[Comparison of Efficacy between Thrombelastography and Conventional Coagulation Tests and Analysis of Their Correlation for Patients with Abnormal Coagulation Function].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the coagulation state of patients with abnormal coagulation function by thrombelastography (TEG) and conventional coagulation tests (CCT) and to estimate their correlations in determining the blood coagulation. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with abnormal coagulation function were enrolled, standard coagulation tests were assessed for the patients. At the same time, the thrombelastographic test was performed with TEG after sample recalcification with kaolin activator. RESULTS: There were correlations between the TEG and CCT. PT and APTT positively correlated with the R time (r=0.296, r=0.369, P＜0.01), the R time negatively correlated with the Fib (r=-0.257, P＜0.01), K negatively correlated with the Fib (r=0.509, P＜0.01), K positively correlated with the TT (r=0.318, P＜0.01), Angle positively correlated with the Fib (r=0.506, P＜0.01) and negatively correlated with the TT (r=-0.237, P＜0.05). CI negatively correlated with the PT (r=-0.236, P＜0.05). The sensitivity to detect hypocoagulable state estimated with TEG parameter R was higher than that with PT and Fib (P＜0.01), respectively. The sensitivity to hypocoagulable state estimated with K and Angle was higher than that with Fib and TT, respectively (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: There are significant correlation between some parameters of the TEG and conventionnal coagulation tests, however, the consistency and sensitivity of the two methods are poor, two methods can not be replaced by each other.

Clinical application and evaluation of Sysmex XE-5000 analyser for detecting nucleated red blood cells in peripheral blood.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the performance of Sysmex XE-5000 analyser for detecting nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in peripheral blood and investigate the clinical application of this analyser. METHODS: The absolute NRBC counts (NRBC#) and percentage (NRBC%) of 137 blood specimens (NRBC-positive according to the DIFF channel of the analyser) were determined in the NRBC channel of the analyser. The intra-assay imprecision, carryover rate, and linear range of the analyser were evaluated. The NRBC% of the blood sample was detected with a microscope, and the difference between two methods was analysed. RESULTS: The intra-assay imprecision of the analyser for detecting NRBC# in specimens with high, moderate, and low Q-flag values were 2.10%, 3.26%, and 11.62%, respectively, and the imprecision for detecting NRBC% were 3.79%, 5.80%, and 13.33%, respectively. The carryover rates of the analyser for detecting NRBC# and NRBC% were 0.51% and 0.26%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sysmex XE-5000 analyser had good linearity in NRBC# (i.e., 0/L to 18 x 10(9)/L). The NRBC%s of the two methods did not significantly differ (p = 0.716). The analyser can completely replace the traditional microscope for clinically classifying and counting NRBCs.

[Sexual hormone levels in semen and germ cell apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between sexual hormones in semen and germ cell apoptosis in male population. METHODS: Sixty-six infertile patients and thirty fertile males were selected randomly. The levels of folicle stimulating hormone ( FSH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in semen were measured by ELISA. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used for the detection of germ cell apoptosis. RESULTS: The levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T in thirty fertile men were (1.63 +/- 0.15) U/L, (2.18 +/- 0.21) U/L, (6.34 +/- 0.30) nmol/L, (1.85 +/- 0.11) nmol/L, respectively, and germ cell apoptosis rate was (4.61 +/- 1.23)%. FSH, LH, PRL, T levels in infertile group were (1.25 +/- 0.18) U/L, (1.76 +/- 0.32) U/L, (5.86 +/- 0.13) nmol/l, (1.45 +/- 0.13) nmol/, respectively, and germ cell apoptosis rate was (18.36 +/- 2.04)%. There were significant differences in all parameters between infertile group and fertile group. The levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T were negatively correlated with germ cell apoptosis rates( r = -0.88, -0.93, -0.90, -0.98). The volume of apoptotic germ cell decreased, and chromatin was compacted to form cell-membrane blebs and apoptotic bodies. CONCLUSION: Low concentration of sexual hormones may increase the apoptosis of germ cells, which can induce male infertility.

[Relationship between the amount of nitric oxide and apoptosis of germ cells in the semen of infertile men].

AIM: To explore the relationship between nitric oxide(NO) and apoptosis of germ cells in the semen of infertile men. METHODS: Copper-coated cadmium reduction fluorescence assay was used to detect nitrate, the metabolic product of NO. The apoptosis and ultrastructure of germ cells were detected and observed by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and transmission electronls microscope (TEM), respectively. RESULTS: In normal control group, concentration of NO and the apoptotic rate of germ cells were (56.83+/-11.65) micromol/L and (4.60+/-1.25)%, respectively; while in inferile group were (128.86+/-23.76) micromol/L and (17.36+/-3.05)%, respectively. The differences in NO concentration and the apoptotic rate of germ cells between the two groups were significant (P<0.01). The concentration of NO was positively correlated with the apoptotic rate of germ cells in infertile group (r=0.96). The apoptotic germ cells showed typical morphology of apoptosis, including nuclear chromatin condensation and margination, nuclear memberane folding, and formation of apoptotic bodies. CONCLUSION: The amount of NO in semen from infertile men has close relationship with apoptotic rate of germ cells. High concentration of NO may result in the increase of germ cell apoptosis rate and lead to male infertility.

[Sodium nitroprusside facilitates human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR). METHODS: Different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were added to the sperm suspension from 48 healthy fertile men, and the suspension was incubated in 1 x Earle at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Progesterone was used to induce AR for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, and then acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in the suspension before and after capacitation and at different time of AR was measured by p-nitrophenyl sodium phosphate assay. In the meantime, sperm motile parameters were assayed by CASA to observe sperm capacitation and AR. RESULTS: ACP activity and sperm motile parameters increased in the 50 approximately 100 nmol/L NO concentration group, showed no significant variation in the 150 approximately 200 nmol/L group, and decreased in the 250 approximately 300 nmol/L group. CONCLUSION: NO can facilitate sperm capacitation, AR and sperm motile parameters in low concentration and suppress them in high concentration. ACP activity assay of sperm is an objective and reliable method to evaluate sperm capacitation and AR in whole sperm population.