Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; China ; Health Plan Implementation ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Internationality ; Public Policy ; history ; Quality Control

Objectiye To optimize the depth of the microchannel and the time point for sperm collection,and improve the efficiency of sperm screening on a microfluidic device. Methods Microchannels with four different depths of 25, 50, 100 and 200 μm were tested. Mice sperm were added to the inlet of the microchannel. The relative quantity and motility of sperm in the outlet were recorded at different collection times, i.e. ,5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Statistical method one-way ANOVA and appropriate post-hoc testing were applied to analyze differences between different groups, and further to select the best-fit depth of the microchannel and the time point for collection. Results In microchannels with depths of 25, 50, 100 and 200 μm, the sperm motilities measured in each outlet were (85.4 ± 2.3)%, (85.8 ± 5.8)%,( 87. 2 ± 2. 8 ) %, (76. 5 ± 2. 8 ) % respectively with statistical significance ( F = 5.8, P ＜ 0. 05 ). No obvious differences were found among 25-100 μm channels, however the motility dramatically decreased in the 200 μm group. The relative sperm quantities were (5.2 ±2.0)%, (7.2 ±2.5)%,(12.3 ±2.0)%,(7. 7 ± 1.1 ) % respectively with statistical significance ( F = 6. 9, P ＜ 0. 05), which increased with channel depth from 25 to 100 μm,while it decreased in the 200 μm channel Taking 2 indexes into account, 100 μmwas the most fit channel depth for sperm motility screening. The sperm motility in the outlet gradually decreased with time. At the time points of 5, 15, 30 and 60 min after adding sperm, the sperm motilities were (99. 6 ±0. 7)%, (87.2 ±2. 8)%, (79. 3 ±2. 2)% and (62. 6 ±8.0)% respectively with statistical significance ( F = 37. 3, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Yet the relative quantities of sperm in the outlet increased almost three times in this process. At the time points mentioned above, the relative quantities of sperm were (5.8±1.1)%, (10.6 ± 0.9)%, (12.1 ± 1.7)%, (17.9 ± 3.4)% respectively with statistical significance ( F = 17.8, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Thus 15-30 min was the ideal screening time. Conclusion An effective microdevice for sperm screening with optimized depth and collection time period is developed,which may contribute significantly for the screening of healthy sperm on microfluidic chips.

BACKGROUND:Overproduction of thyroid hormones is shown to increase the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, stimulating bone resorption and transformation. Inadequate compensation of increased bone resorption by bone transformation results in an increased loss of bone mass.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of hyperthyroidism on the density of the alveolar bone.
METHODS:Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were equal y randomized into hyperthyroidism group and control group. Rabbits in the hyperthyroidism group or control group were daily injected intraperitoneal y with 50μg/kg levothyrocine diluted in physiological saline solution or equal volume of physiological saline. At 8 weeks after treatment, serum levels of thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4), alkaline phosphatase, magnesium and calcium, phosphorus were determined;meanwhile, the bone densities of the lumbar vertebra, mandible, bilateral distal femur were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and the correlation analysis was performed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 8 weeks after treatment, serum levels of FT3, FT4, alkaline phosphatase calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the hyperthyroidism group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the bone densities of the lumbar vertebra, mandible, bilateral distal femur were significantly decreased (P<0.05), compared with the control group. Bone density of the mandible was positively correlated with the bone density the lumbar vertebra and bilateral distal femur. These findings suggest that the changes in FT3 and FT4 are sufficient for the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism results in the decreased density of the alveolar bone, indicating the occurrence of osteoporosis.

AIM: To investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), benazepril(B), on cardiac function, free oxygen radicals, sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) Ca~(2+)-ATPase following ischemia-reper-fusion in sportaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). METHODS: Thirty 10-week-old female SHRs were randomly assigned into two groups: group SHR was control; The animal in group SHR+B was given with 10 mg/kg of benazepril perday. Another 15 Wistar rats with the same age and sex were normal control (group Wistar). After 12 weeks of pretreatment, all rats in each group were subjected to 30 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 30 min of reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters, left heart-to-body weight ratio(LVW/BW), myocardial malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and SR Ca~(2+)-ATPase activity were measured. RESULTS: Compared to group Wistar, the rats in group SHR had higher blood pressure, LVW/BW and myocardial MDA concentration, more serious left cardiac function injury and lower myocardial SOD activity and SR Ca~(2+)-ATPase activity; group SHR+B had lower myocardial MDA concentration, higher myocardial SOD activity, but no difference in blood pressure, LVW/BW, the degree of left cardiac function injury and myocardial SR Ca~(2+)-ATPase activity. CONCLUSION: Benazepril can attenuate ischemia-reperfusion-induced cardiac function injury by regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), improving SR Ca~(2+)-ATPase activity and decreasing oxygen free radicals injury in SHRs.

