Asynchronous embryonic germ cell development leads to a heterogeneity of postnatal ovarian follicle activation and may influence the timing of puberty onset in mice.

Background: Ovarian follicles, which are the basic units of female reproduction, are composed of oocytes and surrounding somatic (pre) granulosa cells (GCs). A recent study revealed that signaling in somatic preGCs controlled the activation (initial recruitment) of follicles in the adult ovaries, but it is also known that there are two waves of follicle with age-related heterogeneity in their developmental dynamics in mammals. Although this heterogeneity was proposed to be crucial for female reproduction, our understanding of how it arises and its significance is still elusive.

Imaging and tracing the pattern of adult ovarian angiogenesis implies a strategy against female reproductive aging.

Robust angiogenesis is continuously active in ovaries to remodel the ovary-body connections in mammals, but understanding of this unique process remains elusive. Here, we performed high-resolution, three-dimensional ovarian vascular imaging and traced the pattern of ovarian angiogenesis and vascular development in the long term. We found that angiogenesis was mainly active on ovarian follicles and corpus luteum and that robust angiogenesis constructs independent but temporary vascular networks for each follicle.

In vivo and in vitro activation of dormant primordial follicles by EGF treatment in mouse and human.

In the mammalian ovaries, dormant primordial follicles represent the reproductive reserve of individual females. Recently, stimulating the activation of primordial follicles in vitro has been practiced, making the utilization of those dormant follicles to treat female infertility possible. However, there are still lacks of effective upstream molecule and strategy to elevate follicle activation in vivo.

Perinatal features of Prader-Willi syndrome: a Chinese cohort of 134 patients.

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare and complex genetic disorder caused by lacking expression of imprinted genes on the paternally derived chromosome 15q11-q13 region. This study aimed to characterize the perinatal features of 134 Chinese individuals with PWS.

Methods: This study included the patients of a PWS registry in China.

1-Deoxynojirimycin modulates glucose homeostasis by regulating the combination of IR-GlUT4 and ADIPO-GLUT4 pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), the main alkaloid in mulberry leaves, was recognized to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the regulatory mechanism of DNJ on glucose homeostasis was still unclear. In the present study, a safe concentration of 0.

CDC42 controls the activation of primordial follicles by regulating PI3K signaling in mouse oocytes.

Background: In mammalian females, progressive activation of dormant primordial follicles in adulthood is crucial for the maintenance of the reproductive lifespan. Misregulated activation of primordial follicles leads to various ovarian diseases, such as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Although recent studies have revealed that several functional genes and pathways, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, play roles in controlling the activation of primordial follicles, our understanding of the molecular networks regulating the activation progress is still incomplete.

[Review: plant polyphenols modulate lipid metabolism and related molecular mechanism].

Lipid metabolism disorder is an important risk factor to obesity, hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes as well as other chronic metabolic disease. It is also a key target in preventing metabolic syndrome, chronic disease prevention. Plant polyphenol plays an important role in maintaining or improving lipid profile in a variety of ways.

Application of immunosuppressant facilitates the therapy of optic neuritis combined with Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Optic neuritis (ON) is often the first symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) while there has been very little research reported on ON combined with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The aim of this study is to provide different treatments and services for and NMO patients combined with SS.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients with ON combined SS were divided into two groups: corticosteroid group (C group, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, 14 patients) and corticosteroid+ immunosuppressant group (C+I group, leflunomide, 13 patients).

Characterization of macular thickness changes in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy by optical coherence tomography.

Background: To characterize macular thickness (MT) changes in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) patients by cirrus HD-optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to study the correlation between MT and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Methods: Fifty-two eyes from 52 consecutive LHON patients and 14 eyes from 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were scanned by OCT. Affected eyes were classified into five groups according to disease duration (1st group: ≤3 months; 2nd group: 3-6 months; 3rd group: 6-9 months; 4th group: 9-12 months; and 5th group: >12 months).

Characterization of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness changes associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy by optical coherence tomography.

In the present study, the changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) were examined by Cirrus high definition-optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the correlation between the RNFL thickness and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated. A cross-sectional study was performed. Sixty-eight eyes from patients with LHON and 30 eyes from healthy individuals were scanned.

[Effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress related proteins and their mediated apoptosis in the formation of deep tissue injury of pressure ulcer in rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) related proteins and their mediated apoptosis in the formation of deep tissue injury of pressure ulcer in rats.

Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal control group and groups A, B, C, D according to the random number table, with 8 rats in each group. Rats in group A were loaded with 22.

[Meta analysis of acupuncture in the treatment of optic atrophy].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for optic atrophy.

Methods: All the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on optic atrophy treatment with acupuncture were included after retrieving the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database from their establishment to November 2012. The bibliographies of the included studies were retrieved as well.

[Expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in the late stage of pressure ulcer].

Objective: To study the distribution and expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the III-IV stage of pressure ulcer wound, and to explore their correlation with ulceration.

Methods: Forty-one patients hospitalized in the two Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from June 2010 to March 2012 were recruited, including twenty-one patients with 23 pressure ulcer of stage III-IV, 14 acute injury patients, and 6 donors of normal skin. Samples harvested from the 41 patients through surgery were divided into four groups, including pressure ulcer centre group (n = 23), pressure ulcer margin group (n = 23), acute wound group (n = 14), and normal skin group (n = 6).

Ocular manifestations of intracranial germinomas: three cases report and literature review.

Intracranial germinomas are malignant neoplasms of gonadal origin, which have some features in terms of age, sex, and clinical manifestations. They mainly occur in children and adolescents. Patients with intracranial germinomas mainly manifest with hypothalamic pituitary axis dysfunction and/or compression syndromes.

[Therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy with VIP for small cell lung cancer].

Background: To evaluate the effect of combination chemotherapy with etoposide plus ifosfamide and cisplatin (VIP) for small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods: One-hundred and twenty patients with localized SCLC who never received chemotherapy were randomly divided into VIP regimen group and EP regimen group. The response and toxicity were evaluated after 3 cycle chemotherapy with VIP or EP respectively.

[Relation between the serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen level and the biological demeanour of lung cancer].

Objective: To investigate the relation between the serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen and the biological demeanour of lung cancer and analyze its clinical meaning for diagnosis of lung cancer.

Methods: By ELISA, the serum TPS was tested in 69 patients with lung cancer, 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or pneumonia.

Results: The serum TPS in patients with lung cancer (273 +/- 172) U/L was significantly higher than the with benign lesions [(115 +/- 97) U/L, P < 0.