Growth patterns of trichome and contaminative bacteria in Spirulina sp. liquid culture were observed, and it was found that the number of neutral and alkalophilic bacteria was always 105～106 times of that of Spirulina sp. trichome. It would be very difficult to get real pure Spirulina sp. strain by classical methods of dilution plate, capillary and single trichome selecting methods. A great deal of contaminative bacteria was washed out by two pretreatment processes. Low speed centrifugation was designed to wash the strains which usually deposit at bottom, and filtration method was designed to treat the strains usually floating at surface. Sandwich plate and dilution plate were designed for the purification of the mobile strains and non-mobile strains, respectively. A lot of strains were purified by the above processes and pure single trichome formed pure colonies on plates.

Adult ; Arsenic ; pharmacology ; Chromosome Aberrations ; chemically induced ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser.

METHODSWe obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

RESULTSThe mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONNoncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.

Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Motility ; Sperm Tail ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different fertilization methods on the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of elective blastocyst culture for 1 153 cycles of IVF and 205 cycles of ICSI performed between january 2009 and December 2012.

RESULTSA total number of 14 748 embryos in the IVF group and 2 655 embryos in the ICSI group underwent sequential blastocyst culture, with 7 871 blastocysts formed in the former and 1 210 in the latter. No cycles were canceled for no blastocyst formation in either of the two groups. The rates of quality embryos, blastocyst formation and embryo utilization were significantly higher in the IVF than in the ICSI group (64.77 vs 58.72%, 53.37 vs 45.57%, and 60.06 vs 52.17%, all P < 0.05), but the rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy and abortion showed no significant differences between the two groups (48.94 vs 51.43%, 49.03 vs 52.02%, and 11.69% vs 15.56, all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith the same inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture, IVF has a lower risk of cycle cancellation due to no blastocyst formation and therefore may effect higher rates of blastocyst formation and embryo utilization than ICSI. Our study suggested that appropriate inclusion criteria of selective blastocyst culture should be laid down according to different fertilization methods.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori infection induces phenotype-stabilizing methylation and promotes gastric mucosal atrophy that can inhibit CpG-island methylation. Relationship between the progression of gastric mucosal atrophy and the initiation of CpG-island methylation was analyzed to delineate epigenetic period for neoplastic transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal-appearing gastric mucosa was biopsied from 110 H. pylori–positive controls, 95 H. pylori–negative controls, 99 gastric cancer patients, and 118 gastric dysplasia patients. Gastric atrophy was assessed using endoscopic-atrophic-border score. Methylation-variable sites of eight CpG-island genes adjacent to Alu (CDH1, ARRDC4, PPARG, and TRAPPC2L) or LTR (MMP2, CDKN2A, RUNX2, and RUNX3) retroelements and stomach-specific TFF3 gene were analyzed using radioisotope-labeled methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Mean ages of H. pylori–positive controls with mild, moderate, and severe atrophy were 51, 54, and 65 years and those of H. pylori–associated TFF3 overmethylation at the three atrophic levels (51, 58, and 63 years) tended to be periodic. Alu-adjacent overmethylation (50 years) was earlier than TFF3 overmethylation (58 years) in H. pylori–positive controls with moderate atrophy. Cancer patients with moderate atrophy showed late Alu-adjacent (58 years) overmethylation and frequent LTR-adjacent overmethylation. LTR-adjacent overmethylation was frequent in cancer (66 years) and dysplasia (68 years) patients with severe atrophy. CONCLUSION: Atrophic progression is associated with gastric cancer at moderate level by impeding the initiation of Alu-adjacent methylation. LTR-adjacent methylation is increased in cancer patients and subsequently in dysplasia patients.
Atrophy* ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Genes, Essential* ; Helicobacter pylori ; Housekeeping* ; Humans ; Methylation* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retroelements ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills combined with bromocriptine on idiopathic hyperprolactinemic (HPRL) oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe conducted a randomized controlled study on 40 cases of idiopathic HPRL oligoasthenospermia, who were equally assigned to a trial group and a control group to be treated with Qilin Pills (6 g tid) combined with bromocriptine and bromocriptine alone, respectively, both for a course of 12 weeks. Then we observed the changes in the semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility and the levels of serum prolactin and testosterone, and compared the therapeutic results between the two groups before and after medication.

