OBJECTIVETo explore various factors affecting the clinical pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 15,744 cycles of AID in 6302 women and investigated the association of the clinical pregnancy outcomes of AID with the treatment protocols, the times of insemination per cycle, the age of the infertile women, the status of the oviduct, and the number of AID cycles.

RESULTSThe pregnancy rate of AID was higher in the chlomiphene-treated women than in those of the natural cycle group (P = 0.003) but showed no significant differences either between the chloramiphene and human menopause gonadotropin (HMG) or between the HMG and natural cycle groups (P > 0.05), and so was it in the women that had received AID twice per cycle before and after ovulation (26.3%) than in those that had undergone only once before (7.0%) or after ovulation (23.7%) (P < 0.05). However, the pregnancy rate was remarkably lower in the women aged 35-40 years (16.5%), especially in those over 40 years (1.2%), than in those under 35 years (26.0%) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the success rate of AID between the women with oviductal adhesion and those without (27.4% vs. 28.1%, P > 0.05). The pregnancy rate of the first cycle of AID (27.6%) was markedly higher than those of the second (24.7%), third (23.9%), and fourth (23.1%) (P < 0.01), but with no significant differences among the latter three cycles (P > 0.05), while that of the fifth cycle (19.0%) was remarkably lower than those of the first four (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe age of the infertile women is an important factor affecting the success rate of AID. AID twice per cycle is better than once only. For those without oviductal factors, at least 4 cycles of AID are required before in vitro fertilization.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; Insemination, Artificial ; Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous ; Ovulation ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To establish HPLC-UV fingerprints of genuine Radix Polygalae from Hebei Province and get the control fingerprint.To compare the fingerprints of genuine Radix Polygalae collected from different habitats with the control fingerprint so as to establish a specific method for the quality con- trol of genuine Radix Polygalae.Methods The fingerprints of 19 batches of genuine Radix Polygalae were obtained from Waters 1525 pump.The chromatographic procedure was carried out with Diamonsil~(TM) C_(18)(250 mm)?4.6 mm,5?m)as an analytic column and a mixture consisting of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid in gradient as mobile phase.The detection wavelength was 316 nm.The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min.The temperature of column was 35 C.Results The control fingerprint of HPLC-UV was set up.The fingerprints of genuine Radix Polygalae from different habitats were compared.Conclusion The operation of this method is simple,quick,accurate,and could be used for the identification and quality control of genuine Radix Polygalae.

Objective To study the normal values of blood pressure in healthy full-term infants in the first 7 days of life,and to determine the critical hypertension and hypotension in newborn infants.Methods Omni-Trak~(TM)NVS monitor with DINAMAP was used to measure the blood pressure.Systolic,diastolic and mean blood pressure were measured every day by DLNAMAP in a cohort of 50 healthy full-term infants in the first 7 days of life.Results 1.Systolic,diastolic and mean blood pressure of healthy full-term infants were significantly influenced with the age of birth.2.Stepwise linear multiple regressions was used to examine the multiple correlations among days of life,birth weight and gestational age.3.Optimal regression equations were built respectively.SBP=32.4+0.7X_1+(3.7X_2+)(0.6)X_3(mm Hg).DBP=13.1+ 0.6X_1+2.9X_2+0.6X_3(mm Hg).MAP=17.3+0.4X_1+2.4X_2+0.8X_3(mm Hg).(3.MAP=)(DBP+)(0.45)(SBP-DBP)(mm Hg).4.The critical hypertension and hypotension in newborn infants were obtained.Conclusions (Du)ring the first 7 days of life,there is a progressive rise in blood pressure of healthy full-term infants.There are linear reliance correlations between systolic,diastolic,mean blood pressure and day of life,birth weight gestational age.The critical hypertension and hypotension in newborn infants is important for clinic diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Psychometrics ; methods ; Young Adult

This study was purposed to detect the serum concentrations of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and to investigate its clinical significance. the serum IL-17 levels in 33 patients with MM and 20 normal control subjects were quantified by using double antibody sandwich ELISA, and serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels were detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG in patients with MM were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.001), the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG in active stage were significantly higher than those in stable stage (P < 0.05), the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG were significantly higher in stage III than that in stage II according to International Staging System (ISS) (P < 0.05), the serum IL-17 and β2-MG levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.690, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the serum IL-17 level correlates with active/stable stages of MM and staging of MM, IL-17 may play an important role in development stage and prognosis of this disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis

Objetive: To investigate whether apoptosis of SGC7901 cells can be induced by the expression of the recombinant gene of anti-HER2 ScFv/tBid. Methods: The recombinant anti-HER2 ScFv/tBid gene was cloned into vector pCMV and the recombinant plasmid was transfected into SGC7901 cells. The gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining. Cell counting was carried out to show the effect of the gene transfection on cell growth. At the same time, significant apoptotic peak was detected by flow cytometry in recombinant anti-HER2 ScFv/tBid gene transfected cells. Results: The fusion protein of anti-HER2 ScFv/tBid was observed in the cytoplasm of transfected SGC7901 cells. The transfected cells displayed typical cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. Conclusion: Fusion protein of anti-HER2 ScFv/tBid can induce apoptosis of SGC7901.

