A case of coronary artery fistula with angina pectoris

A case of coronary artery fistula with myocardial ischemia is reported. A 57-year-old-man was admitted to our hospital complaining of anterior chest pain on exertion. Submaximal Treadmill exercise showed the depression of ST segment in leads II, III, aVF, V5 and V6. 75% stenosis of right coronary artery (segment 2) and congenital coronary artery fistula originating from both the right and left coronary arteries were demonstrated by the coronary arteriography. One abnormal artery was originated from proximal portion of the right coronary artery (segment 1) and entered the pulmonary artery trunk. Another one was originated from proximal portion of the left coronary artery and terminated in angiomatous plexus which then communicated with the pulmonary artery trunk. We speculate that myocardial ischemia resulted from decreased right coronary blood flow due to coronary steal and proximal organic stenosis of right coronary artery. Recently, the reviews of coronary artery fistula are increasing, but coronary artery fistula with myocardial ischemia is relatively rare. This case was followed with medical therapy, because antianginal agents were effective. Operative coronary ligation may be necessary, if he has angina or high output heart failure during follow-up.     

HBV—C转基因小鼠快速胚胎冷冻方法的建立

目的 建立用于转基因小鼠种质保存的快速胚胎冷冻方法。方法 用乙二醇作为抗冻保护剂,对携带HBV—C基因的转基因小鼠模型进行了玻璃化胚胎冷冻保存的研究。结果 发现含体积分数30％乙二醇的冷冻液可达到最佳的冷冻效果,有81．54％的冷冻胚胎在体外可进一步发育,其中69．81％达到孵化阶段,比较不同发育阶段的胚胎的冷冻效果发现,致密桑椹胚解冻后的孵化率显著高于囊胚。不同的装管方法对胚胎的回改率也有影响,五段法的胚胎回收率显著高于二段法。将解冻后形态正常的胚胎82枚移植给8只假孕母鼠,5只怀孕,怀孕率为62．5％,产下28只小鼠,产仔率为54．9％。结论 一步法玻璃化冷冻方法可用于转基因小鼠的种质保存。     

Association of CAT–262C/T with the concentration of catalase in seminal plasma and the risk for male infertility in Algeria

Catalase (CAT) plays a central role in the protection of different cell types against the deleterious effects of hydrogen peroxide. In human, CAT is implicated in many physiological and pathological conditions including idiopathic male infertility. In this study we examined the association between CAT levels in seminal plasma with different sperm parameters and with CAT–262 C/T polymorphism and their risk for idiopathic male infertility in Algeria. Semen and blood samples were obtained from 111 infertile males and 104 fertile controls from the region of Eastern Algeria following informed consent. Standard semen parameters, DNA integrity, and CAT concentration in seminal plasma were evaluated. CAT-262C/T genotypes were screened using allele specific PCR. Seminal CAT activity was significantly different (p<0.0001) between infertile males and controls, it was also markedly decreased in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (p<0.0001), azoospermia (p<0.0001), and normozoospermia (p=0.045) subgroups compared to controls. Positive correlations between CAT activity and semen parameters (volume, motility, concentration, and morphology) were detected, but not with sperm DNA integrity. There was no direct association between CAT-262C/T polymorphism and general male infertility. However, the results presented in this study showed that CAT activity is remarkably associated with the CAT-262T allele (p=0.001) and the different CAT-262C/T genotypes. This study highlighted the major differences in the seminal plasma CAT content between infertile and fertile males and the differences of CAT concentration between different CAT-262C/T genotypes carriers.     

Allelic <Emphasis Type="Italic">ROBO3</Emphasis> Heterogeneity in Tunisian Patients with Horizontal Gaze Palsy with Progressive Scoliosis

Horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the congenital absence of horizontal gaze, progressive scoliosis, and failure of the corticospinal and somatosensory axon tracts to decussate in the medulla. HGPPS is caused by mutations of the ROBO3 gene, which encodes a protein that shares homology with the roundabout family of transmembrane receptors that are important in axon guidance and neuronal migration. To date, over 15 mutations have been found in consanguineous families of Greek, Italian, Turkish, Pakistani, Saudi Arabian, and Indian descent. To detail clinical, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic findings of ten HGPPS patients from four unrelated Tunisian families. Four unrelated consanguineous Tunisian families with a total of ten patients suffering from horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis. Genetic linkage analysis and direct sequencing of the ROBO3 gene. All patients shared similar clinical gaze movement abnormalities and variable degrees of scoliosis. Four distinct homozygous mutations were identified. This study extends the molecular spectrum of the ROBO3 gene and the geographic origin of patients with ROBO3 gene mutations, and underlines the homogeneity of the motor ocular syndrome whatever type of mutation is encountered.