Effect of additive-assisted fat transplantation on fat graft survival rate: A preliminary experimental study based on a rabbit animal model

BACKGROUND

Improving the survival rate of fat grafts is yet a difficult problem in the field of autologous fat transplantation. Prevailing methods such as making nanofat and SVF are time-consuming. Hence, the role of additives application in the improvement of fat graft survival during fat transplantation was considered and preliminarily evaluated in a rabbit animal model.

METHODS

A rabbit animal model was established where rabbit ears were injected with a mixture of 1.5mL of adipose tissue and 1mL of saline (group A), 1.5mL of adipose tissue and 1mL of botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) (group B), 1.5mL of adipose tissue and 1mL of prostaglandin E2 (groupC), 1.5mL of adipose tissue and 1mL of PDRN (group D) respectively. Then, the extents of neovascularization and inflammation were evaluated on the 7th, 14th, 28th, 42nd, 56th and 70th day after injection by ELISA assays and H&E and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTS

The results showed that pre-treatment with BoNTA, prostaglandin E2 and PDRN improved graft volume and weight. The H&E and immunofluorescence staining revealed that BoNTA, prostaglandin E2 and PDRN improved the graft angiogenesis. Simultaneously, TNF-α expression level detected by ELISA was the lowest in the PDRN group.

CONCLUSION

Henceforth, the present preliminary study suggests that pre-transplantation treatment with BoNTA, prostaglandin E2 and PDRN can improve the fat graft angiogenesis and graft integrity, whereby the effect of adding PDRN may be significant.

[Feasibility analysis of visual analogue scale in esthetic evaluation of anterior implant-supported single crown in maxilla]

Objective: To test the reproducibility of the visual analogue scale (VAS) used in the evaluation of the esthetic effect of anterior dental implants, and to explore the factors that affect the correlation between VAS and pink esthetic score/white esthetic score (PES/WES). Methods: From January 2018 to August 2019, a total of 108 doctors and patients were recruited in the Department of Prosthodontics, Implantology and Fourth Clinical Division of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. Among them, there were 35 dental implant specialists who were familiar with PES/WES [implant specialist group, 25 males, 10 females, (37.3±4.5) years old], 34 dentists who were not familiar with PES/WES [dentist group, specialized in Prosthodontics, Periodontology, Orthodontics, and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, 24 males, 10 females, (36.1±4.2) years old], 39 patients [patient group, 28 males, 11 females, (45.4±8.3) years old]. Twenty oral pictures of patients [12 males, 8 females, (43.7±6.4) years old] treated in the Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from December 2016 to December 2017 were taken for single implant restoration for esthetic evaluation with VAS. Score 0 for evaluation of not beautiful and score 10 for very beautiful. Re-evaluation of the same 20 pictures with VAS after 1 month, and perform repeatability evaluation of VAS using chi-square test were conducted. At the same time, 13 implant specialists were randomly selected, to score the same photos with PES/WES. The PES scoring elements were the fullness of the mesial gingival papilla, the fullness of the distal gingival papilla, the curvature of the gingival margin, the protrusion of the root surface, the color and the texture of the soft tissue. The scoring elements of WES were crown shape, crown contour, crown color, surface texture, transparency and individual characteristics in order. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the score of VAS and PES/WES. And the influence of the group on the correlation between PES/WES and VAS was analyzed. Results: The PES score was 7.5±1.8, and the WES score was 7.6±1.9 and the total score was 15.1±3.4. The VAS score of the implant specialist group was 6.8±1.8. The repeatability test of the two VAS results in the patient group was not statistically significant (Kappa=0.012, P>0.05); the two VAS results of the implant specialist group and the dentist group both had good repeatability (Kappa=0.727 and 0.556, P<0.01). The VAS score was weakly correlated with the total PES/WES score (r=0.27, P<0.01). The VAS score was correlated with the score elements in PES/WES (P<0.01), and the color (r=0.20) and shape (r=0.22) of the crown were the larger correlation coefficients. The correlation coefficients between the VAS score and the PES/WES scoring system decreased among the implant specialist group (r=0.49, moderate correlation), the dentist group (r=0.25, weak correlation) and the patient group (r=0.12, P>0.05). Conclusions: The consistency of VAS and PES/WES is affected by the cognition of the scorer. The combination of the two scoring systems is feasible and necessary for physicians to evaluate the overall esthetic effect of implant restoration.

