Practice guideline on ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation in the prevention and treatment of iatrogenic premature ovarian insufficiency.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) refers to the decline of ovarian function before the age of 40. POI causes a reduction in or loss of female fertility, accompanied by different degrees of menopausal symptoms, which increases the risk of chronic diseases related to early menopause and seriously affects patients' quality of life and health. It is conservatively estimated that at least one million prepubertal girls and women of reproductive age in China are at risk of iatrogenic POI caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy every year. With the development of medical technology and the breakthrough of scientific and technological advances, preventing and treating iatrogenic POI have become possible. International and national guidelines consider cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation to be the most promising method of preserving the ovarian function and fertility of prepubertal girls and women of reproductive age who cannot delay radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In order to guide the clinical application of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation technology in China, the Guideline Working Group finally included 14 scientific questions and 18 recommendations through a questionnaire survey, field investigation, and consultation of a large number of Chinese and English literature databases in order to provide a reference for colleagues in clinical practice.

Genomic and phenotypic signatures provide insights into the wide adaptation of a global plant invader.

Invasive alien species are primary drivers of biodiversity loss and species extinction. Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is one of the most aggressive invasive plants in coastal ecosystems around the world. However, the genomic bases and evolutionary mechanisms underlying its invasion success have remained largely unknown. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level reference genome and performed phenotypic and population genomic analyses between native US and introduced Chinese populations. Our phenotypic comparisons showed that introduced Chinese populations have evolved competitive traits, such as early flowering time and greater plant biomass, during secondary introductions along China's coast. Population genomic and transcriptomic inferences revealed distinct evolutionary trajectories of low- and high-latitude Chinese populations. In particular, genetic mixture among different source populations, together with independent natural selection acting on distinct target genes, may have resulted in high genome dynamics of the introduced Chinese populations. Our study provides novel phenotypic and genomic evidence showing how smooth cordgrass rapidly adapts to variable environmental conditions in its introduced ranges. Moreover, candidate genes related to flowering time, fast growth, and stress tolerance (i.e., salinity and submergence) provide valuable genetic resources for future improvement of cereal crops.

Borneol-Modified Schisandrin B Micelles Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier To Treat Alzheimer's Disease in Aged Mice.

Objective: Schisandrin B (Sch B) is a bioactive dibenzocyclooctadiene derizative that is prevalent in the fruit of Schisandra chinensis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that Sch B has a neuroprotective action by reducing oxidative stress and effectively preventing inflammation. It follows that Sch B is a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the drug's solubility, bioavailability, and lower permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can all reduce its efficacy during the therapy process. Therefore, this study constructed borneol-modified schisandrin B micelles (Bor-Sch B-Ms), which increase brain targeting by accurately delivering medications to the brain, effectively improving bioavailability. High therapeutic efficacy has been achieved at the pathological site. Methods: Bor-Sch B-Ms were prepared using the thin film dispersion approach in this article. On the one hand, to observe the targeting effect of borneol, we constructed a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model in vitro and studied the ability of micelles to cross the BBB. On the other hand, the distribution of micelle drugs and their related pharmacological effects on neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage were studied through in vivo administration in mice. Results: In vitro studies have demonstrated that the drug uptake of bEnd.3 cells was increased by the borneol alteration on the surface of the nano micelles, implying that Bor-Sch B-Ms can promote the therapeutic effect of N2a cells. This could result in more medicines entering the BBB. In addition, in vivo studies revealed that the distribution and circulation time of medications in the brain tissue were significantly higher than those in other groups, making it more suitable for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. Conclusion: As a novel nanodrug delivery system, borneol modified schisandrin B micelles have promising research prospects in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Comparison of visual performance with iTrace analyzer following femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with bilateral implantation of two different trifocal intraocular lenses.

AIM: To compare the postoperative binocular visual performance with an iTrace analyzer following femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) combined with bilateral implantation of two different types of diffractive trifocal intraocular lenses (IOL). METHODS: During this retrospective observational study, patients who received bilateral FLACS combined with implantation of two different types of diffractive trifocal IOLs were evaluated. According to the IOLs' different types and design, the patients were divided into AT LISA tri839MP group (tri839 group) and AcrySof PanOptix TFNT00 group (TFNT group). Study parameters included preoperative and postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) at 5 m, uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) at 30 cm and 40 cm, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) at 60 cm and 80 cm, postoperative refractive status, objective visual qualities and total high order aberrations (HOAs) postoperatively. The postoperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: Totally 56 eyes of 28 patients (tri839 group, n=26; TFNT group, n=30) were included. Preoperative baseline characteristics between groups were not statistically significantly different. UDVA was not significantly different between groups except for 1wk follow-up due to the postoperative corneal edema. TFNT group showed statistically significant better UNIA at 60 cm than tri839 group at the 1wk (0.05±0.19 vs 0.15±0.10 logMAR, P=0.013), 1mo (0.05±0.12 vs 0.15±0.09 logMAR, P=0.001) and 3mo (0.04±0.12 vs 0.15±0.11 logMAR, P=0.001) follow-up, while tri839 group showed statistically significant better UNIA at 80 cm than TFNT group at the 1d (0.14±0.15 vs 0.20±0.14 logMAR, P=0.041) and 1mo (0.09±0.07 vs 0.14±0.10 logMAR, P=0.042) follow-up. Postoperative refractive status showed stable at every visit. Modulated transfer function (MTF) values and strehl ratio (SR) values were improved and HOAs were lower significantly after surgery. CONCLUSION: FLACS with bilateral implantations of both tri839 and TFNT00 can achieve satisfactory natural whole-course vision, high postoperative refractive stability and good visual quality but without significantly difference. iTrace aberration instrument can accurately evaluate the visual quality under different status.

Fracture detection in pediatric wrist trauma X-ray images using YOLOv8 algorithm.

Hospital emergency departments frequently receive lots of bone fracture cases, with pediatric wrist trauma fracture accounting for the majority of them. Before pediatric surgeons perform surgery, they need to ask patients how the fracture occurred and analyze the fracture situation by interpreting X-ray images. The interpretation of X-ray images often requires a combination of techniques from radiologists and surgeons, which requires time-consuming specialized training. With the rise of deep learning in the field of computer vision, network models applying for fracture detection has become an important research topic. In this paper, we use data augmentation to improve the model performance of YOLOv8 algorithm (the latest version of You Only Look Once) on a pediatric wrist trauma X-ray dataset (GRAZPEDWRI-DX), which is a public dataset. The experimental results show that our model has reached the state-of-the-art (SOTA) mean average precision (mAP 50). Specifically, mAP 50 of our model is 0.638, which is significantly higher than the 0.634 and 0.636 of the improved YOLOv7 and original YOLOv8 models. To enable surgeons to use our model for fracture detection on pediatric wrist trauma X-ray images, we have designed the application "Fracture Detection Using YOLOv8 App" to assist surgeons in diagnosing fractures, reducing the probability of error analysis, and providing more useful information for surgery.

A prospective study on the endometrium properties and the pregnancy rate of infertile women with thin endometrium receiving Fructus ligustri lucidi used in traditional Chinese medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules (ZGNZC) can increase the fertility rate of Chinese women with infertility due to thin endometrium. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, open-labeled 3-monthly study; 104 patients (aged 20-40 years) receiving either ZGNZC (experimental group, n = 55) or not (control group, n = 49). Main outcomes: thickness/type of the endometrium during ovulation and pregnancy rate. Between-group analysis (A) compares the experimental vs. control group, and within-group analysis (B) compares data at baseline and after study in the experimental group. RESULTS: (A) Between-group-analysis: Patients with ZGNZC had a higher endometrium thickness (0.8 ± 0.27 vs. 0.68 ± 0.10; p < .05) and higher type A endometrium rates (34.2% vs. 13.2%; p < .05) than the control group. Pregnancy rates were higher in the experimental than in the control group (43.6% vs. 22.4%; p < .05). (B) Within-group-analysis: ZGNZC increased endometrium thickness (0.58 ± 0.13 vs. 0.87 ± 0.24 vs. 0.83 ± 0.26 vs. 0.80 ± 0.27), and type A endometrium rates (10.9% vs. 60.0% vs. 49.0% vs. 34.2%) (all p < .05). Univariate analysis of pregnancy with other study parameters showed positive and significant correlations between pregnancy and administration of ZGNZC (p < .05). All hepato-renal biomarkers remained within the norm. There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In infertile women with thin endometrium who wish to conceive, two months' application of ZGNZC can improve endometrial properties and proliferation, which is necessary for a healthy pregnancy, and increase the clinical pregnancy rate in our prospective randomized observational study.

Sexual function in Chinese women with different clinical phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To investigate sexual function stratified according to four clinical phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its association with clinical and quality of life parameters, and to compare these with healthy controls in Chinese women with PCOS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed in 1000 PCOS women and 500 control women aged 18-45 years. PCOS women were grouped into four clinical phenotypes according to the Rotterdam Criteria. FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index), SF-12 (the 12-item short form health survey) and clinical and hormonal characteristics likely to affect sexual function were determined. Results: 809 PCOS women and 385 control women with complete parameters were evaluated after screening. Phenotype A had a lower total FSFI mean score (23.14 ± 3.22) compared with phenotype D and control group (p < 0.05). The control group had the highest total FSFI mean score (24.98 ± 3.78). For the percentage at risk of sexual dysfunction, phenotype A (87.5%) and phenotype B (82.46%) had a higher risk of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) than that in phenotype C (75.34%), phenotype D (70.56%) and control group (61.30%) (p < 0.05). SF-12 mental domain scores were significantly lower in phenotypes A and B compared with phenotypes C and control group (p < 0.05). Infertility treatment, bioavailable testosterone, psychological factors, age and waist circumference presented negative correlation with female sexual function. Conclusions: The risk of FSD in PCOS women seemed to be associated with PCOS clinical phenotypes. The classical PCOS phenotype with oligo-ovulation and hyperandrogenism had a higher risk of sexual dysfunction.

Plasma visfatin and apelin levels in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that usually begins during adolescence. Patients may have severe metabolic disorders. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the levels of visfatin and apelin in adolescent girls with PCOS and to explore the importance of visfatin and apelin in glucose and lipid metabolism. METHODS: A total of 88 girls (aged 12-20 years) were prospectively and consecutively recruited during two years for the PCOS group (n = 44) and the control group (n = 44). Serum visfatin, apelin and other metabolic parameters were measured. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to reveal the diagnostic potential. RESULTS: Visfatin, apelin and indicators of glucose and lipid-metabolism were not different for PCOS patients compared to control. However, insulin resistance (IR) in the PCOS-group was more frequent (p < 0.05). Visfatin in non-IR patients was higher than in IR-patients in the PCOS-group (p < 0.05). However, there was no difference in apelin levels between IR and non-IR patients in the PCOS-group (p > 0.05). ROC-curve analyses demonstrated that the optimal value of visfatin for predicting IR in PCOS-patients was 7.14 ng/mL, with 78.1% sensitivity and 68.7% specificity. In the PCOS-group, visfatin was positively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, apolipoprotein B (Apo-B), cholesterol (CHO), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and CHO/HDL-C ratio (p < 0.05). Apelin had no correlation with all indices (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Higher visfatin levels may prevent IR in adolescent PCOS patients, showing a positive predictive value for IR and also reflecting a beneficial effect on lipids. It is a possible protective factor at certain stages of metabolic syndrome.

A multicentre cross-sectional clinical study on female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the sex lives of postmenopausal Chinese women, especially the influence of body weight, climacteric symptoms and androgens. METHODS: A total of 437 postmenopausal women were investigated in the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University and two allied medical institutions from April 2020 to March 2021. Sociodemographic data were collected. Female sexual dysfunction was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The modified Kupperman index was used to assess climacteric symptoms. Methods based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were employed to measure the serum levels of total testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the correlation between characteristics and FSFI scores. RESULTS: The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the modified Kupperman index score and the factor unsatisfactory marital relations had the strongest negative correlations with all FSFI domains (P < 0.05); secondary education level was negatively associated with desire, arousal and orgasm (P < 0.05). Total testosterone positively affected the score for pain (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between bioavailable testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone and all FSFI domains (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Climacteric symptoms and sociodemographic factors had a notable effect on sexual function. It is necessary to provide more attention to and intervention for their climacteric symptoms to improve the quality of life of postmenopausal women.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation in the pediatric with rare diseases- experience from China's first and the largest ovarian tissue cryobank.

Background: There is limited information about the efficacy of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) in children. In the present study, we report eight patients with rare diseases who underwent OTC in China's first and largest ovarian tissue cryobank. Procedure: Data from girls with rare diseases who underwent OTC between September 2020 and November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. We also compared the number of cryopreserved cortex pieces, follicle number, and AMH in those with rare diseases and age-matched children with non-rare diseases who also underwent OTC in our cryobank. Results: The median age of the children was 5.88 ± 3.52 (range 2-13) years old. Unilateral oophorectomy was undertaken via laparoscopy in all of the children. The diseases in the 8 patients were: 4 mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS I two cases, IVA two cases), 1 Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), 1 Fanconi anemia (FA), 1 hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES), 1 Niemann-Pick disease. The number of cryopreserved cortex pieces was 17.13 ± 6.36, and the follicle count per 2 mm biopsy was 447.38 ± 524.35. No significant difference in age, the count of cryopreserved cortex pieces, follicle number per 2 mm biopsy, and AMH level was seen between the 20 children with non-rare diseases and those with rare diseases. Conclusions: The reports help practitioners counsel girls with rare diseases about fertility preservation. The demand for OTC in pediatrics will likely grow as a standard of care.

Application of Rapid Digital Locating Technology in Emergency Treatment of Maxillofacial Space Infection.

ABSTRACT: Space infection occurs commonly in the oral and maxillofacial region, and is usually caused by odontogenic infection, resulting in acute symptoms through the maxillofacial space. if timely, correct, and effective treatment is not provided, local infection may quickly spread through the maxillofacial space and cause serious consequences such as suffocation, intracranial infection, and chest infection. A 55-year-old man visited our hospital with obvious swelling and pain in the right maxillofacial region. Maxillofacial computed tomography images showed revealed obvious low-density shadows on the inner side of the right mandibular angle and the right neck. Unlike the usual presentation of maxillofacial space infection, no obvious flushing or fluctuation was seen in the patient's maxillofacial region due to the deep location of the infection. Blind puncture examination and incision exploration may cause unnecessary pain and trauma to the patient. Therefore, to accurately position the infection focus, the operator reconstructed the infection cavity in three-dimensional with digital technology. The puncture point and incision site were quickly determined by three-dimensional measurement and the use of the compass and straightedge construction method, thereby achieving free drainage with an accurate and minimally invasive incision. Following 1 week of routine flushing and dressing changes, the patient recovered and was discharged from hospital. To our knowledge, this is the first precise minimally invasive treatment of a maxillofacial space infection conducted with the aid of digital positioning technology.

Restoration of native saltmarshes can reverse arthropod assemblages and trophic interactions changed by a plant invasion.

Plant invasions profoundly impact both natural and managed ecosystems, and removal of the invasive plants addresses only part of the problem of restoring impacted areas. The rehabilitation of diverse communities and their ecosystem functions following removal of invasive plants is an important goal of ecological restoration. Arthropod assemblages and trophic interactions are important indicators of the success of restoration, but they have largely been overlooked in saltmarshes. We determined how arthropod assemblages and trophic interactions changed with the invasion of the exotic plant Spartina alterniflora and with the restoration of the native plant Phragmites australis following Spartina removal in a Chinese saltmarsh. We investigated multiple biotic and abiotic variables to gain insight into the factors underlying the changes in arthropod assemblages and trophic structure. We found that although Spartina invasion had changed arthropod diversity, community structure, feeding-guild composition, and the diets of arthropod natural enemies in the saltmarsh, these changes could be reversed by the restoration of native Phragmites vegetation following removal of the invader. The variation in arthropod assemblages and trophic structure were critically associated with four biotic and abiotic variables (aboveground biomass, plant density, leaf N, and soil salinity). Our findings demonstrate the positive effects of controlling invasive plants on biodiversity and nutrient cycling and provide a foundation for assessing the efficacy of ecological restoration projects in saltmarshes.

A CRISPR/Cas12a-based portable platform for rapid detection of Leptosphaeria maculans in Brassica crops.

Establishing a portable diagnostic method for identifying plant pathogens is essential to prevent the spread of plant disease, especially in field and customs inspections. Leptosphaeria maculans (L. maculans) is an aggressive fungus, which causes severe phoma stem canker of Brassica napus, responsible for major yield losses of oilseed rape worldwide. In this study, CRISPR/Cas12a-based detection system and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) technique were employed to develop a rapid and sensitive detection method for identifying L. maculans. The involved RPA pre-amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a cleavage confer considerable sensitivity and selectivity, which can be finished within 45 min with a LOD of 4.7 genomic DNA copies. This detection system was further developed to two portable platforms, i.e., one-pot lateral flow detection and all-in-one chip lateral flow assay (AOCLFA), which integrates the lyophilized recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) reagents and lyophilized Cas12a cleavage reagents in one tube or chip. The developed portable platforms have flexible portability and simple operation for the detection of L. maculans from plant tissues in the field. The proposed portable suitcase containing the minimum equipment, regents, and AOCLFA meets the practical needs of rapid on-site disease screening of plant fungi, port quarantine, or pathogen spreading control.

Analysis of Fertility Preservation by Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation in Pediatric Children in China.

Background: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is the only method of fertility preservation (FP) in prepubertal girls, but the experience remains limited. This study investigates the effectiveness and feasibility of FP of OTC in children facing gonadotoxicity treatment in Chinese first ovarian tissue cryobank. Procedure: OTC and evaluation of 49 children ≤14 years old in the cryobank of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 2017 to May 19, 2022, were analyzed retrospectively. We compared children's general characteristics, follicle numbers, and hormone levels with and without chemotherapy before OTC. Results: The age of 49 children at the time of OTC was 7.55 (1-14) years old. There were 23 cases of hematological non-malignant diseases, eight cases of hematological malignant diseases, four cases of gynecological malignant tumors, one case of neurological malignant tumors, one case of bladder cancer, five cases of sarcoma, three cases of mucopolysaccharidosis, one case of metachromatic leukodystrophy, two cases of dermatomyositis, one case of Turner's syndrome. The median follicular count per 2-mm biopsy was 705. Age and AMH were not correlated (r = 0.084, P = 0.585). Age and follicle count per 2-mm biopsy was not correlated (r = -0.128, P = 0.403). Log10 (follicle count per 2-mm biopsy) and Log10 (AMH) were not correlated (r = -0.118, P = 0.456). Chemotherapy before OTC decreased AMH levels but had no significant effect on the number of follicles per 2-mm biopsy. Conclusions: OTC is the only method to preserve the fertility of prepubertal girls, and it is safe and effective. Chemotherapy before OTC is not a contraindication to OTC.

Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component-1 May Promote Survival of Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells in Alzheimer's Disease.

Cerebrovascular changes occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The progesterone receptor membrane component-1 (PGRMC1) is a well identified hormone receptor with multiple functions in AD. This study aims to explore the involvement of PGRMC1 in the regulation of vascular endothelial function, providing new therapy options for AD. Single-cell sequencing revealed that the expression of PGRMC1 is lower in AD. By bioinformatics analysis, we found PGRMC1 was associated with regulation of cell proliferation, angiogenesis and etc. To understand the functional significance of PGRMC1, knockdown and overexpression were performed using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs), respectively. Cell proliferation assay, migration assay, tube formation assay were performed in experiments. We demonstrated that the overexpression of PGRMC1 promoted the cellular processes associated with endothelia cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, significantly. In conclusion, PGRMC1 may contribute to the modulation of HBMVECs function in AD. This finding may offer novel targets for AD treatment.

Targeting glutamine utilization to block metabolic adaptation of tumor cells under the stress of carboxyamidotriazole-induced nutrients unavailability.

Tumor cells have unique metabolic programming that is biologically distinct from that of corresponding normal cells. Resetting tumor metabolic programming is a promising strategy to ameliorate drug resistance and improve the tumor microenvironment. Here, we show that carboxyamidotriazole (CAI), an anticancer drug, can function as a metabolic modulator that decreases glucose and lipid metabolism and increases the dependency of colon cancer cells on glutamine metabolism. CAI suppressed glucose and lipid metabolism utilization, causing inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, thus producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). In parallel, activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) increased glutamine uptake via the transporter SLC1A5, which could activate the ROS-scavenging enzyme glutathione peroxidase. As a result, combined use of inhibitors of GLS/GDH1, CAI could effectively restrict colorectal cancer (CRC) energy metabolism. These data illuminate a new antitumor mechanism of CAI, suggesting a new strategy for CRC metabolic reprogramming treatment.

Integrated transcriptome and amino acid profile analyses reveal novel insights into differential accumulation of theanine in green and yellow tea cultivars.

Tea cultivars with yellow- or white-leaf variations have a high economic value due to their high amino acid (especially theanine) concentration. However, the dynamic changes of amino acid components (especially theanine) and related gene expression during new shoot development in these cultivars are still unclear. In this study, 264 tea samples from four representative varieties picked during the harvest period in spring were analyzed for their amino acid profiles. The dynamic change rules of ethylamine and 19 amino acids were summarized in normal green and yellow cultivars during new shoot development. Interestingly, the theanine concentration in the yellow cultivar was significantly higher than that in the green cultivar, and increased gradually as the leaves matured until they reached a maximum in the one bud and three leaves stage. The amino acid concentration in the leaves of the yellow cultivar increased significantly with leaf position, which was generally in contrast to the normal green cultivar. Transcriptome and correlation analyses revealed that CsGS1, CsPDX2, CsGGP5, CsHEMA3 and CsCLH4 might be the key genes potentially responsible for the differential accumulation of theanine in green and yellow tea cultivars. These results provide further information for the utilization and improvement of tea plants.

