The influence of testicular microlithiasis on the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation in a Chinese Han population

To investigate the influence of testicular microlithiasis (TM) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), we retrospectively reviewed the ultrasonography results of the TM patients who underwent IVF treatment in our hospital. They were classified as classic-TM (CTM) or limited-TM (LTM) comparing with patients without TM (Non-TM). Semen parameters, rates of fertilisation, normal fertilisation, good embryos and clinical pregnancy were analysed. The Non-TM group showed higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa than the CTM or LTM group (4.08 ± 2.07 versus 3.40 ± 2.00 versus 3.04 ± 1.66, p = .003) while the other general semen parameters were comparable. The LTM group showed higher rate of fertilisation than the CTM group (85.10% versus 81.12%, p = .044). Moreover, the rates of normal fertilisation of Non-TM (62.47%) and LTM (66.32%) group were significantly higher than the CTM (58.02%) group (p = .027 and p = .001 respectively). There were 333 embryo transfer cycles in total (including 222 fresh and 111 frozen). The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 54.95%, 58.33% and 64.12% in the group of CTM, LTM and Non-TM respectively. However, no statistically significant difference was obtained (p = .326). Our results suggest that TM may have influence on the IVF outcomes. The extent of microlithiasis correlates inversely with the rates of fertilisation and normal fertilisation.

Correlation of acetabular chondrocyte apoptosis with caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression in developmental dislocations of the hip

This study aimed to determine whether abnormal apoptosis is present in acetabular cartilage in early developmental dislocations of the hip (DDH), and if so, whether it is correlated with the expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2. DDH was induced in 24 4-week-old New Zealand white rabbits. Acetabular cartilage specimens from the experimental and control groups were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Animals from the experimental group developed acetabular dysplasia. Apoptotic chondrocytes were observed by ultrastructural electron microscopy and H&E. TUNEL assays revealed significantly greater acetabular chondrocyte apoptosis in the treated samples as compared to the control. Significantly higher caspase-3 expression and lower Bcl-2 expression were also measured in the DDH group compared with the control. We conclude that excessive apoptosis does occur in acetabular cartilage with DDH, and is positively correlated with high caspase-3 expression as well as low Bcl-2 expression.

High levels of glucose promote the activation of hepatic stellate cells via the p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase signal pathway

The relationship between the p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) signal pathway and high glucose-induced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation was investigated in this study. Sixty human HSC samples were randomly selected and used in the control (cultured normally), high-glucose (cultured in the presence of high glucose), and blocking (cultured under high-glucose conditions in the presence of the p38-MAPK inhibitor, SB203580) groups. The cells were incubated for 120 h and subsequently analyzed for morphological changes by inverted microscopy and for a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) expression (to determine the degree of HSC activation) by the method of streptavidin-biotin complex and western blot. Phospho-p38-MAPK protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. a-SMA and phospho-p38-MAPK expression was significantly upregulated in HSCs cultured under high-glucose conditions, compared to the HSCs cultured normally (P < 0.01). On the other hand, phospho-p38-MAPK and a-SMA protein levels were significantly lower in the blocking group compared to the high-glucose group (P < 0.01). Based on these results, we concluded that high-glucose levels induce HSC activation mediated by phospho-p38-MAPK. Therefore, blocking the p38-MAPK signal pathway could inhibit this effect.

Study of Small-Molecule-Membrane Protein Binding Kinetics with Nanodisc and Charge-Sensitive Optical Detection

Nanodisc technology provides membrane proteins with a nativelike lipid bilayer and much-needed solubility and enables in vitro quantification of membrane protein binding with ligands. However, it has been a challenge to measure interaction between small-molecule ligands and nanodisc-encapsulated membrane proteins, because the responses of traditional mass-based detection methods scale with the mass of the ligands. We have developed a charge-sensitive optical detection (CSOD) method for label-free measurement of the binding kinetics of low molecular mass ligands with nanodisc-encapsulated membrane proteins. This microplate-compatible method is sensitive to the charge instead of the mass of a ligand and is able to measure both large and small molecules in a potentially high-throughput format. Using CSOD, we measured the binding kinetics between peptide and small-molecule ligands and a nanodisc-encapsulated potassium ion channel protein, KcsA-Kv1.3. Both association and dissociation rate constants for these ligands are obtained for the first time. The CSOD results were validated by the consistency of the values with reported binding affinities. In addition, we found that CSOD can tolerate up to 3.9% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and up to 10% serum, which shows its compatibility with realistic sample conditions.