Objective Sperm screening is an essential step in IVF procedures. The swim-up method, an assay on sperm motility, is used clinically to select the ideal sperm for subsequent manipulation. However, additional parameters, including acrosome reaction capability, chemotaxis, and thermotaxis are also important indicators of mammalian sperm health. To monitor both sperm motility and chemotaxis simultaneously during sperm screening, we designed and constructed a microdevice comprising a straight channel connected with a bi-branch channel that mimics the mammalian female reproductive tract. Methods The width and length of the straight channel were optimized to select the motile sperm. Cumulus cells were selectively cultured in the bi-branch channel to generate a chemoattractant-forming chemical gradient. Sperm chemotaxis was represented by the ratio of the sperm swimming towards different branches. Results The percentage of motile sperm was improved from ( 58. 5 ± 3. 8 ) % to ( 82. 6±2.9)% by a straight channel 7 mm in length and 1 mm in width. About 10% of sperm were found chemotactically responsive in our experiment, which is consistent with previous studies. Conclusion The combined evaluation of both sperm motility and chemotaxis was achieved for the first time, and the motile and chemotactically responsive sperm can be easily enriched on a lab-on-a-chip device to improve IVF outcome.

This study was designed to compare the curative effect, prognosis and safety of different preconditioning regimens for patients who received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for malignant lymphoma (ML). The clinical data of 100 ML patients (Sep 1992 to Aug 2010 in 307 Hospital) were retrospectively analyzed, and were divided into two groups by different preconditioning regimens: the high-dose chemotherapy preconditioning group and high-dose chemotherapy/radiotherapy preconditioning group. The overall survival (OS) rate, progress free survival (PFS) rate and adverse effect were analyzed. The results showed that until Feb 2011, the median follow-up was 33.5 months. All patients were engrafted and their hematopoiesis was reconstituted. The median time of WBC recovery up to > 1.0×1.0(9)/L in high-dose chemotherapy preconditioning group and high-dose chemotherapy/radiotherapy preconditioning group were (6.0 ± 0.4) d and (8.2 ± 0.4) d, platelet up to > 20.0×1.0(9)/L in two groups were (7.1 ± 0.8) d and (11.4 ± 2.5) d (P < 0.05). The 3-year OS rate of the two groups were 67.3% and 68.9%. 5-year OS rates of two groups were 62.8% and 60.6%, 10-year OS rates of two groups were 57.6% and 56.2% respectively; 3-year PFS of two group were 63.6% and 63.2%, 5-year of two group were 59.4% and 58.3%, 10-year of two group were 50.8% and 55.3% respectively (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, the incidence of fever, infection, bleeding, secondary cancer between two groups was not significant different (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the hematopoietic reconstitution of high-dose chemotherapy/radiotherapy preconditioning group is later than that of high-dose chemotherapy preconditioning group. However, there is no significant difference in curative effect and prognosis between the two groups.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the constitutive characteristics and the change trend of gynecologic malignant tumors in hospitalized patients in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region over the recent 20 years.Methods Clinical data of 8009 in-patients who suffered from gynecologic malignant tumors in 23 hospitals from 1985 to 2004 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were analyzed,with respect to the tumor types and change trend.Results(1)The leading 4 types of malignant tumors were cervical cancers, ovarian cancers,endometrial cancers,and malignant trophoblastic tumors according to the constitutive ratios of the tumors.The constitutive ratio of cervical cancer patients rose year by year,from 17.48% during the 1985-1989 period to 49.25% during the 2000-2004 period(P0.05).(2)The occurring age of cervical cancers became younger obviously,from≥60 years old dropped to

