Many therapies are effective in treating varicoceles,including dilation of the pampiniform plexus in males.The most common method of treatment is varicocelectomy.We aimed to assess an alternative technique(microsurgic...Many therapies are effective in treating varicoceles,including dilation of the pampiniform plexus in males.The most common method of treatment is varicocelectomy.We aimed to assess an alternative technique(microsurgical spermatic[distal end]-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis)that preserves the normal blood flow pattern for varicocele treatment.We retrospectively analyzed 27 men with varicocele between October 2019 and July 2020.All patients underwent microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis.The prognosis was reviewed retrospectively with an additional survey conducted 3 months after surgery.The mean±standard deviation of the age was 26.1±7.3 years in patients with microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis.The maximum diameter of the varicocele vein,perineal pain score,sperm density,and forward movement of sperm improved over 3 months after surgery.Microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis is a safe and efficient surgical treatment for varicoceles.展开更多
Objective: To study the effect of diclofenac suppository in oocyte retrieval of IVF-ET. Study Design: 1176 patients with informed consents were enrolled into this prospective randomized controlled study. The setting w...Objective: To study the effect of diclofenac suppository in oocyte retrieval of IVF-ET. Study Design: 1176 patients with informed consents were enrolled into this prospective randomized controlled study. The setting was an IVF-ET program at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. According to the analgesic drug use, the patients were randomly divided into pethidine group (573 cases) and diclofenac suppository group (603 cases). The data of vital signs, common adverse reactions, severe adverse events and pain degree in oocyte retrieval were collected. The IVF-ET outcomes were also compared. Results: The post-operation pressure and pulse were lower in pethidine group than in diclofenac suppository group (both P0.001).The rest vital signs were not statistically different (all P>0.05). Common adverse reactions in diclofenac suppository group were relative less (all P0.05). Pain degree between the two groups was not statistically different (P=0.304). IVF-ET outcomes were also not statistically different (all P>0.05). There were 3 cases serious abdominal bleeding with shock in the diclofenac suppository group. Conclusion: Using diclofenac suppository in oocyte retrieval analgesic had a good effect. And there was no adverse effect in the IVF-ET outcome. But we should pay close attention to the probability of serious abdominal bleeding.展开更多
Dear Editor,Solute carrier family 26 member 8(SLC26A8)gene belongs to the solute carrier 26(SLC26)family.It demonstrates distinct expression in male spermatozoa.This gene potentially plays a role in the formation of t...Dear Editor,Solute carrier family 26 member 8(SLC26A8)gene belongs to the solute carrier 26(SLC26)family.It demonstrates distinct expression in male spermatozoa.This gene potentially plays a role in the formation of the sperm annulus,a circular structure linking the midpiece and principal piece of mature sperm flagella.1 Studies in mice have shown that the deficiency of Slc26A8 leads to compromised sperm motility,capacitation,and structural anomalies.These include disarray in the mitochondrial sheath,abnormalities in the annulus,and bending of the flagella.2,3 Nevertheless,our comprehension of SLC26A8 mutations in male infertility is still restricted,with only a limited number of studies addressing this aspect.4-6 Therefore,further research is crucial to elucidate the functional significance of mutations in SLC26A8.展开更多
Objective To analyze the fertilization rate, embryo development and clinical outcome of oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida after in vitro fertilization （IVF） or intracytoplasmic sperm injection （1CS1）. Methods ...Objective To analyze the fertilization rate, embryo development and clinical outcome of oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida after in vitro fertilization （IVF） or intracytoplasmic sperm injection （1CS1）. Methods A retrospective analysis included a total of 43 cycles （27 IVF cycles and 16 ICSI cycles） in which oocytes displaying abnormal zona pellucida were retrieved between January 2006 and December 2011. The fertilization rate, embryo quality, and the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate were analyzed. Results Rescue ICSI was applied in 2 7 IVF cycles in which failed extrusion of the second polar body after conventional IVF was observed, and of them, complete failure to fertilize occurred in 23 IVF cycles. The fertilization rate and the normal fertilization rate for IVF （64.83% and 59.32%, respectively） were significantly lower than those for ICS1 （85.19% and 79.01%, respectively）, whereas the cleavage rate （94.12%） with IVF did not differ significantly from that with ICSI （95.65%, P〉0. 05）. The percentages of good-quality embryos in 1VF group （52. 67%） and 1CSl group （43.75%） also did not differ significantly （P〉0.05）. Although the rates of implantation and pregnancy appeared to be greater in IVF group （33.33% and 40.00%, respectively） compared with those in ICSI group （25.00% and 35. 71%, respectively）, the differences were not significant （P〉0.05）.Conclusions ICSI should be carried out for oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida, for which the risk of lVF failure is high. Rescue ICSI improves the likelihood of fertilization of oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida, but cannot improve the clinical outcome.展开更多
This study was to investigate the effect of annexin A5 on testosterone secretion from primary rat Leydig cells and the underlying mechanisms. Isolated rat Leydig ceils were treated with annexin A5. Testosterone produc...This study was to investigate the effect of annexin A5 on testosterone secretion from primary rat Leydig cells and the underlying mechanisms. Isolated rat Leydig ceils were treated with annexin A5. Testosterone production was detected by chemiluminescence assay. The protein and mRNA of Steroidogenic acute regulatory （STAR）, P450scc, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （3β-HSD）, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （17β-HSD）, and 17β-hydroxylase were examined by Western blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Annexin A5 significantly stimulated testosterone secretion from rat Leydig cells in dose- and time-dependent manners and increased mRNA and protein expression of STAR, P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD but not 17α-hydroxylase. Annexin A5 knockdown by siRNA significantly decreased the level of testosterone and protein expression of P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD. The significant activation of ERK1/2 signaling was observed at 5, 10, and 30 min after annexin A5 treatment. After the pretreatment of Leydig cells with ERK inhibitor PD98059 （50 μmol l^-1） for 20 min, the effects of annexin A5 on promoting testosterone secretion and increasing the expression of P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD were completely abrogated （P 〈 0.05）. Thus, ERK1/2 signaling is involved in the roles of annexin A5 in mediating testosterone production and the expression of P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD in Leydig cells.展开更多
Charcot-Marie-Tooth （CMT） disease is the most common hereditary neuropathy, with a population prevalence of 1 in 2500. CMT disease type 1A （CMT1A）, accounting for ~70% of CMT1 cases and ~ 50% of all CMT cases, is ...Charcot-Marie-Tooth （CMT） disease is the most common hereditary neuropathy, with a population prevalence of 1 in 2500. CMT disease type 1A （CMT1A）, accounting for ~70% of CMT1 cases and ~ 50% of all CMT cases, is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner. CMT1A maps to chromo- some 17pl 1.2 and is caused, in the majority of cases, by a 1.4- Mb tandem duplication that includes the peripheral myelin protein22 （PMP22） gene （Li et al., 2013）. The disease usually presents in the first 20 years of age, causing difficulty in walking or running, distal symmetrical muscle weakness and wasting, and sensory loss （van Paassen et al., 2014）.展开更多
DNAzyme machines play critical roles in the fields of cell imaging,disease diagnosis,and cancer therapy.However,the applications of DNAzyme machines are limited by the nucleases-induced degradation,non-specific bindin...DNAzyme machines play critical roles in the fields of cell imaging,disease diagnosis,and cancer therapy.However,the applications of DNAzyme machines are limited by the nucleases-induced degradation,non-specific binding of proteins,and insufficient provision of cofactors.Herein,protected DNAzyme machines with different cofactor designs(referred to as Pro Ds)were nanoengineered by the construction of multifunctional metal-phenolic nanoshells to deactivate the interferential proteins,including nucleases and non-specific binding proteins.Moreover,the nanoshells not only facilitate the cellular internalization of Pro Ds but provide specific metal ions acting as cofactors of the designed DNAzymes.Cellular imaging results demonstrated that Pro Ds could effectively and simultaneously monitor multiple tumor-related micro RNAs in living cells.This facile and rapid strategy that encapsulates DNAzyme machines into the protective metal-phenolic nanoshells is anticipated to extend to a wide range of functional nucleic acidsbased biomedical applications.展开更多
Background:Polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)is a heterogeneous and complex reproductive endocrinological disease that could lead to infertility.There were many attempts to classify PCOS but it remains unclear whether ...Background:Polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)is a heterogeneous and complex reproductive endocrinological disease that could lead to infertility.There were many attempts to classify PCOS but it remains unclear whether there is a specific subgroup of PCOS that is associated with the best or worst reproductive outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques(ART).Methods:Infertile PCOS patients who underwent their first cycle of in vitro fertilization(IVF)in West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University from January 2019 to December 2021 were included.Basic clinical and laboratory information of each individual were extracted.Unsupervised cluster analysis was performed.Controlled ovarian stimulation parameters and reproductive outcomes were collected and compared between the different clusters of PCOS.Results:Our analysis clustered women with PCOS into"reproductive","metabolic",and"balanced"clusters based on nine traits.Reproductive