AIM:To retrospectively analyze the lipid metabolism disturbance and subacute inflammation within the microenvironment of follicular fluid between Chinese polycystic ovarian syndrome ( PCOS ) patients and the controls . METHODS:Serum lipid indexes , steroid hormone levels , and inflammatory cell counts were analyzed .The inflammatory cytokine and apolipoprotein levels were detected in the serum and follicular fluid .The mRNA expression of apolipoproteins and cytokines in the granulose cells was determined by real-time PCR.RESULTS: PCOS patients showed typical obesity accompanied with hyperlipidemia and hyperandrogenemia .Significantly elevated inflammatory cell number and cytokine lev-els were detected in both serum and follicular fluid .The mRNA expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines and apoli-poproteins in the granulose cells from the PCOS patients were higher than those from the controls .CONCLUSION:Elevat-ed apolipoproteins reflect systematic hyperlipidemia in the follicular fluid .Serum lipids and cytokines penetrate follicle-ser-um barrier and get into follicle fluid .Meanwhile , increased intake of apolipoproteins or elevated synthesis of cytokines ( IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α) by granulose cells could also be crucial to stabilize microenvironment of follicular fluid .Oocyte and subsequent embryos are sensitive to the originaal follicular environment .The lipid metabolism disturbance , inflammatory cell infiltration and hyperandrogenemia may possibly disturb oocyte developmental potential .

Objective To analyze the perceived control of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to explore its influencing factors. Methods A total of 185 patients with lung cancer were recruited and assessed by homemade general information questionnaire and the Cancer Experience and Efficacy Scale. Results The total score of cancer experience during chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer was (62.50±6.99) points. The total score of efficacy during chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer was (42.52±8.08) points. Single factor analysis showed the influencing factors of perceived control were personal income, sex, education, metastasis, surgical treatment and stage of disease. Conclusions The cancer-related experience and efficacy of patients with lung cancer is at middle level. Health-care worker should pay attention to the impact of lung cancer patients and take effective measures to mitigate the negative cancer-related experience, thereby improving the perceived control of the lung cancer patients.

Firstly discovered in 1980s,human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to affect more and more people.However,there is no effective drug available for the therapy of HIV infection.Betulinic acid existing in various medicinal herbs and fruits exhibits multiple biological effects,especially its outstanding anti-HIV activity,which has drawn the attentions of many pharmacists.Among the derivatives of betulinic acid,some compounds exhibited inhibitory activities at the nanomolar concentration,and have entered phase Ⅱ clinical trials.This paper summarizes the current investigations on the anti-HIV activity of betulinic acid analogues,and provides valuable data for subsequent researches.

OBJECTIVETo study the plasma homocysteine (Hcy) distributive characteristics in different sex and age groups of the community residents in Guangdong, and to analyze its associated factors as well as its effects on cerebral artery stenosis.

METHODSIn this study, we presented data concerning 2500 residents who had undergone a systematic health checkup,including clinical and biologic examinations. Plasma was saved from 1020 residents who were asymptomatic but having TCD examination. Hcy concentration was measured by fluorescence ration biochemical assay kit.

RESULTSThe average plasma Hcy levels of males (15.0 micromol/L+/-5.8 micromol/L) were significantly higher than those of females (12.4 micromol/L-I 3.9 micromol/L, P< 0.05). Hcy level increased parallel with age. The prevalence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia in males (47.2%) was higher than in females (23.2%). Hcy levels in MCA stenosis group (18.3 micromol/L+ 5.3 micromol/L) were significantly higher than that in control group (12.9 micromol/L+/- 4.6 micromol/L, P< 0.05). Based on logistic regression analysis, Hcy was only associated with sex and age, but not with blood lipids etc.

CONCLUSIONHcy levels were different in sex and age groups which emerged as independent predictors of hyperhomocysteinemia but had no association with blood lipids in the community residents, suggesting that hyperhomocysteinemia might worsen cerebral artery stenosis.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of KaVo KEY laser on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) within infected root canals and roots surface in vitro.

METHODSFifty single-rooted teeth were selected, and infected root canals and roots surface vitro models were prepared. Then, these specimens were divided into three groups. First group were untreated as blank control. The other two groups were the laser groups: Irradiated 15 s and 30 s respectively with 80 mJ and 140 mJ in root canals and on roots surface. Microbiological samples were collected from root canals and roots surface at two time points (before irrigation and immediately after irrigation). The dentin chips from three different zone of part of root canals in each group were immediately collected and were cultured for 24 h in brain heart infusion (BHI).

RESULTSThe number of E. faecalis in root canal and root surface in each of the groups were effectively reduced (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between each two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the blank control, the bacterial number in 100 microm of dental tubules decreased after specimens treated with 80 mJ, and the experimental group irradiated 15 s was a significant decease (P < 0.05). The other groups were no changed in different zone of dental tubules.

CONCLUSIONKaVo KEY laser is effective on sterilizing infected root canals and roots surface. It has also significant effect on bacterial in superficial dental tubules with low energy and short time.

Dental Pulp Cavity ; microbiology ; Enterococcus faecalis ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Lasers

The HLA system was discovered by virtue of the fact that it was polymorphic. The impetus for its discovery was the search for polymorphic antigens to match for transplantation, by analogy with the human red cell blood groups. The most usually DNA method of HLA typing is sequence specific oligonucleotides (SSO) and PCR sequence specific primers (SSP). SSO technique is perfectly suited for analyzing large number of samples, it is not suitable for individual or small numbers. The SSP method is ideal for typing individual samples, but it is costly and requires high capacity thermal cycles for larger numbers of samples. To set up a simple, quick, cheap and high resolution DNA method, were collected sixty-three cord blood samples from Guangzhou Cord Blood Bank, got DNA from blood by the traditional guanidine hydrochloride distillation method. Each sample was simultaneously typed by SSOP, PCR-SSP and reverse dot-blot hybridization (RDB) methods. All of typed is success. The results of three DNA methods are consistent each other. 60 HLA-DRB1 alleles could be accurately distinguished with the RDB method. Our results show that RDB method is a simple, quick, cheap and high resolution method for HLA-DRB types. It can be used in any HLA typing.
Fetal Blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Genotype ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Histocompatibility Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the goblet cells in the intestine during the restitution process of the gut barrier after hemorrhagic shock.

METHODSForty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats with body weight of 250-300 g were divided into control group (n=7) and experimental group (n=42). Rats in the experimental group was further divided into 6 groups (n=7 each) according to different time point at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after hemorrhagic shock resuscitation. The specimens from ileum tissue were taken to observe the morphological chan ges of the intestinal mucosa. The number of goblet cells was determined by light microscope and/or electron microscope. The contents of trefoil factor family 3 (TFF3) of goblet cells were examined using GC-9A gas chromatographic instrument.

RESULTSAfter hemorrhagic shock, mucosal epithelial injury was obvious in the small intestine. Tissue restitution was found after 3 hours, and mostly established after 12 hours. Following tissue restitution,the denuded mucosal surface was covered intensively by goblet cells. The number of goblet cells on the intestinal mucosa was reduced significantly from 243+/- 13 at 1 h to 157+/- 9 at 24 h (r=- 0.910, P< 0.01), and returned to normal level at 36 h. In the experimental group, the content of TFF3 in the intestinal mucosa increased significantly at 12 hours, decreased, but was still higher at 24 hours (t=3.24, P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe goblet cells play a key role in the restitution of intestinal mucosa. High expression of TFF3 may facilitate the intestinal mucosal restitution in the early phase.

Animals ; Goblet Cells ; metabolism ; Ileum ; cytology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; metabolism ; Trefoil Factor-3

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of quercetin, a flavonoid, on the learning and memory ability of 3-day-old neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain white matter damage (WMD).

METHODSSixty 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, WMD model,and quercetin treatment groups (20 and 40 mg/kg). There were 15 rats in each group. Rats in the WMD model and the two quercetin treatment groups were subjected to right common carotid artery ligation followed by 2 hrs of exposure to 8% O2 to induce periventricular white matter injury. After the operation quercetin was administered daily in the two quercetin treatment groups for 6 weeks. Six weeks later, Morris water maze and open-field tests were carried out to test memory and learning ability as well as behavior and cognition.

RESULTSFrom the second day of training, escape latency in the Morris water maze test was more prolonged in the WMD model group than in the control group (P<0.01). The escape latency in the two quercetin treatment groups was shortened significantly compared with the WMD model group (P<0.05). The WMD model group crossed the original platform fewer times compared with the control and quercetin treatment groups (P<0.05). The open-field test indicated that the number of rearings increased and time spent in the centre was extended in the WMD model group compared with the control group. Compared with the WMD model group, the number of rearings was significantly reduced (P<0.05) and time spent in the centre was significantly shortened in the quercetin treatment groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQuercetin treatment can improve memory and learning ability as well as cognitive ability in neonates with WMD, suggesting that quercetin protects against WMD resulting from hypoxia-ischemia.

Animals ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the down-regulated TRAF6 gene expression and its effects on proliferation and apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cells.

METHODSDetection of TRAF6 expression were conducted by RT-PCR and Western blot in MM cell lines of KM3, U266, RPMI8226 and primary cells from patients. RPMI8226 cell lines were transfected with siRNA of TRAF6. The efficiency of transfection was identified by using of fluorescence microscope, RT-PCR, and Western blot. The levels of proliferation were analyzed by CCK-8 method under the different concentrations of siRNA. Apoptosis rate were detected with Hoechst33258/PI double staining by flow cytometry. Apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2, BAX, and NF-κB signal pathway were observed before and after siRNA transfection by Western blot.

RESULTSThe levels of TRAF6 mRNA and protein in MM cell lines, especially in primary myeloma cells, were significantly higher than those in controls. After transfected with 50 nmol/L siRNA in RPMI8226 cells, the relative level of TRAF6 mRNA (0.49±0.24) was significantly lower than that in non-transfected group (1.87±0.23) and idling group (1.74±0.35). The proliferation rate of siRNA transfected cells decreased with dose dependence (P<0.01). The apoptosis rates increased from 11.20% (before transfection) to 51.82% (after transfection), accompanied by down-regulated Bcl-2 protein, NF-κB signal pathway (p-p65 and p52), and up-regulated BAX protein.

CONCLUSIONTRAF6 expression was high in myeloma cells. TRAF6 siRNA could inhibit proliferation of myeloma cells and induce apoptosis mediated by NF-κB classical and alternative pathway in myeloma cells.

Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; pathology ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of the dual-energy technique with dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) for anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

METHODSThe clinical data of 8 patients with arthroscopic results were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent two- and three-dimensional imaging by multiplanar reconstruction, volume rendering, and tendon mode on DSCT. Dual-energy characteristics were compared with arthroscopic results.

RESULTSSix patients who were arthroscopically diagnosed as anterior cruciate ligament injuries, all of them were also correctly diagnosed by DSCT. Two patients who were arthroscopically diagnosed as normal, one was also diagnosed as normal by DSCT and the other was misdiagnosed. The overall agreement rate was 87.5% (7/8) . Under the dual energy tendon mode, the dual energy staining of the injured anterior cruciate ligament was lower than that of the contralateral normal cruciate ligament of the patient.

CONCLUSIONThe staining diminution in DSCT imaging may be a new feature that can be used to effectively diagnose anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult