Serum miR-26a as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in cholangiocarcinoma.

In order to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-26a in Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), we compared miR-26a levels in serum from 66 CCA patients and 66 healthy controls, which was followed by serum analysis between the pre-operative serum and post-operative serum of these CCA patients. We found the concentration levels of miR-26a in serum of CCA patients were significantly higher than that from healthy controls (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the concentration levels of miR-26a in the post-operative serum were significantly reduced when compared to the pre-operative serum (P < 0.001). High miR-26a in serum was correlated significantly with clinical stage, distant metastasis, differentiation status, and poor survival of CCA patients. More importantly, serum miR-26a was an independent prognostic marker for CCA. In conclusion, our results suggested that miR-26a in serum might be a potential and useful noninvasive biomarker for the early detection of CCA.

[Influence of varicocele on sperm chromatin structure and sperm motility].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of varicocele on sperm chromatin structure and sperm motility. METHODS: Routine semen analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) were performed in a varicocele group (n=74) and a control group (n=89). RESULTS: Sperm concentration (41.4 +/- 38.7] x 10(6)/ml) grade a+b sperm percentage ([31.7 +/- 16.9]% and sperm viability ([62.8 +/- 22.2]%) in the varicocele group were evidently lower than those ([80.9 +/- 63.1] x 10(6)/ml, [46.8 +/- 20.5]%, [77.2 +/- 17.5])% in the control group (P < 0.05) and so were VCL, VSL and VAP ([37.4 +/- 12.5 microm/s, [23.4 +/- 7.8] microm/s, [26.5 +/- 8.2] microm/s) in the varicocele group than those ([42.4 +/- 10.7] microm/s, [27.3 +/- 7.3] microm/s, [30.7 +/- 7.8] microm/s) in the control (P < 0.05). MAD was increased (P < 0.01), and the COMP alphat of SCSA (23.2 +/-16.2) was obviously higher in the former than in the latter (14.1 +/- 11.8) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Varicocele causes damage to sperm DNA and changes sperm motility, which may result in male infertility.

[Long-term exposure to low intensity microwave radiation affects male reproductivity].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Long-term exposure to low intensity microwave radiation on male reproductivity. METHODS: A total of 289 married male radar operators were included in the radar group and 148 married men unexposed to microwave radiation were enrolled as controls. Questionnaires were used and the intensity of microwave radiation in different working areas was detected. RESULTS: The rate of sexual dysfunction was 43.6% in the radar group and 24.4% in the control group (P < 0.01). The natural pregnancy rate was 53.6% within 1 year of marriage and 46.4% after 1 year of marriage in the radar group, as compared with 81.1% and 18.9% in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to low intensity microwave radiation evidently increased the sexual dysfunction rate and decreased natural pregnancy rate in men.

[Investigation of semen quality of 18-35 year old Chinese army men].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the semen quality of the Chinese army men. METHODS: Ten-item sperm quality analyses were made by manual methods and the computer assisted sperm analysis system in 1054 young Chinese army men. The subjects were divided into 4 age groups (18-20 yrs., 21-25 yrs., 26-30 yrs and 31-35 yrs.), and the results of the analyses were compared. RESULTS: Among the 1 054 young males investigated, the semen volume was (2.6 +/- 1.4) ml, sperm density (55.9 +/- 46.5) x 10(6)/ml, sperm grade a + b motility (47.1 +/- 19.0)%, sperm viability (70.6 +/- 22.1)%, morphologically normal sperm (84.7 +/- 10.2)%, and acrosomal integrity (86.1 +/- 7.2)%. As for the percentages of the quality indexes that met WHO standards, the sperm volume was 73.5%, liquefaction time 91.1%, pH 93.0%, grade a + b motility 45.5%, viability 86.7%, sperm density 80.4%, morphologically normal sperm 98.2%, and the sperm total number 78.0%. Those who accorded with all the WHO standards accounted for 40.2%. CONCLUSION: The semen quality of the 18-35 year old army men was better than previously reported in the similar literature. And that of the 26-30 yrs. group was the best among all the age groups.

[A cross-sectional study on nonionizing radiation to male fertility].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between microwave radiation and male reproductivity. METHODS: After filling out questionnaire and body check, we carried out molecular epidemiological studies, using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm automatic analysis among people working on radar. RESULTS: Quality of semen and semi-clinical injury of sperm among the people working on radar had changed when radar electromagnetic wave frequency distance, intensity, lasting time and protection shield were changing. Dose-response relationship was noticed and the increase of sperm dysmorphia played a principal role. The results between exposed group and control group showed significant difference (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: People working on radar who suffered from non-ionization for long time and had bad radar shield protection would show semi-clinical injury on sperm and bad semen quality. However, it did not affect the male reproductive function. It was necessary to reinforce the protection of non-ionization and to improve male reproductive health care of people working on radar.

[Evaluation of radiation damage to the sperm DNA of radar operators].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inflicted by radar electromagnetic radiation to the sperm DNA of radar operators. METHODS: Sperm concentration, viability, motility, sperm abnormality were determined by routine sperm analysis and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) in the highly exposed group(n = 88), lowly exposed group(n = 143) and control group(n = 39). RESULTS: Sperm motility, viability of the highly exposed group reduced compared with that of the lowly exposed group and control group, while sperm abnormality increased. The COMP alpha reduction of the highly exposed group indicated that the highly exposed group had a medium fertility potential. The multifactor variable analysis showed that daily working time was a dangerous factor in sperm abnormality and abstinence time was a dangerous factor in the parameter of SCSA. CONCLUSIONS: Radar radiation inflicts damage to male reproduction system and it is important to take protective measures.

[Study on sperm quality of males living in cold area].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on male reproductive function working under cold area. METHODS: After on site investigation, advanced molecular lab analysis-single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) which are combined with semen routine analysis were used to evaluate semen quality and sperm sub-clinical injury. RESULTS: Semen routine analysis showed that the semen parameters of the males working in cold area were within normal range, but level I comet cell percentage in SCGE increased significantly, which was 4.4%, compared to the contrast group (1.9%) with significant difference. During sperm chromatin structure assay parameters, comp alpha t increased, with an average value of 22.26%. The two kinds of results both showed single and double strand breakages in sperm. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to cold could induce sperm DNA injury, but not affect sperm quality. The results suggested that it was important to reinforce the reproductive care in males working in cold areas.

[Study on sperm quality of the soldiers influenced by reinforced training].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between abnormal sperm parameters and reproductive hormones and reinforced training. METHODS: Epidemic investigation were done between two different groups by determining endocrine hormone and standard clinical sperm analysis. RESULTS: Comparison between reinforced training group and non-training group showed decreased sperm velocity but no change on sperm moving form, increased teratism sperm percentage but no change on sperm number, decreased plasma testosterone but no change on LH. CONCLUSIONS: Reinforced training has correlation with weak part of sperm parameter analysis and reproductive hormones.

[The effect of overtraining on human sperm chromatin structure].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of overtraining on human sperm DNA. METHODS: Molecular epidemiological investigation of 249 men from different groups (training and non-training) was carried out by using flow cytometer to detect the integrity and damage of in situ DNA of sperm nucleus, and sperm chromatin structure assay was performed. RESULTS: The average COMPalpha(t) in training group was 11.02% while that in control group was 5.90% (P < 0.01). COMPalpha(t) was significantly correlated with sperm activity (r = 0.41, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Overtraining could induce sperm DNA injury and affect sperm activity, thus to decrease the potentiality of reproduction.