Autophagy activity is increased in the cumulus cells of women with poor ovarian response.

Objective: To evaluate the autophagy status of cumulus cells (CCs) in women with poor ovarian response (POR).

Materials And Methods: CCs were divided into normal ovarian response (NOR) group and POR group. The ultrastructure of autophagy was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (NOR: n = 18, POR: n = 26).

Effect of moxibustion for "nourishing the kidney and benefiting the marrow" on knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To compare the clinical effect between two acupoint regimens of moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and observe the influences on the serum content of interleukin 1α (IL-1α), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), bone gla protein (BGP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG).

Methods: KOA patients were randomly divided into an observation group (40 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (40 cases, 3 cases dropped off). In the observation group, moxibustion was applied to Xiyan (EX-LE5), Dubi (ST35), Zusanli (ST36), Dazhu (BL11), Xuanzhong (GB39) and Yongquan (KI1) on the affected side.

Leech extract alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leech, as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of blood circulation and blood stasis, was also widely used to cure pulmonary fibrosis in China. In clinical practice, some traditional Chinese medicine preparation such as Shui Zhi Xuan Bi Hua Xian Tang and Shui Zhi Tong Luo Capsule composed of leech, could improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the material basis of the leech in the treatment of IPF were not yet clear.

Ferroptosis patterns and tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization in esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer (ESCC) is an aggressive disease associated with a poor prognosis. As a newly defined form of regulated cell death, ferroptosis plays a crucial role in cancer development and treatment and might be a promising therapeutic target. However, the expression patterns of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in ESCC remain to be systematically analyzed.

A retrospective study on sperm cryopreservation in 1034 patients diagnosed with cancer in southern China.

Sperm cryopreservation is an effective fertility preservation method for cancer patients before anticancer treatments. However, there are little data on fertility preservation in large cohorts of patients with cancer in southern China. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to assess the fertility preservation status of 1034 newly diagnosed male patients with cancer in the Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province in southern China (Guangzhou, China).

Prognostic models for early and late tumor progression prediction in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: An analysis of 8292 endemic cases.

Objectives: The time for posttreatment tumor progression differs between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Herein, we established effective nomograms for predicting early tumor progression (ETP) and late tumor progression (LTP) in NPC patients.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 8292 NPC patients (training cohort: n = 6219; validation cohort: n = 2073).

Curcumin reverses the sunitinib resistance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) through the induction of ferroptosis via the gene.

Background: To explore the possible mechanism by which curcumin reverses the sunitinib resistance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Methods: A sunitinib-resistant ccRCC cell model was established. The MTT assay was used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC) and drug resistance (DR) index.

Curcumin Inhibits Viability of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma by Down-Regulating ADAMTS18 Gene Methylation though NF-κ B and AKT Signaling Pathway.

Objective: To investigate the effect of curcumin on viability of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and analyze its possible mechanism.

Methods: In cell lines of A498 and 786-O, the effects of curcumin (1.25, 2.

Magnesium Supplementation Attenuates Pulmonary Hypertension via Regulation of Magnesium Transporters.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by profound vascular remodeling and altered Ca homeostasis in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Magnesium ion (Mg), a natural Ca antagonist and a cofactor for numerous enzymes, is crucial for regulating diverse cellular functions, but its roles in PH remains unclear. Here, we examined the roles of Mg and its transporters in PH development.

Networks of E-cadherin, β1 integrin, and focal adhesion kinase in the pathogenesis of tubal pregnancy.

E-cadherin, β1 integrin, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are reported to involved in eutopic implantation by mediating cell adhesion. However, less is documented about their roles in ectopic implantation. This study was undertaken to evaluate the roles and networks of E-cadherin, β1 integrin, and FAK in tubal pregnancy.

Dysregulated erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2) is involved in tubal pregnancy via regulating cell adhesion of the Fallopian tube epithelial cells.

Background: Tyrosine kinase receptor erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2) is abundant in the endometrium and plays a role in the establishment of eutopic implantation. A similar molecular mechanism may exist between uterine implantation and tubal implantation, therefore EphA2 involvement in tubal pregnancy is suspected. Due to the limited availability of human Fallopian tube specimens, EphA2 expression in human Fallopian tube epithelium remains largely unknown.

A high-fat, high-protein diet attenuates the negative impact of casein-induced chronic inflammation on testicular steroidogenesis and sperm parameters in adult mice.