RESULTSCompared with the parameters before medication, both the trial and the control group showed significant improvement after treatment in sperm concentration ([11.60 +/- 3.90] x 10(6)/ml vs [28.10 +/- 13.50] x 10(6)/ml and [12.03 +/- 4.10] x 10(6)/ml vs [18.85 +/- 8.50] x 10(6)/ml), the percentage of grade a sperm ([8.75 +/- 6.65]% vs [24.35 +/- 13.25 ]% and [8.70 +/- 6.70] % vs [19.65 +/- 10.05]%), the percentage of grade a + b sperm ( [28.45 +/- 11.35]% vs [45.80 +/- 16.55]% and [27.65 +/- 10.65]% vs [35.66 +/-13.25]%), and sperm motility ([38.22 +/- 16.35]% vs [60.05 +/- 20.65]% and [37.25 +/- 15.75 ]% vs [52.65 +/- 18.25 ]%) (all P<0.01). No significant differences were found in semen volume (P>0.05). The serum prolactin levels were significantly decreased in the trial and control groups ([152.00 +/- 22.32] and [160.45 +/- 26.65] mIU/L), as compared with premedication ([482.25 +/- 65.32] and [477.32 +/- 60.25] mIU/L) (P<0.01), while the serum testosterone levels were remarkably higher ([16.35 +/- 5.52] and [11.15 +/- 4.65] nmol/L) than before treatment ([3.75 +/- 1.10] and [4.05 +/- 1.30] nmol/L) (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the serum prolactin and testosterone levels between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills combined with bromocriptine have a significantly better efficacy than bromocriptine alone in the treatment of idiopathic HPRL oligoasthenospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Bromocriptine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Oligospermia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Prolactin ; blood ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of timing using G-CSF after chemotherapy on graft yield of mobilized peripheral blood stem cells for autoPBSCT. 39 patients with lymphoma or multiple myeloma (MM) received the same chemotherapy mobilization regimen, including CTX 400 mg/m² d1; VLB 2 mg/m(2) d1; Ara-C 60 mg/m ²× d1-5; VP-16 60 mg/m² × d1-5; and prednisone 40 mg/m² × d1-5. The historical control group (12 cases) received G-CSF subcutaneously (filgrastim) at the first restoration after the initial nadir of the peripheral WBC count. The experimental group (27 cases) received G-CSF during the steady rise of the WBC count (end of fluctuating after initial nadir). G-CSF was given in a single daily subcutaneous dose of 5 µg/kg until the final PBSC apheresis. When the peripheral WBC and mononuclear cell (MNC) counts reached 10 × 10⁹/L and 1.0 × 10⁹/L respectively, leukapheresis was carried out using the COBE Spectra blood cell separator. The results indicated that despite there was comparable treatment with alkylating agents between 2 groups, a significantly increased yield of CD34 positive cells was observed in the experimental group (26.4 × 10⁶/kg), as compared to the historical control group (3.1 × 10⁶/kg) (p = 0.0031). It is concluded that the appropriate timing for the use G-CSF mobilization after chemotherapy is important to increase the CD34(+) cell yield in auto-graft.
Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDSevoflurane preconditioning (SP) has been shown to invoke potent myocardial protection in animal studies and clinical trials. However, the mechanisms underlying SP are complex and not yet well understood. We investigated the hypothesis that the cardioprotection afforded by SP is mediated via the Wnt/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β)/β-catenin signaling pathway.

METHODSTwo models were established: a Langendorff perfused rat heart model and the H9C2 cell hypoxia/reoxygenation model. Both rats and H9C2 cells were randomly divided into 6 groups as follows: S group, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group, DMSO group, IWP group, SP group, and SP + IWP group. Hemodynamic parameters, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in coronary effluent and cell culture supernatant, and the infarct size were measured to evaluate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injuries. To determine the activity of Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway, the expressions of Wnt3a, phospho-GSK3β, and β-catenin were measured by Western blotting.

RESULTSSP improved cardiac function recovery, reduced infarct size (18 ± 2% in the SP group compared with 35 ± 4% in the I/R group; P < 0.05), decreased LDH activity in coronary effluent, and culture supernatant. IWP-2, an inhibitor of Wnt, abolished the cardioprotection by SP. In addition, Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the expressions of Wnt3a, phospho-GSK3β, and β-catenin significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the I/R group, compared with the S group; and compared to I/R group, SP significantly (P < 0.05) increased Wnt3a, phospho-GSK3β, and β-catenin expressions. Pretreatment with IWP-2 significantly (P < 0.05) abolished SP-induced Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling activation.

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed for thefirst time that cardioprotection afforded by SP may be mediated partly via the Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Male ; Methyl Ethers ; therapeutic use ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; genetics ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL).

METHODSA retrospective clinicopathological study of 96 cases LBL was carried out. Immunohistochemical staining was used for the characterization and immunophenotyping.

RESULTSThe patients age ranged from 4 to 72 years, with a median of 16 years, 69 patients were male and 27 female. Seventy-three cases had superficial or multi-lymphoadenopathy and 31 of them had mediastinal masses. Bone marrow was involved in 15 cases. Seventy-three cases were in clinical stages III and IV. The median survival of the followed-up patients was 5.5 (2 approximately 120) months. TdT and CD99 positive reactions were 75.0% and 92.7%, respectively. Of the 96 cases, 78 displayed T-cell marker positivity and 18 B-cell markers. 82.1% of the patients younger than 30 years of age had significantly higher incidences of T-LBL (64 patients), and 93.6% of the patients with mediastinal masses expressed T-cell markers. The poor prognostic factors were T-cell tumors, clinical stages III and IV, Ki-67 PI < 80% and no chemotherapy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn children and young males, mediastinal masses with superficial or multi-lymphoadenopathy favors the diagnosis of LBL, but negative TdT reaction can not exclude this diagnosis. T-LBL is more common than B-LBL. Clinical stages, immunophenotypes and the level of Ki-67 expression were closely related with prognosis of LBL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD20 ; analysis ; CD79 Antigens ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult

Objective To compare the influence of the doctor-nurse collaborating model and conventional nursing on quality of life (QOL) of esophageal cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy.Methods Totals of 105 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive the doctor-nurse collaborating model group (study group,n =55) and conventional nursing group (control group,n =50).European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-30 (QLQ-C30) was used to investigate them before intervention and after 1 month of the intervention.Results After implementing the doctor-nurse collaborating model,45 cases in study group and 32 cases in the control group completed established chemoradiotherapy,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.252,P ＜ 0.05).One month later,the function items of QLQ-C30 were decreased in both groups,and the level of control group was more obviously.And the symptom items of two groups were increased after the intervention,the pain score in study group was significantly lower than that of control group [(35.4 ± 16.2) vs (42.8 ± 19.0) ; t =2.147,P ＜ 0.05].Conclusions The doctor-nurse collaborating model has positive effects on the QOL of patients with esophageal cancer,and increases their compliance.