New insights into the structure domain and function of NLR family CARD domain containing 5.

NOD-like receptor family CARD domain-containing 5 (NLRC5) is a major transcriptional coactivator of MHC class I genes. NLRC5 is the largest member of the NLR family and contains three domains: an untypical caspase recruitment domain (uCARD), a central nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD or NACHT), and a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain. The functional variability of NLRC5 has been attributed to its different domain interactions with specific ligands in different cell types.

The first multiple center prospective study of rhFSH CTP in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology in China.

We assessed the safety and efficacy of rhFSH-CTP, a novel long-acting FSH agent, in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for patients undergoing ART. A multi-center, open-label, randomized, positive-control, non-inferiority clinical trial was conducted. The study consisted of a phase III randomized design, with a 1:1 ratio favoring the rhFSH-CTP group over the control group.

3-Nitropropionic acid exposure inhibits embyro development by disrupting mitochondrial function and inducing oxidative stress.

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is a naturally occurring mycotoxin produced by various species of fungi and plants. However, the potential impact of 3-NP exposure on reproductive health remains unclear. To address this gap, we conducted an in vitro study to investigate the toxic effects of 3-NP on the developmental processes of mouse embryos.

Aberrant acetylation caused by a CDYL splicing mutation contributes to thin mid-piece related asthenoteratozoospermia and male infertility.

Objectives: Acetylated tubulin is a hallmark of flagellar stability in spermatozoa, and studies have demonstrated the ability of CDYL to function as a tubulin acetyltransferase in spermatozoa. Of note, germline conditional knockout of Cdyl can lead to asthenoteratozoospermia and infertility in male mice. However, the role of CDYL gene in human fertility remains uncharacterized.

Pregnancy Loss Was Associated With the Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Middle-Aged Women: Evidence From the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: Significant associations between pregnancy loss and risk of future maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been found in Western countries, but the association in China is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations of pregnancy loss, number of pregnancy losses, subtype of pregnancy loss (i.e.

Role of Arg1 ILC2s and ILCregs in gestational diabetes progression.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a newly discovered subset of immune cells that are responsible for regulation of the immune microenvironment. In particular, the ILC categories ILC2s and regulatory ILCs (ILCregs) are associated with immunosuppression and chronic inflammation. Chronic low-grade inflammation leads to insulin resistance, a major etiological factor in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

HMGB1 induces unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion by mediating decidual macrophage autophagy.

Background: The overexpression of HMGB1 at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) is recognized as a significant factor in Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (URSA). This study aimed to investigate autophagy in the decidual tissues of URSA patients and to explore the relationship between HMGB1 and macrophage autophagy at the MFI in URSA.

Methods: Human decidual tissues were collected from 40 patients diagnosed with URSA and from 60 women undergoing active termination of pregnancy.

[Study of the feasibility of polar body transfer combined with preimplantation genetic testing for blocking the intergenerational transmission of mitochondrial genetic diseases].

Objective: To assess the feasibility of first polar body transfer (PB1T) combined with preimplantation mitochondrial genetic testing for blocking the transmission of a pathogenic mitochondrial DNA 8993T>G mutation.

Methods: A Chinese family affected with Leigh syndrome which had attended the Reproductive Medicine Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University in September 2021 was selected as the study subject. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was carried out for the proband after completing the detection of the mitochondrial DNA 8993T>G mutation load among the pedigree members.

Alarmins and their pivotal role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion: insights for therapeutic intervention.

Alarmins are a class of molecules released when affected cells damaged or undergo apoptosis. They contain various chemotactic and immunomodulatory proteins or peptides. These molecules regulate the immune response by interacting with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and play important roles in inflammatory response, tissue repair, infection defense, and cancer treatment.

A homozygous loss-of-function mutation in CEP250 is associated with acephalic spermatozoa syndrome in humans.

Background: The presence of predominantly headless sperm in semen is a hallmark of acephalic spermatozoa syndrome, which is primarily caused by gene mutations in humans.

Purpose: To identify genetic causes for acephalic spermatozoa syndrome.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were performed to define mutations in SUN5 and PMFBP1.

Observed Effects on Very Early Pregnancy Linked to Ambient PM Exposure in China among Women Undergoing Fertilization-Embryo Transfer.

The adverse effect of ambient PM exposure on very early pregnancy (VEP) remains controversial among epidemiological studies but is supported by toxicological evidence. We adopted a multicenter retrospective cohort of 141,040 cycles to evaluate the effect of PM exposure on the VEP using the fertilization and embryo transfer platform and high-resolution PM data in China. We first investigated the association between PM exposure 1 week before and 1 week after the embryo transfer date and VEP.

Antibiotics combined with vaginal probiotics in the embryo transfer cycle of infertile patients with chronic endometritis.

