Humans ; Male ; Metaphase/physiology* ; Sex Chromosomes/ultrastructure* ; Spermatocytes/ultrastructure* ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis/ultrastructure*

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC).

METHODSThe histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features were studied in 11 cases and follow-up data were also analyzed.

RESULTSThere were a total of 3 females and 8 males. The age of patients were ranged from 33 to 72 years(mean age 52.5 years). The diameters of tumors varied from 1cm to 4 cm. Histologically, papillary and cystic architecture were present at least focally in all tumors. The papillae were covered by small to medium-sized cuboidal cells with abundant clear cytoplasm and often showed extensive secondary branching, which were often folded and densely packed, resulting in a solid appearance. The nuclei were round and uniform in shape; nucleoli were not prominent (Fuhrman grade 1 or 2). Neither mitotic figures nor necrosis was present. All 11 cases exhibited moderate to strong positivity for CK7, CA9, vimentin, and HIF-1α, coupled with negative reactions for CD10, P504S, and TFE3. Ksp-cadherin was positively expressed in 8 cases.VHL gene mutations were not found in all 11 cases. Losses of chromosomes 3 (monoploid chromosome 3) was detected in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONSCCPRCC is uncommon and seemed to be an indolent tumor. The differential diagnosis should be included tumors, which harbor clear cell and papillary structure including clear cell renal cell carcinoma, papillary renal cell carcinoma, Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma, and CCPRCC. Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis may be help for its diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; analysis ; Kidney Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Racemases and Epimerases ; analysis ; Translocation, Genetic ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo understand the genetic structures and variations of the superintegron (SI) in Vibrio cholerae isolated in the seventh cholera pandemic.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction scanning and fragment sequencing were used. Sixty toxigenic V. cholerae O1 El Tor strains isolated between 1961 and 2008 were analyzed.

RESULTSSome variations were found, including insertions, replacements, and deletions. Most of the deletions were probably the result of recombination between V. cholerae repeat sequences. The majority of the variations clustered together. The SIs of the strains isolated in the 1960s and 1970s showed more diversity, whereas SI cassette variations in strains isolated in the 1990s and after were lower, with ∼24 kb signature sequence deletion. This indicates the predominant SI in the host during the epidemic in the 1990s and after. The insertion cassettes suggested the mobilization from the SIs of other V. cholerae serogroups and Vibrio mimicus.

CONCLUSIONThe study revealed that structural variations of SIs were obvious in the strains isolated in epidemics in different decades, whereas the divergence was based on syntenic structure of SIs in these El Tor strains. Also, the continuing cassette flows in the SIs of the host strains during the seventh cholera pandemics were displayed.

Cholera ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Chromosomes, Bacterial ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Integrons ; genetics ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Vibrio cholerae O1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; ultrastructure

We analysed ejaculated spermatozoa from five infertile men with different balanced reciprocal translocations to contribute to the study of meiotic segregation of chromosomes 18, X and Y and also to evaluate sperm morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Conventional lymphocyte karyotype analyses highlighted different reciprocal balanced translocations: t(12;13), t(4;9), t(X;8), t(8;10) and t(3;16). Semen analysis was performed by light and TEM. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed directly on sperm nuclei using centromeric probes for chromosomes 18, X and Y. The carriers of the balanced reciprocal translocations considered in the present study showed a very similar pattern of sperm pathologies: diffused presence of apoptosis and immaturity. All patients showed meiotic segregation derangements, highlighted by the presence of sperm diploidies and sex chromosome disomies particularly related to the failure of the first meiotic division. However, an increased incidence of chromosome 18 aneuploidy was detected in spermatozoa from t(X;8) and t(8;10) carriers. We have also reported values from sex chromosomes such as t(X;8), although the X chromosome was involved in translocation. Since patients with reciprocal translocations and spermatogenetic impairment are candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, the study of sperm parameters, and particularly of the level of aneuploidy rates, would provide better information for couples at risk and would contribute to the data in the literature for a better understanding of the effects of chromosomal rearrangement on the whole meiotic process and, in particular, on chromosomes not involved in translocation.
Adult ; Aneuploidy ; Apoptosis ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Translocation, Genetic

AIMTo develop a high-throughput multiplex, fast and simple assay to scan azoospermia factor (AZF) region microdeletions on the Y chromosome and establish the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.

METHODSIn total, 178 infertile patients with azoospermia (non-obstructed), 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile man controls were included in the present study. The samples were screened for AZF microdeletion using optimized multi-analyte suspension array (MASA) technology.

RESULTSOf the 312 patients, 36 (11.5%) were found to have deletions in the AZF region. The microdeletion frequency was 14% (25/178) in the azoospermia group and 8.2% (11/134) in the oligospermia group. Among 36 patients with microdeletions, 19 had deletions in the AZFc region, seven had deletions in AZFa and six had deletions in AZFb. In addition, four patients had both AZFb and AZFc deletions. No deletion in the AZF region was found in the 40 fertile controls.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The MASA technology, which has been established in the present study, provides a sensitive and high-throughput method for detecting the deletion of the Y chromosome. And the results suggest that genetic screening should be advised to infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; DNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Loci ; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Oligospermia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Array Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics

The short report will be focused on helping our students to understand commonly used conventional and cutting edge cytogenetic techniques and their clinical applications, the advances and drawbacks of each technique, and how to pick the right test(s) for a specific patient in order to achieve a proper diagnosis efficiently and economically.
Chromosomes ; ultrastructure ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; methods ; Genetic Techniques ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the etiologic factors of globozoospermia.

METHODSRoutine semen analysis, sperm DNA special staining and chromosomal karyotype detection of peripherical blood lymphocytes were performed in a globozoospermia patient.

RESULTSRound-headed spermatozoa were lack of acrosome and the acrosin activity was low. Meanwhile, there was an additional band located in the Y chromosomal short arm.

CONCLUSIONLack of acrosome, low acrosin activity and abnormality of chromosome may be the main reasons for globozoospermia.

Acrosin ; metabolism ; Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities ; ultrastructure

Many factors can result in male infertility, and a number of studies have indicated that reproductive difficulties are associated intimately with cytogenetic abnormalities. This article reviews studies on sperm chromosomes in infertile men and discusses the relationship between sperm chromosome abnormality and male infertility.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Karyotyping ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo study the technique of dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization(D-FISH) and its application value in sperm chromosomes of Robertsonian translocation carriers.

METHODSThe technique of dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization was used. Biotin labelled 13q14.3 specific probe and Digoxigenin labeled 14q11.1 specific probe were used for in situ hybridization of sperm specimens in 2 Robertsonian translocation carriers. Hybridization signals for chromosomes 13 and 14 in the sperm interphase nucleus were counted.

RESULTSUnder the microscope, Biotin labeled 13q 14.3 specific probe showed 1 green hybridization signal and Digoxigenin labeled 14q 11.1 specific probe showed 1 red hybridization signal. Interphase nucleus counter-stained with DAPI showed blue. From the total of 3,000 sperm interphase nuclei, the positive rate for 1 green hybridization signal and 1 red hybridization signal was 13q/14q(39.33%), for 1 green and 2 red was 13q/14q, 14q(11.57%), for 1 green was 13q/-(9.27%), for 2 green and 1 red was 13q,13q/14q(12.87%), for 1 red was -/14q(9.87%) and for 2 green and 2 red was 13q,13q/14q, 14q(12.26%).

CONCLUSIONSD-FISH of the human sperm interphase nucleus can be applied to the determination of sperm chromosomes of Robertsonian translocation carriers and the analysis of the laws of chromosomal segregation in the meiosis. The technique can be widely used in such aspects of human reproduction as insemination under the microscope and preimplantation embryos genetic diagnosis.

Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; ultrastructure ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenesis of male sterility in 48,XXYY syndrome patient.

METHODSThe peripheral lymphocyte was detected by dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization. The bioptic testicular tissues were pathologically sectioned and ultra-thin sections were examined by electron-microscopy.

RESULTSThe pathological findings revealed extremely severe dysgenesis of the badly damaged testicular tissue. Only a few convoluted seminiferous tubules were found, in which no spermatogenic cell or sperm of any range could be viewed. The ultrastructural observations showed the thickened interstitial vascular walls of the testicular tissue and severe hyperplasia of the collagen fibers in the basilemma and lumens of the blood vessels.

CONCLUSIONThe structure of the testicle in the 48,XXYY syndrome patient has severe fibrous hyperplasia, leading to the non-specific thickening of the barrier and serious damage to the blood-testis barrier, which in turn produce significant disturbance and pathological changes in the process of the spermatogenic cell formation. The whole interrelated loops account mainly for the male sterility.

Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure