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.

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.

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

Photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CORR) 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[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.

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.

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.

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.

Study of DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes in children born after assisted reproductive technologies reveals no imprinting errors: A pilot study.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have been shown to be associated with abnormal genomic imprinting, thus increasing the incidence of imprinting disorders such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) in ART-conceived children. Furthermore, a recent study described abnormal DNA methylation in clinically normal children conceived by ART. However, data from different studies are conflicting or inconclusive.

[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.

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.

[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.

Molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres enhanced biodegradation of bisphenol A by acclimated activated sludge.

The impacts of bisphenol A- imprinted polymeric microspheres (MIPMs) on the biodegradation of bisphenol A by acclimated activated sludge were studied. Due to the selective adsorption of MIPMs to bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues, addition of MIPMs to activated sludge increased levels of BPA and its metabolites, which were also the substrates of biodegradation. Higher substrates (BPA and its metabolites) level promoted biodegradation efficiencies of activated sludge via accelerating removal speed of BPA and its metabolites, increasing degradation rate and decreasing half-lives of biodegradation.

[In vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection for primary and secondary infertility using sibling oocytes: clinical analysis of the outcomes].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sibling oocytes for treatment of primary and secondary infertility.

Methods: A total of 149 cycles of IVF and ICSI were conducted between January, 2003 and December, 2008 in our center, including 98 cycles in patients with primary infertility and 51 in those with secondary infertility. According to the embryos derived from ICSI, IVF and their combination, the clinical pregnancy rate, delivery rate and birth defect of the 3 groups were analyzed.

[Clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection using sperms of different origins and parameters].

Objective: To explore the quality of the embryos, clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment using sperms of different origins and parameters.

Methods: A total of 980 ICSI-ET (embryo-transfer) cycles were divided into 4 groups, namely normal sperm or mild oligozoospermia group (group A), severe oligozoospermia group (group B), epididymal aspirates group (group C) and testicular biopsies group (group D). The cleavage rate, embryo quality, fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and rates of birth defects were compared between the groups.

Combined analysis of endometrial thickness and pattern in predicting outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the combined effect of endometrial thickness and pattern on clinical outcome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET).

Methods: Cycles of IVF/ICSI-ET conducted between January 2003 and December 2008 at a university-based reproductive center were reviewed retrospectively. Endometrial ultrasonographic characteristics were recorded on the day of hCG administration.