Genome-wide screen of ovary-specific DNA methylation in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in ovary tissue from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy controls. DESIGN: Case-control study matched for age and body mass index. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENT(S): Ten women with PCOS who underwent ovarian drilling to induce ovulation and 10 healthy women who were undergoing laparoscopic sterilization, hysterectomy for benign conditions, diagnostic laparoscopy for pelvic pain, or oophorectomy for nonovarian indications. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns determined by immunoprecipitation and microarray (MeDIP-chip) analysis. RESULT(S): The methylation levels were statistically significantly higher in CpG island shores (CGI shores), which lie outside of core promoter regions, and lower within gene bodies in women with PCOS relative to the controls. In addition, high CpG content promoters were the most frequently hypermethylated promoters in PCOS ovaries but were more often hypomethylated in controls. Second, 872 CGIs, specifically methylated in PCOS, represented 342 genes that could be associated with various molecular functions, including protein binding, hormone activity, and transcription regulator activity. Finally, methylation differences were validated in seven genes by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. These genes correlated to several functional families related to the pathogenesis of PCOS and may be potential biomarkers for this disease. CONCLUSION(S): Our results demonstrated that epigenetic modification differs between PCOS and normal ovaries, which may help to further understand the pathophysiology of this disease.

Lack of efficacy of Tai Chi in improving quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether Tai Chi (TC) benefits breast cancer survivors (BCS) on quality of life (QoL). We therefore undertook a meta-analysis to assess this question. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computerized search through electronic databases was performed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was QoL, while secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and muscle strength. RESULTS: Five RCTs involving 407 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled standardized mean differences were 0.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.35-0.54) for physical well- being, 0.03 (95%CI: -0.18-0.25) for social/family well-being, 0.24 (95%CI: 0.02-0.45) for emotional well-being, 0.23 (95%CI: -0.03-0.49) for functional well-being, and 0.09 (95%CI: -0.19-0.36) for additional concerns. TC failed to improve BMI, BMD, and muscle strength. CONCLUSIONS: There is currently lack of sufficient evidence to support TC improving QoL and other important clinical endpoints.

Characteristics, sources, and transport of tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A in soils from a typical e-waste recycling area in South China.

We studied the tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and bisphenol A (BPA) patterns and their sources and transport in different land-use soils from Longtang, South China, a typical electronic waste recycling center. We also studied the reductive debromination of TBBPA in paddy soils. TBBPA and BPA concentrations (on a dry weight basis) were undetected-220 and 0.50-325 ng/g, respectively, and both increased, by similar factors, in the following order: pond sediments < paddy soils = vegetable soils < wasteland < dismantling sites < former open burning sites. BPA concentrations were higher than TBBPA concentrations in all six land-use soils, and they correlated significantly. TBBPA and BPA were transported through the soil profiles, being found at relatively high concentrations in soil 0-40 cm deep, but only at low concentrations in soil 40-80 cm deep. The surface soil concentrations appear to have been strongly affected by crude recycling activities, and former open burning and dismantling sites were the main point sources. The areas surrounding the open burning sites and dismantling sites have been contaminated not only by the dumping of waste residues but also by fly ash deposition, even though the agricultural soils are far from the point pollution sources. Some BPA in the soils is likely to be the reductive debromination product of TBBPA because the long rainy season promotes TBBPA transformation and because BPA can persist for a long time. Incubation experiments confirmed that TBBPA could be transformed into BPA and that BPA could accumulate in waterlogged paddy soils, and this may be why BPA concentrations were higher than TBBPA concentrations in the Longtang area.

Promoter methylation of CYP19A1 gene in Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

AIMS: This study aimed to examine the methylation status of the CYP19A1 promoter region in Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. METHODS: A case-control study was designed that involved 10 PCOS patients and 10 controls. Ovary tissues obtained from 10 women with PCOS and 10 healthy controls were matched for body mass index and age. Methylation of CYP19A1 promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR. CYP19A1 expression was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: The methylation level of CYP19A1 promoter in PCOS samples was significantly higher than in controls (0.698 ± 0.192 vs. 0.210 ± 0.064, p < 0.01). A significant downregulation of CYP19A1 mRNA and protein expression levels was observed in PCOS ovary tissues. Furthermore, the scatter plot revealed that promoter methylation was inversely correlated with CYP19A1 mRNA level (Pearson's correlation -0.820, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CYP19A1 expression is frequently repressed in PCOS ovaries due to the promoter hypermethylation. CYP19A1 promoter hypermethylation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Heterogeneous photodegradation of pentachlorophenol and iron cycling with goethite, hematite and oxalate under UVA illumination.

Heterogeneous photodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the goethite (alpha-FeOOH) and hematite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3)) systems with oxalate under UVA illumination was investigated. The PCP degradation, dechlorination and detoxification, in terms of Microtox acute toxicity, were all achieved to the higher efficiency in the hematite suspension than in the goethite suspension. The optimal initial concentration of oxalic acid (C(ox)(0)) for the PCP degradation with goethite and hematite under the experimental conditions was found to be 1.2mM, since sufficient Fe(III) as Fe(C(2)O(4))(3)(3-) and Fe(II) as Fe(C(2)O(4))(2)(2-) can be formed at C(ox)(0)>or=1.2mM. The main intermediates of PCP degradation were identified by GC-MS, HPLC and IC analyses. It was found that the cycling process between Fe(III) and Fe(II) in both the goethite and hematite systems occurred more vigorously at the initial stage and gradually became gentle, while the rate of PCP photodegradation varied from fast to slow during the reaction time. Furthermore, the formation of H(2)O(2) during photoreaction was studied to explore its relationship with the photodegradation efficiency and the iron cycling process.

[Clinical study of effect of laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment on pelvic endometriosis-associated infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of laparoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of infertile women with endometriosis. METHODS: Totally 314 infertile cases were diagnosed as having endometriosis by laparoscopy, and 58, 173, 68 and 15 cases were assigned to stage I, II, III and IV groups respectively according to the revised classification American Fertility Society (r-AFS). Laparoscopic treatment included excision of ovarian endometriosis lesions, lysis of adhesions, endocoagulation of pelvic endometriosis lesions with controlled heating (100 degrees C) and lavaging of the peritoneal cavity. The duration of follow-up after laparoscopic surgery was censored at 36 weeks. Women who became pregnant were followed up to 20 weeks' gestation. The U and chi(2) tests were used to determine significance of difference in the rate of pregnancy and spontaneous abortion between all clinical stages. RESULTS: Of all the 314 cases, 254 became pregnant within 36 weeks after surgery. The cumulative numbers of pregnancy were 50 (86.2%, 50/58), 141 (81.5%, 141/173), 52 (76.5%, 52/68) and 11 (73.3%, 11/15) in stage I-IV groups respectively. The accumulative pregnancy rates were, however, not significantly different among stages I-IV (P > 0.05). The accumulative pregnancy rate within 24 weeks after surgery (93.7%, 238/254) was higher than that within 25 - 36 weeks after surgery (6.3%, 16/254). Of 254 cases who were pregnant, 12 had miscarriage. There was no significant difference of miscarriage rate between all stages (P > 0.05). While the rate of miscarriage was higher within 12 weeks of gestation (83.3%, 10/12) than that of after 12 weeks of gestation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Early lesions of endometriosis and pelvic factors for infertility can be found by laparoscopy. And pregnancy rate of endometriosis-associated infertility can be improved by laparoscopic surgery. To clean the menstrual blood pool and ablate peritoneal lesion with endocoagulation as completely as possible have significant importance for enhancement of fecundity in infertile women with endometriosis, especially for stage I-II cases.