Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from human β-thalassemia fibroblast cells

Dear Editor, Induced pluripotent stem （iPS） cells have recently been generated by directly introducing several transcription factors into differentiated human somatic cells, and these iPS cells show great similarities to embryo-derived ES cells. Moreover, patient-specific iPS cells have recently been generated, and these studies provided hopes for patients with genetic and degenerative diseases . β-thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that is characterized by reduced synthesis of hemoglobin subunit beta （hemoglobin β-chain）. Individuals with thalassemia major （also called Cooley＇s anemia） have severe anemia and hepatosplenomegaly; without treatment, affected children have severe failure to thrive and a shortened life expectancy. Even with transfusion and chelation therapy treatments, the life span of patients with thalassemia major can only be extended for a limited time.

Phenotypic changes of human cells in human-rat liver during partial hepatectomy-induced regeneration

AIM： To examine the human hepatic parenchymal and stromal components in rat liver and the phenotypic changes of human cells in liver of human-rat chimera （HRC） generated by in utero transplantation of human cells during partial hepatectomy （PHx）-induced liver regeneration. METHODS： Human hepatic parenchymal and stromal components and phenotypic changes of human cells during liver regeneration were examined by flow oytometry, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS： ISH analysis positive cells in hepatic demonstrated human Aluparenchyma and stroma of recipient liver. Functional human hepatocytes generated in this model potentially constituted human hepatic functional units with the presence of donor-derived human endothelial and biliary duct cells in host liver. Alpha fetoprotein （AFP）^＋, CD34^＋ and CD45^＋ cells were observed in the chimeric liver on day 10 after PHxinduced liver regeneration and then disappeared in PHx group, but not in non-PHx group, suggesting that dynamic phenotypic changes of human cells expressing AFP, CD34 and CD45 cells may occur during the chimeric liver regeneration. Additionally, immunostaining for human proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA） showed that the number of PCNA-positive cells in the chimeric liver of PHx group was markedly increased, as compared to that of control group, indicating that donor-derived human cells are actively proliferated during PHx-induced regeneration of HRC liver. CONCLUSION： HRC liver provides a tool for investigating human liver regeneration in a humanized animal model.

The effect of maternal BDE-209 exposure on offsping's expression of MAP-1B and S100 in hippocampus of the rats

Objective:To study the effect of maternal BDE-209 (brominated Diphenyl Ethers-209)exposure on the expression of microtubule-associated protein-1b (map-1b) and S-100 in rat's hippocampus of the offspring by RT-PCR.Methods:Peanut oil suspensions of commercial deca-BDE was given in dose of 300 mg/(kg·d) by oral gavage throughout gestation and lactation in experimental group.The control group was administered only with the same capacity of peanut oil at the same time.The expression of MAP-1B in the hippocampus of the offspring's rats were tested when the pups were newborn,7days,14 days,21days and 45days old respectively by means of RT-PCR.Result:MAP-1B protein showed a statistically significantly lower concentration in the groups 14 days,21days,45days than that of the control groups.The expression of S-100 in the group which received with deca-BDE by RT-PCR showed higher than that of control groups.But only the 45days groups had significant difference of expression of MAP-1B protein compared with the control groups(P<0.05).Conclusions:Maternal BDE-209 exposure during the period of pregnancy will diminish the expression of map-1b protein in hippocampus of offspring's rats.

补充重组人黄体生成素对于大龄生育期女性降调节后卵巢刺激和种植率的影响

Objective: To evaluate the effects of recombinant human luteinizing hormone (rhLH) supplementation on ovarian stimulation and implantation rate in down- regulated women of advanced reproductive age. Design: Prospective randomized study.Setting: University teaching hospital.Patient(s): A total of 120 consecutive normogona-dotropic infertile women < 35 years old undergoing their first cycle of IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.Intervention(s): Ovarian stimulation in a long agonist protocol with a combination of recombinant human follicle- stimulating hormone (rhFSH) and rhLH (group 1, n = 60) starting on day 6 of FSH stimulation until hCG at a daily fixed dose of 150 IU of rhLH, or with rhFSH alone (group 2, n = 60).Main Outcome Measure(s): Ovarian stimulation characteristics, ovum retrieval, and IVF/ICSI outcome.Result(s): The mean number of intermediate (10- 14 mm) and large ( > 14- < 18 mm) but not leading ( < 18 mm) follicles was significantly lower in group 1 on the day of hCG injection.The oocyte yield and maturity as well as the number of oocytes fertilized were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1.However, the number of patients having embryo transfer (n = 55 in both treatment groups), the number and quality of embryos replaced, the implantation rate (20.6% vs.21.7% ) and clinical pregnancy rates per embryo transfer (44% vs.45% ) were similar in groups 1 and 2.Conclusion(s): The rhLH supplementation does not increase ovarian response and implantation rates in patients of older reproductive age stimulated with rhFSH under pituitary suppression for assisted reproductive technologies(ARTs).

