AIMTo explore the possible effect of the deleted in azoospermia (DAZ) copy cluster deletion on spermatogenesis in the Chinese population, the deletion of the azoospermia factor c (AZFc) region was analyzed in 346 normozoospermic men.

METHODSThree DAZ single nucleotide variant loci and seven AZFc-specific sequence-tagged sites were examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism and routine PCR.

RESULTSFive (1.4%) of the normozoospermic men were found to have deletion of gr/gr-DAZ1/DAZ2. None of the men were found to have b2/b4-entire DAZ deletion.

CONCLUSIONThe presence of gr/gr-DAZ1/DAZ2 deletion in five men with normozoospermia suggests that this deletion per se may not be sufficient for spermatogenic impairment in Chinese men.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics ; Sequence Tagged Sites ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

Two hundred thirty specimens of wild birds were collected from some areas in Heilongjiang Province during the period of 2003~2004, including two batches of specimens collected randomly from a same flock of mallards in Zhalong Natural Reserve in August and December, 2004, respectively. Primary virus isolation and identification for avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were performed. The results showed that only two specimens of young mallards collected from Zhalong Natural Reserve in August, 2004 were positive to AIV (isolation rate 0.9%), and one strain (D57) of these two virus isolates was identified to be H9 subtype by hemagglutination inhibition test. Meanwhile, the two batches of blood serum samples of mallards from Zhalong were also examined for antibodies against AIV and NDV. Among 38 blood serum samples collected in August, antibodies against the hemagglutinin of H1, H3, H5, H6 and H9 subtypes of AIV were found in 1, 0, 2, 0 and 8 samples, respectively; and 11 samples were found with antibody against NDV. Whereas the NDV isolation in both two batches of specimens of mallard was negative, all of the 32 blood serum samples collected in December were negative for antibodies against AIV and NDV.
Animals ; Animals, Wild/*virology ; Antibodies, Viral/isolation&purification ; Birds/virology ; China/epidemiology ; Hemagglutination Tests ; Influenza A virus/*isolation&purification ; Influenza in Birds/epidemiology/immunology/*virology ; Newcastle Disease/epidemiology/immunology/*virology ; Newcastle disease virus/*isolation&purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Xifeng Zhidong Tablet (XZT) in treating tic disorder children patients of internal disturbance of Gan-wind with phlegm syndrome (IDGWPS).

METHODSA stratified randomized, double-blinded, parallel control of placebo, multi-center trial was conducted in 160 subjects from 5 hospitals in China. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the test group and the control group, 80 in each group. Those in the test group were treated with XZT, while those in the control group were treated with placebos. The therapeutic course was 4 weeks for all. The effectiveness indicators covered main indicators and secondary indicators. Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) was taken as the main indicators. The amelioration of social function impairment, efficacy, single index of Chinese medical syndromes, Chinese medical syndrome efficacy as well as disappearance rate of single Chinese medical symptoms were evaluated as secondary indicators. The safety indicators included clinical adverse events, vital signs, blood/urine/stool routines, renal and liver functions, and electrocardiogram (ECG).

RESULTSAs for main indicators, the score of YGTSS decreased from 22.10 +/- 6.38 to 11.34 +/- 6.58 in the test group, while it decreased from 22.65 +/- 6.70 to 16.82 +/- 6.53 in the control group, showing statistical difference when compared with the same group before treatment (P < 0.01). Besides, the decrement was more significant in the test group after treatment (P < 0.05). As for secondary indicators, the total effective rate was 83.54% in the test group and 34.18% in the controlled group, showing statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). As for social function impairment, 20,38, 16, 3, 1 case(s) in the test group were ranked as normal, minimal, mild, moderate, obvious degree, while 1, 24, 45, 7, and 0 case(s) in the control group were ranked as normal, minimal, mild, moderate, obvious degree. Better effect was obtained in the test group (P < 0.05).As for Chinese medical syndrome efficacy, it was 87.34% in the test group and 64.56% in the control group (P < 0.05). As for single index of Chinese medical syndromes, the disappearance rate of motor tics, irritability, dreaminess, abnormal tongue proper,abnormal tongue fur, and abnormal tongue pulse condition was 78.67%, 34.72%, 62.26%, 34.62%, 58.97%, and 39.74%, respectively in the test group, while they were 34.67%, 13.11%, 21.82%, 15.58%, 25.97%, and 19.48%, respectively in the control group. Better results were shown in the test group (P < 0.05). Totally 5 adverse events occurred. The incidence of adverse events was 3.75% in the test group and 2.53% in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSAfter 4 weeks of XZT treatment, the integral of YGTSS could be obviously reduced, the degree of social function impairment ameliorated, and Chinese medical syndromes improved. In addition, no adverse reaction occurred in this study.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Placebos ; Tic Disorders ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

