Cortical activation of neuromuscular electrical stimulation synchronized mirror neuron rehabilitation strategies: an fNIRS study.

Background: The mirror neuron system (MNS) plays a key role in the neural mechanism underlying motor learning and neural plasticity. Action observation (AO), action execution (AE), and a combination of both, known as action imitation (AI), are the most commonly used rehabilitation strategies based on MNS. It is possible to enhance the cortical activation area and amplitude by combining traditional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with other top-down and active rehabilitation strategies based on the MNS theory. Objective: This study aimed to explore the cortical activation patterns induced by NMES synchronized with rehabilitation strategies based on MNS, namely NMES+AO, NMES+AE, and NMES+AI. In addition, the study aimed to assess the feasibility of these three novel rehabilitative treatments in order to provide insights and evidence for the design, implementation, and application of brain-computer interfaces. Methods: A total of 70 healthy adults were recruited from July 2022 to February 2023, and 66 of them were finally included in the analysis. The cortical activation patterns during NMES+AO, NMES+AE, and NMES+AI were detected using the functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique. The action to be observed, executed, or imitated was right wrist and hand extension, and two square-shaped NMES electrodes were placed on the right extensor digitorum communis. A block design was adopted to evaluate the activation intensity of the left MNS brain regions. Results: General linear model results showed that compared with the control condition, the number of channels significantly activated (PFDR < 0.05) in the NMES+AO, NMES+AE, and NMES+AI conditions were 3, 9, and 9, respectively. Region of interest (ROI) analysis showed that 2 ROIs were significantly activated (PFDR < 0.05) in the NMES+AO condition, including BA6 and BA44; 5 ROIs were significantly activated in the NMES+AE condition, including BA6, BA40, BA44, BA45, and BA46; and 6 ROIs were significantly activated in the NMES+AI condition, including BA6, BA7, BA40, BA44, BA45, and BA46. Conclusion: The MNS was activated during neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with an AO, AE, and AI intervention. The synchronous application of NMES and mirror neuron rehabilitation strategies is feasible in clinical rehabilitation. The fNIRS signal patterns observed in this study could be used to develop brain-computer interface and neurofeedback therapy rehabilitation devices.

Application of Optical Genome Mapping Technology in Detecting Complex Chromosomal Rearrangement / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the application of optical genome mapping （OGM） technology in detecting complex chromosomal rearrangement. MethodsWe recruited five patients who were diagnosed as complex chromosomal rearrangement at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2022 to June 2023. They underwent OGM， nanopore sequencing and pre-implantation genetic testing （PGT）. The results were compared with the results of karyotype and chromosomal microarray analysis （CMA）/ copy number variation sequencing （CNV-Seq）. ResultsOGM could detect translocation， invert inversion， and triplet translocation， which were consistent with the results of OGM and CMA/ CNV-Seq. But OGM could not detect Robertsonian translocation. ConclusionBecause of its ultra-long reads， OGM realizes the detection across repetitive regions， and it has great advantages when applied in patients with complex chromosome rearrangement or uncertain karyotype analysis. It can accurately locate breakpoints.

[Annual Nitrogen Removal Efficiency and Change in Abundance of Nitrogen Cycling Microorganisms in Swine Wastewater Treated by Crop Straw Materials].