group was characterized by high levels of testosterone(T),sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG),follicular stimulation hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),and anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH).Metabolic group was characterized by high levels of body mass index(BMI),fasting insulin,and fasting glucose.Balanced group was characterized by low levels of the aforementioned reproductive and metabolic parameters,except for SHBG.Compared with PCOS patients in reproductive and balanced clusters,those in metabolic cluster had lower rates of good quality day 3 embryo and blastocyst formation.Moreover,PCOS patients in the reproductive cluster had greater fresh embryo transfer(ET)cancelation rate and clinical pregnancy rate after fresh ET than metabolic cluster(odds ratio[OR]=3.37,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.77-6.44,and OR=6.19,95%CI:1.58-24.24,respectively).And compared with PCOS of metabolic cluster,PCOS of balanced cluster also had higher chance for fresh ET cancelation(OR=2.83,95%CI:1.26-6.35).Conclusion:Our study suggested that PCOS patients in metabolic cluster may be associated with adverse reproductive outcomes and might need individualized treatment and careful monitoring before and during ART.展开更多
Collagen,the main component of mammal skin,has been traditionally used in leather manufacturing for thousands of years due to its diverse physicochemical properties.Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals and...Collagen,the main component of mammal skin,has been traditionally used in leather manufacturing for thousands of years due to its diverse physicochemical properties.Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals and the main component of the extracellular matrix(ECM).The properties of collagen also make it an ideal building block for the engineering of materials for a range of biomedical applications.Reproductive medicine,especially human fertility preservation strategies and reproductive organ regeneration,has attracted significant attention in recent years as it is key in resolving the growing social concern over aging populations worldwide.Collagen-based biomaterials such as collagen hydrogels,decellularized ECM(dECM),and bioengineering techniques including collagen-based 3D bio-printing have facilitated the engineering of reproductive tissues.This review summarizes the recent progress in apply-ing collagen-based biomaterials in reproductive.Furthermore,we discuss the prospects of collagen-based materials for engineering artificial reproductive tissues,hormone replacement therapy,and reproductive organ reconstruction,aiming to inspire new thoughts and advancements in engineered reproductive tissues research.展开更多
Extracellular matrix(ECM)is characterized as widespread,abundant,and pluripotent.Among ECM members,collagen is widely accepted as one of the most prominent components for its essential structural property that can pro...Extracellular matrix(ECM)is characterized as widespread,abundant,and pluripotent.Among ECM members,collagen is widely accepted as one of the most prominent components for its essential structural property that can provide a scaffold for other components of ECM and the rich biological functions,which has been extensively used in tissue engineering.Emerging evidence has shown that the balance of ECM degradation and remodeling is vital to regulations of maternal-fetal interface including menstrual cycling,decidualization,embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance.Moreover,disorders in these events may eventually lead to failure of pregnancy.Although the improvement of assisted conception and embryo culture technologies bring hope to many infertile couples,some unfavorable outcomes,such as recurrent implantation failure(RIF),recurrent pregnancy loss(RPL)or recurrent miscarriage(RM),keep troubling the clinicians and patients.Recently,in vitro three-dimensional(3D)model mimicking the microenvironment of the maternal-fetal interface is developed to investigate the physiological and pathological conditions of conception and pregnancy.The progress of this technology is based on clarifying the role of ECM in the endometrium and the interaction between endometrium and conceptus.Focusing on collagen,the present review summarized the degradation and regulation of ECM and its role in normal menstruation,endometrium receptivity and unsatisfying events occurring in infertility treatments,as well as the application in therapeutic approaches to improve pregnancy outcomes.More investigations about ECM focusing on the maternal-fetal interface interaction with mesenchymal stem cells or local immunoregulation may inspire new thoughts and advancements in the clinical application of infertility treatments.展开更多
Objective:Few studies have explored the suitability of endometrial thickness(EMT)as a predictor of ectopic pregnancy(EP)in frozen embryo transfer(FET)cycles.Our study aimed to investigate the association between EMT a...Objective:Few studies have explored the suitability of endometrial thickness(EMT)as a predictor of ectopic pregnancy(EP)in frozen embryo transfer(FET)cycles.Our study aimed to investigate the association between EMT and EP and explore the cutoff value of EMT to predict EP.Methods:This retrospective cohort study included women aged 20-45 years undergoing FET between March 2015 and September 2021.The primary outcomes and measured variables were EP and EMT,respectively.The threshold effect of EMT on EP was calculated based on a constructed smooth curve fitting.The patients were divided into two groups based on the threshold for comparison.A subgroup analysis was conducted to examine whether the relationship between EMT and EP remained consistent across the different subgroups.Additionally,a generalized linear model was used to analyze the interactions between the treatment factors and EMT in EP.Results:In total,27,549 FET cycles were included,with 27,086 intrauterine and 463 ectopic pregnancies.The risk of EP in the EMT≤8.7 mm group was 3.36 times higher than that in the EMT>8.7 mm group(odds ratio[OR]:3.36,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.57-4.05).Subgroup analysis further indicated that a thin EMT was a risk factor for EP,independent of other risks.We also noted that diminished ovarian reserve,tubal factor infertility,transfer of two embryos,or transfer of cleavage-stage embryos may further enhance the risk of EP in patients with thin endometrium.Conclusions:Thin endometrium was associated with an increased risk of EP.Patients with EMT less than 8.7 mm need close medical observation and management after embryo transfer.In addition,diminished ovarian reserve,tubal factor infertility,transfer of two embryos,or transfer of cleavage-stage embryos may significantly enhance the effect of a thin endometrium on the risk of EP.展开更多
To the Editor:Recurrent pregnancy loss(RPL)is defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies before 24 weeks of gestation,and it affects about 1%to 2%of couples.[1]The etiology of RPL includes metabolic/endocrinologic...To the Editor:Recurrent pregnancy loss(RPL)is defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies before 24 weeks of gestation,and it affects about 1%to 2%of couples.[1]The etiology of RPL includes metabolic/endocrinological abnormalities,genetic factors,anatomical factors,immune disorders,thrombophilia,male factors,and psychological factors.[1,2]Systemic autoimmune diseases like antiphospholipid syndrome(APS),[3]undifferentiated connective tissue disease(UCTD),[4]and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)[5]have been found to be important causes of RPL in recent years.Understanding the associations between different systemic autoimmune diseases and RPL,as well as being able to provide suitable diagnoses and treatments,is of great significance.展开更多
Dear Editor,Previously,the Mendelian phe no types in huma n oocyte maturation arrest,fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest,are largely underestimated.In recent years,"missing"Men delian phe no typ...Dear Editor,Previously,the Mendelian phe no types in huma n oocyte maturation arrest,fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest,are largely underestimated.In recent years,"missing"Men delian phe no types and genes in these processes are beginning to be uncovered by us and others(Huang et al.,2014;Alazami et al..2015;Feng et al.,2016;Xu et al.,2016;Chen et al.,2017;Sang et al.,2019).However,the genetic basis for majority of patients resulting from abnormalities in these phe no types remains to be elucidated.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the potential relationships among the ovarian response prediction index(ORPI),follicle-oocyte index(FOI),and clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)in women undergoing their first in vitro fertilization/...Objective:To investigate the potential relationships among the ovarian response prediction index(ORPI),follicle-oocyte index(FOI),and clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)in women undergoing their first in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injectionembryo transfer(IVF/ICSI-ET)fresh cycle transfer.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study,we included 12,218 women who underwent their first IVF/ICSI-ET cycle between December 2014 and January 2021.The primary and secondary outcomes of our study were CPR and cumulative live birth rate(CLBR),respectively.The data were divided into three groups according to the ORPI and FOI tertiles.Multivariate logistic regression analyses,stratification analyses,interaction,restricted cubic splines,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were constructed to identify the relationships among ORPI,FOI,and CPR.Results:A statistically significant increase in CPR was detected from the lowest to the highest tertile group(ORPI:48.12%,54.07%,and 53.47%,P<0.001;FOI:49.99%,52.95%,and 52.71%,P=0.012).A higher CLBR was observed in the high group(ORPI:38.63%,44.62%,and 44.19%,P<0.001;FOI:41.02%,43.78%,and 42.59%,P=0.039).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between ORPI,FOI,and neither CPR(odds ratio[OR][95%confidence interval{CI}],0.99[0.97–1.00]vs.[1.02{0.84–1.24}])nor CLBR(OR[95%CI],0.99[0.97–1.01]vs.0.99[0.81–1.20]).No significant association was found among FOI,ORPI,and CPR,even in the subgroups.Restricted cubic spline analyses indicated the existence of a non-linear relationship across the entire range of FOI and ORPI.The ORPI and FOI variables had poor predictive ability(AUC<0.60)for CPR.Conclusions:Both ORPI and FOI are not reliable predictors of clinical pregnancy or live birth outcomes in fresh ETs.Clinicians and researchers should avoid using FOI and ORPI to assess pregnancy outcomes after fresh ET because of their limited relevance and predictive value.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81871110).
文摘Many therapies are effective in treating varicoceles,including dilation of the pampiniform plexus in males.The most common method of treatment is varicocelectomy.We aimed to assess an alternative technique(microsurgical spermatic[distal end]-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis)that preserves the normal blood flow pattern for varicocele treatment.We retrospectively analyzed 27 men with varicocele between October 2019 and July 2020.All patients underwent microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis.The prognosis was reviewed retrospectively with an additional survey conducted 3 months after surgery.The mean±standard deviation of the age was 26.1±7.3 years in patients with microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis.The maximum diameter of the varicocele vein,perineal pain score,sperm density,and forward movement of sperm improved over 3 months after surgery.Microsurgical spermatic(distal end)-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis is a safe and efficient surgical treatment for varicoceles.
文摘Objective: To study the effect of diclofenac suppository in oocyte retrieval of IVF-ET. Study Design: 1176 patients with informed consents were enrolled into this prospective randomized controlled study. The setting was an IVF-ET program at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. According to the analgesic drug use, the patients were randomly divided into pethidine group (573 cases) and diclofenac suppository group (603 cases). The data of vital signs, common adverse reactions, severe adverse events and pain degree in oocyte retrieval were collected. The IVF-ET outcomes were also compared. Results: The post-operation pressure and pulse were lower in pethidine group than in diclofenac suppository group (both P0.001).The rest vital signs were not statistically different (all P>0.05). Common adverse reactions in diclofenac suppository group were relative less (all P0.05). Pain degree between the two groups was not statistically different (P=0.304). IVF-ET outcomes were also not statistically different (all P>0.05). There were 3 cases serious abdominal bleeding with shock in the diclofenac suppository group. Conclusion: Using diclofenac suppository in oocyte retrieval analgesic had a good effect. And there was no adverse effect in the IVF-ET outcome. But we should pay close attention to the probability of serious abdominal bleeding.
基金support from grants provided by the Gansu Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(23JRRA1046)the Gansu Association for Science and Technology(GSHZTS 2022-04)the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program(202310730222).
文摘Dear Editor,Solute carrier family 26 member 8(SLC26A8)gene belongs to the solute carrier 26(SLC26)family.It demonstrates distinct expression in male spermatozoa.This gene potentially plays a role in the formation of the sperm annulus,a circular structure linking the midpiece and principal piece of mature sperm flagella.1 Studies in mice have shown that the deficiency of Slc26A8 leads to compromised sperm motility,capacitation,and structural anomalies.These include disarray in the mitochondrial sheath,abnormalities in the annulus,and bending of the flagella.2,3 Nevertheless,our comprehension of SLC26A8 mutations in male infertility is still restricted,with only a limited number of studies addressing this aspect.4-6 Therefore,further research is crucial to elucidate the functional significance of mutations in SLC26A8.
基金supported by Jiangsu Province’s Outstanding Medical Academic Leader program,Jiangsu Health Department,No.LJ201102
文摘Objective To analyze the fertilization rate, embryo development and clinical outcome of oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida after in vitro fertilization （IVF） or intracytoplasmic sperm injection （1CS1）. Methods A retrospective analysis included a total of 43 cycles （27 IVF cycles and 16 ICSI cycles） in which oocytes displaying abnormal zona pellucida were retrieved between January 2006 and December 2011. The fertilization rate, embryo quality, and the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate were analyzed. Results Rescue ICSI was applied in 2 7 IVF cycles in which failed extrusion of the second polar body after conventional IVF was observed, and of them, complete failure to fertilize occurred in 23 IVF cycles. The fertilization rate and the normal fertilization rate for IVF （64.83% and 59.32%, respectively） were significantly lower than those for ICS1 （85.19% and 79.01%, respectively）, whereas the cleavage rate （94.12%） with IVF did not differ significantly from that with ICSI （95.65%, P〉0. 05）. The percentages of good-quality embryos in 1VF group （52. 67%） and 1CSl group （43.75%） also did not differ significantly （P〉0.05）. Although the rates of implantation and pregnancy appeared to be greater in IVF group （33.33% and 40.00%, respectively） compared with those in ICSI group （25.00% and 35. 71%, respectively）, the differences were not significant （P〉0.05）.Conclusions ICSI should be carried out for oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida, for which the risk of lVF failure is high. Rescue ICSI improves the likelihood of fertilization of oocytes with abnormal zona pellucida, but cannot improve the clinical outcome.
