Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Sleep Deprivation ; physiopathology ; psychology

Autopsy ; Eye Injuries ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of oxidative stress in development of acute high altitude response (AHAR) during the process of strong physical work at high altitude and its change after return to lower altitude.

METHODSNinety-six officers and soldiers of rapid entering into high altitude (3 700 m) with strong physical work were analyzed, all subjects were male, aged 18-35 years. According to the symptomatic scores of AHAR were divided into 3 groups: severe AHAR (group A, n = 24), mild AHAR (group B, n = 47) and without AHAR (group C, n = 25). Levels in serum 8-iso prostaglandinF2alpha(8-iso-PGF2alpha), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were measured at higher altitude stayed 50 d and after return to lower altitude (1 500 m) 12 h and 15 d, and 50 healthy volunteers (group D) at 1 500 m altitude served as controll.

RESULTSLevels of serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA [(9.53 +/- 0.47) microg/L, (8.91 +/- 0.39) micromol/L] were significantly higher in group A than those in group B [(8.34 +/- 0.42) microg/L, (7.31 +/- 0.32) micromol/L] , group C [(7.02 +/- 0.48) microg/L, (6.41 +/- 0.23) micromol/L] and group D [(5.13 +/- 0.56) microg/L, (5.48 +/- 0.33) micromol/L], (all P < 0.01), and serum SOD [(52.08 +/- 3.44) micro/ml] was significantly lower in group A than that in group B [62.27 +/- 2.54) micro/ml], group C [(71.99 +/- 3.35) micro/ml] and group D [(80.78 +/- 3.44) micro/ ml] (all P < 0.01), there were significant differences between group B and C, C and D (all P < 0.01). At altitude 3 700 m 50 d, AHAR scores was positively correlated with serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA (all P < 0.01), negatively correlated with SOD (P < 0.01). Serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA were negatively correlated with SOD (all P < 0.01). Levels of serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA were significantly higher at altitude of 3 700 m 50 d than those at altitude of 1 500 m 12 h,15 d in group D (all P < 0.01), and serum SOD was significantly lower than that at 1 500 m 12 h,15 d in group D (all P < 0.01), there were significantly difference between at 1 500 m 12 h and 15 d (all P < 0.01), there were no difference between at 15 d in group D (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe more serious of oxidative stress and oxidative/antioxidative imbalance, the more serious of AHAR, oxidative stress and oxidative/antioxidative imbalance may be involved in the development of AHAR. The changes were obviously improved after return to lower altitude 12 h, and recovered to normal after 15 d.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between microdeletion of azoospermia factor (AZF) and male infertility.

METHODSMultiplex PCR was used to detect Y chromosome microdeletion in AZFa, AZFb and AZFc in 103 cases of idiopathic azoospermia, 72 cases of severe idiopathic oligozoospermia, and 60 healthy male controls.

RESULTSNo microdeletion was found in 60 controls. Y chromosome microdeletion was found in 19 of 175 azoospermia patients, the total prevalence rate of microdeletion was 10.9%. There were 15 cases (11 for azoospermia, 4 for severe oligozoospermia) in AZFc (8.6%), 3 cases (1 for azoospermia, 2 for severe oligozoospermia) in AZFb+c (1.7%), 1 case (azoospermia) in AZFa+b+c (0.6%). According to statistics, the difference of microdeletion rate between two groups was significant(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONY chromosome microdeletions is an important reason of azoospermia. Screening of Y chromosome microdeletions for azoospermia patients before intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment is essential.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Azoospermia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Loci ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics

This study was aimed to explore the immune escaping mechanisms based on expression and abscission of human natural killer (NK) cell activating receptors NKG2D and their ligands MICA/B, ULBP-1, 2, 3 in patients with acute leukemia (AL). 30 de novo AL patients and 10 healthy persons (control) were enrolled in study. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression levels of MICA/B, ULBP-1, 2, 3 on leukemic cells. ELISA was used to detect the levels of soluble MICA (sMICA), solube MICB (sMICB) and soluble ULBP-1, -2, -3 in the serum. The results showed that sMICA, sMICB and ULBP-1, -2, -3 were not expressed or expressed at very low levels on leukemia cells of the patients; the levels of free sMICA and sMICB in serum of AL patients were higher than that in serum of healthy persons, there was significant difference (p<0.01). But the levels of ULBP 1-3 in serum of AL patients did not show obvious statistical difference as compared with healthy persons (p>0.05). It is concluded that the negative or low expression of NKG2D ligands (MICA, MICB and ULBPs) on surface of acute leukemia cells may lead to the immune escape of leukemia cells, the abscission of MICA and MICB, and the deficiency of ULBP expression on leukemia cells may be one of immune escape mechanisms of leukemia cells.
Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K ; immunology ; metabolism ; Tumor Escape

OBJECTIVETo screen for potential mutations in an ethnic Han Chinese family from Shanxi with hereditary multiple exostoses.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen potential mutations in EXT1 and EXT2 genes.

