The KIDScore™ D3 scoring system contributes to the prediction of embryonic development potential: A promising tool for screening high-quality embryos.

Using the KIDScoreTM D3 (KID3) scoring system, day 3 embryos observed by time-lapse imaging (TLI) were scored to explore the predictive value of the KID scoring system on the developmental potential of embryos. The kinetic parameters of 477 normal fertilized embryos from 77 patients who underwent TLI in our hospital from January 2019 to June 2020 were evaluated by KID3, and the embryos were divided into five groups according to the scores for retrospective analysis of blastocyst formation. Additionally, the high-quality blastocyst formation rate, pregnancy rate and early abortion rate were analyzed via KID3 and traditional morphological assessments, and comparisons of differences among different ages were also performed. In the KID3 estimate, the blastocyst or high-quality blastocyst formation rate in the score 5 group was markedly higher than that in the score 1-4 groups. Blastocyst or high-quality blastocyst formation rates in the A group (the results of two evaluation tools indicated they were excellent embryos) and the B group (KID3: excellent embryos, traditional evaluation: not excellent embryos) were evidently increased in comparison with the C or D group (KID3: not excellent embryos, traditional evaluation: excellent embryo or not, respectively). Furthermore, the percentages of score 5 embryos, blastocyst and high-quality blastocyst formation rates for patients ≥ 35 years old were markedly decreased compared with those for patients < 34 years old, while the trends of nondiploid cleavage, multinucleation and asymmetric division were the opposite. Collectively, the KID3 scoring system may be a promising predictive tool for screening embryos with better developmental potential.

CircRNA circUSP36 impairs the stability of NEDD4L mRNA through recruiting PTBP1 to enhance ULK1-mediated autophagic granulosa cell death.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is defined as a high risk factor for causing female infertility by changing the cholesterol level in granulosa cells to impair the microenvironment of oocyte development and maturation. High blood levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) undergoes an increase of autophagic granulosa cell death. Unfortunately, this underlying molecular mechanism remains largely elusive. We aim to uncover the role of circ-ubiquitin specific peptidase 36 (USP36) in autophagic granulosa cell death. METHODS: Exposure of ox-LDL on the ovarian granulosa cell-like human granulosa (KGN) cells line was established for simulating the situation of hypercholesterolemia in vitro. Levels of circUSP36 and ULK1 were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed using (4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining of LC3 was performed to evaluate activity of autophagy. Western blot was employed to determine expression of apoptosis and autophagy-associated markers. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were subjected to verify the circUSP36-PTBP1-NEDD4L regulatory axis. RESULTS: Treatment of ox-LDL induced aberrantly up-regulated circUSP36. Knockdown of circUSP36 alleviated cell apoptosis and excessive autophagy of granulosa cells triggered by ox-LDL. Mechanistically, reinforced expression of circUSP36 guided and facilitated PTBP1 binding to the coding region (CDS) of NEDD4L, resulting in NEDD4L mRNA decay. ULK1 was regulated by the circUSP36-PTBP1-NEDD4L axis in granulosa cells, thereby contributing to autophagic granulosa cell death. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, ox-LDL fostered autophagic granulosa cell death through circUSP36-mediated NEDD4L mRNA decay, thus elevating ULK1 expression.

Vigilin interacts with ER-ß to protect against palmitic acid-induced granulosa cells apoptosis via inhibiting calcineurin-mediated Drp1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hypercholesterolemia is one of the causes of female infertility, and as a common fatty acid in follicular fluid, palmitic acid (PA) level plays a vital role in granule cell which is closely related to the developmental potential of follicle. METHODS: The ovarian granulosa cell-like human granulosa (KGN) cell line and the immortalized normal ovarian surface epithelial cell line (IOSE80) were used to verify the effect of PA on cell viability and apoptosis by MTT and flow cytometry assay, respectively. Then mitochondria damage was confirmed by mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ROS detection assay and western blot in KGN cells. Thorough luciferase reporter assay and RIP-qPCR, the relationship between vigilin and ER-ß was investigated. RESULTS: In our study, PA induced mitochondrial damage-mediated cell apoptosis of KGN cells was dose-dependently, while PA shown no effects on in IOSE80 cells. Then the role of calcineurin (CnA)-mediated Drp1 signaling pathway on KGN cells was confirmed by treating with Mdivi-1 or FK506T. In addition, the changed level of vigilin and ER-ß was observed in cell apoptosis of KGN cells induced by PA. By transfecting vigilin vector or ER-ß vector into KGN cells, respectively, vigilin and ER-ß were demonstrated to regulate the apoptosis of KGN cells. And vigilin was a binding protein of ER-ß mRNA. CONCLUSION: Vigilin could interact with ER-ß mRNA to promote ER-ß expression. And Vigilin/ ER-ß relieve the mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis induced by PA through regulating CnA-mediated Drp1 signaling pathway, which revealed the mechanism and strategy of hypercholesterolemia in female infertility.

