Animals ; Bufo bufo ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; genetics ; metabolism ; p21-Activated Kinases ; genetics

Objective To investigate the social psychological factors influencing postpartum depression (PPD), and to explore its predictive value for PPD, so as to establish and evaluate the prediction model of PPD. Methods We randomly selected 371 pregnant women (pregnancy≥28 weeks), who received antenatal examination and would be hospitalized for delivery in the First Hospital, Jinshan Hospital, and University-Town Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University from Sep. 2014 to Jun. 2016. The social demographic questionnaire (self-define), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale/Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMA14/HAMD24), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory/Beck Depression Inventory (BAI/BDI) were used to assess the prenatal social psychological factors of pregnant women, and the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) was completed on the 42nd day after delivery. Then the evaluation of PPD was conducted to analyze and predict the social psychological factors influencing PPD. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to establish the prediction model, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the model. Results Sixty of the 371 cases met the diagnostic criteria of PPD (PPD group) according to the assessment results of PPD, while 311 cases did not meet (N-PPD group); the incidence of PPD was 16.17% (60/371). Univariate analysis results showed that there were significant differences in having a fixed work or not, the degree of education, emotional stability, HAMA14 score, HAMD24 score, BAI score, BDI score, and each single factor score (except somatization) of the SCL-90 between the two groups (all P<0.05). The above indexes were selected for multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the following mathematical prediction model was established: Logit (PI)=0.042×total score of SCL-90+1.005×having a fixed work or not+2.498×relative company+0.108×BDI score-1.319×the degree of education-8.028, with the area under the ROC curve being 0.833 (P<0.001, 95%CI: 0.772-0.894). When PI=0.141 was selected as cut-off point, the Youden index of the model was maximum, the sensitivity was 0.900 and the specificity was 0.533. Conclusion The total score of SCL-90, having a fixed work or not, family company and BDI score are independent risk factors of PPD, while low degree of education is an independent protective factor. The prediction model for PPD based on social psychological factors has been successfully established, which has a great predictive value and is worthy of further study.

In natural acoustical environments, most biologically related sounds containing frequency-modulated (FM) components repeat over periods of time. They are often in rapid sequence rather than in temporal isolation. Few studies examined the neuronal response patterns evoked by FM stimuli at different presentation rates (PR). In the present investigation, by using normal electrophysiological technique, we specifically studied the temporal features of response of the inferior collicular (IC) neurons to FM sweeps with different modulation ranges (MR) in conditions of distinct PR in mouse. The results showed that most of the recorded neurons responded best to narrower MRs (narrow-pass, up-sweep: 60.00%, 54/90; down-sweep: 63.33%, 57/90), while a small fraction of neurons displayed other patterns such as band-pass (up-sweep, 16.67%, 15/90; down-sweep, 18.89%, 17/90), all-pass (up-sweep, 18.89%, 17/90; down-sweep, 13.33%, 12/90) and wide-pass (up-sweep, 4.44%, 4/90; down-sweep, 4.44%, 4/90). Both the discharge rate and duration of recorded neurons decreased but the latency lengthened with increase in PR, when different PRs from 0.5/s to 10/s of FM sound were used. The percentage of total directional selective neurons, up-directional selective neurons, and down-directional selective neurons changed with the variation of PR or MR. These results indicate that temporal features of mouse midbrain neurons responding to FM sweeps are co-shaped by the MR and PR. Possible mechanisms underlying may be related to spectral and temporal integration of the FM sound by the IC neurons.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Inferior Colliculi ; cytology ; Mice ; Neurons ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of smoking on sperm apoptosis and semen quality of healthy adult males in the main urban area of Chongqing.

METHODSAccording to the smoking habit, we divided 235 healthy adult males into a non-smoking group (n = 89) and a smoking group (n = 146). Then we detected the routine semen parameters by the computer-assisted semen analysis system and obtained the parameters of sperm apoptosis (the ratios of AN-/PI-, AN+/PI-, AN+/PI+ and AN-/PI+ sperm) by flow cytometry combined with Annexin V-FITC/PI fluorescence staining.

RESULTSThe rate of early apoptotic sperm (AN+/PI-) was higher in the smoking than in the non-smoking group ([8.1 +/- 5.1]% vs [6.8 +/- 3.8]%; P = 0.039), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in the rate of late apoptotic sperm (AN+/PI+) ([5.6 +/- 5.2]% vs [5.5 +/- 5.1]%; P = 0.87), as well as in such routine semen indexes as semen volume, sperm density, sperm motility, sperm vitality and normal sperm morphology (P = 0.30, 0.82, 0.37, 0.81 and 0.84, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe rate of early apoptotic sperm is higher in smokers than in non-smokers, suggesting that smoking may induce early damage to sperm cells. Compared with routine semen parameters, sperm apoptosis is a more sensitive biomarker to reflect smoking-induced damage to sperm.

Apoptosis ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Smoking ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quality and spatial distribution features of semen and to evaluate the reproductive health of the males in the Chongqing section of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area.

METHODSWe collected semen samples by masturbation after 2 -7 days of abstinence from the men in Nan'an, Shapingba, Zhongxian, Wanzhou, Yunyang and Wushan of Chongqing, which are geographically and demographically representative of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area. We analyzed the semen quality of all the samples and evaluated the reproductive health of the men.

RESULTSThe mean value of the five semen parameters of the male subjects from the six districts was within the normal range, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motile sperm, and total motile sperm. Those from Shapingba, Yunyang and Zhongxian exhibited abnormal sperm motility. According to the WHO criteria, normal value of all the semen parameters was found in less than 50% of the semen samples from the six districts, in 47% of those from Yunyang, and only 16% of those from Wanzhou. Spatial distribution maps of the semen parameters revealed significant spatial differences in seminal quality among the six districts, the highest in Yunyang, and the lowest in Wanzhou and Wushan that are located in the middle and lower reaches of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area.

