[Ion Torrent PGM sequencing for detection of Y chromosome microdeletion in 87 cases of azoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of Ion Torrent PGM sequencing in detection of Y chromosome microdeletion. METHODS: We enrolled 87 infertility patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) in this study and analyzed their routine semen parameters, reproductive hormone levels and chromosomal karyotypes. We detected Y chromosome microdeletion in the patients by Ion Torrent PGM sequencing and multiplex PCR, and compared the detection rates between the two methods. RESULTS: Ion Torrent PGM sequencing achieved a significantly higher detection rate of Y chromosome microdeletion than multiplex PCR (49.4% vs 12.6%, P < 0.05). The cases of AZF deletion detected by Ion Torrent PGM sequencing included all those detected by multiplex PCR, and the deletion sites were completely consistent. In addition, 14 male infertility-related gene mutations were detected in 24 of the 87 patients, with a total positive rate of 27.59%. CONCLUSION: Ion Torrent PGM sequencing can significantly improve the detection rate of Y chromosome microdeletion in infertility patients with NOA, detect a variety of male infertility-related gene mutations, and therefore contribute to the diagnosis of azoospermia.

Partial (two-thirds) nephrectomy in pigs: A comparison of three surgical approaches.

Partial (2/3) nephrectomy can be performed via the laparoscopic, retroperitoneal, and transperitoneal approach. Outcomes of the three approaches were compared in this study. 2/3 nephrectomy were performed in 21 healthy Bama miniature pigs (mean bodyweight 20.59±2.78kg). Pigs were divided into three groups: those that underwent 2/3 nephrectomy via laparoscopy (LN group, n=7), the retroperitoneal approach (RN group, n=7), or the transperitoneal approach (TN group, n=7). We monitored pre- and postoperative physiologic parameters, blood cell count, and stress and renal function biomarkers. Differences among groups were analyzed. 2/3 nephrectomy was successfully performed in all pigs without any complications. Mean surgical time in the LN group (60.71±7.34min) and the TN group (58.57±4.72min) was significantly longer than that in the RN group (41.14±5.33min). Warm ischemia in the LN group (38±7.57min) was significantly longer than that in the TN group (28.86±4.53min), which was significantly longer than that in the RN group (17.86±2.34min). The postoperative serum concentration of C-reactive protein in the TN group was significantly higher than that in the LN group (p<0.05). So retroperitoneal approach was best choice in case of bilateral renal lesion resulted in shortest ischemia time, and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy should be the primary choice in majority situations resulted in less body stress, smaller surgical incisions and less blood loss.

[Disorder of copper homeostasis induced by lead exposure among mice and intervention effect of quercetin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lead exposure on copper and copper metalloenzyme and the intervention effect of quercetin. METHODS: Twenty-four specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats of good health were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), lead acetate group (n = 8), and lead acetate + quercetin group (n = 8). The rats in lead acetate group were poisoned by drinking water with 1 g/L lead acetate for 8 weeks, while the rats in control group were fed by drinking water with sodium acetate of the same volume for 8 weeks; the rats in lead acetate+quercetin group were intraperitoneally injected with quercetin (30 mg × kg-1 × d-1) for 8 weeks while drinking water with lead acetate. The Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory abilities of rats. The lead and copper levels in the serum, hippocampus, cortex, and bone were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The level of advanced glycation end products, activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and content and activity of ceruloplasmin (CP) in the hippocampus and serum were measured using a test kit. HE staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus. RESULTS: The Morris water maze test showed that the latency in lead acetate group (52.50±12.04 s) was significantly longer than that in control group (28.08±7.31 s) (P<0.05), and the number of platform crossings was significantly lower in the lead acetate group than in the control group. Compared with those in the control group, the lead levels in the cortex and hippocampus in lead acetate group increased 2.72-fold and 3.79-fold, and the copper in the cortex and hippocampus, and serum free copper levels in lead acetate group increased 1.15-fold, 1.48-fold, and 6.44-fold. Compared with the control group, the lead acetate group had a lower content of CP in the hippocampus (1.23±0.40 U/mg provs0.78±0.08 U/mg pro) and 31.81%and 19.49%decreases in CP content and Cu/Zn SOD activity. Free copper level in serum was positively correlated with the latency and lead levels in the serum, cortex, and hippocampus. The escape latency of rats in lead acetate + quercetin group was decreased by 42.15% (P<0.05). The lead levels in the cortex and hippocampus in lead acetate + quercetin group (0.246 ± 0.58 µg/g and 0.202±0.049 µg/g) were significantly lower than those in lead acetate group (0.391±0.49 µg/g and 0.546±0.120 µg/g), but the free copper and copper levels in the hippocampus and cortex were not significantly reduced. The lead acetate + quercetin group had higher Cu/Zn SOD activity and CP content in the hippocampus than the lead acetate group (P < 0.05). The light microscope observation showed that the number of cells in the hippocampus was reduced with disordered arrangement in the lead acetate group; with quercetin intervention, the hippocampus damage was reduced. CONCLUSION: Lead exposure results in disorder of copper homeostasis, while quercetin may alleviate the damage induced by lead to some extent.