Evaluating the effect of nurses' supportive and educational care on GATA2 gene expression and quality of life in patients with endometriosis.

Endometriosis is one of the women's aggressive but benign diseases, formed by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Various genes, including the GATA2 gene, are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Since this disease affects patients' quality of life, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of nurses' supportive and educational care on the quality of life of endometriosis patients and its role in GATA2 gene expression. For this purpose, 45 patients with endometriosis participated in this research, a semi-experimental before-and-after study. The instrument used was demographic information and quality of life questionnaires affiliated with Beckman Institute, which were completed in two stages before and after implementing patient training and support sessions. The real-time PCR technique was also used to evaluate the expression level of the GATA2 gene after obtaining endometrial tissue from patients before and after the intervention. Finally, the received information was analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests. Based on the obtained results, the average quality of life score before the intervention was 51.73±13.91, and after the intervention was 60.46±13.80 (P<0.001). Also, in all four dimensions of quality of life, patients' average scores increased after the intervention compared to before the intervention. Still, this difference was significant only in the two dimensions of physical and mental health (P<0.001). GATA2 gene expression before intervention was 0.35 ± 0.13 among endometriosis patients. After the intervention, its amount reached about three times, i.e., 0.96 ± 0.32, which showed a significant difference between the two groups at the 5% probability level. In general, the results of this research confirmed the positive effect of educational and support programs in improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Therefore, it is suggested to design and implement such programs in a broader manner and based on patients' educational and support needs.

Separated root tip formation associated with a fractured tubercle of dens evaginatus: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Several previous studies have reported an unusual root formation in which a fractured apical fragment of an immature root continued to develop independent of the main root after trauma to an immature tooth. To date, there have been only rare reports of the continuing apical formation of the fractured root associated with dens evaginatus (DE). This paper presents a case of a separated root tip formation associated with a fractured tubercle of DE. CASE SUMMARY: An 11-year-old boy was referred for gingival sinus on the buccal side of the right mandibular second premolar (tooth # 45). Clinically, tooth # 45 was free of caries, but there was a sign of a fractured tubercle of DE on the occlusal surface. Radiography showed that the root canal of tooth # 45 was widely radiolucent. A separated root apex was found apically under the main root and was nearly completely formed with an apical orifice at the apical tip. Tooth # 45 was diagnosed as tubular fracture of DE with chronic apical periodontitis. A revascularization technique was recommended to treat the tooth. At 3-mo and 1-yr follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. Periapical radiography revealed that the separated root tip distally drifted with closure of the apex. However, the root length and thickness of the main root did not increased. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware that even if tubercle of DE is fractured in an immature tooth, the root tip may be separated from the main root and completely formed.

Transition-Metal-Modified Vanadoborate Clusters as Stable and Efficient Photocatalysts for CO2 Reduction.

Photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) is considered to be a promising sustainable and clean approach to solve environmental issues. Polyoxometalates (POMs), with advantages in fast, reversible, and stepwise multiple-electron transfer without changing their structures, have been promising catalysts in various redox reactions. However, their performance is often restricted by poor thermal or chemical stability. In this work, two transition-metal-modified vanadoborate clusters, [Co(en)2]6[V12B18O54(OH)6]·17H2O (V12B18-Co) and [Ni(en)2]6[V12B18O54(OH)6]·17H2O (V12B18-Ni), are reported for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. V12B18-Co and V12B18-Ni can preserve their structures to 200 and 250 °C, respectively, and remain stable in polar organic solvents and a wide range of pH solutions. Under visible-light irradiation, CO2 can be converted into syngas and HCOO- with V12B18-Co or V12B18-Ni as catalysts. The total amount of gaseous products and liquid products for V12B18-Co is up to 9.5 and 0.168 mmol g-1 h-1. Comparing with V12B18-Co, the yield of CO for V12B18-Ni declines by 1.8-fold, while that of HCOO- increases by 35%. The AQY of V12B18-Co and V12B18-Ni is 1.1% and 0.93%, respectively. These values are higher than most of the reported POM materials under similar conditions. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations illuminate the active site of CO2RR and the reduction mechanism. This work provides new insights into the design of stable, high-performance, and low-cost photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.

Genome-wide transcriptome and proteome profiles indicate an active role of alternative splicing during de-etiolation of maize seedlings.

MAIN CONCLUSION: AS events affect genes encoding protein domain composition and make the single gene produce more proteins with a certain number of genes to satisfy the establishment of photosynthesis during de-etiolation. The drastic switch from skotomorphogenic to photomorphogenic development is an excellent system to elucidate rapid developmental responses to environmental stimuli in plants. To decipher the effects of different light wavelengths on de-etiolation, we illuminated etiolated maize seedlings with blue, red, blue-red mixed and white light, respectively. We found that blue light alone has the strongest effect on photomorphogenesis and that this effect can be attributed to the higher number and expression levels of photosynthesis and chlorosynthesis proteins. Deep sequencing-based transcriptome analysis revealed gene expression changes under different light treatments and a genome-wide alteration in alternative splicing (AS) profiles. We discovered 41,188 novel transcript isoforms for annotated genes, which increases the percentage of multi-exon genes with AS to 63% in maize. We provide peptide support for all defined types of AS, especially retained introns. Further in silico prediction revealed that 58.2% of retained introns have changes in domains compared with their most similar annotated protein isoform. This suggests that AS acts as a protein function switch allowing rapid light response through the addition or removal of functional domains. The richness of novel transcripts and protein isoforms also demonstrates the potential and importance of integrating proteomics into genome annotation in maize.

Prognostic value of intracranial pressure monitoring for the management of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage following minimally invasive surgery.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) has been increasing during the recent years in low- and middle-income countries. With high mortality and morbidity rates, it brings huge burden to the families. It lacks evidence regarding the application of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in HICH. In the current study, the authors aimed to evaluate whether ICP monitoring could make any difference on the prognosis of HICH patients after minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review of 116 HICH patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, between 2014 and 2016, was performed. The effects of ICP monitoring on 6-month mortality and favorable outcomes were evaluated by univariate and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: ICP monitors were inserted into 50 patients. Patients with ICP monitoring had a significantly better outcome (P<0.05). The average in-hospital duration in patients with ICP monitoring was shorter than that in the patients without ICP monitoring (16.68 days vs. 20.47 days, P<0.05). Mortality rates between ICP monitoring and no ICP monitoring did not differ significantly (16.0% vs. 15.1%, P=0.901). On univariate analysis, age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on admission and presence of ICP monitor were independent predictors of 6-month favorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: ICP monitoring is associated with a better 6-month functional outcome compared with no ICP monitoring. Future study is still needed to confirm our results and elucidate which subgroup of HICH patients will benefit most from the minimally invasive surgical intervention and ICP monitoring.

Large-scale Identification and Time-course Quantification of Ubiquitylation Events During Maize Seedling De-etiolation.

The ubiquitin system is crucial for the development and fitness of higher plants. De-etiolation, during which green plants initiate photomorphogenesis and establish autotrophy, is a dramatic and complicated process that is tightly regulated by a massive number of ubiquitylation/de-ubiquitylation events. Here we present site-specific quantitative proteomic data for the ubiquitylomes of de-etiolating seedling leaves of Zea mays L. (exposed to light for 1, 6, or 12 h) achieved through immunoprecipitation-based high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS). Through the integrated analysis of multiple ubiquitylomes, we identified and quantified 1926 unique ubiquitylation sites corresponding to 1053 proteins. We analyzed these sites and found five potential ubiquitylation motifs, KA, AXK, KXG, AK, and TK. Time-course studies revealed that the ubiquitylation levels of 214 sites corresponding to 173 proteins were highly correlated across two replicate MS experiments, and significant alterations in the ubiquitylation levels of 78 sites (fold change >1.5) were detected after de-etiolation for 12 h. The majority of the ubiquitylated sites we identified corresponded to substrates involved in protein and DNA metabolism, such as ribosomes and histones. Meanwhile, multiple ubiquitylation sites were detected in proteins whose functions reflect the major physiological changes that occur during plant de-etiolation, such as hormone synthesis/signaling proteins, key C4 photosynthetic enzymes, and light signaling proteins. This study on the ubiquitylome of the maize seedling leaf is the first attempt ever to study the ubiquitylome of a C4 plant and provides the proteomic basis for elucidating the role of ubiquitylation during plant de-etiolation.

In situ effect of Tooth Mousse containing CPP-ACP on human enamel subjected to in vivo acid attacks.

OBJECTIVE: This in situ study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Tooth Mousse (GC) containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) on human enamel erosion and to compare the difference in erosion between the anteriorly and posteriorly positioned human enamel. METHODS: This study used a 2-treatment (7 days each) crossover design with 12 healthy volunteers wearing intraoral appliances. Each appliance contained 4 human enamel specimens positioned on the buccal surfaces of the volunteers' maxillary central incisors and first molars. The specimens were intraorally treated withTooth Mousse (CPP-ACP group) or deionized water (control group) for 3 min and then exposed to in vivo acid attacks by rinsing with 150 ml of a cola drink (4 × 5 min/day). The surface microhardness (SMH) of the specimens was measured and used to calculate the percentage of SMH loss (%SMHl). Erosion effect on enamel was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (n = 4) at the end of study. The data were statistically analysed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test at a level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: A significant decrease in %SMHl was observed for the specimens of CPP-ACP group compared to that for the controls (P = 0.007). The specimens positioned posteriorly exhibited a significantly lower %SMHl than those positioned anteriorly (P = 0.033). Samples of CPP-ACP group showed fewer etching patterns than those of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In this in situ model, application of Tooth Mousse containing CPP-ACP before erosion reduced the %SMHl of human enamel. Enamel located in different positions showed different patterns of erosion. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Application of Tooth Mousse containing CPP-ACP could be considered as a suitable preventive strategy against enamel erosion. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03426150.

Dynamic N-glycoproteome analysis of maize seedling leaves during de-etiolation using Concanavalin A lectin affinity chromatography and a nano-LC-MS/MS-based iTRAQ approach.

KEY MESSAGE: The identification of N -glycosylated proteins with information about changes in the level of N -glycosylation during de-etiolation provides a database that will aid further research on plant N -glycosylation and de-etiolation. N-glycosylation is one of the most prominent and abundant protein post-translational modifications in all eukaryotes and in plants it plays important roles in development, stress tolerance and immune responses. Because light-induced de-etiolation is one of the most dramatic developmental processes known in plants, seedlings undergoing de-etiolation are an excellent model for investigating dynamic proteomic profiles. Here, we present a comprehensive, quantitative N-glycoproteomic profile of maize seedlings undergoing 12 h of de-etiolation obtained using Concanavalin A (Con A) lectin affinity chromatography enrichment coupled with a nano-LC-MS/MS-based iTRAQ approach. In total, 1084 unique N-glycopeptides carrying 909 N-glycosylation sites and corresponding to 609 proteins were identified and quantified, including 186 N-glycosylation sites from 162 proteins that were significantly regulated over the course of the 12 h de-etiolation period. Based on hierarchical clustering analysis, the significantly regulated N-glycopeptides were divided into seven clusters that showed different N-glycosylation patterns during de-etiolation. We found no obvious difference in the enriched MapMan bincode categories for each cluster, and these clustered significantly regulated N-glycoproteins (SRNPs) are enriched in miscellaneous, protein, cell wall and signaling, indicating that although the N-glycosylation regulation patterns of these SRNPs might differ, they are involved in similar biological processes. Overall, this study represents the first large-scale quantitative N-glycoproteome of the model C4 plant, maize, which is one of the most important cereal and biofuel crops. Our results greatly expand the maize N-glycoproteomic database and also shed light on the potential roles of N-glycosylation modification during the greening of maize leaves.

A Nomogram for Predicting the Likelihood of Obstructive Sleep Apnea to Reduce the Unnecessary Polysomnography Examinations.

BACKGROUND: The currently available polysomnography (PSG) equipments and operating personnel are facing increasing pressure, such situation may result in the problem that a large number of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients cannot receive timely diagnosis and treatment, we sought to develop a nomogram quantifying the risk of OSA for a better decision of using PSG, based on the clinical syndromes and the demographic and anthropometric characteristics. METHODS: The nomogram was constructed through an ordinal logistic regression procedure. Predictive accuracy and performance characteristics were assessed with the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics and calibration plots, respectively. Decision curve analyses were applied to assess the net benefit of the nomogram. RESULTS: Among the 401 patients, 73 (18.2%) were diagnosed and grouped as the none OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] <5), 67 (16.7%) the mild OSA (5 ≤ AHI < 15), 82 (20.4%) the moderate OSA (15 ≤ AHI < 30), and 179 (44.6%) the severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30). The multivariable analysis suggested the significant factors were duration of disease, smoking status, difficulty of falling asleep, lack of energy, and waist circumference. A nomogram was created for the prediction of OSA using these clinical parameters and was internally validated using bootstrapping method. The discrimination accuracies of the nomogram for any OSA, moderate-severe OSA, and severe OSA were 83.8%, 79.9%, and 80.5%, respectively, which indicated good calibration. Decision curve analysis showed that using nomogram could reduce the unnecessary polysomnography (PSG) by 10% without increasing the false negatives. CONCLUSIONS: The established clinical nomogram provides high accuracy in predicting the individual risk of OSA. This tool may help physicians better make decisions on PSG arrangement for the patients referred to sleep centers.

