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To determine the correlation between deoxyribonucleic acid methylation and gene expression of cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A polypeptide 1 cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily a member 1, anti-Mullerian hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type 2, which regulate follicle development and androgen metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome pathogenesis. The levels of cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily a member 1, anti-Mullerian hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type 2 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression were evaluated by various techniques in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Estradiol, androstenedione and anti-Mullerian hormone levels were also tested in follicular fluid. In order to quantify the connection between deoxyribonucleic acid methylation and gene expression, we conducted Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analyses. The estradiol level did not alter, however the androstenedione level was increased. Polycystic ovary syndrome granulosa cells were hypermethylated cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily a member 1, but hypomethylated anti- Mullerian hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type 2. In general, the greater the amount of deoxyribonucleic acid methylation, the lower the level of downstream messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression. Aromatase enzyme activity is regulated by deoxyribonucleic acid methylation and a hormone called follicular estradiol/androstenedione ratio is linked with it. A prior study reported that anti- Mullerian hormone inhibits aromatase in granulosa cells and therefore the inverse connection between cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily a member 1 and anti-Mullerian hormone confirms that finding. Our study suggests alterations in deoxyribonucleic acid methylation as the underlying mechanism of aberrant gene expression of cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily a member 1, anti-Mullerian hormone and anti- Mullerian hormone receptor type 2 and polycystic ovary syndrome pathogenesis.

Background : It is controversial whether Tai Chi (TC) benefits breast cancer survivors (BCS) on quality of life (QoL). We therefore undertook a meta-analysis to assess this question. Materials and Methods : A computerized search through electronic databases was performed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was QoL, while secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and muscle strength. Results: Five RCTs involving 407 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled standardized mean differences were 0.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.35-0.54) for physical well-being, 0.03 (95%CI: -0.18-0.25) for social/family well-being, 0.24 (95%CI: 0.02-0.45) for emotional well-being, 0.23 (95%CI: -0.03-0.49) for functional well-being, and 0.09 (95%CI: -0.19-0.36) for additional concerns. TC failed to improve BMI, BMD, and muscle strength. Conclusions: There is currently lack of sufficient evidence to support TC improving QoL and other important clinical endpoints. Keywords: Breast cancer - Tai Chi - quality of life - meta-analysis

Aims: This study aimed to examine the methylation status of the CYP19A1 promoter region in Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Methods: A case-control study was designed that involved 10 PCOS patients and 10 controls. Ovary tissues obtained from 10 women with PCOS and 10 healthy controls were matched for body mass index and age. Methylation of CYP19A1 promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR. CYP19A1 expression was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results: The methylation level of CYP19A1 promoter in PCOS samples was significantly higher than in controls (0.698 ± 0.192 vs. 0.210 ± 0.064, p < 0.01). A significant downregulation of CYP19A1 mRNA and protein expression levels was observed in PCOS ovary tissues. Furthermore, the scatter plot revealed that promoter methylation was inversely correlated with CYP19A1 mRNA level (Pearson's correlation -0.820, p < 0.01). Conclusion:CYP19A1 expression is frequently repressed in PCOS ovaries due to the promoter hypermethylation. CYP19A1 promoter hypermethylation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

We analyzed rainwater collected from multiple sites, Guangzhou, China, from March to August 2005, with the aim to characterize the distribution, regional sources and deposition fluxes of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in South China. Eight species of organochlorine pesticide were detected, including hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), and endosulfans. Volume-weighted mean monthly total concentrations varied from 3.65 ± 0.95 to 9.37 ± 2.63 ng L− 1, and the estimated total wet deposition flux was about 11.43 ± 3.27 µg m− 2 during the monitoring period. Pesticides were mainly detected in the dissolved phase. Distribution coefficients between particulate and dissolved phases in March and April were generally higher than in other months. HCHs, p,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDT in precipitation were attributed to both the residues and present usage of insecticides in Pearl River Delta. The concentrations of p,p′-DDD + p,p′-DDT were relatively high from April to August, which were related to the usage of antifouling paints containing DDT for fishing ships in seaports of the South China Sea in summer. In contrast, endosulfans were relatively high in March, which was related to their seasonal atmospheric transport from cotton fields in eastern China by the Asian winter monsoon. The consistency of the variation of endosulfans, p,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDT concentrations with the alternation of summer and winter monsoon suggested that the Asian monsoon played an important role in the long-range transport of OCPs. In addition, the wet deposition of OCPs may influence not only Pearl River water but also the surface land distributions of pesticides in the Guangzhou area, especially for endosulfans, p,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDT.

