Concentrations of endometrial protein PP 14 and CA-125 in uterine flushings performed in natural and stimulated cycles

BACKGROUND: Impaired implantation in assisted reproduction cycles with high serum estradiol (E(2)) concentrations may be attributed to abnormal endometrial development. This study compared concentrations of endometrial proteins in uterine flushings of infertile patients between natural and stimulated cycles. METHODS: Patients received a standard regimen of ovarian stimulation. Seven days after the LH surge in natural cycles or the hCG injection in stimulated cycles, uterine flushings were performed by slowly injecting and aspirating normal saline through a paediatric Foley catheter. Natural cycles were considered as group A whereas stimulated cycles with serum E(2) <20 000 pmol/l and serum E(2) >20 000 pmol/l were classified as groups B and C respectively. PP 14 and CA-125 in uterine flushings were measured and expressed per total protein content. RESULTS: Concentrations of the total protein, PP 14 and CA-125 in the uterine flushings were similar among the three groups. PP 14 per total protein in the uterine flushings was significantly correlated with serum E(2) on the day of hCG (r = 0.459; P = 0.009) in natural cycles only but not in stimulated cycles. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between natural and stimulated cycles in concentrations of PP 14 and CA-125 in uterine flushings performed in the mid-luteal phase.     

A novel dystrophin isoform is required for normal retinal electrophysiology

Dystrophin is present in the outer plexiform layer of the retinaand is required for normal retinal function as measured by electroretinography.We describe the identification of a novel isoform of dystrophln(Dp260) present in the mouse retina. The unIque 5' terminusof the mRNA originates from a newly identified exon and is splicedin frame to exon 30 of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)gene. The retinal isoform of dystrophln has 13 novel amino acidsas its N-terminus followed by most of the dystrophin rod domainand the cysteine-rich C-terminal domains. Analysis of mousetissues indicated this isoform of dystrophin Is expressed inretina, brain and cardiac tissue. Comparison of retinal electrophysiologyin mdx and mdx^cv3 mouse suggests that Dp260 is required fornormal retinal function.     

Recurrent and novel mutations of GCDH gene in Chinese glutaric acidemia type I families

Glutaric acidemia type I is caused by mutations of the glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) gene resulting in loss of GCDH enzyme activity. Patients present with progressive dystonia and lesions in basal ganglia. Dietary treatment, when instituted from the early neonatal period, markedly reduces dystonia and morbidity. Early diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis will be facilitated by knowledge of locally prevalent GCDH mutations. Several common GCDH mutations have been found in different ethnic groups. GCDH mutations were studied in 5 Chinese glutaric acidemia type I families. We detected two novel recurrent mutations (A219T and IVS10-2A>C) which were found in two unrelated families. An asymptomatic carrier of IVS10-2A>C was also found on screening of 120 individuals. Other mutations were identified, including two other novel (R386G & IVS3+1G>A) and two known mutations (G178R & R355H). Fibroblasts from patients carrying the novel mutations were confirmed to be deficient for GCDH activity. This is the first report of GCDH mutations describing recurrent mutations in Chinese patients. The carrier rate of IVS10-2A>C may be particularly high in Chinese.     

Clear cell chondrosarcoma: case report and ultrastructural study

A case of clear cell chondrosarcoma in a Chinese patient is described. The clear cells showed strongly positive S-100 protein immunoreactivity. Ultrastructurally 2 types of chondroid cells were demonstrated. One type appeared more primitive with abundant electron-lucent cytoplasm and sparse organelles. The other type of cell was more differentiated with presence of microvilli and numerous dilated cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum. Previous ultrastructural studies on these lesions were reviewed and compared with the present findings.     

Effects of the ion-channel blocker quinine on human sperm volume, kinematics and mucus penetration, and the involvement of potassium channels

