Reproductive Health Knowledge Level of High School and University Students in Shanghai

Objective To understand the sexual and reproductive health knowledge level of high school and university students in Shanghai. Methods A total of 628 high school students and 709 college students were surveyed with anonymous self-administrated questionnaire in Shanghai. Results The median knowledge scores of students from colleges and high schools were 58 and 39, respectively. Those who had surfed the Internet, had browsed websites on reproductive health, or had communicated sex-related issues with fathers/classmates/friends had more reproductive health knowledge. In addition, the percentage of college students who had surfed the Internet, had browsed websites on reproductive health or had communicated sex-related issues with classmates/friends was higher than that of high school students. Conclusion The knowledge scores of respondents were rather low. Compared with the high school students, the college students had more reproductive health knowledge and sought the knowledge more actively.

Evaluation of Family Sex Education on Middle School Students in Shanghai

Objective To evaluate the impact of family-school combined sex education among middle school students. Methods This is a school-based intervention study. Four junior middle schools and two senior middle schools in Xuhui District, Shanghai, were selected as study sites involving parents, two junior middle schools and one senior middle school as the intervention group and others as control group. The intervention group was provided with both school and family education which contained giving lectures, distributing leaflets, organizing group discussions and parent-adolescent communicating activities to parents. Data were collected through anonymous and self-administered questionnaires before and after one-year intervention to evaluate the effect of the intervention. Results The average score of parents in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group after intervention. Particularly, the mean score of AIDS knowledge in the intervention group was increased by 10.5, which was more than that of control group （5.3）. The intervention increased the parents＇ intention to family sex education. The percentage of parents in the intervention group approving ＂sex education should be provided by parents＂ had increased, much higher than that in the control group. Intervention also promoted parent-adolescent communication about sex. The percentage of parents reporting ＂they actively talked with their children about sex or their teens asked them questions related to sex＂ had increased, much higher than that in the control group. Conclusion Family-school combined sex education significantly increased sexual knowledge and sex education intention of parents, promoted the parent-adolescent communication about sex as well.

Study on the Effects of Infant Fostering Interventions in Xuhui District,Shanghai

Objective To assess the effects of fostering interventions on the infants and their families through the community. Methods A total of 309 infants born on 1st August, 2003 to 30th August, 2004 and their families were recruited as participants by cluster sampling in Longhua and Kantian sub-districts of Xuhui district, Shanghai. The newborns were randomly assigned to intervention group （156 cases） and control group （153 cases）. The infants and their families will be followed up during 3-year interventions. Results After 6 months＇ intervention, the proportion of infants who could turn over the body in the intervention group （88.46%） was higher than that in control group （75.16%）. The morbidity of upper-respiratory tract infection in intervention group （20.51%） was significantly lower than that in control group （32.68%）. The incidence rates of pneumonia, diarrhea and anemia in intervention group were all lower than that in control group, except for pneumonia, the differences were not significant. Both of the knowledge about how to foster infants and service utility in intervention group were higher than that in control group. Conclusion The fostering interventions through the community promote the prevention and control of infants disease, increase the knowledge level and service util ity of families.

