Attach great importance to the significance of serum anti-müllerian hormone and androgen in the evaluation of polycystic ovary syndrome / 中华预防医学杂志

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disease in women of childbearing age, which seriously affects women's reproductive health. In recent years, more and more studies have found that serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has certain significance in the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of PCOS. In addition, with the improvement of detection methods, more attention has been paid to the significance of female androgens and AMH in the evaluation of PCOS. This article reviews the recent research progress of serum AMH and androgens in the evaluation of PCOS.

Potential targets of Euodiae Fructus in treatment of insomnia based on network pharmacology / 中国中药杂志

The acupoint application of Euodiae Fructus at Yongquan(KI1) can significantly improve the sleep quality of patients with insomnia with berberine as the main effective component for the efficacy. Nineteen active compounds and 203 drug targets were screened out from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). After comparison with GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), 24 common genes of diseases and drugs were obtained. STRING 11.0 was used to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of the overlapping genes, and Matthews correlation coefficient(MCC) was employed to screen the core genes, which were then subjected to enrichment analysis with gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG). The results revealed that the main compounds of Euodiae Fructus, such as berberine and rutaecarpine, participated in the biological processes(such as neurotransmitter receptor activity) by regulating C-reactive protein(CRP), estrogen receptor 1(ESR1), 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) receptor, and interleukin-6(IL-6) to exert sedative, anxiolytic, and antidepressant effects. Sixty 4-week-old SPF mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a positive drug(diazepam tablets) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose berberine groups. Medication with corresponding drugs was performed for one week. The results demonstrated that berberine was potent in reducing the activities and standing times of mice, down-regulating the levels of CRP and IL-6 mRNA in the hypothalamus, and up-regulating the expression of 5-HT(P<0.01); however, no significant effect on ESR1 was observed. The network of Euodiae Fructus in treating insomnia was constructed by network pharmacology and verified by tests. The findings indicated that the therapeutic efficacy of Euodiae Fructus in treating insomnia was achieved by participating in multiple biological processes, such as neurotransmitter receptor activity, which provided a scientific basis for its clinical application.

Effect of Dandelion Extracts on the Proliferation of Ovarian Granulosa Cells and Expression of Hormone Receptors / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>In the current society, infertility related to age has become a social problem. The in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rate in women with poor ovarian response (POR) is very low. Dandelion extract T-1 (DE-T1) is an effective component of the extract from the leaves and stems of Taraxacum officinale, which is one of the medicines used in some patients with POR, but its molecular mechanism remains unclear.</p><p><b>Methods</b>Following IVF, ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of sixty patients were extracted and divided into normal ovarian response (NOR) and POR groups. GCs were cultured in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner with DE-T1, proliferation of GCs was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), luteotropic hormone receptor (LHR), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), LHR, and CYP19A1 (aromatase) were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Progesterone and estradiol (E2) concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>Results</b>The cell viability gradually increased with the progressive increase in the DE-T1 concentration. Compared with the control group (without DE-T1), the mRNA expressions of FSHR, LHR, IGF-1R, and CYP19A1 were upregulated after the addition of DE-T1, especially in the 2.5% DE-T1 group (P < 0.01). The expression of IGF-1R was upregulated approximately 25 times (24.97 ± 4.02 times) in the POR group with 2.5% DE-T1. E2 and progesterone levels increased with the increasing DE-T1 concentration. There were highly significant differences in the E2 and progesterone secretion between the NOR and POR groups (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>DE-T1 may promote steroid hormone synthesis by promoting GC proliferation and upregulating GC receptor expression, thereby improving ovarian endocrine function.</p>