文摘This study was to investigate the effect of annexin A5 on testosterone secretion from primary rat Leydig cells and the underlying mechanisms. Isolated rat Leydig ceils were treated with annexin A5. Testosterone production was detected by chemiluminescence assay. The protein and mRNA of Steroidogenic acute regulatory （STAR）, P450scc, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （3β-HSD）, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase （17β-HSD）, and 17β-hydroxylase were examined by Western blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Annexin A5 significantly stimulated testosterone secretion from rat Leydig cells in dose- and time-dependent manners and increased mRNA and protein expression of STAR, P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD but not 17α-hydroxylase. Annexin A5 knockdown by siRNA significantly decreased the level of testosterone and protein expression of P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD. The significant activation of ERK1/2 signaling was observed at 5, 10, and 30 min after annexin A5 treatment. After the pretreatment of Leydig cells with ERK inhibitor PD98059 （50 μmol l^-1） for 20 min, the effects of annexin A5 on promoting testosterone secretion and increasing the expression of P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD were completely abrogated （P 〈 0.05）. Thus, ERK1/2 signaling is involved in the roles of annexin A5 in mediating testosterone production and the expression of P450scc, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD in Leydig cells.
文摘Charcot-Marie-Tooth （CMT） disease is the most common hereditary neuropathy, with a population prevalence of 1 in 2500. CMT disease type 1A （CMT1A）, accounting for ~70% of CMT1 cases and ~ 50% of all CMT cases, is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner. CMT1A maps to chromo- some 17pl 1.2 and is caused, in the majority of cases, by a 1.4- Mb tandem duplication that includes the peripheral myelin protein22 （PMP22） gene （Li et al., 2013）. The disease usually presents in the first 20 years of age, causing difficulty in walking or running, distal symmetrical muscle weakness and wasting, and sensory loss （van Paassen et al., 2014）.
基金supported by National Talents Program,Double First Class University Plan of Sichuan University,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering(No.sklpme 2020-0301)Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(Nos.2022NSFSC1735,2023NSFSC1097)+5 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.ZYN2022094)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22178233,22208228)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2020TQ0209)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.YJ201959)Science and Technology Support Program of Sichuan Province(No.2021YJ0414)Project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau(No.2021YF05-02110-SN)。
文摘DNAzyme machines play critical roles in the fields of cell imaging,disease diagnosis,and cancer therapy.However,the applications of DNAzyme machines are limited by the nucleases-induced degradation,non-specific binding of proteins,and insufficient provision of cofactors.Herein,protected DNAzyme machines with different cofactor designs(referred to as Pro Ds)were nanoengineered by the construction of multifunctional metal-phenolic nanoshells to deactivate the interferential proteins,including nucleases and non-specific binding proteins.Moreover,the nanoshells not only facilitate the cellular internalization of Pro Ds but provide specific metal ions acting as cofactors of the designed DNAzymes.Cellular imaging results demonstrated that Pro Ds could effectively and simultaneously monitor multiple tumor-related micro RNAs in living cells.This facile and rapid strategy that encapsulates DNAzyme machines into the protective metal-phenolic nanoshells is anticipated to extend to a wide range of functional nucleic acidsbased biomedical applications.
基金supported by grants from the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2020YFS0127)the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(No.2022ZYD0067).
文摘Background:Polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)is a heterogeneous and complex reproductive endocrinological disease that could lead to infertility.There were many attempts to classify PCOS but it remains unclear whether there is a specific subgroup of PCOS that is associated with the best or worst reproductive outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques(ART).Methods:Infertile PCOS patients who underwent their first cycle of in vitro fertilization(IVF)in West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University from January 2019 to December 2021 were included.Basic clinical and laboratory information of each individual were extracted.Unsupervised cluster analysis was performed.Controlled ovarian stimulation parameters and reproductive outcomes were collected and compared between the different clusters of PCOS.Results:Our analysis clustered women with PCOS into"reproductive","metabolic",and"balanced"clusters based on nine traits.Reproductive group was characterized by high levels of testosterone(T),sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG),follicular stimulation hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),and anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH).Metabolic group was characterized by high levels of body mass index(BMI),fasting insulin,and fasting glucose.Balanced group was characterized by low levels of the aforementioned reproductive and metabolic parameters,except for SHBG.Compared with PCOS patients in reproductive and balanced clusters,those in metabolic cluster had lower rates of good quality day 3 embryo and blastocyst formation.Moreover,PCOS patients in the reproductive cluster had greater fresh embryo transfer(ET)cancelation rate and clinical pregnancy rate after fresh ET than metabolic cluster(odds ratio[OR]=3.37,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.77-6.44,and OR=6.19,95%CI:1.58-24.24,respectively).And compared with PCOS of metabolic cluster,PCOS of balanced cluster also had higher chance for fresh ET cancelation(OR=2.83,95%CI:1.26-6.35).Conclusion:Our study suggested that PCOS patients in metabolic cluster may be associated with adverse reproductive outcomes and might need individualized treatment and careful monitoring before and during ART.
