The dynamic expression of SOX17 in germ cells from human female foetus and adult ovaries after specification.

Background: SOX17 has been identified as a critical factor in specification of human primordial germ cells, but whether SOX17 regulates development of germ cells after sex differentiation is poorly understood. Methods: We collected specimens of gonadal ridge from an embryo (n=1), and ovaries of foetuses (n=23) and adults (n=3). Germ cells were labelled with SOX17, VASA (classic germ cells marker), phosphohistone H3 (PHH3, mitosis marker) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3, meiosis marker). Results: SOX17 was detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus of oogonia and oocytes of primordial and primary follicles from 15 to 28 gestational weeks (GW). However, it was exclusively expressed in cytoplasm of oogonia at 7 GW, and in nucleus of oocytes in secondary follicles. Co-expression rates of SOX17 in VASA+ germ cells ranged from 81.29% to 97.81% in foetuses. Co-staining rates of SOX17 and PHH3 or SCP3 were 0%-34% and 0%-57%, respectively. Interestingly, we distinguished a subpopulation of SOX17+VASA- germ cells in fetal ovaries. These cells clustered in the cortex and could be co-stained with the mitosis marker PHH3 but not the meiosis marker SCP3. Conclusions: The dynamic expression of SOX17 was detected in human female germ cells. We discovered a population of SOX17+ VASA- germ cells clustering at the cortex of ovaries. We could not find a relationship between mitosis or meiosis and SOX17 or VASA staining in germ cells. Our findings provide insight into the potential role of SOX17 involving germ cells maturation after specification, although the mechanism is unclear and needs further investigation.

Predictive value of serum uric acid on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in urban Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular risk has been debated for decades. Several large studies have provided conflicting results regarding the clinical significance of elevated SUA levels in cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SUA and CVD and all-cause mortality and their potential diagnostic value. METHODS: A total of 3570 in-patients ranging in age from 56 to 95 years (mean (67.36 +/- 11.36) years) were selected from 20 hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai. A carefully designed questionnaire was used to gather baseline data of each patient. All patients were divided into two main groups according to their SUA levels: high SUA and normal SUA groups. Serum indices and other important parameters were measured. RESULTS: Compared with normal SUA group, high SUA group had significant difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), body mass index (BMI), and age (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). High SUA prevailed in female and patients with history of essential hypertension, while history of smoking and diabetes showed no significant difference between two groups. All-cause and CVD mortality occurred more frequently in high SUA group than in normal SUA group. In the accumulative survival analysis, high SUA group had lower survival rate than normal SUA group both in CVD and all-cause mortality. COX regression analysis indicated that the history of smoking, age and high SUA were independent risk factors for the development of CVD. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary observations suggest that patients with high SUA levels would face higher risk of mortality. SUA measurement may be applied as a routine predictor for clinical assessment.

[Value of measuring ankle brachial index for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease in Chinese patients with high cardiovascular risk].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of measuring ankle brachial index (ABI) for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease(PAD) compared with conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard. METHODS: A total of 383 consecutive inpatients (245 male, mean age 64.1 +/- 11.7 years) underwent both conventional DSA and ABI measurements. RESULTS: The rate of statin intervention was 90.9%, ACEI 69.2%, antiplatelet 96.6% and beta-blockers 67.9%. The intravascular stenosis was classified into six degrees: normal, < 30%, 30% - 49%, 50% - 69%, 70% - 89% and > or = 90%. Compared to the traditional gold standard (DSA) in diagnosis PDA, the ABI value decreased in proportion to the severity of PAD (the ABI value was 1.08 +/- 0.11, 1.05 +/- 0.16, 0.99 +/- 0.17, 0.66 +/- 0.24, 0.55 +/- 0.28 and 0.54 +/- 0.00 respectively in the six ranks). There was a significant correlation between DSA and ABI in diagnosis PAD. CONCLUSION: ABI measurement is an accurate and reliable non-invasive alternative to conventional DSA in the assessment of lower extremity arteries in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

[The relationship between ankle brachial index and all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in Chinese metabolic syndrome male cohort].