Epidemiological investigation of risk factors of the pregnant women with early spontaneous abortion in Beijing / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the risk factors of the pregnant women with early spontaneous abortion in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 34,417 cases of pregnant women were participated in the survey from January 2000 to December 2013. A questionnaire was informed to each woman. The content of questionnaire includes four parts: general condition, obstetrical history, past history and family history, and living environment and habits. The mental condition was evaluated with Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 32,296 questionnaires were collected. The spontaneous abortion rate in the total sample was 3.0%. There was no significant difference between the normal pregnancy group and spontaneous abortion group in terms of general condition, obstetrical and past history (P>0.05). Significant differences between the two groups were found in terms of decoration during pregnancy, keeping pets, near mobile communication base station within 100 m around the residence, drinking during pregnancy, having a cold during pregnancy and SAS (P<0.05). Having a cold during pregnancy, decoration during pregnancy, near mobile communication base station within 100 m around the residence, keeping pets and high SAS were determined the independent risk factors of spontaneous abortion by Logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Having a cold during pregnancy, decoration, keeping pets, near mobile communication base station within 100 m around the residence and high SAS are the independent risk factors of spontaneous abortion in Beijing.</p>

Hydrogen-rich Water Exerting a Protective Effect on Ovarian Reserve Function in a Mouse Model of Immune Premature Ovarian Failure Induced by Zona Pellucida 3 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a disease that affects female fertility but has few effective treatments. Ovarian reserve function plays an important role in female fertility. Recent studies have reported that hydrogen can protect male fertility. Therefore, we explored the potential protective effect of hydrogen-rich water on ovarian reserve function through a mouse immune POF model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To set up immune POF model, fifty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control (mice consumed normal water, n = 10), hydrogen (mice consumed hydrogen-rich water, n = 10), model (mice were immunized with zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 [ZP3] and consumed normal water, n = 15), and model-hydrogen (mice were immunized with ZP3 and consumed hydrogen-rich water, n = 15) groups. After 5 weeks, mice were sacrificed. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, granulosa cell (GC) apoptotic index (AI), B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) expression were examined. Analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immune POF model, model group exhibited markedly reduced serum AMH levels compared with those of the control group (5.41 ± 0.91 ng/ml vs. 16.23 ± 1.97 ng/ml, P = 0.033) and the hydrogen group (19.65 ± 7.82 ng/ml, P = 0.006). The model-hydrogen group displayed significantly higher AMH concentrations compared with that of the model group (15.03 ± 2.75 ng/ml vs. 5.41 ± 0.91 ng/ml, P = 0.021). The GC AI was significantly higher in the model group (21.30 ± 1.74%) than those in the control (7.06 ± 0.27%), hydrogen (5.17 ± 0.41%), and model-hydrogen groups (11.24 ± 0.58%) (all P < 0.001). The GC AI was significantly higher in the model-hydrogen group compared with that of the hydrogen group (11.24 ± 0.58% vs. 5.17 ± 0.41%, P = 0.021). Compared with those of the model group, ovarian tissue Bcl-2 levels increased (2.18 ± 0.30 vs. 3.01 ± 0.33, P = 0.045) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased in the model-hydrogen group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hydrogen-rich water may improve serum AMH levels and reduce ovarian GC apoptosis in a mouse immune POF model induced by ZP3.</p>

Aneuploidy in Early Miscarriage and its Related Factors / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Genetic factors are the main cause of early miscarriage. This study aimed to investigate aneuploidy in spontaneous abortion by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using probes for 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y chromosomes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 840 chorionic samples from spontaneous abortion were collected and examined by FISH. We analyzed the incidence and type of abnormal cases and sex ratio in the samples. We also analyzed the relationship between the rate of aneuploidy and parental age, the rate of aneuploidy between recurrent abortion and sporadic abortion, the difference in incidence of aneuploidy between samples from previous artificial abortion and those from no previous induced abortion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 832 samples were finally analyzed. 368 (44.23%) were abnormal, in which 84.24% (310/368) were aneuploidies and 15.76% (58/368) were polyploidies. The first was trisomy 16 (121/310), followed by trisomy 22, and X monosomy. There was no significant difference in the rate of aneuploidy in the advanced maternal age group (≥ 35 years old) and young maternal age group (<35 years old). However, the rate of trisomy 22 and the total rate of trisomies 21, 13, and 18 (the number of trisomy 21 plus trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 together) showed significantly different in two groups. We found no skewed sex ratio. There was no significant difference in the rate of aneuploidy between recurrent miscarriage and sporadic abortion or between the samples from previous artificial abortion and those from no previous artificial abortion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aneuploidy is a principal factor of miscarriage and total parental age is a risk factor. There is no skewed sex ratio in spontaneous abortion. There is also no difference in the rate of aneuploidy between recurrent abortion and sporadic abortion or between previous artificial abortion and no previous induced abortion.</p>

Epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Henan province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Henan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multistage sampling was used to investigate a group of 1-75 year-old general population, living in 30 districts of 18 cities, Henan province. Blood samples were collected and tested for anti-HCV and hepatitis C virus(HCV), from April to July 2012.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>32 203 persons were investigated. Among the general population aged 1 to 75 years old, the overall prevalence rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were 0.64% and 0.35% respectively. The prevalence rates of anti-HCV among males and females were 0.60%, and 0.68% respectively, with the rates of HCV RNA as 0.37%, and 0.33% respectively. The prevalence rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were increasing with age. The prevalence rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA in urban area were 0.58% and 0.32%, and in rural area as 0.41%, and 0.19% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After the implementation of comprehensive measures for HCV control and prevention, Henan province became low prevalent for HCV infection. Our data revealed that the overall prevalence remained low, but the epidemic was severe in some geographical regions in Henan province.</p>

Risk factors associated with malnutrition of infants exposed to HIV in Henan province,2010-2012 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To examine the malnutrition status of infants exposed to HIV in rural areas of Henan province and related risk factors.Methods Z scores of weight for age,height for age and weight for height of infants exposed to HIV in rural areas of Henan province born in 2010-2012 were calculated at 1,3,6,9,12 and 18 months of age.Z scores were used to evaluate the nutrition status of infants under study.Data regarding the pregnant women and infants were collected and analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression model.Results One hundred fifty-seven infants were surveyed in which 125 were HIV negative and 32 were HIV positive.The incidence rates of underweight,athrepsia and growth retardation of HIV-negative infants were 8.8％,16.8％ and 30.4％,respectively.The incidence rates of underweight,athrepsia and growth retardation among the HIV-positive infants were 15.0％,30.0％ and 41.7％,respectively.Anemia in pregnancy (RR=2.05,95％ CI:1.15-3.66),low count of CD4 + T leukomonocyte (RR=1.43,95％ CI:1.18-1.74),status of complementary feeding before 4 months old (RR=1.96,95％CI:1.40-2.74) might serve as the risk factors related to the situation.Infants received antiviral treatment (RR=0.14,95％ CI:0.02-1.04),normal birth weight (RR=0.08,95％CI:0.04-0.15) might serve as the protective factors.Conclusion The malnutrition incidence was high among those infants younger than 18 months exposed to HIV in rural area of Henan province.Essential health services such as antenatal care,artificial feeding and growth monitoring for infants and pregnant infants should be provided to prevent malnutrition among these sub-populations.

Analysis on sero-conversion status of HIV-discordant spouse from 2006-2010 in Henan province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the management status of HIV-discordant family in Henan province from 2006 to 2010.Methods Data on AIDS infected family from “AIDS Infected Family Follow-up Management and Analysis System” was collected and analized to uderstand the management status of HIV-discordant situation.Results The sero-conversion rates of HIV-discordant spouse were 1.94/100 person-years in 2006,1.79/100 person-years in 2007,0.59/100 person- years in 2008 and 0.41/100 person-years in 2009,showing the yearly decrease.Regarding the number of sero-conversion in the same year,male was significantly higher than female in 2007,but not in the other years.The ratio on the course of sero-conversion which was ＞2.5 years was increasing.Frequency of most HIV-discordant couples' sexual activities was 1-4 times/month with consistent use of condoms.Conclusion The population of HIV-discordant spouse in Henan province was stable.Regarding management of those HIV-discordant spouse,the acceptance on the rate of test rate was increasing.The course of sero-conversion was also increasing,with most HIV-discordant couples insist on condom use while the sero-conversion rate of HIV-discordant spouse appeared to be low.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization in uncultured amniocytes for detection of aneuploidy in 4210 prenatal cases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Almost all reported fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) kits for prenatal diagnosis use probes from foreign (non-Chinese) countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the reliability of domestic (Chinese) FISH probe sets to detect aneuploidies of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y related to prenatal diagnosis in 4210 cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cytogenetic karyotyping was carried out as a standard prenatal diagnostic test, and amniotic fluid cell interphase FISH analysis was performed using two sets of probes (centromeric probes for chromosomes 18, X, and Y, and locus-specific probes for chromosomes 13 and 21) provided by GP Medical Technologies, Beijing, China. Then we compared the two results and found the performance characteristics for informative FISH results of aneuploidies by the domestic kit probes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 4210 cases, 4126 cases generated karyotype results and 133 abnormal karyotypes (including 97 aneuploidies) were found. The FISH results of 98 cases (among them, 31 cases gave normal cytogenetic results) were uninformative. The rate of abnormal cases was 3.2% (133/4126). For the abnormal karyotypes, the rate of aneuploidy was 72.9% (97/133). Among the 97 aneuploidies, there were 58 cases of trisomy 21 (58/97, 59.8%), four cases of trisomy 13, 23 cases of trisomy 18, and 12 cases of sex chromosomal aneuploidies. The total concordance of the two methods was 97.9% (95/97; two cases were mosaics that had a low percentage of abnormal cells), and the concordance of trisomy 21, 13, and 18 by the two methods was 100%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The two sets of the domestic FISH kit probes are reliable for prenatal diagnosis. The results demonstrate that FISH is a rapid and accurate clinical method for prenatal identification of chromosome aneuploidies.</p>

Effect of micronutrients on the immune status of human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of micronutrients on the immune status of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 102 HIV-positive individuals were randomly divided into supplementation group (received micronutrients supplement) and control group (received placebo). Physical examinations were performed at baseline and at the end of the trial. Immune status were determined in both two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Age, height, weight, and sex ratio were not significantly different between two groups (all P>0.05). Baseline CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes and IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 levels were not significantly different between two groups (all P>0.05), while the levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes and IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 were significantly higher in supplementation group than in control group(all P0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Supplementation of micronutrients can improve the immune status of HIV-positives individuals.</p>

The newly reported HIV/AIDS cases and death of HIV cases from 2008 to 2009 in Henan province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the situation and cause of new reported HIV/AIDS cases and death of HIV cases in Henan province from 2008 to 2009.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of HIV/AIDS cases in Henan province before the end of 2009 was downloaded from "the history card downloading site" of the national online case reporting system on Jan. 5(th), 2010. There were 6990 HIV/AIDS new cases reported from 2008 to 2009, and 1214 cases died. Descriptive study was implemented including population characteristics of new reported HIV/AIDS cases and dead cases from 2008 to 2009. Survival time and cause of death were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among all the dead cases, the Han nationality accounted for 99.0% (1202 cases), and males were more than females (62.0% (753 cases) vs 38.0% (461 cases)), 64.7% (786 cases) were married, those under junior high school education level accounted for 93.7% (1137 cases), AIDS patients accounted for 93.2% (1131 cases) and 6.8% (83 cases) were HIV carriers; 65.5% (795 cases) were former plasma donors and transfusion blood/blood produces. The main cause of death were AIDS-related diseases, the proportion was 71.9% (873 cases). The median survival time after confirmed HIV positive was 62 days (Q(L) = 14 d, Q(U) = 151 d), 35.9% (436 cases) cases died in one month and 79.0% (959 cases) cases died in six months after confirmed HIV positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The newly reported dead cases of HIV/AIDS were mainly infected through former plasma donation and transfusion blood/blood produces in 2008 and 2009. The main cause of death was AIDS-related diseases.</p>

Effect of interval after surgery on in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in patients with stage III/IV endometriosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>For patients with severe endometriosis, the spontaneous pregnancy rates have been reported to be near 0 due to extreme distortion of normal pelvic anatomy. Surgery is one of the treatment options; however, if patients failed to conceive after surgery, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is effective. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the clinical characteristics of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with stage III/IV endometriosis, and to determine the impact of the interval from surgery to IVF/ICSI on outcome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and sixty patients who were diagnosed with stage III/IV endometriosis underwent IVF/ICSI cycles between February 2004 and June 2009 were enrolled. The mean interval from surgery to IVF, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, implantation rate, embryos transferred, and good embryos transferred were compared between two age groups (<or=35 years and >35 years).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean interval from surgery to IVF was (37.9+/-28.9) months for the group<or=35 years of age and (57.6+/-39.7) months for the group>35 years of age. Twenty-five IVF/ICSI cycles (12.8%) were performed during the first year after surgery, and 34.9% IVF/ICSI cycles were performed 2 years after surgery. No significant differences existed between the two groups with respect to the fertilization rate, implantation rate, number of embryos transferred, number of good embryos, clinical pregnancy rates, live birth rates, and cumulative clinical pregnancy rates (P>0.05). The probability of cumulative clinical pregnancies was 75%, 50%, and 25% ((29.0+/-4.8), (61.0+/-7.6), and (120.0+/-16.9) months after surgery, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For infertile patients with stage III/IV endometriosis, the optimal time to conceive by IVF/ICSI is <2 years after surgery; nevertheless, most of the patients took a longer time to conceive.</p>

Characteristics of abnormal menstrual cycle and polycystic ovary syndrome in community and hospital populations / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered to be the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. The involvement of an abnormal menstrual cycle in the etiology of PCOS remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the characteristics of abnormal menstrual cycles and their association with PCOS in community and hospital patient populations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Women with PCOS identified from 2111 permanent female residents in the community of Beijing and 506 outpatients obtained from the reproductive clinic of Peking University Third Hospital were recruited for this study, comprising the PCOS community group and the PCOS hospital group, respectively. Each group was further divided into four subgroups according to the length of menstrual cycles: <21 days; 21-34 days; 35-60 days; and >60 days. Women in each group were interviewed using a questionnaire to assess factors including age, age of menarche, menstrual cycle history, related family history, and modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) score. All women received transvaginal ultrasound scan and had fasting blood samples taken for endocrine evaluation. A two-tailed P value of <0.05 was considered significant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the community population, the prevalence of abnormal menstrual cycle was 27.19% (574/2111). The prevalence of PCOS in the community was 6.11% (129/2111) according to Rotterdam criteria. In the community group, the most common menstrual cycle length was 35-60 days, whereas for the hospital group, it was >60 days. In both the community and hospital groups, the most common phenotype of PCOS was that of Oligo/amenorrhea+PCO+ hyperandrogenism (HA) (O+P+H) (P=0.000). With increasing cycle length of 35-60 days to >60 days, the percentages of Oligo/amenorrhea+PCO (O+P) and O+P+H were found to significantly decrease in the community group and significantly increase in the hospital group (P=0.000 for each). In the hospital group, as the menstrual cycle length increased from 35-60 days to >60 days, the rate of spontaneous abortion increased significantly (P=0.000), meanwhile the rate of poorly-secreted endometrium and abnormal endometrial hyperplasia increased significantly (P=0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prevalence of PCOS in the Beijing community of women was 6.11%. Oligo/amenorrhea was the most common type of abnormal menstrual cycle and may be an indicator for PCOS and endometrial lesions. Gynecologists should seek relevant medical information from women in the community to promptly diagnose PCOS and then follow up patients for potential development of subsequent complications.</p>