Objective:The study investigated the full-time Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) working in hospitals on their current working situation and explored affecting factors to provide suggestions for a professional and systemic clinical research workforce establishment in municipal medical institutions.Methods:A questionnaire survey was designed for CRCs in municipal hospitals in Shanghai, descriptive and one-way cross-tabulation analysis were conducted, using t-test for continuous numerical variables, rank-sum test for count variables and chi-square test for categorical variables.Results:Totaling 177 CRCs in 9 municipal hospitals in Shanghai answered the questionnaire. The average age of the respondents was 28.56±7.299 years old. Their professional background was mainly nursing and pharmacy (139/177, 87.53%), and bachelor degree (114/177, 64.41%). Averagely worked 2.50±1.632 years, the average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. The CRCs employed by hospitals mainly undertook Investigator-Initiated clinical Trial/Research projects (IITs) (26/36, 72.22%), while the CRCs employed by SMO companies mainly undertook Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trial (IST) projects (96/141, 68.09%). 85.88% (152/117) of CRCs held GCP certificates valid within three years, and the proportion of CRCs employed by hospitals held GCP certificates was lower than that of SMO companies ( P<0.05). Among the CRCs employed by hospitals, 23 (63.89%) said they had no position or were not clear about their position; The CRCs in SMO companies were mainly primary and intermediate (χ 2=84.119, P<0.05). The average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. Conclusions:With the development of clinical research, the full-time specialized CRCs in medical institutions mainly have 2 sources: from SMO/CRO companies or self-employment by medical institutions. In general, there are still problems in the CRC talent team as unclear entry standards, insufficient, lack career positioning planning, large mobility, imperfect training system, and imperfect promotion mechanism. It is suggested to unify occupational access standards and set specialty in colleges or universities. Strengthen post-service education and training system, establish multi-party collaborative training mechanism, standardize the assessment and evaluation, improve the job title promotion system, to promote the rapid development of CRC team.

Objective:The study investigated the full-time Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs) working in hospitals on their current working situation and explored affecting factors to provide suggestions for a professional and systemic clinical research workforce establishment in municipal medical institutions.Methods:A questionnaire survey was designed for CRCs in municipal hospitals in Shanghai, descriptive and one-way cross-tabulation analysis were conducted, using t-test for continuous numerical variables, rank-sum test for count variables and chi-square test for categorical variables.Results:Totaling 177 CRCs in 9 municipal hospitals in Shanghai answered the questionnaire. The average age of the respondents was 28.56±7.299 years old. Their professional background was mainly nursing and pharmacy (139/177, 87.53%), and bachelor degree (114/177, 64.41%). Averagely worked 2.50±1.632 years, the average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. The CRCs employed by hospitals mainly undertook Investigator-Initiated clinical Trial/Research projects (IITs) (26/36, 72.22%), while the CRCs employed by SMO companies mainly undertook Industry-Sponsored Clinical Trial (IST) projects (96/141, 68.09%). 85.88% (152/117) of CRCs held GCP certificates valid within three years, and the proportion of CRCs employed by hospitals held GCP certificates was lower than that of SMO companies ( P<0.05). Among the CRCs employed by hospitals, 23 (63.89%) said they had no position or were not clear about their position; The CRCs in SMO companies were mainly primary and intermediate (χ 2=84.119, P<0.05). The average number of research projects undertaken by CRC was 3.45±2.179, and the average number of cumulative projects involved was 8.72±9.341. Conclusions:With the development of clinical research, the full-time specialized CRCs in medical institutions mainly have 2 sources: from SMO/CRO companies or self-employment by medical institutions. In general, there are still problems in the CRC talent team as unclear entry standards, insufficient, lack career positioning planning, large mobility, imperfect training system, and imperfect promotion mechanism. It is suggested to unify occupational access standards and set specialty in colleges or universities. Strengthen post-service education and training system, establish multi-party collaborative training mechanism, standardize the assessment and evaluation, improve the job title promotion system, to promote the rapid development of CRC team.

Objective: During the lockdown of cities and home quarantine, media became the only way for people to conveniently get coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related information. And media engagement was closely related to psychological outcomes. But fewer researchers took COVID-19-related posting behaviors into consideration. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining the differences in psychological outcomes between people who posted COVID-19-related content on social media and those who did not. Methods: The present study included 917 participants (304 males, 613 females) who had answered the questionnaires of media engagement, positive affect, negative affect, depression, anxiety, stress, satisfaction with life, death anxiety, and meaning in life. Results: Results of t-tests showed that the Post group had lower levels of negative affect, anxiety, stress, and death anxiety than the Not Post (Npost) group. Network comparison tests indicated that the Npost group’s network and the Post group’s network differed in global strength, two edge-weights, and node centrality indices. Conclusion The results indicated that more attention should be paid to people who did not post any COVID-19-related content, especially when they have higher levels of stress and depression to prevent comorbidities. And for people who posted content, more attention should be paid when they have a higher level of negative affect.

Objective:To investigate the effects of different semen sample collection methods on sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) test results, then to evaluate the accuracy of the current semen sample collection method in the assessment of male fertility.Methods:In this study, 50 semen sample obtained on the day of oocyte retrieval from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization at the Reproductive Medical Center in Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from August 2021 to January 2022 were collected. For each semen, a small amount of samples were collected in three different retention methods for routine semen and sperm DFI testing. Three different ways of retaining samples were as follows: group A, after mixing of the semen, 50 μL sample was directly collected; group B, after density gradient centrifugation, 50 μL sample was collected at the interface between semen and gradient fluid; group C, after density gradient centrifugation, the sperm pellet was upstream, then 50 μL sample was collected from upstream liquid. After semen treatment, routine semen testing and sperm DFI testing were performed. Pearson was used to analyze the correlation between DFI and the percentage of immobile sperm and the percentage of forward sperm movement. Results:The sperm motility rate of group C [(96.83±2.28)%] was significantly higher than that of group A [(57.16±11.28)%, P<0.001] and group B [(22.54±9.35)%, P<0.001], and there was a statistical difference among the three groups. The immotile sperm rate of group B sample was (77.46±9.35)%, which was significantly higher than that of samples from group C [(3.14±2.31)%, P<0.001] and group A [(42.83±11.28)%, P<0.001]. There was also a statistical difference in DFI among the three groups ( P<0.001). The DFI of group B [37.18% (30.41%, 47.80%)] was significantly higher than that of group A [22.00% (14.75%, 29.25%), P<0.001] and group C [0.78% (0.00%, 2.07%), P<0.001]. Pearson analysis results showed that the DFI of group A and group B was positively correlated with the percentage of immobile sperm ( r=0.304, P=0.032; r=0.612, P<0.001), while the DFI of group B was negatively correlated with the percentage of sperm forward movement ( r=-0.517, P<0.001). Conclusion:For the same semen, the DFI of immotile sperm was significantly higher than that of motile sperm. Therefore, due to the interference of immotile sperm, the DFI value by the current sample retention method cannot accurately reflect the DNA status of active sperm participating in fertilization. This suggests that the samples used for DFI testing should be collected from motile sperm collected by gradient centrifugation, upstream or other methods, which can more accurately assess male fertility.

Objective:To investigate the effects of different semen sample collection methods on sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) test results, then to evaluate the accuracy of the current semen sample collection method in the assessment of male fertility.Methods:In this study, 50 semen sample obtained on the day of oocyte retrieval from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization at the Reproductive Medical Center in Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from August 2021 to January 2022 were collected. For each semen, a small amount of samples were collected in three different retention methods for routine semen and sperm DFI testing. Three different ways of retaining samples were as follows: group A, after mixing of the semen, 50 μL sample was directly collected; group B, after density gradient centrifugation, 50 μL sample was collected at the interface between semen and gradient fluid; group C, after density gradient centrifugation, the sperm pellet was upstream, then 50 μL sample was collected from upstream liquid. After semen treatment, routine semen testing and sperm DFI testing were performed. Pearson was used to analyze the correlation between DFI and the percentage of immobile sperm and the percentage of forward sperm movement. Results:The sperm motility rate of group C [(96.83±2.28)%] was significantly higher than that of group A [(57.16±11.28)%, P<0.001] and group B [(22.54±9.35)%, P<0.001], and there was a statistical difference among the three groups. The immotile sperm rate of group B sample was (77.46±9.35)%, which was significantly higher than that of samples from group C [(3.14±2.31)%, P<0.001] and group A [(42.83±11.28)%, P<0.001]. There was also a statistical difference in DFI among the three groups ( P<0.001). The DFI of group B [37.18% (30.41%, 47.80%)] was significantly higher than that of group A [22.00% (14.75%, 29.25%), P<0.001] and group C [0.78% (0.00%, 2.07%), P<0.001]. Pearson analysis results showed that the DFI of group A and group B was positively correlated with the percentage of immobile sperm ( r=0.304, P=0.032; r=0.612, P<0.001), while the DFI of group B was negatively correlated with the percentage of sperm forward movement ( r=-0.517, P<0.001). Conclusion:For the same semen, the DFI of immotile sperm was significantly higher than that of motile sperm. Therefore, due to the interference of immotile sperm, the DFI value by the current sample retention method cannot accurately reflect the DNA status of active sperm participating in fertilization. This suggests that the samples used for DFI testing should be collected from motile sperm collected by gradient centrifugation, upstream or other methods, which can more accurately assess male fertility.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in assessment of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice feeding with western diet.Methods Sixteen ApoE knockout mice in 8 weeks age were selected,then divided into two groups.One group was fed with west diet as high-fat group,and another group was fed with normal diet as control group.Intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque area in the aortic root were assessed by UBM in two groups after 8 weeks and 16 weeks.And the measurements of UBM were compared with results of histopathology and blood-fat.ResultsThicken wall and plaque could be find in aortic root in control group and high-fat diet group byUBM.IMT and plaque area in high-fat diet group was significantly higher than those of control group ( P ＜ 0.05).The IMT and plaque area in UBM were good correlation with histopathology ( rwas 0.81 and 0.70 respectively).The triglyceride(TC) and total cholesterol in high-fat diet group was significantly higher than those of control group ( P ＜0.05),and IMT in UBM were increased with the elevated level of TC,there was a positive correlation between IMT and TC( r =0.528).ConclusionsWestern diet can accelerate the process in formation of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE knockout mice.UBM can be used to observe this prograss noninvasively in vivo mice.

