OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of morphology assessment of sperm from fresh semen in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF).

METHODSWe analyzed the morphology of the sperm from fresh or optimized semen samples and, based on the sperm morphology of the raw semen, allocated 908 IVF cycles due to the pure tubal factor to different groups: morphologically normal sperm (MNS) ≤ 4%, > 4% - ≤ 15%, and > 15% in Trial 1 and MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, > 2% - ≤ 3%, and > 3%-- ≤ 4% in Trial 2. We compared the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, -blastocyst formation, and pregnancy among different groups.

RESULTSThe total fertilization rate was significantly lower in the MNS ≤ 4% than in the MNS > 4% - ≤ 15% and >15% groups (74.40% vs 78.61% and 80.03%, P < 0.01). Compared with the MNS ≤ 1%, > 1% - ≤ 2%, and > 2% - ≤ 3% groups, the MNS > 3% - ≤ 4% group showed remarkably increased rates of 2PN normal fertilization (77.23%, 78.97% and 78.99% vs 85.47%, P < 0.01), cleavage (95.71%, 96.01% and 97.27% vs 98.73%, P < 0.05), and blastocyst formation (53.85%, 49.01% and 49.55% vs 63.41%, P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation, early abortion, live birth, or malformation at birth among different groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMNS ≤ 4% affected the total rate of fertilization while MNS ≤ 3% reduced the rate of normal fertilization in IVF. However, even MNS ≤ 1% did not result in fertilization disorder or failure. Therefore, teratozoospermia alone was not an indicator of ICSI and sperm mor- phology assessment had no obvious value for predicting the rates of embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, and live birth in IVF.

Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

Objective To explore the neuroprotection of Shuxuetongmai capsule pretreatment, and the effect on the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion. Methods Ninety-six male SD rats were divided randomly into sham-operated group,ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R),ischemia preconditioning group (IP),and Shuxuetongmai group(n=24). Each group was further randomly divided into 4 subgroups by 3 h, 6 h, 24 h and 72 h after reperfusion, 6 rats in each subgroup. Sham-operated group was only performed artery separation . The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was set up in I/R rats by Longa method. The IP rats were performed for three minutes on the bilateral carotid artery ligation, and formed MCAO model 24 hours later. The rats in the Shuxuetongmai group were pretreated with Shuxuetongmai capsules for 14 days on gavage before the establishment of MCAO model. The neurological deficits were graded in rats by Zea Longa method. Western Blot was used to determine the protein expression of p38MAPK and P-p38MAPK. Tunel method was applied to detect the apoptosis of neurons and the relationship between expression of p38MAPK, P-p38MAPK and apoptosis of neuron. Results No neurological dysfunction appeared in the sham-operated group at each time points, but not for the other groups, which reached the peak at 24 h. Compared with the I/R group, IP group and Shuxuetongmai group presented the mild neurologic function deficiency at different time points in rats (P<0. 05), and no significant differences occurred between ischemia preconditioning group and Shuxuetongmai group (P>0.05). The obvious variation of the value of P-p38MAPK/p38MAPK wasn't detected in sham-operated group at different time points, while obviously presented in I/R group, and the ratios of P-p38MAPK/p38MAPK were increased gradually followed with reperfusion, approaching to the highest level at 24 h. Compared with the I/R group, the P-p38MAPK/p38MAPK declined from 3 h and to the lowest level at 24 h of reperfusion, in both IP and Shuxuetongmai groups(P<0. 05), and with similar phosphorylation. At different time points,very few neurons apoptosis were detected in sham-operated groups, but which increased gradually after reperfusion in other groups, and reached to the peak at 24 h. The neurons apoptosis in both IP group and Shuxuetongmai group were less than that in IR group ( P<0. 05 ) at different time points, and it showed no significant differences on neurons apoptosis between ischemia/preconditioning group and Shuxuetongmai group in rats (P>0. 05). Conclusion Shuxuetongmai capsule pretreatment can induce brain ischemic tolerance, attenuate the apoptosis of neurons in cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and improve neurologic function. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of p38MAPK phosphorylation.