Accuracy and efficiency of computer-aided anatomical analysis using 3D visualization software based on semi-automated and automated segmentations.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated and compared the functionality of two 3D visualization software provided by a CT vendor and a third-party vendor, respectively. Using surgical anatomical measurement as baseline, we evaluated the accuracy of 3D visualization and verified their utility in computer-aided anatomical analysis. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 50 adult cadavers fixed with the classical formaldehyde method. The computer-aided anatomical analysis was based on CT images (in DICOM format) acquired by helical scan with contrast enhancement, using a CT vendor provided 3D visualization workstation (Syngo) and a third-party 3D visualization software (Mimics) that was installed on a PC. Automated and semi-automated segmentations were utilized in the 3D visualization workstation and software, respectively. The functionality and efficiency of automated and semi-automated segmentation methods were compared. Using surgical anatomical measurement as a baseline, the accuracy of 3D visualization based on automated and semi-automated segmentations was quantitatively compared. RESULTS: In semi-automated segmentation, the Mimics 3D visualization software outperformed the Syngo 3D visualization workstation. No significant difference was observed in anatomical data measurement by the Syngo 3D visualization workstation and the Mimics 3D visualization software (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both the Syngo 3D visualization workstation provided by a CT vendor and the Mimics 3D visualization software by a third-party vendor possessed the needed functionality, efficiency and accuracy for computer-aided anatomical analysis.

Chemical or genetic Pin1 inhibition exerts potent anticancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma by blocking multiple cancer-driving pathways.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and malignant cancers with high inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. A central common signaling mechanism in cancer is proline-directed phosphorylation, which is further regulated by the unique proline isomerase Pin1. Pin1 is prevalently overexpressed in human cancers including ~70% of HCC, and promotes tumorigenesis by activating multiple cancer-driving pathways. However, it was challenging to evaluate the significance of targeting Pin1 in cancer treatment until the recent identification of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) as a Pin1 inhibitor. Here we systematically investigate functions of Pin1 and its inhibitor ATRA in the development and treatment of HCC. Pin1 knockdown potently inhibited HCC cell proliferation and tumor growth in mice. ATRA-induced Pin1 degradation inhibited the growth of HCC cells, although at a higher IC50 as compared with breast cancer cells, likely due to more active ATRA metabolism in liver cells. Indeed, inhibition of ATRA metabolism enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to ATRA. Moreover, slow-releasing ATRA potently and dose-dependently inhibited HCC growth in mice. Finally, chemical or genetic Pin1 ablation blocked multiple cancer-driving pathways simultaneously in HCC cells. Thus, targeting Pin1 offers a promising therapeutic approach to simultaneously stop multiple cancer-driving pathways in HCC.

Association between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and autoimmune diseases susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

Published data on the rs2910164 in microRNA-146a (miR-146a) are shown to be associated with increased or decreased autoimmune diseases risk. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically summarize the possible. A meta-analysis including 11 studies with 3042 controls and 2197 cases was performed for genotypes CC (recessive effect), CC+CG (dominant effect) and C allele in fixed or random-effects models based on between-study heterogeneity. Overall, no significant association between miR-146a G/C rs2910164 polymorphism and autoimmune diseases risk was found in all genetic models when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis. SLE (OR=0.99, 95% CI: 0.90-1.10), RA (OR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.85-1.14) did not yield statistical significance as for C allele pooled studies. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, still no significant association was detected in all genetic models. Our meta-analysis suggests that there is no association between miR-146a G/C rs2910164 polymorphism and the development of autoimmune diseases.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have explored the association between methyl enetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). However, results remained controversial. To address this gap, we decided to conduct a meta-analysis of all available published studies. METHODS: Electronic literature searches of the PubMed, EmBase and Medline databases were performed up to April 30, 2012. Fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled ORs for different genetic models. RESULTS: A total of 12 case-control studies were ultimately identified. No statistical correlation was found between C677T variants and cervical cancer for the overall population. However, subgroup analyses on the White women pointed to a significant protective effect for individuals heterozygous or homozygous for the T-allele (for CT vs. CC: OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.88; for TT vs. CC: OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.49-0.97; for CT+TT vs. CC: OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.86). C677T variants were associated with neither combined nor stratified CIN among the overall population. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that White women with mutant C677T genotypes might have a lower risk of cervical cancer, yet lacking enough statistical robustness. Further investigations are needed to get more insight into the role of this polymorphism in cervical carcinogenesis.