Impact of common SNPs in VEGF gene on the susceptibility of osteosarcoma

We conducted a case-control study to assess the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -634G/C, +936C/T, and +1612G/A genetic variations in the development of osteosarcoma in a Chinese population. This hospital-based case-control study examined 130 patients with osteosarcoma and 130 age- and gender-matched healthy controls from March 2011 and March 2013. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was applied to assess the VEGF -634G/C, +936C/T, and +1612G/A gene polymorphisms. Using conditional regression analysis, individuals carrying the TT genotype of VEGF +936C/T were found to be correlated with an elevated risk of osteosarcoma, with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.70 (1.02-8.28). In conclusion, our study suggests that the TT genotype of VEGF +936C/T genetic variants is associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma.

Haemocyanin is essential for embryonic development and survival in the migratory locust

Haemocyanins are commonly known as copper-containing oxygen carriers within the haemolymph of arthropods, and have been found in many orders of insects. However, it remains unresolved why haemocyanins persist in insects that possess elaborate tracheal systems for oxygen diffusion to cells. Here we identified haemocyanins in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria that consists of two distinct subunits, Hc1 and Hc2. Genomic sequence analysis indicated that Hc1 and Hc2 have four and three gene copies, respectively, which may have evolved via gene duplication followed by divergent evolution of introns. The two subunits exhibit abundant and embryonic-specific expression at the mRNA and protein level; their expression peaks in the mid-term embryo and is not detectable in the late nymphal and adult stages. A larger proportion of the haemocyanins is present in the yolk compared with that in the embryo. Immunostaining shows that haemocyanins in the embryo are mainly expressed in the epidermis. Knockdown of Hc1 and Hc2 results in significant embryonic developmental delay and abnormality as well as reduced egg hatchability, ie the proportion of hatched eggs. These results reveal a previously unappreciated and fundamental role for haemocyanins in embryonic development and survival in insects, probably involving the exchange of molecules (eg O2 ) between the embryo and its environment.

Electrochemiluminescence imaging for parallel single-cell analysis of active membrane cholesterol

Luminol electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imaging was developed for the parallel measurement of active membrane cholesterol at single living cells, thus establishing a novel electrochemical detection technique for single cells with high analysis throughput and low detection limit. In our strategy, the luminescence generated from luminol and hydrogen peroxide upon the potential was recorded in one image so that hydrogen peroxide at the surface of multiple cells could be simultaneously analyzed. Compared with the classic microelectrode array for the parallel single-cell analysis, the plat electrode only was needed in our ECL imaging, avoiding the complexity of electrode fabrication. The optimized ECL imaging system showed that hydrogen peroxide as low as 10 μM was visible and the efflux of hydrogen peroxide from cells could be determined. Coupled with the reaction between active membrane cholesterol and cholesterol oxidase to generate hydrogen peroxide, active membrane cholesterol at cells on the electrode was analyzed at single-cell level. The luminescence intensity was correlated with the amount of active membrane cholesterol, validating our system for single-cell cholesterol analysis. The relative high standard deviation on the luminescence suggested high cellular heterogeneities on hydrogen peroxide efflux and active membrane cholesterol, which exhibited the significance of single-cell analysis. This success in ECL imaging for single-cell analysis opens a new field in the parallel measurement of surface molecules at single cells.

Intake of water and different beverages in adults across 13 countries

Purpose

To describe the intake of water and all other fluids and to evaluate the proportion of adults exceeding the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on energy intake from free sugar, solely from fluids.

Methods

A total of 16,276 adults (46 % men, mean age 39.8 years) were recruited in 13 countries from 3 continents. A 24-h fluid-specific record over 7 days was used for fluid assessment.

Results

In Spain, France, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia and China, fluid intake was characterised by a high contribution of water (47–78 %) to total fluid intake (TFI), with a mean water intake between 0.76 and 1.78 L/day, and a mean energy intake from fluids from 182 to 428 kcal/day. Between 11 and 49 % of adults exceeded the free sugar WHO recommendations, considering solely fluids. In Germany, UK, Poland and Japan, the largest contributors to TFI were hot beverages (28–50 %) and water (18–32 %). Mean energy intake from fluids ranged from 415 to 817 kcal/day, and 48–62 % of adults exceeded free sugar WHO recommendations. In Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, the contribution of juices and regular sugar beverages (28–41 %) was as important as the water contribution to TFI (17–39 %). Mean energy intake from fluids ranged 565–694 kcal/day, and 60–66 % of the adults exceeded the free sugar WHO recommendation.

Conclusions

The highest volumes recorded in most of the countries were for water, mean energy intake from fluids was up to 694 kcal/day, and 66 % of adults exceeded the free sugar WHO recommendation solely by fluids. Actions to create an environment in favour of water consumption and reduce sugar intake from fluids therefore are warranted.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00394-015-0952-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A novel multivariate scoring system for determining the prognosis of lymph node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma following surgical therapy: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Identifying patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with negative prognostic factors, which have an extremely low survival rate, has been problematic.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected clinical data for 648 patients with lymph node-negative ESCC who were treated at the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from 1990 to 2005. Survival difference was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

We identified advancing age, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), surgical procedure, tumor location, number of resected lymph nodes, poor tumor differentiation, and surgical stage as independent prognostic risk factors. Furthermore, based on the results of multivariate analysis, we constructed a novel scoring system that included the factors of age, smoking history, alcohol consumption history, number of resected lymph nodes, tumor differentiation, and surgical stage. Risk score (RS) was computed with the scoring system, and patients were divided into Class A (RS: 0-5) and Class B (RS: 6-10). P < 0.001 indicated statistical significance. A significant difference (p < 0.001) demonstrated that Class B was strongly related to a low survival rate and poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

We developed a new simple flexible scoring system of high prognostic significance, which has the potential to guide postoperative therapeutic strategies and follow-up frequency and to provide better prognostic information for patients and their families.

Responses of microbial respiration to nitrogen addition in two alpine soils in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

An incubation experiment was conducted to examine the effects of nitrogen (N) application on microbial respiration in alpine meadow and alpine shrub soils from eastern of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Four different levels of nitrogen fertilization were selected in this study: control (CK, 0 mg N g(-1)), low (LN, 0.04 mg N g(-1)), medium (MN, 0.16 mg N g(-1)), high (HN, 0.4 mg N g(-1)). The results showed that microbial respiration was higher in alpine shrub than in alpine meadow soil, regardless of the rate of N application. Total microbial respiration overthe course of incubation period decreased in both soils with HN and MN treatments relative to control, but no significant differences were observed in soils with LN treatments. There was significantly positive correlation between total microbial respiration and dissolved organic carbon concentration in both soils. The results indicated that DOC may be a useful indicator of microbial respiration rate in alpine soils and the increasing N inputs could drive a negative feedback to global warming effects of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere in alpine soils.

A systematic review of the prevalence of nutrition labels and completeness of nutrient declarations on pre-packaged foods in China

BACKGROUND

The Chinese government launched a voluntary nutrition labelling code in 2007 and made it mandatory since 1 January 2013. This article aims to quantify the prevalence of nutrition labels and the completeness of nutrient declarations on pre-packaged foods in China and to explore the impact of the 2007 code.

METHODS

A systematic search of the published and grey literature was done, and a random-effects meta-analysis was used to obtain summary estimates.

RESULTS

There were 15 surveys identified from 13 reports. For 44% (95% confidence interval: 37-51%) of the 22 636 food items, the product label provided information on one or more nutrients. There was significant heterogeneity between the surveys (I(2) = 99%, P < 0.001) raising some uncertainty about the reliability of the estimate. The heterogeneity was in part explained by differences in labelling between food categories (P < 0.001) but not by changes in the prevalence of nutrition labels over time (P = 0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Most pre-packaged foods in this survey had a nutrition label non-compliant with current Chinese nutrition labelling standards. The voluntary code launched in 2007 had limited impact on nutrition labelling. There is significant scope for the recently introduced mandatory labelling requirements to improve nutrition labelling in China.

Uptake and depuration of gold nanoparticles in Daphnia magna

This study presents a series of short-term studies (total duration 48 h) of uptake and depuration of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) in neonate Daphnia magna. Gold nanoparticles (Au NP) were used to study the influence of size, stabilizing agent and feeding on uptake and depuration kinetics and animal body burdens. 10 and 30 nm Au NP with different stabilizing agents [citrate (CIT) and mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUDA)] were tested in concentrations around 0.5 mg Au/L. Fast initial uptake was observed for all studied Au NP, with CIT stabilized Au NP showing similar rates independent of size and MUDA showing increased uptake for the smaller Au NP (MUDA 10 nm > CIT 10 nm, 30 nm > MUDA 30 nm). However, upon transfer to clean media no clear trend on depuration rates was found in terms of stabilizing agent or size. Independent of stabilizing agent, 10 nm Au NP resulted in higher residual whole-animal body burdens after 24 h depuration than 30 nm Au NP with residual body burdens about one order of magnitude higher of animals exposed to 10 nm Au NP. The presence of food (P. subcapitata) did not significantly affect the body burden after 24 h of exposure, but depuration was increased. While food addition is not necessary to ensure D. magna survival in the presented short-term test design, the influence of food on uptake and depuration kinetics is essential to consider in long term studies of ENP where food addition is necessary. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a short-term test design to assess the uptake and depuration of ENP in D. magna. The findings underlines that the assumptions behind the traditional way of quantifying bioconcentration are not fulfilled when ENPs are studied.

Preoperative Maximal Oxygen Uptake and Exercise-induced Changes in Pulse Oximetry Predict Early Postoperative Respiratory Complications in Lung Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Postoperative respiratory complications often arise in lung cancer patients after lung resection, although these are often difficult to predict. We sought to identify reliable predictors of early-onset postoperative respiratory complications in lung cancer patients who had moderate-to-severe preoperative respiratory impairment.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study that included 107 consecutive lung cancer patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s <60% of predicted who were scheduled for thoracotomy and lung resection. Preoperative functional assessments included pulmonary function testing by spirometry, single breath diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Risk factors for early-onset postoperative respiratory complications that occurred within 30 days postoperatively were sought from among these pulmonary function testing and cardiopulmonary exercise testing results.

RESULTS

By multivariable logistic regression, peak oxygen uptake (V'O_2max%; p < 0.001) and the transcutaneous pulse oxygen saturation difference during load exercise (ΔSPO₂%; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of postoperative respiratory complications. A receiver operating characteristic curve had an area under the curve of 0.846 for the combination of V'O_2max% and ΔSPO₂%, while the area under the curve with V'O_2max% only was 0.726. From this, the probability of postoperative respiratory complications was [Formula: see text]. P_complication ≥ 0.202 for postoperative respiratory complications had a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 81.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

For lung cancer patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s <60% of predicted, in addition to common preoperative tests, V'O_2max% and ΔSPO₂% may be an aid for predicting early-onset postoperative respiratory complications.

Combination of adenoviruses expressing melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 and chemotherapeutic agents produces enhanced cytotoxicity on esophageal carcinoma

We examined the combinatory antitumor effects of adenoviruses expressing human mda-7/IL-24 gene (Ad-mda-7) and chemotherapeutic agents on nine kinds of human esophageal carcinoma cells. All the carcinoma cells expressed the melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24) receptor complexes, IL-20R2 and either IL-20R1 or IL-22R1, and were susceptible to Ad-mda-7, whereas fibroblasts were positive only for IL-20R2 gene and resistant to Ad-mda-7-mediated cytotoxicity. Sensitivity of these esophageal carcinoma cells to Ad-mda-7 was however lower than that to Ad expressing the wild-type p53 gene. We thereby investigated a possible combination of Ad-mda-7 and anticancer agents and found that Ad-mda-7 with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin, mitomycin C or etoposide produced greater cytotoxic effects than those by Ad-mda-7 or the agent alone. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of the agents in respective cells were decreased by the combination with Ad-mda-7. Cell cycle analyses showed that Ad-mda-7 and 5-FU increased G2/M-phase and S-phase populations, respectively, and the combination augmented sub-G1 populations. Ad-mda-7-treated cells showed cleavages of caspase-8, -9 and -3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, but the cleavage levels were not different from those of the combination-treated cells. Ad-mda-7 treatments upregulated Akt phosphorylation but suppressed IκB-α levels, whereas 5-FU treatments induced phosphorylation of p53 and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2. Molecular changes caused by the combination were similar to those by Ad-mda-7 treatments, but the Ad-mda-7-mediated upregulation of Akt phosphorylation decreased with the combination. These data collectively suggest that Ad-mda-7 induced apoptosis despite Akt activation and that the combinatory antitumor effects with 5-FU were produced partly by downregulating the Ad-mda-7-induced Akt activation.

The efficacy and safety of zibotentan in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Recently, novel endothelins like zibotentan and atrasentan and other novel taxanes have been introduced to treat prostate cancer. This study reviews zibotentan in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and derives a more precise estimate of their effect of treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two reviewers searched and extracted data of the published trials and review articles on zibotentan for prostate cancer using the Medline, Embase and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register database. We used hazard ratios (HRs) to assess the effects on overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), or time to PSA progression (TTP), and relative risk (RR) for the different types of toxicity. Four randomized controlled trials were identified.

RESULTS

The pooled HR showed that zibotentan did not improve OS and PFS (HR = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.82-1.03, p = 0.161, HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.89-1.08, p = 0.714). Zibotentan had modest benefits on TTP (HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.91-0.97, p = 0.001). In addition, zibotentan led to more peripheral edema, anemia, cardiac failure and pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study concludes that zibotentan is not an attractive option for CRPC patients. However, additional studies on other novel therapies are needed to improve patient outcomes.