Tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells are positively correlated with angiogenic status in renal cell carcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Immune cells within a tumor microenvironment have shown modulatory effects on tumor angiogenic activity. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hypervascular tumor that reportedly increases the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor tissues. This study investigated the correlation between Tregs infiltration and angiogenic status in RCC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six patients with RCC were enrolled in the present study, and twenty age-matched healthy donors were included as the control. Tregs were defined as CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low/-) T cells. The frequency of Tregs in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in surgical resection specimens were measured with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Microvessel density (MVD) was calculated on slides stained with CD34 antibody. Spearman's rank correlation was performed to evaluate the correlation between the frequencies of Tregs in TILs and VEGF values, as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD determinations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to healthy controls, the frequency of peripheral blood Tregs was significantly increased in patients with RCC (P < 0.05). The percentage of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was higher than that of peripheral blood Tregs in patients with RCC (P < 0.01). In addition, the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was shown to significantly correlate with the pathological stage (P < 0.05) and nuclear grade (P < 0.01). Importantly, a significant positive correlation was observed between the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs and VEGF protein expression (r = 0.51, P < 0.05), as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD score (r = 0.39, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These observations suggest that the high pro-angiogenic status of RCC may be associated with the accumulation of Tregs in the local microenvironment. Angiogenesis networks may be connected with immune tolerance units and cooperate with each other to facilitate tumor growth and progression.</p>

Analysis of monitoring data of drinking-water borne endemic fluorosis in Xinzhou of Shanxi province in 2010 / 中国地方病学杂志

ObjectiveTo master the epidemic situation of drinking-water borne endemic fluorosis in Xinzhou,evaluate the effects of water improvement project to reduce fluoride,and to provide a timely scientific basis for monitoring the disease and for establishment of preventive countermeasures.MethodsAccording to the water fluoride concentration and type of the disease,after stratification 25 endemic villages were selected as survey points.Five water samples were collected in water unimproved monitoring villages according to water well locations of east,west,south,north and center.In monitoring villages with improved water,3 tap water and 1 source water samples were collected,respectively.The fluorine content in water samples was determined according to the “Standard Testing Methods for Drinking Water”(GB/T 5750-2006).All children aged 8 to 12 of the survey villages were examined for dental fluorosis by Dean method.Clinical osteofluorosis of all the resident over the age of 16 was examined,8 villages of these counties were selected,10 men and.women were randomly selected in each village,respectively,and they were examined again by X-ray using “Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis” (WS/T 192-2007).Children aged 8 to 12 in 13 villages of chosen villages were selected for urine collection,6 unne samples were collected in each age group and a total of 30 samples were collected,and urinary fluoride was determined by F-ion selective electrode method(WS/T 89-2006).ResultsA total of 56 water samples were tested in water-unimproved villages,the average water fluorine was 2.7 mg/L And 52 water samples were tested in waterimproved villages,the average water fluorine was 1.6 mg/L,water fluoride content ＞ 1.5 mg/L accounted for 46.15％ (6/13) in the water-improved village.Incidences of dental fluorosis of children in the water-unimproved villages and water-improved villages were 74.75％ (622/832) and 23.67％ (241/1018),respectively.The difference was statistically significant(x2 =140,P ＜ 0.01).The prevalence rate of skeletal fluorosis was 30.02％(2803/9335) in water-unimproved villages,and 9.44％ (1230/13 022) in water-improved villages.The difference was statistically significant(x2 =1557.75,P ＜ 0.01 ).The mean of urine fluorine in a total sample was 3.31 mg/L,the urinary fluoride concentration of children in water-improved villages was significantly different from that of water-unimproved villages(t =2.27,P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionsBy reducing fluorine and improving drinking water,disease in drinkingwater borne endemic fluorosis areas in Xinzhou has been controlled to a certain degree.However,the disease is still very serious in some endemic areas.Fluoride in drinking water re-increases in some water-improved villages,the disease is also in a rise.So,the work of monitoring and prevention should be strengthened.

Distribution of serum prostate-specific antigen in Chinese healthy men: a population-based study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The morbidity and mortality of prostate cancer have been increasing rapidly in recent China. There were few studies investigating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values ranges in the healthy Chinese population. We performed this study to determine the distribution of serum PSA in a large healthy Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to May 2008, 11 150 healthy Chinese men aged 30 - 79 years came to our hospital for routine health check-up. All subjects without a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer, a history of prostate surgery, or urogenital tract infection were proposed to undergo systematic serum PSA measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with normal DRE and PSA ≤ 4.0 ng/ml and those PSA > 4.0 ng/ml or abnormal DRE but without adverse findings on prostate biopsy were included (n = 9358). Age and serum PSA concentration were recorded and correlated through Logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 95th percentile serum PSA concentration was 1.89 ng/ml for men aged 30 to 39 years, 2.19 ng/ml for men aged 40 to 49 years, 2.88 ng/ml for men aged 50 to 59 years, 4.42 ng/ml for men aged 60 to 69 years, and 6.52 ng/ml for men aged 70 to 79 years. The serum PSA concentration correlated with age (P < 0.0001) with an annual increase of 0.97% for men in 40 years, 1.58% for men in 50 years, 3.04% for men in 60 years, and 3.99% for men in 70 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The serum PSA level correlates directly with age in Chinese men older than 40 years, not in Chinese men younger than 40 years old. Chinese men have lower PSA level compared with white men above 60 years of age, not in those under 60 years of age.</p>

Impact of cigarette smoking on human sperm DNA integrity / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of cigarette smoking on human sperm DNA integrity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 784 cases of male infertility were selected from our case database and grouped according to whether they were smokers or nonsmokers, how much they smoked (< or = 10, 11-19 and > or = 20 cigarettes/d) and how long they smoked (< or = 5, 6-9 and > or = 10 yr). Sperm DNA integrity was measured using sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation and immature spermatozoa were expressed by the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS) respectively. Conventional sperm parameters and sperm DNA integrity were compared among different groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total semen volume and percentage of grade a + b sperm were lower and the sperm morphological abnormality was higher in the > or = 20 cigarettes/d and > or = 10 yr groups than in the others (P < 0.05). DFI and HDS were significantly higher in the smokers than in the nonsmokers (P < 0.05). HDS was negatively correlated with the percentage of grade a + b sperm (r = -0.18, P < 0.05) and both DFI and HDS were positively correlated with the rate of sperm malformation (r = 0.31 and r = 0.39, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day or longer than 10 years has deleterious effects on the semen volume, percentage of grade a + b sperm and sperm morphology of the smokers. Cigarette smoking decreases sperm DNA integrity and nuclear maturation.</p>

Updated reproductive function of human sperm RNA / 中华男科学杂志

The existence of RNA has been confirmed in human mature sperm, including mRNA and some members of the microRNA family. Different expressions of sperm mRNA have been found to be correlated with sperm motility and male reproduction. Some sperm specific mRNA and microNA play important roles in the regulation of sperm-oocyte fusion and early embryogenesis. Many published results indicate the variety of sperm RNA in composition and quantity as well as its indispensability for embryogenesis. Further researches on the function of sperm RNA will promote the progress in such fields as male infertility, human assisted reproduction technology and nuclear transfer.

Application of early cleavage embryo in combination with embryo growth rate and morphology scoring in embryo selection / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To evaluate the role of early cleavage embryo in combination with embryo growth rate and morphology scoring in embryo selection in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles. Methods Six hundred and ten IVF/ICSI cycles were randomly assigned to group A(269 cycles) and group B(341 cycles). In group A, transferred embryos were chosen according to embryo growth rate and morphology scoring by 72 h(D3) after fertilization, while early cleavage embryo was added to the selecting system in group B. The pregnancy rate and implantation rate were compared between two groups, and the clinic outcomes were compared between transfers with early cleavage embryos and without early cleavage embryos in group B. Results The pregnancy rate and implantation rate in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P < 0.05). Transfers with early cleavage embryos also achieved much higher pregnancy rate and implantation rate in group B (P < 0.01). Conclusion Compared with embryo growth rate and morphology scoring, early cleavage embryo in combination with embryo growth rate and morphology scoring can improve the clinical outcomes in IVF/ICSI cycles.

Relationship between expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor in granulose cells and ovarian response in in vitro fertilization cycles / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To investigate relationship between levels of follicle-sitimulating horomone receptor(FSHR) and ovarian response induced by gonadotropin hormone,and whether the FSHR expression is correlated with in vitro fertilization(IVF) outcome.Methods Granulose cells were collected from 43 women receiving IVF-embryo transplantation(IVF-ET).According to the number of oocyte,the women were divided into three groups: low response(15).The expression intensity of FSHR was measured by immunohistochemistry technique.The expression intensity of FSHR on the granular cell,the embryological and clinical outcomes were compared and analyzed. Results The expression of FSHR was significantly different in three groups with the highest in high response group(P0.05).The FSHR level was positively correlated either with the number of oocyte (r=0.719) or with the serum E2 levels(r=0.516,P0.05). Conclusion Ovarian response to gonadotropin hormone stimulation is correlated with the level of FSHR in the granulose cells.The development of follicles may be influenced by it.

An analysis for the phenotype and genotype of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease from two Chinese families / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To scan for mutations of polycystic kidney disease 1 gene (PKD1) in Chinese population in order to find some features about Chinese patients and a better approach to detect mutations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-five PKD-affected individuals from twenty-one unrelated genealogies and sixteen controls participated in the study. Thirty-five blood samples and six tissues were obtained after receiving informed consent and were in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using standard procedures. PCR amplification of genomic DNA was performed to generate the aimed fragments. Amplified fragments were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A GC clamp was attached to the 5' primer. After that, the abnormal fragments were sequenced on freshly amplified specific PCR products with the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. Sequencing was performed for all samples to evaluate DGGE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aimed fragments of exons 44 and 45 were amplified. DGGE detected eleven abnormal PCR fragments. Two novel mutations were identified by sequencing, included one nonsense mutation (C12217T) and one frameshift (12431delCT). In addition, one polymorphism (A50747C) was identified. The mutation detection rate is 8% in our study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Two novel pathogenic mutations were detected, including one nonsense mutation (C12217T) and one frameshift (12431delCT).</p>