Prevalence of term low birth weight andits determinants in Shanghai, China

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of term low birth weight (TLBW) and its risk factors. Methods: A follow-up study with 7, 872 couples was conducted from 1987 to 199o beginning from the time they got marriage licenses in two districts defined in Shanghai. They were interviewed in the third month and again in the fifteenth month and in the fifth to sixth year afterwards individually at home. The total follow up rate reached 98%. Couple’s background characteristics as well as the information on their general health. reproductivc history and contraceptive use etc.. were collected dynamically. All of the single live births with term delivery were Included for data analysis in this paper. Adjusted odd ratios and population attributable risk (PAR%) were computed. Results: The prevalence of TLBW in Shanghai single term live births was 2. 0% (134,/6.573), represents 54. 7% (134/245) of the total low birth weights in our sam pie. Significant social and behaviour risk factors relating with TI-BW were wife’s dissat- isfaction with marriage; low education level of husband; co-residence with parents during pregnancy; heavy housework done by the wife while being pregnant. Significant biomedical risky factors were menarche age greater than 16 years old; maternal age at delivery greater than 29 years old; maternal body mass index less than 19. 8; wife suf- fered from serious disease prior to conceiving; having pregnancy complication; gestational weight gain less than 20 % of pre-pregnancy weight; having abortion, stillbirth and fetal death history. Conclusion: TL.BW constituted over half of all low birth weights in Shanghai. Special attention should be paid to the determinants mentioned above in TLBW intervention program. Improving couples’ economic and living condition and husband ’s education at tainment, and caloric supplementation with women while being pregnant would all be particularly effective in reducing the occurrence of TLBW in Shnaghai.

Does exposure to computers affect the routine parameters of semen quality?

Aim： To assess whether exposure to computers harms the semen quality of healthy young men. Methods： A total of 178 subjects were recruited from two maternity and children healthcare centers in Shanghai, 91 with a history of exposure to computers （i.e., exposure for 20 h or more per week in the last 2 years） and 87 persons to act as control （no or little exposure to computers）. Data on the history of exposure to computers and other characteristics were obtained by means of a structured questionnaire interview. Semen samples were collected by masturbation in the place where the semen samples were analyzed. Results： No differences in the distribution of the semen parameters （semen volume, sperm density, percentage of progressive sperm, sperm viability and percentage of normal form sperm） were found between the exposed group and the control group. Exposure to computers was not found to be a risk factor for inferior semen quality after adjusting for potential confounders, including abstinence days, testicle size, occupation, history of exposure to toxic substances. Conclusion： The present study did not find that healthy： men exposed to computers had inferior semen quality. （Asian J Andro12005 Sep; 7： 263-266）

Prevalent false positives of azoospermia factor a （AZFa） microdeletions caused by single-nucleotide polymorphism rs72609647 in the sY84 screening of male infertility

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） has been widely used to detect Y-chromosome micredeletions, which is one of the major causes of male infertility. Both the European Academy of Andrology （EAA） and the European Molecular Genetics Quality Network （EMQN） have recommended the use of sY84 and sY86 markers for the detection of azoospermia factor a （AZFa） microdeletion during DNA testing for male infertility. In this study, a large-scale analysis of AZF microdeletion in a total of 630 Chinese males, including healthy semen donors （n=200）, infertile males with normal sperm count （n=226） and patients with either nonobstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia （n=204）, was performed. A series of nine sequence-tagged site （STS） markers from the AZF region of the Y chromosome was used to detect microdeletions. All primers were designed based on the recommendations of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. An unusually high incidence （73/630, 11.6%） of sY84-absent but sY86-present genotypes was observed in the AZFa microdeletion screening. Sequencing the sY84-flanking region revealed a total of 73 patients with sY84-absent but sY86-present genotypes have a T-to-G transversion at the fifth base from the 5＇ end of the reverse sY84 primer. These prevalent false positives, which were not only observed in infertile men, but also observed in donors, resulted from a single-nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） named rs72609647 in the targeting sequence of the reverse sY84 primer. Our study suggests that a pre-screening of existence of rs72609647 polymorphism can prevent the frequent false positive results of AZFa microdeletions detection in the infertile Chinese males. Given the SNP rs72609647 was recently found in a deep sequencing of a Chinese individual, the current EAA and EMQN standards may need to be scrutinized among different populations to avoid the potential genetic variations in the primer binding sequences.

