OBJECTIVETo investigate the environmental and psychological risk factors for female infertility and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of female infertility.

METHODSIn a hospital-based case-control study, a self-designed questionnaire was used to survey the cases and controls (1:1) with nation and age (± 2 years) as matching variables. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression models were employed to analyze the datasets.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed that female infertility was related to the following factors: eating fried foods, alcohol consumption, smoking, staying up late, perm, housing decoration, contact with heavy metals, exposure to radiation, contact with pesticides, working in hot environment, mental stress, uneasiness, helplessness, and despair. The multivariate analysis showed that staying up late (OR = 2.937), housing decoration (OR = 2.963), exposure to radiation (OR = 2.506), contact with pesticides (OR = 2.908), and mental stress (OR = 4.101) were the main risk factors for female infertility. Furthermore, there was an interaction between staying up late and mental stress.

CONCLUSIONFemale infertility is caused by multiple factors including staying up late, housing decoration, exposure to radiation, contact with pesticides, and mental stress, and there is an interaction between staying up late and mental stress.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; chemically induced ; etiology ; psychology ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the relationship between androgen receptor CAG-gene polymorphism and androgen in male with salt sensitive hypertension.Methods Through the oral saline loading test and furosemide volume method male hypertension group were divided into salt-sensitive (SS group) and salt-insensitive (SR group).The samples from 161 males were selected in the study,including salt sensitive hypertension patients (SS group,61/161),salt-insensitive hypertension patients (SR group,40/161) and age-matched healthy samples (control group,60/161).All samples were sequenced with an analysis method (CAG) n repeated polymorphism,and determinated of total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) level in serum by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.Results The number of CAG repeats was 14～34,average 22.4± 2.7.The CAG repeats of SS,SR and control group were 23.5±3.75,22.3±3.17 and 21.8±2.95,respectively.There were significant differences among the three groups (t=2.627～ 3.257,all P＜0.05).The level of TT and FT in SS and SR group were decreased compared with that of control group.At the same time,the level of SS group was lower,and there were significant differences among the three groups (t=2.524～ 3.826,all P＜0.05).Conclusion The androgen receptor gene repeat length and androgen levels are associated with male hypertension,especially salt-sensitive hypertension.Long (CAG) n repeat polymorphism maybe a genetic factor in the pathogenesis of hypertension.Plasma androgen levels may be used as a predictor of male salt sensitive hypertension.

Background and purpose:Struma ovarii is a rare tumor, especially with extraovarian spreading. The study aimed to investigate the clinical and pathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ovarian goiter. Methods:Clinical and pathological features of 14 cases of benign and malignant ovarian goiter were observed. Immunohistochemical EnVision staining, PCR-DNA sequencing and review of related literature were also used. Results:In 14 cases of benign and malignant ovarian goiter, the average age of onset is 45.6 years (18-71 years old), and pelvic tumor is the main clinical manifestation. According to the related literature of diagnostic criteria, 12 cases are struma ovarii, which is consisted of hyperplasia of the thyroid tissue under microscopic examination, 1 case is malignant struma ovarii, which is papillary thyroid carcinoma by microscopic presentation, and 1 case is highly differentiated follicular carcinoma of ovarian origin (HDFCO), which is histological benign by microscopic presentation, but is malignant by biological behavior. Conclusion:Struma ovarii is a rare ovarian mondemal teratoma, with low rate of malignant change and beyond ovarian lesions disseminated microscopic histological benign struma ovarii is lower incidence, which has unique clinical and pathological features. Comprehensively considering the related literatures, this study indicates that the disease is in accordance with HDFCO. Struma ovarii prognosis is good, and should be differentiated from carcinoid and granular cell tumor.

The aim of the manuscript was to optimize formulations and preparation technologies of cataplasm of white mustard seed varnish, and to evaluate its anti-asthma effect on rats. The single factor experiments included spreading thickness, types of crosslinking agents, dihydroxyaluminum aminoacetate amount, sodium polyacrylate amount, types of adhesive agents with human sense as the evaluation index. Blank cataplasm matrix was optimized by the orthogonal experiment with the amount of glycerine, citric acid, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose as the major influential factors. Initial adhesive force, peeling strength and human sense were as the evaluation index. The optimized formulation of blank cataplasm were as followings: glycerine-water-ethanol-PEG400-dihydroxyaluminum aminoacetate-citric acid-sodium carboxymethylcellulose-sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2 : 8 : 0.8 : 0.4 : 0.07: 0.15 : 0.1 : 0.5. The active ingredients of white mustard seed, corydalis, and gansui root were extracted by alcohol extraction method. Asiasarum volatile oil was extracted by oil extractor. The optimized drug loading amount was 11% with initial adhesive force, peeling strength and human sense as the evaluation index. Asthma rats model were established by sensitized with ovalbumin and nose-scratching time as the evaluation index. High dose (17%) group of drug-loaded cataplasm had the obvious inhibition effect on nose-scratching time of rats (P = 0.037 < 0.05). In comparison, middle dose (11%), low dose (4%) and positive-control groups had no obvious inhibitive effect on rats. White mustard seed cataplasm supplied a novel choice for anti-asthma therapy. And the overall pharmacodynamics assessment will be carried out on molecular level in near future.
Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mustard Plant ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds ; chemistry

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; epidemiology ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

Embolus occlusion in the retinal artery is the most common cause of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO),while hypertension is the most common risk factor of CRAO,and ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis is the most significant risk factor in CRAO.Current clinical treatments include conservative treatments such as dilation of blood vessels and lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP),as well as aggressive treatments like intravenous thrombolysis and Nd∶YAG laser.Both thrombolysis and Nd∶YAG laser treatment can improve the visual acuity of CRAO patients,but because of its lack of randomized controlled trials,further clinical studies are needed to determine their efficacy and safety.CRAO patients may have vascular embolism at other sites in the body,and may cause different degrees of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.The probability of secondary ocular neovascularization following the occurrence of these events is 2.5％ to 31.6％.In addition to eye care,clinicians should also focus more on preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events,and focus on the screening and active treatment of systemic risk factors to reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of interactions between DNAJB13 and HK1.

METHODSThe open reading frame of Dnajb13 gene was amplified from mouse testis cDNA by PCR. The PCR products were then inserted into pGEX-4T-1 vector after double digestion and identified by sequencing. The recombinant plasmids were transformated into competent DH5a cells, and the fusion protein was expressed with IPTG induction. SDS-PAGE Coomassie brilliant blue staining and Western blot analysis were used to detect the fusion protein expression. The protein precipitated by GST-DNAJB13 in GST pull down assay was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid pGEX-4T-1-Dnajb13 was successfully constructed and verified. E.coli transformed with the recombinant plasmid expressed abundant fusion protein. GST pull down assay showed interactions between DNAJB13 and HK1.

CONCLUSIONDNAJB13 interacts with HK1 in mouse testis and probably participates in spermatogenesis and the regulation of sperm motility.

AIM AND METHODSTo observe the effects of Puerarin on K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig.

METHODSUsing inside-out configuration of patch-clamp single channel recording technique.

RESULTSPuerarin 20 micromol/L, 40 micromol/L, 80 microml/L could inhibit the open-close rate of K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig. At 80 micromol/L, Po was decreased from 0.867 +/- 0.13 to 0.019 +/- 0.01 (n = 5, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPuerarin can inhibit K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig. It may be the mechanism of Puerarin against arrhythmias in molecular level.

Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of gene mutations in unexplained infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EE).

METHODSA total of 47 infants with unexplained infantile EE were enrolled, and next-generation sequencing was used to analyze gene mutations in these infants and their parents.

RESULTSOf all 47 infants, 23 were found to have gene mutations, among whom 13 had de novo mutations and 10 had heterozygous mutations inherited from their father or mother. Among the 23 infants with gene mutations, 17 were found to have the gene mutations related to EE (among whom 14 had ion channel gene mutations), 2 had the gene mutations related to congenital inherited metabolic diseases, 2 had the gene mutations related to brain structural abnormality, and 2 had the gene mutations related to mental retardation.

CONCLUSIONSUnexplained infantile EE may have gene mutations, mainly ion channel gene mutations.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 10q and pathologic features, pathogenesis, prognosis of astrocytic tumors.

METHODSLOH on 10q was studied by interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) in 85 cases of astrocytic tumor, including 35 cases of WHO grade II tumors and 50 cases of WHO grade IV tumors.

RESULTSLOH on 10q was detected in 6 cases (17.1%) of diffuse astrocytoma (WHO grade II) and 34 cases (68.0%) of glioblastoma (WHO grade IV). 10q polysomy was detected in 7 cases (20.0%) of diffuse astrocytoma and 11 cases (22.0%) of glioblastoma. The rates of LOH on 10q in young age group and elderly group were 36.4% (12/33) and 82.4% (28/34), respectively. The difference was of statistical significance (P < 0.05). The rates of LOH on 10q in the diffuse astrocytoma and glioblastoma were 21.4% (6/28) and 87.2% (34/39), respectively. The difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.05). Univariate survival analysis showed that patient age, pathologic grade and 10q on LOH correlated with duration of survival (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere are correlation between 10q LOH, patient age and pathologic grade of astrocytic tumors. LOH on 10q is also related to the pathogenesis of astrocytic tumors and is helpful in predicting prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Astrocytoma ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 ; genetics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioblastoma ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult