Discovery of new genetic loci for male sexual orientation in Han population.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the genetic factors partly influence the development of same-sex sexual behavior, but most genetic studies have focused on people of primarily European ancestry, potentially missing important biological insights. Here, we performed a two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) with a total sample of 1478 homosexual males and 3313 heterosexual males in Han Chinese populations and identified two genetic loci (rs17320865, Xq27.3, FMR1NB, Pmeta = 8.36 × 10-8, OR = 1.29; rs7259428, 19q12, ZNF536, Pmeta = 7.58 × 10-8, OR = 0.75) showing consistent association with male sexual orientation. A fixed-effect meta-analysis including individuals of Han Chinese (n = 4791) and European ancestries (n = 408,995) revealed 3 genome-wide significant loci of same-sex sexual behavior (rs9677294, 2p22.1, SLC8A1, Pmeta = 1.95 × 10-8; rs2414487, 15q21.3, LOC145783, Pmeta = 4.53 × 10-9; rs2106525, 7q31.1, MDFIC, Pmeta = 6.24 × 10-9). These findings may provide new insights into the genetic basis of male sexual orientation from a wider population scope. Furthermore, we defined the average ZNF536-immunoreactivity (ZNF536-ir) concentration in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) as lower in homosexual individuals than in heterosexual individuals (0.011 ± 0.001 vs 0.021 ± 0.004, P = 0.013) in a postmortem study. In addition, compared with heterosexuals, the percentage of ZNF536 stained area in the SCN was also smaller in the homosexuals (0.075 ± 0.040 vs 0.137 ± 0.103, P = 0.043). More homosexual preference was observed in FMR1NB-knockout mice and we also found significant differences in the expression of serotonin, dopamine, and inflammation pathways that were reported to be related to sexual orientation when comparing CRISPR-mediated FMR1NB knockout mice to matched wild-type target C57 male mice.

Plasma gelsolin levels and 1-year mortality after first-ever ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: Plasma gelsolin depletion has been associated with poor outcome of critically ill patients. We sought to investigate change in plasma gelsolin level after ischemic stroke and to evaluate its relation with disease outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty healthy controls and 172 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were included. Plasma samples were obtained within 24 hours from stroke onset. Its concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma gelsolin level in stroke patients was significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. A multivariate analysis showed that plasma gelsolin level was an independent predictor for 1-year mortality (odds ratio, 0.945; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.918-0.974; P = .0002) and negatively associated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (t = -4.802, P < .001) and plasma C-reactive protein level (t = -4.197, P < .001). A receiver operating characteristic curve identified that a baseline plasma gelsolin level less than 52.0 mg/L predicted 1-year mortality of patients with 73.0% sensitivity and 65.2% specificity (area under curve [AUC], 0.738; 95% CI, 0.666-0.802). The predictive value of the gelsolin concentration was similar to that of NIHSS score (AUC, 0.742; 95% CI, 0.670-0.806; P = .940). Gelsolin improved the AUC of NIHSS score to 0.814 (95% CI, 0.747-0.869; P = .032). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma gelsolin level is a useful, complementary tool to predict mortality after ischemic stroke.

Effect of Gan-Pi regulatory needling in treating chloasma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Gan-Pi regulatory needling (GPRN) in treating chloasma and its influences on female sex hormones, superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxide (LPO) and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). METHODS: Ninety chloasma patients were equally randomized to three groups, the treatment group treated with GPRN, the control group treated with conventional Western medicine and the blank group untreated. Changes in the scores of skin lesion (area and color) and symptom, as well as blood levels of female sex hormones, MSH, SOD and LPO were observed and compared after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: In the treatment group, the scores of skin lesion area and color were reduced from 2.76 + or - 0.96 and 2.48 + or - 0.78 before treatment to 1.42 + or - 0.42 and 1.03 + or - 0.41 after treatment, respectively, while in the control group they were from 2.78 + or - 1.06 and 2.53 + or - 0.88 to 1.58 + or - 1.23 and 1.28 + or - 0.96, respectively, all showing significant changes (P<0.05); the scores were insignificantly changed in the blank group (P>0.05). At the same time, the score of symptoms in the treatment group significantly improved after treatment (P<0.05), significantly different from that of the other two groups. Comparison of female sex hormones among groups showed no significant differences either before or after treatment. The level of LPO decreased and SOD increased in both the treatment group and the control group significantly (all P<0.05), but significant lowering of MSH was only seen in the treatment group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GPRN can effectively lessen the size and lighten the color of chloasma, improve the accompanying symptoms in patients and decrease LPO and MSH levels and increase the SOD level, but will not affect the level of the female sex hormones.

[Application of a calling and queuing system in blood sampling in the clinical laboratory].

This paper introduces the application of a calling and queuing system for blood sample collection in a large hospital in China. Besides the basic function, it has following functions. (a) A real name system: get the number according to the laboratory application form to prevent the phenomena of buying a number and an empty number. (b) Two times waiting: the patient should wait at the main hall, then at the blood sampling window so as to improve the work efficiency. (c) The flowchart for an outpatient blood testing is as following: getting the number --> waiting --> blood sampling --> getting the test information report. This system is capable of not only optimizing the work flow, but also improving the clinical environment. It shortens the patient's waiting time and raises the laboratory quality as well.

[Application of comparison method in internal quality control of hematology analyzer by using fresh blood].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the comparison method on internal control of hematology analyzer by using fresh blood. METHODS: The hematology analyzer with well function was selected as the reference analyzer, fresh blood samples from healthy subjects were measured by reference analyzer and the values were used to calibrate compared hematology analyzers. The acceptable limits of relative deviation of WBC,RBC, HGB,HCT, PLT were established by comparative experiments during three months. The results of fresh blood samples from patients with low/medium/high levels measured by compared analyzer were compared with those from reference analyzer, the relative deviation of WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, PLT was calculated respectively. The internal quality control charts in laboratory information system were established, with date as x-axis, relative deviation as y-axis. The acceptable relative deviation limits were set to be +/-2 s, and to be used for laboratory quality control. RESULT: The relative deviation of WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, PLT with high, medium, low levels were(0.75+/-2.964)%, (1.19+/-2.488)%,(1.43+/-2.439)%; (-0.39+/-1.327)%, (-0.26+/-1.297)%, (-0.35+/-1.095)%û(-0.43+/-1.393)%, (-0.17+/-1.139)%, (0.24+/-1.166)%û(-.43+/-1.362)%, (-0.36+/-1.381)%, (-0.57+/-1.299)%û(-0.93+/-4.330)%,(0.04+/-4.118)%, (-0.41+/-4.149)%, respectively in 2006. As the second instrument, the compared analyzer was involved in College of American Pathologists Proficiency Testing with satisfactory results, the bias of WBC,RBC, HGB, HCT, PLT were within (-0.5 approximately 5.1)%, (-1.0 approximately 1.6)%, (-1.7 approximately 1.4)%, (-1.5 approximately 1.3)%, (-4.5 approximately 7.4)%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The quality control on compared hematology analyzer can be effectively, conveniently and economically performed using this method.