There have been several epidemiological studies evaluating the potential association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphism and the risk of male infertility.However,the results obtained were inconsistent.Therefore,we performed a meta-analysis to further examine the association between the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and male infertility.A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all eligible studies from the online literature databases published prior to January 15th,2016.A total of 20 studies with 4293 cases and 4507 controls were included.An odds ratio (OR) and a 95％ confidence interval (95％ CI) were calculated to assess the strength of the association.A cumulative meta-analysis,sensitivity analysis and assessment of the publication bias were also performed in this study.The results showed that in the overall analysis,the association between the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and male infertility was not significant.A stratified analysis by ethnicity revealed a significant increase in the risk of male infertility in the Asian population with the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism (especially in the heterozygote model:OR=l.20,95％ CI=1.01-1.44,P=0.994;the dominant model:OR=1.23,95％ CI=1.04-1.45,P=0.996;and the allele model:OR=l.20,95％ CI=1.04-1.39,P=0.985) but not in the Caucasian population.In the stratified analyses,no significant association was observed between the different types of male infertility.This meta-analysis suggests the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism may be a potential risk factor for male infertility,especially in the Asian population.

Objective To observe the effect of intracoronary transfer of autologous HO-1 overexpressed MSCs in porcine model of myocardial ischemia ( 1 h)/reperfusion. Methods Apoptosis was assayed and cytokine concentrations in supernatant were measured in cells exposed to hypoxia-reoxygen in vitro. In vivo, Chinese male mini-pigs were allocated to the following treatment groups; control group (saline), MSCs group (MSCs), MSCs transfected with pcDNA3. 1-nHO-l (HO-1-MSCs). 1 x 107 of autologous stem cells or identical volume of saline was injected intracoronary into porcine hearts 1 h after ischemia. MRI assay and postmortem analysis were assessed 3 months after stem cell transplantation. Results In vitro, cell apoptosis rate post hypoxia-reoxygen was significantly reduced in HO-1- MSCs group ( 30. 30% ±7. 64% ) compared with that in MSCs group (56. 93% ±4. 68% , P <0. 001) and LacZ- MSCs group (55. 88% ± 4. 38% , P < 0. 001) , VEGF was also significantly upregulated in HO-1-MSCs group [(768.44±78.38)pg/ml] compared with that in MSCs group[ (555. 27 ±67. 67)pg/ml, P<0.001] and LacZ-MSCs group [ (522. 97 ± 71. 45 ) pg/ml, P < 0. 001 ] . In vivo, cardiac function was significantly improved in both MSCs transplantation groups compared to saline group (all P<0. 05 vs. saline) and the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in HO-1-MSCs group compared with that in MSCs group at 3 months after transplantation ( 53. 50% ± 2. 09% vs. 49. 54% ± 2. 74% , P = 0. 017 ), capillary density in the peri-infarct area was also significantly higher in HO-1-MSC group than that in MSCs group [ (14.59 ± 2. 39 )/HPF vs. (11.78 ± 2.48 )/HPF, P = 0.033 ] . Conclusions Efficacy of HO-1 overexpressed MSCs on improving cardiac function and promoting angiogenesis was greater than those by MSCs in this porcine ischemia/reperfusion model.

Aim: To identify the key risk factors of intrauterine hepatitis B virus transmission (HBV) and its effect on the placenta and fetus. Methods: 425 infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive pregnant women who received combined immunization with hepatitis B immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccine between 2009 to 2015 were prospectively enrolled in this study. The intrauterine transmission situation was assessed by dynamic monitoring of infants HBV DNA load and quantitative HBsAg. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the high risk factors for intrauterine transmission. Stratified analysis was used to determine the relationship between maternal HBV DNA load and fetal distress. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe HBV Effects on placental tissue. Results: HBV intrauterine infection rate was 2.6% (11/425). Multivariate analysis result showed that the maternal HBV DNA load was an independent risk factor for intrauterine infection among infants (P=0.011). Intrauterine infection and distress rate was significantly higher in infants with with maternal HBV DNA>10⁶ IU/ml than those with HBV DNA <10⁶ IU/ml (12.2% vs. 1.8%; χ²=11.275, P=0.006), and (24.4% vs. 16.0%, χ²=3.993, P=0.046). Transmission electron microscopy showed that mitochondrial edema, endoplasmic reticulum expansion and thicker basement membrane were apparent when the maternal HBV DNA>10⁶ IU/ml than that of maternal HBV DNA<10⁶ IU/ml (960 nm vs. 214 nm, Z=-2.782, P=0.005) in the placental tissue. Conclusion: Maternal HBV DNA>10⁶ IU/ml is associated not only with intrauterine infection, but also with increased incidence of intrauterine distress and placental sub-microstructural changes, providing strong clinical and histological evidence for pregnancy avoidance and treatment in this population.
DNA, Viral ; Female ; Fetal Distress/drug therapy* ; Hepatitis B/prevention & control* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines/therapeutic use* ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins/therapeutic use* ; Infant ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious

Objective: Moxifloxacin (MFX) shows good activity against and can be a possible antibiotic therapy to treat infection; however, other studies have shown a lower or no activity. We aimed to evaluate MFX activity against using zebrafish (ZF) model . Methods: A formulation of labeled with CM-Dil was micro-injected into ZF. Survival curves were determined by recording dead ZF every day. ZF were lysed, and colony-forming units (CFUs) were enumerated. Bacteria dissemination and fluorescence intensity in ZF were analyzed. Inhibition rates of MFX and azithromycin (AZM, positive control) were determined and compared. Results: Significantly increased survival rate was observed with different AZM concentrations. However, increasing MFX concentration did not result in a significant decrease in ZF survival curve. No significant differences in bacterial burdens by CFU loads were observed between AZM and MFX groups at various concentrations. Bacterial fluorescence intensity in ZF was significantly correlated with AZM concentration. However, with increasing MFX concentration, fluorescence intensity decreased slightly when observed under fluorescence microscope. Transferring rates at various concentrations were comparable between the MFX and AZM groups, with no significant difference. Conclusion MFX showed limited efficacy against using ZF model. Its activity needs to be confirmed.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Moxifloxacin ; pharmacology ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; drug therapy ; Mycobacterium abscessus ; drug effects ; Zebrafish