sRAGE plays a role as a protective factor in the development of PCOS by inhibiting inflammation.

This study determined the effect of exogenous soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) on the pro-inflammatory activities that occur during polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in human follicular cells and explored a potential mechanism for preventing the development of inflammation. Follicular fluid was allocated into one of three treatment groups (0, 0.6, and 1.2 µg mL-1 of sRAGE). Collectively, these results indicate that exogenous sRAGE supplementation alleviates inflammation in ovarian follicular granulosa cells by regulating p-ERK and AP-1 signaling.

[Strategies of preserving urinary continence in transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate for benign prostate hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the strategies of preserving urinary continence in transurethral plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We treated 65 BPH patients by PKEP with preservation of urinary continence (UC-PKEP), which involved protection of the external urethral sphincter in the beginning of surgery, proper preservation of the anterior lobe of the prostate to protect the internal urethral sphincter in the middle, and preservation of the integrity of the bladder neck towards the end. We compared the postoperative status of urinary continence of the patients with that of the 54 BPH cases treated by complete plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (Com-PKEP). RESULTS: All the operations were performed successfully with the urinary catheters removed at 5 days after surgery. In comparison with Com-PKEP, UC-PKEP achieved evidently lower incidence rates of urinary incontinence at 24 hours (31.49% vs 13.85%, P <0.05), 1 week (18.52% vs 4.62%, P <0.05), 2 weeks (14.81% vs 3.08%, P <0.05), 1 month (3.70% vs 1.54%, P >0.05), and 3 months (3.70% vs 0%, P >0.05) after catheter removal. Compared with the baseline, the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was significantly improved postoperatively in both the Com-PKEP (ï¼»7.43 ± 3.26ï¼½ vs ï¼»20.58 ± 3.22ï¼½ ml, P <0.05) and the UC-PKEP group (ï¼»8.04 ± 2.28ï¼½ vs ï¼»20.66 ± 3.08ï¼½ ml, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Transurethral PKEP is a safe and effective method for the management of BPH, during which the strategies of avoiding blunt or sharp damage to the external urethral sphincter in the beginning, properly preserving the anterior lobe of the prostate in the middle and preserving the integrity of the bladder neck towards the end may help to achieve rapid recovery of urinary continence.

Growth hormone co-treatment within a GnRH agonist long protocol improves implantation and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing IVF-ET.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of growth hormone (GH) co-treatment within a GnRH agonist long regimen, in women with a normal ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), for IVF was assessed. METHODS: This retrospective clinical trial was performed in a private-assisted reproduction centre. The study involved 1114 patients who responded normally to high-dose gonadotropin treatment. The study group of 556 patients was given in a daily subcutaneous injection of 4.5 IU of GH co-treatment, starting from the initial day of gonadotropin treatment and lasting for 5 days. The control group of 558 patients received the same treatment protocol without the GH co-treatment. The participants were further divided into two subgroups: age ≥35 years and age <35 years. The primary endpoint of the study was IVF-ET outcomes. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics did not significantly differ between the groups. The implantation rate (36.7 vs. 20.4 %, P < 0.05) and clinical pregnancy rate (57.3 vs. 30.1 %, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. An analysis using a multivariate logistic regression model showed that GH was a significant factor for predicting pregnancy outcomes (OR 3.125, 95 % CI 2.441-4.000). Furthermore, for the ≥35-year-old group, the endometrial thickness was significantly greater (11.99 ± 2.21 vs. 11.62 ± 2.45, P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group; in contrast, for the <35-year-old group, the high-quality embryo rate was significantly higher (71.7 vs. 68.3 %, P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that co-treatment with GH in a GnRH agonist long protocol in patients who responded normally while undergoing IVF-ET could increase the implantation and pregnancy rates.

Effects of the distance between small intramural uterine fibroids and the endometrium on the pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

AIM: To explore the effects of the distance between small intramural uterine fibroids (≤4 cm) and the endometrium on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: We prospectively analyzed pregnancy outcomes in 117 infertile women with small intramural uterine fibroids and 117 infertile women without uterine fibroids who all underwent IVF-ET. The size and number of small intramural uterine fibroids and the shortest distance between the small intramural uterine fibroids and the endometrium were measured by transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound. The endometrial and subendometrial blood flow parameters, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate and live birth rate were compared between the women with and without small uterine fibroids and among the different shortest distances (≤1, 1-3 and >3 mm). The effects of the size and number of small intramural uterine fibroids on IVF-ET outcomes were observed. RESULTS: The endometrial volume on ET day, the implantation rate and the live birth rate were significantly lower, but the abortion rate was significantly higher, in the women with small intramural uterine fibroids than in those without uterine fibroids (p < 0.05). The endometrial flow index was higher in the shortest distance ≤1-mm group than in the groups with 1-3 and >3 mm, and the implantation rate was higher in ≤1-mm group than in the >3-mm group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between different sizes and numbers of small intramural uterine fibroids. CONCLUSION: Small intramural uterine fibroids can affect IVF-ET outcomes. Compared with other shortest distances (1-3 and >3 mm), the shortest distance of ≤1 mm has a higher implantation rate.

Development and application of haploid embryonic stem cells.

Haploid cells are a kind of cells with only one set of chromosomes. Compared with traditional diploid cells, haploid cells have unique advantages in gene screening and drug-targeted therapy, due to their phenotype being equal to the genotype. Embryonic stem cells are a kind of cells with strong differentiation potential that can differentiate into various types of cells under specific conditions in vitro. Therefore, haploid embryonic stem cells have the characteristics of both haploid cells and embryonic stem cells, which makes them have significant advantages in many aspects, such as reproductive developmental mechanism research, genetic screening, and drug-targeted therapy. Consequently, establishing haploid embryonic stem cell lines is of great significance. This paper reviews the progress of haploid embryonic stem cell research and briefly discusses the applications of haploid embryonic stem cells.

Effect of modified single cell fixation method on cell-nuclear areas and fluorescence in-situ hybridization signals.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an irreplaceable method in pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. We explored the effects of a modified single cell fixation method on the cell-nuclear area and FISH signal. METHODS: From January 2006 to March 2008, the blastomeres with marked nuclei from D3 embryos were selected. Cells were fixed with three different methods. The effects of the three methods on the cell-nuclear areas and FISH signals were then analyzed. RESULTS: The cell fixation rate was higher in conventional (Group B, 94.85%) and modified (Group C, 95.79%) Tween-20/HCl + methanol/glacial acetic acid methods than in the methanol/glacial acetic acid method (Group A, 86.73%) with p < 0.05. The complete signal rates in group A, B, and C were 95.3%, 93.5%, and 93.4%, respectively, with p > 0.05. The mean cell-nuclear areas in groups A, B, and C were 55.3, 46.2, and 49.5 microm3, respectively, with p < 0.05 in group A compared with group B or C, but with p > 0.05 between Group B and C. There was no significant difference in signal overlap and splitting rates between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Modified Tween-20/HCl + methanol/glacial acetic acid method fails to increase FISH signal overlap and splitting rates. It is simple and its fixation time is short. It can be widely used in clinical practice.

[Study on the incidence and influences on ectopic pregnancy from embryo transfer of fresh cycles and frozen-thawed cycles].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate ectopic pregnancy from embryo transfer (ET)of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle and frozen-thawed (FET) cycle. METHODS: From Jan.2005 to Dec. 2010, a total of 9037 IVF-ET or ICSI-ET cycles and 4034 FET cycles were performed in our reproductive medicine center, Affiliated First Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy rate was studied in fresh cycles IVF-ET (5998) and ICSI-ET (3039) cycles, and natural FET (2198) and hormone replacement (E-P) FET (1836) cycles. RESULTS: Of 4034 FET cycles, 1090 clinical pregnancies and 26 ectopic pregnancies were observed, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 2.38% (26/1090). Of 9037 fresh cycles, 3602 cycles were clinical pregnancy, and 133 cycles were ectopic pregnancy, and the incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 3.69% (133/3602). The ectopic pregnancy rate in FET cycles was lower than in fresh cycles significantly (P < 0.05). Of 3039 fresh ICSI-ET cycles, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 2.62% (34/1298) in 1298 clinical pregnancies. Of 5998 IVF-ET cycles, 2304 clinical pregnancies were observed, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy was 4.30% (99/2304). Ectopic pregnancy rate in the fresh ICSI-ET cycles was lower than that of IVF-ET group significantly (P < 0.01). The ectopic pregnancy rate in the natural FET cycles was 1.46% (8/547), which was significantly lower than 3.31% (18/543) in E-P group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ectopic pregnancy of FET cycles was significantly lower than that of fresh embryo transfer cycles. The application of exogenous sex hormones in assisted reproductive cycles might increase occurrence of ectopic pregnancy.

