Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Child ; China ; Gastroenterology ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant

BACKGROUND: As a biochemical marker of cytoplasm, the increased activity of creatine kinase (CK) in human spermatozoa is correlated with both the residual cytoplasma and the ratio of sperm with abnormal func tion. It is a marker of mature sperm and associated with the potential of in semination. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences of CK activity in sperm and the relative contents of sperm CK-MM and CK-BB isoenzymes between normal fertile males and infertile males, and evaluate its significance in clinical diagnosis of male infertility. DESIGN: Case-control observation. SETTING: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Family Planning Research Insti tute of Sichuan Province. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-four male infertile patients between January 1999 and October 2000 were selected from the Department of Family Planning Sciences of Sichuan Province, who had no aspermatism with their wives proved to be fertile. The average age of subjects were 31 years. Eighty subjects with the sperm count ＞ 2×1010 L-1 were taken as normal sperm group and 14 subjects with the sperm counts ＜ 2×1010 L-1 were considered as oligospermia group. Semen obtained from 27 healthy males who were normal in routine examinations and with children was taken as the healthy control group.METHODS: Semen sample collected by masturbation after abstinence of 3 to 5 days was incubated at 37 ℃ for liquefication and routinely analyzed.Total activity of CK in sperm was determined by using a kinetic spectrophotometry and the relative contents of CK isozyme was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by density scanning of CK isozyme.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sperm counts, percentages of viability and motility of sperm, total CK activity and the relative contents of CK-MM and CK-BB isozyme in spermatozoa.RESULTS: A total of 94 enrolled patients and 27 normal controls were involved in the analysis of results. ①Sperm counts, percentage of viability and motility in oligospermia group ( Ⅱ + Ⅲ, WHO method) were obviously lower than those in the healthy control group, and those in the normal sperm group, except the sperm counts, were remarkably lower than the healthy control group [the sperm counts in healthy control group, normal sperm group and oligospermia group was (6.05 ±0.81 )×1010 L-1, (7.76±1.37)×1010 L-1 and (1.46±0.19)×1010 L-1 respectively (P ＜ 0.01). The survival rate in healthy control group, normal sperm group and oligospermia group was 85.1%,56.8% and 58.2%, P ＜ 0.01, and the sperm motility was 62.9% ,34.6% and 29.5% respectively, P ＜ 0.01].②Total activity of sperm CK in oligospermia group was significantly higher than the healthy control group [respectively (9.000±6.117) and (1.933 ±0.943) kat/108 sperm,P＜ 0.05],although that in the normal sperm group (2.800±0.862) kat/108 sperm was a little higher than the healthy control group, while there were no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).③The relative contents of sperm CK-MM isozyme in the normal sperm group and oligospermia group were obviously decreased (that in the healthy control group, normal sperm group and oligospermia group was 30.5%, 19.0% and 18.0% respectively,P ＜ 0.05), which implied a remarkable difference in sperm differentiation between healthy control group and the latter two groups.CONCLUSION: The determination of sperm CK is meaningful for the diagnosis and pathogenesis of oligospermia. More work should be done on the distribution of sperm CK-MM isozyme in different infertile population as well as its importance in the diagnosis of infertility.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with finasteride and doxazosin in benign prostatic hyperplasia/ lower urinary tract symptoms (BPH/LUTS) patients with intravesical prostatic profusion (IPP).Methods A total of 322 BPH/LUTS patients who accepted combination therapy with finasteride and doxazosin were enrolled in this study.Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the degree of IPP:group Ⅰ(IPP＞10 mm),group 2 (IPP between 5 mm and 10 mm),group 3 (IPP＜5 mm),control group (without IPP).All patients were received inasteride 5 mg once per day and doxazosin 4 mg once per day for 6 months.International prostate symptom score (IPSS),prostatic specific antigen(PSA),ultrasonographic and urcdynamic evaluation were compared before and after treatment.The correlations between the above factors and IPP were estimated by Logistic regression analysis.Results After 6 month of treament,the changes of IPP degree and the maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) had no significant differences in group 1,group 2 and group 3 as compared with before treatment (all P＞0.05).The IPSS in group 1 was not significantly different before and after treatment (P＞0.05).There were significant differences in the PSA level,IPSS,total prostate volume (TPV),transition zone volume (TZV),residual urine volume (PVR) in the 4 groups before and after treatment (all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that PVR and Qmax had positive and negative correlations with IPP (P＜0.001 and P=0.024),respectively.Conclusions Combination therapy with finasteride and doxazosin can significantly improve the symptoms of LUST and reduce the total prostate volume in patients with BPH/LUTS,but for BPH patients with IPP,the combination therapy can not effectively alleviate the degree of IPP.The increase of residual urine volume and decrease of Qmax may enhance the risk of bladder outlet obstruction in BPH patients with IPP.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression of EG-1 in breast cancer and the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of breast cancer.Methods EG-1 mRNA expression in 72 malignant and 18 benign breast tissues were evaluated by RT-PCR method,and its correlation with clinical characteristics and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results EG-1 expression level was higher in malignant tissue than in the corresponding benign breast tissue(71%vs.24%,P＜0.05).EG-1 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and protein VEGF (P＜0.05)and was not significantly with age,menopause,tnmor size,grade,hormone status,protein Her2 and pS3.The metastastic rate and recurrence rate in EG-1 positive patients was higher than that in EG-1 negative patients.Multivariate Cox model showed that EG-1 positive was an independent factor affecting overall survival and disease free survival.Conclusions EG-1 expression was up-regulated in breast cancer and significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and protein VEGF.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of He-Ne laser combined with TDP irradiation in the treatment of herpes zoster ophthalmicus.METHODS: Totally 22 patients (22 eyes) with herpes zoster ophthalmicus were treated by He-Ne laser irradiation combined with TDP (Group A).Another 22 patients (22 eyes) with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (Group B) were treated by medication.The duration of the disease, the incidence of complications, and the time of pain relief were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The cure rate of Group A was 91%, that of Group B was 73%, there was no significant difference between the two groups (x2=1.375, P>0.05).The average cure time of Group A was 8±2.22d, Group B was 12±1.88d, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=5.22, P<0.05).The complication rate of Group A was 18%, Group B was 59%, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (x2=6.86, P<0.05).The average pain relief time of Group A was 5±1.23d, Group B was 10±1.34d, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=11.17, P<0.05).CONCLUSION: He-Ne laser combined with TDP irradiation can shorten the treatment time of herpes zoster ophthalmicus, shorten the course of disease, reduce the incidence of complications, relieve pain, with no significant effect on the cure rate of herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Objectives:Using IE 1 gene promoter of Autograph californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus(AcNPV),a transfer vector with an immediately early gene promoter was constructed.　Methods:Transfer vector pAcPIneo which contains neomycin resistance gene(neo)coding sequence downstream of IE 1-promoter was constructed and cotransfected with the wild type of AcNPV DNA into Sf9 insect cells.Recombinant virus was selected by G418 resistance since the neo gene can be expressed in Sf9 cells.　Results:Northern blot hybridzation with 32　P labeled neo gene fragement as probe showed that the neogene was integrated in plogene of AcNPV genome.　Conclusions:Transfer vector with an immediately early gene promoter of baculovirus was constructed successfully,the neo gene was transcribed from the immediately early phase to the very late phase in infected cells.

