Delayed covering causes the accumulation of motile sperm, leading to overestimation of sperm concentration and motility with a Makler counting chamber.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) manual, sperm concentration should be measured using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer, while sperm motility should be measured by manual assessment. However, in China, thousands of laboratories do not use the improved Neubauer hemocytometer or method; instead, the Makler counting chamber is one of the most widely used chambers. To study sources of error that could impact the measurement of the apparent concentration and motility of sperm using the Makler counting chamber and to verify its accuracy for clinical application, 67 semen samples from patients attending the Department of Andrology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) between 13 September 2023 and 27 September 2023, were included.

External quality assessment scheme for sperm DNA fragmentation: a pilot study in China.

Background: The aim of this article is to establish an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for sperm Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation (SDF) detection, and to assess the feasibility of the scheme. In addition, this article provides some case analysis of abnormal results in order to really help improve the performance of the laboratory.

Results: In 2021 and 2022, 10 and 28 laboratories in China volunteered to participate in the EQA program respectively.

Breaking through the Size Control Dilemma of Silver Chalcogenide Quantum Dots via Trialkylphosphine-Induced Ripening: Leading to AgTe Emitting from 950 to 2100 nm.

AgTe is one of the most promising semiconductors with a narrow band gap and low toxicity; however, it remains a challenge to tune the emission of AgTe quantum dots (QDs) precisely and continuously in a wide range. Herein, AgTe QDs emitting from 950 to 2100 nm have been synthesized via trialkylphosphine-controlled growth. Trialkylphosphine has been found to induce the dissolution of small-sized AgTe QDs due to its stronger ability to coordinate to the Ag ion than that of 1-octanethiol, predicated by the density functional theory.

Exosome plays an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant cancers around the world. However, the early biomarkers for its detection and treatment are limited currently. Exosomes, classified as intercellular messenger shuttling their cargoes between cells, regulate cell differentiation and tissue development.

Gd-DTPA-coupled AgSe quantum dots for dual-modality magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) are ideal platforms to fabricate multifunctional contrast agents for multimodal imaging. Herein, second near-infrared window fluorescent (NIR-II) Ag2Se QDs were coupled with gadopentetate dimeglumine injection (Gd-DTPA) for dual-modality T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and fluorescence imaging. In vitro experiments suggested that the prepared Ag2Se-Gd QDs exhibit low cytotoxicity, remarkable T1-weighted MR imaging, and fluorescence imaging contrast properties.