Paternal genetic structure of Kyrgyz ethnic group in China revealed by high-resolution Y-chromosome STRs and SNPs

Kyrgyz ethnic group is one of the nomads in China, with the majority in Xinjiang and a small part of them living in Heilongjiang province. Historically, they have went through five migrations westward due to the wars. The name “Kyrgyz” means 40 tribes, originating from the primary groups of Kyrgyz. However, it is a largely understudied population, especially from the Y chromosome. In this study, we used a previously validated high-resolution Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms (Y-SNPs) and short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) system to study Kyrgyz ethnic group. A total of 314 male samples of Kyrgyz ethnic group were genotyped by 173 Y-SNPs and 27 Y-STRs. After data analysis, the results unveiled that Kyrgyz ethnic group was a population with high percentage of both haplogroup C2a1a3a1d∼-F10091 (91/134) and R1a1a1b2a2-Z2124 (109/134), which has never been reported. This implied that Kyrgyz ethnic group might have gone through bottleneck effects twice, with these two main lineages left. Mismatch analysis indicated that the biggest mismatch number in haplogroup C2a1a3a1d∼-F10091 was 10, while that of haplogroup R1a1a1b2a2-Z2124 was 20. This huge difference reflected the different substructure in two lineages, suggesting that haplogroup C2a1a3a1d∼-F10091 might have the least admixture compared to the other two lineages. After admixture modelling with other datasets, the conclusion could be drawn that Kyrgyz ethnic group had great genetic affinity with Punjabi from Lahore, Pakistan, which supported that Kyrgyz ethnic group in China was close to central Asian.     

Microparticle‐Mediated Delivery of BMP4 for Generation of Meiosis‐Competent Germ Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells

Producing meiosis‐competent germ cells (GCs) from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is essential for developing advanced therapies for infertility. Here, a novel approach is presented for generation of GCs from ESCs. In this regard, microparticles (MPs) have been developed from alginate sulfate loaded with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4). The results here show that BMP4 release from alginate sulfate MPs is significantly retarded by the sulfated groups compared to neat alginate. Then, BMP4‐laden MPs are incorporated within the aggregates during differentiation of GCs from ESCs. It is observed that BMP4‐laden MPs increase GC differentiation from ESCs at least twofold compared to the conventional soluble delivery method. Interestingly, following meiosis induction, Dazl , an intrinsic factor that enables GCs to enter meiosis, and two essential meiosis genes (Stra8 and Smc1b ) are upregulated significantly in MP‐induced aggregates compared to aggregates, which are formed by the conventional method. Together, these data show that controlled delivery of BMP4 during ESC differentiation into GC establish meiosis‐competent GCs which can serve as an attractive GC source for reproductive medicine.

     

高效液相色谱法测定精浆中过氧化脂质水平及其在男性不育症研究中的应用

采用高效液相色谱法测定精浆中过氧化脂质(lipid peroxidation,LPO)含量,研究了有正常生育能力的男子和不育症患者精浆中LPO含量水平差异及其对男子不育症的影响。精浆样品经酸化后,分解生成的丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)与硫代巴比妥酸(thiobarbituric acid,TBA)缩合反应形成紫红色产物,以Lichrospher C18化学键合硅胶为固定相,0.025 mol/L KH2PO4 (pH 6.2)-甲醇(体积比为58∶42)为流动相进行色谱等度分离     

Glottal airflow and transglottal air pressure measurements for male and female speakers in low, normal, and high pitch

Measurements on the inverse filtered airflow waveform and of estimated average transglottal pressure and glottal airflow were made from syllable sequences in low, normal, and high pitch for 25 male and 20 female speakers. Correlation analyses indicated that several of the airflow measurements were more directly related to voice intensity than to fundamental frequency (F₀). Results suggested that pressure may have different influences in low and high pitch in this speech task. It is suggested that unexpected results of increased pressure in low pitch were related to maintaining voice quality, that is, avoiding vocal fry. In high pitch, the increased pressure may serve to maintain vocal fold vibration. The findings suggested different underlying laryngeal mechanisms and vocal adjustments for increasing and decreasing F₀ from normal pitch.     

Modelling circumcision and condom use as HIV/AIDS preventive control strategies

We present a sex-structured model for heterosexual transmission of HIV/AIDS with explicit incubation period for modelling the effect of male circumcision as a preventive strategy for HIV/AIDS. The model is formulated using integro-differential equations, which are shown to be equivalent to delay differential equations with delay due to incubation period. The threshold and equilibria for the model are determined and stabilities are examined. We extend the model to incorporate the effects of condom use as another preventive strategy for controlling HIV/AIDS. Basic reproductive numbers for these models are computed and compared to assess the effectiveness of male circumcision and condom use in a community. The models are numerically analysed to assess the effects of the two preventive strategies on the transmission dynamics of HIV/AIDS. We conclude from the study that in the continuing absence of a preventive vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS, male circumcision is a potential effective preventive strategy of HIV/AIDS to help communities slow the development of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and that it is even more effective if implemented jointly with condom use. The study provides insights into the possible community benefits that male circumcision and condom use as preventive strategies provide in slowing or curtailing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.     

