LINE-1-Induced Retrotransposition Affects Early Preimplantation Embryo DNA Integrity and Pluripotency.

Retrotransposable elements are implicated in genome rearrangements and gene expression alterations that result in various human disorders. In the current study, we sought to investigate the potential effects of long interspersed elements-1 (LINE-1) overexpression on the integrity and methylation of DNA and on the expression of three major pluripotency factors (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG) during the preimplantation stages of human embryo development. Human MI oocytes were matured in vitro to MII and transfected through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) either with an EGFP vector carrying a cloned active human LINE-1 retroelement or with the same EGFP vector without insert as control.

Methotrexate-Induced Toxicity After Ultrasound-Guided Intragestational Injection in a Patient with Caesarean Scar Pregnancy-A Case Report.

: Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy in which the early pregnancy implants at the site of the uterine scar. Methotrexate (MTX) in lower doses can be used to treat CSPs. However, MTX administration is associated with a spectrum of side effects that include hematological toxicities.

Association of the miR-143 Gene rs353292 Polymorphism with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Caucasian Women: A Novel Finding in a Multifactorial Devastating Problem.

The purpose of this prospective case-control study is to investigate the correlation of the miR-143 gene rs353292 polymorphism in Caucasian women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) compared to a matched control group with at least one live birth and without pregnancy losses. In total, 110 women with recurrent pregnancy losses and 95 control women were recruited. Peripheral blood was collected from all women, and the isolation of DNA was performed with Monarch Genomic DNA Purification.

CART (Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript): A New Identified Intrafollicular Mediator in Ovulation Induction Protocols.

Background/objectives: This study investigates the relationship between cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) expression, leptin, and hormone profiles-specifically progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-across four distinct ovulation induction protocols (HMG, HMG/hCG, rFSH, and rFSH/hCG). It also investigates the relationship between follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) Ser680Asn polymorphisms, CART expression, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) results, with the goal of better understanding how CART and FSHR polymorphisms affect ovarian response and oocyte quality.

Methods: Data were obtained from 94 women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) as part of their IVF therapy.

Impact of Reductive Stress on Human Infertility: Underlying Mechanisms and Perspectives.

Antioxidants have a well-established effect on general health and are essential in preventing oxidative damage to cells by scavenging free radicals. Free radicals are thought to be neutralized by these substances, which include polyphenols, β-carotene, and vitamins C and E, reducing cellular damage. On the other hand, recent data indicates that consuming excessive amounts of antioxidants may have side effects.

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation's Impact on Sexual Function in Female Patients with Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity, Sexual Dysfunction, and Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently results in both urinary and sexual dysfunction, which significantly impairs quality of life. Conventional treatments for bladder dysfunction often prove insufficient, leading to the exploration of alternative therapies such as percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS). This study aimed to assess the impact of PTNS on sexual function and bladder symptoms in female MS patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and female sexual dysfunction (FSD).

Decoding Apelin: Its Role in Metabolic Programming, Fetal Growth, and Gestational Complications.

Placental insufficiency and gestational diabetes, which are both serious pregnancy complications, are linked to altered fetal growth, whether restricted or excessive, and result in metabolic dysfunction, hypoxic/oxidative injury, and adverse perinatal outcomes. Although much research has been carried out in this field, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms have not as yet been fully elucidated. Particularly because of the role it plays in cardiovascular performance, glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress, the adipokine apelin was recently shown to be a potential regulator of fetal growth and metabolic programming.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Unraveling Its Imperative Impact on Male Infertility Based on Recent Evidence.

Male factors may be present in up to 50-70% of infertile couples and the prevalence of male infertility accounts for 20-30% of infertility cases. Understanding the mechanisms and causes behind male infertility remains a challenge, but new diagnostic tools such as DNA fragmentation might aid in cases where the routine semen analysis is insufficient. DNA fragmentation, which refers to damages or breaks of the genetic material of the spermatozoa, is considered one of the main causes of male infertility due to impaired functional capability of sperm.

The Impact of Human Papillomavirus Infections on Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Review of the Literature.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are significantly associated with multiple adverse reproductive outcomes such as miscarriages. Pregnant women are more susceptible to an HPV infection and its prevalence increases as pregnancy progresses. In this present review, we summarize the existing evidence indicating the potential impact of an HPV infection on the occurrence of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Intraovarian Platelet-Rich Plasma Administration for Anovulatory Infertility: Preliminary Findings of a Prospective Cohort Study.

: Infertility constitutes a significant challenge for couples around the world. Ovarian dysfunction, a major cause of infertility, can manifest with anovulatory cycles, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and diminished ovarian reserve markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels or the Antral Follicle Count (AFC). Blood-derived therapies including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been used in fertility treatments in women with low ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency.

Rare calcifying fibrous pseudotumor of the peritoneum in an adult woman as a random finding during laparoscopic surgery.

Calcifying fibrous pseudotumors (CFT) are rare benign lesions diagnosed by histological and immunohistochemical studies. Our case presents a rare detection of a CFT in the parietal peritoneum. These lesions can be falsely interpreted as myomas or adnexal masses and thus gynecologists should be aware of the existence of CFTs.

Omental metastases from uveal melanoma-An interesting intraoperative omental pattern appearance.

Uveal melanomas represent approximately 5% of all human melanomas. Omental metastases are often diagnosed as secondary metastatic sites and only a few cases have been described as the first single manifestation of distant metastasis. In this case image, we illustrate the interesting appearance of the metastatic localization of metastatic uveal melanoma.

Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant risks to pregnant women and those recently pregnant, leading to heightened mortality and morbidity rates. Vaccination has emerged as a pivotal strategy in reducing COVID-19-related deaths and illnesses worldwide. However, the initial exclusion of pregnant individuals from most clinical trials raised concerns about vaccine safety in this population, contributing to vaccine hesitancy.

Bridging the Gap between Galectin-3 Expression and Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Galectin-3 belongs to a family of soluble glycan-binding proteins, which are increasingly recognized as modulators of pregnancy-associated processes, including proper placental development. Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are significant complications of pregnancy, affecting millions of women annually. Despite their prevalence, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Laparoscopic Surgery During Pregnancy: A Meta-Review and Quality Analysis Using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 Instrument.

Accumulation of experience with minimally invasive surgery over the last three decades has rendered laparoscopic surgery the mainstay of management for surgical pathology during pregnancy. In the present meta-review, we compiled the available evidence on the safety of laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries during pregnancy, based on relevant systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA). A systematic review was performed for articles published until February 2024 in English using PubMed/MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) and Google Scholar based on predefined selection and exclusion criteria.

Enhancing Ovarian Tumor Diagnosis: Performance of Convolutional Neural Networks in Classifying Ovarian Masses Using Ultrasound Images.

This study aims to create a strong binary classifier and evaluate the performance of pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to effectively distinguish between benign and malignant ovarian tumors from still ultrasound images. The dataset consisted of 3510 ultrasound images from 585 women with ovarian tumors, 390 benign and 195 malignant, that were classified by experts and verified by histopathology. A 20% to80% split for training and validation was applied within a k-fold cross-validation framework, ensuring comprehensive utilization of the dataset.

Vaginal Microbiome and Pregnancy Complications: A Review.

There are indications that the microbial composition of the maternal mucosal surfaces is associated with adverse events during pregnancy. The aim of this review is to investigate the link between vaginal microbiome alterations and gestational complication risk. This comprehensive literature review was performed using Medline and Scopus databases.

Infant, Neonatal, and Post-neonatal Mortality in Greece: A Nationwide Time-Trend Analysis.

Introduction: Infant mortality is a crucial perinatal measure and is also regarded as an important public health indicator. This study aimed to comprehensively present time trends in infant, neonatal, and post-neonatal mortality in Greece.

Methods: The annual infant mortality rate (IMR), the neonatal mortality rate (NMR), and the post-neonatal mortality rate (PNMR) were calculated based on official national data obtained from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, spanning 67 years from 1956 to 2022.

The Expression of microRNAs and Their Involvement in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

Recurrent pregnancy loss refers to the spontaneous demise of two or more pregnancies before the 24 weeks of gestation. In almost half of the cases of recurrent miscarriages, the causes remain unknown since there is no reliable way of prognosis, early diagnosis, or treatment. Recent research has detected differential expression of certain miRNAs in reproductive system pathologies.

Oocyte Maturation and miRNAs: Studying a Complicate Interaction to Reveal Possible Biomarkers for Female Infertility.

Cellular metabolism, apoptosis, fertilization, and proliferation of granulosa cells belong to a battery of processes where microRNAs can be detected and associated with infertility. The aim of the present review is to focus on mammalian oocyte maturation events and the association between oocyte growth and miRNA expression. PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and Scopus databases were searched, and 33 studies were included.