RESULTSFor EXT1 gene, two synonymous mutations (P477P and E587E), three intronic mutations (c.1537 -48A>G, c.1721 +203A>G and c.1722 -103C>G) were detected. For EXT2 gene, five intronic mutations (c.-29 -148A>T, c.1080 -18T>A, c.1336 -93C>T, c.1526 -166C>T, and c.1526 -195C>T) were identified. Among these, EXT1 P477P, EXT1 E587E and EXT2 c.1080 -18T>A are polymorphisms listed by Multiple Osteochondroma Mutation Database, whilst the other 7 sites have not been reported.

CONCLUSIONNo mutations have been found among all exons of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in this family. Linkage analysis is necessary for identifying the cause of this disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Exons ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases ; genetics ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVETo suggest a chemical surface treatment for titanium and to initiate the formation of hydroxycarbonated apatite (HCA) on titanium surface during in vitro bioactivity tests in simulated body fluid (SBF).

METHODSTo improve the bone-bonding ability of Ti implants, commercially pure titanium (cpTi) by a simple chemical pre-treatment in orthophosphoric acid (H(3)PO(4)) with different density was activated, and then the phosphorylation specimens were soaked in SBF to investigate the function of biomineralization.

RESULTSThe scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs showed that the surfaces of the pre-treated samples were characterized by a complex construction, which consisted of a mesh-like morphology matrix (a micro-roughened surface) and an uniform surface with different morphous of titanium dihydrogen orthophosphate [Ti(H(2)PO(4))(3)] crystal. After 14 days in SBF a homogeneous biomimetic apatite layer precipitated.

CONCLUSIONSThese data suggest that the treatment of titanium by acid etching in orthophosphoric acid is a suitable method to provide the titanium implant with bone-bonding ability.

Acid Etching, Dental ; methods ; Biomimetics ; Body Fluids ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Implants ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Phosphoric Acids ; chemistry ; Phosphorylation ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

The study was aimed to investigate the immunophenotypic and cytogenetic features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in order to provide an evidence for diagnosis and therapy. Immunophenotypic analysis was performed by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and three-color immunofluorescence staining methods of flow cytometry in 51 patients with CLL, and the cytogenetic features were analyzed by R-banding technique. The results indicated that among 51 CLL cases, the positive rate of CD19 and CD23 was 96.1%, followed by CD15 (94.1%), CD20 (82.4%) and CD22 (78.4%). The positive rate of CD38 was 23.5%. Forty-six patients expressed both CD5 and CD19. Seven main clonal chromosomal abnormalities were detected by conventional cytogenetics (CC) in eighteen cases (35.3%), with three cases of +12, two cases of 13q(-), other chromosomal abnormalities included +14, 6q(-), t (11; 14), t (14; 18) and t (2; 7). Expression of the antigens had no relationship with chromosomal abnormalities. It is concluded that typical CLL express CD5, CD19 and CD23, and the positive rate detected by CC in CLL is low. Immunophenotyping in combination with cytogenetic technique plays an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of CLL.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD19 ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; immunology ; Lewis X Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Translocation, Genetic ; genetics

Objective To summarize the traumatic features of fronto-orbital injury and evaluate its outcome with primary surgical treatment. Methods The clinical data and surgical operative procedures of 26 patients with fronto-orbital injury were analyzed retrospectively.Results The traumatic characteristics of the 26 patients with fronto-orbital injuries are as follows: mild disturbance of consciousness, severe fronto-orbital deformities, and high frequency of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and cranial nerve injuries. Follow-up of 6-12 months was performed; according to Glasgow outcome scale (GOS), 19 patients had good results, 6 moderate disability, and 1 severe disability; according to scale of Jennett and Bond's plastic surgical outcome, among the 17 patients received correction of fronto-orbital deformities, excellent scores were noted in 12 patients and good in 5. Cerebrospinal leakage was effectively obstructed in 7 patients. Visual acuity improved obviously in 2 patients after decompression of optic canal.Conclusion For patients with fronto-orbital injuries, the primary surgical operative procedures include evacuation of intracranial hematoma and contused brain tissue, correction of fronto-orbital deformities, decompression of optic canal, repair of CSF leak, which may be conductive to improving the neural function and decreasing the intracranial infection.