Proper application of DNA dyes in agarose gel electrophoresis.

Various dyes are used to visualize DNA bands in agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) by the methods of pre- or post-staining. The DNA dye user's guides generally state that the binding of the dye to DNA will affect DNA mobility in electrophoresis, thus recommending post-staining for accurate measurement of DNA size. However, many AGE performers prefer pre-staining procedures for reasons such as convenience, real-time observation of DNA bands, and/or the use of a minimal amount of dye.

Transgenic mice applications in the study of endometriosis pathogenesis.

Endometriosis (EM), characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial tissues and recurrent pelvic pain, is a common disease with severe negative impacts on the life quality of patients. Conventional uterine tissue transplantation-based models have been broadly used to investigate the pathogenic mechanism(s) of EM. Transgenic mice with whole body or uterine/pelvic tissue-specific labelling by the expression of GFP, β-gal or other light-emitting or chromogenic markers enable investigators to analyze the contribution to endometriotic lesions by the donor or recipient side after uterine tissue transplantation.

An atypical erectile dysfunction patient with infertility treated with penile prosthesis implantation and testicular epididymal sperm aspiration (TESA)-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): A case report.

Rationale: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in middle-aged and elderly men, affecting more than 100 million males worldwide. Most ED cases can be attributed to organic and/or psychological factors. Here we report an atypical ED case with no clear manifestation fitting the diagnosis for recognized types of ED.

HE4 overexpression in mice leads to leydig cell hyperplasia and spermatogensis impairment: Pathological implications for oligospermia.

Previous studies have shown that HE4 cancer biomarker promoted cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. Interestingly, HE4 levels are significantly increased in the seminal plasma of oligoasthenospermia patients, raising a question on HE4 role(s) in spermatogenesis. We constructed an HE4 overexpression mouse model (HE4-OE), and observed that HE4-OE male adult mice had small testes, low sperm counts, and elevated serum/testis testosterone levels.

Exosomal Circular RNA hsa_circ_0046060 of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Ameliorates Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Resistance in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus via the miR-338-3p/G6PC2 Axis.

Background: Impaired glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity have been linked to the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Exosomes secreted by the umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UMSCs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) derived from exosomes have been shown to be associated with the progression of GDM-related complications.

Methods: UMSCs were isolated from umbilical cords and identified through flow cytometry.

Syncytin-1 nonfusogenic activities modulate inflammation and contribute to preeclampsia pathogenesis.

Maternal cellular and humoral immune responses to the allogeneic fetoplacental unit are a normal part of pregnancy adaptation. Overactive or dysregulated immune responses that often manifest as inflammation are considered a key element for the development of preeclampsia. Infiltration and activation of macrophages, nature killer cells, and T lymphocytes are frequently observed in the decidua and placenta associated with preeclampsia.

How Nanotechniques Could Vitalize the O-GlcNAcylation-Targeting Approach for Cancer Therapy.

Accumulated data indicated that many types of cancers have increased protein O-GlcNAcylation at cell surface and inside cells. The aberrant O-GlcNAcylation is considered a potential therapeutic target. Although several types of compounds capable of inhibiting O-GlcNAcylation have been developed, their low solubility, poor permeability and delivery efficiency have impeded the application for in vivo and pre-clinical studies.

The Role of Syncytin in Placental Angiogenesis and Fetal Growth.

Syncytin, a retroviral envelope protein, is specifically expressed on trophoblast cells and mediates formation of the syncytiotrophoblast through fusogenic activity. Decreased expression of Syncytin was found in fetal growth restriction placentas. By generating an inducible knockout of the gene in mice, we show a specific disruption of placental angiogenesis with abnormal formation of two syncytiotrophoblast layers.

Inducible knockout of syncytin-a leads to poor placental glucose transport in mice.

Introduction: Cell-cell fusion of cytotrophoblasts into the syncytiotrophoblast layer is a key process in placental development. Syncytin, an endogenous retroviral envelope protein, is expressed in placental trophoblasts and specifically mediates syncytiotrophoblast layer formation. Syncytin deficiency has been observed in fetal growth-restricted placentas.

Androgen Excess Increases Food Intake in a Rat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Model by Downregulating Hypothalamus Insulin and Leptin Signaling Pathways Preceding Weight Gain.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive and metabolic disorder characterized by high androgen levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hyperandrogenism on the hypothalamus and subsequently on the food intake and obesity in females.

Methods: A dihydroxy testosterone (DHT)-induced rat model was established to recapitulate the hyperandrogenism features of PCOS patients.

Increasing Age Affected Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils in Prognosis of Pneumonia.

