Resolution of Expanded Porphyrinoids: A Path to Persistent Chirality and Appealing Chiroptical Properties.

Chirality is a fundamental characteristic of nature. Expanded porphyrinoids and their analogues offer an attractive platform for delving into the intricacies of chirality. Expanded porphyrinoids comprise pyrrolic macrocycles and related heterocyclic systems.

Invariant natural killer T cells drive hepatic homeostasis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via sustained IL-10 expression in CD170 Kupffer cells.

Kupffer cells (KCs) are liver-resident macrophages involved in hepatic inflammatory responses, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. However, the contribution of KC subsets to liver inflammation remains unclear. Here, using high-dimensional single-cell RNA sequencing, we characterized murine embryo-derived KCs and identified two KC populations with different gene expression profiles: KC-1 and KC-2.

[Adoptive bone marrow cells can reduce the liver injury of metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in mice by differentiating into natural killer T (NKT) cells and increasing their own lipid content].

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of bone marrow cell adoptive therapy on metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in mice and its possible cell population. Methods The staining was used to detect the liver lesions of MAFLD in C57BL/6 mice induced by methionine and choline deficiency diet (MCD) and the adoptive therapeutic effect of bone marrow cells on MAFLD was evaluated by detecting the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The mRNA expressions of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in liver immune cells (including T, NKT, Kupffer cells and other cell populations) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR.

The cytokine profiles in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes in women with endometriosis.

Problem: Endometriosis patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment suffer from poor oocyte quality, a reduced likelihood of the fertilization rate, and low embryo quality. The dysregulation of immune cells and cytokine profiles in the follicular fluid (FF) may play an important role in the competence of the oocyte and the development of the embryo, but the mechanism remains largely unknown.

Method Of Study: A total of 40 proved advanced staged endometriosis patients were enrolled in this study.

COVID-19 and Male Reproduction: A Thorny Problem.

With the global epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the increasing number of infections, little is known about how SARS-CoV-2 affects the male reproductive system during infection or after recovery. Based on the existing research data, we reviewed the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the male reproductive system and discussed its possible mechanism of action. SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) pathway, and males are more susceptible than females.

Genetic analysis and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes of Chinese patients with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens.

Purpose: Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is a major cause of obstructive azoospermia and male factor infertility. CBAVD is mainly caused by mutations in the genes encoding CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) and ADGRG2 (adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2). This study aimed to describe CFTR and ADGRG2 variations in 46 Chinese CBAVD patients and evaluated sperm retrieval and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Dual inhibition of EGFR and IL-6-STAT3 signalling by miR-146b: a potential targeted therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling and the interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) are aberrantly activated in ovarian cancer. However, inhibition of EGFR signalling in ovarian cancer patients resulted in a disappointing clinical benefit. In this study, we found that EGFR could activate IL-6-STAT3 pathway in ovarian cancer cells.

Decidual-derived RANKL facilitates macrophages accumulation and residence at the maternal-fetal interface in human early pregnancy.

Problem: During the first trimester, the accumulation of macrophages, which is the second largest decidual leukocyte population (~20%) at the maternal-fetal interface, is quite vital for a successful pregnancy, including embryo implantation, trophoblast invasion, and vascular remodeling. The mechanism of the enrichment and redistribution of macrophages in the uterine decidua of early pregnancy is largely unclear.

Method Of Study: A total of 37 women with normal early pregnancies were included.

Reactive Oxygen Species Secreted by Leukocytes in Semen Induce Self-Expression of Interleukin-6 and Affect Sperm Quality.

Reproductive tract inflammation is considered an important cause of male infertility. Increased leukocytes in semen can produce many reactive oxygen species (ROS), which affect sperm function. The aim of this study is to identify the main source of ROS in seminal plasma and to assess the effect of ROS on leukocytes.

Importance of a semen analysis report for determining the relationship between SCSA sperm DNA fragmentation index and assisted reproductive technology pregnancy rate.