Based on previous research, using straw material to treat swine wastewater can effectively reduce the concentration of nitrogen (N); however, the annual N-removal efficiency and change in the abundance of N-cycling functional genes remain unclear. In this study, four treatments (wheat straw, rice straw, corn stalk, and CK) were set up, with the aim of studying the annual N-removal efficiency and change in the abundance of functional genes. Our results showed that:① the total nitrogen (TN) removal and NH4+-N removal efficiency were the best in the first six months and were significantly reduced in the following six months. In addition, the TN removal and NH4+-N efficiency in straw and wheat straw were better than those in corn straw. The TN-removal efficiency in straw and wheat straw were 32.81%±11.34% and 32.99%±9.60%, respectively. The NH4+-N removal efficiency in straw and wheat straw were 35.3%±13.23% and 34.97%±12.00%, respectively. ② The abundance of N-cycling functional genes significantly increased by the addition of straw materials, compared with that of the CK (P<0.05). The average abundances of nirK, nirS, and hzsB were 6.45×109 copies·L-1, 6.18×109 copies·L-1, and 2.31×109 copies·L-1, respectively. The average abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were 6.12×1010 copies·L-1 and 4.93×109 copies·L-1, respectively. The average hzsB gene abundance was 2.31×109 copies·L-1. The average abundance of 16S rRNA in the treatment was 8.90×1010 copies·L-1. The abundances of hzsB and nirS genes in the straw and wheat straw were higher than those in the other treatment, indicating that the activities of anaerobic ammonia oxidation and denitrifying microorganisms were significantly increased by the addition of straw and wheat straw (P<0.05). In addition, the abundance of AOA and AOB genes were increased in wheat straw, suggesting that wheat straw could promote nitrification. The results provided data supporting the molecular mechanism of nitrogen removal in swine wastewater treatment with straw materials.

Effect of Chuanxiong Rhizoma on the absorption and clearance of four coumarins in Angelicae Dahuricae Radix / 药学学报

To study the changes in the pharmacokinetic behavior of four coumarins (bergapten, oxypeucedanin, imperatorin and isoimperatorin) in rats before and after combinating Angelicae Dahuricae Radix with Chuanxiong Rhizoma. The plasma concentrations of the drugs were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) for dose response and time dependent curves. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 3.2.8, and SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the differences of main pharmacokinetic parameters between the two groups. The result showed: comparing with Angelicae Dahuricae Radix group, the area under drug time curve (AUC0-24 h) of bergapten, oxypeucedanin and imperatorin increased by 177.2%, 97.14% and 54.43% respectively, AUC0-∞ increased by 282.3%, 104.2%, and 75.40% respectively, and clearance rate (CLZ/F) decreased by 68.26%, 51.08% and 43.98% respectively; the peak drug concentration (Cmax) of four coumarins was significantly increased; the distribution volume (VZ/F) of bergapten was significantly decreased. These data indicated that Chuanxiong Rhizoma can promote the absorption of coumarins in Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, slow down the elimination of coumarins, and increase their bioavailability in vivo. The animal experiment scheme in this study has been approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (approval number: BUCM-4-2020083105-3072).

Predicting COVID-19 malignant progression with AI techniques

Background and purposeThe worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) greatly challenges public medical systems. With limited medical resources, the treatment priority is determined by the severity of patients. However, many mild outpatients quickly deteriorate into severe/critical stage. It is crucial to early identify them and give timely treatment for optimizing treatment strategy and reducing mortality. This study aims to establish an AI model to predict mild patients with potential malignant progression. MethodsA total of 133 consecutively mild COVID-19 patients at admission who was hospitalized in Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital from January 3 to February 13, 2020, were selected in this retrospective IRB-approved study. All mild patients were categorized into groups with or without malignant progression. The clinical and laboratory data at admission, the first CT, and the follow-up CT at the severe/critical stage of the two groups were compared. Both multivariate logistic regression and deep learning-based methods were used to build the prediction models, with their area under ROC curves (AUC) compared. ResultsMultivariate logistic regression depicted 6 risk factors for malignant progression: age >55years (OR 5.334, 95%CI 1.8-15.803), comorbid with hypertension (OR 5.093, 95%CI 1.236-20.986), a decrease of albumin (OR 4.01, 95%CI 1.216-13.223), a decrease of lymphocyte (OR 3.459, 95%CI 1.067-11.209), the progressive consolidation from CT1 to CTsevere (OR 1.235, 95%CI 1.018-1.498), and elevated HCRP (OR 1.015, 95%CI 1.002-1.029); and one protective factor: the presence of fibrosis at CT1 (OR 0.656, 95%CI 0.473-0.91). By combining the clinical data and the temporal information of the CT data, our deep learning-based models achieved the best AUC of 0.954, which outperformed logistic regression (AUC: 0.893), ConclusionsOur deep learning-based methods can identify the mild patients who are easy to deteriorate into severe/critical cases efficiently and accurately, which undoubtedly helps to optimize the treatment strategy, reduce mortality, and relieve the medical pressure.

[Treatment of Highly Concentrated Swine Wastewater and Its Degradation Processes Using Three Matrix Materials].

The direct discharge of wastewater from pig farms can restrict wetland plant growth meaning that constructed wetlands (CWs) have generally low treatment efficiency. The treatment of farming wastewater using pre-ecological treatment technologies can be used to ensure that effluent concentrations reach the tolerable limits of wetland plants. This study focused on the efficient use of crop straw for reducing the pollution load of swine wastewater. Using field-scale pilot tests, wheat straw, straw, and corn stalk were used as test biological matrix pool fillers to treat the farming wastewater. Continuous intake of wastewater and a hydraulic retention time of 7 days was adopted. When the average concentrations of COD, TN, NH4+-N, NO3--N, and TP in the influent were 1652.83 mg·L-1, 371.31 mg·L-1, 303.51 mg·L-1, 0.67 mg·L-1, and 65.22 mg·L-1, respectively, wheat straw had the greatest removal effect on COD, TN, and TP, achieving a removal rate of 32.1%, 40.9%, and 33.3%, respectively. The removal efficiency of straw on NH4+-N was highest, reaching 43.4%. After 180 days, the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose of the three matrix materials were not completely decomposed. The degradation rate of lignin was lower than for cellulose and hemicellulose; the degradation of lignin and cellulose in the straw was fastest; and the degradation hemicellulose in wheat straw was fastest. The results show that wheat straw and straw offer a higher efficiency treatment for swine wastewater than corn stalk, and the suggested replacement cycle period is five months. These results provide initial data to support the application of biological matrix materials in the treatment of swine wastewater.

Ovarian Stimulation and In Vitro Maturation for Fertility Preservation in Female Cancer Patients / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To determine the effect of ovarian stimulation or in vitro maturation for fertility preservation in female cancer patients. 【Methods】 A retrospective study was conducted in 27 females who underwent fertility preservation procedures in our center.【Results】Female patients were included in this study with an average age of 27.1. Patients spent on average for 6.8 d to retrieve oocytes since their attendance day. Total amount of Gn was on average 910 U per patient and for patients with breast cancer，the average estrogen level on trigger day reached 360 pg/mL. The maturation rate of oocytes from ovarian stimulation cycles was 82.6% ，which of that in emergency in- vitro maturation cycles was 38.1%.【Conclusion】The development capability of oocytes from cancer patients are comparable with those of other infertility patients. Peak estradiol levels were controlled by the administration of letrozole. In vitro maturation of oocytes performed at random time of the menstrual cycle may result in a lower maturation rate ，which is associated with the time limit of the follow- up cancer treatment. In conclusion，clinicians should consider a more holistic approach for female cancer patients，which focuses not only on the characteristic of the primary cancer but also on the phase of the menstrual cycle at their attendance day.

The effect of noise exposure on insulin sensitivity in mice may be mediated by the JNK/IRS1 pathway

BACKGROUND@#Epidemiological studies have suggested that noise exposure may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and experimental studies have demonstrated that noise exposure can induce insulin resistance in rodents. The aim of the present study was to explore noise-induced processes underlying impaired insulin sensitivity in mice.@*METHODS@#Male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: a control group without noise exposure and three noise groups exposed to white noise at a 95-dB sound pressure level for 4 h/day for 1, 10, or 20 days (N1D, N10D, and N20D, respectively). Systemic insulin sensitivity was evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month post-noise exposure (1DPN, 1WPN, and 1MPN) via insulin tolerance tests (ITTs). Several insulin-related processes, including the phosphorylation of Akt, IRS1, and JNK in the animals' skeletal muscles, were examined using standard immunoblots. Biomarkers of inflammation (circulating levels of TNF-α and IL-6) and oxidative stress (SOD and CAT activities and MDA levels in skeletal muscles) were measured via chemical analyses.@*RESULTS@#The data obtained in this study showed the following: (1) The impairment of systemic insulin sensitivity was transient in the N1D group but prolonged in the N10D and N20D groups. (2) Noise exposure led to enhanced JNK phosphorylation and IRS1 serine phosphorylation as well as reduced Akt phosphorylation in skeletal muscles in response to exogenous insulin stimulation. (3) Plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-6, CAT activity, and MDA concentrations in skeletal muscles were elevated after 20 days of noise exposure.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Impaired insulin sensitivity in noise-exposed mice might be mediated by an enhancement of the JNK/IRS1 pathway. Inflammation and oxidative stress might contribute to insulin resistance after chronic noise exposure.

