The prevalence of azoospermia factor microdeletion on the Y chromosome of Chinese infertile men detected by multi-analyte suspension array technology

Aim： To develop a high-throughput multiplex, fast and simple assay to scan azoospermia factor （AZF） region microdeletions on the Y chromosome and establish the prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. Methods： In total, 178 infertile patients with azoospermia （nonobstructed）, 134 infertile patients with oligozoospermia as well as 40 fertile man controls were included in the present study. The samples were screened for AZF microdeletion using optimized multi-analyte suspension array （MASA） technology. Results： Of the 312 patients, 36 （11.5%） were found to have deletions in the AZF region. The rnicrodeletion frequency was 14% （25/178） in the azoospermia group and 8.2% （11/134） in the oligospermia group. Among 36 patients with microdeletions, 19 had deletions in the AZFc region, seven had deletions in AZFa and six had deletions in AZFb. In addition, four patients had both AZFb and AZFc deletions. No deletion in the AZF region was found in the 40 fertile controls. Conclusion： There is a high prevalence of Y chromosomal microdeletions in Chinese infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia. The MASA technology, which has been established in the present study, provides a sensitive and high-throughput method for detecting the deletion of the Y chromosome. And the results suggest that genetic screening should be advised to infertile men before starting assisted reproductive treatments.

Picomolar Level Detection of Copper(II)and Mercury(II)Ions Using Dual‑Stabilizer‑Capped CdTe Quantum Dots

In this paper,dual-stabilizer-capped CdTe quantum dots were used as modulated photoluminescence(PL)sensors for the subpicomolar level detection of copper(II)(Cu^(2+))and mercury(II)(Hg^(2+))ions in aqueous solution for the first time.The dual-stabilizer-capped CdTe quantum dots were synthesized using mercaptopropionic acid(MPA)and sodium hexametaphosphate(SHMP)as surface-modified ligands via a convenient hydrothermal process.The researches showed a low interference response of the MPASHMP-capped CdTe quantum dots towards other metal ions.The highly efficient PL quenching ability in the presence of Hg^(2+)or Cu^(2+)ions due to the formed nonfluorescent metal complexes via robust Hg^(2+)–O interaction with the carboxy oxygen elements of surface ligands of MPA,and on the basis of the competitive binding of the mercapto groups of the MPA between the CdTe quantum dots and the Cu^(2+)ions,respectively,which allowed the analysis of Hg^(2+)or Cu^(2+)ions down to the picomolar levels.Under optimal conditions,the response of the MPA-SHMP-capped CdTe quantum dot PL intensity is linearly proportional to the Cu^(2+)and Hg^(2+)ion concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1000 and 0.3 to 1000 nM with a detection limit of 41.6 and 97.0 pM,respectively.The diagnostic capability and potential in practical applications of this method have been demonstrated by detecting Cu^(2+)and Hg^(2+)ions in environmental water samples.