Retrospective analysis: The application of human menopausal gonadotropin combined with letrozole for IUI in patients undergoing artificial insemination by husband due to unexplained or mild male factors.

Objective: To compare the effects of human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) combined with letrozole (LE) to HMG only for ovarian stimulation on pregnancy outcome of infertile patients undergoing artificial insemination by husband (AIH) due to unexplained or mild male factors. Materials and methods: Infertile patients with unexplained or mild male factors treated from July 2015 to December 2021 were selected as subjects. The patients were divided into two groups according to the ovarian stimulation schemes they received, namely HMG combined with LE or HMG only. We analyzed the laboratory examination results before drug treatment (baseline) and during ovarian stimulation and compared the pregnancy outcomes of the two groups using univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 526 cycles of 372 couples were included. The univariate analysis showed that the clinical pregnancy rate of the HMG combined with LE group was 24.8%, significantly higher than that of the HMG group (14.8%, P = 0.007). The live birth rate (19.9%) of the HMG combined with LE group were also significantly higher than those of the HMG group (11.2%, respectively). In multivariate logistic analysis, the age of males was negatively associated with the clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.874, 95% CI 0.793~0.963, P=0.006) and live birth (OR0.875, 95% CI 0.783~0.977, P=0.018). Moreover, ovarian stimulation with HMG+LE was the only beneficial factor significantly associated with clinical pregnancy (OR 1.929, 95% CI 1.068~3.485, P=0.029) and live birth (OR 2.255, 95% CI 1.188~4.282, P=0.013). Conclusion: Ovarian stimulation using HMG combined with LE can increase the clinical outcomes (live birth and clinical pregnancy) among infertile patients undergoing AIH due to explained or mild male factors.

[Spatial distribution patterns of adult population of Pseudorobitis gibbus (Coleoptera: Apionidae) in Taixing Garden, Tai'an, Shandong, China].

The vertical and horizontal distributions of Pseudorobitis gibbus adults on Lagerstroemia indica were analyzed by using the aggregation indices and geostatistics. The results from aggregation index methods indicated that its vertical distribution was an aggregated distribution, and the aggregation average (lambda) was above two, showing that the aggregation resulted from its bionomics and behaviors, not from the environmental factors. The results of geostatistic analysis showed that the best fitting models for the five different sampling data in June 4, June 16, June 29, July 25 and August 22 were Gaussian, Gaussian, Linear, Gaussian and Linear models, respectively, but random models in July 12 and August 7. It was concluded that the horizontal distribution of the pest was aggregated on the whole, and there existed a spatial correlation ranging from 1.68 to 9.79 m on the different dates.

Monoterpenes from larval frass of two Cerambycids as chemical cues for a parasitoid, Dastarcus helophoroides.

Anopiophora glabripennis (Motsch.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a destructive woodborer, attacking many species of deciduous hardwood trees. Apriona swainsoni (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a woodborer of Sophora japonica L. (Angiospermae: Fabaceae). Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) is an important natural enemy of both Cerambycid species in China. Kairomones for two populations of D. helophoroides that parasitize A. glabripennis and A. swainsoni respectively were studied. Based on identification and quantification of volatiles from larval frass produced by A. glabripennis and A. swainsoni, monoterpenes were selected to test their kairomonal activity to both populations of D. helophoroides adults using a Y-tube olfactometer. The results indicated that (S)-(-)-limonene served as a kairomone for the population of D. helophoroides parasitized A. glabripennis. α-pinene, (IR)-(+)-αpinene and (+)-ß-pinene were attractive to the population of D. helophoroides parasitized A. swainsoni. The results provide information about the co-evolution of D. helophoroides, its host, and host-food trees.

Association of serum and follicular fluid leptin concentrations with granulosa cell phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression in fertile patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate whether polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)-associated infertility is related to alterations of leptin, leptin receptor (Ob-R), and the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3)/suppressor of cytokine signal 3 (SOCS3) system in the ovary. DESIGN AND SETTING: A case-control study was conducted in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-one infertile PCOS women with oligoovulation plus polycystic ovarian morphology and 79 infertile women with tubal blockage (control) participated in the study. The subjects were stratified according to in vitro fertilization outcomes: successful and failed subgroups. METHODS: Serum and follicular fluid (FF) leptin levels were measured with ELISA. RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to assess expression of mRNA encoding leptin and Ob-R and proteins of p-STAT3 and SOCS3 in granulosa cells (GCs). RESULTS: Leptin levels in serum and FF of PCOS women were significantly higher than those of control (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in expression of leptin mRNA and short and long Ob-Rs between PCOS and control (P > 0.05). The p-STAT3 level was decreased in PCOS compared with control (P < 0.01), whereas SOCS3 remained significantly unchanged (P > 0.05). Further analysis showed that serum and FF leptin levels were significantly higher, whereas p-STAT3 in GCs was lower in the failed subgroup of PCOS than those in the successful subgroup of PCOS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hyperleptinemia and high FF leptin are important pathologies of PCOS with infertility. Lower levels of p-STAT3 in GCs may be related to ovarian leptin resistance and fecundity in PCOS women. Relatively high serum and FF leptin and low p-STAT3 in GCs may account for decreased fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy rates of in vitro fertilization in PCOS women.

[Expression of leptin mRNA in luteinized granulosa cells and leptin levels in serum and follicular fluid of non-obese infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of leptin mRNA in luteinized granulose cells and the leptin level in serum and follicular fluid of non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Granulosa cells were collected from the puncture fluid of follicle of 16 obese infertile patients with PCOS to undergo external fertilization. Fasting venous blood was collected while collecting the ova. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of leptin mRNA in the granulosa cells. ELISA was used to detect the leptin level in the serum and follicular fluid. Twenty normal women undergoing external fertilization because of male infertility of their husbands were used as controls. RESULTS: The expression of leptin mRNA (A value) was 1.5 +/- 0.4 in the obese infertile patients with PCOS and was 1.8 +/- 0.6 (P > 0.05) in the controls. Both the leptin levels of serum and follicular fluid were not different between the obese infertile patients with PCOS and controls (both P > 0.05). The leptin level in follicular fluid was significantly correlated with both the serum leptin level in the obese infertile patients with PCOS (r(s) = 0.838, P = 0.000) and the control group (r(s) = 0.712, P = 0.000). The expression level of leptin mRNA in the luteinized was not correlated with the leptin level of follicular fluid in both the obese infertile patients with PCOS and the control group (both P > 0.05). The fertility rate was not different between the obese infertile patients with PCOS (7/16) and the controls (9/24) (P = 0.693). CONCLUSION: The expression of leptin mRNA is normal in the follicular fluid of the obese infertile patients with PCOS. The leptin levels in serum and follicular fluid of the obese infertile patients with PCOS are similar to those of normal women. The leptin level in follicular fluid depends mainly on the circulating leptin level.