AIM:To evaluate the effect of α2-macroglobulin(α2M) against X-ray induced obstacle on osteo-genic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hBMMSCs). METHODS:hBMMSCs were cultured in vitro. The 4th generation of hBMMSCs was irradiated with 8 Gy X-ray,then induced osteogenic differentiation and trea-ted with different concentrations of α2M(0.5 and 1.0 g/L). The alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity and the mRNA ex-pression of runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) were detected on day 7 after osteogenic induction. The protein ex-pression of osteoglycin (OGN) was evaluated by Western blot on day 14 after osteogenic induction. The formation of calci-um nodules was detected by alizarin red staining on day 21 after osteogenic induction. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the protein expression of MnSOD of irradiated hBMMSCs with 8 Gy X-ray were determined at 24 h after α2M treatment. RESULTS:Compared with 8 Gy X-ray group,the activity of ALP,the mRNA expression of RUNX2,the pro-tein expression of OGN and MnSOD,as well as SOD activity were higher than those in the hBMMSCs treated with α2M at 0.5 and 1.0 g/L after 8 Gy X-ray irradiation,and the calcium nodules were also increased. CONCLUSION:α2M signifi-cantly improves the osteogenic differentiation ability,the SOD activity and MnSOD protein expression of hBMMSCs after ra-diation injury.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the level of fecal primary and secondary bile acids in infants with infantile cholestatic hepatopathy(ICH)and analyze its clinical value. METHODS: Thirty infants with ICH were enrolled in this study,who were diagnosed with infantile cholestatic hepatopathy. Thirty infants with good health condition were enrolled as the healthy control group. The fecal samples were collected respectively in the preparatory treatment phase and treatment phase from infants with ICH and from the healthy infants. Bile acids were extracted from infants' feces and were quantitatively analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: Among the fecal primary bile acids,the level of cholic acid,chenodeoxycholic and glycochenodeoxycholic acid both in the ICH preparatory treatment group and ICH treatment group was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group(P<0.016).The level of fecal cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid of ICH treatment group was higher than in the ICH preparatory treatment group(P<0.016).Among the fecal secondary bile acids,the level of lithocholic acid both in the ICH preparatory treatment group and ICH treatment group was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group(P<0.016),and the level of ursodeoxycholic acid in the ICH preparatory treatment group was lower than that in the ICH treatment group and healthy control group(P<0.016). CONCLUSION: In infants with ICH, the changes of fecal primary bile acids and fecal secondary bile acids have their own characteristics at the early stage of treatment, which may be caused by the short-term treatment,the prognosis of the disease itself and the changes of intestinal function, including intestinal bacteria. Clinical attention should be paid to these changes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of the acupoint sticking therapy with Chuanfuling for preventing and treating asthma.

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (normal saline, p.i. +no acupoint sticking+ normal saline, spray inhalation), model group (normal saline with ovalbumin, p.i. +no acupoint sticking+ normal saline with ovalbumin, spray inhalation), and acupoint sticking group (normal saline with ovalbumin, p.i. +acupoint sticking with Chuan fuling+normal saline with ovalbumin, spray inhalation), 10 rats in each group. The incubation period of nodding breath, symptom of asthmatic attack, expression level of interleukin-4 mRNA (IL-4 mRNA) and interferon-gamma mRNA (IF-gamma mRNA), as well as pathological changes on the middle leaf of right lung, were observed in each group.

RESULTS(1) Comparing with the control group, the model group was showed that the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in the peripheral blood cells (PBMC) was increased, while hyperemia, edema and eosinocyte (EOS) invasion of lung tissue was more serious (P < 0.01). (2) Comparing with the model group, the acupoint sticking group was showed that the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMC was decreased, the incubation period of nodding breath was prolonged for induced asthma on the fifth and seventh time with lower frequency, while in the lung tissue EOS invasion was reduced (P < 0.05), but there were no significant changes on the hyperemia and edema (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking for treating asthma of model rats with Chuanfuling can inhibit the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMC, and the release of the inflammatory mediator and cytokine from the EOS to the air passage, in order to reduce the injury of epithelial layer and high reaction on the air passage.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the gene polymorphisms of drug metabolizing enzymes and the outcome of the first induction chemotherapy in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 113 de novo AML patients were enrolled in this study. The genotypes of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in drug metabolizing enzymes were detected by the SNPstream(®) Genotyping System. The correlation between the distribution of genotypes and the complete remission rate of first induction chemotherapy was analyzed by logical regression. The results showed that patients with variant genotype of CYP2D6 (rs16947) had a lower complete remission (CR) rate, as compared to those with wild type (p = 0.033, OR = 0.32, 95%CI 0.112 - 0.915); meanwhile the patients with variant genotype of GSTO2 (rs156697) had a higher CR rate as compared to those with wild type (p = 0.011, OR = 3.023, 95%CI 1.289 - 7.089). Combined analysis of the above polymorphisms, showed that patients with variant genotype of CYP2D6 and wild genotype of GSTO2 (V + W) had lower CR rates in comparison to patients with wild genotypes of both polymorphisms (p = 0.017, OR = 0.183, 95%CI 0.045 - 0.735). It is concluded that CYP2D6 (rs16947) and GSTO2 (rs156697) polymorphisms are independent factors influencing CR rates of the first induction chemotherapy in de novo AML patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic aberrations of ocular extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type occurring in patients from southern China.