Micro-dissection testicular sperm extraction for non-obstructive azoospermia patients with the history of secondary testicular injury / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the value of micro- dissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in the treatment of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) in patients with the history of secondary testicular injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 121 NOA patients with the history of secondary testicular injury underwent micro-TESE in our hospital from September 2014 to December 2017. We analyzed the correlation of the sperm retrieval rate with the causes of testicular injury and compared the outcomes of the ICSI cycles with the sperm retrieved from the NOA males by micro-TESE (the micro-TESE group) and those with the sperm ejaculated from severe oligospermia patients (sperm concentration <1×10⁶/ml, the ejaculate group). Comparisons were also made between the two groups in the female age, two-pronucleus (2PN) fertilization rate, transferrable embryos on day 3 (D3), D3 high- quality embryos, D14 blood HCG positive rate, embryo implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy rate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Testicular sperm were successfully retrieved by micro-TESE in 86.0% of the patients (104/121), of whom 98.4% had the history of orchitis, 75.5% had been treated surgically for cryptorchidism, and 63.6% had received chemo- or radiotherapy. No statistically significant differences were observed between the micro-TESE and ejaculate groups in the 2PN fertilization rate (59.4% vs 69.3%, P > 0.05), D14 blood HCG positive rate (44.6% vs 57.9%, P > 0.05), embryo implantation rate (31.8 %% vs 32.6%, P > 0.05) and clinical pregnancy rate (41.5% vs 48.7%, P > 0.05). However, the rate D3 transferrable embryos was significantly lower in the micro-TESE than in the ejaculate group (40.5% vs 52.2%,P < 0.05), and so was that of D3 high-quality embryos (32.5% vs 42.1%, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Micro-TESE can be applied as the first choice for NOA patients with the history of secondary testicular injury, but more effective strategies are to be explored for the improvement of ICSI outcomes with the sperm retrieved by micro- TESE.</p>

Expression of CD24 and B7-H3 in breast cancer and the clinical significance.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the expression of CD24 and B7-H3 in breast cancer tissues and the clinical significance. Expression of CD24 and B7-H3 in breast cancer and adjacent tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of CD24 and B7-H3 mRNA in breast cancer and adjacent tissues. The expression of CD24 and B7-H3 protein in breast cancer and adjacent tissues was detected by immunoblotting. The correlation between the expression levels of the two proteins was analyzed and the relationship between the expression of two proteins and the 5-year survival of breast cancer patients was investigated. CD24 and B7-H3 were positively expressed in breast cancer and adjacent tissues, the CD24-positive rate was 75.7 and 25.7%, respectively, and the B7-H3-positive rate was 56.8 and 43.2%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression of CD24 was positively correlated with the expression of B7-H3 (Spearman's correlation coefficient r, 0.297; p=0.036). The positive and negative expression of CD24 and B7-H3 significantly affected the 5-year survival of breast cancer patients (P<0.05). Quantitative PCR results showed that the expression levels of CD24 and B7-H3 mRNA in breast cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The expression levels of CD24 and B7-H3 protein in breast cancer tissues were also significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). CD24 and B7-H3 were highly expressed in breast cancer, suggesting that both CD24 and B7-H3 were related to the development of breast cancer. Five-year survival analysis of breast cancer patients showed that the high expression of CD24 and B7-H3 were correlated with the poor prognosis of patients. Thus, CD24 and B7-H3 may become new targets for the treatment of breast cancer.

