Ovarian HBV replication following ovulation induction in female hepatitis B carriers undergoing IVF treatment: A prospective observational study

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be found in ovarian tissues. This study compared HBV DNA levels in follicular fluid collected during oocyte retrieval with paired serum samples in HBV carriers after ovarian stimulation during IVF treatment for infertility. Sixty‐four HBV carrier women referred to the Assisted Reproductive Units of two Hong Kong hospitals were recruited. At oocyte retrieval, the follicular fluid aspirated from the first follicle was collected for study. In 22 women, the first follicular fluid sample from both ovaries was similarly collected and studied. These women were also tested for liver function test and HBeAg. In 28 (43.8%) women, HBV DNA was detected in follicular fluid and the level correlated with serum levels (Spearman's correlation P < .001). There was concordant detection of HBV DNA in both ovaries, and the levels were significantly correlated (Spearman's correlation P = .029). In 40% of women with FF HBV DNA, the follicular fluid:serum ratio was >1.0, suggesting stimulation of HBV replication. These women also had significantly different liver function test results. Increased HBV replication exists in 40% of women with HBV DNA detected in follicular undergoing ovarian stimulation during IVF treatment.     

Association analysis of genes in serotonin pathway with attention and executive function in patients with bipolar affective disorder

Background

The reason why it is difficult to identify susceptibility genes attributed to bipolar disorder (BPD) is the phenotypic heterogeneity. The use of endophenotypes has been advocated as one possible strategy to discovery cause variants of BPD.

Methods

A total of 164 patients with BPD and 164 matched controls were employed in the present research. Fifty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the genes in serotonin pathway were selected for genotyping using the GoldenGate genotyping assay. All participants completed three neurocognitive tests including the tower of Hanoi (TOH), the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) and Trail making tests (TMTA and TMTB-M).

Results

Patients with BPD demonstrated a wide range of deficits in mental activities of attention and speed of information processing, and executive function. Significant interactions between rs2760347 in 5HTR2A gene and diagnosis were found for the executive time of TOH, with β = 11.82 and P = 0.002 (adjusted P = 0.03 after Bonferroni correction).

Conclusions

Cognitive impairments existing in BPD may be particularly notable in certain domains of attention and executive function, and 5HTR2A gene may be involved in modulating executive function of BP-I patients.     

Association of body image and health beliefs with health behaviors in patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between body image, health beliefs, and health behavior in patients with diabetes classified according to body mass index (BMI). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community hospital between January and April 2010. One-hundred-sixty-eight patients with diabetes were enrolled. Main measure was the previously published and validated Health Belief Questionnaire. Data were analyzed and compared between two groups, one with BMI ≥ 24 Kg/m(2) and another with BMI < 24 Kg/m(2). Results Perceived body image affected health behavior of patients with BMI ≥ 24 Kg/m(2) but did not affect health behavior in patients with BMI < 24 Kg/m(2). Multivariate analysis found a positive association between health behavior and appearance evaluation and between health behavior and health evaluation in high BMI group. No significant association was found between body image and health behavior in the low BMI group. Patients with high BMI had lower body image than patients with low BMI as demonstrated by results of appearance evaluation, health evaluation, prevention behavior, and benefits. Conclusions Perceived body image and health beliefs are associated with self-reported health behavior among patients with diabetes with BMI measurement greater than 24 Kg/m(2). Diabetes educators may apply the findings of this study and the Health Belief Questionnaire to instruct and monitor patients with diabetes about self management behaviors.     

Effect of 40 mg versus 10 mg of atorvastatin on oxidized low-density lipoprotein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, circulating endothelial-derived microparticles, and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Background:

There are few recent data to delineate the beyond lipids‐decreased effect of statins and the effect of different doses of statins on endothelial‐derived microparticles (EMPs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Hypothesis:

Statins might have the beyond lipids‐decreased effect and there were different effects between different doses of statins on EMPs and circulating EPCs in patients with ICM.

Methods:

One hundred patients with ICM and 100 healthy examined people, who served as the normal control group, were recruited to this study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: 10‐mg atorvastatin group (n = 50) and 40‐mg atorvastatin group (n = 50). All subjects were followed for 1 year. The levels of serum lipids, oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), circulating EPCs, and EMPs were examined in all subjects. The incidences of adverse reactions in the 2 study groups were determined.

Results:

At the beginning of this study, there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 study groups. At the end of this study, the levels of total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, serum hsCRP, oxLDL, and circulating EMPs were significantly decreased; circulating EPCs were significantly increased in the 40‐mg atorvastatin group compared to the 10‐mg atorvastatin group, P < 0.05. The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that receiving only 40 mg of atorvastatin had a significant effect on the levels of circulating EPCs (β = 0.252,P = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the 2 groups.