Proteomic analysis of seminal plasma from asthenozoospermia patients reveals proteins that affect oxidative stress responses and semen quality

Asthenozoospermia （AS） is a common cause of human male infertility. In one study, more than 80% of the samples from infertile men had reduced sperm motility. Seminal plasma is a mixture of secretions from the testis, epididymis and several male accessory glands, including the prostate, seminal vesicles and Cowper＇s gland. Studies have shown that seminal plasma contains proteins that are important for sperm motility. To further explore the pathophysiological character of AS, we separated the seminal plasma proteins from AS patients and healthy donors using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in-gel digestion, and then subjected the proteins to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） analysis. A total of 741 proteins were identified in the seminal plasma, with a false discovery rate of 3.3%. Using spectral counting, we found that 45 proteins were threefold upregulated and 56 proteins were threefold downregulated in the AS group when compared with the control. Most of these proteins originated from the epididymis and prostate. This study identified a rich source of biomarker candidates for male infertility and indicates that functional abnormalities of the epididymis and prostate can contribute to AS. We identified D J-1--a protein that has been shown elsewhere to be involved in the control of oxidative stress （OS）-as a downregulated protein in AS seminal plasma. The levels of D J-1 in AS seminal plasma were about half of those in the control samples. In addition, the levels of reactive oxygen species were 3.3-fold higher in the AS samples than in the controls. Taken together, these data suggest that downregulation of DJ-1 is involved in OS in semen, and therefore affects the quality of the semen.

In Vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Induced by Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Murine RAW 264.7 Macrophages and Human A549 Lung Cells

Objective To investigate in vitro cytotoxicity and oxidative stress response induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes （MWCNTs）. Methods Cultured macrophages （murine RAW264.7 cells） and alveolar epithelium cells type II （human A549 lung cells） were exposed to the blank control, DNA salt control, and the MWCNTs suspensions at 2.5, 10, 25, and 100 ug/mL for 24 h. Each treatment was evaluated by cell viability, cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. Results Overall, both cell lines had similar patterns in response to the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress of MWCNTs. DNA salt treatment showed no change compared to the blank control. In both cell lines, significant changes at the doses of 25 and 100 ug/mL treatments were found in cell viabilities, cytotoxicity, and oxidative stress indexes. The reactive oxygen species （ROS） generation was also found to be significantly higher at the dose of 10 ug/mL treatment, whereas no change was seen in most of the indexes. The ROS generation in both cell lines went up in minutes, reached the climax within an hour and faded down after several hours. Conclusion Exposure to MWCNTs resulted in a dose-dependent cytotoxicity in cultured RAW264.7 cells and A549 cells, that was closely correlated to the increased oxidative stress.

Kinetics of High Cell Density Fed-batch Culture of Recombinant Escherichia coli Producing Human-like Collagen

The kinetics of batch and fed-batch cultures of recombinant Escherichia coli producing human-like collagen was investigated. In the batch culture, a kinetic model of a simple growth-association system was concluded without consideration of cell endogeneous metabolism. The cell lag time, the maximum specific growth rate and Yx/s were determined as 1.75h, 0.65h^-1 and 0.51g·g^-1, respectively. In the fed-batch culture, different specific growth rates were set at （0.15, 0.2, 0.25h^-1） by the method of pseudo-exponential feeding, and the expressions for the specific rate of substrate consumption, the growth kinetics and the product formation kinetics of each phase were obtained. The result shows that the concentrations of cell and product can reach 77.5g·L^-1 and 10.2g·L^-1 respectively. The modal predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Current Situations of the Integration of RTIs Prevention and Treatment into Routine FP Program

Objective To understand the current situation of the integration of reproductive tract infections （RTIs） prevention and treatment into routine Family planning （FP） program. Methods Literature review, in depth interview and focus group discussion were employed to collect the related information. Questionnaire survey was conducted in 59 county level FP facilities. Results Both central and local governments provide policy supports to RTIs prevention and treatment. Nearly 98.3% of local FP facilities had integrated this work into their routine FP program. A comprehensive network system of family planning has been established in China and there were plenty of FP human resources. The existing FP resource should be effectively used, which could produce great social benefit if RTIs prevention and treatment be integrated into routine FP program. However, some problems still need to be solved in the integrated program, such as insufficient finance support, low quality of service, lack of co-operations between different sectors, etc. Conclusion It is possible and feasible to develop RTIs controlling projects in the family planning system. However, intensive training and close cooperation need to be applied respectively into FP staffs and relative departments.

