The effect of dietary supplementation of the two oriental medicinal prescriptions, Sypjeondaebotang or Jahyulyanggeuntang, on iron bioavailability was evaluated in rats which were depleted of iron by being fed an irondeficient diet for 4 weeks. Seventy two iron-depleted rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 24) , and fld one of the following experimental diets for 4 (n=8), 12 (n=8), and 25 days (n=8) : Control diet (CD), Sypjeondaebotang-supplemented diet (SD), Jahyulyanggeuntang -supplemented diet (JD). The CD contained 20 mg Fe/kg diet as FeSO4, and the SD or JD was identical except that the respective oriental medicinal prescription extract was included at the level of 4 g/kg diet. Animals fed the SD and JD for 25 days consumed significantly less food (p<0.001), but showed no change in food efficiency ratio compared to those that were fed the CD. Serum iron concentration and transferrin saturation values were significantly higher in rats fed the SD for 25 days compared to those that were fed the CD for the same period (p<0.05). The values of serum UIBC (p<0.05) and TIBC (p>0.05) were lower in rats fed the SD compared to those fed the CD. Dietary supplementation of Sypjeondaebotang during the period of iron repletion significantly increased blood levels of hemoglobin (p<0.05) and hematocrit (p<0.01) measured at day 12, and increased mean corpuscular volume (p<0.05) measured at day 25, compared to the values for the CD rats. Regression analyses of hemoglobin-repletion bioassay data from rats fed the SD and JD showed the relative biological values of 123% and 99%, respectively, calculated against the slope for the CD rats. Apparent iron absorption and retention values were also significantly lower (p<0.05) in rats fed the SD for 25 days than those for the CD rats. Based on the results from diverse biochemical indices of iron status and the chemical balance study, the effect of Jahyulyanggeuntang on iron bioavailability appears to be less prominent than that for Sypjeondaebotang. Taken together, these results indicate that Sypjeondaebotang has a positive effect in restoring iron depletion by increasing the iron bioavailability in rats.
Absorption ; Animals ; Biological Assay ; Biological Availability* ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements* ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Hematocrit ; Iron* ; Prescriptions ; Rats* ; Transferrin

Objective To compare the effects of vitrification with slow-freezing on the developmental ability of day 3 cleavage stage embryos.Methods Patients who had no less than 4 high quality embryos were included in this study.These embryos were cryopreserved using the methods of vitrification or slow-freezing.In the eryopreserved embryo transfer cycles,the embryos which were cryopreserved using one of the methods were chosen randomly.The developmental ability of embryos was compared between these two groups.Results A total of 80 patients were included in this study with 160 embryos.In the group of slow-freezing,73(91%)embryos were survived and achieved 15(38%)clinical pregnancies.Among these,3 were twins and the implantation rate was 25%(18/73).In the group of vitrification,71(89%)embryos were survived and achieved 19(48%)clinical pregnancies.Among these, 9 were twins and the implantation rate was 39%(28/71),which was significantly higher than the slow- freezing group(P

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of human mitochondrial transcription termi-nation factor-3 ( hMTERF3) in non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLS) and to analyze its clinicopathological significance. Methods The paraffin block samples used in this study included 65 cases of NSCLC and 32 cases of normal alveolar epithelial tissues. We determined the expressions of hMTERF3 in NSCLC and normal alveolar epithelial tis-sues by immunohistochemistry, calculate the survival rate using the Kaplan-Meier method, and analyzed the risk factors affecting the prognosis of NSCLC using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model. Results In the 65 cases of NSCLC, 31 ( 47. 69%) showed positive expression of hMTERF3. The total survival time was significantly shor-ter in the patients with a high than in those with a low hMTERF3 ex-pression ([30.39±3.35] vs [57.61±7.12] mo, P<0.05). The riskfactors affecting the prognosis of NSCLC included positive expression of hMTERF3 (HR=3.302, 95% CI:1.598-6.905) and lymph node metastasis (HR=4.052, 95% CI: 1.212-12.398). Conclusion hMTERF3 is overexpressed in NSCLC. Highly expressed hMTERF3 and lymph node metastasis reduce the survival time of NSCLC patients, suggesting that hMTERF3 may be a potential bio-marker for the prognosis of NSCLC.

AIM:To evaluate the optic nerve and axon impairment of relapsing - remitting multiple sclerosis ( RRMS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders ( NMOSD ) via detecting the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and the ganglion cell complex( GCC) thickness by optic coherence tomography(OCT).
METHODS: Retrospective case control study. Two hundred three cases were collected from August 2014 to January 2016 in Beijing Tian Tan Hospital. They were divided into four groups, including the normal group (n=60), the RRMS group ( n = 60 ), the NMOSD anti -aquaporin- 4 autoantibody seropositive( NMOSD- AQP4 -Ab seropositive) group (n= 48), and the NMOSD-AQP4-Abseronegative group (n = 35). All people were detected for the average and four quadrants ( superior, inferior, nasal, temporal) of pRNFL thickness and the average and two quadrants (superior, inferior) of GCC thickness with OCT. One way analysis of variance or nonparametric tests was used to compare the differences of pRNFL and GCC thickness between groups.
RESULTS: Comparing with the normal group, the average and all quadrants of pRNFL and GCC thickness in the RRMS, the NMOSD - AQP4 - Ab seropositive and the NMOSD-AQP4-Ab seronegative group were thinner (P<0. 01). Among them, the pRNFL and GCC thickness in the NMOSD- AQP4 - Ab seropositive group was the thinnest. Differences between groups in the pRNFL thickness:compared with the RRMS group, all quadrants of pRNFL and GCC thickness in the NMOSD-AQP4-Ab seropositive group were significantly thinner(P<0. 01); compared with the NMOSD- AQP4- Ab seronegative group, the inferior, nasal and temporal pRNFL thickness in the NMOSD-AQP4-Ab seropositive group were significantly thinner(P<0. 05), while the superior quadrant did not show significant differences( P > 0. 05); compared with the RRMS group, the superior pRNFL thickness in the NMOSD - AQP4 - Ab seronegative group was significantly thinner ( P < 0. 05), while the inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants did not show significant differences ( P > 0. 05 ). Differences between groups in the GCC thickness: compared with both the RRMS and the NMOSD- AQP4- Ab seronegative group, all quadrants of GCC thickness in the NMOSD -AQP4-Ab seropositive group were significantly thinner (P<0. 05); compared with the RRMS group, the superior GCC thickness in the NMOSD - AQP4 - Ab seronegative group was significantly thinner(P<0. 01), while the inferior quadrant did not show significant difference(P>0.05).
CONCLUSION: The optic nerve and axon impairment in NMOSD - AQP4 - Ab seropositive group was the most severe and the impairment in RRMS group was the least severe. The impairment in NMOSD - AQP4 - Ab seronegative group was between the former two, and could be more similar to that of RMMS.

Objective Severe preeclampsia, and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet syndrome (HELLP) are serious complications of pregnancy, and evidence suggests a genetic basis for these conditions. A G1528C mutation in the alpha-subunit of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) gene has been identified in association with these conditions. The aim of this study is to explore the carrier rate of the G1528C mutation in the MTP gene in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and in their newborns, as well as in a normal pregnant population, so as to determine its association with maternal liver disease among women in Beijing. Methods A multicenter, prospective, case control study was carried out. Polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to screen the G1528C mutations in the MTP gene. One hundred and forty cord blood samples from cases with severe preeclampsia (n=130) and HELLP syndrome (n=10) were collected. Ninety maternal peripheral blood samples among them (84 from severe preeclampsia and 6 from HELLP syndrome) were also collected for screening the common disease-causing mutation in Caucasians. Five hundred and sixty cord blood samples and 90 maternal peripheral blood samples obtained from normal pregnant women served as controls. Results The G1528C mutations in the MTP gene were not found in samples from women with severe preeclampsia and their newborns, from women with HELLP syndrome and their new borns, as well as in samples from the normal pregnant women and their new borns. Conclusions The common disease-causing mutation of G1528C in MTP gene in Caucasians is probably not a common mutation in Chinese Han people in Beijing. Further study is needed to expand the sample size among HELLP syndrome and maternal liver diseases in Chinese population.

Objective To explore the relationship of central obesity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in skeletal muscle.Methods Fifty healthy kunming mice at the neonatal stage were randomly divided into control group (n =20 cases) and test group (n =30 cases).To obtain the obese models,test group mice were injected with 10％ monosodium glutamate (3 mg · g-1 · d-1)for 5 days at cervical subcutaneous.In addition,mice were removed according to the requirements.Finally,we got 12 mice in each group.We detected body weight of the mice every two weeks,then Lee' s index was calculated.Body temperature was detected per week.At the end of 8th week,the blood specimens was collected from the eyeball to detect the serum lipid using automatic biochemistry analyzer.The perirenal white adipose tissue (WAT) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) were isolated and weighed.Furthermore,the levels of BDNF in skeletal muscle were investigated through western blotting in order to analyze the relationship between BDNF with central obesity.Results At the 6th weekend,the body weight of test and control groups were (39.71±2.55) and (32.83 ±2.30)g,the Lee's indexes were (365.02 ±3.83) and (337.54±4.10) g1/3 · cm-1,at the 8th weekend,the body weight of test and control groups were (48.12 ± 3.61) and (39.51 ± 3.52)g,the Lee's indexes were (361.93 ± 7.12) and (325.17 ± 6.87)g1/3 · cm-1 Above indexes had significant difference between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.001).At the 6th weekend,the temperature of the two groups were (36.30 ± 0.07) and (36.67 ± 0.07) ℃,at the 7th weekend,the temperature of the two groups were (36.40 ±0.08)and (36.79 ± 0.10)℃ respectively,at the 8th weekend,the temperature of the two groups were (36.31 ± 0.09)and(36.80 ± 0.10)℃ respectively.Above indexes had significant difference between the two groups.At the 8th weekend,the main indexes in test and control groups were compared:the total cholesterol were(2.91±0.25) and (1.86 ± 0.51) mmol · L-1,the triglyceride were (1.48 ± 0.62) and (0.81 ±0.23)mmol · L-1,the low-density lipoprotein were (0.37 ± 0.06) and (0.29 ± 0.05) mmol · L-1,the WAT were (0.75 ± 0.08) and (0.24 ± 0.05) g,the BAT were (0.31 ± 0.07) and (0.17 ±-0.01) g,the value of the BAT/WAT were (0.41 ±0.08) and (0.71 ± 0.12),the expression of BDNF were (0.63 ± 0.07) and (0.98 ± 0.06).The differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Down-regulation of BDNF in skeletal muscle may be involved with central obesity of mice by affecting energy metabolism.

Objective The 4-and 16-hydroxylated metabolites of estrogens have been implicated in carcinogenesis,whereas its 2-hydroxylated metabolites have been shown to have antiangiogenic effects.We aimed to examine whether the polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)involved in the estrogen metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer risk.Methods Polymerase chain reaction- restrictive fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)analysis was used to study the variant allele frequency distributions of COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism in a population based case-control study with 132 endometrial cancer cases and 110 controls.Odds ratios(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for known or suspected risk factors for endometrial cancer.Results The most frequent genotype was COMT~(Val/Val)(47.2%,52/110)in control group and COMT~(Mal/Met)(58.3%,77/132)in endometrial cancer group.The difference between the two groups was of statistical significance(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenesis of globozoospermia, fertilization ability of round-headed sperm, and the application value of assisted oocyte activation in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the wives of glohozoospermia men.

METHODSWe collected oocytes from the wives of 2 globozoospermia patients and randomly divided them into two groups after ICSI to receive calcium ionophore A23187-activation and conventional treatment, respectively. We reviewed the relevant literature published at home and abroad, and discussed the etiology of globozoospermia, fertilization ability of round-headed sperm, and treatment options for this disease.

RESULTSQuality embryos were obtained in the A23187-activation group while no fertilized oocytes, oocyte cleavage, quality embryos, or blastular formation were found in the conventional treatment group. Both women achieved pregnancy and gave birth to healthy neonates after transfer of the quality embryos from the A23187-activation group.

CONCLUSIONCalcium ionophore A23187 can be applied to ICSI for the wives of globozoospermia men and bring about desirable clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to its safety.

Calcimycin ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Ionophores ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities

This article introduced the neuromuscular activation characteristics of patients with chronic ankle instability during dif-ferent movement patterns, and explained the reasons of deficits of neuromuscular control in lower extremity muscle ac-tivity, kinetics, and kinematics, which aimed at further clarifying the mechanism of chronic ankle instability, and provid-ing theoretical basis for its rehabilitation training.

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensin 1 -7 ( Ang1-7) on cell proliferation and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( p-ERK) level in C6 cells.Methods C6 cells con-taining Mas, the angiotensin 1-7 receptor, was selected as the model of glioma.Cells were divided into three groups: normal control group, Ang1-7 treatment group, A779 +Ang1 -7 treatment group.MTT method was adopted to detect cell proliferation.Western bolt method was adopted to detect the p-ERK/ERK levels.Results Cell proliferation and p-ERK level were inhibited by angiotensin 1 -7, which function was antagonized by A779.Conclusion Angiotensin 1-7 could inhibit p-ERK level and cell proliferation through Mas receptor in C6 cells.