OBJECTIVETo study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium.

METHODSStratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012. A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group. Moreover, A total of 145 residents who had similar living and economic conditions and lived in local for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in control group. We used health questionnaires and medical examinations in order to acquire their health status. Home-harvested rice and vegetables were collected using quartering method for detection of cadmium level. Urine specimens of residents were collected for detection of cadmium level and creatinine as well as renal dysfunction biomarkers, namely, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase (NAG), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), and retinol binding protein(RBP), respectively. The analysis of spearman rank correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate the relationships between age, urinary cadmium levels and renal injury biomarkers.

RESULTSThe cadmium levels in rice and vegetables of exposed group were 0.75 and 0.10 mg/kg, both were significantly higher than 0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg in the control group (Z values were -6.32 and -7.84, all P values < 0.001). The urinary cadmium level of exposed group was 8.29 µg/g · cr, which was higher than that of the control group 2.03 µg/g · cr with significant difference (Z value was -11.39, P < 0.001). After stratified the total population by age, the urinary cadmium level in 40-49 years, 50-59 years and ≥ 60 years subgroups were 7.22, 8.71, and 13.10 µg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.80, 2.04, and 2.05 µg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were -5.22, -7.41, and -7.14, all P values < 0.001). After stratified the total population by gender, the urinary cadmium level of male and female were 5.12 and 12.36 µg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.79 and 2.16 µg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were -7.68 and -9.03, all P values < 0.001). Comparing the differences of renal dysfunction biomarkers (NAG, β2-MG, RBP) between two groups. The level of urinary β2-MG and RBP of exposed group were 0.21 and 0.04 µg/g · cr, which were higher than 0.05 and 0.00 µg/g · cr of the control group with significant difference (Z value was -7.08 and -9.65, all P values < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NAG, β2-MG and RBP were positively correlated with urinary cadmium and age, the correlation coefficients were 0.57, 0.49, 0.21 and 0.22, 0.26, 0.23 respectively (all P values < 0.001). After adjusting the effect of age, it was appeared that urinary cadmium levels contributed most to the alteration of NAG, β2-MG and RBP, the standardized regression coefficients were 0.57, 0.49 and 0.20 (all P values < 0.001), and suggested that the cadmium body burden was one of the most important factors for renal dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONResidents, who had cadmium contaminated rice and vegetables for a long time, would take the risk of increasing body burden of cadmium and urinary early biomarkers of renal tubular injury that referred to occurrence of renal dysfunction.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadmium ; Creatinine ; Environmental Exposure ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oryza ; Risk ; Time ; Vegetables

Objective To study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium. Methods Stratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012 . A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group. Moreover, A total of 145 residents who had similar living and economic conditions and lived in local for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in control group. We used health questionnaires and medical examinations in order to acquire their health status. Home-harvested rice and vegetables were collected using quartering method for detection of cadmium level . Urine specimens of residents were collected for detection of cadmium level and creatinine as well as renal dysfunction biomarkers, namely, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase(NAG), β2-microglobulin(β2-MG), and retinol binding protein(RBP), respectively. The analysis of spearman rank correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate the relationships between age, urinary cadmium levels and renal injury biomarkers. Results The cadmium levels in rice and vegetables of exposed group were 0.75 and 0.10 mg/kg, both were significantly higher than 0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg in the control group (Z values were-6.32 and-7.84, all P values<0.001). The urinary cadmium level of exposed group was 8.29μg/g·cr, which was higher than that of the control group 2.03μg/g·cr with significant difference(Z value was-11.39, P<0.001). After stratified the total population by age, the urinary cadmium level in 40-49 years, 50-59 years and≥60 years subgroups were 7.22, 8.71, and 13.10μg/g·cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.80, 2.04, and 2.05μg/g·cr in the control group (Z values were-5.22,-7.41, and-7.14, all P values<0.001). After stratified the total population by gender , the urinary cadmium level of male and female were 5.12 and 12.36μg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.79 and 2.16 μg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were-7.68 and-9.03, all P values<0.001). Comparing the differences of renal dysfunction biomarkers (NAG, β2-MG, RBP) between two groups. The level of urinaryβ2-MG and RBP of exposed group were 0.21 and 0.04μg/g · cr, which were higher than 0.05 and 0.00 μg/g · cr of the control group with significant difference(Z value was-7.08 and-9.65, all P values<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NAG,β2-MG and RBP were positively correlated with urinary cadmium and age, the correlation coefficients were 0.57,0.49,0.21and 0.22, 0.26, 0.23 respectively (all P values<0.001). After adjusting the effect of age, it was appeared that urinary cadmium levels contributed most to the alteration of NAG, β2-MG and RBP, the standardized regression coefficients were 0.57, 0.49 and 0.20 (all P values<0.001), and suggested that the cadmium body burden was one of the most important factors for renal dysfunction. Conclusion Residents, who had cadmium contaminated rice and vegetables for a long time, would take the risk of increasing body burden of cadmium and urinary early biomarkers of renal tubular injury that referred to occurrence of renal dysfunction.