Effect of Mono-2-ethyhexyl Phthalate on DNA Methylation in Human Prostate Cancer LNCaP Cells

Objective To evaluate whether mono（2‐ethylhexyl） phthalate（MEHP） affects genomic DNA methylation and the methylation status of some specific genes such as patched gene（PTCH） and smoothened gene（SMO） in LNCaP cells. Methods LNCaP cells were treated with MEHP（0, 1, 5, 10, and 25 μmol/L） for 3 days. An ELISA assay was preformed to detect genomic methylation, including 5‐methylcytosine（5‐mC） and 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine（5‐hmC） content. A pyrosequencing assay was applied to assess DNA methylation in PTCH and SMO gene promoters. The correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression was assessed. Results The proportion of cytosines with 5‐mC methylation in LNCaP cells was significantly decreased by MEHP（1, 5, 10, and 25 μmol/L） in a dose‐dependent manner（P 〈 0.01）. For genes in the Hedgehog pathway, there was no significant MEHP concentration‐dependent difference in the DNA methylation of PTCH and SMO. Conclusion MEHP might affect the progression of prostate cancer through its effect on global DNA methylation.

Survey on Attitude of Middle School Educators for Sex and Reproductive Health Education

Objective To get a general picture of the attitudes of middle school educators on sex and reproductive health education. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 144 middle school educators in three districts of Shanghai from September to October 2005 using anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Results The majority of the educators thought that it was necessary to launch the sex and reproductive health education in all of the middle schools in Shanghai （97. 02%）. They were aware that the age of the students＇puberty were earlier now than before （94.41%）, but the reproductive health knowledge of students was neither sufficient nor correct （78.34%）. The sex and reproductive health education had been involved in the curriculum of many middle schools （66.11%）. Lacking of qualified education staffs contributed most （90. 71%） in the schools which had not launched the sex and reproductive health education. Lacking of qualified education staffs （90.91%） challenged most in the schools which had carried the education. Conclusion The middle school educators thought it was necessary to carry the sex and reproductive health education in all of the middle schools in Shanghai while the major challenges were lacking of qualified education staffs and sufficient teaching time.

Effects of Estrogen and/or Progesterone on Morphology of Pituitary Luteinizing Hormone Cells

Objective To identify the morphological characteristics of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) cells after exogenous gonadal hormone treatment Methods Effects of various doses of estrogen, progesterone and their combination on morphological parameters, including the size and shape of pituitary LH cells, the size of endocellular vacuoles, were observed and measured by immuno histochemistry and computer image analysis. Results Different kinds of gonadal hormones could recover the magnified LH cells to the normal level in ovariectomized rats. However, their final effects on the gonadotrophin levels and the cellular morphological characters of the LH cells were different. The low dose of estrogen elicited abundant hormone stored in the LH cells to an easy released status with a lot of different size of vacuoles. On the contrary, the high dose of estrogen inhibited the storage of LH, and the LH cells were filled with secretory granules and few vacuoles. The progesterone could promote the storage of LH in an uneasy released status. The administration of estrogen progesterone combination not only inhibited the storage of LH, but also the release of LH. In this group, the LH cells containing a large amount of secretory granules and a few vacuoles showed a better uniform shape compared with those administrated with high dose of estrogen. Conclusion: Different kinds of gonadal hormones could reverse the excessive secretion of LH and recover the morphological change of LH cells to the normally physiological condition.

