Sono-anatomy of the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion verified with pathology.

Objectives: Cervical discomfort and other symptoms may be attributable to the middle cervical sympathetic ganglion. The aim of this study was to explore the sonographic features of this ganglion in anatomical specimens and cadavers and evaluate the feasibility of its visualization using high-resolution ultrasonography.

Methods: We examined three cervical sympathetic-ganglion specimens and two fresh cadavers using high-resolution ultrasound to explore the sonographic features of this ganglion.

The lymphatic drainage systems in the brain: a novel target for ischemic stroke?

Recent studies have proposed three lymphatic drainage systems in the brain, that is, the glymphatic system, the intramural periarterial drainage pathway, and meningeal lymphatic vessels, whose roles in various neurological diseases have been widely explored. The glymphatic system is a fluid drainage and waste clearance pathway that utilizes perivascular space and aquaporin-4 protein located in the astrocyte endfeet to provide a space for exchange of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. The intramural periarterial drainage pathway drives the flow of interstitial fluid through the capillary basement membrane and the arterial tunica media.

Outcomes of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Cycles by Fluorescent Hybridization of Infertile Males with Nonmosaic 47,XYY Syndrome.

Background: The 47,XYY syndrome could result in fertility problems. However, seldom studies reported comprehensive researches on the embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes of these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of nonmosaic 47,XYY patients performed with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) treatment.

Reproductive management through integration of PGD and MPS-based noninvasive prenatal screening/diagnosis for a family with GJB2-associated hearing impairment.

A couple with a proband child of GJB2 (encoding the gap junction protein connexin 26)-associated hearing impairment and a previous pregnancy miscarriage sought for a reproductive solution to bear a healthy child. Our study aimed to develop a customized preconception-to-neonate care trajectory to fulfill this clinical demand by integrating preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) into the strategy. Auditory and genetic diagnosis of the proband child was carried out to identify the disease causative mutations.

Protective effects of urinary trypsin inhibitor on vascular permeability following subarachnoid hemorrhage in a rat model.

Aims: Inflammation and apoptosis play important roles in increasing vascular permeability following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), a serine protease inhibitor, attenuates vascular permeability by its antiinflammatory and antiapoptotic effects after experimental SAH.

Methods: Subarachnoid hemorrhage models were established in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by endovascular perforation.

The involvement of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) in the regulation of apoptosis in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Aims: Programmed Cell Death 5 (PDCD5) is a protein that accelerates apoptosis in different types of cells in response to various stimuli and is down-regulated in many cancer tissues. We hypothesized in this study that down-regulating PDCD5 can protect the brain from ischemic damage by inhibiting PDCD5-induced apoptotic pathway.

Methods: One hundred and sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups: Sham surgery (n = 25), MCAO (n = 45), MCAO+rhPDCD5 (RhPDCD5) (n = 30), MCAO+control siRNA (n = 30), and MCAO+PDCD5 siRNA (n = 30).

An in vivo study with an MRI tracer method reveals the biophysical properties of interstitial fluid in the rat brain.

The nature of brain interstitial fluid (ISF) has long been a subject of controversy. Most of the previous studies on brain ISF were carried out in vitro. In the present study, a novel method was developed to characterize ISF in the living rat brain by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) as a tracer.

Effect of maternal age on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

This is a retrospective, observational study to evaluate the effect of maternal age on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). 11830 IVF-ET cycles from 10268 women were included. Four groups of different maternal age periods were compared.

p53-induced uncoupling expression of aquaporin-4 and inwardly rectifying K+ 4.1 channels in cytotoxic edema after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Aims: To investigate the mechanism behind cytotoxic edema formation following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: We explored the role of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), inwardly rectifying K(+) 4.1 (Kir4.

[Use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection for obstructive azoospermia].

Objective: To explore the use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PESA-ICSI) in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

Methods: Seventy-nine cases of obstructive azoospermia treated in our center from Sep 2008 to Aug 2009 were divided into an L-carnitine (n = 43) and a control group (n = 36), the former given oral L-carnitine at 1 g bid for 3 months before PESA-ICSI, while the latter left untreated. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes as well as the number and rate of good embryos.

[Imaging and quantitative measurement of brain extracellular space using MRI Gd-DTPA tracer method].

Objective: To observe the diffusion of Gd-DTPA in brain extracellular space (ECS) by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and investigate the feasibility of ECS measurement by using MRI tracer method in vivo.

Methods: 2 microL Gd-DTPA was introduced into ECS by caudate nucleus according to stereotaxic atlas in 8 Sprague Dawley(SD) rats (male, 280-320 g). The MRI scans were performed at 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 9 h and 12 h respectively after administration.

Changes in the distribution of mitochondria before and after in vitro maturation of human oocytes and the effect of in vitro maturation on mitochondria distribution.

Objective: To clarify the relationship between oocyte maturation and mitochondria distribution and assess the effects of in vitro maturation (IVM) on the distribution of mitochondria in human oocytes.

Design: Prospective randomized trial.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF center.

[Replacement of androgen receptor gene causes complete androgen insensitivity in a large family].

Objective: To confirm the clinical diagnosis of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) by molecular genetic testing in a large family.

Methods: PCR was performed to amplify the coding region of androgen gene, followed by direct sequencing in the patients with CAIS and relatives in this family.

Results: A missense mutation Arg773His was identified in the patients (homozygous) and carriers (heterozygous).

[Analysis of therapeutic outcomes of polycystic ovary syndrome patients with hyperprolactinemia].

Objective: To study effect of drug treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with hyperprolactinemia.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 63 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperprolactinemia from the Reproductive Medicine Center, Provincial Hospital between January 2005 and March 2007. According to the beginning time of bromocriptine, all women were divided into two groups.

Pifithrin-alpha reduces cerebral vasospasm by attenuating apoptosis of endothelial cells in a subarachnoid haemorrhage model of rat.

Background: The mechanism of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is not understood. Here, we hypothesized that apoptosis of endothelial cells induced by p53 and its target gene em dash p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) played an important role in development of cerebral vasospasm. We also observed the effects of a p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-alpha (PFT-alpha), on reducing the expression of p53 and PUMA, consequently decreasing the apoptosis of endothelial cells and alleviating cerebral vasospasm.

[Sex chromosome analysis and IGF-II expression on activated human unfertilized oocytes after ICSI with calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin].

Objective: To investigate the sex chromosomes and the expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) on activated human unfertilized oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) with calcium ionophore A23187 and puromycin.

Methods: All 95 discarded oocyes that showed no evidence of fertilization at 16-18 h after in vitro maturation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (IVM-ICSI)/conventional ICSI were exposed to calcium ionophore A23187 (5 micromol/L) for 5 min and then were incubated with puromycin (10 microg/mL) for 4 h. After activation, the oocytes were cultured in vitro for 3-5 days.