METHODSFifty seven paraffin-embedded ocular MALT lymphoma specimens from patients in southern China were studied by interphase fluorescence-in-situ hybridization (FISH) for genetic aberrations including t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1, t(1;14)(p22;q32)/IgH-bcl-10, t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1 and bcl-6/FOXP1 gene translocations.

RESULTSAmongst the 57 cases studied, 9 cases (15.8%) showed chromosome translocations, including 4 cases (7.0%) of t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1, 1 case (1.8%) of t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1, 1 case (1.8%) of bcl-6 gene-related chromosome translocation and 3 cases (5.3%) of IgH-unknown translocation partner. FISH revealed 17 cases (29.8%) with 3 copies of bcl-6 gene, 21 cases (36.8%) with 3 copies of MALT1 gene and 12 cases (21.1%) with 3 copies of both genes.

CONCLUSIONSThe MALT lymphoma-associated chromosome translocations t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1 and t(14;18) (q32;q21)/IgH-MALT1 are demonstrated in ocular MALT lymphomas of southern Chinese patients. The prevalence is significantly different from that reported in northern Chinese and northern American patients, indicating a geographic heterogeneity in the MALT lymphoma-associated genetic aberrations. The presence of 3 copies of bcl-6 and MALT1 genes is the commonest genetic abnormalities observed in ocular MALT lymphomas, suggesting a possible role in MALT lymphomagenesis.

Caspases ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Eye Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Translocation, Genetic ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in China from 1998 to 2002, and to analyze its prevalence trend.

METHODSThe cancer registration data in 10 cities and counties in China during the period of 1988-1992, 1993-1997 and 1998-2002 were used to investigate the incidence, mortality, and prevalence trend of colorectal cancer from 1988 to 2002.

RESULTSThe total number of new cases of colorectal cancer in the 10 cities and counties during 1988-2002 was 62,793, accounting for 9.27% of all malignant tumors. The crude incidence rate was 20.10/10(5), and the age-standardized incidence adjusted by world population was 15.63/10(5). The total number of death of colorectal cancer in the 10 cities and counties during 1988-2002 was 35,545, accounting for 7.37% of all malignant tumors. The mortality rate was 11.38/10(5), the age-standardized mortality rate adjusted by world population was 8.70/10(5). The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer during 1988-2002 increased by 38.56% and 15.30%, respectively, and the incidence and mortality rates in urban area was higher than that in rural area, and higher in males than in females. The crude incidence rate of colon cancer was higher than that of rectal cancer, especially in urban area, but the mortality of rectal cancer was a little bit higher than that of colon cancer.

CONCLUSIONThere is an increasing trend in both the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer from 1988-2002 in the 10 cities and counties in China. Measures should further be taken in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer in the whole population of China in future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Colonic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the state of endemic flurosis in Qinghai province in 2008 and to provide scientific basis for endemic flurosis control and prevention. Methods All the endemic fluorosis villages in Qinghai province was divided into slight,medium and heavy degree according to the water fluoride content before improving water,and 2,4,4 villages were collected from each degree,respectively. Water samples were collected from each direction of east,west,south,north and centre,and fluoride concentration were determined from each surveyed villages with unimproved-water. At the same time,3 copies of the peripheral water samples and a sample of source water were collected to determine fluoride concentration. In all the village children aged 8 to 12 were tested for dental fluorosis by Dean method. Six copies of the urinary fluoride were randomly sampled in different age groups. The fluorine content in urine was determined with F-ion selective electrode. The situation of clinical skeletal fluorosis of adults over 16 years of age was examined,and 20 adults in the villages of medium and heavy levels were filmed for skeletal fluorosis. Results The detectable rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 years old was 43.59% (245/562),that of skeletal flurosis of adults aged above 16 years was 50.32% (1582/3144) and detectable rate of X-ray was 29.45% (48/163). Fluoride content in urine was 1.52 mg/L. Conclusions Endemic fluorosis is still very serious in Qiaghai province in a rising trend,so the control measures need to be strengthen.