YTHDF2 regulates MSS51 expression contributing to mitochondria dysfunction of granulosa cells in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients.

Research Question: Granulosa cells (GCs) dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is reported that YTH domain-containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2) is upregulated in mural GCs of PCOS patients. What effect does the differential expression of YTHDF2 have in PCOS patients?

Design: Mural GCs and cumulus GCs from 15 patients with PCOS and 15 ovulatory controls and 4 cases of pathological sections in each group were collected.

Comparison of embryo implantation potential between time-lapse incubators and standard incubators: a randomized controlled study.

Research Question: What are the potential clinical benefits of embryo culture and assessment in a time-lapse incubator compared with a standard incubator using static assessment?

Design: This large multicentre, single-blinded, randomized controlled study included 1224 participants randomly assigned (1:1) to the time-lapse or standard incubator group. In all patients one or two embryos were transferred on day 3. The primary outcome was the implantation rate in the first embryo transfer cycle.

Different expression and localization of aquaporin 7 and aquaporin 9 in granulosa cells, oocytes, and embryos of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and the negatively correlated relationship with insulin regulation.

Objective: To investigate the expression of aquaporin 7 (AQP7) and aquaporin 9 (AQP9) in the granulosa cells of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women and detect their localization in oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), MII, embryo, and blastocyst stages and the in vitro response to insulin stimulation.

Design: Randomized, assessor-blinded study.

Setting: Reproductive medical center.

Placensin is a glucogenic hormone secreted by human placenta.

FBN1 encodes asprosin, a glucogenic hormone, following furin cleavage of the C-terminus of profibrillin 1. Based on evolutionary conservation between FBN1 and FBN2, together with conserved furin cleavage sites, we identified a peptide hormone placensin encoded by FBN2 based on its high expression in trophoblasts of human placenta. In primary and immortalized murine hepatocytes, placensin stimulates cAMP production, protein kinase A (PKA) activity, and glucose secretion, accompanied by increased expression of gluconeogenesis enzymes.

Metformin Regulates Key MicroRNAs to Improve Endometrial Receptivity Through Increasing Implantation Marker Gene Expression in Patients with PCOS Undergoing IVF/ICSI.

To some extent, the use of metformin may improve endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcomes of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. However, the mechanism is not well-known. The endometrium of metformin-treated group (metformin-treated patients with PCOS) and the control group (non-metformin-treated patients with PCOS) were analyzed for the expression of homeobox A10 (HOXA10) and integrin beta-3 (ITGB3) and differential micro RNA (miRNA) expression profiles.

Analysis of Related Causes for No Embryos Transferred and Corresponding Coping Measures in Assisted Reproductive Technology.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the related causes for no embryos transferred in assisted reproductive technology (ART) in order to provide corresponding coping measures for infertile couples. STUDY DESIGN: The data of 607 couples who underwent ART and had no embryos transferred in our reproductive center between January 2010 and January 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The cycles of no embryos transferred accounted for 3.

Reduced microRNA-188-3p expression contributes to apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in patients with azoospermia.

Background And Aims: Human mutL homologl (MLH1) works coordinately in sequential steps to initiate repair of DNA mismatches, and aberrant MLH1 expression is related to spermatogenetic malfunction. In the present study, MLH1 expression in patients with azoospermia was investigated, and moderating effects of miR-188-3p on MLH1 expression and spermatogenesis were identified.

Methods: Testicular tissues from 16 patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), and tissues of eight healthy patients were collected.

Effects of Vitrification on Outcomes of In Vivo-Mature, In Vitro-Mature and Immature Human Oocytes.

Background/aims: To observe the effects of vitrification on spindle, zona pellucida, embryonic aneuploidy and DNA injury in in vivo-maruted, in vitro-mature and immature human oocytes.

Methods: Between January 2009 and February 2015, 223 immature oocytes from 450 infertile patients, and 31 in vivo-mature oocytes from 3 infertile couples were collected. Of the 223 immature oocytes, 113 were used for in vitro culture before vitrification.

The effects of anticancer drugs TSA and GSK on spermatogenesis in male mice.

Objective: The effect of anticancer drugs Trichostation A (TSA) and GSK2126458 (GSK) on genetic recombination of sperm meiosis in mice was investigated, and their clinical feasibility of fertility preservation in cancer patients was also assessed.

Methods: Eighteen Kunming mice were randomly given TSA or GSK at the concentrations of 0, 0.1 and 0.

Comparison of vitrified outcomes between human early blastocysts and expanded blastocysts.

We compared the vitrified outcomes between early and expanded blastocysts with or without laser drilling. The grade III embryos from the patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in our reproductive center from September 2009 to February 2015 were incubated into early blastocysts and expanded blastocysts. The early blastocysts and expanded blastocysts were, respectively, divided into laser group (vitrification after laser drilling), non-laser group (direct vitrification), and control group (fresh non-vitrified blastocysts).

Expression of CD11c+HLA-DR+dendritic cells and related cytokines in the follicular fluid might be related to pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Objective: To explore the expressions of CD11c+HLA-DR+dentritic cells in the follicular fluid of patients with OHSS and their significances.

Subjects: 100 individuals.

Treatment: embryos were observed.

Blastocoele expansion degree predicts live birth after single blastocyst transfer for fresh and vitrified/warmed single blastocyst transfer cycles.

Objective: To evaluate the independent effects of the degree of blastocoele expansion and re-expansion and the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) grades on predicting live birth after fresh and vitrified/warmed single blastocyst transfer.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Reproductive medical center.

Body mass index effects sperm quality: a retrospective study in Northern China.

Excess weight and obesity have become a serious problem in adult men of reproductive age throughout the world. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the relationships between body mass index and sperm quality in subfertile couples in a Chinese Han population. Sperm analyses were performed and demographic data collected from 2384 male partners in subfertile couples who visited a reproductive medical center for treatment and preconception counseling.

Role of PAFAH1B1 in human spermatogenesis, fertilization and early embryonic development.

Spermatogenesis, fertilization and subsequent embryonic development are complex processes that require tight regulation. The PAFAH1B1 gene plays important roles in these reproductive events in mice, but its expression and roles in human reproduction have not been investigated. Expression analysis of testicular tissue by reverse transcription quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed varied expression levels among samples of different spermatogenic abilities (as assessed by the Johnsen score), with protein expression restricted to spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids.

Impact of oxygen concentrations on fertilization, cleavage, implantation, and pregnancy rates of in vitro generated human embryos.

The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of oxygen concentration during in vitro culture of human oocytes and embryos on fertilization, cleavage, implantation, pregnancy, multiple gestation and abortion rates. Women 20-48 years old presenting for infertility treatment and accounting for 3484 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were included in the study. Oocytes/embryos were randomly allocated to be incubated under three different oxygen tension environments: (1) 20% O2 in air; (2) initially 20% O2 in air, followed on day 2 (2-4 cells stage) by 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2; and (3) 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2 throughout.

Embryo developmental potential of microsurgically corrected human three-pronuclear zygotes.

We explored the embryo development potential of human three-pronuclear (3PN) zygotes reduced to two-pronuclear (2PN) zygotes (3 → 2PN zygotes) by micropuncture. In this study, there were three groups, the 3 → 2PN group (338 zygotes), the non-corrected 3PN group (381 zygotes), and the normal 2PN group (359 zygotes). The first cleavage mode (2-cell cleavage or 3-cell cleavage), 6-8 cell embryogenesis rate, high-quality embryogenesis rate and Day 5/Day 6 blastulation rate were compared between the three groups.

Expression and potential roles of HLA-G in human spermatogenesis and early embryonic development.

As one of the non-classical major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-1 antigens, Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G), has been suggested as a prognostic marker to identify the embryo developmental potential. In the present study, we investigated the potential roles of HLA-G in human spermatogenesis and early embryonic development. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that HLA-G's expression was increased with increased Johnsen score in testicular tissues.