Is anti-Mullerian hormone a useful biomarker in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: (1) To investigate anti-Mullerian-hormone (AMH) in adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to age-matched girls without PCOS; (2) to determine whether AMH is a valuable marker for diagnosing PCOS and to explore the best cutoff value in adolescents; (3) using a multivariate predictive model for the diagnosis of PCOS. METHODS: Ninety girls (aged 10-20 years) recruited during two years for the PCOS-group (n = 45) or control-group (n = 45). PCOS diagnostic criteria according guidelines of the Endocrinology Expert Group, Obstetrics/Gynecology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Serum AMH and other sex hormones were measured. Logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratio of AMH and other variables for the diagnosis of PCOS. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was performed to reveal the diagnostic potential. RESULTS: (A) AMH was significantly higher in PCOS patients than in controls (10.21 ± 5.85 ng/ml vs. 4.31 ± 2.84 ng/ml, p < .001). In PCOS-group, total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and biologically active testosterone (BioT) were significantly higher than in controls (p < .001). (B) Logistic regression suggests that AMH and TT are correlated with the diagnosis of PCOS (p < .05). (C) ROC curve analyses demonstrated that the optimal value of AMH for predicting PCOS was 6.32 ng/mL, with 69.8% sensitivity and 80.5% specificity. Furthermore, AMH combined with TT can provide 83.7% sensitivity and 80.5% specificity for diagnosing PCOS in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: AMH may be a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of PCOS in Chinese adolescent girls. A cutoff value of 6.32 ng/mL best discriminated between PCOS patients and controls. Besides AMH a multivariate predictive model should include TT.

Efficacy and safety of Zi Gui Nv Zhen® capsules used in TCM for fertility preservation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate for the first time whether Zi Gui Nv Zhen® capsules (ZGNZC), until now used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for menopausal complaints, can increase the fertility of Chinese women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: Prospective, randomized, open-labeled 3-monthly study; 109 DOR patients (aged 20-40 years) receiving either ZGNZC (experimental group, n = 75) or not (control group, n = 34). Main outcomes: markers for ovarian function, thickness/type of the endometrium during ovulation, and pregnancy rate. Between-group analysis (A) comparing experimental vs. control group and within-group analysis (B) comparing data at baseline and after study in each of both groups. RESULTS: (A) Between-group-analysis: patients with ZGNZC had a higher endometrium thickness (0.75 vs. 0.62; p<.05) and higher anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH, 0.50 vs. 0.40; p<.05) than control group. Pregnancy rates were higher in the experimental than the control group (26.7% vs. 14.7%; n.s.). (B) Within-group-analysis: ZGNZC decreased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, 11.42 vs. 8.69), increased estradiol-levels (E2, 56.09 vs. 73.36), and type A endometrium rates (5.3% vs. 39.7%) (all p< .05) and increased antral follicle count (AFC, 2 vs. 3). All hepato-renal biomarkers remained within the norm. The tolerability was good. There were no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In women with DOR who wish to conceive, three months' application of ZGNZC can improve ovarian function and oocyte quality by adjusting the neuroendocrine system, can improve endometrial properties and proliferation, necessary for a healthy pregnancy, and increased the clinical pregnancy rate in our prospective randomized observational study.

Rearrangement of protein structures on a gold nanoparticle surface is regulated by ligand adsorption modes.

With development of the nanomedicine field and increasing hazards of exposure to nanobiological materials, research on the protein corona is urgently required. In particular, the understanding of the mechanism of structural changes of protein on a nanosurface should be improved. Herein, we focus on exploring the role of ligand adsorption modes (physiosorbed citrates or chemisorbed GSH) in the regulation of conformational rearrangement of three blood proteins (serum albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen) on the surface of gold nanoparticles. Through experimental measurements, protein adsorption features (thermodynamics, kinetics, adsorption orientation, and structural changes) were estimated. Molecular dynamics simulations further indicated that physiosorbed citrates could be gradually peeled off by approaching proteins and that the bare Au surface provided a stronger interface interaction than the chemisorbed GSH layer. Protein structure rearrangements were due to the reduction in protein internal energy, with an increase in H-bond formation involving a decrease in the α-helical content and an increase in the ß-sheet content, to offset the high interfacial energy. Rearrangement of protein structures could occur either intramolecularly or intermolecularly. These findings enhanced our understanding of nano-protein interaction in the biological milieu and facilitate biomedical exploration of engineered nanomaterials.