The interaction between obesity and chronic inflammation has been studied. Diet-induced obesity or chronic inflammation could reduce the testicular functions of males. However, the mechanism underlying the reproductive effects of fattening foods in males with or without chronic inflammation still needs further discussion.

The diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in differentiating high-from low-grade gliomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a powerful tool for preoperative grading of gliomas. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of MRS in differentiating high-grade gliomas (HGGs) from low-grade gliomas (LGGs).

Methods: PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched for relevant studies of glioma grading assessed by MRS through 27 March 2015.

Role of Slit2/Robo1 in trophoblast invasion and vascular remodeling during ectopic tubal pregnancy.

Introduction: For ectopic tubal pregnancy to be viable, it requires a supporting vascular network and functioning trophoblast. Slit2/Robo1 signaling plays an important role in placental angiogenesis during normal pregnancy. Hence, we here investigated whether or not Slit2/Robo1 signaling also had an impact in ectopic tubal pregnancy.

Von Hippel-Lindau gene expression on the human fallopian tube epithelium during the menstrual cycle.

The Von Hippel-Lindau gene (VHL) is a tumor suppressor gene, which is widely expressed in kidney, lung, breast, ovary, and cervix. VHL gene mutations can induce VHL disease and tumorigenesis. However, whether this gene is expressed in the human fallopian tube has not been evaluated.

The changes of stage distribution of seminiferous epithelium cycle and its correlations with Leydig cell stereological parameters in aging men.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes of stage distribution of seminiferous epithelium cycle and its correlations with Leydig cell stereological parameters in aging men.

Methods: Point counting method was used to analyze the stereological parameters of Leydig cells. The stage number of seminiferous epithelium cycle was calculated in the same testicular tissue samples which were used for Leydig cell stereological analysis.

Von Hippel-Lindau gene expression in human endometrium during menstrual cycle.

The von Hippel‑Lindau (VHL) gene is a tumor suppressor gene, which is widely expressed in the kidney, lung, breast, eye, ovary and cervix. Mutations of the VHL gene are able to induce VHL disease and tumorigenesis. However, it has yet to be evaluated whether the VHL gene is expressed in the human endometrium.

Pathological changes of testicular tissue in normal adult mice: A retrospective analysis.

Mouse testicular experimental models are widely used in the study of andrology, reproductive toxicology and pharmacology. Under physiological conditions, a normal adult mouse is usually considered to have normal testes. However, whether normal adult mouse testes exhibit pathological changes has not been evaluated.

Expression of PPAR-γ in adipose tissue of rats with polycystic ovary syndrome induced by DHEA.

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) in adipose tissue of the rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), induced by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Sixteen sexually immature Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to the DHEA (n=8) or control (n=8) group. Adipose tissue was collected from the two rat groups following subcutaneous injection of DHEA in the DHEA group and a standard laboratory diet in the control group for 20 consecutive days.

Outcome of conventional IVF and ICSI on sibling oocytes in moderate ligoasthenozoospermia.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with moderate oligoasthenozoospermia treated with conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods: A total of 99 couples with moderate oligoasthenozoospermia undergoing their first IVF/ICSI cycle were included in the study. Sibling oocytes were randomized to be inseminated either by conventional IVF or ICSI.

Expression of toll-like receptor 4 in maternal monocytes of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors and play an important role in innate immune responses and the occurrence of inflammatory disease. TLR4 is a member of the TLR family and its activation is capable of inducing inflammatory responses, reflecting a relationship between the innate and adaptive immune systems. However, whether TLR4 is expressed in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been elucidated.

Quantitative histological analysis and ultrastructure of the aging human testis.

Purpose: To quantitatively assess the histological and ultrastructural changes resulting from aging in the human testis.

Methods: Age-related histological and ultrastructural changes were evaluated using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry on 41 testicular samples obtained from elderly men and, respectively, assigned to group A (n = 20), 54-69 years old or group B (n = 21), 70-89 years old. Testicular samples derived from 17 young men were used for control.

Comparison of the outcome of conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in moderate male infertility from ejaculate.

Objective: To evaluate whether couples with moderate male infertility should be treated with conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Patients And Methods: A total of 249 couples with moderate male infertility undergoing their first IVF/ICSI cycle were enrolled in the study. The couples were divided into two groups according to the results of semen analysis: moderate oligozoospermia (O group) and moderate oligoasthenozoospermia (OA group).