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-NST) and its related technologies in hematological malignancies. 26 patients with hematological malignancies (acute leukemia 10, chronic myeloid leukemia 14, multiple myeloma 2) received allo-NST following conditioning regimens with fludarabine/cyclophosphamide/ATG in 14 cases or busulfan or melphalan/cyclophosphamide/ATG in 12 cases prior to infusion of 2 or 3 collections of G-CSF (600 microg/d) or G-CSF (300 microg/d) plus GM-CSF (300 microg/d) mobilized blood stem cell on the fifth day. A combination of cyclosporine A (CsA) and methotrexate (MTX) was administered for GVHD prophylaxis. Patients were eligible for donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) (or donor stem cell infusion (DSI)) given in graded increments according to the chimeric formation and clinical feature. Generally, the dose of the first infusion was 1 x 10(7)/kg in 4th week post-transplantation. The engraftment analyses included the detection of microsatellite short tandem repeats (STRs), bcr/abl fusion gene, Philadelphia chromosome, HLA-locus analysis, sex chromosome and ABO blood type or blood subtype. The results showed that out of 26 patients, 22 (84.62%) were engrafted, 18/22 were full donor chimerism (FDC) up to now. Acute GVHD occurred in 3/26 (11.54%), while chronic GVHD was diagnosed in 6 out of 26 (23.07%) patients. The incidence and degree of infection and hemorrhage were low and slight. It is concluded that NST is a safe and effective therapy for hematological malignancies, whereas related technologies such as adaptation selected, conditioning regimen and transplantation immunotherapy should be studied further.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; epidemiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods

OBJECTIVETo report a case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the insertion (8;21)(q22;q22.1q22.3). A 33-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our hospital. Hematologic data showed WBC 42.7 x 10(9)/L with monocytosis (monocyte counts 7.296 x 10(9)/L). Bone marrow aspirate was hypercellular with 4.5% monoblasts and 7.5% promonocytes. At first she was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) according to the FAB criteria. Initially the patient received supportive care only, but her general condition rapidly became worse three months later. The monoblasts and promonocytes in the bone marrow rose to 20.5%. After two cycles of combined chemotherapy she obtained complete remission.

METHODSChromosome specimens were prepared by short-term culture of bone marrow cells. Karyotype analysis was carried out by R-banding technique. Three fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses were performed using AML1-ETO dual color, dual fusion probe, whole chromosome painting 8 and 21 probes, and cen-8 and Tel 21qter probes, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for detecting the AML1-ETO fusion transcript was also performed.

RESULTSConventional cytogenetic analysis showed a karyotype of 46,XX,ins(8;21) (q22;q22.1q22.3)[7]/46,XX[3]. FISH tests confirmed the insertion. RT-PCR analysis detected the AML1-ETO fusion transcript.

CONCLUSIONWe consider that this patient should be rediagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia according to the criteria proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) and that FISH and RT-PCR play an important role in verification of the ins(8;21).

Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

Artemisinin,a new and a very potent antimalarial drug, is produced by the plant Artemisia annua L. with a very low yield ranging from 0.01% to 0.8% on a dry-weight basis. This makes artemisinin an expensive drug. Several studies reported chemical synthesis of the artemisinin, but none of them seems a viable economical alternative compared with the isolation of artemisinin from the plant. Hence, a higher artemisinin concentration in the plant is necessary for cheap antimalarial drug production. Many types of cyclic sesquiterpenes in Artemisia annua have been characterized to date, each derived from the common cyclic precursor FDP in a reaction catalyzed by a sesquiterpene synthase. Sesquiterpene synthases are widely regarded as the rate-determining regulatory enzymes in the pathways they participate, and a number of sesquiterpene synthases have been cloned from Artemisia annua up to now. This report is a brief review on the following sesquiterpene synthases: epi-cedrol synthase, amorpha-4,11-diene synthase, beta-caryophyllene synthase, (E)-beta-farnesene synthase, germacrene A synthase, as well as a new sesquiterpene synthase whose function remains largely unknown. The report is of help for a better understanding of metabolic engineering of Artemisia annua.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimalarials ; Artemisia annua ; enzymology ; genetics ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification