Impact of Luteinizing Hormone on IVF/ICSI Assisted Reproduction on the Initiation Day of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Antagonist Protocol.

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the optimal timing of gonadotropin initiation and the reasonable interval of luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A) protocol.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the data concerning the oocyte retrieval cycles from 1,361 cases with the GnRH-A protocol implemented. The ovarian responses (including AMH, AFC) in these patients were divided into the poor ovarian response group (an antral follicle count [AFC] ≤ 6, n = 394), the normal ovarian response group (an AFC > 6 and < 15, n = 570), and the high ovarian response group (an AFC ≥ 15, n = 397), according to the AFC.

Construction of a multi-scale effectiveness evaluation system for ecological restoration and protection of territorial space.

The ecological restoration and protection of territorial space is a systematic project for the protection and restoration of ecosystems damaged or degraded by human disturbance. Effectiveness evaluation is of great significance to the optimization, adjustment, and sustainability of ecological restoration and protection. Current research and practices tend to focus on a single element and the site scale.

The Clinical Efficacy of Three Different Follicle-Stimulating Hormones for Follicle Growth and Development in Long-Protocol Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Treatment.

Objective: To compare the use and clinical efficacy of three different follicle-stimulating hormones (FSHs) for follicle growth and development in long-protocol controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Methods: A total of 540 gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists' long protocol treatment cycles at our hospital between January 2015 and May 2020 and met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The cycles were divided into three groups based on their indexes (groups A, B, and C).

Sex-specific responses to winter flooding, spring waterlogging and post-flooding recovery in Populus deltoides.

Winter flooding events are common in some rivers and streams due to dam constructions, and flooding and waterlogging inhibit the growth of trees in riparian zones. This study investigated sex-specific morphological, physiological and ultrastructural responses to various durations of winter flooding and spring waterlogging stresses, and post-flooding recovery characteristics in Populus deltoides. There were no significant differences in the morphological, ultrastructural and the majority of physiological traits in trees subjected to medium and severe winter flooding stresses, suggesting that males and females of P.

(2R, 3S)-Pinobanksin-3-cinnamate ameliorates photoreceptor degeneration in Pde6 mice.

As an inherited disorder caused by initial death of rod photoreceptors, retinitis pigmentosa is currently untreatable and usually leads to partial or complete blindness. (2R, 3S)-Pinobanksin-3-cinnamate (PC) is a new flavonone isolated from the seed of Alpinia galanga Willd, and has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects by upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes. In this study, the anti-oxidative and neuroprotective activity of PC against photoreceptor apoptosis in rd10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa was explored.

Meta-analysis of best corrected visual acuity after treatment for myopic choroidal neovascularisation.

Aim: To compare the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between Verteporfin with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Method: Published literature from Medline, Premedline, Embase and the Cochrane Library from inception until November 2013 were retrieved. All studies evaluating the BCVA between Verteporfin with PDT and intravitreal anti-VEGF for myopic CNV were included.

VEGFR2 functions as an H2S-targeting receptor protein kinase with its novel Cys1045-Cys1024 disulfide bond serving as a specific molecular switch for hydrogen sulfide actions in vascular endothelial cells.

Aims: The potential receptor for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) remains unknown.

Results: H2S could directly activate vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and that a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of VEGFR2 inhibited H2S-induced migration of human vascular endothelial cells. H2S promoted angiogenesis in Matrigel plug assay in mice and this effect was attenuated by a VEGF receptor inhibitor.

PI3K p110α isoform-dependent Rho GTPase Rac1 activation mediates H2S-promoted endothelial cell migration via actin cytoskeleton reorganization.

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is now considered as the third gaseotransmitter, however, the signaling pathways that modulate the biomedical effect of H(2)S on endothelial cells are poorly defined. In the present study, we found in human endothelial cells that H(2)S increased cell migration rates and induced a marked reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which was prevented by depletion of Rac1. Pharmacologic inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) both blunted the activation of Rac1 and the promotion of cell migration induced by H(2)S.

TGFBI and CHST6 gene analysis in Chinese stromal corneal dystrophies.

Aim: To investigate whether mutations in TGFBI gene or CHST6 gene correlated with stromal corneal dystrophies (CD) in 8 Chinese probands.

Methods: Eight unrelated patients with stromal corneal dystrophies were recruited in this study; all affected members were assessed by completely ophthalmologic examinations. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes, 17 exons of TGFBI gene and the exon of CHST6 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequenced directly and compared with the reference database.

[Spatial variability and evaluation of soil heavy metal contamination in the urban-transect of Shanghai].

Soil heavy metal concentrations along the typical urban-transect in Shanghai were analyzed to indicate the effect of urbanization and industrialization on soil environment quality. Spatial variation structure and distribution of 5 heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn) in the top soil of urban-transect were analyzed. The single pollution index and the composite pollution index were used to evaluate the soil heavy metal pollution.

[TG-FTIR analysis of thermal degradation of bischofite's crystals with aniline hydrochloride].

The dehydration of bischofite is the key to the use of magnesium resource. Double salts or complex method is an important way to prepare anhydrous magnesium chloride. The crystals of bischofite and aniline hydrochloride were prepared through lowering the temperature of the mixture's aquatic solution slowly.

[Evaluation the efficacy and safety of estradiol and drospirenone tablets in the treatment of menopausal symptoms among postmenopausal Chinese healthy women:a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study].

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of estradiol and drospirenone tablets (Angeliq) in treatment of menopausal symptoms among postmenopausal Chinese healthy women.

Methods: Total 244 postmenopausal Chinese healthy women who had moderate to severe hot flushes were randomly assigned into estradiol and drospirenone (observation group, n = 183) or placebo group (n = 61) by the ratio of 3:1 for 16 weeks in this randomized multi-center double-blind placebo-controlled study. During the trial, the follow-up visits were conducted at week 4, 8, 12, 16 of treatment and 2 weeks after treatment respectively.

[Population, distribution and food composition of wolves (Canis lupus) at Saihanwula Nature Reserve, Inner Mongolia].

To provide initial value for population restoration and management of wolves (Canis lupus) in the wild, line transect survey and fecal analysis method were used to study the population ecology of wolf at Saihanwula National Nature Reserve, Inner Mongolia. The results revealed that the population number was at least seven within the reserve and population density was 4.18+/-2.

The oxidative transformation of sodium arsenite at the interface of alpha-MnO2 and water.

Arsenite is acute contaminant to human health in soil and water environment. In this study, Pyrolusite (alpha-MnO(2)) was used to investigate the oxidative transformation of arsenite into arsenate with batch experiments under different reaction conditions. The results showed that arsenite transformation occurred and was accompanied by the adsorption and fixation of both As(III) and As(V) on alpha-MnO(2).

Anti-inflammatory effects of rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline in mouse N9 microglial cells and the molecular mechanism.

Excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines from activated microglia contributes to human neurodegenerative disorders. Our previous study demonstrated the potent inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in rat primary microglial cells by rhynchophylline (RIN) and isorhynchophylline (IRN), a pair of isomeric alkaloids of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks.

Monoterpenes from Paeonia albiflora and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia.

Eleven new monoterpenes, paeonidangenin (1), paeonidanin A (2), paeonidanin B (3), paeonidanin C (4), paeonidanin D (5), paeonidanin E (6), paeoniflorone (7), 4-O-methylbenzoylpaeoniflorin (8), 4-O-methylgalloylpaeoniflorin (9), 4-O-methyldebenzoylpaeoniflorin (10), and 4-O-methylalbiflorin (11), were isolated from the 60% ethanol extract of the roots of Paeonia albiflora. Their structures were determined primarily on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and MS studies. Paeonidanins D (5) and E (6) are unprecedented examples of "cage-like" monoterpene dimers.

Comparison of inhibitory potency of three different curcuminoid pigments on nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor production of rat primary microglia induced by lipopolysaccharide.

Microglia are the resident innate immune cells in the central nervous system. Evidence supports that the unregulated activation of microglia results in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that propagate neuronal injury and finally cause neurodegenerative diseases. Curcuminn (Cur), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are curcuminoid pigments extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.

RV09, a novel resveratrol analogue, inhibits NO and TNF-alpha production by LPS-activated microglia.

Excessive activation of microglial cells has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, has been reported to reduce the activation of microglia. In the present study, 5-[2-(4-bromothiophen-2-yl)vinyl]benzene-1,3-diol (RV09), a novel resveratrol analogue, was found to suppress NO production by LPS-activated N9 microglial cell line and/or cultured rat cortical microglia.

Effects of resveratrol and its derivatives on lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial activation and their structure-activity relationships.

The inhibitory effects of 21 resveratrol derivatives on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in microglia and their structure-activity relationships were studied. It was found, for the first time, that certain resveratrol derivatives that have 3,5-dimethoxyl groups in the A-ring, such as (E)-4-(3,5-dimethoxystyryl)phenol (pterostilbene, compound 2), or have substituted the B-ring of resveratrol with quinolyl, such as (E)-5-[2-(quinolin-4-yl)vinyl]benzene-1,3-diol (compound 18) and (E)-4-(3,5-dimethoxystyryl)quinoline (compound 19), strongly inhibited NO production. Compounds 2, 18, and 19 reduced LPS-induced protein and mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), but did not display direct NO-scavenging activity up to 30 microM in sodium nitroprusside (SNP) solution.

[Variation of the peripherin gene in Chinese with or without high myopia].

To analyze the relationship of the peripherin gene(PRPH, OMIM17071) mutations with high myopia,genomic DNA was collected from 180 probands with high myopia ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Variations of the zinc finger protein 161 gene in Chinese with or without high myopia].

To investigate the association between variations of ZFP161 gene and high myopia, A total of 204 probands with simple high myopia(< or = -6.0 dipoters) were collected while 116 normal persons from different families without high myopia or related disease were used as controls. Genomic DNA was prepared from the peripheral leucocytes.

[The SNPs analysis of encoding sequence of interacting factor gene in Chinese population].

Objective: To screen the variations of TG interacting factor(TGIF) gene in encoding sequence in Chinese high myopia patients and normal controls and to analyze the SNPs of TGIF gene encoding sequence in Chinese population.

Methods: Genomic DNA was collected from 204 probands with high myopia and 112 unrelated persons without high myopia. The coding sequences of TGIF gene in 316 subjects were analyzed by using exon-by-exon PCR heteroduplex-SSCP analysis and sequencing.

[Effects of mifepristone of different doses on emergency contraception, a randomized double-blind study].

Objective: To compare the effects of mifepristone of different doses on emergency contraception.

Methods: 3,052 healthy women with regular menstrual cycle who visited the 10 family planning institutes and hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, Shangdong, Sichuan, Tianjin, Guangdong, and Liaoning for emergency contraception within the period of 120 hours after a single act of unprotected sex were given a single dose of 10 mg or 25 mg mifepristone randomly and double-blindly. They were asked to record the vaginal hemorrhage that would occur and not to have unprotected sex until the next menstrual onset when they were followed up.