CONCLUSIONThe mean value of semen parameters was low in a large proportion of men in the Chongqing section of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area, with spatial differences along the Changjiang river.

Adult ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlations of serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) level and IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms to the development of sepsis in children.

METHODUsing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the authors tested the serum IL-18 level in 90 patients with sepsis and 123 normal controls, and their single nucleotide polymorphisms of the promoter region of IL-18 gene at position -607C/A and -137G/C were detected using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers method and sequencing technique.

RESULT(1) The serum IL-18 level in sepsis groups was (196.56 +/- 157.32) pg/ml that was significantly higher than (66.16 +/- 41.63) pg/ml in normal controls (P < 0.01), the more severe the degree of sepsis was, the more significantly higher the serum IL-18 level was. The serum IL-18 level in non serious sepsis group was (152.87 +/- 114.96) pg/ml that was significantly higher than (66.16 +/- 41.63) pg/ml in normal controls, the serum IL-18 level in serious sepsis group was (191.98 +/- 169.72) pg/ml that was significantly higher than that in non serious sepsis group, and the serum IL-18 level in extremely serious sepsis patients was (323.89 +/- 159.35) pg/ml, the difference was highly significant (P = 0.000). The difference was significant among the groups with different severity of sepsis (P < 0.01). There was a negative correlation between PCIS (pediatric critical illness score) of sepsis and the serum IL-18 level (P < 0.01). (2) There were polymorphisms in IL-18 gene promoter of matched healthy children and sepsis in children. The GG genotype frequency (61.8%) of IL-18-137G/C in healthy children was the highest, followed by GC genotype (35.8%) and CC genotype (2.4%) in sequence. The G allele frequency (79.7%) was higher in IL-18-137G/C of healthy children than C allele (20.3%). The GG genotype frequency (71.1%) of IL-18-137G/C in septic children was the highest, the next were GC genotype (26.7%) and CC genotype (2.2%). The G allele frequency (84.4%) was higher in IL-18-137G/C of septic children than C allele (15.6%). The CA genotype frequency (61.0%) of IL-18-607C/A in healthy children was the highest, followed by CC genotype (26.8%) and AA genotype (12.2%). The C allele frequency (57.3%) was higher in IL-18-607C/A of healthy children than A allele (42.7%). The CA genotype frequency (76.7%) of IL-18-607C/A in septic children was the highest, followed by CC genotype (21.1%) and AA genotype (2.2%) in sequence. The C allele frequency (59.4%) was higher in IL-18-607C/A of septic children than A allele (40.6%). (3) The genotype frequency of IL-18-607 CA was 76.7% in sepsis groups that was significantly higher than 61.0% in normal controls, and the genotype frequency of -607 AA was 2.2% in sepsis groups that was significantly lower than 12.2% in normal controls, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). (4) In the order of -137CC, -137GC, -137GG, the serum IL-18 level in normal controls were as follows: (45.67 +/- 28.36) pg/ml, (53.27 +/- 37.91) pg/ml, (76.91 +/- 42.44) pg/ml, and with (140.50 +/- 60.10) pg/ml, (184.42 +/- 157.33) pg/ml, (237.02 +/- 161.76) pg/ml respectively in sepsis groups. In the order of -607AA, -607CA, -607CC, the serum IL-18 level in normal controls were: (48.80 +/- 32.11) pg/ml, (68.41 +/- 42.53) pg/ml, (70.17 +/- 43.87) pg/ml; and with (141.50 +/- 64.35) pg/ml, (151.21 +/- 121.19) pg/ml, (211.16 +/- 163.64) pg/ml respectively in sepsis groups. The difference was not significant among different groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe serum IL-18 level in sepsis groups was significantly higher than that in normal controls, which was related to the severity of sepsis. It was possible that the genotype of -607CA carriers was susceptible to sepsis, which mean that the genotype of -607CA might be susceptible genotype of sepsis. However, the genotype of -607AA might play an oppose role in the risk of sepsis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sepsis ; blood ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cranial Nerve Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Radiosurgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; China ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Hospitals, Community ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To understand the forming cause of the Oncomelania hupensis snail-existent non-endemic areas of schistosomiasis(SENEAS),and to verify the conclusion of previous studies,so as to provide the evidence for schistosomiasis monitoring in such areas in Nantong City,Jiangsu Province. Methods The controlled field tests were carried out to observe the O. hupensis snails artificially infected by schistosome miracidia in SENEAS. The influence of the soil from SENEAS and the en-demic areas on O. hupensis snails artificially infected by miracidia were observed. Results All the experimental snails could be infected by schistosome miracidia except the smooth-shell snails from Tangyuan Village in the controlled field test environment of SENEAS or the endemic areas. The infection rates of the smooth-shell snails were lower than those of the ribbed-shell snails , but there were no statistically significant differences. The mortality rates of the smooth-shell snails were higher than those of the ribbed-shell snails,which were statistically significant (χ2Xindian = 135.118,χ2Shuangdian = 122.836,χ2Baipu =154.436,χ2Dingyan =138.288,χ2Control=151.923,all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the infection rates of snails between each test group of the soil from SENEAS and the endemic areas(χ2Rugao=0.071,χ2Rudong=0.216,both P>0.05). Also there was no signifi-cant difference between each test group and the control group without soil(χ2=7.148,P>0.05). Conclusion It is likely to form the spread of schistosomiasis in SENEAS in Nantong City with sufficient amount of infection source of schistosomiasis im-ported. It is still necessary to implement the surveillance of schistosomiasis and O. hupensis snails in Nantong City.