[Retracted] Inhibition of microRNA­19b promotes ovarian granulosa cell proliferation by targeting IGF­1 in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the colony formation assay data (or portions of the data thereof) shown in Figs. 2C and 5G were strikingly similar to data that had appeared in different form in other articles by different authors at different research institutes. Owing to a general lack of confidence in the presented data, and due to the fact that the contentious data in the above article may have already been published, prior to its submission to Molecular Medicine Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Molecular Medicine Reports 17: 4889­4898, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.8463].

Application of laparoscopic internal iliac artery temporary occlusion and uterine repair combined with hysteroscopic aspiration in type III cesarean scar pregnancy.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic internal iliac artery temporary occlusion and uterine repair combined with hysteroscopic aspiration in type III cesarean scar pregnancy. 135 cases of cesarean scar pregnancy in Guangzhou Women and Children's Hospital from November 2017 to November 2020 were collected and 32 cases of type III patients were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into internal iliac artery temporary occlusion (IIATO) group (21 cases), and bilateral uterine artery embolization (UAE) group (11 cases). The general condition, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative complications, and prognosis of the two groups were analyzed. In the IIATO group, the bilateral internal iliac arteries were temporarily blocked with No. 10 silk thread under laparoscopy. The scar pregnancy clearance and repair of the scar were performed after incision. Subsequently, we performed hysteroscopic aspiration. After the operation, the internal iliac artery ligation thread was removed. In the UAE group, the patients were treated with bilateral uterine artery embolization. Laparoscopic uterine scar repair and hysteroscopy aspiration were performed within 24 hours after embolization. There was no significant difference in age, times of pregnancy, times of cesarean section and gestational weeks between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the diameter of gestational sac or gestational mass and serum human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) level between the two groups before operation (P>0.05). The operations were successfully completed in 32 patients, and intraoperative blood loss was 67.14±32.78 ml and 71.35±31.56 ml, respectively (P<0.05). The length of hospital stay was 5.14±0.32 day and 4.97±0.21 day, respectively. No peri-procedural bleeding occurred and no secondary surgeries were required. Laparoscopic internal iliac artery temporary occlusion and uterine repair combined with hysteroscopic aspiration is an effective and safe treatment for type III cesarean scar pregnancy, with less postoperative complications and better protection of fertility function for patients.

Outcome of Gynecologic Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery with a Homemade Device and Conventional Laparoscopic Instruments in a Chinese Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate various benign gynecologic diseases that can be performed by laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) with conventional laparoscopic instruments. METHOD: Patients with benign gynecologic diseases that need ovarian cystectomy, fallopian tube resection, or myomectomy were divided into experimental group and control group, and perioperative outcomes of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: From November 2017 to May 2018, 65 LESS gynecological surgeries were performed, among which there were 25 ovarian cystectomies, 28 unilateral fallopian tube resections, and 12 myomectomies. All the surgeries were completed smoothly, and only one surgery needed one more additional port. No patients have severe complications. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and perioperative complications have no difference between the two groups. The LESS laparoscopy group had less postoperative pain scores and longer bowel recovering time, compared with the conventional laparoscopy group (<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with traditional laparoscopy, LESS surgery with conventional laparoscopic instruments is feasible and safe, but postoperative exhaust time is longer than the control group.

Molecular mechanisms involved in TGF-ß1-induced Muscle-derived stem cells differentiation to smooth muscle cells.

We investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1)-induced myogenic stem cell differentiation to smooth muscle cells. We isolated muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) from gastrocnemius muscles following their identification by immunohistochemistry analysis of desmin and flow cytometry analysis of SCA-1, CD34, and CD45. MDSCs at passage 3 (PP3) were cultured in vitro to examine the effects of MDSC induction. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses were performed to analyze these differentially expressed genes. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing was performed in TGF-ß1-treated and untreated cells to evaluate differences in the methylation status and analyze the chromosomal distribution of differentially methylated sites (DMSs). Significant morphological changes to cells were observed at PP3, and most PP3 cells were positive for desmin and SCA-1, and were confirmed to be MDSCs. Results of western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses suggested that expressions of a-SMA and CNN1 significantly increased after treatment with TGF-ß1. Global transcriptome analysis identified 1996 differentially expressed genes (MSC_TGFß1/MSC_NC). Results of methylome analysis indicated that there were more hypermethylation sites in the untreated group than in the TGF-ß1-treated group. Most DMSs were hypermethylated, whereas a small portion was hypomethylated. The chromosomal distribution of DMSs indicated that chromosome 1 had the highest proportion of DMSs, whereas the Y chromosome had the fewest DMSs. Sud2, Pcdh19, and Nat14 are potential core genes involved in cell differentiation. These results may explain the mechanisms of cell differentiation and provide useful information regarding diseases such as pelvic organ prolapse.

Inhibition of microRNA-19b promotes ovarian granulosa cell proliferation by targeting IGF-1 in polycystic ovary syndrome.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the functional role of microRNA (miR)-19b in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and try to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Expression of miR­19b and insulin­like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was examined in ovarian cortexes [(from 18 women with PCOS and 10 who did not have PCOS (non­PCOS)] and KGN cells. Cell proliferation assays (cell viability and colony formation assay) were performed following overexpression or inhibition of miR­19b and IGF­1 or following insulin treatment in KGN cells. Expression levels of the cell cycle-associated protein cyclin D1 and cyclin­dependent kinase (CDK) 1 were analyzed following overexpression or inhibition of miR-19b and IGF-1. Potential miR­19b targets were identified by bioinformatics. Luciferase assay, reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to determine whether IGF­1 was a target of miR­19b. miR­19b expression was significantly decreased in the PCOS ovarian cortex and KGN cells and its identified target, IGF­1, was upregulated. miR­19b overexpression inhibited cell proliferation at G2/M phrase. Overexpression of IGF­1 promoted cell viability and colony formation ability in KGN cells. The expression of cyclin D1 and CDK1 was statistically increased by inhibition of miR­19b and overexpression of IGF­1. High concentrations of insulin decreased levels of miR­19b, stimulated KGN cell proliferation, and elevated IGF­1 levels. Inhibition of miR­19b promoted ovarian granulosa cell proliferation by targeting IGF­1 in PCOS. Insulin decreased the expression levels of miR­19b and stimulated cell proliferation. The present study suggested that overexpression of miR­19b may be a potential therapeutic approach for PCOS.

Associations between maternal BMI as well as glucose tolerance and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This retrospective, cohort study examined the association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), independent of glucose tolerance and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for which there are few previous studies. Medical records from 2012 to 2015 at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, China were reviewed for women previously diagnosed with PCOS with normal 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results (n = 1249). The separate and joint effects of maternal BMI and glucose levels on pregnancy outcomes were assessed. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45), preterm birth (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08-2.17), and large for gestational age (LGA) (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16-2.20). Elevated fasting glucose and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI were jointly associated with increased risks of HDP, preterm birth, and LGA. Therefore, among women with PCOS and normal glucose tolerance, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is an independent risk factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes.