OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the curative efficacy of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GM-CSF in the treatment of AML were retrieved from PubMed,EMBase,Cochrane Library,CBMdisc and CNKI database by computer as well as from the leukemia-related journals manually for a quality evaluation of the methodology and Meta analysis using RevMan5.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 10 RCTs were included,of which,3 RCTs were graded as A,5 as B and 2 as C. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences of indexes among groups as complete remission (CR) rate,relapse rate,infection rate and length of hospital stay,etc. CONCLUSION: The available clinical research results showed that GM-CSF adjunctive therapy could neither increase CR rate,nor decrease the relapse rate,infection rate or length of hospital stay.

Objective To characterize non-headache symptoms during the migraine attack phase in migraine patients. Methods We enrolled in the present investigation 71 patients with migraine with and without aura who had sought medical treatment in our department from January 2010 to January 2011. We used a self-made migraine questionnaire to investigate associations of the non-headache symptoms with the sociodemographic factors, subtypes, severities and attacks of the headache in the patients. Results There were no significant differences in the number of non-headache symptoms among patients with different ages, genders, education levels, subtypes, severities, mean attack frequencies per month (P＞0.05). The most frequently reported non-headache symptoms were nausea (87.3％),phonophobia (81.7％) and mood change (69.0％).The incidences ofphonophobia,sleep disorder and osmophobia were significantly higher in patients without aura than in patients with aura (P＜0.05).Conclusion Migraine attacks are often accompanied by a variety of non-headache symptoms of which the most frequently reported ones are nausea,phonophobia and mood change.Patients without aura tend to have more phonophobia,sleep disorder and osmophobia than those with aura.

Objective· To explore the frequency, nondetection rate, and clinical importance of incidental extracerebral findings (IECFs)on brain nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Methods · The MRI data of 7 930 cases with suspected intracerebral lesionin were retrospectively analyzed. IECFs were categorized as E1 (clinically unimportant, e.g., sinus mucosal thickening), E2 (likely unimportant, e.g.,pharyngeal mucosal symmetrical thickening), and E3 (potentially important, e.g., pharyngeal mucosal asymmetrical thickening). The nondetection rate was determined by comparing the results of the structured approach with the initial MRI reports. The medical records were examined for patients with E3 IECFs to assess clinical importance and outcome of these lesions. Results · A total of 5 992 IECFs were found in 4 213 patients (53.13%, 4 213/7 930). IECFs with E1 was 82.2% (4 924/5 992), E2 was 16.6% (995/5 992) and E3 1.2% (73/5 992). Overall IECFs and E1 findings were occurred more commonly in male patients (P=0.000, P=0.024). And the statistically significant difference was also found among different age groups (P=0.000). The nondetection rate was 56.9% (3 409/5 992) for overall IECFs and 32.9% (24/73) for E3 IECFs. Of the 73 patients with E3 IECFs, 34 (46.6%) received final diagnosis and appropriate treatment during the study period. Conclusion · IECFs are prevalent in clinical patients on brain MRI with a nondetection rate of 32.9% for potentially important (E3) findings. The reporting of IECFs according to clinical importance is helpful for patients' management.

OBJECTIVETo compare the expressions of ODF1 (outer dense fiber of the sperm tail 1) in ejaculated spermatozoa from normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men with low sperm motility.

METHODSSemen analyses were performed on the semen samples obtained from normozoospermic (n=20) and asthenozoospermic (n=20) volunteers according to the WHO criteria. To rule out the contamination of germ cells and leucocytes, the human ejaculated spermatozoa were purified by a discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of ODF1 in the spermatozoa from the two groups.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that the expression of ODF1 mRNA was significantly lower in the spermatozoa from the asthenozoospermic patients than in those from the normozoospermic men (1.35 +/- 0.25 vs. 2.79 +/- 0.28, P < 0.05). Western blot confirmed the results from RT-PCR and revealed an obviously decreased expression of ODF1 in the spermatozoa of the asthenozoospermic patients, with statistically significant difference from the normozoospermic group (1.44 +/- 0.26 vs. 3.64 +/- 0.34, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ODF1 was significantly decreased in the ejaculated spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men, which might be responsible for low sperm motility.

Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

Ropporin has been identified as a spermatogenic cell-specific protein and may be involved in sperm maturation, motility, capacitation, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction. However, latest studies have shown that Ropporin is expressed weakly in normal non-testis tissues and highly in hematologic malignancies. Its highly conservative expression in mammalians demonstrates its importance to life. This paper updates the characterization, expression and its distribution, and biological function of Ropporin, and the advances in the clinical researches of the protein.
Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins ; physiology

OBJECTIVESPAG9, as a member of the MAPK family, plays an important role in sperm-egg fusion. This study aimed to detect the expression of SPAG9 in human ejaculated spermatozoa.

