The status and comparison of ovarian reserve between fertile and infertile healthy Chinese women of reproductive age.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to investigate ovarian reserve status, and explore differences in ovarian reserve between fertile and infertile healthy Chinese women of reproductive age.We recruited 442 fertile women aged 23 to 49 years (mean: 35.22 ±â€Š4.91 years) as subjects, and 196 infertile women aged 23 to 46 years (mean: 32.34 ±â€Š4.34 years) as controls. For all participants, a number of parameters were tested on days 2 to 4 of a spontaneous cycle, including basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), ovarian response prediction index (ORPI), and antral follicle count (AFC).There were significant differences in terms of AFC, serum AMH levels, and ORPI among subject subgroups (10.58 ±â€Š5.80; 2.533 ±â€Š2.146 ng/mL; 1.28 ±â€Š1.87; respectively), and among control subgroups (12.44 ±â€Š5.69; 3.189 ±â€Š2.551 ng/mL; 1.88 ±â€Š2.68; respectively) (P < .01 for all). For both subjects and controls, AFC, AMH levels, and ORPI decreased gradually with increasing age, and presented with similar age-related trends; there were positive correlations between AMH and AFC (P < .001), and negative correlations between age and AFC, AMH, ORPI (P < .05 for all). There was a significant difference in age (P < .001), serum E2 (P < .01), and AMH (P < .01) levels between subjects and controls; however, when controlling for confounding factors (age, body mass index, total testosterone, and LH), we found no differences between the 2 groups with regards to the serum levels of AMH, FSH, E2, and AFC (P > .05 for all). Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the significant variables of subjects and controls for evaluating ovarian reserve included age, AMH and ORPI, and ORPI was more valuable than other variables.A diminished ovarian reserve was one of the manifestations caused by female aging. When confounding factors were controlled for, we found no differences in ovarian reserve when compared between fertile and infertile women, and no correlation with infertility.

Study on the correlation and predictive value of serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, triglyceride and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a concern due to its rapid increase in incidence in recent years. AIM: To investigate the correlation and predictive value of serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), triglyceride (TG), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D] with GDM in early pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 99 patients in early pregnancy admitted to Peking University International Hospital from November 2015 to September 2017 were included, and underwent a fasting glucose test and oral glucose tolerance test screening at 24-28 wk of pregnancy. Of these cases with GDM, 51 were assigned to group A and the remaining 48 cases without GDM were enrolled in group B. Serum PAPP-A, TG and 25-(OH)D in the two groups were compared and their correlation with blood sugar was analyzed. In addition, their diagnostic value in GDM was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Group A had markedly lower serum PAPP-A and 25-(OH)D levels and a significantly higher serum TG level than group B, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Pearson analysis identified that PAPP-A and 25-(OH)D levels were negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels (r = -0.605, P < 0.001), (r = -0.597, P < 0.001), while TG and FBG levels were positively correlated (r = 0.628, P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cut-off value of serum PAPP-A level in the diagnosis of GDM were 72.55%, 82.35%, 0.861 and 16.340, respectively, while the sensitivity of TG in diagnosing GDM was 86.27%, the specificity was 66.67%, the AUC was 0.813, with an optimal cut-off value of 1.796. The corresponding sensitivity, specificity, AUC and optimal cut-off value of serum 25-(OH)D were 64.71%, 70.59%, 0.721 and 23.140, respectively. Moreover, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that FBG, vascular endothelial growth factor, Flt-1, serum PAPP-A, TG, and 25-(OH)D were related risk factors leading to GDM in patients. CONCLUSION: Serum PAPP-A, TG, and 25-(OH)D levels are all correlated with blood glucose changes in GDM, and are independent factors affecting the occurrence of GDM and have certain value in the diagnosis of GDM.

Tumour Necrosis Factor-α Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Metastasis in Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is critical in the regulation of inflammation and tumour progression. TNF-α-308G > A is associated with constitutively elevated TNF-α expression. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between TNF-α-308G > A and breast cancer (BC) risk by subtype and the connection between genotypes and clinical features of BC. A total of 768 patients and 565 controls were enrolled in this study, and genotypes were detected using the TaqMan assay. No effect on susceptibility for any BC subtype was found for the TNF-α-308 polymorphism in our study or in the pooled meta-analysis. This polymorphism was shown to be associated with age at menarche in all BC and in progesterone receptor-negative BC. Interestingly, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients with TNF-α-308A had an increased risk of distant tumour metastasis (OR = 3.80, 95% CI: 1.31-11.02, P = 0.009). Multi-regression analysis showed that TNF-α-308A was also a risk factor for distant tumour metastasis after adjustment for tumour size and lymph node metastasis status (OR = 6.26, 95% CI: 1.88-20.87, P = 0.003). These findings indicate that TNF-α might play a distinct role in the progression of TNBC, especially in distant tumour metastasis of TNBC.

[Expression of human HMGB1 A box in E. coli and its inhibitory effects on monocytes].

AIM: To clone human high mobility guoup box1 A box (HMGB1 A box) and express it in escherichia coli effectly, investigate the inhibit effection of the purpose protern to the activation of monocytes stimulated by immunocomplex. METHODS: According to human HMGB1 gene order which was optimized by our laboratory the PCR primer was designed which containing restriction enzyme cutting site. The HMGB1 A box gene was cloned following the whole gene synthesis template of human HMGB1, then the PCR product was inserted into clone vector pMD19-T. The positive colone was identified by colony PCR, zymography analysis and DNA sequencing. Recombinant colne vector was digested by restriction enzymes Nde I and Xho I and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, then the fragment was inserted into the corresponding sites of expression vector pQE-T7-2. The positive recombinant expression vector was identified by colony PCR and the recombinant strains was induced by IPTG, then the purpose protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The recombinant protein of human HMGB1 A box was purificated by Ni(2+)-NTA chromatography and the inhibit effection of the purpose protern to the activation of monocyte stimulated by immunocomplex was identified by RT-PCR. RESULTS: We acquired expression strains of recombinant human HMGB1 A box, the target protein account for up to 40% of the whole protein of E.coli. Western blot showed recombinant protein can specificly reacted with anti-human HMGB1 polyclonal antibody and anti-His-Tag polyclonal antibody.The purpose protein was found more than 90% after purified, and can effectively inhibit the production of BAFF, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in monocyte which were induced by IC. CONCLUSION: A recombinant bacterial strain for expressing human HMGB1A box with biological activities was constructed successfully.