In the past, semen parameters have been the primary diagnostic criteria used to establish male infertility. However, with the exception of sperm motility, which is known to be linked to rates of in vitro fertilization success, these parameters are generally unreliable at accurately predicting the potential fertility of a couple. More recent research has suggested that sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) may be a more robust and reliable means of predicting assisted reproductive outcomes.

Abnormal aggregation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in a mouse model of cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian failure.

Oocytes are extremely sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy, and premature ovarian failure (POF) is one of the side effects of anti-tumor therapy. The pathogenesis of POF is very complex and still not fully elucidated. A mouse POF model was established after 14 days of cyclophosphamide injection.

Trophoblast-derived hyaluronan promotes the regulatory phenotype of decidual macrophages.

There is delicate crosstalk between fetus-derived trophoblasts (Tros) and maternal cells during normal pregnancy. Dysfunctions in interaction are highly linked to some pregnancy complications, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Hyaluronan (HA), the most abundant component of extracellular matrix, has been reported to act as both a pro- and an anti-inflammatory molecule.

[Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum with the types of antisperm antibody in infertile men].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection in infertile men, its influence on routine semen parameters and the distribution of antisperm antibody (AsAb) and its types in infertile patients with UU infection.

Methods: We detected the positive rate of UU infection, semen parameters, and the distribution of AsAb and its types in 662 infertile men and 25 normal fertile male controls followed by comparison of the obtained data between the two groups of subjects.

Results: The positive rate of UU infection was significantly higher in the infertile men than in the normal controls (52.

[Analysis of FOXL2 gene mutation and genotype-phenotype correlation in a Chinese pedigree affected with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome].

Objective: To detect FOXL2 gene mutation in a Chinese pedigree affected with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES) type I, and to explore its genotype-phenotype correlation.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 3 patients and 19 healthy members from the pedigree for the isolation of genomic DNA. All exons and flanking sequences of the FOXL2 gene were amplified by PCR with 7 pairs of overlapping primers and sequenced.

[Sperm chromatin structure assay versus sperm chromatin dispersion test in detecting sperm DNA integrity and correlation of sperm DNA fragmentation with semen parameters].

Objective: Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is widely used to predict male infertility and the methods of detecting SDF are varied. This study aimed to compare two methods of SDF detection and investigate the correlation between SDF and sperm quality.

Methods: Using sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD), we detected SDF in 108 semen samples collected in the Center of Reproduction and Genetics of Suzhou Municipal Hospital.

High fat diet exacerbates dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis through disturbing mucosal dendritic cell homeostasis.

Epidemiological studies have shown that fat rich western diet contributes to the high incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, accumulated data indicated that fat dietary factor might promote the change of the composition and metabolism in commensal flora. But, the exact mechanisms for fatty diet in gut inflammation are not well demonstrated.

Fish Oil-Rich Diet Promotes Hematopoiesis and Alters Hematopoietic Niche.

The self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in bone marrow are essential to replenish all blood cell types, but how this process is influenced by diet remains largely unclear. Here we show that a diet rich in fish oils promotes self-renewal of HSCs and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Chronic intake of a fish oil-rich diet increases the abundance of HSCs, alters the hematopoietic microenvironment, and, intriguingly, induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) in the bone marrow.

Chronic intake of high fish oil diet induces myeloid-derived suppressor cells to promote tumor growth.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enriched fish oil exerts beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in animal models with acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), comprised of myeloid progenitors and precursors of myeloid cells, play vital roles in cancer. How fish oil affects the generation of MDSCs and the tumor development remains largely unexplored.

Dietary fish oil exacerbates concanavalin A induced hepatitis through promoting hepatocyte apoptosis and altering immune cell populations.

The development of hepatitis is associated with the infiltration and activation of immune cells in liver. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) rich fish oil (FO) is used to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases. But, the effects of dietary FO on autoimmune hepatitis remain largely unknown.