RNASET2 tag SNP but not CCR6 polymorphisms is associated with autoimmune thyroid diseases in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of the CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and RNASET2 tag SNP have been shown to be associated with the susceptibility to several immune-related diseases. This study was conducted to identify the association of CCR6 and RNASET2 tag SNP with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) in the Chinese Han population. METHODS: We enrolled 1061 patients with AITDs, including 701 patients with Graves' disease (GD) and 360 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and 938 healthy individuals for a case-control genetic association study. Three CCR6 single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3093023/rs3093024/rs6902119) and one tagging SNP (rs9355610) within RNASET2 gene were selected for genotyping by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligase detection reaction (LDR). RESULTS: The frequency of rs9355610 genotypes in the patients with GD differed significantly from that in the controls (p = 0.017). The frequency of the minor G allele of rs9355610 was significantly higher in the GD patients than in the healthy controls (p = 0.005, OR = 1.225, 95% CI:1.063-1.412). However, we could not find significant differences in the genotype or allele frequencies of HT patients compared with healthy controls. After gender stratification, the frequency of the minor G allele in both male and female GD patients was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (p = 0.036, OR = 1.308, 95% CI:1.017-1.684 ; p = 0.048, OR = 1.19, 95% CI:1.001-1.413; respectively);. Furthermore, the frequency of haplotype AT in GD patients was significantly lower than that in their control groups (p = 0.003) and showed a protective effect against GD (OR = 0.806, 95% CI: 0.699-0.929). The frequency of haplotype GT in GD patients was significantly higher than that in their control groups (p = 0.048), indicating that GT was the risk haplotype to GD (OR = 1.267, 95% CI: 1.001-1.603). There were no significant differences in the allele or genotype frequencies of three SNPs of CCR6 (rs3093023/rs3093024/ rs6902119) gene between GD patients, HT patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the rs9355610 tag SNP of RNASET2 gene is positively associated with susceptibility to GD in the Chinese Han population. No association was found for the tested CCR6 SNPs.

Ovarian damage after laparoscopic endometrioma excision might be related to the size of cyst.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the size of an excised endometrioma and the magnitude of damage to the ovary after the surgery. DESIGN: A retrospective, controlled study. SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENT(S): Eighty-five women with a history of laparoscopic excision of unilateral endometrioma who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). INTERVENTION(S): IVF-embryo transfer procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Antral follicle counts (AFC), number of dominant follicles (follicles ≥ 15 mm), and number of oocytes retrieved. RESULT(S): In the group with cyst diameters of ≥ 4 cm and group with cyst diameters of <4 cm, the AFC, number of dominant follicles, and number of oocytes retrieved were decreased in the operated ovaries when compared with those in intact ovaries; in the former group, a statistically significant reduction was observed. The differences of AFC, number of dominant follicles, and number of oocytes retrieved from both ovaries were further compared among the two groups: the decrease in the group with cyst diameters of ≥ 4 cm was higher than in the group with cyst diameters of <4 cm. After adjusting for age and AFC in intact ovaries, similar results were obtained, although AFC only showed a tendency. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a statistically significant, positive correlation between the size of excised cysts and the incidence of fewer than four oocytes retrieved from an operated ovary. CONCLUSION(S): The magnitude of the ovarian damage after laparoscopic endometrioma excision might be related to the size of cyst; the damage to ovaries is more severe when an endometrioma ≥ 4 cm is excised.

Aberrant DNA methylation of imprinted loci in human spontaneous abortions after assisted reproduction techniques and natural conception.

