Association between atmospheric concentration of particulate matters and inpatient and outpatient visits for chronic respiratory diseases in Xiamen, China

Exposure to airborne particulate matters(fine particulate matter[PM2.5]and inhalable particulate matter[PM10])causes acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases and even death in some patients.[1,2]Here,we studied the association between airborne pollutants(PM2.5,PM10,ozone[O_(3)]),weather conditions(mean air temperature,wind force),and outpatient and inpatient visits for chronic respiratory diseases(bronchitis,emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[COPD],bronchiectasis)in Xiamen,China.

Genetic factors contributing to human primary ciliary dyskinesia and male infertility

Primary ciliary dyskinesia （PCD） is an autosomal-recessive disorder resulting from the loss of normal ciliary function. Symptoms include neonatal respiratory distress, chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis, situs inversus, and infertility. However, only 15 PCD-associated genes have been identified to cause male infertility to date. Owing to the genetic heterogeneity of PCD, comprehensive molecular genetic testing is not considered the standard of care. Here, we provide an update of the progress on the identification of genetic factors related to PCD associated with male infertility, summarizing the underlying molecular mechanisms, and discuss the clinical implications of these findings. Further research in this field will impact the diagnostic strategy for male infertility, enabling clinicians to provide patients with informed genetic counseling, and help to adopt the best course of treatment for developing directly targeted personalized medicine.

Combined action of C-reactive protein and lipid profiles on risk of hypertension and prehypertension in Mongolian adults in Inner Mongolia, China

Background Many studies have suggested that C-reactive protein （CRP） and blood lipids are associated with hypertension and cardiovascular disease （CVD）.However,few studies discussed the combined action of CRP and blood lipids on the risk of hypertension and prehypertension.This study aimed to investigate the combined action of CRP and lipid profiles on the risk of hypertension and prehypertension in Mongolian adults from Inner Mongolia,China.Methods The systolic and diastolic blood pressure,height,weight and waist circumference were measured and factors such as smoking,alcohol intake,family history of hypertension,etc.,were investigated and CRP,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）,triglycerides （TG） were tested for 2 534 Mongolian adults aged ≥20 years.The subjects were divided into four subgroups,namely CRP 〈median and LDL-C （TG） 〈median subgroup,CRP 〈median and LDL-C （TG） 〉median subgroup,CRP 〉median and LDL-C （TG） 〈median subgroup and CRP 〉median and LDL-C （TG） 〉median subgroup.The ORs （95% C/s） of hypertension and prehypertension for the subgroups were calculated by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results The multivariate adjusted ORs （95%CIs） of hypertension/prehypertension were 1.389 （0.979-1.970）/1.1 51（0.865-1.531）,1.666 （1.159-2.394）/1.431 （1.060-1.930）,1.756 （1.242-2.484）/ 1.770 （1.321-2.372）,for CRP 〈median and LDL-C 〉median subgroup,CRP 〉median and LDL-C 〈median subgroup,and CRP 〉median and LDL-C 〉median subgroup,respectively,compared with CRP 〈median and LDL-C 〈median subgroup.Similarly,the multivariate adjusted ORs （95% CIs） of hypertension/prehypertension were 2.032 （1.394-2.963）/1.442 （1.047-1.988）,1.412 （0.960-2.079）/1.596 （1.166-2.184）,and 2.197 （1.595-3.027）/1.730 （1.321-2.266） for CRP 〈median and TG 〉median subgroup,CRP 〉median and TG 〈median subgroup,and CRP 〉median and TG 〉median subgroup,respectively,compared with CRP 〈median and TG 〈median subgroup.The risks of hypertension and prehypertension were the highest in the CRP 〉median and LDL-C （TG） 〉median subgroup among the four subgroups.Conclusions Subjects with both CRP 〉median and LDL-C （TG） 〉median had highest risks of hypertension and prehypertension among all subjects.This study appeared to indicate that the combined action of elevated CRP and elevated LDL-C （TG） further increase the risks of hypertension and prehypertension among Mongolian population.

Diagnosis and treatment of herpangina:Chinese expert consensus

Background Herpangina is a common infectious disease in childhood caused by an enterovirus.This consensus is aiming to standardize and improve herpangina prevention and clinical diagnosis.Methods The Subspecialty Group of Infectious Diseases,the Society of Pediatric,Chinese Medical Association and Nation Medical Quality Control Center for Infectious Diseases gathered 20 experts to develop the consensus,who are specialized in diagnosis and treatment of herpangina.Results The main pathogenic serotypes of herpangina include Coxsackievirus-A,Enterovirus-A and Echovirus.Its diagnosis can be rendered on the basis of history of epidemiology,typical symptoms,characteristic pharyngeal damage and virological tests.The treatment is mainly symptomatic,and incorporates topical oral spray with antiviral drugs.The course of herpangina generally lasts 4-6 days with a good prognosis.Conclusion The consensus could provide advices and references for the diagnosis,treatment and management of herpangina in children.

Case study of a patient with cryptozoospermia associated with a recessive TEX15 nonsense mutation

Dear Editor, Male infertility, which affects approximately 20 million people worldwide, is commonly caused by spermatogenic dysfunctions, including severe oligozoospermia, cryptozoospermia, and nonobstructive azoospermia, which are largely genetic in origin.

First successful pregnancy outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with short-tailed sperm from an infertile Han Chinese man

Dear Editor, Short-tailed sperms are rarely encountered in clinical practice, but they make achieving fertilization difficult. We encountered a very rare case of an infertile man having short-tailed sperm. A 32-year-old Chinese farmer and his 27-year-old wife were referred to Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital for a fertility evaluation.

A successful pregnancy by intracytoplasmic sperm injection using ejaculate sperm from an infertile man with 46, XX/46, XY true hermaphrodite

Dear Editor, True hermaphroditism is a condition in which the gonads, genital morphology, and sexuality simultaneously show both male and female characteristics （ovaries and testes） or in which both types of gonadal tissue exist in a single gonad （known as an ovariotestis）. True hermaphroditism associated with a chimeric or 46, XX/46, XY karyotype is extremely rare, and the genitalia of those affected can be characterized as female, male, or mixed.1-3 The cause of true hermaphroditism has not been determined because the condition is relatively rare and has a diverse phenotype.4