Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; blood ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Trauma ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on both the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and the clinical outcomes of pregnancy in women under 35 years of age.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted for inspecting 294 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in women under 35 years of age. According to the basal FSH levels, the women were divided into groups A, B, and C with basal FSH of 10-14.99, 15-19.99 and ≥20 IU/L, respectively, to compare the average number of oocytes retrieved, morphologies of the oocytes and embryos, and clinical outcomes of pregnancy.

RESULTSGroup A showed greater average numbers of oocytes collected, total embryos and good-quality embryos with a lower gonadotrophin dose required to achieve follicular maturity than groups B and C. The 3 groups showed no significant differences in the percentage of metaphase II oocytes, optimal embryos-blastomere number, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, good-quality embryo rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rates, live birth rate or miscarriage rate, but the pregnancy rates and live birth rate tended to decrease in women with basal FSH ≥15 U/L.

CONCLUSIONIn women below 35 years of age, an elevated serum FSH (especially one ≥15 U/L) indicates diminished ovarian reserve and reduced numbers of oocyte and embryo but not poor oocyte or embryos quality, and good clinical pregnancy rate can still be expected.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the value of basal antral follicle count (AFC) and age in predicting ovarian response and clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSA total of 1319 oocyte retrieval cycles in women with an AFC&le;10 and complete IVF/ICSI cycles were analyzed retrospectively. According to the AFC, the patients were divided into groups A, B, and C with AFC&le;4, of 5-7, and of 8-10, respectively, and each was further divided into <38 years old group and ≥38 years old group. The oocytes retrieved, ovarian response, implantation rate, cancellations, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live births were evaluated.

RESULTSAs the AFC increased, the total gonadotrophin (Gn) dose increased and the follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved decreased significantly (P<0.001). Patients below 38 years of age had a lower total Gn dose and more follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved than older patients. An AFC>7 and age≥38 years was associated with significantly lower total Gn dose, greater number of follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved, and lower pregnancy rate than an AFC&le;7 and age<38 years (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation and linear regression analysis identified AFC as the best single predictor of ovarian response in IVF. The pregnancy rate differed significantly between the 3 groups, and older patients (≥38 years) had higher early miscarriage rate.

CONCLUSIONAntral follicle count&le;7 or age≥38 years old with AFC&le;10 is the suitable threshold of diminished ovarian reserve in controlled ovarian stimulation for infertile women. Combination of AFC and age is the best predictor of ovarian response in IVF. Age has a better predictive value of pregnancy rate than AFC. AFC influences mainly the oocytes quantity, while age also affects oocyte quality.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Ovarian Follicle ; anatomy & histology ; cytology ; physiology ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) are immune checkpoints which can be induced by interferon-γ(IFN-γ) in the tumor microenvironment, leading to immune escape of tumors. Myricetin (MY) is a flavonoid distributed in many edible and medicinal plants. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect and the mechanism of MY on inhibiting IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 in lung cancer cells. METHODS Expressions of PD-L1 and major histocompatibility complex-I (MHC-I) were evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blotting, and the expression of IDO1 was measured by Western blotting. qRT-PCR was used to detect their mRNA levels. The function of T cells was evaluated using a co-culture system consist of lung cancer cells and the Jurkat-PD-1 T cell line that overexpressing PD-1. Molecular docking analysis, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used for mechanism study. RESULTS MY potently inhibited IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 expression in human lung cancer cells, while didn't show obvious effect on the expression of MHC-I. In addition, MY restored the survival, proliferation, CD69 expression and interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion of Jurkat-PD-1 T cells suppressed by IFN-γ-treated lung cancer cells in the co-culture system. Mechanistically, IFN-γ up-regulated PD-L1 and IDO1 at the transcriptional level through the JAK-STAT-IRF1 axis, which was targeted and inhibited by MY. CONCLUSION Our research revealed a new insight into the anti-tumor effects of MY which inhibited IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 and IDO1 expression, supporting the potential of MY in anti-tumor immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid, sensitive and efficient detection method for tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and provide technical support of TMV detection of Rehmannia glutinosa f. hueichingensis. The virus-free plantlets could be produced on a large scale to ameliorate breed degeneration caused by viral disease.