Objective To compare the effects and complications between neuroendoscope-assisted and conventional shunt methods in patients with hydrocephalus,Methods The data of 299 patients with hydrocephalus admitted to our hospital from June 2002 and June 2009 were analyzed.Among these patients,98 adopted neuroendscope:78 were performed ventriculoperitoneal shunt(EVPS)combined with endoscopic third ventriculostomy(ETV)and the other 20 with obstructive hydrocephalus were performed ETV only.The other 201 patients adopt conventional operation:VPS was employed in 196 and ventriculoatrial shunt was performed in 5.We compared shunt effectiveness by calculating the pre-and post-operative ventricular indexes,shunt failure rates and complication rates during the follow-up between the 2 groups.Results No difference in etiology of hydrocephalus or clinical characteristics between the 2 groups was found.Compared with the conventional shunt group,neuroendscope-assisted group enjoyed a longer operative time,a higher surgery cost,a lower clogging incidence rote and a higher precision rote of putting the tube(P<0.05).Conclusion Applying of neuroendoscope is a very good option in treating patients with various kinds of hydrocephalus with good long-term follow-up results.

AIMTo develop a fluorescence polarization-based high throughput screening and identify ligands for human Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (hLOX-1).

METHODSSequential ultracentrifugation at 4 degrees C from normolipidemic fasting volunteers to obtain low density lipoprotein (LDL), which was modified by CuSO4 (5 micromol x L(-1)) at 37 degrees C for 24 h. The assay was based on the interaction between receptor and ligand, and hLOX-1 was labeled by FITC and bound to its specific ligand, oxLDL. Different reaction time and DMSO concentration were optimized to determine the stability and tolerance of fluorescence polarization (FP) assay. 3 200 compounds were screened in black 384-well microplate by FP-based competitive displacement assay, at excitation filter of 485 nm and emission filter of 530 nm. Z' was used to assess the assay quality.

RESULTSThe FP-based HTS was formatted in a 384-well microplate with a Z' factor of 0. 75, and three active compounds for hLOX-1 were identified with IC50 below 40 micromol x L(-1) from total 3 200 compounds.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the fluorescence polarization assay is stable, sensitive, reproducible and well suited for high throughput screening efforts.

Binding, Competitive ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Fluorescence Polarization ; methods ; Humans ; Ligands ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; metabolism

UNLABELLEDTo screen and analyze the apoptosis- and proliferation-related genes in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSAccording to gene ontology classification, the abnormal expressions of the genes related to cell apoptosis and proliferation were identified in the NPC gene chip data. The cell apoptosis- and proliferation-related genes expressed in each of the 3 stages, as defined by the tree model for the pathogenesis and progression of NPC, were screened, and with literature review, their distribution in the tree model were analyzed.

RESULTSNineteen genes related to cell apoptosis were found in NPC, among which 9 were down-regulated (such as DNASE1L3) and located in the chromosome deletion regions, and 10 were up-regulated (such as DEDD) in the chromosome amplification regions. Twenty-one cell proliferation-related genes were identified, including 8 down-regulated genes (such as TUSC2) in the chromosome deletion regions and 13 up-regulated ones (such as EMP1) in the chromosome amplification regions. In the chromosome deletion regions, the down-regulated cell apoptosis-related genes participated mostly in inducing and regulating cell apoptosis, and the up-regulated cell proliferation-related genes in the chromosome amplification regions were mostly associated with the positive regulation of cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONNPC occurs possibly through two pathways by inhibiting cell apoptosis or by promoting excessive cell proliferation.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromosome Deletion ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency and safety of two-dose steroid combined with two-dose daclizumab and tacrolimus (FK506) regimen in liver transplant recipients.

METHODSThere were 74 patients who treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from September 2006 to March 2008. Expect for 7 patients who didn't measure up, 67 adult liver transplant recipients were randomized into two groups: conventional protocol group (n = 35) in which steroid was withdrawn in 3 months after operation, and two-dose steroid group (n = 32). Comparison of rejection, infection (bacteria, fungal and cytomegalovirus) and metabolic complications rates were studied between two groups.