基金the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(L.Q.,Grant No.2020YFS0127)the Y.Z.laboratory was financially supported by the Research project of Science&Technology Department of Sichuan Province(Y.Z.,Grant No.2021YJ0416)+3 种基金project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau,(Y.Z.,Grant No.2021-YF05-02110-SN)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Y.Z.,Grant No.82001496)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Y.Z.,Grant No.2020M680149,2020T130087ZX)the National Global Talents Recruitment Program(J.G.),National Natural Science Foundation of China(22178233)Talents Program of Sichuan Province,Double First Class University Plan of Sichuan University,State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering(J.G.,Grant No.sklpme 2020-3-01).
文摘Collagen,the main component of mammal skin,has been traditionally used in leather manufacturing for thousands of years due to its diverse physicochemical properties.Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals and the main component of the extracellular matrix(ECM).The properties of collagen also make it an ideal building block for the engineering of materials for a range of biomedical applications.Reproductive medicine,especially human fertility preservation strategies and reproductive organ regeneration,has attracted significant attention in recent years as it is key in resolving the growing social concern over aging populations worldwide.Collagen-based biomaterials such as collagen hydrogels,decellularized ECM(dECM),and bioengineering techniques including collagen-based 3D bio-printing have facilitated the engineering of reproductive tissues.This review summarizes the recent progress in apply-ing collagen-based biomaterials in reproductive.Furthermore,we discuss the prospects of collagen-based materials for engineering artificial reproductive tissues,hormone replacement therapy,and reproductive organ reconstruction,aiming to inspire new thoughts and advancements in engineered reproductive tissues research.
基金the Research project of Science&Technology Department of Sichuan Province(Y.Z.,Grant No.2021YJ0416)project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau,(Y.Z.,Grant No.2021-YF05-02110-SN)+4 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Y.Z.,Grant No.82001496)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Y.Z.,Grant No.2020M680149,2020T130087ZX)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(C.C.,Grant No.2021M702223)Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee(C.C.,Grant No.JCYJ20210324105808022)the Research Team of Female Reproductive Health and Fertility Preservation(W.Q.,Grant No.SZSM201612065).
文摘Extracellular matrix(ECM)is characterized as widespread,abundant,and pluripotent.Among ECM members,collagen is widely accepted as one of the most prominent components for its essential structural property that can provide a scaffold for other components of ECM and the rich biological functions,which has been extensively used in tissue engineering.Emerging evidence has shown that the balance of ECM degradation and remodeling is vital to regulations of maternal-fetal interface including menstrual cycling,decidualization,embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance.Moreover,disorders in these events may eventually lead to failure of pregnancy.Although the improvement of assisted conception and embryo culture technologies bring hope to many infertile couples,some unfavorable outcomes,such as recurrent implantation failure(RIF),recurrent pregnancy loss(RPL)or recurrent miscarriage(RM),keep troubling the clinicians and patients.Recently,in vitro three-dimensional(3D)model mimicking the microenvironment of the maternal-fetal interface is developed to investigate the physiological and pathological conditions of conception and pregnancy.The progress of this technology is based on clarifying the role of ECM in the endometrium and the interaction between endometrium and conceptus.Focusing on collagen,the present review summarized the degradation and regulation of ECM and its role in normal menstruation,endometrium receptivity and unsatisfying events occurring in infertility treatments,as well as the application in therapeutic approaches to improve pregnancy outcomes.More investigations about ECM focusing on the maternal-fetal interface interaction with mesenchymal stem cells or local immunoregulation may inspire new thoughts and advancements in the clinical application of infertility treatments.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.81971391)。