Objective To study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium. Methods Stratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012 . A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group. Moreover, A total of 145 residents who had similar living and economic conditions and lived in local for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in control group. We used health questionnaires and medical examinations in order to acquire their health status. Home-harvested rice and vegetables were collected using quartering method for detection of cadmium level . Urine specimens of residents were collected for detection of cadmium level and creatinine as well as renal dysfunction biomarkers, namely, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase(NAG), β2-microglobulin(β2-MG), and retinol binding protein(RBP), respectively. The analysis of spearman rank correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate the relationships between age, urinary cadmium levels and renal injury biomarkers. Results The cadmium levels in rice and vegetables of exposed group were 0.75 and 0.10 mg/kg, both were significantly higher than 0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg in the control group (Z values were-6.32 and-7.84, all P values<0.001). The urinary cadmium level of exposed group was 8.29μg/g·cr, which was higher than that of the control group 2.03μg/g·cr with significant difference(Z value was-11.39, P<0.001). After stratified the total population by age, the urinary cadmium level in 40-49 years, 50-59 years and≥60 years subgroups were 7.22, 8.71, and 13.10μg/g·cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.80, 2.04, and 2.05μg/g·cr in the control group (Z values were-5.22,-7.41, and-7.14, all P values<0.001). After stratified the total population by gender , the urinary cadmium level of male and female were 5.12 and 12.36μg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.79 and 2.16 μg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were-7.68 and-9.03, all P values<0.001). Comparing the differences of renal dysfunction biomarkers (NAG, β2-MG, RBP) between two groups. The level of urinaryβ2-MG and RBP of exposed group were 0.21 and 0.04μg/g · cr, which were higher than 0.05 and 0.00 μg/g · cr of the control group with significant difference(Z value was-7.08 and-9.65, all P values<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NAG,β2-MG and RBP were positively correlated with urinary cadmium and age, the correlation coefficients were 0.57,0.49,0.21and 0.22, 0.26, 0.23 respectively (all P values<0.001). After adjusting the effect of age, it was appeared that urinary cadmium levels contributed most to the alteration of NAG, β2-MG and RBP, the standardized regression coefficients were 0.57, 0.49 and 0.20 (all P values<0.001), and suggested that the cadmium body burden was one of the most important factors for renal dysfunction. Conclusion Residents, who had cadmium contaminated rice and vegetables for a long time, would take the risk of increasing body burden of cadmium and urinary early biomarkers of renal tubular injury that referred to occurrence of renal dysfunction.

