Dysphagia-Specific Instrument Based on Item Response Theory and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

This study aimed to identify functional challenges faced by individuals with non-esophageal dysphagia and to offer a tool for quantitatively evaluating the person abilities within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Additionally, this study attempted to differentiate the personal abilities of individuals with dysphagia and hierarchize item difficulties using the ICF-based Item Response Theory (IRT) modeling approach. This cross-sectional study enrolled a cohort of 150 patients with dysphagia (105 male and 45 female) from a tertiary hospital in China.

Functional and pathological roles of adenylyl cyclases in various diseases.

Adenylyl cyclases (ADCYs) produce the second messengers cAMP, which is crucial for a number of cellular activities. There are ten isoforms in the mammalian ADCY family including nine transmembrane adenylyl cyclases (tmAC) and one soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC/ADCY10). There have been numerous studies demonstrating the importance of ADCYs in the development of a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, liver disease, and tumors.

Metabolomics in cirrhosis: Recent advances and opportunities.

Liver cirrhosis (LC) represents a significant hepatic disorder that persistently commands the attention of the scientific community, especially concerning its pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches. Metabolomics, the comprehensive profiling of an organism's metabolome, has been increasingly applied in the research of cirrhosis over the past decade. This review summarizes the recent advancements and applications of metabolomics within the context of LC research, in recent five years.

The Clinical Efficacy of Three Different Follicle-Stimulating Hormones for Follicle Growth and Development in Long-Protocol Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Treatment.

Objective: To compare the use and clinical efficacy of three different follicle-stimulating hormones (FSHs) for follicle growth and development in long-protocol controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Methods: A total of 540 gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists' long protocol treatment cycles at our hospital between January 2015 and May 2020 and met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The cycles were divided into three groups based on their indexes (groups A, B, and C).

The best execution of the DuoStim strategy (double stimulation in the follicular and luteal phase of the same ovarian cycle) in patients who are poor ovarian responders.

Background: Patients found to be poor ovarian responders (POR) are a challenging patient population for any assisted reproduction technology. Despite attempts at various controlled ovarian stimulation schemes, reproductive outcomes in this patient population have not improved. In recent years, the DuoStim protocol (both follicular and luteal phase stimulation during the same menstrual cycle) has shown a potential for use in patients with POR.

Synaptotagmin 1 regulates cortical granule exocytosis during mouse oocyte activation.

Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) is an abundant and important presynaptic vesicle protein that binds Ca2+ for the regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Our previous study reported its localization and function on spindle assembly in mouse oocyte meiotic maturation. The present study was designed to investigate the function of Syt1 during mouse oocyte activation and subsequent cortical granule exocytosis (CGE) using confocal microscopy, morpholinol-based knockdown and time-lapse live cell imaging.

[Clinical features of women with idiopathic premature ovarian failure].

Objective: To summarize the clinical features of idiopathic premature ovarian failure (POF) and explore the early diagnosis and intervention.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 39 women with idiopathic POF treated between February, 2009 and January, 2010. The clinical data of the patients including the menstrual feature, POF incidence, vaginal ultrasound and pregnancy outcomes were investigated.

[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.

Abnormal methylation patterns at the IGF2/H19 imprinting control region in phenotypically normal babies conceived by assisted reproductive technologies.

Objective: To evaluate epigenetic risks linked to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) by determining the methylation status of the IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR) in offspring born after ART.

Study Design: A combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA) and sequencing technique were used to determine the methylation status of the IGF2/H19 ICR in 61 phenotypically normal newborns conceived by ART. Thirty naturally conceived newborns were studied as controls.

[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.

[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.