Objective: To study the effect of wortmannin (WM), a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, on the proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia cells and the possible mechanism. Methods: Human leukemia cell line K562 was treated with different concentrations of WM. The proliferation of K562 cells was examined by MTT assay. DNA damage in K562 cells was examined by single cell gel electrophoresis assay, and apoptosis of K562 cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining. The expressions of total Akt, phosphorate-Akt (p-Akt), and NF-κB p65 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: WM inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with the IC((50) value of 24 h being 25 nmol/L. WM also induced apoptosis of K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner. DNA damage in K562 cells was demonstrated by appearance of comet tail after treatment with WM, with the rate of DNA tail and the tail length being significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). WM dose-dependently inhibited P-Akt and NF-κB p65, but not the total Akt, mRNA and protein expressions. Conclusion: WM can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, probably through down-regulation of phosphorate PI3K/Akt signal pathway and NF-κB expression.

Objective To observe the effects of exercise on serum adiponectin and adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) level in skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant rats. Methods A total of 30 healthy male rats were randomly divided into a control group ( NC, n = 8) and a high-fat group ( HF, n = 22), fed with normal chow and high fat diet, respectively. Eighteen weeks later, the high-fat group was randomly divided into a high-fat diet control group (HC, n = 10) and an exercise group (HE, n = 12). The HC and HE group were continually fed with high fat diet, while the HE group was administered with swimming training for 6 weeks in addition at the same time. After 24 weeks, the insulin sensitivity index was calculated, and serum adiponectin level was detected by using ELISA. The expressions of AdipoR mRNA in skeletal muscle were detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results After 18 weeks, compared to NC group, the insulin sensitivity index of HF group decreased significantly. It suggested that insulin resistance appeared in HF group. Twenty-four weeks later, compared to NC group, the ISI of HC group was significantly decreased, meanwhile the level of serum adiponectin, expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNA in skeletal muscle of HC group were 71.9% , 59.9% and 69.2% of those of the NC group, respectively; compared to HC group, the ISI was increased significantly by exercise, meanwhile the expression of AdipoR1 mRNA in skeletal muscle was significantly increased by 1.33 times, however the level of serum adiponectin and the expression of AdipoR2 mRNA in skeletal muscle were not altered in HE group. Conclusion Six weeks of exercise improves insulin sensitivity through increasing the expression of AdipoRI mRNA in skeletal muscle.

OBJECTIVETo screen the point mutation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene in Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients, characterize the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype and discuss the molecular pathological mechanism of FH.

METHODSA patient with clinical phenotype of homozygous FH and her parents were investigated for mutations in the promoter and all eighteen exons of the LDL-R gene. Screening was carried out using Touch-down PCR and direct DNA sequencing; multiple alignment analysis by DNASIS 2.5 was used to find base alteration, and the LDL-R gene mutation database was searched to identify the alteration. In addition, the apolipoprotein B gene (apo B) was screened for known mutations (R3500Q) that cause familial defective apo B100 (FDB) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSTwo new heterozygous mutations in exons 4 and 9 of the LDL-R gene were identified in the proband (C122Y and T383I) as well as her parents. Both of the mutations have not been published in the LDL-R gene mutation database. No mutation of apo B100 (R3500Q) was observed.

CONCLUSIONTwo new mutations (C112Y and T383I) were found in the LDL-R gene, which may result in FH and may be particularly pathogenetic genotypes in Chinese people.

Adult ; Apolipoproteins B ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; China ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH ) in preimplantation gender diagnosis.

METHODSPreimplantation gender diagnosis was performed in 2 female hemophilia A carriers, 1 male patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and 2 male patients with Y chromosome abnormality. Embryo sex was identified by FISH in total of 6 treatment cycles.

RESULTSA total of 123 cumulus-oocytes were retrieved in 6 treatment cycles. Sixty-one embryos were available for embryo biopsy. The success rate of biopsy was 86.9% (53/61), with a further cleavage rate of 62.3% (33/53). In the FISH procedure, one cell was lost during fixation, leading to a 98.1% (52/53) fixation rate. Totally, 16 female embryos and 3 male embryos were transferred to 5 patients in 6 cycles. Three healthy babies were born. The diagnosis was confirmed by subsequent analysis of amniocytes and embryonic buds after embryo reduction.

CONCLUSIONSFISH is an efficient and reliable technique for determining the sex of human preimplantation embryos. Selective abortion and births of affected children can be avoided by preimplantation gender diagnosis.

Adult ; Amniocentesis ; Biopsy ; Blastocyst ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Sex Determination Analysis