MiR-124-3p negatively impacts embryo implantation via suppressing uterine receptivity formation and embryo development.

During embryo implantation, blastocyst interacts with the receptivity endometrium and the endometrial epithelium secretes nurturing fluid to support embryonic development. Interferon-λ (IFN-λ) is a novel, non-redundant regulator that participates in the fetal-maternal interaction; however, the precise molecular mechanism underlying its impact on uterine receptivity remains elusive. Here, microarray profiling revealed that 149 specific miRNAs were differentially expressed in the human endometrial cells following IFN-λ treatment.

Sperm-borne microRNA-34c regulates maternal mRNA degradation and preimplantation embryonic development in mice.

Background: Studies have shown that sperm-borne microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in mammalian preimplantation embryonic development. In humans, spermatozoan miR-34c levels are correlated with in vitro fertilization outcomes, such as embryo quality and the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. In rabbits and cows, miR-34c improves the developmental competence of embryos generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer.

Case report: A reciprocal translocation-free and pathogenic mutation-free embryo selected by complicated preimplantation genetic testing resulted in a healthy live birth.

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is an effective approach to improve clinical outcomes and prevent transmission of genetic imbalances by selecting embryos free of disease-causing genes and chromosome abnormalities. In this study, PGT was performed for a challenging case in which a couple simultaneously carried a maternal subchromosomal reciprocal translocation (RecT) revealed by fluorescence hybridization involving the chromosome X (ChrX) and heterozygous mutations in dual oxidase 2 (). Carriers of RecT are at increased risk for infertility, recurrent miscarriages, or having affected children due to the unbalanced gametes produced.

Long-term cryopreservation and frozen embryo transfer do not impact clinical and neonatal outcomes: a retrospective cohort study of slow-frozen early-cleavage human embryos.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the cryopreservation duration (up to 160 months) on the clinical and neonatal outcomes of slow-frozen early-cleavage human embryos. Clinical data collected between February 2013 and August 2017 were included in this retrospective study. Cases were classified into five groups by the duration of cryopreservation: Group 1, 6-12 months; Group 2, 13-36 months; Group 3, 37-60 months; Group 4, 61-84 months; and Group 5, >84 months.

Chinese herbal medicine (Bu-Shen-Tian-Jing Formula) for outcomes of IVF in Chinese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of anovulatory infertility. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has many advantages in treating PCOS. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the effects of CHM (Bu-Shen-Tian-Jing Formula, BSTJF) on the outcomes of IVF in Chinese patients with PCOS and the potential underlying mechanism.

Association between circadian rhythm disruption and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To explore the association of circadian rhythm disruption with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the potential underlying mechanism in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs).

Design: Multicenter questionnaire-based survey, in vivo and ex vivo studies.

Setting: Twelve hospitals in China, animal research center, and research laboratory of a women's hospital.

[Effects of embryo cryopreservation and thawing on clinical outcomes of transplantable embryos after cleavage-stage preimplantation genetic diagnosis or screening].

Objective: To investigate the effects of embryo cryopreservation and thawing on clinical outcomes of transplantable embryos after preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) or preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) in cleavage-stage.

Methods: The clinical data of 302 cases (including 118 cases using frozen/thawing embryos and 184 cases using fresh embryos) undergoing PGD/PGS in Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine during January 2011 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The pregnancy rate, implantation rate, live birth rate and abortion rate of fresh and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles were compared.

Spermatozoa Expression of piR-31704, piR-39888, and piR-40349 and Their Correlation to Sperm Concentration and Fertilization Rate After ICSI.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between spermatozoa PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) levels and semen parameters and to evaluate the role of expression of piRNAs on fertilization and embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-six patients with idiopathic male infertility who had undergone first ICSI cycles were enrolled in our study. The levels of piRNAs in spermatozoa were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Spermatozoa micro ribonucleic acid-34c level is correlated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes.

Objective: To assess the effects of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-34b/c expression levels in human spermatozoa on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: In vitro fertilization center.

Alternative splicing of the androgen receptor in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female endocrine disorders and a leading cause of female subfertility. The mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of PCOS remains to be illustrated. Here, we identify two alternative splice variants (ASVs) of the androgen receptor (AR), insertion and deletion isoforms, in granulosa cells (GCs) in ∼62% of patients with PCOS.

Depression of HspA2 in human testis is associated with spermatogenic impairment and fertilization rate in ICSI treatment for azoospermic individuals.

Purpose: Heat shock protein A2 (HspA2) expression was quantitatively measured in human testis and its relationship with the spermatogenetic status and laboratory outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was investigated.

Methods: Testicular tissues of azoospermia men were divided into four groups according to histopahtology: normal spermatogenesiss, hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS). HspA2 immunostaining was measured by Image Pro-Plus (IPP) and laboratory outcomes were calculated.

A molecular mechanism underlying ovarian dysfunction of polycystic ovary syndrome: hyperandrogenism induces epigenetic alterations in the granulosa cells.

The objective of this study was to explore whether hyperandrogenism induces epigenetic alterations of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 1 (PPARG1), nuclear corepressor 1 (NCOR1), and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) genes in granulosa cells (GCs) of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women and whether these alterations are involved in the ovarian dysfunction induced by hyperandrogenism. Thirty-two infertile PCOS women and 147 infertile women with tubal blockage were recruited. PCOS women were divided into the hyperandrogenism (HA) PCOS group (n = 13) and nonhyperandrogenism (N-HA) PCOS group (n = 19).

Up-regulation of p21 and TNF-alpha is mediated in lycorine-induced death of HL-60 cells.

Background: Leukemia is one of the most life-threatening cancers today, and acute promyelogenous leukemia (APL) is a common type of leukemia. Many natural compounds have already been found to exhibit significant anti-tumor effects. Lycorine, a natural alkaloid extracted from Amaryllidaceae, exhibited anti-leukemia effects in vitro and in vivo.

Altered aquaporin expression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: hyperandrogenism in follicular fluid inhibits aquaporin-9 in granulosa cells through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway.

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate whether the alteration of aquaporin-9 (AQP-9) expression in granulosa cells (GCs) of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was associated with the hyperandrogenism in follicular fluid (FF).

Methods: We recruited infertile women with PCOS (n = 14) and infertile women with tubal blockage (controls, n = 31) for this study. We examined total testosterone (TT), free androgen index (FAI), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), FSH, LH and estradiol in FF.