Adult ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; drug therapy ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Capsules ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between syndrome types of late-onset acne female patients and constitutions of Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSA questionnaire was performed in 365 late-onset acne female patients and 135 healthy subjects (as the control) using Professor WANG Qi's. methods and Standards for Chinese Medical Constitutions Classification.

RESULTSTheir CM constitutions were sequenced as damp-heat constitution, yin-deficiency constitution, balanced constitution, yang-deficiency constitution, blood-stasis constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, qi-deficiency constitution, phlegm-damp constitution, inherited special constitution, with statistical difference when compared with those of the control group ( χ2 = 85.206, P < 0.01). In the 365 female late-onset acne patients, 114 (31.23%) were with Chongren imbalance syndrome, 108 (29.59%) were with blood stasis or coagulated phlegm syndrome, 83 (22.74%) were with dampness heat syndrome, and 60 (16.44%) were with wind heat syndrome. There was statistical difference in CM constitution distributions among different CM syndrome types (χ2 = 105.671, P < 0.01). The distribution of CM medical constitutions was different between the two groups. Biased constitutions were often seen in the patient group, while balanced constitution was often seen in the control group. Binary Logistic regression analysis indicated that influencing factors covered sweet food, light diet, roasted food, coffee, stress, work pressure, and family pressure. Of them light diet was one protective factor, while the rest were adverse factors.

CONCLUSIONThe etiology and syndrome types of female late-onset acne female patients were associated with CM constitution.

Acne Vulgaris ; epidemiology ; Body Constitution ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; Yin Deficiency

Based on site-specific transposition of an expression cassette into a baculovirus shuttle vector (Bacmid) which propagated in Escherichia coli, the Bac-to-Bac System provides a rapid and efficient method to generate recombinant baculoviruses and is widely used for high level expression of heterologous proteins. And the efficiency of recombinant baculovirus infecting cells plays an important role on the protein expression. In this study, we introduced an EGFP expression cassette driven by polyhedrin promoter into the p74 locus of Bacmid by homologous recombination. The target Bacmid-egfp was then transformed into E. coli DH10B containing the transposition helper plasmid to gain a new transposition receipt strain E. coli DH10Bac-egfp. Because of the intact attTn7 sites and lacZ', target gene cloned in a pFastBac vector can be transposed into the Bacmid-egfp shutter vector to construct recombinant baculovirus, which would allow the tracing of the target protein expression and the recombinant Bacmid transfection or recombinant baculoviral infection under fluorescence microscopes. Recombinant virus Bac-egfp-DsRed was constructed by transposing DsRed into the Bacmid-egfp in E. coliDHl0Bac-egfp, and the Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant virus expressed DsRed and EGFP efficiently. Another protein IL-6 fused with 6 x his tag was expressed and purified sucessfully from Sf9 cells infected with recombinant virus Bac-egfp-6 x his-IL6 constructed by the improved Bac-to-Bac system.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Spodoptera

Angioplasty ; Embolectomy ; Ischemia ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenteric Ischemia ; Thrombosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Vascular Diseases ; pathology ; surgery

The effects of human insulin 70/30 and insulin lispro 75/25 were compared in improving postprandial blood glucose excursions in 106 patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes in a one-month,open-labelled,self- controlled trial .The results showed that treatment of diabetic patients with insulin lispro 75/25 significantly improved 2 h postprandial blood glucose excursion compared to pre-study with human insulin 70/30 (baseline) without any significant adverse events or sustained hypoglycemic episodes.These physiological benefits were associated with a patient preference for insulin lispro 75/25.

Type 2 diabetes is a major global health problem. It is generally accepted that type 2 diabetes is the result of gene-environmental interaction. However, the mechanism underlying the interaction is unclear. Diet change is known to play an important role in type 2 diabetes. The fact that the global high prevalence of type 2 diabetes has occurred following the spread of food fortification worldwide suggests a possible involvement of excess niacin intake. Our recent study found that nicotinamide overload and low nicotinamide detoxification may induce oxidative stress associated with insulin resistance. Based on the relevant facts, this review briefly summarized the relationship between the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the nicotinamide metabolism changes induced by excess niacin intake, aldehyde oxidase inhibitors, liver diseases and functional defects of skin. We speculate that the gene-environmental interaction in type 2 diabetes may be a reflection of the outcome of the association of chronic nicotinamide overload-induced toxicity and the relatively low detoxification/excretion capacity of the body. Reducing the content of niacin in foods may be a promising strategy for the control of type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Diet ; Food, Fortified ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Niacin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Niacinamide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo achieve pregnancy with unaffected embryo using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD) for the couples at risk of having children with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSA couple carrying different thalassemia mutations of codon 41/42 and codon IVS2 position 654 received standard IVF treatment and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy, single cell polymerase chain reaction and DNA analyses, and only the unaffected or carrier embryos were transferred to uterus. Pregnancy confirmation, and prenatal diagnosis were done at 20 week's gestation.