Objective To establish a PCR-RFLP method for detection of CD26 mutation of hemoglobin E(HbE)gene.Methods The genome DNA from the family members who were suspected of having HbE combined with beta-thalassemia was amplified using PCR.The PCR products were digested by restriction endonuclease Mnl I,and then separated on PAGE.The electrophoretical patterns were finally analyzed to confirm if CD26 mutation was present or not.Results Four cases with CD26 mutation in two families were successfully screened out.Conclusion Although the incident frequency of CD26 mutation in Sichuan population is not high,it must not be neglected since it may present alone or combined with other type of thalassemia.PCR-RFLP method described in this study is available in screening mutated HbE gene and treating the disease owing to its simplicity,rapidity and specificity.

AIM:To establish a method for evaluating the principle components of Herba Artemisiae Annuae from different habitats.METHODS:Using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry(FTIR),the characteristic peaks of fingerprints of samples from 12 habitats were recognized and compared.RESULTS:The samples from 12 habitats were obviourly different in number,frequency and intensity of peaks.CONCLUSION:FTIR is applied to analysis of principle components of Herba Artemisiae Annuae from different habitats and an operable method of quality control and discrimination for them is provided.

Objective To investigate the effect of promoter hypermethylation of O 6 methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene on colorectal tumorigenesis and progression. Methods The promoter hypermethylation of O 6 methylguanine DNA methyltransferase gene was assayed in 27 sporadic colorectal adenomas, 62 sporadic colorectal carcinomas and 20 normal colorectal mucosa tissues by methylation specific PCR. At the same time, the expression of MGMT protein was studied in the same samples using immunohistochemistry. Results None of the normal colorectal mucosa tissues showed methylated bands. Promoter hypermethylation was detected in 40.7%(11/27) of adenomas and 43.5% (27/62) of carcinomas, respectively. MGMT proteins were expressed in nucleus and cytoplasm of normal colorectal mucosa tissues. Loss of MGMT expression was found in 22.2% (6/27) of adenomas and 45.2% (28/62) of carcinomas, respectively. There were significant difference among them ( P =0.041). Methylation was detected in 5 of the 6 adenomas( P =0.027) and 24 of the 28 carcinomas( P