Phytochemical determination and mechanistic investigation of Polygala tenuifolia root (Yuanzhi) extract for bronchitis: UPLC-MS/MS analysis, network pharmacology and in vitro/in vivo evaluation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bronchitis is a respiratory disease characterized by a productive cough. Polygala tenuifolia Willd., commonly known as Yuan zhi, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for relieving cough and removing phlegm.

Safety profiles of offspring born from early-follicular long-acting GnRH agonist protocol and daily mid-luteal GnRH agonist protocol: a retrospective study.

Background: The gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) have been widely used for controlled ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The early-follicular long-acting GnRH-a long protocol (EFL) and the luteal phase short-acting GnRH-a long protocol (LPS) are commonly used GnRH agonist protocols. We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess and compare the rates of congenital abnormalities and safety profiles in offspring born from the EFL and LPS protocols.

Fibrosis signature of anastomotic margins for predicting anastomotic stenosis in rectal cancer with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and sphincter-preserving surgery.

Background: Radiation-induced colorectal fibrosis (RICF) is a common pathological alteration among patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Anastomotic stenosis (AS) causes symptoms and negatively impacts patients' quality of life and long-term survival. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the fibrosis signature of RICF and develop a nomogram to predict the risk of AS in patients with rectal cancer undergoing nCRT.

Advanced effect of curcumin and resveratrol on mitigating hepatic steatosis in metabolic associated fatty liver disease via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and HIF-1/VEGF cascade.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease that has no viable treatment. Curcumin (Cur) and resveratrol (Res) are two natural products that have been studied for their potential to ameliorate MAFLD. However, while these compounds have been investigated individually, their combined use and the potential for a synergistic or augmented effect remain unexplored.

Metabolic differences in women with premature ovarian insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This review aimed to investigate the metabolic profile of women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) compared relative to women with normal ovarian functioning.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science for observational studies published up until the 6 of July 2021 that compared the metabolic profile of POI women with a healthy control group were assessed. Mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled using the fixed or random effect models.

Development of a Model Predicting the Outcome of Fertilization Cycles by a Robust Decision Tree Method.

Introduction: Infertility is a worldwide problem. To evaluate the outcome of fertilization (IVF) treatment for infertility, many indicators need to be considered and the relation among indicators need to be studied.

Objectives: To construct an IVF predicting model by a robust decision tree method and find important factors and their interrelation.

The Effect of Lymph Node Harvest on Prognosis in Locally Advanced Middle-Low Rectal Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between lymph node harvest and the prognosis in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with clinical LARC and treated with nCRT and radical surgery between June 2008 and July 2017 were included in this study. The relationship between lymph node retrieval and prognosis was analyzed.

Effect of Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance on Endocrine, Metabolic, and Reproductive Outcomes in Non-PCOS Women Undergoing Assisted Reproduction: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To evaluate the effect of hyperinsulinemia (HI) and insulin resistance (IR) on endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive outcomes in women without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing assisted reproduction. The study included 1,104 non-PCOS women undergoing fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-fresh embryo transfer. HI was evaluated by serum fasting insulin (FIN), and IR was evaluated by homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR).

MiR-let-7d-3p inhibits granulosa cell proliferation by targeting TLR4 in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a typical reproductive and endocrinological disorder of women at child-bearing age. In this study, we used miRNA sequencing technology and verified miR-let-7d-3p as a vital miRNA in PCOS. RT-qPCR confirmed miR-let-7d-3p was significantly increased in granulosa cells (GCs) of PCOS.

Hydrogel, a novel therapeutic and delivery strategy, in the treatment of intrauterine adhesions.

Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) are caused by damage to the underlying lining of the endometrium. They' re related to disorder of endometrial repair. In recent years, hydrogels with controllable biological activity have been widely used for treating IUAs.

Predictive value of circulating sex hormone-binding globulin for gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis.

To detect predictive value of preconception or early pregnancy sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) for subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We searched Embase, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane library up to January 2020. Studies assessing diagnostic performance of SHBG for GDM diagnosed by well-defined diagnostic criteria using oral glucose tolerance test.

Predictive value of the number of frozen blastocysts in live birth rates of the transferred fresh embryos.

Background: Blastocyst development by extended culture in vitro allows the embryos to 'select' themselves, thus successful growth to the blastocyst stage is a reflection of the developmental competence of cleavage stage embryos in a cohort. The study aims to determine whether the number of frozen blastocysts is associated with live birth rates of the transferred fresh embryos.

Method: The retrospective study included 8676 cycles of first fresh embryo transfer from January 2016 to June 2019 at a fertility center of a university hospital.

Prognostic Impact of Pretreatment Elevated and Normalized Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Resected Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients.

Purpose: The prognostic significance of pretreatment elevated and normalized CEA after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) was evaluated.

Materials And Methods: The characteristics of 951 locally advanced rectal cancer patients with nCRT were retrieved and were analyzed retrospectively. Pretreatment CEA levels were defined as CEA evaluated one week prior to the nCRT.

Identification of a MicroRNA Signature Associated With Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Endometrioid Cancer.

Background: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important prognostic factor in endometrial cancer. Anomalous microRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with cell functions and are becoming a powerful tool to characterize malignant transformation and metastasis. The aim of this study was to construct a miRNA signature to predict LNM in endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC).

Effects of Different Exposure Days to Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist (GnRH-a) on Live Birth Rates in the Depot GnRH-a Protocol: A Retrospective Analysis of 7007 Cycles.

BACKGROUND In controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocols worldwide, depot gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) pretreatment is generally used for pituitary desensitization. The delay between the GnRH-a administration and starting gonadotropin treatment varies greatly, from 25 to 60 days. However, the association between exposure days to GnRH-a before the onset of gonadotropin administration and the clinical outcomes remains unknown.

ICSI Does Not Improve Live Birth Rates but Yields Higher Cancellation Rates Than Conventional IVF in Unexplained Infertility.

Unexplained infertility has been one of the indications for utilization of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, whether ICSI should be preferred to IVF for patients with unexplained infertility remains an open question. This study aims to determine if ICSI improves the clinical outcomes over conventional fertilization (IVF) in couples with unexplained infertility.

The benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy on overall survival in resected stage I to II pancreatic cancer: A propensity-adjusted analysis.

Background: The survival time of patients with early pancreatic cancer (PC) is still disappointing, even after surgical resection. PC has an extremely poor prognosis. Herein, we aimed to investigate the survival effect of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on resected stage I to II PC.

Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Serum CA199 in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with CRT Followed by TME with Normal Pretreatment Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels.

Background: Elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are related to poor prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with neo-CRT followed by TME. In patients with normal pretreatment CEA levels, the prognostic significance of carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) is controversial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic value of pretreatment serum CA199 in patients with LARC who had normal pretreatment CEA levels treated with neo-CRT followed by curative surgery.

Comparison of GnRH-a Prolonged Protocol and Short GnRH-a Long Protocol in Patients with Thin Endometrium for Assisted Reproduction: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) is widely used for pituitary down-regulation and recruiting more follicles in assisted reproduction. However, no information is available on its value for patients with thin endometrial thickness.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 302 patients with endometrium <8 mm undergoing fresh embryo transfer at a fertility center of a university hospital from January 2016 and December 2018.

Nomogram Predicting Overall Survival of Resected Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: The overall survival (OS) of resected locally advanced rectal cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) was significantly different, even among patients with the same tumor stage. The nomogram was designed to predict OS of rectal cancer with nCRT and divide the patients into different risk groups.

Materials And Methods: Based on materials from 911 rectal cancer patients with nCRT, the multivariable Cox regression model was carried out to select the significant prognostic factors for overall survival.

Deep sequencing shows that accumulation of potentially pathogenic mtDNA mutations rather than mtDNA copy numbers may be associated with early embryonic loss.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between mitochondrial DNA quantity and heteroplasmy and early embryonic loss.

Methods: A total of 150 villous samples from patients with spontaneous abortion (SA, n = 75) or induced abortion (IA, n = 75) were collected. qPCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used to test mitochondrial DNA quantity and heteroplasmy.

Normal fertilisation rates and serum 25-OHD levels among couples undergoing in-vitro fertilisation: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between serum vitamin D levels in couples undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and normal fertilisation process.

Methods: Between March 2016 and March 2017, we performed a prospective cohort study at an academic reproductive medicine centre to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitaminD (25-OHD) levels of 1232 couples before controlled ovarian stimulation. Generalized linear regression and binary multivariate logistic regression were employed to assess whether 25-OHD levels in men and women correlated with normal fertilisation rates and low fertilisation rate (LFR).

Correction to: Modeling hallmark pathology using motor neurons derived from the family and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient-specific iPS cells.

The original article [1] was submitted and published without co-author Hong Chen's permission.