Expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A in granulosa cells: implications for oocyte maturation and in vitro fertilization outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is a widely used treatment for infertility, with oocyte maturation and quality having a significant impact on oocyte fertilization, embryo development, and fetal growth. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is essential for maintaining the mitochondrial oxidative respiratory chain and supplying energy for oocyte development, fertilization, and embryonic development. In this study, we aimed to examine TFAM expression in women undergoing IVF-ET and assess its impact on the IVF outcomes. METHODS: We recruited 85 women who underwent IVF-ET treatment for infertility. On the date of egg collection, granulosa cells were extracted from the clear follicular fluid of the first mature egg using ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. The collected granulosa cells served three purposes: (1) detecting TFAM gene expression in granulosa cells via immunocytochemistry, (2) determining TFAM mRNA expression using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), and (3) measuring TFAM protein expression through western blotting. RESULT: Based on the results, we found that TFAM was localized and expressed in the cytoplasm of granulosa cells, whereas no expression was detected in the nucleus. Granulosa cells exhibited a linear correlation between TFAM mRNA and TFAM protein expression. The study participants were divided into three groups using the ternary method based on relative TFAM mRNA expression thresholds of 33% and 76%: the low-expression group (n = 30), the moderate-expression group (n = 27), and the high-expression group (n = 28). When compared to the other two groups, the moderate expression group exhibited a significantly higher egg utilization rate, 2 pronucleus rate, fertilization rate, and clinical pregnancy rate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TFAM was detected in the cytoplasm of human ovarian granulosa cells. Women with moderate TFAM expression demonstrate enhanced outcomes in IVF.

Outcome analysis of ICSI assisted pregnancy using testicular sperm versus ejaculated sperm in man with severe oligozoospermia in the same ART cycle: A case report.

RATIONALE: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become the most common method for couples with male factor infertility, and source of sperm for the procedure have evolved over time. but few have examined testicular sperm extraction vs. ejaculated sperm use for severe oligozoospermia in the same assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle. PATIENT CONCERNS: Here, we evaluated the clinical outcomes after ICSI with testicular sperm or ejaculated in man with severe oligozoospermia in the same ART cycle. A couple who had failed the first ART cycle with ejaculated sperm, using the freshly ejaculated sperm and testicular sperm for ICSI during the second ART cycle by lack of enough sperm to fertilize in an ICSI attempt. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with severe oligozoospermia, and routine semen analysis revealed sperm concentration is less than 2 million/mL. INTERVENTIONS: The patient using testicular sperm versus ejaculated sperm with ICSI assisted pregnancy in the same ART cycle. OUTCOMES: We found that superior cleavage rate, number of embryos transferred and blastocyst rate with the use of testicular rather than ejaculated sperm-ICSI in the couple. The results described here suggest that use of testicular sperm may improve biologic outcomes, especially for couples with male-partner oligozoospermia who previous ICSI failures. LESSONS: Our case report supported the efficacy of testicular sperm preference over ejaculated sperm for ICSI in men with severe male factor infertility. It is a paradigm shift concerning the use of ejaculated sperm as the preferable source of sperm for ICSI, add to the small amount of literature on testicular sperm extraction vs. ejaculated sperm use for severe oligozoospermia in the same ART cycle.

Complete removal of intraspinal extradural mass with unilateral biportal endoscopy.

Introduction: Unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) technique can easily decompress the bony spinal canal and accommodate all open surgical instruments under endoscopic guidance. However, indications and reports of this technique have been limited to degenerative and infectious diseases. Methods: We used the UBE technique for the decompression and removal of extradural mass lesions in five patients. Under endoscopic guidance, a unilateral approach was used, and decompression and flavectomy were performed. After decompression, removal of the tumor was performed using various forceps. We evaluated the technical process of the procedure, the patient's pre- and postoperative symptoms, and operative radiology and pathologic results. Results: Postoperative pain and disability improved clinically for all patients. Four patients were confirmed as having an epidural cyst and one patient was diagnosed with hemangioma. During follow-up, no recurrence was observed. Conclusions: We successfully removed five extradural mass lesions using a biportal endoscopic posterior approach without complications. The biportal endoscopic approach may have advantages, such as minimizing trauma to the normal structures, magnified endoscopic view, and early recovery after the surgery. Biportal endoscopy may be used as an alternative surgical treatment for symptomatic intraspinal extradural benign lesions.

PLK1 as one novel target for the poor prognosis of bladder cancer: An observational study.

