Objective To investigate the effect of non-hazard treatment of feces on control of intestinal infectious diseases and parasitosis. Methods During Nov, 2003-May, 2004, we selected 6 counties as observational points by the character of geographical position and the types of non-hazard treatment in Hunan province. The number of fecal coliform and the sedimentation rate of parasite ova were measured, the methods of questionnaire and retrospective study were used and the prevalance rate of intestinal infectious diseases, the incident rate of infectious diarrhea and infectious rate of parasite were analyzed. Results Among three types of non-hazard treatment, the eligibility rates of fecal coliform were 95.0%, 93.5%and 91.7% respectively,and the sedimentation rates of parasite ova were 90.0%, 90.3% and 87.5% respectively. Compared with the villages where the latrines had not been improved, the infectious rates of parasite decreased by 67.0%,the prevalance rate of intestinal infectious diseases decreased by 58.3%, and the incidence rates of infectious diarrhea decreased by 56.3% in villages where the latrines had been improved. Conclusion Non-hazard treatment of feces will play an important role in preventing of intestinal infectious diseases, infectious diarrhea and parasitosis.

Isolated freshly rat islets were transferred to 24-well plates and incubated with different concentrations of glucose or resveratrol for 1 or 24 h.The results showed that resveratrol dose-dependently inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated rat islets after 1 h incubation,with 10%,35%,and 80% (P<0.05 or P<0.01) decrease at the concentrations of 1,I0,and 100 μmol/L.10 μmol/L resveratrol decreased the intracellular calcium concentration by 60% (P<0.05).After incubation for 24 h,resveratrol increased palmitatesuppressed insulin secretion to 75% (P<0.01) of control.These results suggest that resveratrol acutely inhibits insulin secretion from primary pancreatic islet via regulating intracellular calcium ion concentration,and in the long run resveratrol may protect β-cells from lipotoxicity.

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of semen cryopreservation in intrauterine insemination cycles for the treatment of oligospermia and asthenospermia in infertile males.

METHODSA total of 152 cycles of intrauterine insemination were performed for 103 couples with constitutional infertility, which were divided into Groups 1 (normal semen, n=53), 2 (oligospermia and asthenospermia, n=52) and 3 (fresh combined with cryopreserved semen, n=47). Semen parameters and forward motile sperm count after processing were recorded by Makler chamber, and all were followed up for the outcome of clinical pregnancy.

RESULTSCompared with Group 2, Group 3 showed obviously lower semen volume, sperm motility and grade a sperm count before semen processing, with extremely significant differences (P < 0.01), but a higher rate of grade a sperm after semen processing, though with no significant differences (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the pregnancy rate between Groups 2 and 3 (9.6% versus 14.9%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSemen cryopreservation can improve the forward motile sperm count and pregnancy rate in oligospermia and asthenospermia patients after intrauterine insemination. Semen cryopreservation combined with intrauterine insemination seems an ideal treatment for oligospermia and asthenospermia in infertile men.

Asthenozoospermia ; therapy ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous ; methods ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate

The use of Chinese medicine (CM) for the management of: menopausal syndrome is considered effective both at home and abroad, and more and more clinical studies are confirming its efficacy. However, many problems still exit in current studies, such as the standard of CM syndrome differentiation, the design methodology and criteria to assess the quality of clinical trials and the efficacy of interventions. In this paper, the authors present the CM research and treatment strategies for menopausal syndrome with concepts explaining the CM understanding of the mechanism of the disorder. It is concluded that CM is effective for menopausal syndrome, but improvement in both study methodology and treatment strategy is needed. In detail, it is firstly necessary to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the difference of various CM treatments for menopausal syndrome manifesting different symptoms, so as to establish a comprehensive treatment protocol of CM. Secondly, an acknowledged evaluation system needs to be founded, which embodies the characteristics of CM, and covers appropriate endpoint indices and parameters to objectively evaluate the effect and study quality of CM. Finally, an epidemiological survey with large sample size should be implemented with robust statistical design and CM expertise to collect data for establishing diagnostic criteria for menopause in different stages and with different symptoms.
Biomedical Research ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Menopause ; drug effects ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on clinical outcomes and the occurrence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation.

METHODSTotally 109 patients who routinely received in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) at Reproductive Center were assigned to the control group (56 cases) and the EA group (53 cases) according to even and odd-numbered date. Patients in the control group received controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) referring to GnRH-a long protocol. On the basis of COH, those in the EA group received EA from the day of Gn injection to the day of embryo transfer. Estradiol (E2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and angiotensin (AT) II were measured in all patients on the day of hCG injection, the day of ovum pick up (OPU), and the day of embryo transfer (ET), respectively. The oocyte retrieval rate, good quality embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate, the abortion rate, and the occurrence of OHSS were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, serum E2 levels on the day of OPU and the day of ET were significantly lower in the EA group (P < 0.05). On the day of OPU levels of VEGF and IL-6 also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Serum levels of VEGF and IL-6 reached the highest line on the day of hCG in the two groups, and then showed a decreasing trend. Compared with the control group at the same time point, serum levels of VEGF and IL-6 obviously decreased on on the day of OPU, hCG, and ET (P < 0.05). The occurrence of OHSS and the canceling rate of transplant cycle were significantly lower in the EA group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA, as an adjunctive therapy, could reduce the occurrence of OHSS in IVF. Besides, it did not decrease good embryo rates and pregnancy rates in IVF-ET, which might be associated with lowering local vascular permeability of ovaries.

Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; therapy ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

AIMTo explore the molecular biological mechanism of hemoglobin with high oxygen affinity in Tibetans by determining the sequence of globin cDNA in Tibetans living at high altitude.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from human bone marrow samples of three Tibetans who live in Qinghai-Tibet plateau. cDNA fragments coding for alpha and beta genes of human hemoglobin were obtained through RT-PCR and were ligated to plasmid pGEM-T easy vectors, and then the ligation liquid were transformed to Escherichia coli and cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequences were compared with GenBank data by BLAST method.

RESULTSsequence of a globin cDNA in Tibetans were the same with the registering globin genes in the GenBank, and Hb Abruzzo (beta143 (H21), His- > Arg) gene mutation, a high oxygen affinity beta globin mutation, was found in one Tibetan' beta goblin coding gene (CAC- > CGC).

CONCLUSIONThis hemoglobin gene mutation may be associated with high altitude adaptation of Tibetans living at high altitude.

Adult ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tibet ; alpha-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Globins ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the contributions of CYP2C19 polymorphisms to the various clopidogrel responses tested by thrombelastography (TEG) in Chinese patients with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSPatients were screened prospectively with ACS diagnose and were treated with clopidogrel and aspirin dual antiplatelet therapy. CYP2C19 loss of function (LOF) and gain of function (GOF) genotype, adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-channel platelet inhibition rate (PIR) tested by TEG and the occurrence of 3-month major adverse cardiovascular events and ischemic events were assessed in 116 patients.

RESULTSHigh on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) prevalence defined by PIR <30% by TEG in ADP-channel was 32.76% (38/116). With respect to the normal wild type, CYP2C19*2, and *3 LOF alleles, and *17 GOF alleles, patients were classified into three metabolism phenotypes: 41.38% were extensive metabolizers (EMs), 56.90% were intermediate metabolizers (IMs), and 1.72% were poor metabolizers (PMs). Of the enrolled patients, 31.47%, 5.17%, and 0.43%, respectively, were carriers of *2, *3, and *17 alleles. The HTPR incidence differed significantly according to CYP2C19 genotypes, accounting for 18.75%, 41.54%, and 100.00% in EMs, IMs, and PMs, respectively. Eighteen (17.24%) ischemic events occurred during the 3-month follow-up, and there was a significant difference in ischemic events between HTPR group and nonhigh on-treatment platelet reactivity group.

CONCLUSIONSGenetic CYP2C19 polymorphisms are relative to the inferior, the antiplatelet activity after clopidogrel admission and may increase the incidence of ischemic events in patients with ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prospective Studies ; Thrombelastography ; Ticlopidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo prepare the PrP specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can be used for the detection of mammalian prions and study of pathogenesis of prion diseases.

METHODSSeveral BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant hamster prion protein (HaPrP). Three hybridoma cell lines designated as B7, B9, and B10, secreting monoclonal antibodies against HaPrP, were established by hybridoma technique. The mAbs reactivities were evaluated with ELISA, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe mAbs produced by these cell lines reacted well with different recombinant hamster PrP proteins. Western blot analyses showed that mAbs B7 and B9 reacted with PrPSc from the scrapie-infected animals after proteinase K digestion with three glycosylated forms. The mAbs exhibited cross-reactivity with various PrPC from several other mammalian species, including humans and cattles. Immunohistochemistry assays confirmed that mAbs B7 and B9 could recognize not only extracellular but also intracellular PrPsSc.

CONCLUSIONThe mAbs of prion protein are successfully generated by hybridoma technique and can be applied for the diagnosis of prion associated diseases.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cricetinae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Immunization ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; PrPC Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; PrPSc Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,reliability,validity and responsiveness of a Chinese Menopause Rating Scale (CMRS).Methods Cross-sectional survey and convenience sampling were adopted. Participants:women with menopause syndrome and those in menopause but without menopause syndrome were recruited.All participants were asked to complete the CMRS,Kupperman Index,WHOQOL-BREF and MENQOL.The Self-control observation design was adopted when the responsiveness was evaluated.Patients were treated with TCM for weeks.MRSTCM was evaluated before and after the treatment.Results (1) Feasibility:3343 participants including 2320 patients and 1023 menopause women,were surveyed in 8 different settings.The recovery rate of CMRS was 100%,with a response rate as 99.7%.The completion of the CMRS took 10.30 minutes on average.(2)Reliability:Cronbach's alpha of CMRS,soma dimension,psychology dimension and community dimension of CMRS were 0.93,0.87,0.89 and 0.73 respectively,with the correlation coefficient of split half of the CMRS.Soma dimension,psychology dimension and community dimension were 0.92,0.89,0.86 and 0.73 respectively and the test-retest correlation coefficient of MRSTCM,the soma dimension,psychology dimension and community dimension were as 0.88,0.91,0.85 and 0.77 respectively.(3) Validity:CMRS was established on the basis of connotation of menopause syndrome,and a series of steps were adopted to modify the scale.CMRS was applicable for patients with menopause syndrome.CMRS seemed to have had good content-related validity.The result of exploratory factor analysis was accorded with the theory frame of CMRS by and large.The correlations between CMRS and KI,CMRS and WHOQOLBREF,CMRS and MENQOL seemed good.The CMRS was able to discriminate between groups of people with or without menopausal syndrome and bad good discriminative validity.(4) Responsibility:The CMRS was measured based on 174 patients with menopausal syndrome before and after the TCM therapy.Our result showed that the CMRS having the ability to measure the clinically important differences.Conclusion CMRS was suitable for outcome assessment of menopausal syndrome.This primary research proved that the CMRS had good feasibility,reliability,validity as well as responsiveness.

OBJECTIVETo explore congenital heart diseases (CHD) in their offsprings in association with parental methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T, cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene T833C, and environmental factors.

METHODSA 1:1 case-control study was carried out to investigate 115 pairs of case and controlled children and their parents, and the parents' MTHFR gene 677 C-->T mutation and CBS gene 833 T-->C mutation were also identified. The possible risk factors were analysed by simple and multiple factors logistic regression methods.

RESULTSResults revealed that 5 factors were related to the occurrence of CHD in the offsprings: maternal exposures to pesticides in the early stage of pregnancy (OR = 8.62), suffering from diseases during pregnancy (OR = 2.069), catching cold in the early stage of pregnancy (OR = 4.125), under depressed or nervous condition during pregnancy (OR = 4.653), maternal MTHFR 677TT genotype (OR = 3.872).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that maternal MTHFR 677TT genotype was one of the risks to the occurrence of CHD in offspring but parents' CBS gene 833 T-->C mutation did not get involved in CHD. In addition, the occurrence of CHD was related to maternal exposures to pesticides, catching a cold, suffering from diseases, depressed or under nervous condition in the early stage of pregnancy or during pregnancy.

Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; genetics ; Depression ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Heart Diseases ; congenital ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Odds Ratio ; Pesticides ; toxicity ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Risk Factors