[Effect of endometrial stimulation on pregnancy outcome of in vitro fertilization patients].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of endometrial stimulation on the pregnancy outcome of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: A total of 759 subjects were treated by fresh IVF at our hospital in 2007. Sixty-eight subjects received endometrial stimulation at Days 4-5 of menstruation before IVF while other 691 were controls without treatment. No significant difference was found between two groups in terms of duration and cause for infertility, day and dosage of Gn, number of retrieved oocytes and transferred embryos and fertilization rate. The clinical pregnancy rate of two groups were analyzed. Firstly the clinical outcomes for the patients of primary or secondary infertility were compared in treatment and control groups respectively. Then the clinical outcomes of the patients in first cycle and later cycles were compared in treatment and control groups respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate and incidence of abortion and ectopic pregnancy. For first cyclers, the clinical pregnancy rate showed no significant difference between two groups (38.89% vs 37.16%). But for later cyclers, the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the treatment group than that in the control group (53.13% vs 34.33%). CONCLUSION: Endometrial stimulation may improve endometrial receptivity to some extent. And it can boost the clinical pregnancy rate for those patients with a repeated implantation failure.

[Effects of cryopreservation time and thawing method of human oocyte vitrification on the outcome of assisted reproduction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects on pregnancy outcome of freezing time from oocyte retrieval and thawing method for metaphaseII human oocytes vitrification. METHODS: From Mar 2007 to Mar 2009, the clinical outcome of 30 infertile women undergoing vitrified-thawing oocytes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in the Reproductive Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University was studied retrospectively, including 21 women with double fallopian tube obstruction and 9 women's husband azoospermia. All infertile women were divided into three groups, including 5 cases in group A (freezing between 4 and 5 hours from oocyte retrieval and conventional thawing method), 9 cases in group B (freezing within 2 hours from retrieval and conventional thawing method) and 16 cases in group C (freezing within 2 hours from retrieval and improved thawing method). The vitrified oocytes were preserved for 2 months to 1 year and thawed for Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer. The outcome of IVF and pregnancy were recorded. RESULTS: (1) The rates of oocyte survival was (65 ± 33)% in group B and (72 ± 23)% in group C and the rate of transfer cycle was 9/9 in group B and 16/16 in group C, which were all significantly higher than (16 ± 17)% of oocyte survival and 1/5 of transfer cycle in group A (P = 0.001, 0.021). However, the rate of oocyte survival and transfer cycle between group B and group C did not reach statistical difference (P > 0.05). The rate of implantation and clinical pregnancy of (33 ± 38)% and 9/16 in group C were significantly higher (4 ± 11)% and 1/9 in group B (P = 0.033, 0.040). (2) The mean age of women in group C were (28.6 ± 2.1) in oneself oocyte, (28.0 ± 4.6) in donor oocyte and (28.1 ± 3.4) in donor sperm. The rate of oocyte survival was (73 ± 25)%, (88 ± 10)% and (66 ± 25)%. The rate of fertilization rate was (84.6 ± 0.9)%, (79.3 ± 2.0)% and (82.8 ± 15.0)%. The rate of implantation was (20.0 ± 44.7)%, (33.0 ± 0.1)%, (41.6 ± 41.7)%. The rate of clinical pregnancy was 1/5 in oneself cycles, 3/3 in donor oocyte cycles, 5/8 banked donor sperm cycles in group C. All above clinical parameters were not statistically different (P > 0.05). (3) In group A, one women underwent IVF-ET and no clinical pregnancy was observed. One women pregnancy was terminated at two months in group B. The clinical pregnancies rate of group C was 9/16, late abortion occurred in 1 woman, the other 8 women underwent term pregnancy, including 5 male infants and 4 female infants. All of infants showed normal Karyotype. Live-birth rates per warmed oocyte was 5.9%(8/135). The mean gestational weeks and birth weight of the infants were (39.4 ± 0.9) weeks and (3574 ± 569) g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Embryo quality and clinical outcome of thawing cycles could be significantly improved when oocyte vitrification was performed within 2 hours from oocyte retrieval and improved thawing method.

[Outcomes of ICSI with microamount frozen-thawed sperm obtained by PESA or TESA in the treatment of azoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and clinical pregnancy outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm insemination (ICSI) with microamount frozen-thawed sperm obtained by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) or testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) in azoospermia patients. METHODS: We divided 365 azoospermia patients treated by ICSI into an experimental group (n = 123) and a control group (n = 242) , the former with microamount frozen-thawed sperm, and the latter fresh sperm obtained by PESA or TESA. The rates of fertilization, good embryos, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and multiple pregnancy were analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: With PESA, the experimental group showed no statistically significant differences from the control group in the rates of fertilization (75.67% vs 76.49%), good embryos (64.96% vs 66.09%), clinical pregnancy (55.21% vs 57.22%), clinical miscarriage (13.21% vs 12.61%), ectopic pregnancy (3. 77% vs 5.41%) and multiple pregnancy (37.74% vs 37.84%) (P > 0.05); nor with TESA (74.41% vs 76.43%, 64.63% vs 66.35%, 46.81% vs 53.39%, 18.18% vs 14.55%, 4.55% vs 1.82%, 37.74% vs 37.84%, P > 0.05). The revival rate of the frozen-thawed sperm from PESA was 70.07%, not significantly different from that of TESA (62.67%) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ICSI with frozen-thawed micro-amount sperm obtained by PESA or TESA is a safe, economic and effective method for the treatment of azoospermia. The techniques for reviving frozen sperm from PESA or TESA remain to be optimized, and whether these techniques may result in long-term genetic risks in the offspring deserves further investigation.

[Clinical application of oocyte vitrification in failed testicular sperm extraction cycles: report of 8 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical application value of oocyte vitrification in failed testicular sperm extraction cycles in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 8 women undergoing oocyte frozen-thawing cycles by vitrification because of failed testicular sperm extraction from their NOA husbands and no banked donor sperm on the day of oocyte retrieval. The oocytes were cryopreserved by vitrification with cryotop and thawed 2 months later. The surviving metaphase II (MII) oocytes were injected with the banked donor sperm of the same blood type as the husbands by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for fertilization. The rates of oocyte survival, fertilization, cleavage, good embryos and pregnancy were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixty oocytes were vitrified and 47 (78.3%) survived after thawing, of which 41 MII oocytes underwent ICSI and 33 (80.5%) of them were fertilized. The rates of cleavage and good embryos were 81.8% (27/33) and 59.3% (16/27) respectively. Fifteen of the embryos were transferred to the 8 patients, with 1.9 +/- 0.8 per cycle, of which 5 (33.3%) were confirmed by ultrasound to have been implanted and 5 resulted in clinical pregnancy (62.5%), all singleton without miscarriage. Three normal boys and 1 normal girl were already born, with the pregnancy time of (39 + 4 +/- 0.4) wk and newborn body weight of (3787.5 +/- 513.7) g, respectively. CONCLUSION: Vitrification of oocytes in failed testicular sperm extraction cycles is a promising technique for preserving female fertility, which, with ICSI of banked donor sperm, may result in satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Widowed status predicts poor overall survival of Chinese patients with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the influence of marital status on Chinese prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Marital status may have an impact on overall survival in Chinese men with prostate cancer. METHODS: We identified 4,208 Chinese patients diagnosed with PCa between 2004 and 2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the impact of marital status on the overall survival (OS) of Chinese PCa patients. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Smoothing function and threshold effect analysis were performed to determine the turning points of variables. RESULTS: Univariate analysis demonstrated that marital status, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) category, surgery status, T stage, N stage, and M stage were associated with OS. Multivariate analysis further indicated that marital status, PSA category, surgery status, T stage, and M stage were independent risk factors of OS. Survival analysis demonstrated that the nonwidowed group had a better OS than the widowed group. The risk of poor OS increased rapidly with the PSA level up to the turning point 15.6 and 45.4 ng/mL in the nonwidowed group (HR =1.089; 95% CI: 1.064-1.115; P<0.0001) and the widowed group (HR =1.056; 95% CI: 1.028-1.084; P<0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that widowed status greatly affects the OS of Chinese PCa patients. Altogether, this study highlights the importance of psychological intervention, especially for widowed Chinese PCa patients. Timely psychological intervention for widowed Chinese PCa patients might improve the survival outcomes of PCa.

[Analysis of 1540 neonates with birth defects related to different assisted reproductive technique].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of and clinical factors influencing neonatal birth defects from different assisted reproductive technology. METHODS: Between October 1998 and December 2006, 1271 newborns from mothers treated by in vitro fertilization techniques [including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and thaw embryo transfer (Thaw-ET)] matched with 269 newborns from mothers treated by artificial insemination were enrolled in Reproductive Medicine Center in First Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University. Their medical information was analyzed retrospectively to compared neonatal characteristics, the incidence of birth defect and anomalous organs involved between in vitro fertilization group and artificial insemination group. RESULTS: In group of in vitro fertilization, those newborns with low birth weight from IVF, ICSI and Thaw-ET were 20.0% (134/671), 22.4% (92/410), 18.9% (36/190) respectively, which were more than 11.5% (31/269) cases in group of artifical semination with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The rates of multiple pregnancy of 23.8% (160/671), 25.4% (104/410), 21.1% (40/190) in subgroup of IVF, ICSI and Thaw-ET were significantly higher than 10.0% (27/269) in group of artifical insemination (P < 0.05). The rate of macrosomia in group of in vitro fertilization was significantly lower than that of artificial insemination group (3.9% vs 8.2%, P < 0.05). However, the incidence of birth defect involved in various organs did not show significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of multiple pregnancy demonstrated obviously increasing trends born with various In Vitro Fertilization techniques, which pave the way to high risk pregnancy. However, the incidence of newborn birth defect was not increased significantly. Thus, to lower occurrence of multiple pregnancy was the key approach to obtain neonates health.

Factors predicting clinical pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (a STROBE-compliant article).

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors predicting clinical pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).The data of 9960 patients receiving IVF-ET fresh cycle at our Reproductive Center from January 2009 to December 2017 were first divided into pregnant group and non-pregnant group to find the clinical pregnancy rate-related factors. According to the serum HCG levels at 36 hours and 12 hours after HCG trigger, all patients were divided into 4 groups including <50 mIU/ml, ≥50 and <100 mIU/ml, ≥100 and <200 mIU/ml, and ≥200 mIU/ml groups to know whether the HCG levels at 36 hours and 12 hours affect the pregnancy rate. According to the serum HCG ratio at 36 hours to 12 hours (36 h/12 h) after HCG trigger, all patients were divided into three groups including <0.88, 0.88-1.06 and >1.06 groups to observe whether the serum HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) affects the clinical pregnancy rate. According to different assisted pregnancy modes, all patients were divided into 3 groups including IVF, ICSI, and IVF/ICSI groups to observe whether the assisted pregnancy mode affects the clinical pregnancy rate. The correlation of the clinical pregnancy rate with pregnancy rate-related factors obtained above was analyzed using logistic regression analysis model.The clinical pregnancy rate significantly increased (P < .01) in the HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) >1.06 group as compared with the HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) < 0.88 and 0.88-1.06 groups. The serum estrogen (E2) level at 36 hours was significantly lower and the number of retrieved oocytes was significantly higher in the HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) >1.06 group than in the HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) <0.88 and 0.88-1.06 groups (P = .000).The serum HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) may be used as a predictor of IVF-ET clinical pregnancy rate. High clinical pregnancy rate is probably associated with E2 down-regulation in the HCG ratio (36 h/12 h) >1.06 group.

Impact of Female Obesity on Cumulative Live Birth Rates in the First Complete Ovarian Stimulation Cycle.

Background: Female overweight/obesity has been reported to be associated with compromised pregnancy outcomes in fresh embryo transfer cycles. It is unclear whether the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) is adversely affected after all viable embryos are transferred from the first ovarian stimulation cycle. Objectives: To investigate whether the CLBR was compromised in obese women. Method: A total of 9,772 young women underwent their first IVF/ICSI cycles from January 2012 to October 2017. Pregnancy outcomes were compared according to female BMI. Results: Among 1,671 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), those with a BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2 had a lower cumulative clinical pregnancy rate (CCPR) and CLBR during the first complete ovarian stimulation cycle. Additionally, the pregnancy loss rate was increased in this group, although the difference was not significant. Among the 8,101 women without PCOS, the CCPR and CLBR of obese patients was also significantly decreased, and this group also showed increased pregnancy loss rates. Moreover, overweight women also had a decreased CLBR. Conclusions: Female obesity adversely affected the CLBR after utilizing the viable embryos from first oocytes retrieval.

The role of AMH and its receptor SNP in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

The etiology of polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) is unknown. Studies probing the role of genetic variants of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and its type II receptor (AMHR2) in the pathogenesis of PCOS have yielded inconsistent results. Thus, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the role of genetic variants of AMH/AMHR2 in the pathogenesis of PCOS. A systematic search of electronic databases was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 3). Pooled Odds Ratios (OR) (95% confidence intervals) were determined to assess the association between genetic variants of AMH/AMHR2 and PCOS. Five studies, involving a total of 2042 PCOS cases and 1071 controls, were included in the meta-analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of AMH and AMHR2 did not appear to confer a heightened risk for PCOS (OR: 0.954, 95% CI: 0.848-1.073; P = 0.435; and OR: 1.074, 95% CI: 0.875-1.318; P = 0.494, respectively). In this study, genetic variants of AMH or AMHR2 were not found to be associated with a higher risk for PCOS.

Correlation between SHBG gene polymorphism and male infertility in Han population of Henan province of China: A STROBE-compliant article.

Human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) level alteration and SHBG gene mutations, especially in rs6259 and rs727428 loci, are associated with male infertility. In this study, the rs6259 and rs727428 loci in SHBG gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to explore the direct relation between these 2 loci and male infertility in Han population of Henan province and to provide information for the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of male infertility.A total of 366 male Han individuals in Henan province were enrolled in this study. Of the 366 male individuals, 183 infertility patients were served as infertility group and other 183 normal individuals as a control group. SHBG gene rs6259 and rs727428 locus polymorphisms were detected by PCR-RFLP in all patients. Also, genotype frequencies, allele frequency, and haplotype were all analyzed in both groups.There were statistical differences in A allele frequency (P = .017) and GA genotype frequency (P = .016) of SHBG gene rs6259 locus and in CC genotype frequency of SHBG gene rs727428 locus (P = .034) between the 2 groups.Male infertility is associated with GA genotype and A allele of rs6259 locus, as well as CC genotype of rs727428 locus in SHBG gene.

[Differences of Angiotensin II receptor expression between systemic and pulmonary circulation in children with left-to-right shunt congenital cardiac lesions].

OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) can reduce the ratio of pulmonary and systemic circulation blood flow (Qp/Qs) and thus decrease the blood flow of left-to-right shunt in children with left-to-right shunt congenital cardiac lesions. This suggests that there are differences in the expression of Angiotensin II receptors between systemic and pulmonary circulation. This study aimed to explore the differences of Angiotensin II receptors type 1 and type 2 (AT1 and AT2 receptors) expression between systemic and pulmonary circulation in children with left-to-right shunt congenital cardiac lesions. METHODS: Lung and skeletal muscular tissues were obtained from 20 children with left-to-right shunt congenital cardiac lesions by biopsy during operation. The specimens were stained by immunohistochemistry techniques for AT1 and AT2 receptors. The technique of morphometric analysis was used to measure the immunoreactivity of AT1 and AT2 receptors (expressed by IOD values) of pulmonary, skeletal muscular and pleural small vascular wall the diameter of which was 15-100 microm. RESULTS: The immunoreactivities of AT1 and AT2 receptors of pulmonary small vascular walls [(124 +/- 95)x10(3) and (85 +/- 62)x10(3) respectively] were significantly lower than those of skeletal muscular [(219 +/- 156)x10(3) and (155 +/- 139)x10(3) respectively] and those of pleural small vascular walls [(279 +/- 191)x10(3) and (175 +/- 128)x10(3) respectively] in children with left-to-right shunt congenital cardiac lesions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of AT1 and AT2 receptors in small vascular walls of systemic circulation was higher than that of pulmonary circulation in children with left-to-right shunt congenital cardiac lesions.

Analyses of optimal body mass index for infertile patients with either polycystic or non-polycystic ovary syndrome during assisted reproductive treatment in China.

We observed the effect of body mass index (BMI) on pregnancy outcomes in Chinese patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART). All the patients were divided into polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) group and non-PCOS group, and then according to BMI, each group was subdivided into 6 subgroups: group 1 (BMI < 18 kg/m2), group 2 (18-20 kg/m2), group 3 (20-22 kg/m2), group 4 (22-24 kg/m2), group 5 (24-26 kg/m2) and group 6 (BMI > 26.0 kg/m2). We found that in 20 to 25-year-old patients, the pregnancy rate was not significantly correlated with BMI in PCOS patients; while in non-POCS patients, the pregnancy rate significantly decreased at the BMI cut-off point value of 24-26 kg/m2. The pregnancy rate significantly declined at the BMI cut-off point values of 22-24 kg/m2 and 18-20 kg/m2, respectively in 25 to 35-year-old and in over 35-year-old PCOS patients; while in over 25-year-old non-PCOS patients, no significant correlation between pregnancy rate and BMI was observed. We conclude that for under 25-year-old non-PCOS patients, ART should be performed after BMI is controlled under 26 kg/m2. For PCOS patients, if age is 25 to 35 years or over 35 years, BMI should be controlled below 24 kg/m2 or below 20 kg/m2, respectively.

Involvement of P2X7 receptor signaling on regulating the differentiation of Th17 cells and type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Interleukin (IL)-17 producing T helper (Th17) cells are major effector cells in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) has emerged as a potential site in the regulation of inflammation in RA but little is known of its functional role on the differentiation of Th17 cells. This study investigates the in vitro and in vivo effects of P2X7R on Th17 cell differentiation during type II collagen (CII) induced experimental arthritis model. In CII-treated dendritic cells (DCs) and DC/CD4+ T coculture system, pretreatment with pharmacological antagonists of P2X7R (Suramin and A-438079) caused strong inhibition of production of Th17-promoting cytokines (IL-1ß, TGF-ß1, IL-23p19 and IL-6). Exposure to CII induced the elevation of mRNAs encoding retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α and γt, which were abolished by pretreatment with P2X7R antagonists. Furthermore, blocking P2X7R signaling abolished the CII-mediated increase in IL-17A. Blockade of P2X7R remarkably inhibited hind paw swelling and ameliorated pathological changes in ankle joint of the collagen-induced arthritis mice. Thus, we demonstrated a novel function for P2X7R signaling in regulating CII-induced differentiation of Th17 cells. P2X7R signaling facilitates the development of the sophisticated network of DC-derived cytokines that favors a Th17 phenotype.