Purpose: It is well known that age is related to the incidence of pneumonia (MPP), and how age and other factors contribute to MPP remains unclear. In this study, we investigate how age affects the prognosis of MPP.

Patients And Methods: A total number of 1875 hospitalized children with pneumonia were enrolled in this study, including 52 children with refractory pneumonia (RMPP) and 298 children with non-RMPP.

Phytoestrogens for the Management of Endometriosis: Findings and Issues.

Endometriosis, a chronic disease characterized by recurrent pelvic pain and infertility, severely impacts the health and life quality of many women worldwide. Since phytoestrogens are commonly found in a variety of foods, and estrogen is a major pathological factor for the pathogenesis of endometriosis, their possible involvement cannot be ignored. This review summarizes data on the relationship between phytoestrogen intake and endometriosis risk, and analyzes the findings from in vitro experiments, rodent endometriotic models, and human intervention trials.

A Critical Review of Proteomic Studies in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a progressive and complex pregnancy complication, which threatens both maternal and fetal health. It is urgent to screen for specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and precise treatment, as well as to identify key moleculars to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms. In the present review, we comprehensively summarized recent studies of gestational diabetes using mass spectrometry-based proteomic technologies.

HE4 overexpression decreases pancreatic cancer Capan-1 cell sensitivity to paclitaxel via cell cycle regulation.

Background: Paclitaxel is a first-line chemotherapy drug for pancreatic, ovarian, endometrial cancers and other malignancies. However, its efficacy is often compromised by decreased cell sensitivity or the development of resistance. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is highly expressed in gynecologic and pancreatic cancer tissues, and its serum levels are used for patient triage and assistant diagnosis of gynecologic cancers.

WFDC2 gene deletion in mouse led to severe dyspnea and type-I alveolar cell apoptosis.

HE4 (Human Epididymis Protein 4) encoded by the wfdc2 gene was first identified as a highly expressed factor in human epididymis. HE4 expression levels in malignant lesions are correlated with the clinical manifestations of gynecologic cancers. HE4 serum test has been widely used for the triage of patients suspected of gynecologic cancers, prognosis of cancer patients, and monitoring cancer recurrence.

Dkk1 involvement and its potential as a biomarker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1)'s dysregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of cancers. It is part of the Dkk family of proteins that includes Dkk2, Dkk3 and Dkk4. This family of secreted proteins shares similar conserved cysteine domains and inhibits the Wnt/b-catenin pathway by causing proteasomal B-catenin degradation, inducing apoptosis, and preventing cell proliferation.

Serum levels of trace elements in children born after assisted reproductive technology.

Introduction: The health and development of newborn children born via assisted reproductive technology (ART), as well as their health in adulthood, have raised great concern. This study was designed to investigate whether ART children have differences in the levels of trace elements compared with naturally conceived children.

Methods: This study included those ART children and controls aged 1 to 12 years assessed with a follow-up protocol.

Culture characters, genetic background, estrogen/progesterone receptor expression, and tumorigenic activities of frequently used sixteen endometrial cancer cell lines.

Background: This study aimed to determine the in vitro and in vivo properties of sixteen frequently used endometrial cancer (EC) cell lines, including the cell proliferation rate, morphology, hormone receptor expression patterns, PTEN, hMLH1 expression, p53 mutation, karyotype, and tumorigenicity in mouse xenograt model.

Methods: Twelve type I (AN3, ECC-1, EN, EN-1, EN-11, HEC-1A, HEC1B, Ishikawa, KLE, MFE-280, MFE-296, MFE-319) and four type II (ARK1, ARK2, HEC-155/180, SPEC-2) endometrial cancer cell lines were studied. Cell proliferation and morphology were determined using cell growth curves and light microscopy, respectively.

Retrospective study on the outcomes of infantile tufted angioma complicated by Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of pediatric tufted angiomas(TA)complicated by Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon (KMP).

Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and follow-up data of 13 patients diagnosed with TA complicated by KMP. Five male and 8 female patients with an average age of 5.

Interfering effects of bisphenol A on in vitro growth of preantral follicles and maturation of oocyes.

Aims: In order to investigate the effects and mechanism of Bisphenol A (BPA) on the growth of preantral follicles and the maturation of oocytes in vitro, preantral follicles were harvested from mouse ovaries and in vitro cultured for 11 days with different concentrations of BPA (0, 4.5 and 45 μM) for calculating the percentages of antral follicles, denuded oocytes, degenerative oocytes and the maturation rate of oocytes, besides measuring the diameter of follicles and the thickness of cumulus cell layers.

Methods: The contents of estradiol (E) in the culture media on Day 4, 8 and 10 were detected by ELISA.