Infertility-Related Stress, and Dyadic Coping as Predictors of Quality of Life: Gender Differences Among Couples with Infertility Issues.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between infertility-related stress and dyadic coping with quality of life (QoL) in couples with infertility issues, and verify gender differences and dyadic interactions in the associations between them. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 340 couples who were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou University between March 2022 and November 2022. The Fertility Problem Inventory, Dyadic Coping Inventory and FertiQoL were used to measure infertility-related stress, dyadic coping and QoL. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was used to analyze the effects of infertility-related stress and dyadic coping on the couple's own QoL (actor effect) as well as on their partner's QoL (partner effect). Results: Female patients perceived significantly lower levels of QoL and dyadic coping than those of husbands. There was no statistically significant difference in the infertility-related stress between wives and husbands. Husbands' infertility-related stress had actor and partner effects on their own and their wives' QoL, while wives' infertility-related stress only had an actor effect on their own QoL. Husbands' dyadic coping had both actor effect and partner effects on their own and their wives' QoL, meanwhile wives' dyadic coping had both actor effect and partner effects on their own and their husbands' QoL. Conclusion: Husbands' QoL was impacted by their own infertility-related stress, dyadic coping and their wives' dyadic coping. Whereas wives' QoL was influenced by infertility-related stress and dyadic coping from both their own and their spouses. Therefore, elevating the level of dyadic coping may contribute to improving QoL for both husbands and wives. Moreover, enhancing the ability to cope with infertility-related stress might be useful for husbands and indirectly contribute to wives' QoL.

Relationship Between Dyadic Coping with Anxiety and Depression in Infertile Couples: Gender Differences and Dyadic Interaction.

Background: This study aims to examine the relationship between anxiety and depression and dyadic coping in infertile couples, exploring gender differences and dyadic interactions in these associations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 288 couples recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Lanzhou University between November 2021 and November 2022. The Dyadic Coping Scale, Anxiety Scale, and Depression Scale were utilized to measure dyadic coping, anxiety, and depression, respectively. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was used to analyze the actor effect and partner effect. Results: Wives exhibited significantly higher anxiety and depression scores compared to husbands (p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in dyadic coping between wives and husbands. Positive dyadic coping in infertile couples had significant actor effects on anxiety and depression (p<0.05) and partner effects (p<0.05). Positive dyadic coping negatively predicted anxiety and depression of oneself and one's partner. Negative dyadic coping in infertile couples also had significant actor effects on anxiety and depression (p<0.05) and partner effects (p<0.05). Negative dyadic coping positively predicted anxiety and depression of oneself and one's partner. Conclusion: The dyadic coping style of infertile couples has both actor and partner effects on their own and their partner's anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression in infertile couples are influenced by their own and their partner's dyadic coping style, respectively. Therefore, dyadic coping serves as an important indicator for predicting psychological outcomes in these couples.

In vitro evidence of oncofetal antigen and TLR-9 agonist co-delivery by alginate nanovaccines for liver cancer immunotherapy.

Liver cancer is the most common malignant tumor and liver cancer immunotherapy has been one of the research hotspots. To induce antigen-specific antitumor immune responses against liver cancer, we developed antigen and adjuvant co-delivery nanovaccines (APPCs). Polyanionic alginate (ALG) and polycationic polyethyleneimine (PEI) were utilized to co-deliver a glypican-3 peptide antigen and an unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) adjuvant by electrostatic interactions. A cellular uptake study confirmed that APPC could promote antigen and adjuvant uptake by dendritic cells (DCs). Importantly, APPC facilitated the endosomal escape of the peptide for antigen delivery into the cytoplasm. In addition, APPC showed significant stimulation of DC maturation in vitro. APPC could also efficiently prime DCs and induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vivo. The in vitro cell viability assay and the in vivo histocompatibility showed that APPC was non-toxic within the tested concentration. This study demonstrates that the peptide antigen and the CpG adjuvant co-delivery nanovaccine have potential applications in liver cancer immunotherapy.

Mannose-functionalized antigen nanoparticles for targeted dendritic cells, accelerated endosomal escape and enhanced MHC-I antigen presentation.