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (GnRH-ant) fixed protocol with GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) long protocol in infertile patients with normal ovarian reserve function in their first in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle,and to explore the feasibility and advantage of GnRH antagonist protocol performed in normal responders.MethodsFrom January 2011 to June 2011,771 infertile women with normal ovarian reserve function underwent their first IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in Peking University Third Hospital,which were divided into 245 cycles in GnRH-ant fixed protocol group ( GnRH-ant group) and 526 cycles in GnRH-a long protocol group ( GnRH-a group).The data of general demographic,treatment and clinical outcome were compared between two groups.ResultsAge,infertile duration,body mass index (BMI),baseline serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels between two groups did not reached statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05 ).The level of estradiol was (12 289 ± 6856) pmol/L in GnRH-ant group and (14934±8007)pmol/L in GnRH-a group at day of hCG injection.The mean length of stimulation was ( 10.3 ± 1.2) days in GnRH-ant group and ( 12.8 ± 1.6) days in GnRH-a group.The dose of gonadotropin was (2013 ± 607 ) U in GnRH-ant group and (2646 ± 913 ) U in GnRH-a group.The number of ovum was 15 ± 7 in GnRH-ant group and 17 ± 8 in GnRh-a group.Those clinical parameter all reached statistical difference (P ＜0.05 ).The number of embryo was 7 ±4 in GnRH-ant group and 8 ± 5 in GnRH-a group,the rate of clinical pregnancy was 40.9％ (94/230) in GnRH-ant group and 45.6％ (216/474)in GnRH-a group,the rate of implantation was 26.1％ (128/490)in GnRH-ant group and 30.9％ (307/994) in GnRH-a group,the rate of continuing pregnancy was 38.7％ ( 89/230 ) in GnRH-ant group and 42.6％ (202/474) in GnRH-a group,those parameter did not reach statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05).The rate of moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was 2.4％ ( 6/245 ) in GnRH-ant group and 4.2％ (22/526) in GnRH-a group,which did not show significant difference ( P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionIn the first IVF or ICSI cycle of the patients with normal ovarian reserve function,the fixed GnRH-ant protocol could get the same satisfied clinical outcome,and it is more economic,convenient and safer compared with low dose depot GnRH-a long protocol.

One of the focuses in bone and cartilage tissue engineering research is to find suitable seed cells. Embryonic stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts possess unique characteristics such as unlimit- ed capacity of proliferation and the potential to differentiate into diverse cell types (pluripotentiality), which make them a promising cell source for tissue engineering. In this paper, the progress in the study on embryonic stem cell differentiating directly into osteoblasts and chondrocytes is introduced. The prospects and difficulties of using em- bryonic stem cells as seed cells for tissue engineering are also discussed.

0.05).The pregnancy rate was 41.5%(17/41) in the(Non-cystectomy) Group,33.3%(23/69) in the Laparoscopic Group,and 25.5%(14/55) in the Open Group,respectively,without significant differences(?~2=2.754,P=0.252).A total of 86 patients(90 cycles) were given a unilateral cystectomy,including 37 cycles in the Open Group and 53 cycles in the Laparoscopic Group.In the 37 cycles of the Open Group,the number of dominant follicles was less in affected ovary(4.41?4.02) than in contralateral one(6.14?4.37)(t=-2.364,P=0.024),whereas in the 53 cycles of the Laparoscopic Group,the number of dominant follicles was significantly less in affected ovary(3.33?3.50) than in contralateral ovary(6.40?3.61)(t=-5.358,P=0.000).Conclusions Both laparoscopic and open cystectomy of ovarian endometrioma may cause damage to ovarian response of COH.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, the fms-like tyrosine-1 (flt-1) and kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) in endometrial carcinoma and investigate the functions of VEGF and its receptors for endometrial carcinoma angiogenesis and its relation to the grade of tumor.

METHODSImmunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization technique were used to measure the level of VEGF, flt-1, KDR protein and mRNA in endometrial carcinoma tissue from 23 patients and endometrial samples from 6 normal menopausal women. A few endometrial carcinoma samples were homogenized for Western blot analysis. The blood vessel density was estimated by counting blood vessels stained with endothelial marker VIII factor.