Untargeted metabolomic profiling of seminal plasma in nonobstructive azoospermia men: A noninvasive detection of spermatogenesis

Male factor infertility is involved in almost half of all infertile couples. Lack of the ejaculated sperm owing to testicular malfunction has been reported in 6–10% of infertile men, a condition named nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). In this study, we investigated untargeted metabolomic profiling of the seminal plasma in NOA men using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and advance chemometrics. In this regard, the seminal plasma fluids of 11 NOA men with TESE‐negative, nine NOA men with TESE‐positive and 10 fertile healthy men (as a control group) were collected. Quadratic discriminate analysis (QDA) technique was implemented on total ion chromatograms (TICs) for identification of discriminatory retention times. We developed multivariate classification models using the QDA technique. Our results revealed that the developed QDA models could predict the classes of samples using their TIC data. The receiver operating characteristic curves for these models were >0.88. After recognition of discriminatory retention time's asymmetric penalized least square, evolving factor analysis, correlation optimized warping and alternating least squares strategies were applied for preprocessing and deconvolution of the overlapped chromatographic peaks. We could identify 36 discriminatory metabolites. These metabolites may be considered discriminatory biomarkers for different groups in NOA.     

Anti-fertility effects of fractions from Carica papaya (Pawpaw) Linn. methanol root extract in male Wistar rats

The methanol root extracts of Carica papaya (Pawpaw) are used in eastern Nigeria for the treatment of malaria, hepatitis and jaundice. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the fractions isolated from C. papaya methanol root extract on fertility in male Wistar rats using sperm counts, percentage defective sperm cells (morphology), biochemical and hormonal assays as biomarkers. The roots of C. papaya were extracted using 80% methanol for 72 h. Oral acute toxicity study was done with the crude extract for 24 h. The extract was fractionated by column chromatography using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol. The petroleum ether fraction was further fractionated on preparative TLC using ethyl acetate–methanol solvent systems to isolate CPFE 1, CPFE 2 and CPFM 1. The 3 fractions (75 mg/kg) were used to treat male Wistar rats orally for 60 days. Animals were euthanized and testes collected, homogenized and used for sperm count and motility. Plasma and serum were used to assay biochemical parameters including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), triglycerides, hormones (LH and FSH). Histopathological study of the testes, kidney, heart and liver were conducted. Acute toxicity result showed that C. papaya root extract produced no mortalities at the dose of 2000 mg/kg but induced CNS-related symptoms as well as diuresis. The fractions significantly (P < 0.01) produced decreases in sperm counts and increased the percentage of defective sperm cells. There were significant (P < 0.05) increases in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Histopathological studies showed mild kidney and cardiac hyperaemia, slight hepatic degeneration and severe necrosis of the germinal epithelium of the testes. This study calls for some level of caution in the use of these roots and its extracts/fractions in traditional medicine for treating diseases. On the other hand, it could be a good source of drug for birth control.     

男性不育患者精浆锌含量的分析

为探讨锌与男性不育患者的关系 ,本文研究测定了 173例男性不育患者精浆锌的含量 ,同时与正常生育男性进行比较。结果显示 ,正常生育男性与不育男性中少精子症、精子活率 <55%、活动力Ⅲ、Ⅳ级 <2 5% ,梗阻性无精子症 ,精液白细胞≥ 10 6 mL之间均有显著性差异。说明锌对男性生育过程起相当重要的作用 ,它在精浆中含量的变化可能是导致男性不育的原因之一。     

Simultaneous screening and determination of 18 illegal adulterants in herbal medicines and health foods for male sexual potency by ultra‐fast liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

An ultra‐fast liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to simultaneously screen, confirm, and determine 18 illegal adulterants in herbal medicines and health foods for male sexual potency. The separation was achieved on a Shim‐Pack XR‐ODS II column (2.0 × 100 mm, 2.2 μm) with acetonitrile and aqueous solution (12 mmol/L ammonium formate, 0.01% acetic acid) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min with a gradient elution. The column temperature was maintained at 40°C and the run time was within 18 min. The 18 illegal adulterants were detected in electrospray ionization positive mode by multiple‐reaction monitoring. All the calibration curves showed good linearity with correlation coefficient (r) higher than 0.996 within the tested concentration ranges. The extraction recoveries and relative recoveries were in the range of 79.5–114% and 82.0–120%, respectively. The RSD of repeatability and intermediate precision was all less than 18% and the accuracy was in the range of 81.7–118%. The intra‐day and inter‐day stability was in the range of 86.8–110%. The validated method was successfully applied to screen, confirm, and determine 16 samples. Nine products were confirmed to contain illegal adulterants and the contents of adulterants were related to the therapeutic dosages.