METHODSDifferent human tissues (as from the muscle, liver, esophagus, lung, stomach, kidney, prostate, uterus, testis and epididymis) and semen samples were obtained from healthy volunteers, and semen analyses were performed according to the WHO criteria. Human ejaculated spermatozoa were purified by discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation to rule out the contamination of germ cells and leucocytes. RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of SPAG9 in human spermatozoa.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that SPAG9 mRNA was expressed in different tissues and human ejaculated spermatozoa. Indirect immunofluorescence studies revealed the location of SPAG9 protein in the equatorial plate and flagella of human spermatozoa.

CONCLUSIONSPAG9 is expressed in ejaculated spermatozoa and may play a role in sperm capacitation and motility.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Male ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

Objective To discuss the method,mid-long term clinical therapeutic effect and safety of coil embolization in treating patients with hepatic arterial pseudoaneurysm(HAPA).Methods Seven patients with repeatedly massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract were undertaken DSA of celiac arteries and hepatic arteries and embolization of the feeding artery by coils or microcoils after correct diagnosis.All cases underwent follow-up from 6 to 60 months(mean 38).Results The blood loss before angiography was ranged from 1200 to 4000(mean 2385)ml.There were 3 cases with normal hepatic function and 4 with hepatic dysfunction including ALT increase in 2 and obstructive jaundice in another.Digital substraction angiography(DSA)clearly showed the location,shape and feeding arteries of HAPA.There were 2 types of HAPA namely intrahepatic (n=3)and extrahepatic(n=4),adding one case with arteriovenous fistula(AVF).Embolization was successful in all cases by coils(n=13)or microeoils(n=12).No recurrence and any definite clinical complication occurred during follow-up.Conclusion Coil embolization in treating HAPA is safe and effective with mid-long term positive clinical therapeutic efficiency without severe complications.(J Intervent Radiol, 2007,16:803-806)

The group X meningococcal disease is rare in China and developed countries.No related cases have been reported in Human Province.The disease progresses rapidly and leads to critical severity.Serious complica-tions may occur,if not treated actively.Group X Neisseria meningitidis(Nm X)vaccine has not yet obtained per-mission at present.This paper collects data on the symptoms,signs,auxiliary examinations,and treatment process of the first patient with severe group X meningococcal disease in Hunan Province,reviews relevant literatures,so as to improve clinicians'understanding on group X meningococcal disease,conduct early identification,diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

AIMTo investigate the stepwise development and germ cell gene expression in allografted neonatal mouse testes and the differentiation of immature human testicular cells in xenografted human testes.

METHODSImmunodeficient nude mice were used as hosts for allografting of neonatal mouse testes and xenografting of human fetal testicular tissues. Stepwise development and stage-specific gene expression of germ cells in allografts were systematically evaluated and parallel compared with those in intact mice by periodically monitoring the graft status with measurement of graft weight, histological analysis and determination of five stage-specific genes. Human testicular tissues from 20 and 26 weeks fetuses were used for the xenografting study. Histological analysis of xenografts was performed 116 and 135 d after the grafting procedure.

RESULTSIn the allografting study, progressive increase in tissue volume and weight as well as in tubule diameter in grafts was observed; the appearance time of various germ cells in seminiferous tubules, including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round and elongate spermatids and sperm, was comparable with that in intact donors; the initiation of gene transcription in grafts showed a similar trend as in normal mice. Graft weight ceased to increase after 7-8 weeks and degradation of grafts was observed after 5 weeks with progressive damage to seminiferous epithelium. In the xenografting study using immature human testicular tissues, graft survival and development was indicated by increasing graft weight, Sertoli cells differentiation into advanced stage, germ cells migration and location to the basal lamina and formation of a niche-like structure.

CONCLUSIONThe developmental course and gene expression pattern of germ cells in allografts were similar to those in intact mice. The best time point for retrieval of mouse sperm from grafts was 5-7 weeks after grafting procedure. An accelerated development of immature human testicular cells could be achieved by ectopic xenografting of human testes.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Testis ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

METHODSPC-3 cells were treated with GSE at the concentration of 100, 200 and 300 microg/ml for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. The the inhibitory effect of GSE on the growth of the PC-3 cells and the kidney cells of SD rats was determined by MTT reduction assay, with primarily cultured kidney cells of 1-3 days old SD rats as the normal control.

RESULTSGSE significantly inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, but had only a mild inhibitory effect on the kidney cells.

CONCLUSIONGSE inhibits the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and can be used as a new drug for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Kidney ; cytology ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Time Factors ; Vitis ; chemistry