Sperm defects in the infertile c-ros knockout mouse model have recently highlighted the importance of volume regulation in sperm function. In this study, washed human spermatozoa were shown to change size and shape, as detected by flow cytometry and light microscopy, in response to the ion-channel blocker quinine (minimum effective doses at 20 and 125 micromol/l respectively). The increase in sperm volume was accompanied by reduced straight-line velocity (VSL) and linearity (LIN) of the swim-path but increased lateral head displacement and curvilinear velocity, while percentage motility was unaffected. Spermatozoa in semen and in artificial cervical mucus were similarly affected at 0.2 and 0.5 mmol/l quinine, resulting in marked reduction of mucus penetration and migration. The effects of quinine on sperm volume and kinematics were reduced or abolished by the K(+)-ionophores valinomycin (1 and 5 micromol/l) and gramicidin (0.5 and 1 micromol/l). In Ca(2+)-free medium; however, the quinine effects largely persisted. The K(+)-channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (1 and 4 mmol/l), mimicked the quinine effects in the reduction of VSL and LIN, while the K(+)-channel blocker, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA, 2.5-10 mmol/l), did not affect kinematics. The K(+)-channel (Kv1.3)-specific inhibitor, margatoxin, and the Ca(2+)-dependent K(+)-channel blocker, charybdotoxin, also had no effects. This study suggests that volume regulation in human spermatozoa and the linear trajectory of their motion may rely on quinine-sensitive and TEA-insensitive, largely calcium-independent, potassium channels, and possibly volume-sensitive organic anion channels. These channels could be targets for contraception.     

Studies on the origin of redox enzymes in seminal plasma and their relationship with results of in-vitro fertilization

Glutathione (GSH), GSH peroxidase (GPX), GSH reductase (GRD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase-like enzyme activity were quantified in seminal plasma from normozoospermic patients, men with known distal ductal occlusion, proven fathers and male partners of couples receiving in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for both male and female causes. Glutathione was non-detectable (< 2.5 microM) in seminal plasma. None of the enzyme activities per unit volume were lower in semen from vasectomized men, suggesting that they did not originate substantially from the testis or epididymis. The strongest relationships between enzyme activities and accessory gland markers were between zinc and GRD (r = 0.678), SOD (r = 0.602) and GPX (r = 0.548), suggesting a largely prostatic origin of these enzymes. Only weak relationships between accessory gland markers and catalase-like activity suggested a multi-glandular source of this enzyme. There was no relationship between the activity of any of the enzymes in the IVF patients with their fertilization rates in vitro or the establishment of pregnancy after IVF. Nor was there any correlation of enzyme activity with the morphology and percentage of motile spermatozoa in semen or with the percentage motility of spermatozoa immediately after swim-up or after overnight incubation. These findings suggest that the protective enzymes in the seminal plasma are contributed largely by the prostate and little by the epididymis, and that in most cases of IVF, they have no major influence on the outcome.      

Genetic typing and HIV-1 diagnosis by using 96 capillary array electrophoresis and ultraviolet absorption detection

Current high-throughput approaches to the analysis of PCR products are based primarily on electrophoretic separation and laser-excited fluorescence detection. We show that capillary array electrophoresis can be applied to HIV-1 diagnosis and D1S80 VNTR genetic typing based simply on UV absorption detection. The additive contribution of each base pair to the total absorption signal provides adequate detection sensitivity for analyzing most PCR products. Not only is the use of specialized and potentially toxic fluorescent labels eliminated, but also the complexity and cost of the instrumentation are greatly reduced.     

Phenotypically different cells with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 overexpression show similar genetic alterations

Immunocytochemical studies have revealed that overexpression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/ B1 in exfoliated epithelial cells is a potentially useful marker of early lung cancer. This study analyzed the correlation of hnRNP A2/B1 expression with molecular alterations in phenotypically different epithelial cells of paraffin-embedded pulmonary tissues. Sections from 20 human subjects were analyzed immunohistochemically for expression of hnRNP A2/B1. Normal-appearing, hyperplastic, and malignant epithelial cells with and without hnRNP A2/B1 expression (n = 78) were microdissected and assessed for microsatellite alterations (MA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) (n = 14 markers) as well as for clonality. Results showed that (1) hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactive cells contained a significantly higher frequency of MA and LOH than did comparable cells that lacked detectable hnRNP A2/B1; (2) over 80% of MA and LOH seen in hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactive normal-appearing and hyperplastic cells persisted in malignant cells; (3) preliminary analysis of methylation status of the androgen receptor gene in non-neoplastic cells was suggestive of hnRNP A2/B1-expressing cells being of clonal origin; and (4) cells with cytoplasmic hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactivity had a 3-fold higher frequency of MA and LOH than did cells with nuclear hnRNP A2/B1 immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that phenotypically different respiratory epithelial cells with hnRNP A2/B1 overexpression might be clonally derived, and that the subcellular localization of hnRNP A2/B1 might be an important factor associated with tumor progression.