Objective Investigation of biological characteristics of Cdc 20AAA/+APCmin/+ mouse embryonic fibroblast(MEFs) indicate the effect of Cdc20AAA/+on growth of mouse embryonic fibroblast and the possible mechanism . Methods MEFs of Cdc20AAA/+APCmin/+, Cdc20AAA/+, APCmin/+ and WT genotype were harvested from embryos for analysis.The growth characteristics of Cdc20AAA/+APCmin/+, Cdc20AAA/+,APCmin/+and WT mouse embryonic fibroblast were analyzed through growth curve analysis and foci formation assay .Separation of sister chromatid and the presence of aneuploid were detected by karyotype analysis .Results Cell proliferation assays showed that Cdc 20AAA/+APCmin/+cells grew at an accelerated rate compared with APC min/+MEFs(P<0.01).Foci formation assay showed that the clone forming ability was significantly increased .Cdc20AAA/+APCmin/+MEFs showed a significant increase in the frequency of aneuploid compared with WT MEFs , which had a karyotype of 38 and contained prematurely separated sister chromatids .Conclusion Cdc20 carrying a null allele (Cdc20AAA/+) may accelerate the growth and proliferation of APC min/+MEFs and present the growth characteristics of the tumor cells .The possible mechanism may be associated with chromosome instability .

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is usually comorbid with thymoma. More accurate estimates of the incidence thymoma in MG will help inform patients and their physicians, facilitate health policy discussions, provide etiologic clues, and optimize the management of MG. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review search of relevant English-language studies published between 1960 and 2012 using MEDLINE and Embase. We identified additional studies by reviewing the bibliographies of the retrieved articles and hand searched the main neurology journals. Only incidence studies and case series of unselected MG patients in which information about thymoma were included. RESULTS: Out of 2206 potentially relevant studies, 49 met the inclusion criteria. Although there was a considerable degree of heterogeneity, the pooled estimate of the incidence of thymoma in MG was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20-22%). The pooled incidence was significantly higher for surgery-based studies than for population- and hospital-based studies. A large proportion of the reported thymomas were noninvasive. Furthermore, thymoma appears to occur significantly more frequently among male MG patients and those older than 40 years at the onset of MG. CONCLUSIONS: Thymoma is common in MG patients, but appears to be found more often in male MG patients and those older than 40 years at the onset of MG. Further research is needed to expand our understanding of these association conditions.
Cohort Studies ; Hand ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neurology ; Population Characteristics ; Thymoma

OBJECTIVESTo detect the cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) levels in semen of infertile patients and evaluate the correlation between CETP in semial plasma and infertility.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-three infertile patients and fifteen fertile males were selected randomly. The routine examination of ejaculates was fulfilled by computer aided semen analysis (CASA). The CETP levels in all seminal plasma samples and fifty-five serum samples were detected by ELISA method.

RESULTSThe CETP levels in infertile patients and fertile males were (2.21 +/- 1.23) microgram/L and (1.40 +/- 0.45) microgram/L, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups(P > 0.05). And there were no significant differences of CETP levels in seminal plasma among groups of azoospermia(n = 29), oligoasthenozoospermia (n = 58), oligospermia(n = 15), asthenozoospermia(n = 44) and normozoospermia(n = 17) in the infertile patients(P > 0.05). The CETP in seminal plasma and serum were detected in 55 infertile patients, and there was no correlation between CETP levels in seminal plasma and serum using Spearman analysis(r = 0.009, P > 0.05). The mean CETP level in seminal plasma was almost 1/1,000 of that in serum.

CONCLUSIONSThe CETP level in seminal plasma is extremely low and has no relation with the changes of sperm density or motility. It may ensure the integrity of sperm membrane before the sperm enters into female genital tract.

Adult ; Carrier Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Semen ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of clinical manifestation, laboratory examination and imaging changes for pyogenic spondylitis and to summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with pyogenic spondylitis.

METHODSThe clinical data, of 20 patients with pyogenic spondylitis were diagnosed by histopathological examination from March 2012 to March 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 11 females, aged from 43 to 72 years old with an average of 58.9 years. Included 3 cases of cervical vertebrae, 7 cases of thoracic vertebrae, 10 cases of lumbar vertebrae. Patients of blood analysis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR), C reactive protein(CRP), X rays, CT and MRI were performed before treatment. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the pain of patients suffering from vertebral pain.

RESULTSAll the patients had suffered from vertebral pain before treatment. VAS was 9 points in 4 cases, 8 points in 6 cases, 7 points in 1 case, 3 points in 6 cases, and 2 points in 3 cases. Among them, 7 patients complicated with neurological symptoms, 11 with aggravating night pain, 10 with fever. WBC and Neutrophil count (NEU) of 5 cases were increased and other 15 cases were normal;CRP of 19 cases were increased and 1 case was normal;ESR of all 20 cases were increased. X rays showed the intervertebral space narrowing in all 20 cases, 13 cases complicated with destruction of vertebral body; CT showed the lesions of vertebral body in the 20 cases and complicated with destruction, sclerosis of sclerotin; MRI showed that the lesions of the vertebral body in the T1 image had uneven medium low signal, in the T2 image of the 16 cases had uneven high signal and 2 cases had uniform and high signal, 2 cases had main high signal compliated with mixed signal. Thirteen patients underwent surgical treatment and 7 patients received conservative treatment, and the patients left hospital while VAS had significantly improved after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSPyogenic spondylitis is easy to be misdiagnosed or missed in clinic. It can be combined with the clinical manifestations, laboratory examination and imaging characteristics in order to make a definite diagnosis for purulent spondylitis in early.

Objective To investigate the methods and efficacy of microscopic surgical treatment in patients with anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Methods The clinical data of 35 patients with ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm, admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to January 2011 and performed microneurosurgical treatment via pterional approch, were retrospective analyzed; their surgical techniques and efficacy were concluded. Results All the aneurysms in 35 patients were successfully clipped. Follow-up was performed for 3-6 months: complete recovery was achieved in 19 patients, good recovery in 11, and mild disability in 3 (including 1 with psychiatric symptom); death appeared in 2 patients. Conclusion The microsurgery via pterional approach is an effective method in treating anterior communicating artery aneurysms,resulting from its full exposure of aneurysms and few complications; adequate dissection and exposure of the entire H shaped complex body of anterior communicating artery are the keys to a successful clipping of aneurysm neck; and the selection of aneurysm clip suitable for the aneurysm and the preservation of the perforating arteries should be specially emphasized.

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of diazoxide on oxygen free radicals and cell apoptosis in brain tissue after deep hypothermia cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in young rats.

METHODSFifty-four 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equitably divided into sham-operated group, model group and diazoxide group respectively (n = 18). The model of hypothermia cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury was made. After 24 hours of operation, the brains of rats were removed and preserved. The content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in brain tissue were detected. Cytosolic C release of cytochrome was confirmed by Western Blot. The protein expression of Caspase-3 was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn the model group, the content of SOD was (198 +/- 41) U/mg, lower than the sham-operated group's (321 +/- 36) U/mg (P < 0.01). The content of MDA was (212 +/- 21) nmol/mg, was higher than the sham-operated group's (100 +/- 23) nmol/mg (P < 0.01), and the expressions of cytochrome C (0.72 +/- 0.09) and Caspase-3 (83 +/- 10) were all significantly higher than those in the sham-operated group (0.17 +/- 0.02 and 115 +/- 9) (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the content of SOD in the diazoxide group [(264 +/- 34) U/mg] was markedly increased (P < 0.05). In addition, diazoxide provided significant reductions in the content of MDA [(174 +/- 19) nmol/mg] and the expressions of cytochrome C (0.41 +/- 0.05) and Caspase-3 (99 +/- 11) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe neuroprotective effects of diazoxide against brain injury induced by deep hypothermia cerebral ischemia reperfusion through inhibiting oxygen free radicals and cell apoptosis. Diazoxide may become a new neuroprotective drug after infant complicated congenital cardiac operation.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced ; adverse effects ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Diazoxide ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of birth weight and early growth on body fat composition and insulin sensitivity.

METHODSThe birth and growth data of 258 children of 6 to 7 years old in Guangzhou were collected from Jun.2009 to Feb. 2010. Physical and laboratory examination were preformed, which included body weight, body height and body fat composition index (body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (PBF), waist circumference to height ratio (WtHR), etc). Fasting blood glucose and insulin were measured. The homeostasis model assessment model for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. According to birth weight, the children were divided into three groups from light to heavy: BW-I, BW-II, BW-III group. Then according to change in weight SDS between 0 and 36 months, the children were divided into three groups: changers up (CU), non-changers (NC), changers down (CD) group. The effect of birth weight and early growth on body fat composition and insulin sensitivity were analyzed.

RESULTSChange in weight SDS between 0 and 36 months was higher in BW-I group (1.06 ± 1.29) than in the BW-II group (-0.19 ± 0.94) and BW-III group (-0.10 ± 1.20) (all P values < 0.01). Birth weight of the CU group ((2.90 ± 0.47) kg) was lower than that of the NC group ((3.22 ± 0.34) kg) and the CD group ((3.57 ± 0.37) kg) (all P values < 0.01). The body fat composition index of BMI, PBF and WtHR were higher in the BW-III group ((16.35 ± 2.13) kg/m(2), (17.03 ± 5.88)%, (0.479 ± 0.033)) than in the BW-I group ((15.46 ± 2.06) kg/m(2), (14.06 ± 5.25)%, (0.459 ± 0.032)) and BW-II group ((15.47 ± 1.58) kg/m(2), (14.09 ± 5.01)%, (0.460 ± 0.025)) (P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the BW-I group and the BW-II group (P > 0.05). The body fat composition index of BMI, PBF and WtHR were higher in the CU group ((16.44 ± 2.20) kg/m(2), (16.51 ± 5.78)%, (0.473 ± 0.034)) than in the NC group ((15.62 ± 1.74) kg/m(2), (14.49 ± 5.30)%, (0.463 ± 0.030)) and the CD group ((15.26 ± 1.85) kg/m(2), (14.24 ± 5.54)%, (0.462 ± 0.031)) (all P values < 0.05). In the CU group, BMI, PBF and WtHR were higher in the BW-III-CU group ((18.76 ± 2.56) kg/m(2), (22.19 ± 8.28)%, (0.512 ± 0.029)) than in the BW-I-CU group ((16.04 ± 2.14) kg/m(2), (15.54 ± 5.28)%, (0.467 ± 0.034)) and BW-II-CU group ((16.70 ± 1.36) kg/m(2), (17.12 ± 4.44)%, (0.474 ± 0.017)) (all P values < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the BW-I-CU group and the BW-II-CU group (P > 0.05). HOMA-IR was higher in the CU group (1.27 ± 0.44) than in the NC group (1.08 ± 0.31) and the CD group (1.00 ± 0.36) (all P values < 0.01). In the CU group, HOMA-IR was higher in the BW-III-CU group (1.69 ± 0.48) than in the BW-I-CU group (1.21 ± 0.41) and the BW-II-CU group (1.27 ± 0.44) (all P values < 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the BW-I-CU and BW-II-CU group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAccording to birth weight tertile, both lower birth weight individuals with more weight change-up growth postnatal early and higher birth weight individuals had greater body fat composition in childhood. They were high-risk people of insulin resistance.

Birth Weight ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) on edaravone (EDA)-triggered protection against myocardial toxicity induced by isoprenaline (ISO) in H9c2 myocardial cells (H9c2 cells).

METHODSH9c2 cells were exposed to ISO at different concentrations to establish a cardiac toxicity model induced by persistent excitation of β1 receptor. EDA was added before ISO as a pretreatment. PD-98059, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, was administered 1 h prior to EDA to inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Cell viability was measured using cell counter kit (CCK-8). The expressions of p-ERK1/2 and t-ERK1/2 were tested by Western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by Rhodamine123 (Rh123) staining and photofluorography.

RESULTSExposure of H9c2 cells to 80 µmol/L ISO for 24 h down-regulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation and repressed MMP. Pretreatment with 10-40 µmol/L EDA for 1 h inhibited ISO-induced myocardial toxicity and pretreatment of 40 µmol/L EDA partially rescued ERK1/2 phosphorylation and MMP level. PD-98059 abolished cardiac protection of EDA, leading to myocardial toxicity and MMP loss.

CONCLUSIONEDA can protect H9c2 cells against myocardial injury induced by ISO by suppressing ISO-triggered inhibition of ERK1/2 activation.

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Isoproterenol ; toxicity ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo ascertain 5 short tandem repeat (STR) markers as qualified tools for detecting chromosome 22q11 deletion and to understand the prevalence and clinical importance of the deletions in patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD) from Chinese Han population.

METHODSThe authors selected 5 new tetranucleotide repeat markers, 22D_4_1, 22D_4_2, 22D_4_3, 22D_4_4 and D22S873 located in the proximal region of chromosome 22q11 deletion. One hundred and sixty-three unselected CHD patients and their unaffected parents were analyzed by genotyping of these new tetranucleotide STR markers to detect 22q11 deletion. With fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH, LSI dual color DNA probe), the deletion status was confirmed in all patients with deletions and some patients without deletions.

RESULTSThe heterozygosity of these STR markers in normal population was more than 0.7, except for 22D_4_1 and 22D_4_2 that were 0.65 and 0.52 respectively. Twelve cases of 163 CHD patients (7.36%) had the deletions at chromosome 22q11. The deletions were confirmed in 9 of 12 patients by FISH, except for 2 cases who had unique nested deletion and 1 case who had nested distal deletion. One hundred and ten patients were associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD); and 9 (8.18%) of these cases had microdeletion. Twenty-one patients were associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF); and 3 (14.3%) of these cases had microdeletion.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that genotyping of 5 STR markers was a useful mean of detecting 22q11 microdeletion in clinical diagnosis owing to its rapid experimental procedure, cost effectiveness and high resolution. 22q11 deletion was common in CHD patients, particularly in VSD and TOF patients, from Chinese Han population.

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To explore the association between quality of sleep and quality of life among residents of Suzhou city.Methods A total of 3225 residents at the age of 18-55 years old in Suzhou city were selected through a clustered sampling method.All the participants were comprehensively evaluated on their quality of sleep by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and on their quality of life (QOL) by SF-36 quality of life scale.Partial canonical correlation analysis was performed.Results Negative relationships were noticed between all the dimensions of sleep quality white all the QOL domains remained significant when the confounding effect of age,gender,marital status,occupation and cultural level were adjusted.The first pair of canonical correlation variances showed statistically significant differences,with 0.7978 of canonical correlation coefficient,1.7505 of eigenvalue,and 92.43％ of proportion.Data on daytime dysfunction,sleep disturbances and subjective sleep quality were inversely associated with factors as vitality,general health perceptions and mental health,respectively,after controlling for covariates.The inverse relationship between the quality of sleep and the quality of life mainly manifested the following aspects:the association between the status of daytime dysfunction,sleep disturbances,subjective quality of sleep and vitality,general health perceptions and mental health.Conclusion Quality of sleep had influenced the quality of life,overall health and mental health.Daytime dysfunction,sleep disturbances and subjective sleep quality seemed the main factors in Suzhou city.Intervention programs related to improving the sleep need to be popularized among the residents,so as to make the quality of life better.