PET诊断主要表现为双侧腹股沟淋巴腺病的卵巢癌

Background. Ovarian cancer groin lymph nodes metastases are rare. Only one case of disease spread isolated to the groins has been reported in the English literature. We report the case of a patient with bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy due to tumor metastases and in which tumor origin was diagnosed using [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET). Case report. This is the first case of bilateral groin lymph nodes as sole site of metastases from ovarian cancer. Primary origin was identified using PET. Conclusions. In rare cases, the ovaries can directly metastasis to the groin even in a relatively initial tumor growth phase. PET may play a role in the diagnosis of occult ovarian tumors.

妊娠合并抗磷脂综合征治疗后,Ⅻa因子依赖的纤溶激活受损在孕晚期并发症发生中的作用

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the potential role of impaired factor XII-dependent activation of fibrinolysis in treated antiphospholipid syndrome gestations developing late-pregnancy complications. Study design: This was a prospective study in a third-level teaching hospital, including 75 patients: 25 pregnant patients having the antiphospholipid syndrome and carrying their pregnancies until 26 weeks’ gestation or later (group 1); 25 pregnant patients having normal term pregnancies and delivery and no previous miscarriage (group 2); and 25 pregnant patients being diagnosed as having severe pre- eclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction but testing negative for antiphospholipid antibodies (group 3). Hemostatic evaluation was carried out from patients in groups 1 and 2 between 6 and 10 weeks, between 18 and 22 weeks, and between 28 and 32 weeks’ gestation. Patients in group 3 were sampled between 28 and 32 weeks. An additional blood sample was obtained 4 to 6 months after delivery (baseline). The Mann-Whitney U test, the Friedman test, and the χ 2 test were used. Results: Patients in group 1 were characterized by increased factor VIIa levels, increased prothrombin fragment 1+ 2 levels, reduced factor XIIa levels, diminished functional urokinase-type plasminogen activator levels, and decreased levels of plasmin/alpha- 2-plasmin inhibitor complexes. These abnormalities were more evident in patients in group 1 developing pre-eclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction. Conclusions: Impaired factor XIIa-dependent activation of fibrinolysis seems to be a key mechanism related to late pregnancy complications in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Spindle and Chromosome Analysis of Non-Fertilized Oocytes from Conventional in vitro Fertilization for Non-Male Factor Infertiliy: Significance of Rescue ICSI?

Objective To determine whether rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI） is associated with improved outcomes for non-male factor infertility. Methods The changes of micro-structure, including meiotic spindle and chromosome distribution, sperm penetration, as well as oocyte activation were compared in IVF （in vitro fertilization）fertilization failure （1VF FF） patients, ICSI patients with non-fertilized oocytes （ICSI NF） and oocytes in vitro maturation （IVM）. Results A total of 164 unfertilized oocytes （93 oocytes in IVF and 71 oocytes in ICSI） and 56 IVM oocytes were available for this study. The abnormality of spindle and chromosomes was significantly higher in IVF FF group than that in ICSI NF group or IVM group （abnormal spindle rates were 80.6%, 64.8% and 57.1%, respectively; abnormal chromosome rates were 91.4%, 80.3% and 75.0%, respectively）. No sperm penetration after IVF and sperm expulsion after ICSI were 78.5% and 40.8%, respectively. Activation failure occurred in 16.1% of the IVF FF cases and 49.3% of ICSI NF oocytes. Conclusion Rescue ICSI of fertilization-failed oocytes fails to lead outcome improvement due to the internal defects of oocytes.