Using the qualified rates of particles as the evaluation indexes, the impact tactors of one-step pelletization technology of Jiuwei Xifeng granules were selected from six factors by the Plackett-Burman experimental design and the levels of non-significant factors were identified. According to the Plackett-Burman experimental design, choosing the qualified rates of particles and angle of repose as the evaluation indexes, three levels of the three factors were selected by Box-Behnken of central composite design to optimize the experimental. The best conditions were as follows: the fluid extract was sprayed with frequency of 29 r . min-1, inlet air temperature was 90 °C, the frequency of fan was 34 Hz. Under the response surface methodology optimized scheme, the average experimental results are similar to the predicted values, and surface methodology could be used in the optimization of one-step pelletization for Chinese materia medica.
Air Movements ; Analysis of Variance ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Models, Theoretical ; Research Design ; Tablets

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of citicoline sodium tablets combined with edaravone injection in the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 100 patients with cerebral ischemic stroke were randomly divided into control group (n = 48 cases) and treatment group (n = 52 cases) . Control group was given edaravone injection 30 mg per time, bid, intravenous drip. Treatment group received citicoline sodium tablets 0. 2 g per time, tid, orally, on the basis of control group. Two groups were treated for 14 days. The clinical efficacy, the levels of serum calmodulin (CAM) , growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) , the scores of national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) and modified Barthel index (MBI) , and adverse drug reactions were compared between twogroups. Results After treatment, the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 88. 46％ (46 cases/52 cases) and 70. 82％ (34 cases/48 cases) with significant difference (P < 0. 05) . After treatment, the main indexes of treatment and control groups were compared: CAM were (102. 45 ± 14. 59) and (136. 58 ± 14. 55) mg ·m L-1, GDF-15 were (443. 59 ± 49. 34) and (567. 36 ± 55. 20) pg·m L-1, PTX-3 were (0. 40 ± 0. 05) and (0. 56 ± 0. 08) ng·m L-1, NIHSS scores were (9. 19 ± 1. 67) and (11. 13 ± 1. 65) , MBI scores were (58. 37 ± 3. 17) and (49. 75 ± 3. 43) , the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0. 05) . The adverse drug reactions of treatment group were gastrointestinal discomfort and fever, which in control group were fever and elevated blood pressure. The total incidences of adverse drug reactions in treatment and control groups were 5. 77％ and 4. 17％ without significant difference (P> 0. 05) . Conclusion Citicoline sodium tablets combined with edaravone injection have a definitive clinical efficacy in the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke, which can effectively reduce the levels of serum CAM, GDF-15 and PTX-3, improve the nerve function, without increasing the incidences of adverse drug reactions.

BACKGROUNDAn implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been suggested for heart failure patients for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, few data have been reported on the application of ICD as primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in China. We evaluated the value of primary prevention ICD therapy in Chinese patients with heart failure.

METHODSThirty-four patients at an average age of (60.2 +/- 13.7) years seen in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were treated with ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death from November 2005 to July 2009. Single-chamber ICDs were implanted in 16 (47.0%) cases, and dual-chamber or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators in 18 (53.0%) cases. The patients had an average left ventricular ejection fraction of (26.9 +/- 5.5)% (11% to 35%), of which 18 (53.0%) patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy and 16 (47.0%) patients had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. All patients were followed up at three months after the implantation and every six months thereafter or when prompted by an ICD event.

RESULTSThere were five (14.7%) deaths, including two of heart failure and three with a non-cardiac course, during an average follow-up of (15.0 +/- 11.9) months. Forty-one ICD therapy events were recorded, including 19 (46.3%) appropriate ICD therapies in six patients and 22 (53.7%) inappropriate ICD therapies in four patients with single chamber leads. Inappropriate ICD therapies were mainly due to supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy did not differ in the incidence of either appropriate or inappropriate therapy.

CONCLUSIONSICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in China prevents patients from arrhythmia death. Relatively high incidence of inappropriate therapies highlights the importance of an atrial lead.

Aged ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; prevention & control ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heart Failure ; mortality ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

AIM:To study the growth-inhibiting and proapoptotic effects of Pim-1 kinase inhibitor SMI-4a on human acute myeloid leukemia cell line U937.METHODS:The effect of SMI-4a on U937 cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The apoptotic rate was assessed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-PI staining and by fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst 33342 staining.Methylcellulose was used to assess colony formation ability of the cells.The expression of β-catenin in the cell cytosol and nucleus was detected by Western blot,and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the U937 cells was also examined.Intracellular distribution of β-catenin was detected by the method of immunofluorescence.RESULTS:SMI-4a inhibited the viability of U937 cells.Annexin V-PI staining showed that SMI-4a induced apoptosis in dose-and time-dependent manners.Hoechst 33342 staining also verified the apoptosis.SMI-4a significantly inhibited the colony formation capacity of the U937 cells.The results of Western blot demonstrated that SMI-4a upregulated the expression of PARP and Bax,downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and change the distribution of β-catenin in intracellular compartment.Immunofluorescence observation found that SMI-4a decreased the expression level of β-catenin in the U937 cells.CONCLUSION:SMI-4a induces U937 cell apoptosis through regulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes.