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AIM:To investigate the expression of FIZZ1 ( found in inflammatory zone 1) in the lung tissues from smoking-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats and to explore the potential role of FIZZ1 in air-way remodeling in COPD. METHODS:The male Wistar rats (n=70) were used in the study. The rats were randomly di-vided into COPD group and control group. The rat model of COPD was established by inhaling cigarette smoke alone. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the lung tissues for firming the successful modeling. The protein ex-pression of FIZZ1 in the lung tissues at different time points was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted. The concentrations of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in both BALF and serum were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:HE staining showed that the inflammatory response was chronic in the lung tissues of model group at 20th week and gradually showed pathologi-cal features of COPD. The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that in the model group, FIZZ1 protein expression was significantly increased (P<0. 05). Total number of inflammatory cells in BALF in the cigarette smoked rats was significantly higher from 4th week (P<0. 05). Within a certain range, compared with the control group, the concen-trations of inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and TNF-α in both BALF and serum were increased in the model group ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS:FIZZ1 may be involved in the occurrence and development of COPD with the mechanism of causing infiltration of inflammatory cells and secretion of cytokines.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association between parental genetic polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C/T and occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in offspring in Shandong Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTHFR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Parents of 89 NSCL/P patients treated at Qilu Hospital from August, 2006 to August, 2008 and those of 64 healthy children were recruited in this case-control study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Frequencies of T and C alleles in mothers of patients and healthy children were 65.73% and 46.09%, and 34.27% and 53.91%, respectively (Chi-square=13.663, P<0.01). Offspring whose mothers had T alleles were 2.243 times more likely to develop NSCL/P (95%CI: 1.408-3.572). Frequencies of T and C alleles in fathers of patients and healthy children were 62.92% and 55.47%, and 37.08% and 44.53%, respectively (Chi-square=2.222, P>0.05). The chance for parents of the patient and control groups to bear an affected fetus carrying homozygous mutations were 43% and 29%, respectively (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In Shandong Province, maternal genotype for the MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism has a significant impact on the occurrence of NSCL/P in their offspring, whilst paternal genotype for this polymorphism may not be a risk factor for NSCL/P in their offspring.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Alleles , Case-Control Studies , Cleft Lip , Genetics , Cleft Palate , Genetics , Genotype , Homozygote , Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) , Genetics , Polymorphism, GeneticABSTRACT
0.05). Compared with model group, levels of DA and DOPAC in striatum reduced in Xieqing group (P
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<p><b>AIM</b>To manage male infertility with obstructive azoospermia by means of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety azoospermic patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (BAVD, n=58) or bilateral caudal epididymal obstruction (BCEO, n=32) requesting for fine needle aspiration (FNA), PESA and IUI were recruited. The obstruction was diagnosed by vasography and determination of the fructose, carnitine and alpha-glucosidase levels in the seminal fluid.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean sperm motility, density, abnormal sperm and total sperm count of the caput epdidymis were 16 %+/-22 %, (12+/-31) x 10(6)/mL, 55 %+/-36 % and (16+/-14) x 10(6), respectively. In the 90 couples, a total of 74 PESA procedures and 66 cycles of IUI were performed. Three pregnancies resulted, including one twin pregnancy giving birth to two healthy boys, one single pregnancy with a healthy girl and another single pregnancy aborted at week 6 of conception. The pregnancy rate per IUI cycle was 4.5 %.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The birth of normal, healthy infants by IUI using PESA indicates that the caput epididymal sperm possess fertilization capacity. The PESA-IUI programme is a practical and economical procedure for the management of patients with obstructive azoospermia.</p>