A randomized double blind comparison of atosiban in patients with recurrent implantation failure undergoing IVF treatment.

Background: Patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) may have more uterine contractions. Several observational studies suggested that atosiban administration around embryo transfer resulted in higher pregnancy rates in RIF patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of atosiban given before fresh embryo transfer on pregnancy outcomes of women with RIF.

Involvement of kisspeptin in androgen-induced hypothalamic endoplasmic reticulum stress and its rescuing effect in PCOS rats.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, with adaptive unfolded protein response (UPR), is a key link between obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, all of which are often present in the most common endocrine-metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized with hyperandrogenism. However, the link between excess androgen and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unknown. An unexpected role of kisspeptin was reported in the regulation of UPR pathways and its involvement in the androgen-induced ER stress in hypothalamic neuronal cells.

Comparisons of recurrence-free survival and overall survival between microwave versus radiofrequency ablation treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma: A multiple centers retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching.

Both microwave (MW) ablation and radiofrequency (RF) ablation are widely used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatments in clinic. However, it is still unclear if ablative methods could influence the recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of HCC patients. Therefore, we carried out this multi-center retrospective cohort study to investigate the differences of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) between MW ablation and RF ablation by survival analysis.

Elevation of antimüllerian hormone in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing assisted reproduction: effect of insulin.

Objective: To measure blood and follicular antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and to examine the direct action of insulin on AMH expression in human granulosa cells.

Design: Prospective clinical and experimental study.

Setting: University Hospital-based laboratory.

Effects of Adenovirus-Mediated Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Therapy on Postinfarct Heart Function: Comparison of Single and Repeated Injections.

Clinical trials testing the effects of a single injection of adenovirus carrying the human hepatocyte growth factor gene (Ad-HGF) in patients with chronic ischemic heart failure failed to show consistent improvements in cardiac function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of repeated injections of Ad-HGF in a rat model of postinfarct heart failure. Ad-HGF or Ad-green fluorescent protein (GFP) was administered to Sprague Dawley rat models of postinfarct heart failure via single or fractional repeated intrapericardial injection.

Follicular hyperandrogenism downregulates aromatase in luteinized granulosa cells in polycystic ovary syndrome women.

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing IVF-embryo transfer based-assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment show variable ovarian responses to exogenous FSH administration. For better understanding and control of PCOS ovarian responses in ART, the present study was carried out to compare the follicular hormones and the expression of granulosa cell genes between PCOS and non-PCOS women during ART treatment as well as their IVF outcomes. Overall, 138 PCOS and 78 non-PCOS women were recruited for the present study.

Abnormally enhanced cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-mediated apoptosis in endometrial cells contributes to impaired embryo implantation in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Objective: To investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)-induced supraphysiologic concentration of E2 on the endometrium and outcome of embryo implantation.

Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: University-based laboratory.

Membrane ERalpha-dependent activation of PKCalpha in endometrial cancer cells by estradiol.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the oestrogen receptor subtypes ERalpha and ERbeta in mediating the non-genomic effects of 17-beta-estradiol (E(2)) in two human endometrial cancer cell lines (RL95-2 and HEC-1A) expressing different levels of these receptor subtypes. Western blotting analysis using phosphorylation site-specific antibodies showed that physiological concentrations of E(2) rapidly (<20 min) activated PKCalpha, but not PKCdelta in the RL95-2 cell line. E(2) had no effect on PKCalpha or PKCdelta activity in the HEC-1A cell line and suppressed basal levels of PKA activity in both cell lines.

The role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in gamete interaction and fertilization: a comparative study on knockout mice of three NOS isoforms.

Nitric oxide (NO), which is produced from l-arginine by three isoforms of NO synthase (NOS), has been implicated in reproductive functions. However, the specific role of NOS isoforms in gamete function and fertilization is not clear. Three types of NOS knockout mice were super ovulated and fertilized in vitro and in vivo.

Differential expression and localization of CFTR and ENaC in mouse endometrium during pre-implantation.

Interaction between the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a CAMP-activated Cl- channel, and epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) has been proposed as the major mechanism regulating uterine fluid absorption and secretion. Differential expression of these ion channels may give rise to dynamic changes in the fluid environment affecting various reproductive events in the female reproductive tract. This study investigated the expression and localization of CFTR and ENaC during the pre-implantation period.

Differential effects of Matrigel and its components on functional activity of CFTR and ENaC in mouse endometrial epithelial cells.

Our previous studies have observed an effect of Matrigel, a solubilized basement membrane preparation extracted from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse sarcoma, on the expression of ion channels in mouse endometrial epithelia; namely the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-dependent Cl(-)channel, and the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). The present study further investigated the effects of Matrigel and its individual components on the functional expression of CFTR and ENaC using the short-circuit current (Isc) technique. The results showed that different components of Matrigel, namely growth factors, laminin and collagen, had differential effects on the functional activity of the two ion channels in murine endometrial epithelium.