Cancer immunotherapy is an important tumor therapy option for prevention and treatment of tumors and has attracted tremendous interests. However, the therapeutic outcomes are limited by insufficient antigen uptake and presentation by antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DCs). In this study, mannose-functionalized antigen nanoparticles with endosome escape activity were designed for targeted DCs, accelerated endosomal escape and enhanced MHC-I antigen presentation for cancer immunotherapy. Mannose was selected as DCs targeting ligand to enhance antigen uptake. Model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) was directly conjugated with mannose to obtain DCs targeting antigen, which was then complexed with polyethylenimine (PEI) through electrostatic interaction to form mannose-functionalized antigen nanoparticles (MAN-OVA/PEI NPs). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the MAN-OVA/PEI NPs greatly increased antigen uptake by DCs compared with OVA/PEI NPs. Confocal laser scanning microscopy further demonstrated that MAN-OVA/PEI NPs enhanced cytosolic antigen release. Moreover, MAN-OVA/PEI NPs significantly promoted cytokine production and DCs maturation in vitro. More importantly, MAN-OVA/PEI NPs treated DCs exhibited enhanced cross-presentation to B3Z T cell hybridoma in vitro. This work suggests that mannose-functionalized antigen nanoparticles provide a versatile delivery vehicle for targeted DCs, accelerated endosomal escape and enhanced MHC-I antigen presentation for cancer immunotherapy.

Antigen-Conjugated Silica Solid Sphere as Nanovaccine for Cancer Immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Nanocarriers could deliver significantly higher amounts of antigen to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which have great potential to stimulate humoral and cellular response in cancer immunotherapy. Thereafter, silica solid nanosphere (SiO2) was prepared, and a model antigen (ovalbumin, OVA) was covalently conjugated on the surface of SiO2 to form nanovaccine (OVA@SiO2). And the application of OVA@SiO2 for cancer immunotherapy was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SiO2 solid nanosphere was prepared by the Stöber method, then successively aminated by aminopropyltriethoxysilane and activated with glutaraldehyde. OVA was covalently conjugated on the surface of activated SiO2 to obtain nanovaccine (OVA@SiO2). Dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope were conducted to identify the size distribution, zeta potential and morphology of OVA@SiO2. The OVA loading capacity was investigated by varying glutaraldehyde concentration. The biocompatibility of OVA@SiO2 to DC2.4 and RAW246.7 cells was evaluated by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The uptake of OVA@SiO2 by DC2.4 and its internalization pathway were evaluated in the absence or presence of different inhibitors. The activation and maturation of bone marrow-derived DC cells by OVA@SiO2 were also investigated. Finally, the in vivo transport of OVA@SiO2 and its toxicity to organs were appraised. RESULTS: All results indicated the successful covalent conjugation of OVA on the surface of SiO2. The as-prepared OVA@SiO2 possessed high antigen loading capacity, which had good biocompatibility to APCs and major organs. Besides, OVA@SiO2 facilitated antigen uptake by DC2.4 cells and its cytosolic release. Noteworthily, OVA@SiO2 significantly promoted the maturation of dendritic cells and up-regulation of cytokine secretion by co-administration of adjuvant CpG-ODN. CONCLUSION: The as-prepared SiO2 shows promising potential for use as an antigen delivery carrier.

Chitosan/calcium phosphates nanosheet as a vaccine carrier for effective cross-presentation of exogenous antigens.

Chitosan/calcium phosphate nanosheet as a promising antigen carrier was prepared via the direct mixture of modified chitosan, PBS and CaCl2. Specifically, chitosan was modified with catechol groups, and its water solubility under neutral conditions was improved. Then, nanosheet was formed by mixing modified chitosan and PBS followed by addition of CaCl2. Antigen was entrapped into the nanosheet via coprecipitation during its preparation. The nanosheet composed of CaHPO4·2H2O crystals, was internalized by dendritic cells (DCs) via macropinocytosis with enhanced efficiency. The antigen endosomal escape induce by nanosheet was successful observed with intracellular Lysotracker and Lamp-1 staining. Moreover, DCs activation was triggered by the nanosheet along with the up-regulated expression of co-stimulation marker and production of Th1-type cytokines. More importantly, cross-presentation of antigens achieved by the nanosheet was markedly increased when compared to free antigen. Therefore, chitosan/calcium phosphate nanosheet could be used as a vaccine carrier for effective cross-presentation of exogenous antigens.