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common male malignant tumors and the most common urological tumor. However, the molecular mechanism and role of PLK1 on bladder cancer were unclear. Therefore, the study aims to explore the potential part of the overall survival of bladder cancer through bioinformatics analysis. GSE121711 and GSE130598, from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The GEO2R screened differently expressed genes, and DAVID and Metascape were used for functional annotation. The cytoHubba made hub genes identification and expression. A total of 50 BC participants were recruited. After surgery, 50 BC tumor samples from BC patients and 50 adjacent standard bladder tissue samples were obtained. The RT-qPCR assay was performed to verify the expression of hub genes. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter analyzed the effect of hub gene expression for overall survival of BC. The compulsory module of Molecular Complex Detection tool analysis was shown, which included CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, PLK1, and BUB1. And the six hub genes were up-regulated in the BC compared with the normal tissues. The relative expression levels of CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, PLK1, and BUB1 were significantly higher in BC samples compared with the regular kidney tissue groups. The result demonstrated that CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, PLK1, and BUB1 might be considered biomarkers for BC. Overall survival analysis showed that BC patients with high expression level of PLK1 had poorer overall survival times than those with low expression level (P < .05). The expression levels of CDK1, TTK, AURKB, MELK, and BUB1 was not related to the overall survival of BC patients (P > .05). The PLK1 gene might provide new ideas and evidence for bladder cancer research.

Identification and Verification of Biomarker in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma via Bioinformatics and Neural Network Model.

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer, which represents the 9th most frequently diagnosed cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of occurrence and development of ccRCC is indistinct. Therefore, the research aims to identify the hub biomarkers of ccRCC using numerous bioinformatics tools and functional experiments. METHODS: The public data was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the differently expressed genes (DEGs) between ccRCC and normal renal tissues were identified with GEO2R. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was constructed, and hub genes were screened with cytoHubba. Then, ten ccRCC tumor samples and ten normal kidney tissues were obtained to verify the expression of hub genes with the RT-qPCR. Finally, the neural network model was constructed to verify the relationship among the genes. RESULTS: A total of 251 DEGs and ten hub genes were identified. AURKB, CCNA2, TPX2, and NCAPG were highly expressed in ccRCC compared with renal tissue. With the increasing expression of AURKB, CCNA2, TPX2, and NCAPG, the pathological stage of ccRCC increased gradually (P < 0.05). Patients with high expression of AURKB, CCNA2, TPX2, and NCAPG have a poor overall survival. After the verification of RT-qPCR, the expression of hub genes was same as the public data. And there were strong correlations between the AURKB, CCNA2, TPX2, and NCAPG with the verification of the neural network model. CONCLUSION: After the identification and verification, AURKB, CCNA2, TPX2, and NCAPG might be related to the occurrence and malignant progression of ccRCC.

[Comparison of hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation with shikani laryngoscope or macintosh direct laryngoscope].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation using a Shikani Optical Stylet (SOS) laryngoscope or a Macintosh direct laryngoscope (MDLS). METHODS: Totally 41 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists ASA physical status -aged 20-60 years and scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring orotracheal intubation, were randomly allocated to either the SOS group (n=21) or MDLS group (n=20). After an intravenous anesthetic induction the orotracheal intubation was performed using a SOS laryngoscope or a MDLS. Blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were recorded before and after anesthetic induction immediately after intubation, and 5 minutes after intubation. Rate pressure product RPP were calculated. RESULTS: Blood pressures and RPP in both two groups significantly decreased after anesthetic induction (P<0.05) while blood pressures HR, and RPP significantly increased after orotracheal intubation (P<0.05). HR in both groups after intubation were significantly higher than the pre-induction level (P<0.05)and such an increase lasted for 3 min. HR immediately after intubation was also significantly higher in MDLS group than in SOS group (P<0.05); however, such difference was not observed in other time points (P>0.05). In the MDLS group when compared with the occurrence time required for the maximum values of systolic blood pressure (SBP)the occurrence time required for the maximum values of HR after the start of intubation and success of intubation during the observation were significantly delayed (P<0.05). Compared with the MDLS group, the occurrence time required for the maximum values of SBP after the start of intubation and the success of intubation were significantly delayed in the SOS group (P<0.05). The incidences of SBP more than 130% of baseline value and RPP more than 22 000 were not significantly differently(P>0.05). Also, the intubation time was not significantly different (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The hemodynamic responses to orotracheal intubation is milder in SOS laryngoscope than in MDLS.