New AMH cutoff values for warning of decreased ovarian response based on MCL characteristics in young women: a retrospective study using a propensity score-matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual cycle length (MCL) and ovarian response varies widely among women of childbearing age. They are provided with anti-Mu¨llerian hormone (AMH) cutoffs for "normal" and "weakened" ovarian responses, which give an early warning of the onset of decreased ovarian response. METHODS: This was a retrospective study in women aged 21 to 35 years with MCLs of 21-35 days receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at Center for Reproductive Medicine from October 2018 to October 2021. Intergroup variables were balanced using propensity score matching based on age and BMI, and each case patient (patients with MCLs of 21-25 days) was matched with three control patients (patients with MCLs of 26-35 days). A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to calculate the AMH cutoff values. RESULTS: We included 135 patients with MCLs of 21-25 days and 405 matched control patients with MCLs of 26-35 days who received IVF treatment. The case group had significantly fewer retrieved oocytes, lower AMH values and higher initial and total Gonadotropin (Gn) levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation than the control group. The ovarian response began to decrease when AMH was < 3.5 ng/ml in the case group and < 2.7 ng/ml in the control group. CONCLUSION: In young women with MCLs of 21-35 days, short MCL was negatively correlated with AMH values and the number of oocytes retrieved. In patients with MCLs of 21-25 days and 26-35 days, the AMH cutoff values corresponding to the onset of decreased ovarian response were 3.5 ng/ml and 2.7 ng/ml, respectively.

Delayed oral feeding reduces pharyngocutaneous fistula formation after open surgical treatment of primary hypopharyngeal cancer: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) formation following open surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) is a common and troublesome complication. To date, the postoperative protocol of restarting oral intake is not clear, and vast discrepancies exist in the literature and among institutions. This study aimed to explore the impact of a postoperative protocol of restarting oral intake on PCF formation after open surgical treatment of primary HPC, and its impact on overall survival (OS) and swallowing function based on the functional outcome swallowing scale (FOSS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 42 patients who received open surgical treatment for primary HPC at Beijing Friendship Hospital between April 2019 and August 2021. This cohort included two groups: patients who restarted oral intake on the 10th postoperative day (Group 1), and those who started on the 20th (Group 2). The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact chi-squared test were used for comparing qualitative data among the groups. RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 27) and Group 2 (n = 15) were comparable in clinical characteristics. PCF occurred in 7 (25.9%) patients in Group 1, while none occurred in Group 2 (P = 0.038). The 2-year OS of all 42 patients was 75.6%; 65.8% and 93.3% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.07). The swallowing function was satisfactory (FOSS Grades 0-III) for 19 (70.4%) patients in Group 1 and 15 (100%) patients in Group 2 (P = 0.035). Laryngeal preservation was achieved in 25 (59.5%) patients, while decannulation was successful in 22 (88.0%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed oral feeding significantly reduces PCF after open surgical treatment of primary HPC, and improves the swallowing function outcome without jeopardizing the OS.

[Effects of different irrigation patterns on the growth of maize root hair].

With split-root pot experiment and using optical and electrical microscopes, the growth of root hair of maize under different irrigation patterns, i. e. , irrigated on both halves of the pot (conventional irrigation, CI), on one half only (fixed partial root zone irrigation, FPRI), and on both halves alternatively (alternate partial root zone irrigation, APRI), was observed. The observation after 40 days of treatment showed that in non-irrigated root zone of FPRI, the length proportion of root covered by vestigial root hairs was 20.96%, being higher than that in other zones. In addition to some bletting spots, the root system in irrigated zone of FPRI turned yellow, root-branching deteriorated to some extent, and the root hair density on the section with thick root hairs was lower than that in non-irrigated zone. However, both the length proportion of root covered by vestigial root hairs (15.72%) and the deterioration of root hair were lower than those in non-irrigated zone. As for CI, the root appearance and root hair growth were similar to those of the FPRI irrigated zone. As for the early and late irrigated root zones of APRI, the root hair density on the section with thick root hairs was high. The length proportion of root covered by vestigial root hairs was 9.77% and 10.38% for these two root zones, respectively, being lower than that in any root zones of FPRI and CI. It was suggested that alternative partial root zone irrigation was more beneficial to the growth of root hair than fixed partial root zone irrigation and conventional irrigation.

[ALPase activity and the distribution of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and the relationship between them in sediments of Lake Taihu].

The abundance of phosphate solubilizing bacteria, together with the alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity in the sediment samples of Lake Taihu in different seasons, sites and depths, was analyzed. And the relationship between the distribution of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and the ALPase activity was discussed. Results show that phosphate solubilizing bacteria is universally detected in surface sediments. With the increasing depth, the amount of phosphate solubilizing bacteria decreases. The number of phosphate solubilizing bacteria strains reaches the maximum in autumn while the minimum in winter. ALPase activity ranges from 0.001 mmol (g x min)(-1) to 0.006 mmol (g x min)(-1) and it varies with different sites and seasons and declines with the increasing depth. ALPase activity varies widely above 12cm, and stabilizes about 0.001 mmol x (g x min)(-1) under 12 cm in each site. There is a correlation between ALPase activity and the number of phosphate solubilizing bacteria and the correlation coefficients range from 0.50 to 0.85.