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Microtubule-severing protein (MTSP) is critical for the survival of both mitotic and postmitotic cells. However, the study of MTSP during meiosis of mammalian oocytes has not been reported. We found that spastin, a member of the MTSP family, was highly expressed in oocytes and aggregated in spindle microtubules. After knocking down spastin by specific siRNA, the spindle microtubule density of meiotic oocytes decreased significantly. When the oocytes were cultured in vitro, the oocytes lacking spastin showed an obvious maturation disorder. Considering the microtubule-severing activity of spastin, we speculate that spastin on spindles may increase the number of microtubule broken ends by severing the microtubules, therefore playing a nucleating role, promoting spindle assembly and ensuring normal meiosis. In addition, we found the colocalization and interaction of collapsin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5) and spastin in oocytes. CRMP5 can provide structural support and promote microtubule aggregation, creating transportation routes, and can interact with spastin in the microtubule activity of nerve cells (30). Knocking down CRMP5 may lead to spindle abnormalities and developmental disorders in oocytes. Overexpression of spastin may reverse the abnormal phenotype caused by the deletion of CRMP5. In summary, our data support a model in which the interaction between spastin and CRMP5 promotes the assembly of spindle microtubules in oocytes by controlling microtubule dynamics, therefore ensuring normal meiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic properties of Cr-doped rhombohedral LiMn[O.sub.2] are examined. Spin-glass-like behavior is shown at low temperature that is based on the dc magnetization and magnetic hysteresis measurements

Metformin as the first-line drugs, play an important role in the treatment of diabetes. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a pathological condition of abnormal aggregation of multiple metabolite resulting. The long-term adverse outcomes were payed more and more attention by people. The study found, MS is recognized risk factor of endometrial adenocarcinoma, there may be a common pathophysiological basis of insulin resistance. Metformin reduces insulin resistance, regulates the level of cytokines and exerts anti-tumor stem cell function, it is a potent inhibitor of metabolic syndrome and endometrial adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of unilateral or bilateral nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy and evaluate the recovery of bladder and bowel function postoperatively., Methods: From August 2008 to October 2009, sixty-one patients with cervical cancer stage Ib1 to IIa underwent radical hysterectomy (33 cases) and nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (28 cases). Unilateral nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy was performed in 10 patients, and bilateral nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (BNS) was performed in 18 patients. The data of operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay days, residual urine volume, and postoperative complications were collected. The postoperative recovery of bladder and bowel function was evaluated., Results: There were no significant differences between nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) and radical hysterectomy (RH) groups in operation time [NSRH: (224.5 ± 40.0) min, RH: (176.4 ± 30.0 min)], blood loss [NSRH: (464.3 ± 144.0) ml, RH: (374.2 ± 138.7) ml], postoperative hospital stay days [NSRH: (8.4 ± 2.0) d, RH: (9.2 ± 1.8) d, and residual urine volume [NSRH: (64.8 ± 16.9) ml, RH: (70.6 ± 16.0) ml]. There were also no significant differences between UNSRH and BNSRH groups in operation time [UNSRH: (208.5 ± 28.5) min, BNSRH: (233.3 ± 43.1) min], blood loss [UNSRH: (440.0 ± 104.9) ml, BNSRH: (477.8 ± 162.90) ml], postoperative hospital stay days [UNSRH: 9.1 ± 1.8) d, BNSRH: (8.7 ± 2.1 d], and the residual urine volume [UNSRH: (68.3 ± 12.5) ml, BNSRH: (62.8 ± 20.0) ml]. There was a significant difference in the time of the Foley catheter removal between NSRH [(12.4 ± 5.2) d] and RH [(22.4 ± 9.7) d] groups. There was a significant difference in the time of the Foley catheter removal between UNSRH [(18.2 ± 3.6) d] and BNSRH [(9.1 ± 2.0) d] groups. During the postoperative 3 weeks follow-up, the patients in the NSRH group had a higher rate of satisfaction at urination and defecation (100%, 75%) than the RH group (54.5%, 24.2%)., Conclusion: UNSRH and BNSRH are safe and feasible techniques for early stage cervical cancer, and may significantly improve the recovery of bladder and rectal function.

Objective: To study the association between endometrioid uterine carcinomas and metabolic syndrome (MS)., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 123 patients who were admitted in Department of Gynecology Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital (study group) and 90 healthy women (control group) with matching age from Jan. 2005 to Mar. 2009. The general conditions [including age, whether menopausal, body mass index (BMI)]; the risk factors for MS [including waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure] were analyzed. The clinical stage, histological type, and pathology differentiated degree of study group with or without MS were also analyzed by univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards models., Results: (1) The univariate survival analysis shown that there were no significant difference with age in two groups [(54.3 +/- 0.6) vs. (54.2 +/- 0.9) years; P > 0.05], while the rate of menopausal, BMI (> or = 25 kg/m(2)), the cases coupled with MS, the size of waist circumference (> 80 cm), the level of fasting plasma glucose (> or = 5.6 mmol/L), TG (> 1.7 mmol/L) and abnormal systolic and diastolic blood pressure in study group were higher than those in control group (67.5% vs. 48.9%, 45.5% vs. 23.3%, 43.9% vs. 18.9%, 50.4% vs. 27.8%, 53.7% vs. 21.1%, 40.7% vs. 21.1% and 40.7% vs. 25.6%, respectively, all P < 0.05). The percentage of HDL (< 1.30 mmol/L) was higher in study group than that in control group (63.4% vs. 32.2%, P < 0.05). (2) There were not significant difference for the clinical stage, pathological type, grades between patients with or without MS in study group (P > 0.05). (3) The Logistic multivariate survival analysis shown that central obesity, higher TG, lower HDL and abnormal plasma glucose were independent risk factors for endometrioid uterine carcinomas coupled with MS (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is marginally associated with an increased risk of endometrioid uterine carcinomas, which may be the new point to screen, prevention and treatment endometrioid uterine carcinomas.