Relation between insulin resistance and insulin receptor gene methylation in the endometrium of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between insulin resistance and methylation of insulin receptor (INSR) gene in the endometrium of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the HOMA index, 35 patients with PCOS were divided into insulin resistant group (IR group, n=18) and non-resistant group (NIR group, n=18). The patients age, serum estriol, testosterone, FSH and LH, fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose were compared between the two groups. The endometrial samples were obtained from the patients to examine DNA methylation status of INSR gene in the endometrial cells using methylation-specific PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BMI, WHR, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HOMA index differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05). PCR analysis showed partial methylation in the promoter region of INSR gene in 13 samples in IR group and 11 samples in NIR group, without detection of full methylation of the INSR gene in either group. The methylation status showed no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.328).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Partial methylation of the INSR gene occurs in the endometria of PCOS patients, but this study does not provide a strong evidence supporting the relationship between insulin resistance and INSR gene methylation in women with PCOS.</p>

Correlations between preS1-antigen, HBV-DNA and HBV serum markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlations between preS1 antigen, HBV-DNA and hepatitis B virus (HBV) serum markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HBV markers, preS1 antigen and HBV-DNA were determined using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative PCR in 1158 patients with chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In these patients, the HBV-DNA positivity rate was 68.9%, significantly higher than preS1 antigen positivity (54.8%, chi2=53.24, P<0.005). The positivity rates of both HBV-DNA and PreS1-antigen were significantly higher in HBeAg-positive patients than in HBeAg-negative patients (P<0.005). The coincident rates of preS1-antigen and HBeAg with HBV-DNA were 56.9% and 63.3%, respectively. PreS1 antigen had higher sensitivity but lower specificity than HBeAg. The detection rates of preS1 antigen and HBeAg increased with the level of HBV-DNA, and preS1 antigen positivity was higher than that of HBeAg in patients with low HBV-DNA levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detection of HBV serum markers along with preS1 antigen and HBV-DNA may help assess the status of viral replication and therapeutic efficacy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. PreS1 antigen may serve as an auxiliary indicator in HBeAg-negative cases or when HBV-DNA detection is impossible.</p>