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 study the role of cerebrovascular hemodynamic indexes (CVHI) changing in stroke and to provide reference for stroke prevention and risk factor study.

METHODSFrom 2003 to 2004, participants aged 40 years and above in two communities in Fengxian district were recruited by cluster sampling. Risk factors of stroke and CVHI were investigated and checked during baseline investigation. A total of 10 565 individuals completed the survey and met the inclusion criterion. After baseline investigation, the cohort was followed up for stroke occurrence. Relative risk (RR) of CVHI and common risk factors were estimated by cohort study design.

RESULTSAge of the cohort was (56.2 ± 11.4) years. 4444 (42.1%) were males and 6121 (57.9%) were females. Total follow-up duration was 67 885.7 person-years. A total of 195 stroke cases occurred and incidence density of stroke was 287.2 per 100 000 person-years. Stroke incidence in exposure groups of hypertension, heart disease and alcohol drinking was 3.47% (108/3118), 2.96% (21/710) and 2.50% (47/1882), respectively. The incidence in corresponding non-exposure group was 1.17% (87/7448), 1.77% (174/9855) and 1.70% (148/8683) respectively. There was significant difference between 2 groups (χ(2) value was 62.72, 4.56 and 4.94, respectively, P < 0.05). Stroke incidence in CVHI score < 25, 25 - 49, 50 - 74 and ≥ 75 groups was 9.12% (59/647), 5.68% (44/775), 2.52% (39/1545) and 0.72% (53/7403)(χ(2)trend = 273.57, P < 0.05), respectively. Incidence of stroke in 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 69, ≥ 70 years age group was 0.22% (8/3565), 1.28% (43/3357), 2.71% (50/1848) and 5.88% (94/1600) (χ(2)trend = 181.48, P < 0.05), respectively. Multiple Cox regression analysis indicated that RR (95%CI) value of hypertension and cigarette smoking was 1.40(1.02 - 1.92) and 1.59(1.19 - 2.12), respectively when comparing with non-exposure group. RR (95%CI) value in CVHI score < 25, 25 - 49 and 50 - 74 points group were 6.15 (4.08 - 9.26), 4.55 (2.98 - 6.96) and 2.68 (1.75 - 4.09), respectively when comparing with the score ≥ 75 points group. RR (95%CI) value in age 50 - 59, 60 - 69 and ≥ 70 years group was 4.61 (2.16 - 9.82), 7.81 (3.67 - 16.60) and 13.49(6.44 - 28.24), respectively when comparing with below 40 years group.

CONCLUSIONCVHI score is the strong independent predictive factor and hypertension, cigarette smoking and age are the independent risk factors of stroke.

Aged ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; etiology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the advantages and disadvantages of four surgical techniques in orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODSA total of 135 adult recipients receiving cadaveric whole liver grafts were divided into four groups according to the surgeries they received: group A (n=22) underwent classic orthotopic liver transplantation, group B (n=79) underwent modified piggyback liver transplantation, group C (n=18) underwent classical piggyback liver transplantation, and group D (n=16) underwent modified classic orthotopic liver transplantation. The clinical data of these recipients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe operation time, anhepatic time, and intra-operation bleeding volume among these four groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). The incidence of transient renal damage in group C was significantly lower than that in other groups (P < 0.05), while the complication rates and survival rates were not significantly different in the early stage after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSSurgery techniques should be carefully selected based on the individual patients's pre-operative condition. The modified classic orthotopic liver transplantation is a preferred technique for tumor patients or patients with surgical history of upper abdomen.

Adult ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; mortality ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

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

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of our study is to observe the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 expression on CD4+CD28null T cells from the peripheral blood of ACS patients by the patch clamp technique.

METHODSKv1.3 potassium channels expression from 17 patients with ACS and 11 healthy age-matched normal controls was detected in single cell (CD4+CD28null T cells and CD4+CD28+ T cells) by fluorescence microscopy and patch clamp.

RESULTSThe percent of CD4+CD28nullT cells are higher in the ACS (6.97% +/- 2.05%) than that in the controls (1.38% +/- 0.84%, P < 0.05). The concentration of hsCRP is directly correlated with the number of the CD4+CD28null T cells in the ACS (r = 0.52, P < 0.05). The conductance [(6.89 +/- 1.17) nS vs. (3.36 +/- 0.66) nS], dens [(1.95 +/- 0.80) n/microm2 vs. (1.13 +/- 0.57) n/microm2] and numbers [(574.5 +/- 97.6) n/cell vs. (280.3 +/- 55.3) n/cell] of the Kv1.3 channels on the CD4+CD28null T cells are significantly higher than those on the CD4+CD28+ T cells (all P < 0.01) in ACS patients, but were similar on CD4+CD28+ T cells between ACS patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONThe CD4+CD28null T cells in the ACS and the numbers of Kv1.3 channels on the CD4+CD28null T cells from the ACS patients are significantly upregulated and might contribute to the pathogenesis of ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Aged ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Kv1.3 Potassium Channel ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patch-Clamp Techniques

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