Objective To compare genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in ovary tissue from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy controls. Design Case-control study matched for age and body mass index. Setting University-affiliated hospital. Patient(s) Ten women with PCOS who underwent ovarian drilling to induce ovulation and 10 healthy women who were undergoing laparoscopic sterilization, hysterectomy for benign conditions, diagnostic laparoscopy for pelvic pain, or oophorectomy for nonovarian indications. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns determined by immunoprecipitation and microarray (MeDIP-chip) analysis. Result(s) The methylation levels were statistically significantly higher in CpG island shores (CGI shores), which lie outside of core promoter regions, and lower within gene bodies in women with PCOS relative to the controls. In addition, high CpG content promoters were the most frequently hypermethylated promoters in PCOS ovaries but were more often hypomethylated in controls. Second, 872 CGIs, specifically methylated in PCOS, represented 342 genes that could be associated with various molecular functions, including protein binding, hormone activity, and transcription regulator activity. Finally, methylation differences were validated in seven genes by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. These genes correlated to several functional families related to the pathogenesis of PCOS and may be potential biomarkers for this disease. Conclusion(s) Our results demonstrated that epigenetic modification differs between PCOS and normal ovaries, which may help to further understand the pathophysiology of this disease.

The reactions of Grignard reagents RMgX with elemental Se or Te in THF, followed by treatment of the intermediates RSeMgX or RTeMgX with Fe3(CO)12 at room temperature (r.t.), were found to give [MgX]+ salts of anions [(μ-RSe)(μ-CO)Fe2(CO)6]− (2) and [(μ-RTe)(μ-CO)Fe2(CO)6]− (3), respectively. Furthermore, the [MgX]+ salts of anions 2 (R=Et) reacted in situ with the electrophile Ph2AsCl to afford (μ-EtSe)(μ-Ph2As)Fe2(CO)6 (4), whereas the [MgX]+ salts (R=p-MeC6H4) reacted with the electrophile PhNCS, followed by treatment with another electrophile MeI to give (μ-p-MeC6H4Se)(μ-PhN(Me)CS)Fe2(CO)6 (5). Similarly, the [MgX]+ salts of anions 3 (R=Et, t-Bu, i-Bu) were found to react sequentially with the electrophiles PhCCPh and CF3COOH to yield (μ-RTe)(μ-σ,π-PhCCHPh)Fe2(CO)6 (6a, R=Et; 6b, R=t-Bu; 6c, R=i-Bu), whereas reactions of the [MgX]+ salts of anions 3 (R=Et, Ph, p-MeC6H4) with the electrophiles Ph2AsCl or PhC(Cl)NPh produced (μ-RTe)(μ-Ph2As)Fe2(CO)6 (7a, R=Et; 7b, R=p-MeC6H4) and (μ-RTe)(μ-PhCNPh)Fe2(CO)6 (8a, R=a(axial)-Ph; 8b, R=e(equatorial)-Ph; 9a, R=a-p-MeC6H4; 9b, R=e-p-MeC6H4), respectively. The reaction courses for the formation of Fe/Se and Fe/Te complexes 4–9 were discussed briefly and the structures of these new complexes, along with two other new Fe/Te complexes (μ-RTe)2Fe2(CO)6 (R=Et, i-Bu), were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopy, as well as for complex 9b, whose structure was confirmed further by X-ray diffraction analysis.

We studied the tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and bisphenol A (BPA) patterns and their sources and transport in different land-use soils from Longtang, South China, a typical electronic waste recycling center. We also studied the reductive debromination of TBBPA in paddy soils. TBBPA and BPA concentrations (on a dry weight basis) were undetected–220 and 0.50–325 ng/g, respectively, and both increased, by similar factors, in the following order: pond sediments

This study aimed to examine the methylation status of the CYP19A1 promoter region in Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.A case-control study was designed that involved 10 PCOS patients and 10 controls. Ovary tissues obtained from 10 women with PCOS and 10 healthy controls were matched for body mass index and age. Methylation of CYP19A1 promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR. CYP19A1 expression was measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting.The methylation level of CYP19A1 promoter in PCOS samples was significantly higher than in controls (0.698 ± 0.192 vs. 0.210 ± 0.064, p0.01). A significant downregulation of CYP19A1 mRNA and protein expression levels was observed in PCOS ovary tissues. Furthermore, the scatter plot revealed that promoter methylation was inversely correlated with CYP19A1 mRNA level (Pearson's correlation -0.820, p0.01).CYP19A1 expression is frequently repressed in PCOS ovaries due to the promoter hypermethylation. CYP19A1 promoter hypermethylation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Heterogeneous photodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in the goethite (α-FeOOH) and hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) systems with oxalate under UVA illumination was investigated. The PCP degradation, dechlorination and detoxification, in terms of Microtox acute toxicity, were all achieved to the higher efficiency in the hematite suspension than in the goethite suspension. The optimal initial concentration of oxalic acid ( C ox 0 ) for the PCP degradation with goethite and hematite under the experimental conditions was found to be 1.2 mM, since sufficient Fe(III) as Fe(C 2 O 4 ) 3 3− and Fe(II) as Fe(C 2 O 4 ) 2 2− can be formed at C ox 0 ≥ 1 .2 mM . The main intermediates of PCP degradation were identified by GC–MS, HPLC and IC analyses. It was found that the cycling process between Fe(III) and Fe(II) in both the goethite and hematite systems occurred more vigorously at the initial stage and gradually became gentle, while the rate of PCP photodegradation varied from fast to slow during the reaction time. Furthermore, the formation of H 2 O 2 during photoreaction was studied to explore its relationship with the photodegradation efficiency and the iron cycling process.

To investigate the role of laparoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of infertile women with endometriosis.Totally 314 infertile cases were diagnosed as having endometriosis by laparoscopy, and 58, 173, 68 and 15 cases were assigned to stage I, II, III and IV groups respectively according to the revised classification American Fertility Society (r-AFS). Laparoscopic treatment included excision of ovarian endometriosis lesions, lysis of adhesions, endocoagulation of pelvic endometriosis lesions with controlled heating (100 degrees C) and lavaging of the peritoneal cavity. The duration of follow-up after laparoscopic surgery was censored at 36 weeks. Women who became pregnant were followed up to 20 weeks' gestation. The U and chi(2) tests were used to determine significance of difference in the rate of pregnancy and spontaneous abortion between all clinical stages.Of all the 314 cases, 254 became pregnant within 36 weeks after surgery. The cumulative numbers of pregnancy were 50 (86.2%, 50/58), 141 (81.5%, 141/173), 52 (76.5%, 52/68) and 11 (73.3%, 11/15) in stage I-IV groups respectively. The accumulative pregnancy rates were, however, not significantly different among stages I-IV (P0.05). The accumulative pregnancy rate within 24 weeks after surgery (93.7%, 238/254) was higher than that within 25 - 36 weeks after surgery (6.3%, 16/254). Of 254 cases who were pregnant, 12 had miscarriage. There was no significant difference of miscarriage rate between all stages (P0.05). While the rate of miscarriage was higher within 12 weeks of gestation (83.3%, 10/12) than that of after 12 weeks of gestation (P0.05).Early lesions of endometriosis and pelvic factors for infertility can be found by laparoscopy. And pregnancy rate of endometriosis-associated infertility can be improved by laparoscopic surgery. To clean the menstrual blood pool and ablate peritoneal lesion with endocoagulation as completely as possible have significant importance for enhancement of fecundity in infertile women with endometriosis, especially for stage I-II cases.