Among the three methods applied, Blast showed the lowest discrimination rate, whereas PWG Distance and Tree-Building methods were equally effective. The ITS barcode showed highest discrimination rates using the PWG Distance and Tree-Building methods. When the barcodes were combined, discrimination rates were increased for the Blast method.

CONCLUSIONDNA barcoding technique provides us a fast tool for clinical identification of poisonous plants in China. We suggest matK, rbcL, ITS used in combination as DNA barcodes for authentication of poisonous plants.

China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; standards ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Toxic ; classification ; genetics ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity