Follicular fluid progesterone downregulated HPGD and COX2 in granulosa cells via suppressing NF-ĸB in endometriosis†.

Increasing evidences showed that ovulatory dysfunction, possibly caused by luteinized unruptured follicular follicle syndrome (LUFS), is one of the reasons for endometriosis-related infertility. The present study was conducted to explore the potential effect of elevated progesterone in follicular fluid (FF) on ovulation in endometriosis. A prospective study including 50 ovarian endometriosis patients and 50 control patients with matched pairs design was conducted with alterations in FF and peritoneal fluid (PF) components identified by metabolomics analyses and differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells (GCs) identified by transcriptome analysis.

Curative effect of kangfuyan capsule combined with antibiotic treatment on pelvic inflammatory disease.

This study aims to investigate the curative effect of Kangfuyan capsule in the treatment of damp-heat and blood stasis type of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and its influence on serum inflammatory factors IL-6, CRP and TNF-α. A total of 83 patients with PID were randomly divided into two groups: Western medicine group (control group, n=41) received oral antibiotics (azithromycin + metronidazole) alone and the traditional Chinese medicine combined with Western medicine group (experimental group, n=42) received Kangfuyan capsule based on Western medicine therapy. Clinical efficacy between these two groups and the influence of drugs in serum inflammatory factors (IL-6, CRP and TNF-α) were compared.

Phoenixin-14 concentrations are increased in association with luteinizing hormone and nesfatin-1 concentrations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly characterized by obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hyperandrogenemia and hirsutism. Following the reported relationship between phoenixin-14 and gonadotropin production in rat hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, the present study was designed to investigate the circulating concentrations of phoenixin-14 and their associations with the concentrations of sex hormones including luteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E), progesterone (P) and total testosterone (TT) in PCOS patients.

Methods: A total of 41 women with diagnosed PCOS using Rotterdam criteria and 37 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study.

XCI-escaping gene KDM5C contributes to ovarian development via downregulating miR-320a.

Mechanisms underlying female gonadal dysgenesis remain unclarified and relatively unstudied. Whether X-chromosome inactivation (XCI)-escaping genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to this condition is currently unknown. We compared 45,X Turner Syndrome women with 46,XX normal women, and investigated differentially expressed miRNAs in Turner Syndrome through plasma miRNA sequencing.

Avian influenza virus in pregnancy.

The unprecedented epizootic of avian influenza viruses, such as H5N1, H5N6, H7N1 and H10N8, has continued to cause disease in humans in recent years. In 2013, another novel influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged in China, and 30% of those patients died. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to avian influenza and are more likely to develop severe complications and to die, especially when infection occurs in the middle and late trimesters.

Hyaluronic acid reagent functional chitosan-PEI conjugate with AQP2-siRNA suppressed endometriotic lesion formation.

To identify a new drug candidate for treating endometriosis which has fewer side effects, a new polymeric nanoparticle gene delivery system consisting of polyethylenimine-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-PEI) with hyaluronic acid (HA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed. There was no obvious difference in sizes observed between (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA and CSO-PEI/siRNA, but the fluorescence accumulation in the endometriotic lesion was more significant for (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA compared with CSO-PEI/siRNA due to the specific binding of HA to CD44. In addition, the (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA nanoparticle gene therapy significantly decreased the endometriotic lesion sizes with atrophy and degeneration of the ectopic endometrium.

Binding of FGF2 to FGFR2 in an autocrine mode in trophectoderm cells is indispensable for mouse blastocyst formation through PKC-p38 pathway.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF1, FGF2 and FGF4) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 and FGFR4) have been reported to be expressed in preimplantation embryos and be required for their development. However, the functions of these molecules in trophectoderm cells (TEs) that lead to the formation of the blastocyst as well as the underlying mechanism have not been elucidated. The present study has demonstrated for the first time that endogenous FGF2 secreted by TEs can regulate protein expression and distribution in TEs via the FGFR2-mediated activation of PKC and p38, which are important for the development of expanded blastocysts.

Auricular acupressure reduces anxiety levels and improves outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized and controlled study.

The study was to explore whether auricular acupressure (AA) can relieve anxiety during the period from trans-vaginal oocyte retrieval to the embryo transfer in IVF treatment and whether AA can improve the outcomes of IVF. 305 infertile patients with tubal blockage who were referred for IVF were included. The women were randomized into a control group with 102 cases, a Sham-AA group with 102 cases and an AA group with 101 cases.

Identification of a mutation in GDF9 as a novel cause of diminished ovarian reserve in young women.

Study Question: Do any mutations in growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) have a role in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in young women?

Summary Answer: The GDF9 p.R146C mutation may be a source of DOR in some young women.

What Is Known Already: DOR affects 10% of women under 37 years of age and is associated with accelerated expenditure of follicles.

Aquaporin-1 plays a crucial role in estrogen-induced tubulogenesis of vascular endothelial cells.

Context: Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) has been proposed as a mediator of estrogen-induced angiogenesis in human breast cancer and endometrial cancer. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms governing AQP1-mediated, estrogen-induced angiogenesis may contribute to an improved understanding of tumor development.

Objective: Our objective was to identify the estrogen-response element (ERE) in the promoter of the Aqp1 gene and investigate the effects and mechanisms of AQP1 on estrogen-induced tubulogenesis of vascular endothelial cells.

Down-regulation of S100A11, a calcium-binding protein, in human endometrium may cause reproductive failure.

Background: Low expression levels of S100A11 proteins were demonstrated in the placental villous tissue of patients with early pregnancy loss, and S100A11 is a Ca2+-binding protein that interprets the calcium fluctuations and elicits various cellular responses.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine S100A11 expression in human endometrium and its roles in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.

Methods: S100A11 expression in human endometrium was analyzed using quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical techniques.

Small-conductance calcium-activated K(+) channels 3 (SK3) regulate blastocyst hatching by control of intracellular calcium concentration.

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the expression of small-conductance calcium-activated K(+) channels 3 (SK3) in preimplantation embryos and to explore their role in the underlying mechanism of blastocyst hatching.

Methods: Human preimplantation embryos were donated by patients who achieved successful pregnancy with in vitro fertilization. Mouse preimplantation embryos in different stages were collected and cultured with or without siRNA cell injection.

Functional expression of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in human endometrium: a novel mechanism involved in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.

Background: Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK(Ca) channels) mediate physiological processes in nonexcitable cells.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine BK(Ca) channel expression in human endometrium and its role in endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation.

Methods: BK(Ca) channel expression in human endometrium is described at different phases of the menstrual cycle using quantitative real time-PCR and Western blot techniques.

Identification of estrogen response element in the aquaporin-2 gene that mediates estrogen-induced cell migration and invasion in human endometrial carcinoma.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that aquaporins (AQP) can facilitate cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in tumor development in addition to water transport.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine AQP2 expression in the endometrial tissues from patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC) and determine the roles and mechanisms of AQP2 in estrogen-related cell migration, invasion, adhesion, and proliferation of Ishikawa (IK) cells.

Approach: AQP2 expression levels were measured in human endometrial cells and estradiol (E(2))-treated IK cells, and the estrogen-response element was identified.