How has the external quality assessment/proficiency testing of semen analysis been developed in the past 34 years: a review.

Male infertility has become an important issue of global concern. Semen analysis is the cornerstone of male fertility assessment. External quality assessment (EQA) of sperm concentration, motility, and morphology is widely recognized in the world.

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.

GlycoTCFM: Glycoproteomics Based on Two Complementary Fragmentation Methods Reveals Distinctive O-Glycosylation in Human Sperm and Seminal Plasma.

Human semen, consisting of spermatozoa (sperm) and seminal plasma, represents a special clinical sample type in human body fluid. Protein glycosylation in sperm and seminal plasma plays key roles in spermatogenesis, maturation, capacitation, sperm-egg recognition, motility of sperm, and fertilization. In this study, we profiled the most comprehensive O-glycoproteome map of human sperm and seminal plasma using our recently presented Glycoproteomics based on Two Complementary Fragmentation Methods (GlycoTCFM).

Cellular uptake, intracellular behavior, and acute/sub-acute cytotoxicity of a PEG-modified quantum dot with promising biomedical applications.

Quantum Dots (QDs) modified with branched Polyethylene Glycol-amine (6- or 8-arm PEG-amine) coupled with methoxy PEG (mPEG) hold great promise for biomedical applications due to a long half-life in blood and negligible toxicity. However, the potential risks regarding their concomitant prolonged co-incubation with cardiovascular and blood cells remains inconclusive. In the present study, the feasible, effective and convenient proliferating-restricted cell line models representing the circulatory system were established to investigate the cellular internalization followed by intracellular outcomes and resulting acute/sub-acute cytotoxicity of the 6-arm PEG-amine/mPEG QDs.

Proteomic Landscape of Human Spermatozoa: Optimized Extraction Method and Application.

Human spermatozoa proteomics exposed to some physical, biological or chemical stressors is being explored. However, there is a lack of optimized sample preparation methods to achieve in-depth protein coverage for sperm cells. Meanwhile, it is not clear whether antibiotics can regulate proteins to affect sperm quality.

Extend the Survival of Human Sperm In Vitro in Non-Freezing Conditions: Damage Mechanisms, Preservation Technologies, and Clinical Applications.

Preservation of human spermatozoa in vitro at normothermia or hypothermia maintaining their functions and fertility for several days plays a significant role in reproductive biology and medicine. However, it is well known that human spermatozoa left in vitro deteriorate over time irreversibly as the consequence of various stresses such as the change of osmolarity, energy deficiency, and oxidative damage, leading to substantial limitations including the need for semen examinations, fertility preservation, and assisted reproductive technology. These problems may be addressed with the aid of non-freezing storage techniques.

Effective suppression of triple negative breast cancer by paclitaxel nanoparticles conjugated with transmembrane TNF-α monoclonal antibody.

Transmembrane TNF-α (tmTNF), a transmembrane form of TNF-α, was reported overexpressed in approximately 84% of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and has emerged as a valid candidate biomarker for targeting TNBC. Paclitaxel is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, but suffers from low water solubility, resulting in its low bioavailability. To achieve site-specific delivery of the anticancer chemotherapeutic drug (paclitaxel) on TNBC, we developed tmTNF-α monoclonal antibody (mAb)-conjugated paclitaxel (PTX) nanoparticles (NPs) (tmTNF-α mAb-PTX NPs) as potential nanocarriers.

Construction and validation of a transcription factors-based prognostic signature for ovarian cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common and lethal malignant tumors worldwide and the prognosis of OC remains unsatisfactory. Transcription factors (TFs) are demonstrated to be associated with the clinical outcome of many types of cancers, yet their roles in the prognostic prediction and gene regulatory network in patients with OC need to be further investigated.

Methods: TFs from GEO datasets were collected and analyzed.

Rapid cryopreservation of small quantities of human spermatozoa by a self-prepared cryoprotectant without animal component.

Cryopreservation of small quantities of human spermatozoa whilst maintaining adequate post-thawing motility has been found an essential challenge for male fertility preservation. Therefore, the study used an effective, and convenient rapid-freezing method to freeze small amounts of human spermatozoa by adding self-prepared cryoprotectant (SPC) without animal component. In the feasibility experiment, no significant differences in progressive motility, normal sperm morphology, vitality or DNA fragmentation index between the conventional slow freezing and rapid freezing were realised.

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.

Prognostic Role of S100A8 in Human Solid Cancers: A Systematic Review and Validation.

Background: S100A8 plays a key role in many cellular processes and is highly expressed in various solid cancers. However, the prognostic role of S100A8 has not been well defined. Therefore, we conducted a quantitative meta-analysis to investigate whether or not S100A8 could be used as a prognostic biomarker in solid tumors.

LncRNA PART1 Exerts Tumor-Suppressive Functions in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma via miR-503-5p.

Background: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) accounts for one-third of oral cancers. Previous studies had reported that lncRNA/miRNA regulated the biological behaviors of different cancer cells. However, the mechanisms of PART1 in regulating tumorigenesis and TSCC development via targeting miR-503-5p had not been studied.

Monitoring Neuroinflammation with an HOCl-Activatable and Blood-Brain Barrier Permeable Upconversion Nanoprobe.

A reliable tool for real-time tracking the neuroinflammatory progress is highly desired for interpretation and treatment of neurological disorders. Herein, a blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeable and HOCl-activatable upconversion (UC) nanoprobe with NIR emission was designed for visual study on neuroinflammation (NI) . This UC probe consists of three parts: upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as signal reporter, the dye acting as energy acceptor of UCNPs as well as the recognition unit of HOCl, and amphiphilic polymers endowing the probe with biocompatibility and BBB permeability.

The effect of an alternative chromosome 17 probe on fluorescence hybridization for the assessment of HER2 amplification in invasive breast cancer.

Fluorescent hybridization (FISH) is commonly used to determine the ratio of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) to centromere enumeration probe for chromosome 17 (CEP17), which further determines HER2 gene status in breast cancer. However, due to copy number alteration in CEP17, inaccurate diagnoses can occur. The current study was performed to investigate the diagnostic value of an alternative CEP17 reference probe for HER2 status in invasive breast cancer.

Quantitative evaluation of computed and voxelwise computed diffusion-weighted imaging in breast cancer.

Objectives: To assess the value of computed diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI) and voxelwise computed diffusion-weighted imaging (vcDWI) in breast cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 130 patients (age range, 25-70 years; mean age ± standard deviation, 48.6 ± 10.

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.

Prognostic Value of HMGA2 in Human Cancers: A Meta-Analysis Based on Literatures and TCGA Datasets.

Emerging evidences have shown that the high-mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) can aberrantly express in human cancers, and it could be an unfavorable prognostic factor in cancer patients. However, the prognostic value of HMGA2 was still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we explored the potential prognostic value of HMGA2 in human cancers by using meta-analysis based on published literatures and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets.

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.

Risk of infection in patients with spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis receiving antitumor necrosis factor therapy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents have been widely used for the treatment of spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, these agents may increase the risk of infection due to suppressing the immune response. The present meta-analysis was performed to systematically investigate the risk of overall infection, serious infection and tuberculosis in patients with SpA and AS treated with anti-TNF agents.

Risk of tuberculosis in patients treated with TNF-α antagonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objectives: An increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) has been reported in patients treated with TNF-α antagonists, an issue that has been highlighted in a WHO black box warning. This review aimed to assess the risk of TB in patients undergoing TNF-α antagonists treatment.

Methods: A systematic literature search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was performed in MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane library and studies selected for inclusion according to predefined criteria.

Analysis and assessment of the nutrients, biochemical indexes and heavy metals in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China, from 2008 to 2013.

The Three Gorges Reservoir, the world's largest hydropower project, has operated stably for more than five years. To understand its water quality status, the nutrient and biochemical indexes, the total nitrogen (TN), the total phosphorus (TP), the potassium permanganate index (CODMn), the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and fecal coliform (F. coli), as well as the heavy metals (Cu, Hg, As, Cd, Zn and Pb) of samples collected from 10 sites during the time period of 2008-2013 were studied via using multiple analysis approaches.