RESULTSThere were significant differences between two groups in the rate of early postoperation hyperglycemia, the average dosage of insulin consumption among hyperglycemia recipients as well as the rate of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and infection during the follow-up period (P < 0.05). The rate of hypertension in early postoperation period, hyperlipemia and rejection rate during the follow-up period were similar in two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTwo-dose steroid combined with two-dose daclizumab and tacrolimus would be a safe and efficient immunosuppression strategy without increase the acute rejection rate hazard, that could reduce post-transplant infection and other complications from side-effect of long-term usage of steroid.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Immunosuppression ; methods ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tacrolimus ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Adult ; Graft Rejection ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muromonab-CD3 ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo compare the short-term outcomes of liver transplantation recipients receiving liver grafts from brain-death and non-heart-beating donors and evaluate the safety of liver grafts from brain-death donors.

METHODSA total of 130 patients receiving liver transplantation between January, 2006 and December, 2007 were retrospectively analyzed, including 9 patients receiving liver graft from brain-death donors and 121 with grafts from non-heart-beating donors. The operative time, anhepatic time, bleeding volume, postoperative complications and short-term survival were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe operative time, anhepatic time, bleeding volume, postoperative complications and short-term survival showed no significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe short-term outcome of recipients receiving liver grafts from brain-death donors is similar to that of recipients receiving grafts from non-heart-beating donors, indicating the safety of clinical use of the liver grafts from brain-death donors.

Adult ; Brain Death ; Female ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and feasibility of steroids minimization immunosuppressive regimen in liver transplantation.

METHODSOne hundred and sixteen patients in line with the selecting criteria from January 2005 to June 2008 were divided into three groups according to the withdrawal of steroids: 40 cases in 3 months withdrawal group, 40 cases in 7 d withdrawal group and the other 36 cases in 24 h withdrawal group. The difference of recipients' survival, infection, acute rejection and steroids resistant acute rejection, wound healing, recurrence of HBV and hepatocellular cell (HCC), new on-set of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension between the three groups were compared.

RESULTSThe difference of recipients' survival, acute rejection including steroids resistant acute rejection, recurrence of HBV and HCC, hyperlipidemia between the three groups were not significant (P > 0.05), the incidence of wound un-healing and hypertension in 24 h withdrawal group was significantly lower than that in the other 2 groups (P < 0.05), the incidence of infection and new on-set diabetes in 24 h withdrawal group and 7 d withdrawal group was significantly lower than that in 3 months withdrawal group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSteroids minimization immunosuppressive strategy is safe and feasible in liver transplantation field, it will significantly reduce the steroids related complications without increasing the risk of rejection.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; methods ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the colon polyp in a northwest district of China. Methods 112 cases of patients from 1~18 years old, diagnosed with polyps by means of colonoscopies reference centers were followed-up from January 2015 to December 2016. The clinical variables evaluated in this study included: gender, age, symptoms, age at onset of symptoms, age at identification of the polyp, interval of time between the onset of symptoms and the endoscopic diagnosis of colonic polyps, and family history of colon polyp and/or colorectal cancer. The characteristics of the polyps also included: number, morphological type, diameter, histology, and distribution. The case records of these patients were reviewed. The demographics, clinical course, laboratory results, endoscopic and histopathological features, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. Results In the 112 patients, the median age was 6.9 years, of which 64.3% (72/112) were male. All the patient had the symptom of hematochezia and just a little of the patients have the symptoms of abdominal pain, prolapse of anal polyp and diarrhea. 9.8% (11/112) was mild anemia and the anemia patient all had the symptom of hematochezia of more than 6 months and have no connection with the polyp location. Juvenile polyps were identified in 91.9% (103/112) patients, inflammatory polyp were identified in 7.1% (8/112) and 0.9% (1/112) were identified with adenoma. 1.8% (2/112) of the patient had the family history of colorectal polyp. Conclusions The morbidity of colorectal polyp in children and adolescents in our region is high. The male was significantly more common seen than female. A little proportion of the patient had the family history of colorectal polyp. The hematochezia could be seen in all patients A little proportion of the patient was mild anemia and the anemia patient all had the symptom of hematochezia of more than 6 months. Mainly the polyp was located in the rectum and sigmoid. Juvenile polyps were the major pathologic type and then the inflammatory polyp and adenoma. The adenoma may located in other place than rectum and sigmoid.