Correlation Analysis of Baseline Antimullerian Hormone Level and Live Birth Rate of Fresh Embryo Transfer Cycles and Frozen Embryo Transfer Cycles / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective]To investigate the relationship of baseline antimullerian hormone(AMH)and live birth rate of IVF/ICSI and further explore the prognostic effect of AMH on live birth rate.[Methods]All non-polycystic ovary patients who underwent their first embryo transfers in our unit and had basal serum AMH evaluated between 2010 and 2015 were evaluated in this retrospective study. Patients were grouped according to their AMH level,i.e. low AMH group with AMH less than 1.1 ng/mL(n = 485),middle AMH group with AMH between 1.1 ng/mL and 7.0 ng/mL (n = 1 989),and high AMH group with AMH higher than 7.0 ng/mL (n=468). For age subgroup analysis,patients were stratified as follow:group A(age≤29 years),group B(30~34 years),group C(35~39 years)and group D(over 40 years). We compared clinical outcomes between AMH groups in different age groups usingunivariate and multivariate analysis. ROC analysis was utilized to assess predictive value of AMH on live birth rate.[Results](1)In both fresh and frozen embryo transfers,baseline AMH was significantly related to clinical outcomes. The lower AMH was,the lower implantation rate,clinical pregnancy rate,and live birth rate. However,higher miscarriage rate was observed. All difference reached statistically significant.(2)In age subgroup analysis,we demonstrated AMH was related to live birth rate in patients in group A,B, and C,regardless of fresh or frozen embryo transferred. In those over 40 years,AMH was related to live birth rate in frozen cycles (P < 0.05)but not fresh cycles(P = 0.092). The further multivariate analysis confirmed the above results after controlling po?tential confounding variables.(3)The AUC of ROC analysis for AMH predicting live birth rate were 0.647,0.633 for fresh and fro?zen cycles respectively.[Conclusion]Baseline AMH as one of excellent ovarian reserve markers ,was significantly related to live birth rate in fresh or frozen cycles. Baseline AMH was an independent prognostic factor of live birth rate,but its predictive value on live birth rate was of limited clinical value.

Application Analysis of All-blastocyst-culture in Elderly Infertile Patients with Low Ovarian Reserve / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective]To determine whether all-blastocyst-culture can benefit elderly infertile patients with low ovarian reserve.[Methods]To retrospectively analyze elderly patients with low ovarian reserve undergoing IVF/ICSI in Reproductive Medicine Re?search Center of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from May 2016 to April 2017.We divide them into group A (All-blastocyst-culture)and group B(None-blastocyst-culture)based on different culture approach of D3 transferrable embryo. To compare the cumulative biochemical pregnancy rate ,cumulative clinical pregnancy rate between them.[Results]A total of 231 eligi?ble patients are included,with130 in group A and 101 in group B. The basic conditions of the two groups show no difference. Cumula?tive biochemical pregnancy rate/clinical pregnancy rate in group A is higher than that of group B ,though the difference is not statisti?cally significant(P>0.05). After removing patients who did not undergo embryo transfer due to failure in blastocyst culture ,the cumu?lative biochemical pregnancy rate/clinical pregnancy rate in group A is significantly higher than group B(P<0.05). Multivariate analy?sis of the patient′s basic condition and the outcome of blastocyst culture showed that the number of D3 transferrable embryo was a risk factor for the failure of blastocyst culture(OR=0.277,95%CI:0.103~0.744,P<0.05).[Conclusion]All-blastocyst-culture will not adversely affect the pregnancy outcome of elderly infertile patients with low ovarian reserve. On the contrary ,once they obtain transfer?rable embryos, pregnancy outcome in All-Blastocyst-Culture group are better than None-Blastocyst-Culture group. A small number of D3 transferrable embryo is a risk factor for failure to culture blastocyst. If the patients were fully informed consent ,we can consider implementing all-blastocyst-culture for elderly infertile patients with low ovarian reserve.

Predictive Value of Early Serum Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Measurements After Cleavage or Blastocyst Embryo Transfers / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective]To compare early serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels after cleavage or blastocyst embryo transfers (ET) in predicting pregnancy outcome.[Methods]A total of 2421 IVF-ET cycles in our center performed from June 2010 to May 2015 and resulted in clinical intrauterine pregnancies were analyzed retrospectively. The predictive value was compared betweenβ-hCG on day 14 after cleavage ET andβ-hCG on day 12 after blastocyst ET.[Results]Serumβ-hCG levels of patients re?sulted in clinical intrauterine pregnancies were significantly higher with blastocyst ET compared with cleavage ET. This significant dif?ference was also existed in patients resulted in miscarriage, ongoing pregnancy (OP) or live birth (LB). However, this significant differ?ence was only existed in frozen embryo transfers. For a frozen cleavage ET, the cut-off value was 475 U/L (sensitivity 79%, specificity 61.3%) in predicting LB. For a frozen blastocyst ET, the cut-off value was 575 U/L (sensitivity 74.9%, specificity 59.2%) in predicting LB.[Conclusion]In frozen embryo transfers, early serumβ-hCG level after blastocyst ET is higher than cleavage ET. The cut-off val?ue in predicting pregnancy outcome is different according to the stage embryo transferred. Early serum β-hCG can effectively predict live birth after blastocyst or cleavage ET.

Mirror neuron system based therapy for aphasia rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hand action observation training, i.e., mirror neuron system (MNS) based training, on language function of aphasic patients after stroke. In addition, to reveal the tentative mechanism underlying this effect. METHODS: Six aphasic patients after stroke, meeting the criteria, undergo 3 weeks' training protocol (30 min per day, 6 days per week). Among them, four patients accepted an ABA training design, i.e., they implemented Protocol A (hand action observation combined with repetition) in the first and third weeks and carried out Protocol B (static object observation combined with repetition) in the second week. Conversely, for the other two patients, BAB training design was adopted, i.e., patients took Protocol B in the first and third weeks and accepted Protocol A in the second week. Picture naming test, western aphasia battery (WAB) and Token Test were applied to evaluate the changes of language function before and after each week's training. Furthermore, two subjects (one aphasic patient and one healthy volunteer) attended a functional MRI (fMRI) experiment, by which we tried to reveal the mechanism underlying possible language function changes after training. RESULTS: Compared with static object observation and repetition training (Protocol B), hand action observation and repetition training (Protocol A) effectively improved most aspects of the language function in all six patients, as demonstrated in the picture naming test, subtests of oral language and aphasia quotient (AQ) of WAB. In addition, the fMRI experiment showed that Protocol A induced more activations in the MNS of one patient and one healthy control when compared to Protocol B. CONCLUSION: The mirror neuron based therapy may facilitate the language recovery for aphasic patients and this, to some extent, provides a novel direction of rehabilitation for aphasia patients.

Antiviral butyrolactones from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus versicolor.

Versicolactones A-D (1-4), four new butyrolactones, along with four known butyrolactones (5-8) were isolated from the fermentation products of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus versicolor. The structures of compounds 1-4, including absolute configuration, were elucidated by interpretation of the NMR and CD data. Compound 2 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In particular, compound 1 is the first naturally occurring butyrolactone possessing an unusual 2-oxopropyl group. More importantly, compounds 1 and 8 displayed significant antitobacco mosaic virus activities with inhibition rates of 46.4 % and 35.4 %, even more potent than the positive control ningnanmycin (30.8 %). Compound 1 also showed moderate cytotoxicity against A549 and MCF7 cells with IC50 values of 3.2 and 2.5 µM, respectively.

Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of early-stage arrested human embryos / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate chromosomal euploidies in early-stage arrested human embryos.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To determine the euploidy status of the 24 chromosomes, 13 embryos were analyzed, which included 5 arrested at 4-cell stage, 4 arrested at 8-cell stage, and 4 embryos at blastocyst stage regardless of their morphological scores. All embryos were subjected to biopsy, whole genome amplification, and array comparative genome hybridization analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chromosome euploidies of the arrested embryos can be normal, aberrant and chaotic. Mosaicism is prevalent in early stage cleavage, whilst most of the blastocysts, even with poor morphology, are normal diploid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arrested embryo may have normal chromosomes euploidy. Mosaicism is common in cleavage stage embryos. Early stage embryo arrest may not be solely attributable to chromosomal aneuploidies and needs further research.</p>

Covalent bond formation between amino acids and lignin: cross-coupling between proteins and lignin.