[Quality control and measures of China National Birth Cohort]

Birth cohort is an effective method to explore the relationship between various prepregnant and pregnant exposures and the health of fetuses, infants and young children. It is a long construction period to build a birth cohort and the quality of research may be affected by many factors. This paper reviews the quality assurance and quality control measures in the process of China National Birth Cohort (CNBC), and summarizes the construction experience. We aim to provide experience for related cohort studies, which could improve the quality of cohort studies through removing the impact of related factors. CNBC adopted a series of measures to ensure the quality of research in the top-level design of quality assurance, including screening research center, developing member management system, formulating standard operating procedures and training staff by it. In terms of quality control, it includes real-time, timely and timing quality control for the process of data generation, full-cycle quality control for biological sample collection, processing, storage and comprehensive three-dimensional quality control for staff training, supervision and quantitative assessment.

Primary intracranial pure endodermal sinus tumor: A retrospective series of 6 cases in a single center and a systematic review of overall survival

BACKGROUND

Primary intracranial pure endodermal sinus tumor (EST) is a rare malignant nongerminomatous germ cell tumor. There is still lack of knowledge about the treatment and prognosis.

METHODS

We studied 6 cases of primary intracranial pure EST patients in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from June 2009 to June 2015. A comprehensive literature search was performed on Pubmed's electronic database using the search terms "primary intracranial endodermal sinus tumor", "primary intracranial yolk sac tumor" and "malignant germ cell tumor". Survival rates based on age, gender, tumor location, treatment, resection degree and metastatis were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Total resection was achieved in three patients and subtotal resection was achieved in three patients. Blood AFP level continuously decreased after tumor removal. In our case series, the longest survival time was 99 months; this patient received surgery+adjuvant therapy. Fifty-two cases were eligible and met the inclusion criteria for the review analysis. The majority of the population were in the young child to adolescent age and there is a male predominance in this study. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, age, gender, tumor location and metastasis did not affect patients' OS. Better OS was found in patients who had subtotal and gross total resection of the tumor. Patients who had surgery combined with adjuvant therapy showed better OS compared to those who just had surgery.

CONCLUSION

Total resection of the tumor is necessary and EST is sensitive to adjuvant therapy.

PHB blocks endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis induced by MPTP/MPP+ in PD models

Ample empirical evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Prohibitin (PHB), a mitochondrial inner-membrane protein involved in mitochondrial homeostasis and function, may be involved in the pathogenesis of PD. We investigated the functional role of PHB in mitochondrial biogenesis and ER stress in methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP +)-induced in vivo and in vitro models of PD. The overexpression of PHB in SH-SY5Y cells block ed cell death and the apoptosis induced by MPP + incubation. PHB also block ed the activation of ER stress markers, including glucose-regulated protein 78, while increasing the expression of Xbox- binding protein 1 and caspase-12. Moreover, the intracerebroventricular administration of the PHB overexpression vector greatly block ed motor dysfunction and the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-mediated neurodegeneration in the mouse model of PD. The production of reactive oxygen species, ER stress, and autophagic stress induced by MPTP were also significantly block ed in PD mice overexpressing PHB. Our results suggest that PHB blocks the dopaminergic-neuron depletion by preserving mitochondrial function and inhibiting ER stress. The genetic manipulation of PHB may feature potential as a treatment for PD.

Imaging Parameters of the Ipsilateral Medial Geniculate Body May Predict Prognosis of Patients with Idiopathic Unilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss on the Basis of Diffusion Spectrum Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an acute unexplained onset of hearing loss. We examined the central auditory pathway abnormalities in patients with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss using diffusion spectrum imaging and the relationships between hearing recovery and diffusion spectrum imaging parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-eight patients with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with a duration of ≤2 weeks (range, 8.9 ± 4.3 days) and 20 healthy subjects underwent diffusion spectrum imaging tractography. Hearing levels were evaluated using a pure-tone average at initial presentation and 3-month follow-up. Clinical characteristics and MR imaging findings were assessed.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy control subjects, the generalized fractional anisotropy values of patients decreased significantly in the bilateral posterior limbs of the internal capsule, with no differences between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides. The quantitative anisotropy values decreased in the Brodmann area 41, contralateral medial geniculate body, bilateral lateral lemniscus, anterior limb of internal capsule, middle temporal gyrus, and anterior corona radiata. Furthermore, at 3-month follow-up, 14 patients had <15 dB of hearing gain. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that generalized fractional anisotropy in the ipsilateral medial geniculate body was related to prognosis (sensitivity = 64.7%; specificity = 85.7%; area under the curve = 0.796, 95% CI, 0.661-0.931; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Diffusion spectrum imaging can detect abnormalities of white matter microstructure along the central auditory pathway in patients with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The generalized fractional anisotropy value of the ipsilateral medial geniculate body may help to predict recovery outcomes.