文摘Objective:Few studies have explored the suitability of endometrial thickness(EMT)as a predictor of ectopic pregnancy(EP)in frozen embryo transfer(FET)cycles.Our study aimed to investigate the association between EMT and EP and explore the cutoff value of EMT to predict EP.Methods:This retrospective cohort study included women aged 20-45 years undergoing FET between March 2015 and September 2021.The primary outcomes and measured variables were EP and EMT,respectively.The threshold effect of EMT on EP was calculated based on a constructed smooth curve fitting.The patients were divided into two groups based on the threshold for comparison.A subgroup analysis was conducted to examine whether the relationship between EMT and EP remained consistent across the different subgroups.Additionally,a generalized linear model was used to analyze the interactions between the treatment factors and EMT in EP.Results:In total,27,549 FET cycles were included,with 27,086 intrauterine and 463 ectopic pregnancies.The risk of EP in the EMT≤8.7 mm group was 3.36 times higher than that in the EMT>8.7 mm group(odds ratio[OR]:3.36,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.57-4.05).Subgroup analysis further indicated that a thin EMT was a risk factor for EP,independent of other risks.We also noted that diminished ovarian reserve,tubal factor infertility,transfer of two embryos,or transfer of cleavage-stage embryos may further enhance the risk of EP in patients with thin endometrium.Conclusions:Thin endometrium was associated with an increased risk of EP.Patients with EMT less than 8.7 mm need close medical observation and management after embryo transfer.In addition,diminished ovarian reserve,tubal factor infertility,transfer of two embryos,or transfer of cleavage-stage embryos may significantly enhance the effect of a thin endometrium on the risk of EP.
基金This work was supported by a grant from the Health Department of Sichuan Province(No.20PJ072).
文摘To the Editor:Recurrent pregnancy loss(RPL)is defined as the loss of two or more pregnancies before 24 weeks of gestation,and it affects about 1%to 2%of couples.[1]The etiology of RPL includes metabolic/endocrinological abnormalities,genetic factors,anatomical factors,immune disorders,thrombophilia,male factors,and psychological factors.[1,2]Systemic autoimmune diseases like antiphospholipid syndrome(APS),[3]undifferentiated connective tissue disease(UCTD),[4]and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)[5]have been found to be important causes of RPL in recent years.Understanding the associations between different systemic autoimmune diseases and RPL,as well as being able to provide suitable diagnoses and treatments,is of great significance.
文摘Dear Editor,Previously,the Mendelian phe no types in huma n oocyte maturation arrest,fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest,are largely underestimated.In recent years,"missing"Men delian phe no types and genes in these processes are beginning to be uncovered by us and others(Huang et al.,2014;Alazami et al..2015;Feng et al.,2016;Xu et al.,2016;Chen et al.,2017;Sang et al.,2019).However,the genetic basis for majority of patients resulting from abnormalities in these phe no types remains to be elucidated.
文摘Objective:To investigate the potential relationships among the ovarian response prediction index(ORPI),follicle-oocyte index(FOI),and clinical pregnancy rate(CPR)in women undergoing their first in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injectionembryo transfer(IVF/ICSI-ET)fresh cycle transfer.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study,we included 12,218 women who underwent their first IVF/ICSI-ET cycle between December 2014 and January 2021.The primary and secondary outcomes of our study were CPR and cumulative live birth rate(CLBR),respectively.The data were divided into three groups according to the ORPI and FOI tertiles.Multivariate logistic regression analyses,stratification analyses,interaction,restricted cubic splines,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were constructed to identify the relationships among ORPI,FOI,and CPR.Results:A statistically significant increase in CPR was detected from the lowest to the highest tertile group(ORPI:48.12%,54.07%,and 53.47%,P<0.001;FOI:49.99%,52.95%,and 52.71%,P=0.012).A higher CLBR was observed in the high group(ORPI:38.63%,44.62%,and 44.19%,P<0.001;FOI:41.02%,43.78%,and 42.59%,P=0.039).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between ORPI,FOI,and neither CPR(odds ratio[OR][95%confidence interval{CI}],0.99[0.97–1.00]vs.[1.02{0.84–1.24}])nor CLBR(OR[95%CI],0.99[0.97–1.01]vs.0.99[0.81–1.20]).No significant association was found among FOI,ORPI,and CPR,even in the subgroups.Restricted cubic spline analyses indicated the existence of a non-linear relationship across the entire range of FOI and ORPI.The ORPI and FOI variables had poor predictive ability(AUC<0.60)for CPR.Conclusions:Both ORPI and FOI are not reliable predictors of clinical pregnancy or live birth outcomes in fresh ETs.Clinicians and researchers should avoid using FOI and ORPI to assess pregnancy outcomes after fresh ET because of their limited relevance and predictive value.
