We suggest that activation of GPER exerts an inhibitory effect on colonic motility by promoting NO release from myenteric nitrergic nerves. These results raise a possibility that GPER may be involved in mediating the inhibitory effect of estrogen on colonic motor functions, via a non-genomic, neurogenic mechanism.

To date, the pathogenesis of Ménière's disease (MD) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the possible relationship between potential immune system-related genes and sporadic MD. The whole RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology was used to analyse the transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of three MD patients and three control individuals. Of 366 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 154 genes were up-regulated and 212 genes were down-regulated (|log fold change| > 1 and P < 0·05). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis illustrated that immune relevant factors played a key role in the pathogenesis of MD. Of 366 DEGs, we focused upon analysing the possible immune-related genes, among which the significantly up-regulated genes [glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1), transmembrane protein 176 (TMEM176)B, TMEM176A] and down-regulated genes [solute carrier family 4 member (SLC4A)10 and SLC4A1] especially drew our attention. The mRNA expression levels of GSTM1, TMEM176B, TMEM176A, SLC4A1 and SLC4A10 were analysed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The serum concentration of GSTM1, TMEM176B and SLC4A10 proteins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Considering the results of qRT-PCR and ELISA, it was noteworthy that GSTM1 exhibited the highest fold change between two groups, which was consistent with the deep sequencing results by RNA-seq. In conclusion, our study first offers a new perspective in MD development on the basis of RNA expression patterns, suggesting that immune factors might be involved in the MD pathogenesis. Remarkably, GSTM1 might be a possible candidate gene for the diagnostic biomarker of MD and provides the basis for further biological and functional investigations.

ABSTRACT. Individual differences in chemosensitivity and clinical outcome of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients can be influenced by host-inherited factors. We investigated the impact of XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg280His, XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XPD Arg156Arg, XPD Asp312Asn, XPD Asp711Asp, and XPD Lys751Gln gene polymorphisms on treatment efficacy in 375 NSCLC patients on platinum-based chemotherapy. We also examined progressionfree survival and overall survival. The gene polymorphisms were analyzed by duplex PCR. The patients with XRCC1 399A/A had a significantly better response to chemotherapy. Individuals with XPD 711 Asp and XPD 312 Asn alleles responded poorly to chemotherapy when compared with the wide-type genotype. The adjusted hazard ratio DNA repair gene and NSCLC prognosis (HR) in the Cox regression model was calculated. The XRCC1 399A/A polymorphism was associated with better progression free survival and overall survival of NSCLC patients (HR=0.61 and 0.55). On the other hand, the XPD 711 Asp allele was associated with poorer progression free survival and overall survival compared to the C/C genotype, with HRs of 1.89 and 1.90. The XPD 312 Asn allele was found to be associated with non-significantly reduced survival of NSCLC patients (HR = 1.73). In conclusion, we found the polymorphisms of XRCC1 and XPD to be related to the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. This information should aid in therapeutic decisions for individualized therapy in NSCLC cases.

There are few reports which were designed to compare the survival rate of human primary follicles with primordial follicles after cryopreservation. This study was designed to evaluate whether such a difference occurs. Human ovarian biopsies were cryopreserved using dimethylsulphoxide/sucrose as the cryoprotectants. Fresh and cryopreserved ovarian samples were evaluated for viability differences between the two types of follicles using the endpoints of histology, ultrastructure and DNA fragmentation. In comparison with fresh ovarian tissue (83.9%+/-10.0%), the percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles was not significantly different in cryopreserved tissue (73.9%+/-17.2%). However, a lower percentage of primary follicles with normal morphology was seen in the cryopreserved group (43.3%+/-25.7% vs 74.8%+/-19.4% for the fresh group). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cryopreservation did not appear to affect the structural integrity of primordial follicles; however, varying ultrastructural damage to the cytoplasm was observed in the majority of the cryopreserved primary follicles. Using a DNA fragmentation assay, the percentage of apoptotic primordial and primary follicles in the unfrozen (26.3% and 20%) and frozen (23.3% and 25%) ovarian tissue was similar. A higher proportion of primary follicles, compared to primordial follicles, suffer histological damage after slow freezing.