Clinical characteristics and predictors of the duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding in 140 healthcare workers

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological and clinical features of patients with COVID-19 have been reported, but none of them focused on medical staff, and few predictors of the duration of viral shedding have been reported. It is urgent to help healthcare workers prevent and recover quickly from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

We enrolled 140 medical workers with COVID-19 in Wuhan. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological treatment and clinical outcome data were collected, and predictors of the duration of viral shedding were explored through multivariable linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The medical staff with COVID-19 presented mild clinical symptoms and showed a low frequency of abnormal laboratory indicators. All the medical staff were cured and discharged, of whom 96 (68.6%) were female, 39 (27.9%) had underlying diseases, the median age was 36.0 years, and 104 (74.3%) were infected whilst working in hospital. The median duration of viral shedding was 25.0 days (IQR:20.0-30.0). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed reducing viral shedding duration was associated with receiving recombinant human interferon alpha (rIFN-α) treatment, whilst the prolonged duration of viral shedding correlated with the use of glucocorticoid treatment, the durations from the first symptom to hospital admission and the improvement in chest computed tomography (CT) evidence. Moreover, infected healthcare workers with lymphocytes less than 1.1 × 10⁹ /L on admission had prolonged viral shedding.

CONCLUSION

Medical staff with timely medical interventions show milder clinical features. Glucocorticoid treatment and lymphocytes less than 1.1 × 109/L are associated with prolonged viral shedding. Early admission and rIFN-α treatment help shorten the duration of viral shedding.

Nomogram predicting early neurological improvement in ischaemic stroke patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Early neurological improvement (ENI) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has been associated with favorable outcomes. This study aimed to identify the optimal definition of ENI and develop a nomogram for predicting ENI after EVT in acute ischaemic stroke.

METHODS

Patients with EVT were enrolled from a multicenter registry as the training cohort. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to estimate the optimal threshold for ENI at 24 h of EVT. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to generate the best-fit nomogram for predicting ENI. The discrimination of the nomogram was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). An additional 447 patients from two stroke centers were prospectively recruited as the test cohort for validating the nomogram.

RESULTS

A total of 612 patients with EVT were included in the training cohort. The optimal threshold for predicting 3-month favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) was an improvement of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score by ≥6 points (AUC 0.875; sensitivity 79.5%; specificity 90.7%). Age, blood glucose, recanalization, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) were independently associated with ENI, and were incorporated in the nomogram. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.795 in the training cohort and 0.752 in the test cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

A reduction of NIHSS score ≥6 appeared to be the optimal definition of ENI. The nomogram composed of age, blood glucose, recanalization, sICH and baseline ASPECTS may predict the probability of ENI in ischaemic stroke patients treated with EVT.

[Debridement combined with negative-pressure wound therapy and local flap for treating a case of stingray sting]

On January 10, 2018, a 35-year-old male patient with a 3 day stingray stinger injury in his left thigh was admitted to Xuzhou Central Hospital. At the time of admission, the patient's left thigh was red, swollen, and painful. On the day of admission, the patient underwent emergency operation in the outpatient operating room for local debridement to remove the infected and necrotic tissue. After the routine dressing change and the wound got better, surgical debridement and negative-pressure wound therapy were performed, and finally local flap was used to repair the wound. On the 14th day after the flap repair operation, the suture was removed and the patient was discharged. After half a year follow-up, the appearance of the operation area recovered well. This case suggests that the timely and correct pre-hospital treatment, thorough and timely debridement, and systemic antibiotic application are important means to reduce further injury of toxin. The local flap can achieve satisfactory result on wound healing after the wound bed is prepared by negative-pressure wound therapy.