The present study characterized the products formed from the reaction of amino acids and in turn, proteins, with lignin resulting in cross-coupling. When added to reaction mixtures containing coniferyl alcohol, horseradish peroxidase and H2O2, three amino acids (Cys, Tyr, and Thr) are able to form adducts. The low molecular weight products were analyzed by HPLC and from each reaction mixture, one product was isolated and analyzed by LC/MS. LC/MS results are consistent with bond formation between the polar side-chain of these amino acids with Cα. These results are consistent with the cross-coupling of Cys, Tyr and Thr through a quinone methide intermediate. In addition to the free amino acids, it was found that the cross-coupling of proteins with protolignin through Cys or Tyr residues. The findings provide a mechanism by which proteins and lignin can cross-couple in the plant cell wall.

Effects of M II stage oocytes zona pellucida birefringence on pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effects of different M II stage oocytes zona pellucida birefringence on pregnancy outcome.@*METHODS@#A total of 46 couples with infertile which induced by single cause received in-vitro fertilization treatment were analyzed retrospectively, and randomly divided into the high zona birefringence (HZB)/HZB group, HZB/low zona birefringence (LZB) group and LZB/LZB group according to different oocytes zona pellucida birefringence. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome was analyzed and compared.@*RESULTS@#The proportion of HZB oocytes, implantation rate and the pregnancy rate were decreased in three groups (HZB/HZB group>HZB/LZB group>LZB/LZB group) (P0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that factors affect M II stage oocytes zona pellucida birefringence were age, basal FSH level and the LH level on the day of HCG injection. Age and FSH levels were negatively correlated with the single oocyte zona pellucida birefringence; While the LH level on the day of hCG injection was positively correlated with the single oocyte zona pellucida birefringence.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The primary influence factors on M II stage oocytes zona pellucida are age, basal FSH level and the LH level on the day of hCG injection. The birefringence value of zona pellucida can affect the pregnancy outcome.

Change and significance of growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein expression during oocyte maturation in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with ovarian stimulation / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression pattern and significance of two importantoocyte-secreted factors:growth differentiation factor 9(GDF9)and bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP15)during oocyte maturation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and infertile women due to husband factors.Methods Total of 25 oocytes[9 at germinal vesicle GV stage,9 at M Ⅰ stage and 7 at M Ⅱ stage]were obtained from 12 patients with PCOS and 82 oocytes(29 at GV stage,26 at M Ⅰ stage and 27 at M Ⅱ stage)were from 56 controls.The nested quantitative real time(RT)PCR was uscd to detect the abundance of GDF9 and BMP15 mRNA in each oocyte.Results(1)The expression level of GDF9 mRNA at the GV stage,M Ⅰ stage and M Ⅱ stage in PCOS group were 44.8(4.2-529.0),27.6(9.8-172.7)and 49.0(0.2-65.9)respectively,the expression in were 149.9(55.4-387.9),29.9(2.5-205.8)and 657.8(149.4-1376.2)in control group,respectively.The expression of GDF9 mRNA at M Ⅱ stage was significantly lower in PCOS group than in controls(P ＜ 0.01),however,the differences didn't reach statistical significant at GV or M Ⅰ stage between the two groups(P ＞ 0.05).The expression of GDF9 mRNA displayed some changes at different maturation stage in controls(P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01),however,the expression didn't demonstrate any dynamic changes in PCOS group(P ＞ 0.05).(2)The expression level BMP15 mRNA at the GV stage,M Ⅰ stage and M Ⅱ stage in PCOS group were 0.1(0.1-22.0),3.2(0.6-55.0)and 6.4(3.2-8.5),respectively,the expression were 41.6(6.5-96.1),4.0(2.0-10.4)and 49.7(2.3-139.5)in control group,respectively.The expression of BMP15 mRNA at GV stage was significantly lower in PCOS group than in controls(P ＜ 0.01),however,the differences were not significant at M Ⅰ or M Ⅱ stage between the two groups(P ＞0.05).The expression of BMP15 mRNA also displayed some changes at different maturation stage in controls(P ＜ 0.05),however,the level didn't demonstrate any dynamic changes in PCOS group(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion It was suggested that the low expression of oocyte secreted factors in mature oocytes from PCOS patients might be associated with impaired oocyte quality and developmental competence in PCOS.