Assessment of Uterine Receptivity by Endometrial and Subendometrial Blood Flows Measured by Vaginal Color Doppler Ultrasound in Women Undergoing IVF Treatment

Objective To evaluate endometrial and subendometrial blood flows measured by vaginal color Doppler ultrasound as a predicator of endometrial receptivity in women undergoing IVF treatment. Methods A total of 119 infertile patients undergoing the first IVF/ICSI-ET cycle were recruited. Three groups were divided according to a color Doppler ultrasound examination performed on the day of hCG injection. Group A, endometrial and subendometrial blood flows were 2 branches and below; group B, endometrial and subendometrial blood flows were between 3 and 4 branches; group C, endometrial and subendometrial blood flows were 5 branches and above. Patients were transferred 1-3 embryos each. Demographic data, ovarian responses, endometrial thickness, PI, RI, development of embryo and IVF result among groups were compared. Results Demographic data, ovarian responses, endometrial thickness, PI, RI and development of embryo among groups have no significant difference. The pregnancy rate of group A was significantly lower than that of group B （P〈0.05） and group C （P〈0.01）. The implantation rate of group A was significantly lower than than of group C （P〈0.01）. There was no significant difference of the rate of pregnancy and implantation between group B and group C （P〉0.05）. Conclusion Endometrial and subendometrial blood flows measured by vaginal color Doppler ultrasound is a good predicator of pregnancy during IVF treatment. A good endometrial and subendometrial blood flows is benefit for the result of IVF.

Effects of Cesarean Section on Infant Health in China:Matched Prospective Cohort Study

Objective To compare the medical outcomes of infants delivered by cesarean section with those of infants delivered vaginally. Methods A total of 301 healthy women with cesarean section and a matched control group of 301 women delivered vaginally were identified at three district-level hospitals in Shanghai from May 2001 to February 2003. Two groups were matched according to their medical indications for cesarean section. Their infants were assessed at delivery, 1 month, 6 month and 1 year after birth. Results The incidence of neonatal complications and infant morbidities at all measurement occasions did not differ significantly between groups. Rehospitalization was found to be more likely among infants delivered by cesarean section in the first month after birth. However, there was no difference between two groups in the incidence of rehospitalization in the first year after birth. Cesarean section was also associated with a higher risk of infant diarrhea （adjusted relative risk=1.25, 95% CI： 1.01, 1.56）. Conclusion Infants did not have health benefits from cesarean section if the pregnancy was at low risk.

Molecular cloning and identification of mouse epididymis-specific gene mHongl, the homologue of rat HongrES1

Previous studies have shown that rat epididymis-specific gene HongrES1 plays important roles in sperm capacitation and fertility. In this study, we cloned the mouse homologue gene by sequence alignment and RT-PCR methods and designated it as mHongl. The mHongl gene is located on chromosome 12p14, spanning five exons. The cDNA sequence consists of 1257 nucleotides and encodes a 419 amino-acid protein with a predicted N-terminal signal peptide of 20 amino acids. The mHongl mRNA shows similarity with HongrES1 in the expression patterns： （i） specific expression in epididymal tissue, especially in the cauda region; and （ii） androgen-dependence but testicular fluid factor independence. Its protein product shows 71% similarity with HongrES 1 and contains a classical serpin domain as does HongrES1. A polyclonal antibody against mHongl with high specificity and sensitivity was raised. Like HongrES1, the mHongl protein shows a checker-board expression pattern in the epididymal epithelium and is secreted into the epididymal lumen. The mHongl protein shows higher glycosylation than HongrES1. Although both of them are deposited onto the sperm head surface, mHongl is localized to the equatorial segment, which is different from that of HongrES 1. The mHongl protein can be removed from the sperm membrane by high ionic strength and therefore can be classed as an extrinsic membrane protein. Collectively, we conclude that mHongl is the homologue of HongrES1 and the present work paves the way for establishing animal models to elucidate the precise functions of HongrES1 and mHongl.

Establishment of Germ-line Competent C57BL/6J Embryonic Stem Cell Lines

Objective To establish C57BL/6J embryonic stem （ES） cell lines with potential germ- line contribution Methods ES cells were isolated from blastocyst inner cell mass of C5 7BL/6J mice, and cultured for 15 passages, and then injected into blastococels of ICR mice blastocysts to establish chimeric mice. Results Three ES cell lines （mC57ES1,mC57ES3, mC57ES7） derived from the inner cell mass of C57BL/6J mice blastocysts were established. They were characteristic of undifferentiated state, including normal XY karyotype, expression of a specific cell surface marker “stage-specific embryonic antigen-I” and alkaline phosphatase in continuous passage. When injected into immunodeficient mice, mC57ES1 cells consistently differentiated into derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. When mC57ES1 cells were transferred into ICR mice blastocysts, 4 chimeric mice have been obtained. One male of them revealed successful germ-line transmission. Conclussion We have obtained C57BL/6J ES cell lines with a potential germ-line contribution, which can be used to generate transgenic and gene knock-out mice.

Effects of “Caulis Sargentodoxae Formula” on Experimental Endometriosis in Rat

Objective To study the drug effects of ＂Caulis Sargentodoxae Formula＂ which dears away heat and blood clot on experimental endometriosis in rat, and to compare this effect with Danazol＇s effects. Method The model of endometriosis rat was induced by transplanting with endometrium surgically The rats were divided into 6 groups randomly： the non-treatment group, the castrate group, Danazol group（80 mg/kg）, ＂Caulis Sargentodoxae Formula＂ group （110 g/kg）, the medium dose group（77.5 g/kg） and the low dose group（55 g/kg）. After 3 weeks＇ treatment, the volume ofendometrium was detected by cutting the rats＇ belly open, drawing the materials from endometrium for tissue section, and doing the quantity analysis of endometrium by semiautomatic image analysis machine.Results There was no significant difference of the endometrium volumes between the low dose group and the non-treatment group（P〉O.05）, other groups＇ endometrium volumes were significantly lower than those of the non-treatment group（P〈0. 05）. And apart from the low dose group, all other groups＇ heights of the endometrium epithelia were significantly lower than that of the non-treatment group（p〈0.01）. Conclusion ＂Caulis Sargentodoxae Formula＂ can refrain the growth of the endometrium, and the effects are better than that of Danazol＇s.

Family Status and Dilemma of HIV Positive Subjects

Objective To understand the family status and dilemma of HIV positive subjects and provide some related suggestions. Methods Constructured questionnaire and in-depth interview were used to survey their psychological needs of the 111 HIV positive subjects and AIDS patients from 4 provinces in China. Results HIV positive subjects and AIDS patients had strong mental stress. All of them hope to get support from their families; the most difficulty the subjects faced was economic poor. Conclusion It is a highlight to promote AIDS education to establish a good social environment in which HIV positive subjects and AIDS patients can live quietly and happily. And psychological support from their families and the society is very important to HIV positive subjects and AIDS patients.

Study on Bone Mineral Density and its Influencing Factors among 1214 Older Adults in Xuhui District,Shanghai

Objective To understand the status of the forearm bone mineral density （BMD） in older adults, and to identify the potentialfactors influencing BMD. Methods A total of 1 214 older adults were examined, in Tianlin, Fenglin and Xietu sub-districts, of Xuhui district, Shanghai. BMD was tested at the left forearm, including distal radius and ulna 1/3 total, distal radius where the distance of radius and ulna is 8 mm, ultra-distal radius, by single energy X-ray densitometer. Results The BMD at all of the four sites decreased with the age increased. The average BMD was higher in male than in female for the same age and measured site. Distal radius 1/3 total had the highest BMD among the four sites. The incidence of low BMD and osteoporosis in distal forearm 1/3 radius total ascended with the age increased. Multiplied logistic regression showed that males had a lower risk to be low BMD （OR=0. 19） compared with female. Compared with the group aged from 50 to 54, the odds ratio in the group aged from 55 to 59, 60 to 64, and 65 to 70 were respectively 3.17, 5.13, 15.03. Compared with those whose monthly salary was less than 1 000, the odds ratio was O. 70 in those whose salary was more than 1 000. Conclusion The incidence of low BMD was high in older adults, and it is related with sex, age, monthly salary.