Increased long noncoding RNA LINC00511 is correlated with poor prognosis and contributes to cell proliferation and metastasis by modulating miR-424 in hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be abnormally expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and associated with the progression of HCC. LncRNA LINC00511 (LINC00511) has been confirmed to act as a tumor promoter in several tumors. However, as a novel lncRNA, the specific effect of LINC00511 is still largely obscure. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of LINC00511 in HCC behaviors and to elucidate the mechanism by which this occurs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expressions of LINC00511 in HCC tissues and cell lines were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The correlations between LINC00511 expression and the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of HCC patients were determined using several statistical methods. CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry cell cycle, apoptosis assay, EdU assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay were used to investigate the role of LINC00511 on the malignant phenotypes in vitro. Insights into the potential mechanisms of ceRNAs were determined by bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assays and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

LINC00511 expression was significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was distinctly associated with nodal metastasis, vascular invasion, and clinical stage. Furthermore, statistical assays revealed that HCC patients with higher LINC00511 expression levels had worse overall survival rates. Importantly, the multivariate analysis confirmed that LINC00511 expression was an independent prognostic factor of the overall survival in patients with HCC. Functionally, the inhibition of LINC00511 significantly suppressed the capability of proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cell lines. Bioinformatic tools predicted that miR-424 both targeted the 3'-UTR of LINC00511, which was confirmed using the luciferase reporter assay and RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00511 plays an important role in the malignant progression of HCC via modulation of miR-424.

Abnormal processing of IL-1β in NLRP7-mutated monocytes in hydatidiform mole patients

NOD-like receptor pyrin 7 (NLRP7) has been identified as the major gene responsible for the recurrent hydatidiform mole (RHM). The immunological role of NLRP7 mutation in HM patients has not been conclusively demonstrated. Hence, we aim to demonstrate this role in our study. We followed 12 new patients with NLRP7 non-synonymous variations (NSVs) from date to date. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected separately from patients with and without NLRP7 mutation. Supernatant interleukin (IL)-1β secretion, intracellular pro-IL-1β and mature IL-1β expressions were measured after 24 h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Plasmids with corresponding NSVs were generated to evaluate the ability of processing pro-IL-1β into mature IL-1β in vitro. Homozygous or compound heterozygous NLRP7 mutations secreted less IL-1β in roots of abnormal intracellular pro-IL-1β or mature IL-1β, according to different domains. Plasmids with NSVs could also affect processing or/and trafficking together with caspase-1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC). Inflammasome-related NLRP7 mutation is a potential mechanism of RHM.

A novel nomogram to predict early neurological deterioration in patients with acute ischaemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a vital cause of mortality and morbidity in China. Many AIS patients develop early neurological deterioration (END). This study aimed to construct a nomogram to predict END in AIS patients.

METHODS

Acute ischaemic stroke patients in Nanjing First Hospital were recruited as the training cohort. Additional patients in Nantong Third People's Hospital were enrolled as the validation cohort. Multivariate logistic regression was utilized to establish the nomogram. Discrimination and calibration performance of the nomogram were tested by concordance index and calibration plots. Decision curve analysis was employed to assess the utility of the nomogram.

RESULTS

In all, 1889 and 818 patients were recruited in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.075; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.059-1.091], diabetes mellitus (OR 1.673; 95% CI 1.181-2.370), atrial fibrillation (OR 3.297; 95% CI 2.005-5.421), previous antiplatelet medication (OR 0.473; 95% CI 0.301-0.744), hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein (OR 1.049; 95% CI 1.036-1.063) and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR 1.071; 95% CI 1.045-1.098) were associated with END and incorporated in the nomogram. The concordance index was 0.826 (95% CI 0.785-0.885) and 0.798 (95% CI 0.749-0.847) in the training and validation cohorts. By decision curve analysis, the model was relevant between thresholds of 0.06 and 0.90 in the training cohort and 0.08 and 0.77 in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram composed of hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein, age, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, previous antiplatelet medication and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale may predict the risk of END in AIS patients.

HER2 exon 20 insertions in non-small-cell lung cancer are sensitive to the irreversible pan-HER receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib

BACKGROUND

Effective targeted therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations remains an unmet need. This study investigated the antitumor effect of an irreversible pan-HER receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, pyrotinib.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using patient-derived organoids and xenografts established from an HER2-A775_G776YVMA-inserted advanced lung adenocarcinoma patient sample, we investigated the antitumor activity of pyrotinib. Preliminary safety and efficacy of pyrotinib in 15 HER2-mutant NSCLC patients in a phase II clinical trial are also presented.

RESULTS

Pyrotinib showed significant growth inhibition of organoids relative to afatinib in vitro (P = 0.0038). In the PDX model, pyrotinib showed a superior antitumor effect than afatinib (P = 0.0471) and T-DM1 (P = 0.0138). Mice treated with pyrotinib displayed significant tumor burden reduction (mean tumor volume, -52.2%). In contrast, afatinib (25.4%) and T-DM1 (10.9%) showed no obvious reduction. Moreover, pyrotinib showed a robust ability to inhibit pHER2, pERK and pAkt. In the phase II cohort of 15 patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC, pyrotinib 400 mg resulted in a objective response rate of 53.3% and a median progression-free survival of 6.4 months.