RESULTSA total of 13 embryos were analyzed in the IVF cycle. PGD indicated that 2 were normal 18.1 , 3 were affected 27.3 , and 6 were carriers 54.5 ; diagnosis was not possible in 2. Three embryos were transferred to uterus on the third day after oocyte retrieval. Ultrasonography showed twin pregnancy with one blighted ovum. The prenatal diagnoses revealed that both fetuses were unaffected, one normal baby and one carrier were born.

CONCLUSIONThese studies represent the successful application of PGD for beta-thalassemia in China.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo develop a multiplex PCR protocol, which could be suitable for routine screening of microdeletions on the Y chromosome in azoospermic and oligozoospermic male infertility patients.

METHODSFive multiplex sets were established. Eighty-seven azoospermic and oligozoospermic patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) center and 30 azoospermic men undergoing testicular biopsy in the clinic of Urology Surgery were screened for microdeletions of Y chromosome.

RESULTSA total of 19 (16.2%) cases of microdeletions were found in 117 azoospermic and oligozoospermic patients by screening of Y chromosome microdeletions. Of these, 11 cases (18.0%) were found in 61 oligozoospermic patients, and 8 cases (14.3%) were found in 56 azoospermic patients.

CONCLUSIONThe multiplex PCR protocol presented in this study is an easy-to-do and reliable method for detecting microdeletions on the Y chromosome. Routine screening of microdeletions on the Y chromosome for azoospermic and oligozoospermic patients is essential.

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVESTo review the retrospective treatment results of the azoospermia patients during January 2001 to January 2002 in the fertility center.

METHODSOne hundred males attempted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle for treatment of azoospermia. All patients were undergone sperm retrieval by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) while their wives received conventional ovarian hyperstimulation. The hormone levels, testicular histology, the rates of sperm retrieval, fertilization, implantation and pregnancy were analysed and evaluated.

RESULTSSperm were retrieved by PESA in 76 of 100 (76%) and by TESE in 23 of 100 (23%) men of azoospermia. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 71.3%, 20.35% and 42.11% respectively in PESA group, and 75.18%, 22.05% and 41.60% respectively in TESA group. Thirty-two clinical pregnancies were achieved with 15 ongoing pregnancies and subsequent live delivery for 15 cases in PESA group, and 2 cases of miscarriage, while 10 clinical pregnancies were achieved with 6 ongoing pregnancies, 2 cases of live delivery and 2 cases of miscarriage in TESA group. One case failed to retrieve sperm by TESE and canceled.

CONCLUSIONSHormonal levels and testicular histology are unable to predict which men with azoospermia will have sperm retrieved by PESA and TESE. PESA and TESE with ICSI are effective methods to treat azoospermia. There were no significant differences in fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rate between two groups.

Adult ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; blood ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods

Methylation, a methyl group-consuming reaction, plays a key role in the degradation (i.e., inactivation) of monoamine neurotransmitters, including catecholamines, serotonin and histamine. Without labile methyl groups, the methylation-mediated degradation cannot take place. Although high niacin (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide) intake, which is very common nowadays, is known to deplete the body's methyl-group pool, its effect on monoamine-neurotransmitter degradation is not well understood. The aim of this article was to investigate the effect of excess nicotinamide on the levels of plasma serotonin and histamine in healthy subjects. Urine and venous blood samples were collected from nine healthy male volunteers before and after oral loading with 100 mg nicotinamide. Plasma N(1)-methylnicotinamide, urinary N(1)-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2-Py), and plasma betaine levels were measured by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma concentrations of choline, serotonin and histamine were measured using commercial kits. The results showed that the plasma N(1)-methylnicotinamide level and the urinary excretion of 2-Py significantly increased after oral loading with 100 mg nicotinamide, which was accompanied with a decrease in the methyl-group donor betaine. Compared with those before nicotinamide load, five-hour postload plasma serotonin and histamine levels significantly increased. These results suggest that excess nicotinamide can disturb monoamine-neurotransmitter metabolism. These findings may be of significance in understanding the etiology of monoamine-related mental diseases, such as schizophrenia and autism (a neurodevelopmental disorder).
Betaine ; blood ; Choline ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Histamine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Niacinamide ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Pyridones ; urine ; Serotonin ; blood