OBJECTIVE: Ankle brachial index (ABI) is thought to be an efficient means of objectively assessing the potency of lower extremity arterial system. This study is aimed to evaluate the relationship between ABI and cardiovascular disease CVD mortality in Chinese male patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: 1224 Chinese male patients with MS were selected from Beijing and Shanghai and the baseline examinations were carried out. All the participants were divided into 2 main groups: ABI < or = 0.9 (n = 268) and ABI 0.9 - 1.4 (n = 956). and they were followed up for (13.2 +/- 2.7) months. RESULTS: As to baseline characteristics, age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), hypertensive disease and diabetes mellitus morbidity and smoking history had significant difference between the 2 groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). All-cause mortality and CVD mortality decreased gradually while the ABI increased from 0.4 to 1.4. With Cox regression analysis, relative ratio (RR) value of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality also showed the decreasing trend with the rising of ABI. CONCLUSION: In Chinese male patients with MS, ABI is one of the most important parameters in indicating possible prognosis and foreseeing all-cause and CVD mortality. Male subjects with relatively old age, higher systolic blood pressure, hypertensive disease and diabetes mellitus morbidity, smoking history may be associated with lower ABI (< or = 0.9) and relatively higher all-cause and CVD mortality. Our results suggest the urgent need for frequent measurement of the ABI in clinical practice before diagnosing peripheral artery disease and making therapeutic decision, especially in some high-risk population such as male patients with MS.

[The relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and peripheral artery disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and peripheral arterial disease. METHODS: The study population comprised 643 subjects aged at least 40 years in whom both CRP and ankle-brachial index were measured. The survey included information on demographic characteristics, clinical examinations and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Ankle-brachial index (ABI) < 0.9 was diagnostic of PAD. RESULTS: 64 subjects (10%) were diagnosed as PAD. The prevalence of current smoking, hypertension, diabetes, low HDL cholesterol and history of cardiovascular disease in the participants with PAD were higher than without (P < 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and history of cardiovascular disease was higher in subjects with high CRP (P < 0.05). In logistic regression analyses, the moderate CRP group and high CRP group had a two-fold higher OR compared with the low CRP group. The P-trend across CRP groups was statistically significant (P = 0.036). High log-transformed hs-CRP level was significantly related to PAD after adjustment for the cardiovascular risk factors mentioned above (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: hs-CRP is related to PAD and high level hs-CRP is an independent risk factor for PAD in Chinese adults aged 40 years and more.

[Relationship between low ankle-brachial index and mortality of men with several atherosclerotic risk factors: a cohort study of 1941 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and all cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in men with several atherosclerotic risk factors. METHODS: 1941 male patients with no less than two atherosclerotic risk factors, aged 67 (36 approximately 96), from 20 hospitals in Shanghai and Beijing, underwent examination of ABI and were followed up for 13.6 +/- 1.3 months to record the all cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. RESULTS: The baseline examination showed that 467 patients were with the ABI 0.9 (7.7% and 1.8%, both P < 0.01). After adjusting other risk factors, the patients with 0.41 < ABI

[The relationship of ankle brachial index to all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in Chinese male patients with hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the relationship of low ankle brachial index (ABI) to all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in Chinese male patients with hypertension. METHODS: The data of 1606 male participants with hypertension from the eight hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai were analyzed. ABI was ascertained at baseline by measuring the systolic pressures on bilateral brachial and tibial arteries. ABI < or = 0.9 was used as the diagnostic criteria for PAD identification. The follow-up survey was conducted from November 2005 to January 2006. RESULTS: Of 1606 male participants with hypertension at baseline, 406 (25.3% ) were in low-ABI group and 1200 (74.7%) were in normal-ABI group. Older age, TC, history of diabetes, history of smoking and 2-grade hypertension were associated with low ABI in male patients with hypertension. During the (12.87 +/- 2.94) months follow-up, there were 153 deaths. Of which, 62 were attributable to CVD. Low ABI was associated with adjusted all-cause and CVD mortality risk of 1.728 (1.223-2.441) and 2.388 (1.409-4.046) respectively in Cox regression models. Rate of survival for the low-ABI group was significantly worse than for the normal-ABI group. The risk of all-cause and CVD mortality was increased with the decline of ABI. CONCLUSION: Low ABI is independently associated with the high risks of all-cause and CVD mortality in Chinese male patients with hypertension. The utility of ABI as a tool for predicting mortality in the patients with hypertension should be popularized.

[Research of the relationship between smoking and peripheral arterial disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between smoking and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) by investigate the smoking status and measuring the (ABI). METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 3379 male patients hospitalized in the departments of cardiovascular internal medicine, nephrology, and endocrinology, aged 40-98, 2253 smokers and 1126 non-smokers, to understand their life styles, anamnesis, and smoking history. All patients underwent measurement of systolic blood pressures of the upper arm and ankle so as to calculate the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Measurement. An ABI less than or equal to 0.9 was considered to be indicative of significant PAD. RESULTS: The ABI levels in the smoker group were significantly lower than those in the non-smoker group (P < 0.05). The prevalence of PAD was 24.94% in the smoker group, and 20.60% in the non-smoker group. The age-adjusted OR of the smokers was 1.480 (95% CI: 1.237-1.770), with a significant dosage-effect relationship between smoking and PAD. CONCLUSION: Smoking is a significant risk factor of PAD. The prevalence of PAD was increased with the dosage of smoking.