METHODSpecific primers were designed based on the conserved region of coat protein(CP) gene of TMV. Immunocapture RT-PCR (IC-RT-PCR) was employed to detect TMV and the sequence of the products was detected.

RESULTThe expected nucleotide acid fragments were amplified by IC-RT-PCR. The homology of nucleotide acid sequence and amino acid sequence were 95.29% and 96.7% between the PCR products and the CP gene of TMV (accession number AY555269).

CONCLUSIONThe method was established for the detection of TMV in R. glutinosa f. hueichingensis by IC-RT-PCR. This detection combined molecular biology technology with immunology, was convenient for a quick, sensitive and simple detection of TMV.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Rehmannia ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification

CD55 Antigens ; Complement Activation ; Humans ; Membrane Cofactor Protein ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of delayed release particles from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the reparation of ischemic injury of spinal cord in rats.

METHODSThe spinal cord ischemia model of rats was established. The delayed release particles from VEGF were injected via the intubation of spinal subarachnoid space. The rehabilitation was observed by the assessment of unfold claw reflection, space between toes, spinal evoked potential (SEP) and motor evoked potential (MEP).

RESULTSVEGF prompted SEP and MEP appearance, improved the motor function of hind limbs.

CONCLUSIONSVEGF can promote the rehabilitation of spinal cord ischemic injury of rats.

Animals ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Models, Animal ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of osmotic pressure on myocardial contractility and the possible mechanism. Electrical stimulation was used to excite papillary muscles of the left ventricle of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The contractilities of myocardium in hyposmotic, isosmotic, and hyperosmotic perfusates were recorded. The influences of agonist and antagonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) on the contractility of myocardium under hyposmotic, isosmotic and hyperosmotic conditions were observed. The results were as follows: (1) Compared with that under isosmotic condition (310 mOsm/L), the myocardial contractility was increased by 11.5%, 21.5% and 25.0% (P<0.05) under hyposmotic conditions when the osmotic pressure was at 290, 270 and 230 mOsm/L, respectively; and was decreased by 16.0%, 23.7% and 55.2% (P<0.05) under hyperosmotic conditions when the osmotic pressure was at 350, 370 and 390 mOsm/L, respectively. (2) When ruthenium red (RR), an antagonist of TRPV4, was added to the hyposmotic perfusate (270 mOsm/L), the positive inotropic effect of hyposmia was restrained by 36% (P<0.01); and when RR was added to the hyperosmotic perfusate (390 mOsm/L), the inhibitory effect of hyperosmia on myocardial contractility was increased by 56.1% (P<0.01). (3) When 4-α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD), an agonist of TRPV4, was added to the isosmotic perfusate (310 mOsm/L), the myocardial contractility did not change; and when 4α-PDD was added to the hyperosmotic perfusate (390 mOsm/L), the inhibition of myocardial contractility by hyperosmia was increased by 27.1% (P<0.01). These results obtained indicate that TRPV4 is possibly involved in the osmotic pressure-induced inotropic effect.
Animals ; Heart ; physiology ; Myocardial Contraction ; physiology ; Osmotic Pressure ; Phorbol Esters ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; TRPV Cation Channels ; physiology

OBJECTIVEOn the basis that pinacidil can produce an "all or none" repolarization in right ventricular wall of canine, to observe the effects of quinidine on the marked transmural dispersion of repolarization. Recent studies have shown that ventricular myocardium is composed of at least 3 electrophysiological distinct cell types: epicardial, endocardial, and midcardial cells. Differences in the response of the 3 cell types to pharmacologic agents and/or pathophysiological states often result in amplification of intrinsic electrical heterogeneities, thus providing a substrate as well as a trigger for the development of arrhythmias. The study was designed to observe the right ventricular transmural heterogeneity in vitro canine heart tissue preparation level.

METHODSThe strips were isolated from the anterior wall of the right ventricular of canine. The preparations perfused with oxygenated (95%O(2)/5%CO(2)) Tyrode's solution. The tissues were stimulated at basic cycle lengths of 1000 ms. Standard microelectrode techniques were used. Transmembrane action potentials were recorded from epicardial, midcardial and endocardial cells respectively from right ventricular free wall of canine on different conditions [perusing with Tyrode's solution (Control), pinacidil (2.5 micromol/L), and quinidine (5 micromol/L) in turn].

RESULTSCompared with that of endocardial cells, the action potentials of canine ventricular epicardial and midcardial cells had more obvious spike and dome morphology. Pinacidil (2.5 micromol/L) caused a loss of the dome of transmembrane action potentials and a marked abbreviation of the action potential duration (APD) in right ventricular epicardial and midcardial cells, especially in epicardial cells, but not in endocardial cells (n = 10). With pinacidil (2.5 micromol/L), in epicardial cells, phase 2 amplitude of action potentials decreased from (117.7 +/- 9.3) mV to (71.3 +/- 6.4) mV (P < 0.01), and 90% of the APD(90) decreased from (198.2 +/- 20.8) ms to (103.9 +/- 13.5) ms (P < 0.01). The transmural dispersion of action potential duration increased from (48.5 +/- 9.2) ms to (128.7 +/- 13.5) ms (P < 0.01). Quinidine (5 micromol/L) effectively prolonged the APD abbreviated by pinacidil, restored or partly restored the dome of transmembrane action potentials of epicardial and midcardial cells but not of endocardial cells (n = 10). In epicardial cells phase 2 amplitude increased from (71.3 +/- 6.4) mV to (106.6 +/- 7.7) mV (P < 0.01), and 90% of the APD(90) increased from (103.9 +/- 13.5) ms to (185.9 +/- 15.7) ms (P < 0.01). The transmural dispersion of action potential duration significantly decreased from (128.7 +/- 13.5) ms to (54.3 +/- 10.8) ms (P < 0.01). Quinidine reduced pinacidil-induced transmural dispersion of phase 2 amplitude and the APD in right ventricular wall of canine.

CONCLUSIONBy restoring the dome and the APD of the epicardial and midcardial cells action potentials, quinidine (5 micromol/L) could reduce the marked transmural dispersion of repolarization caused by pinacidil.

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Dogs ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Pinacidil ; pharmacology ; Quinidine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVENeonatal septicemia is a common and severe infection, which often results in death. Early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal septicemia may help decrease neonatal mortality. Recently, many studies sought to explore the possibility of early diagnosis of this disease. The high affinity Fcgamma-receptor I (CD(64)) was purposefully chosen as a potential marker for identifying neonatal septicemia. The present study was designed to evaluate neutrophil CD(64) level for early diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.

METHODSEighty-nine suspected neonatal septicemia cases were recruited into the study. Five non-specific indices, i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP), micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mESR), white blood cell count, platelet count and the ratio of immature neutrophil count to total neutrophil count were measured for each patient. The patients were divided into septicemia group (n = 39) and non-septisemic infection group (n = 50) according to the diagnostic criteria for neonatal septicemia. Nineteen hospitalized neonates with non-infectious diseases were enrolled as controls (n = 19). The levels of peripheral blood neutrophil CD(64) were measured by using flow cytometry. The positive rate, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of CD(64) were calculated.

RESULTSThe levels of peripheral blood neutrophil CD(64) in septicemia patients were (75.6 +/- 8.9)%, which were significantly higher than those of non-septisemic infection group (29.1 +/- 6.2)% and control group (5.1 +/- 1.1)% (P < 0.05), respectively. There were no significant differences in the levels of CD(64) expression between the patients with Gram-negative (79.5 +/- 3.5)% and Gram- positive (76.4 +/- 5.0)% (P > 0.05) bacterial infection. The levels of CD(64) of the cases with septicemia significantly decreased at day 10 of treatment with antibiotics. The detection of CD(64) (cutoff value > 30%) for suspected septicemia showed high sensitivity (97.4%), specificity (84.0%), PPV (82.6%), and NPV (97.6%). The positive rate of CD(64) detection (62.9%) was much higher than that of the blood culture test (19.1%) and that of the five nonspecific indices (29.2%, P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of CD(64) increased in neonatal septicemia cases. The measurement of cell surface expression of CD(64) on neutrophils may be helpful to early diagnosis, evaluation of severity of infection and observation of therapeutic effects for neonatal septicemia.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neutrophils ; immunology ; Platelet Count ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Receptors, IgG ; immunology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; blood ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Severity of Illness Index