Introduction: Chronic endometritis (CE) is a prolonged, mild inflammation of the endometrial lining. This study investigated the impact of the impact of antibiotic treatment combined with vaginal on pregnancy outcomes in infertile patients with CE during frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 7,385 patients who underwent FET.

Gestational exposure to arsenic reduces female offspring fertility by impairing the repair of DNA double-strand breaks and synapsis formation in oocytes.

Arsenic is a pollutant that can cross the placenta; however, research on the effects of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on the fertility of female offspring is limited. To address this gap, we developed a mouse model to investigate the relationship between arsenic exposure during pregnancy and fertility in female offspring. Our fertility assessment revealed that gestational exposure to 1 mg/kg arsenic or higher (10 mg/kg) resulted in reduction in litter size, ovarian volume, and multistage-follicle number in female offspring.

A novel homozygous mutation in the NLRP2 gene causes early embryonic arrest.

Purpose: Successful reproduction in humans requires maturation and fertilization of gametes as well as early embryonic development. Any deviation from these processes leads to infertility. Early embryonic arrest (EEA) is common in female infertility and is primarily attributed to genetic factors.

The lncRNA TPTEP1 suppresses PI3K/AKT signalling and inhibits ovarian cancer progression by interacting with PTBP1.

The expression of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) TPTE pseudogene 1 (TPTEP1) is significantly downregulated in ovarian cancer (OC). However, the function and mechanism of the lncRNA TPTEP1 in OC have not been identified. To investigate the expression of the lncRNA TPTEP1, we analysed a publicly available dataset and 20 pairs of OC and normal ovarian samples tissue from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.

The associations of the concentrations of toxic metals (including metalloid) in blood and follicular fluid with the risk of diminished ovarian reserve.

Background: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), a triggering factor for female infertility, affects 10% ∼ 35% of women of reproductive age. It is still unclear whether exposure to toxic metals (including metalloid) is associated with DOR risk, especially with respect to their relationships with the clinical phenotypes of DOR.

Methods: A case-control study including 439 patients was conducted, and Ba, Ni, As, Tl, Cd, Pb, Hg, Al and Cr levels in BL and FF were measured.

Diminished ovarian reserve associates with pregnancy and birth outcomes after IVF: a retrospective cohort study.

Antral follicle count (AFC) and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are currently the most sensitive and reliable markers of ovarian reserve, but the role of AFC and AMH, as prognosis markers of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), in pregnancy outcomes after embryo transfer (ET) have been inconsistent. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a university-affiliated hospital. A total of 4599 women who received their first IVF treatment between January 2012 and December 2019 were included.

Methylmercury chloride inhibits meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes in vitro by disrupting the cytoskeleton.

Methylmercury chloride (MMC) is a persistent heavy metal contaminant that can bioaccumulate in humans via the food chain, exerting detrimental effects on health. Nevertheless, the specific influence of MMC on oocyte meiotic maturation has yet to be elucidated. This research demonstrated that MMC exposure during the in vitro cultivation of mouse oocytes did not influence germinal vesicle breakdown but markedly decreased oocyte maturation rates.

Analysis of risk factors for postoperative anxiety and depression in endometriosis patients with reproductive intention.

Background: The occurrence of postoperative depression and anxiety in patients with endometriosis (EMS) not only causes psychological distress, but may also harm their physical health.

Aim: To explore the postoperative depression status, and its influencing factors, of EMS patients with reproductive intention.

Methods: A total of 321 EMS patients with reproductive intent were included.

Integrated stress response mediates HSP70 to inhibit testosterone synthesis in aging testicular Leydig cells.

The integrated stress response (ISR) is implicated in age-related diseases, while the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) can facilitate proper protein folding. However, the regulatory mechanism of ISR in insufficient testosterone synthesis of aging Leydig cells (LCs) remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the regulatory role of ISR in inadequate testosterone synthesis of aging LCs.

Association of novel DNAH11 variants with asthenoteratozoospermia lead to male infertility.

Background: Bi-allelic variants in DNAH11 have been identified as causative factors in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, leading to abnormal respiratory cilia. Nonetheless, the specific impact of these variants on human sperm flagellar and their involvement in male infertility remain largely unknown.

Methods: A collaborative effort involving two Chinese reproductive centers conducted a study with 975 unrelated infertile men.

A longitudinal examination of the effect of physical exercise on the emotional states of college students: exploring the sense of coherence as a mediator through a cross-lagged panel analysis.

Purpose: This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between physical exercise and emotional states among university students, focusing on the mediating role of sense of coherence.

Method: A total of 1,215 university students (aged 18-25 years) were recruited and completed questionnaires assessing physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), emotional states (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), and sense of coherence (Sense of Coherence Scale-13) at three time points over a three-month period. Preliminary analyses included independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlations.