Relationship between Levels of Testosterone and Cortisol in Saliva and Aggressive Behaviors of Adolescents

Objective To explore the endocfinal factors which influence the aggressive behavior of adolescents. Methods The levels of cortisol （CORT）, testosterone （T）, prolactin （PRL）, and growth hormone （GH） in saliva from 20 aggressive students and 20 non-aggressive control students were measured by radioimmunoassay （RIA）. The students were matched for their gender, age, grade, stage of pubertal development, and economic status of their families. Results The salivary T levels were 22.20±14.50 pg/mL and 19.54±12.52 pg/mL in aggressive male and female students, 13.20±6.85 pg/mL and 5.24±3.03 pg/mL in non-aggressive male and female students （P〈0.05）. The male aggressive students had a lower level of CORT in saliva than non-aggressive male students （P〈0.05）. There were no significant differences in the salivary levels of PRL or GH between the aggressive and non-aggressive groups. Correlation analysis revealed a negative relationship in male students between the salivary CORT levels and the aggression factor scores of the child behavior checklist （CBCL）. In addition, the data also showed a positive relationship between the salivary T levels and the aggression factor scores of CBCL in female students. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the salivary CORT level was an independent predictive factor for aggressive behaviors in adolescent boys. The higher the CORT level, the less aggressive the boys were. Conclusion CORT and T levels may play a certain role in adolescent aggressive behaviors.

Divalent cation tolerance protein binds to β-secretase and inhibits the processing of amyloid precursor protein

The deposition of amyloid-beta is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer＇s disease, Amyloid-beta is derived from amyloid precursor protein through sequential proteolytic cleavages by β-secretase （beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1） and r-secretase. To further elucidate the roles of beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 in the development of AIzheimer＇s disease, a yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen a human embryonic brain cDNA library for proteins directly interacting with the intracellular domain of beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1. A potential beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1- interacting protein identified from the positive clones was divalent cation tolerance protein. Immunoprecipitation studies in the neuroblastoma cell line N2a showed that exogenous divalent cation tolerance protein interacts with endogenous beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1. The overexpression of divalent cation tolerance protein did not affect beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 protein levels, but led to increased amyloid precursor protein levels in N2a/APP695 cells, with a concomitant reduction in the processing product amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragment, indicating that divalent cation tolerance protein inhibits the processing of amyloid precursor protein. Our experimental findings suggest that divalent cation tolerance protein negatively regulates the function of beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1. Thus, divalent cation tolerance protein could play a protective role in Alzheimer＇s disease.

N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 promotes proliferation of HO-8910 ovarian cancer cells

Objective To investigate N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2(NDRG2) expression in ovarian cancer cells and its potential usefulness as a diagnostic marker and/or target for therapeutic intervention.Methods Human NDRG2 L/S gene was obtained by revers-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Sequence analysis confirmed the identity of NDRG2 L/S gene, which was then inserted into a eukaryotic vector p LNCX2, which was in turn transfected into NDRG2 gene-negative HO-8910 cells. Flow cytometry(FCM) and 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay were conducted to determine the proliferation rate of HO-8910 cells. Cisplatin resistance of HO-8910 cells transfected with p LNCX2-NDRG2 L/S was evaluated by FCM. Tumors were generated in female nude mice by subcutaneous injection of HO-8910 cells.Results NDRG2 gene was isolated and its expression vector was successfully constructed. NDRG2 expression positively correlated with the proliferation of HO-8910 cells. NDRG2 L/S promoted tumorigenicity in HO-8910 cells.Conclusion The present study identified a novel function of NDRG2 L/S gene and demonstrated its involvement in the promotion of ovarian cancer cell proliferation and enhancement of cisplatin resistance in HO-8910 cells. Future studies are warranted to determine the relationship between NDRG2 upregulation and ovarian cancer progression.

Denaturation Kinetics of N-Acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase from Scylla serrata in Urea Solution

N-Acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase（NAGase, EC 3.2.1.52）, which catalyzes the cleavage of N-acetylgluco- samine polymers, plays important roles in the molting, digestion of chitinous foods in green crab. In the study, the efforts of urea on the activity of NAGase purified from the viscera of green crab（Scylla serrata） have been studied. The results show that appropriate concentrations of urea can lead to reversible inactivation of the enzyme, and the value of the inhibitor concentration leading to 50% of enzyme activity lost（IC50） is estimated to be 0.63 mol/L. The inactivation kinetics has been studied via the kinetic method of the substrate reaction. The rate constants of inactivation have been determined. The value of k＋0 is larger than that of k′＋0, indicating the free enzyme molecule is more fragile than the enzyme-substrate complex in urea solution. It is suggested that the presence of the substrate offers the marked protection of this enzyme against inactivation by urea.

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.

Rapid screening for Klinefelter syndrome with a simple high-resolution melting assay： a multicenter study

Klinefelter syndrome （KS） is the set of symptoms that result from the presence of an extra X chromosome in males. Postnatal population-based KS screening will enable timely diagnosis of this common chromosomal disease, providing the opportunity for early intervention and therapy at the time point when they are most effective and may prevent later symptoms or complications. Therefore, through this study, we introduced a simple high-resolution melting （HRM） assay for KS screening and evaluated its clinical sensitivity and specificity in three medical centers using 1373 clinical blood samples. The HRM assay utilized a single primer pair to simultaneously amplify specific regions in zinc finger protein, X-linked （ZFX） and zinc finger protein, Y-linked （ZFY）. In cases of KS, the ratios of ZFX/ZFYare altered compared to those in normal males. As a result, the specific melting profiles differ and can be differentiated during data analysis. This HRM assay displayed high analytical specificity over a wide range of template DNA amounts （5 ng-50 ng） and reproducibility, high resolution for detecting KS mosaicism, and high clinical sensitivity （100%） and specificity （98.1%）. Moreover, the HRM assay was rapid （2 h per run）, inexpensive （0.2 USD per sample）, easy to perform and automatic, and compatible with both whole blood samples and dried blood spots. Therefore, this HRM assay is an ideal postnatal population-based KS screening tool that can be used for different age groups.

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.

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.

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

Comparison of two methods for evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms in cervical cancer patients following radical hysterectomy

Objective:To compare the degree of agreement and consistency of urodynamic studies(UDS)with low urinary tract symptoms(LUTS)questionnaires for evaluating LUTS in cervical cancer patients following radical hysterectomy(RH)and pelvic lymphadenectomy.Methods:From January 2012 to March 2015,204 cervical cancer patients who underwent RH in 13 hospitals were evaluated using the Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms(ICIQ-FLUTS)and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score(OABSS).Urodynamic tests were also performed on these patients during the same period.Results:Study participants’age ranged from 23 to 75 years,with a mean(standard deviation)of 48.0±9.3 years.Using questionnaires,the prevalence of patients with LUTS symptoms,including storage symptoms,voiding symptoms,stress urinary incontinence(SUI)and overactive bladder(OAB)was 86.3%,77.0%,62.7%,52.9%and 14.7%,respectively.For UDS,the corresponding prevalence was 89.7%,70.1%,66.7%,46.6%and 13.2%,respectively.The diagnostic concordance of questionnaires and UDS for storage symptoms,voiding symptoms,SUI and OAB was 79.9%,66.7%,66.7%,57.4%and 79.9%,respectively.For voiding symptoms,the correlation coefficient was 0.272,which was higher than that of storage symptoms,SUI and OAB.