STUDY QUESTION: Do assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) affect DNA methylation of imprinted genes and does aberrant methylation of imprinted genes account for the incidence of human spontaneous abortion (SA)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Our results show that imprinting errors of imprinted genes may contribute to human SA, and the occurrence of aberrant methylation of imprinted genes in ART pregnancies was comparable with that in natural pregnancies. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Animal data and human studies demonstrated that in vitro culture of embryos can cause methylation defects in individual genes, which might affect subsequent embryonic development and contribute to SA. However, our previous studies showed an abnormal methylation pattern of PEG1 in human aborted chrionic villus samples (CVS) but an increased occurrence of aberrant methylation in CVS from ART-derived pregnancies was not observed. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION: CVS were collected from women who underwent abortion procedures in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Nanfang Hospital from May 2008 to July 2011. Muscle samples (MS) were obtained from aborted fetuses and stillbirths. The samples were divided into four experimental groups: (A) SA/stillbirth after ART (n = 75), (B) multi-fetal reduction after ART (n = 73), (C) SA/stillbirth of natural pregnancies (n = 90) and (D) induced abortion (IA) of natural pregnancies (n = 82). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING AND METHODS: The mean ± SD age of patients was 31.0 ± 4.1 (range: 18-45 years). The DNA methylation patterns of one paternally methylated (H19) and two maternally methylated (LIT1 and SNRPN) genes were analyzed in CVS and MS using pyrosequencing and bisulfite sequencing PCR. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Clear hypo-methylation (<10%) or hyper-methylation (>90%) were not detected in LIT1 and SNRPN but two regions of hyper-methylation (91.7 and 91.4%) were observed in H19. The mean percentage of methylation in the SA samples (groups A and C) was higher than that in the IA samples (groups B and D; P<0.05). Box plot analyses showed that in the 165 SA samples, methylation values for 40/495 (8.1%) differentially methylated regions of the three genes represented outliers. The incidence of outlier was highest for LIT1 (13.3%, 22/165). In contrast, no outliers were found in the 155 IA samples. The receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed a positive correlation between percentage methylation of all three genes and incidence of SA (P<0.05). In addition, the conception modes (natural versus ART) and the fertilization methods used in ART (IVF and ICSI) did not affect the methylation patterns of the imprinted genes. No increase in the rate of abnormal methylation was found in the ART samples. LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION: The studied loci represent only a small fraction of developmentally important genes. Further studies are needed to evaluate changes in the expression and the methylation status of other genes that may lead to SA. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The findings provide new insights into the etiology of human SA. The possibility that the abnormal methylation seen is a consequence of the defect that led to the SA cannot be excluded. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): None of the authors has any competing interest. This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81170574), The National Key Basic Research Development Plan of China (973 Program) (2007CB948104), Comprehensive strategic sciences cooperation projects of Guangdong Province and Chinese Academy (04020416) and Guangzhou Science and Technology Program key projects (11C22120737).

[Observation and multifactor analysis of refractory medium-severe heart failure by micro-inflammation modification in uremic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic strategies and prognostic factors of refractory medium-severe heart failure in uremic patients. METHODS: A single center, self control clinical research was conducted, and the data consisted of 30 uremic patients with refractory medium-severe heart failure undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), who received routine combined modality therapy and Xuebijing injection (to modify micro-inflammation). The systolic function of the left ventricle was compared before and after therapy. Multiple linear regression models were established to predict the improvements of systolic function of ventricle. Relationship between the accumulated dose of Xuebijing injection and changes of C-reactive protein (ΔCRP) was observed. RESULTS: The values of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), and stroke volume (SV) after therapy were improved compared with those before therapy [LVEF: 0.42±0.07 vs. 0.34±0.04, FS: (21.07±3.83)% vs. (16.33±2.43)%, SV: 66.83±7.00 ml vs. 52.20±7.62 ml, all P<0.01]. In terms of cardiac output (CO), there was no statistical difference before and after therapy (4.77±0.65 L/min vs. 4.49±0.68 L/min, P>0.05). In the multiple linear regression models of ΔLVEF, ΔFS and ΔSV, the independent variables that affect dependent variables included age, ΔCRP, changes of hemoglobin (ΔHb), accumulated dose of Xuebijing injection, changes of HCO(3)(-) (Δ HCO(3)(-)), changes of serum creatinine (ΔSCr), Hb and CRP after therapy, the factors and weights of which had slight variation on accordance with different dependent variables. There was significant positive correlation between accumulated dose of Xuebijing injection and ΔCRP (r=0.561, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Xuebijing injection can improve heart function in uremic patients by modifying micro-inflammation, whose accumulated dose and therapeutic effect show positive correlation. In addition the improvement of heart failure has something to do with age, ΔHb, Hb after therapy, the correction of acidosis and dialysis sufficiency.

Characterization of a marine origin aerobic nitrifying-denitrifying bacterium.

The bacterial strain F6 was isolated from a biological aerated filter that is used for purifying recirculating water in a marine aquaculture system and was identified as Marinobacter sp. based on the analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence. Strain F6 showed efficient aerobic denitrifying ability. One hundred percent of nitrates and 73.10% of nitrites were removed, and the total nitrogen (TN) removal rates reached 50.08% and 33.03% under a high nitrate and nitrite concentration in the medium, respectively. N(2)O and (15)N(2), as revealed by GC-MS and GC-IRMS, were the products of aerobic denitrification. Factors affecting the growth and aerobic denitrifying performance of strain F6 were investigated. The results showed that the optimum aerobic denitrification conditions for strain F6 were the presence of sodium succinate as a carbon source, a C/N ratio of 15, salinity ranging from 32-35 g/L of NaCl, incubation temperature of 30°C, an initial pH of 7.5, and rotation speed of 150 rpm [dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.75 mg/L]. In addition, strain F6 was confirmed to be a heterotrophic nitrifier through its NO(2)(-) generation and 25.96% TN removal when NH(4)(+) was used as the sole N source. Therefore, strain F6, the first reported member of genus Marinobacter with aerobic heterotrophic nitrifying-denitrifying ability, is an excellent candidate for facilitating simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) in industry and aquaculture wastewater.

Circulating luteinizing hormone level after triggering oocyte maturation with GnRH agonist may predict oocyte yield in flexible GnRH antagonist protocol.

BACKGROUND: The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for triggering final oocyte maturation and ovulation can reduce ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk patients. LH levels post-trigger with GnRH agonist might be correlated with oocyte yield and maturity. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between serum LH level at 12-h post-trigger and oocyte yield, maturity and fertilization rate in patients at high risk of OHSS and therefore who were treated with a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol in which final oocyte maturation was triggered with GnRH agonist. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, 91 patients at high risk of OHSS were treated with a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol and divided into six groups according to their serum LH levels at 12-h after GnRH agonist administration: ≤15.0, 15.1-30.0, 30.1-45.0, 45.1-60.0, 60.1-75.0 and >75.0 IU/l. The oocyte yield, maturity, fertilization rate and clinical outcomes for each LH interval were analyzed. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in oocyte yield with a concentration of serum LH ≤15.0 IU/l (P < 0.05), whereas no statistically significant differences in the oocyte maturity and fertilization rate among the six groups (P > 0.05) were seen. Only 5 out of 91 patients (5.5%) had a serum LH ≤15.0 IU/l at 12-h post-trigger with GnRH agonist. In addition, no statistically significant difference was seen regarding high-quality embryos, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and early miscarriage between patients with LH ≤15.0 IU/l and >15.0 IU/l (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum LH level at 12-h post-trigger with GnRHa <15.0 IU/l is associated with a dramatically lower oocyte yield but not with the oocyte maturity and fertilization rate. Serum LH levels post-trigger with GnRH agonist do not affect clinical outcomes.

The characteristics of a novel heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification bacterium, Bacillus methylotrophicus strain L7.

Bacillus methylotrophicus strain L7, exhibited efficient heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification ability, with maximum NH(4)(+)-N and NO(2)(-)-N removal rate of 51.58 mg/L/d and 5.81 mg/L/d, respectively. Strain L7 showed different gaseous emitting patterns from those strains ever described. When (15)NH(4)Cl, or Na(15)NO(2), or K(15)NO(3) was used, results of GC-MS indicated that N(2)O was emitted as the intermediate of heterotrophic nitrification or aerobic denitrification, while GC-IRMS results showed that N(2) was produced as end product when nitrite was used. Single factor experiments suggested that the optimal conditions for heterotrophic nitrification were sodium succinate as carbon source, C/N 6, pH 7-8, 0 g/L NaCl, 37 °C and a wide range of NH(4)(+)-N from 80 to 1000 mg/L. Orthogonal tests showed that the optimal conditions for aerobic denitrification were C/N 20, pH 7-8, 10 g/L NaCl and DO 4.82 mg/L (shaking speed 50 r/min) when nitrite was served as substrate.

