Associations of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection with male infertility and intrauterine insemination outcomes.

Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is one of the most commonly occurring pathogens associated with genital tract infections in infertile males, but the impact of seminal UU infection in semen on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcomes is poorly understood. We collected data from 245 infertile couples who underwent IUI at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Hefei, China) between January 2021 and January 2023. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their UU infection status: the UU-positive group and the UU-negative group.

Berberine attenuates atherosclerotic lesions and hepatic steatosis in ApoE mice by down-regulating PCSK9 via ERK1/2 pathway.

Background: It has been demonstrated that berberine (BBR), a kind of alkaloid derived from Chinese herbal medicine, has multiple pharmacological effects on human's diseases including anti-atherosclerosis action. However, although the previous studies showed that the beneficial impact of BBR on atherosclerosis might be associated with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), the exact underlying mechanism are not fully determined. The present study aimed to investigate potential mechanisms of anti-atherosclerosis by BBR using ApoE mice.

homozygous missense variant causes nonobstructive azoospermia.

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a common cause of infertility and is defined as the complete absence of sperm in ejaculation due to defective spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify the genetic etiology of NOA in an infertile male from a Chinese consanguineous family. A homozygous missense variant of the membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing 1 (MBOAT1) gene (c.

Liraglutide improves lipid metabolism by enhancing cholesterol efflux associated with ABCA1 and ERK1/2 pathway.

Background: Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is an important cardioprotective mechanism and the decrease in cholesterol efflux can result in the dyslipidemia. Although liraglutide, a glucagon like peptide-1 analogue, has mainly impacted blood glucose, recent data has also suggested a beneficial effect on blood lipid. However, the exact mechanism by which liraglutide modulates lipid metabolism, especially its effect on RCT, remain undetermined.

The Anti-Allergic Rhinitis Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shenqi by Regulating Mast Cell Degranulation and Th1/Th2 Cytokine Balance.

Shenqi is a traditional Chinese polyherbal medicine has been widely used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-allergic rhinitis activity of Shenqi and explore its underlying molecular mechanism. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis rat model was used to evaluate the anti-allergic rhinitis effect of Shenqi.

Aberrant DNA methylation of imprinted loci in human spontaneous abortions after assisted reproduction techniques and natural conception.

Study Question: Do assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) affect DNA methylation of imprinted genes and does aberrant methylation of imprinted genes account for the incidence of human spontaneous abortion (SA)?

Summary Answer: Our results show that imprinting errors of imprinted genes may contribute to human SA, and the occurrence of aberrant methylation of imprinted genes in ART pregnancies was comparable with that in natural pregnancies.

What Is Known Already: Animal data and human studies demonstrated that in vitro culture of embryos can cause methylation defects in individual genes, which might affect subsequent embryonic development and contribute to SA. However, our previous studies showed an abnormal methylation pattern of PEG1 in human aborted chrionic villus samples (CVS) but an increased occurrence of aberrant methylation in CVS from ART-derived pregnancies was not observed.

Study of DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes in children born after assisted reproductive technologies reveals no imprinting errors: A pilot study.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have been shown to be associated with abnormal genomic imprinting, thus increasing the incidence of imprinting disorders such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) in ART-conceived children. Furthermore, a recent study described abnormal DNA methylation in clinically normal children conceived by ART. However, data from different studies are conflicting or inconclusive.

[Impact of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone on the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and pregnancy outcomes in young women].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on both the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and the clinical outcomes of pregnancy in women under 35 years of age.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for inspecting 294 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in women under 35 years of age. According to the basal FSH levels, the women were divided into groups A, B, and C with basal FSH of 10-14.

Assisted reproductive technologies do not increase risk of abnormal methylation of PEG1/MEST in human early pregnancy loss.

Objective: To evaluate the epigenetic risk linked to assisted reproductive technology (ART) by analyzing the methylation patterns of imprinted PEG1 gene in aborted human chorionic villus.

Design: Experimental research study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

[Prediction of ovarian reserve, poor response and pregnancy outcome based on basal antral follicle count and age in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer].

Objective: To study the value of basal antral follicle count (AFC) and age in predicting ovarian response and clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods: A total of 1319 oocyte retrieval cycles in women with an AFC≤10 and complete IVF/ICSI cycles were analyzed retrospectively. According to the AFC, the patients were divided into groups A, B, and C with AFC≤4, of 5-7, and of 8-10, respectively, and each was further divided into <38 years old group and ≥38 years old group.

[In vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection for primary and secondary infertility using sibling oocytes: clinical analysis of the outcomes].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sibling oocytes for treatment of primary and secondary infertility.

Methods: A total of 149 cycles of IVF and ICSI were conducted between January, 2003 and December, 2008 in our center, including 98 cycles in patients with primary infertility and 51 in those with secondary infertility. According to the embryos derived from ICSI, IVF and their combination, the clinical pregnancy rate, delivery rate and birth defect of the 3 groups were analyzed.

[Clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection using sperms of different origins and parameters].

Objective: To explore the quality of the embryos, clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment using sperms of different origins and parameters.

Methods: A total of 980 ICSI-ET (embryo-transfer) cycles were divided into 4 groups, namely normal sperm or mild oligozoospermia group (group A), severe oligozoospermia group (group B), epididymal aspirates group (group C) and testicular biopsies group (group D). The cleavage rate, embryo quality, fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and rates of birth defects were compared between the groups.

Combined analysis of endometrial thickness and pattern in predicting outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the combined effect of endometrial thickness and pattern on clinical outcome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET).

Methods: Cycles of IVF/ICSI-ET conducted between January 2003 and December 2008 at a university-based reproductive center were reviewed retrospectively. Endometrial ultrasonographic characteristics were recorded on the day of hCG administration.

Aberrant DNA methylation of imprinted H19 gene in human preimplantation embryos.

DNA methylation patterns of the H19 differentially methylated region were successfully determined in 32 of 50 human day 3 embryos produced and discarded after assisted reproductive technology procedures. We found methylation patterns similar to those of somatic cells in 81.3% of embryos and demethylation or hypomethylation patterns in 18.

cDNA sequence and tissues expression analysis of lipoprotein lipase from common carp (Cyprinus carpio Var. Jian).

A full-length cDNA coding lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was cloned from liver of adult common carp (Cyprinus carpio Var. Jian) by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. The cDNA obtained was 2,411 bp long with a 1,524 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 507 amino acids.

Molecular cloning and tissue distribution of lipoprotein lipase full-length cDNA from Pengze crucian carp (Carassius auratus var. Pengze).

A full-length cDNA coding lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was cloned from liver of adult Pengze crucian carp (Carassius auratus var. Pengze) by RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. The cDNA obtained was 1877 bp long with a 1524 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 507 amino acids, including a putative signal peptide of 23 amino acids long.

Advanced oxidation protein products promote inflammation in diabetic kidney through activation of renal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase.

The involvement of inflammatory processes has been recognized in development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of renal inflammation have not been completely understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that accumulation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), which occurs in diabetes, may promote inflammatory responses in diabetic kidney.