Associations of sex hormone levels with body mass index (BMI) in men: a cross-sectional study using quantile regression analysis.

Body mass index (BMI) has been increasing globally in recent decades. Previous studies reported that BMI was associated with sex hormone levels, but the results were generated via linear regression or logistic regression, which would lose part of information. Quantile regression analysis can maximize the use of variable information.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of 2q deletion and Xq duplication associated with nasal bone dysplasia in prenatal diagnosis: A case report and literature review.

Objective: We report a prenatal case of male fetus with a 2q13 deletion and an Xq27.3q28 duplication, presenting nasal bone dysplasia by ultrasound examination. And we compare the similarities of clinical features of cases consisting of similar 2q deletion and Xq duplication.

Application of intelligent algorithms in Down syndrome screening during second trimester pregnancy.

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common chromosomal aneuploidy diseases. Prenatal screening and diagnostic tests can aid the early diagnosis, appropriate management of these fetuses, and give parents an informed choice about whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. In recent years, investigations have been conducted to achieve a high detection rate (DR) and reduce the false positive rate (FPR).

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with mosaic ring chromosome 13: Case report and review of the literature.

Objective: To diagnose the ring chromosome 13 (r(13)) in a fetus, and analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation.

Case Report: A 26-year-old woman who was second pregnancy, underwent amniocentesis at 18 weeks of gestation because of the increased nuchal translucency (NT). Prenatal ultrasound showed the NT thickness was 3.

Clinical Application of Chromosomal Microarray Analysis in Pregnant Women with Advanced Maternal Age and Fetuses with Ultrasonographic Soft Markers.

BACKGROUND In pregnant women with advanced maternal age (AMA) and fetuses with ultrasonographic (USG) soft markers it is always challenging to decide whether to implement chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) or not. It is unclear whether CMA should be used in the fetuses with isolated USG soft markers, and there is still a lack of extensive sample research. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 1521 cases in our research and divided them into 3 groups as follows: pregnant women with isolated AMA (group 1, n=633), pregnant women whose fetuses had isolated USG soft markers (group 2, n=750), and pregnant women with AMA whose fetuses had isolated USG soft markers (group 3, n=138).

Frequency and clinical manifestation of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis of chromosomal polymorphisms in Northeast China.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the incidence of chromosomal polymorphisms in prenatal cytogenetic diagnostic cases and the effect of the clinical manifestation of these fetuses.

Materials And Methods: 490 fetuses with chromosomal polymorphisms among 9996 pregnant women who underwent prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis were included in this study and were set as group 1. Other 500 pregnant women, whose fetuses were with normal karyotypes, were randomly selected from the remaining pregnant women and set as group 2.

Re-evaluation of the value of sperm morphology in classical fertilization in a Northeastern Chinese population.

Objective: This study aimed to re-evaluate the clinical value of a 4% cut-off threshold of sperm morphology in fertilization (IVF) in a cohort of a Northeastern Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 375 IVF cycles that met strict inclusion criteria were included. These cycles were conducted with semen analysis and oocyte fertilization.

A report of nine cases and review of the literature of infertile men carrying balanced translocations involving chromosome 5.

Background: Balanced translocations may cause the loss of genetic material at the breakpoints and may result in failure of spermatogenesis. However, carriers of reciprocal translocation may naturally conceive. Genetic counseling of male carriers of translocations remains challenging.

Molecular microdeletion analysis of infertile men with karyotypic Y chromosome abnormalities.

Objectives To investigate azoospermic factor (AZF) microdeletions in infertile men from northeastern China with karyotypic Y chromosome abnormalities. Methods G-banding of metaphase chromosomes and karyotype analysis were performed in all infertile male patients. Genomic DNA was isolated and used to analyze classical AZF microdeletions by PCR.

Decline of semen quality and increase of leukocytes with cigarette smoking in infertile men.

Background: Previous researches about the effect of smoking on semen quality are contradictory, and the mechanism behind the harmful effect of smoking on semen quality still remains unclear until today.

Objective: The objectives of this study are evaluation of the relationship between smoking and fertility, investigation of the effects of cigarette smoking on sperm parameters and detection of presence of leukocytes within the semen of idiopathic infertile men from Northeastern China.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 1512 infertile patients who visited affiliated hospitals of Jilin University from 2007-2010 were enrolled in this study.

Analysis of Y chromosome microdeletion in 1738 infertile men from northeastern China.

Objective: To determine the frequencies and the characteristics of Y chromosome microdeletion in infertile men from northeastern China to perform appropriate therapeutic choices.

Materials And Methods: The study included 1738 infertile men. Sperm concentration was measured according to standard methods and karyotype analysis was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes with standard G-banding.

45,X mosaicism in northeast China: a clinical report and review of the literature.

Purpose: To explore the prevalence and clinical features, especially the reproductive function, of 45,X mosaicism patients in northeast China.

Methods: GTG-banding was performed on a series of 2,250 patients from our genetic counseling clinic. Each of these patients underwent a physical examination and was interviewed about their medical history and reproductive problems.

Impact of chromosomal heteromorphisms on reproductive failure and analysis of 38 heteromorphic pedigrees in Northeast China.

Purpose: To compare the frequency of chromosomal heteromorphisms in reproductive failure and fertile control individuals in Northeast China, and investigate the impact on reproductive failure

Methods: 1751 males and 1424 couples with reproductive failure (n = 4599) and 777 fertile control individuals in Northeast China were enrolled. Chromosome karyotype analysis was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes with standard G-banding. Additionally, C-banding was performed with heterochromatin heteromorphisms, and NORs-banding with satellites/stalks variations.

[Effect of moxibustion on motility, absorption and content of ATP in small intestine of spleen-deficiency rats].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of reinforcing function of moxibustion to spleen-stomach.

Methods: Forty healthy Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A (blank group), group B (model group), group C (moxibustion group) and group D (herbs group). The rat model of spleen-deficiency was established by intragastric administration with 200% Dahuang (Rhubarb) infusion.

NPA motifs play a key role in plasma membrane targeting of aquaporin-4.

The two highly conserved NPA motifs (asparagine-proline-alanine, NPA) are the most important structural domains that play a crucial role in water-selective permeation in aquaporin water channels. However, the functions of NPA motifs in aquaporin (AQP) biogenesis remain largely unknown. Few AQP members with variations in NPA motifs such as AQP11 and AQP12 do not express in the plasma membrane, suggesting an important role of NPA motifs in AQP plasma membrane targeting.

Assessment of released acrosin activity as a measurement of the sperm acrosome reaction.

Aim: To develop a method for assessing sperm function by measuring released acrosin activity during the acrosome reaction (AR).

Methods: Human semen samples were obtained from 24 healthy donors with proven fertility after 3-7 days of sexual abstinence. After collection, samples were liquefied for 30 min at room temperature.

[Ca2+ and sperm function].

Ca2+ is an important positive ion in the living body. Recently, there have been quite a few reports about the function of Ca2+ in sperm. Calcium is considered as a regulator of sperm motility, a participant in sperm capacitation, and an essential second messenger for acrosome reaction.

[Relationship between sperm motility parameters and sperm morphology].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between sperm motility parameters and sperm morphology.

Methods: Seven hundred and eighty-three semen samples were tested. Sperm motility parameters were analyzed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) , and sperm morphology assessed by automated sperm morphology analyzer (ASMA).