Relationship between chromatin configuration and in vitro maturation ability in guinea pig oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Germinal vesicle (GV) chromatin configurations of oocytes are proposed to be related to oocyte competence and may reflect the quality of oocyte. Currently, a limited number of published studies investigated the GV chromatin configurations of guinea pig oocytes. OBJECTIVE: In this study on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of guinea pig oocytes, we examined the changes in their GV chromatin configurations during meiotic progression. METHODS: Based on the degree of chromatin compaction, the GV chromatin configurations of guinea pig oocytes could be divided into three categories depending on whether the nucleolus-like body (NLB) was surrounded or partly surrounded by compacted chromatin, namely the uncondensed (NSN), the intermediate type (SN-1) and the compacted type (SN-2). RESULTS: The percentage of cells displaying the SN-2 configuration increased with the growth of guinea pig oocytes, suggesting that this configuration presents the potential for maturation in oocytes. Oocytes derived from larger follicle exhibited increased meiotic potential. Serum starvation affected the GV chromatin configurations of guinea pig oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results suggest that the SN-2 type might be a more mature form of configuration in guinea pig oocyte, whose proportion was associated with the follicle size and susceptible to the environment (e.g. serum concentration).

[Clinical study on prevention of recurrence of asthma in children by Xiaochuangao acupoint paste: treating winter diseases in summer].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the clinical efficacy of Xiaochuangao acupoint paste (XAP) in treating asthma in children. METHOD: Ninety children patients with asthma were randomly assigned to three groups with 30 patients each, being treated with XAP, hormone and XAP combined with hormone, respectively. The changes of the lung function and the recurrence times during one-year follow-up were observed. RESULT: Group II (Hormone group) saw higher total effective rate (69.2%) than Group I (XAP group) (63.3%) , but with no statistic difference between these two groups. Group llI (XAP and Hormone) saw the highest total effective rate (93.1%), with significant statistic difference from the other two groups (P < 0.05). All three groups saw the significant increase of the levels of FEV1, FEV11/FVC and PEF after the treatments (P < 0.05), while no statistical difference of FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF were observed in the three groups before the treatments. After the treatments, statistic differences of FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF between Group Ill and Group II were observed (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: XAP played a role in preventing the recurrence of asthma in children. Combined with hormone, XAP showed better effects.

[Clinical observation of effects of Modified Sijunzi Decoction on the intestinal mucosal barrier of giant colon children patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether Modified Sijunzi Decoction (MSD) has protective effects on the intestinal mucosal barrier function of giant colon children. METHODS: Thirty-two giant colon children patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the treatment group (16 cases) took MDS after cleaning edema, while cleaning enema was given to those in the control group 10 days before operation. The affected colon tissues were cut out during the radical correction and made into slices. The secreted immunoglobulin A (SIgA) level of colonic mucosal lamina propria plasma cells ws detected using immunohistochemical assay. The colonic mucosal gland density was detected under the light microscope. The tight junction between the colon epitheliums, the epithelium microvilli, the morphologies of organelles such as mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, etc. were observed under the electron microscope. RESULTS: The average number of colonic mucosal glands and the SigA value of submucosal lamina propria plasma cells were higher in the treatment group than in the control group under the high power field. Compared with the control group, more intact morphologies of organelles were observed under the electron microscope. CONCLUSION: MSD could strengthen the intestinal mucosal barrier function of giant colon children and play certain roles in protecting its functions through improving the proliferation of the intestinal mucosa cells and maintaining the integrity of the bowel mucosa, as well as enhancing the local intestinal immunity.

Human pentastomiasis in China: case report and literature review.

A 13-yr-old boy was admitted because of persistent fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea for 3 mo. Abdomen CT revealed hepatomegaly and multiple nodular low-density pathological changes. At laparotomy considerable yellow and turbid ascites were seen in the abdominal cavity and miliary nodules were noted on the surface of the omentum majus, liver, and small intestine wall. Histological examination revealed parenchymal tubercles containing several worms. Pathological diagnosis was parasitic granuloma. These parasites were identified as Porocephalus taiwana sp.nov. The patient made an uneventful recovery after therapy and was discharged. Moreover, another 17 cases of human pentastomiasis reported from China were reviewed. Human pentastomiasis is an extremely rare disease and this is only the second case of human Porocephalus taiwana sp.nov infection. Pentastomiasis should be considered in differential diagnosis of patients with a history of abdominal symptoms and eating of poorly-cooked snakes.

Prevention of anastomotic stricture with a purse-string suture technique on the gastric side during esophageal carcinoma operations: retrospective study of 463 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a gastric side purse-string technique on anastomotic strictures during esophageal carcinoma operations. METHODS: From 1996 to 2005, esophageal carcinoma operations were performed on 1128 consecutive patients. Among them, 463 underwent esophagogastric anastomosis with purse-string sutures on the gastric side (purse group) and the other 665 did not (nonpurse group). Anastomotic strictures, reflux, and leakage were analyzed and compared between the two groups after the operations. RESULTS: Complete follow-up was conducted on all 1128 patients within 6 months after the operation. In contrast to the nonpurse group with a postoperative anastomotic stricture rate of 5.4% (36/665), the purse group demonstrated a significantly lower rate (0.2%, 1/463). The occurrence rates of anastomotic leakage in the nonpurse and purse groups were 0.9% (6/665) and 0.4% (2/463), respectively. Of the 17 cases of gastroesophageal reflux, 15 (15/665, 1.8%) were found in the nonpurse group and 2 (2/463, 1.1%) in the purse group. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, a purse-string suture technique on the gastric side might be an effective method for preventing the occurrence of anastomotic strictures after esophageal resection.