[Impact of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone on the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and pregnancy outcomes in young women].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on both the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and the clinical outcomes of pregnancy in women under 35 years of age. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for inspecting 294 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in women under 35 years of age. According to the basal FSH levels, the women were divided into groups A, B, and C with basal FSH of 10-14.99, 15-19.99 and ≥20 IU/L, respectively, to compare the average number of oocytes retrieved, morphologies of the oocytes and embryos, and clinical outcomes of pregnancy. RESULTS: Group A showed greater average numbers of oocytes collected, total embryos and good-quality embryos with a lower gonadotrophin dose required to achieve follicular maturity than groups B and C. The 3 groups showed no significant differences in the percentage of metaphase II oocytes, optimal embryos-blastomere number, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, good-quality embryo rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rates, live birth rate or miscarriage rate, but the pregnancy rates and live birth rate tended to decrease in women with basal FSH ≥15 U/L. CONCLUSION: In women below 35 years of age, an elevated serum FSH (especially one ≥15 U/L) indicates diminished ovarian reserve and reduced numbers of oocyte and embryo but not poor oocyte or embryos quality, and good clinical pregnancy rate can still be expected.

Assisted reproductive technologies do not increase risk of abnormal methylation of PEG1/MEST in human early pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epigenetic risk linked to assisted reproductive technology (ART) by analyzing the methylation patterns of imprinted PEG1 gene in aborted human chorionic villus. DESIGN: Experimental research study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Four patients groups were tested: spontaneous abortion after ART (n = 44), multifetal reduction after ART (n = 22), spontaneous abortion of natural pregnancies (n = 45), and induced abortion of natural pregnancies (n = 47). INTERVENTION(S): Methylation patterns of PEG1 in the aborted chorionic villus were determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The DNA methylation patterns were analyzed using pyrosequencing and bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction. The percentage of methylation was compared in chorionic villus from the four experimental groups. RESULT(S): Regardless of conception method, the PEG1 methylation percentage in chorionic villus from spontaneous abortions was significantly higher than in villus from induced abortions and multifetal reduction. In the spontaneous abortions groups, the percent methylation of PEG1 was similar in the villus derived from ART and from natural pregnancies. The two fertilization methods (IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection) did not show significant differences either. However, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between PEG1 methylation percentage and rate of early spontaneous abortions. CONCLUSION(S): As some studies have suggested, imprinting errors of PEG1 may contribute to spontaneous abortion, but ART procedures might not increase the occurrence of aberrant PEG1 methylation patterns.

[Prediction of ovarian reserve, poor response and pregnancy outcome based on basal antral follicle count and age in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of basal antral follicle count (AFC) and age in predicting ovarian response and clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: A total of 1319 oocyte retrieval cycles in women with an AFC≤10 and complete IVF/ICSI cycles were analyzed retrospectively. According to the AFC, the patients were divided into groups A, B, and C with AFC≤4, of 5-7, and of 8-10, respectively, and each was further divided into <38 years old group and ≥38 years old group. The oocytes retrieved, ovarian response, implantation rate, cancellations, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live births were evaluated. RESULTS: As the AFC increased, the total gonadotrophin (Gn) dose increased and the follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved decreased significantly (P<0.001). Patients below 38 years of age had a lower total Gn dose and more follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved than older patients. An AFC>7 and age≥38 years was associated with significantly lower total Gn dose, greater number of follicles aspirated and oocytes retrieved, and lower pregnancy rate than an AFC≤7 and age<38 years (P<0.05). Bivariate correlation and linear regression analysis identified AFC as the best single predictor of ovarian response in IVF. The pregnancy rate differed significantly between the 3 groups, and older patients (≥38 years) had higher early miscarriage rate. CONCLUSION: Antral follicle count≤7 or age≥38 years old with AFC≤10 is the suitable threshold of diminished ovarian reserve in controlled ovarian stimulation for infertile women. Combination of AFC and age is the best predictor of ovarian response in IVF. Age has a better predictive value of pregnancy rate than AFC. AFC influences mainly the oocytes quantity, while age also affects oocyte quality.