CONCLUSION

Pyrotinib showed activity against NSCLC with HER2 exon 20 mutations in both patient-derived organoids and a PDX model. In the clinical trial, pyrotinib showed promising efficacy.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT02535507.

[Spatio-temporal distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the spatio-temporal characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis snails along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal, so as to provide scientific evidence for the dynamic assessment of the risk of snail spread in this region.

METHODS

O. hupensis snail status was collected in the plain regions with waterway networks in the study area from 2012 to 2017. The spatio-temporal variations of snail distribution were investigated along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal using buffer zone analysis, spatial autocorrelation, hotspot analysis and standard deviational ellipse with the geographical information system (GIS) tools.

RESULTS

The number of snail habitats showed a tendency towards a rise in the study area from 2012 to 2017, and snail habitats were predominantly distributed in the 1 000 m long buffer zone of the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal, notably along the Jiuqu River at the junction between the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal. The distribution of snail habitats appeared spatial autocorrelations in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and the hotspot areas were mainly identified at the junction between the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. In addition, the overall distribution of snail habitats was located in the northeastern-southwestern part of the study aera, and gradually shifted to the southern and northern parts with the time.

CONCLUSIONS

The spatial distribution of O. hupensis snails is complex along the Danyang section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and the Danyang-Jintan-Liyang Canal, and there is a risk of snail spread from the upper reaches to the lower reaches, where snail control needs to be intensified.

Long non-coding RNA CASC15 promotes proliferation and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells through targeting miR-101-3p

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer (CC) is a common type of fatal gynecological cancer worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify the exact role of lncRNA CASC15 in the progression of CC and to explore the possible underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect CASC15 expression in 4 CC cell lines, and 54 paired CC tissue samples. The roles of CASC15 in CC were explored through apoptosis assay, colony formation assay, and proliferation assay in vitro, respectively. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of CASC15 in CC was explored by luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay.

RESULTS

CASC15 expression in CC tissues was remarkably higher than that of adjacent normal tissues. The knockdown of CASC15 significantly inhibited CC cell proliferation, whereas induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Meanwhile, CC cell proliferation was remarkably promoted, and cell apoptosis was inhibited by overexpression of CASC15 in vitro. In addition, miR-101-3p was up-regulated and down-regulated after knockdown and overexpression of CASC15 in vitro, respectively. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and mechanism assays revealed that miR-101-3p was a direct target of CASC15 in CC tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

CASC15 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of CC cells by targeting miR-101-3p. Our findings suggested that CASC15 might offer a new therapeutic intervention for CC patients.

The correlation between estrogen receptor gene polymorphism and osteoporosis in Han Chinese women

OBJECTIVE

To uncover the role of estrogen receptor gene polymorphism in the onset of osteoporosis in Han Chinese women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 122 osteoporosis woman patients who were admitted to this hospital between April 2016 and April 2017 were enrolled in this study as the case group, and during the same period, 106 healthy counterparts who took physical examination as the control group. With the genetic samples collected from subjects in two groups, we detected the polymorphisms of Pvu II and Xba I in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) gene and the Rsa-I and Aiu-I polymorphisms in the ERβ gene by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), and the related-alleles frequency in subjects carrying the genotype of Pvu-1I and Xba-I polymorphisms in the ERα gene or the genotype of Rsa-I and Alu-I polymorphisms in the ERβ gene in the two groups.

RESULTS

Comparison of genotype frequencies pp, Pp, and PP of ERα Pvu-II polymorphisms between the case group and the control group showed the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05), in which the P allele in the case group had a higher frequency than that in the control group (p < 0.05). However, comparisons of the genotype frequencies of xx, Xx, and XX of ERα Xba-I polymorphisms between the case group and the control group showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05), and similar results were also found in comparison of the genotype frequencies of rr, Rr, and RR of Rsa-I polymorphisms (p > 0.05). By the comparison of genotype frequencies of ERβ Alu-I and Rsa-I polymorphisms in the case group with those in the control group, and by the comparison of genotype frequencies aa, Aa, and AA of ERβ Alu-I polymorphisms in the case group with those in the control group, all the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05 ).

CONCLUSIONS

In Han Chinese women, susceptibility to osteoporosis may be affected by ERα Pvu-II polymorphisms and ERβ Alu-I polymorphisms; those carrying genotypes containing A and P alleles may have a higher risk in osteoporosis.