RESULTSThe VEGF and its receptors were widely expressed in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells and tumor cells of endometrial carcinoma. The level of VEGF protein in endothelial cells and endometrial cancer cells of grade II and III tumor tissues was higher than that in grade I and normal menopausal endometrium (P < 0.05). VEGF mRNA did not show higher expression with the increase of tumor grade but its expression in normal tissue was lower than that in cancer (P < 0.05). The expression of flt-1 protein and mRNA in endothelial cells got higher in III than in grade II and I (P < 0.05), but invariable in cancer cells (P > 0.05), flt-1 expression in cancer was higher than that in normal menopausal endometrium either in endothelial cells or in cancer cells (P < 0.05). The expression of KDR protein in endothelial and cancer cell was high but did not alter with the increase of tumor grade (P > 0.05), the level of its mRNA was higher in cancer than that in normal tissue (P < 0.05). The microvascular density in grade III (48 +/- 12) was higher than that in grade II (26 +/- 16), grade I (27 +/- 14) and normal menopausal tissue (26 +/- 11, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression pattern of VEGF, flt-1 and KDR protein and mRNA increased with the increase of tumor grade in endometrial carcinoma indicates that VEGF and its receptors contribute to the neovascularization of tumors and is one of the factors that relate to rapid tumor growth of endometrial carcinoma.

Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Objective To investigate the effects of mifepristone on apoptosis and expression of relative genes in early pregnant chorionic villi and decidua Methods The specimen of early pergnant chorionic villi and decidua obtained from 10 cases of requesting temination of pregnancy by curettage, 20 cases of mifepriston contragestation The paraffin sections were used to determine apoptotic cells by TdT mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling method, to identify bcl 2, bax, fas, fasL and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by immunohistochemistry, to demonstrate fas and fasL mRNA by in situ hybridization Results In normal early pregnant specimens, apoptotic cells were mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblast, but not in cytotrophoblast cells, occationally seen in decidua cells The antigen of bax, fas, fasL were present in syncytiotrophoblast cells and decidua with lower amount While bcl 2 antigen staining was strong in cytotrophoblastic cells and in decidua PCNA protein was present in cytotrophoblastic and decidual cells only In the specimens treated with mifepristone, apoptotic cells were increased in syncytiotrophoblastic cells of villi and visualized in decidua cells The expression of fas, fasL and bax was also higher than that of nomal Conclusions Mifepristone increased apoptosis in syncytiotrophoblastic and decidua cells, but had no effect on the expression of bcl 2 and PCNA

Objective To study expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in human endometrium. Methods The expression of CFTR mRNA and protein from 50 samples of normal cyclic human endometrium was examined by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting respectively. Results CFTR mRNA and protein expressions were only detected in the endometrial glandular cells with cyclic changes. CFTR mRNA could be detected from the midproliferative phase with the highest level found in the late proliferative phase, significantly higher than those of late-secretory phase endometrium ( P

Objective To establish clonal human embryonic stem cell lines and investigate their biological characteristics. Methods Cells were derived from one inner cell mass of human blastocyst, multiplied for 20 passages, and then dissociated into single cell suspension by digestion with 0.5% trypsin. Single cell was picked up and plated into individual well of a 96-well plate containing feeder-layers directly under a dissection microscope. The outgrowth clones were passed by treatment with collagenase. Surface markers were detected by cytochemistry and histoimmunochemistry. Karyotypes were tested using standard G-banding techniques. The pluripotency was analyzed by inoculating cells into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Results Two clonal human embryonic stem cell lines were established. Cells of these two lines possess the characteristics and differentiating potencies: normal 46 XX karyotypes; expressing a series of surface markers such as: alkaline phosphotase, stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4, tumor recognition antigen (TRA)-1-60, TRA-1-81 etc; and forming teratomas comprising derivatives of three embryonic germ layers such as neural tissue, cartilage, squamous epithelium and columlar epithelium when injected into SCID mice. Conclusions The two single cell-cloned human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines were derived in our laboratory. The cells possess stable biological characteristics of undifferentiated hES cells.