Conclusions:

Use of 40 mg of atorvastatin might decrease the levels of circulating EMPs and increase the number of circulating EPCs in patients with ICM in comparison with 10 mg of atorvastatin, and the effect might be independent of the decrease of lipids, oxLDL, and hsCRP. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This study was supported by the Bureau of Health of Guangzhou city (2009‐YB‐186). The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.     

The Clearance of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus is Sooner After Thin Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (t-LEEP)

Abstract

Purpose/aim of the study: To investigate high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection clearance following thin loop electrosurgical excision procedure (t-LEEP) among patients with cervical benign lesion. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed clinical data from patients with cervical benign lesion and HPV infection, who had undergone t-LEEP (T-Group), compared with patients with HPV infection undergone no treatment (NT-Group). Both groups attended regular follow-up between January 2008 and January 2012. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare the HPV clearance time. Results: The average clearance time was 7.7?months (M) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.5–8.9 M) in T-Group, and 10.4?M (95%CI: 9.4–11.3 M) in NT-Group, with significant difference between groups (p?=?0.003). Among patients with low viral load, the HPV clearance times were 7.6?M (95%CI: 6.3–9.0 M) in T-Group and 9.7?M (95%CI: 8.6–10.8 M) in NT-Group (p?=?0.042). Among patients with high viral load, the HPV clearance times were 8.0?M (95%CI: 5.3–10.6 M) in T-Group and 11.4?M (95%CI: 9.7–13.1 M) in NT-Group (p?=?0.041). The average time of HPV clearance in T-Group was shorter than NT-Group in all age groups, with significant differences in ≤29Y-group (p?=?0.008) and 30–39Y-group (p?=?0.005). The accumulated clearance rate of HPV infection at sixth month and 12th month were 24.5% and 67.9% in T-Group, 7.8% and 43.1% in NT-Group, with significant differences (p?=?0.001 at 6th month, p?=?0.032 at 12th month). Conclusions: T-LEEP accelerates the clearance of high-risk HPV infection and make the HPV infection rates dropped rapidly in the first year.     

PET imaging of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor‐induced effects on α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are drugs that increase synaptic acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations and are under investigation as treatments for symptoms accompanying Alzheimer's disease. The goal of this work was to use PET imaging to evaluate alterations of in vivo α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) binding induced by the AChEIs physostigmine (PHY) and galanthamine (GAL). The α4β2 nAChR‐specific radioligand [¹⁸F]nifene was used to examine the effects of 0.1–0.2 mg/kg PHY, 5 mg/kg GAL, and saline in three separate experiments all performed on each of two rat subjects. A 60‐min bolus‐infusion protocol was used with drug administered after 30 min. Data from the thalamus and cortex were analyzed with a graphical model accounting for neurotransmitter activation using the cerebellum as a reference region to test for transient competition with bound [¹⁸F]nifene. Significant [¹⁸F]nifene displacement was detected in both regions during one PHY and both GAL studies, while no significant competition was observed in both saline studies. This preliminary work indicates the viability of [¹⁸F]nifene in detecting increases in synaptic ACh induced by AChEIs. Synapse 67:882–886, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Dopamine D3 receptor activation promotes neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation through AKT and ERK1/2 pathways and expands type‐B and ‐C cells in adult subventricular zone

The neurotransmitter dopamine acts on the subventricular zone (SVZ) to regulate both prenatal and postnatal neurogenesis, in particular through D₃ receptor (D₃R) subtype. In this study, we explored the cellular mechanism(s) underlying D₃R‐mediated cell proliferation and tested if systemic delivery of a D₃R agonist would induce SVZ multipotent neural stem/precursor cell (NSC/NPC) proliferation in vivo. We found that treatment with the D₃R agonist, 7‐OH‐DPAT, enhances cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner in cultured SVZ neurospheres from wild‐type, but not D₃R knock‐out mice. Furthermore, D₃R activation also stimulates S‐phase and enhances mRNA and protein levels of cyclin D1 in wild‐type neurospheres, a process which requires cellular Akt and ERK1/2 signaling. Moreover, chronic treatment with low dose 7‐OH‐DAPT in vivo increases BrdU⁺ cell numbers in the adult SVZ, but this effect was not seen in D₃R KO mice. Additionally, we probed the cell type specificity of D₃R agonist‐mediated cell proliferation. We found that in adult SVZ, GFAP⁺ astrocytes, type‐B GFAP⁺/nestin⁺ and type‐C EGF receptor (EGFR⁺)/nestin⁺ cells express D₃R mRNA, but type‐A Doublecortin (Dcx)⁺ neuroblasts do not. Using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence, we demonstrated that D₃R activation increases GFAP⁺ type‐B and EGFR⁺ type‐C cell numbers, and the newly divided Dcx⁺ type‐A cells. However, BrdU⁺/Dcx⁺ cell numbers were decreased in D₃R KO mice compared to wildtype, suggesting that D₃R maintains constitutive NSC/NPCs population in the adult SVZ. Overall, we demonstrate that D₃R activation induces NSC/NPC proliferation through Akt and ERK1/2 signaling and increases the numbers of type‐B and ‐C NSC/NPCs in the adult SVZ. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Prevalence of thoracic scoliosis in adults 25 to 64 years of age detected during routine chest radiographs

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of thoracic scoliosis and determine the effect of both age and gender on coronal curve magnitude among asymptomatic adults aged 25–64 years old, using standing posterior-anterior chest radiographs.

Methods

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study evaluating 500 randomly selected digital posterior-anterior chest radiographs taken at a single institution on an outpatient basis between January 2010 and December 2011. Males (n = 184) and females (n = 316) ranged in age from 25 to 64 years. Patients with symptoms of back pain; including a history of back pain, spinal instrumentation, or known pre-existing spinal disease were excluded. Radiographs were evaluated using Centricity PACS Web Diagnostic 2.1 system (General Electric Co. Fairfield, CT). Coronal Cobb angle measurements of the thoracic spine were quantified by the authors, with scoliosis defined as coronal curves greater than 10°. Curvatures were subdivided into groups: a control group with coronal curves less than 10°, curves measuring 10° to 19°, 20° to 29°, and greater than 30°. The effect of age and gender on curve magnitude was examined using Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis.

Results

There was a 13.4 % (67 patients) prevalence of thoracic scoliosis. The prevalence among asymptomatic males was 10.9 %, while the prevalence among asymptomatic females was 14.9 %. 11.6 % demonstrated a coronal curvature between 10° and 19° (58 patients), 1.6 % between 20° and 29° (8 patients), and 0.2 % greater than 30° (1 patient). Age and gender were not found to be significant independent predictors of curve severity.

Conclusions

We found a 13.4 % prevalence of thoracic scoliosis among asymptomatic adults aged 25–64 years on routine outpatient chest radiographs. 11.6 % of patients demonstrated a coronal curvature between 10° and 19°. Unlike prior studies evaluating asymptomatic thoracic curves in elderly patients, age and gender did not significantly affect curve magnitude in our younger cohort. These data may provide a reference point to help clinicians counsel asymptomatic patients diagnosed with thoracic scoliosis on routine chest radiographs.

     

学习状态对齿状回神经干细胞增殖的影响

目的：观察学习状态与学习不良对齿状回神经干细胞增殖状况的影响。方法：本实验于2005-5／10在广西医科大学神经解剖实验室完成，实验动物为成年雄性昆明小鼠。共27只。动物随机分为水迷宫训练组（n=18）及对照组n=9）。对照组不进行水迷宫训练。水迷宫训练组在经过训练后，根据其水迷宫训练中的表现将动物分为正常学习组和不良学习组。水迷宫训练组动物于水迷宫训练最后3d。以40mg／kg进行5-溴脱氧尿苷（BrdU）腹腔注射，每日3次。12h内完成。对照组同步进行5-澳脱氧尿苷注射；然后在水迷宫训练后的第1、7、14天，应用免疫组化染色检测齿状回神经干细胞的增殖及存活情况。 结果：各组实验动物均进入结果分析。无脱落。①学习状态对神经干细胞增殖的影响：正常学习组小鼠的5-溴脱氧尿苷阳性细胞数明显多于对照组和不良学习组（P〈0．01）。而对照组与不良学习组之间差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。②学习状态对增殖神经干细胞细胞存活的影响：水迷宫训练后第7天。正常学习组与不良学习组小鼠齿状回5-溴脱氧尿苷阳性细胞均数均明显多于对照组（P〈0．01）。正常学习组5-溴脱氧尿苷阳性细胞数多于不良学习组（P〈0．05）；水迷宫训练后第14天。正常学习组与不良学习组小鼠齿状回5-澳脱氧尿苷阳性细胞均数仍明显多于对照组小鼠（P〈0．01）；而正常学习组与不良学习组之间差异无显著性。 结论：神经干细胞的增殖活动不但受到学习记忆的调节，而且还与学习状态有关，但不良学习状态对齿状回的神经干细胞增殖不产生影响。