Identification of mA-related lncRNAs prognostic signature for predicting immunotherapy response in cervical cancer.

Background: N6-methylandenosine-related long non-coding RNAs (mA-related lncRNAs) play a crucial role in the cancer progression and immunotherapeutic efficacy. The potential function of mA-related lncRNAs signature in cervical cancer has not been systematically clarified.

Methods: RNA-seq and the clinical data of cervical cancer were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Thyroid Hormone Biomonitoring: A Review on Their Metabolism and Machine-Learning Based Analysis on Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.

The thyroid is an essential endocrine organ in human body, and thyroid hormones (THs) are pivotal signaling molecules and mediators in various physiological processes. THs, particularly in their free form, play a critical role in regulating body temperature and in the metabolism of lipid and glucose, making the maintenance of TH levels crucial for human health. THs undergo a series of metabolic processes, producing TH metabolites (THMs).

Unraveling the causal genes and transcriptomic determinants of human telomere length.

Telomere length (TL) shortening is a pivotal indicator of biological aging and is associated with many human diseases. The genetic determinates of human TL have been widely investigated, however, most existing studies were conducted based on adult tissues which are heavily influenced by lifetime exposure. Based on the analyses of terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length of telomere, individual genotypes, and gene expressions on 166 healthy placental tissues, we systematically interrogate TL-modulated genes and their potential functions.

Haploid-genetic screening of trophectoderm specification identifies as a repressor of totipotent-like status.

Trophectoderm (TE) and the inner cell mass are the first two lineages in murine embryogenesis and cannot naturally transit to each other. The barriers between them are unclear and fascinating. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) retain the identities of inner cell mass and TE, respectively, and, thus, are ideal platforms to investigate these lineages in vitro.

Serum organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in Chinese females of childbearing age: Association with serum reproductive and thyroid hormones.

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are extensively used as flame retardants and plasticizers, but their endocrine disrupting potentials have raised concerns. However, the impacts of OPFR exposures on reproductive and thyroid hormones in females remains unclear. In this study, serum concentrations of OPFRs were investigated, and levels of reproductive and thyroid hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, anti-Müllerian hormone, prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), and thyroid stimulating hormone, were analyzed in childbearing-age females undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment from Tianjin, a coastal city in China (n = 319).

BCL2 is a major regulator of haploidy maintenance in murine embryonic stem cells.

Mammalian haploid cells are important resources for forward genetic screening and are important in genetic medicine and drug development. However, the self-diploidization of murine haploid embryonic stem cells (haESCs) during daily culture or differentiation jeopardizes their use in genetic approaches. Here, we show that overexpression (OE) of an antiapoptosis gene, BCL2, in haESCs robustly ensures their haploidy maintenance in various situations, even under strict differentiation in vivo (embryonic 10.

Protocol to generate induced trophoblast stem cells from embryonic stem cells in mice.

Conversion of trophectoderm (TE)-derived trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) from inner-cell-mass-derived embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in mice is difficult to achieve naturally. Here, we introduce a reliable and repeatable protocol to generate induced TSCs (iTSCs) from ESCs via a Tet-on system in vitro. The iTSCs show typical TSC properties and have the potential to differentiate into syncytiotrophoblast cells (STCs) and trophoblast giant cells (TGCs).

The association of serum phthalate metabolites with biomarkers of ovarian reserve in women of childbearing age.

Phthalates (PAEs) are widely used plasticizers drawing increasing concern due to reproductive toxicity. However, studies on serum PAEs metabolites (mPAEs) and their associations with human ovarian function remain very scarce. In this study, from April 2019 to August 2020, a total of 297 women of childbearing age were recruited in Tianjin, China.

Adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes in 2333 singleton pregnancies conceived after different endometrial preparation protocols: a retrospective study in China.

Backgroup: Frozen-thawed embryo transfer is rising worldwide. One adverse effect of programmed frozen embryo transfer (FET) reported in some studies is an increased risk of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes. Meanwhile, body mass index (BMI) also has adverse effect on obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Genome-wide screening in the haploid system reveals Slc25a43 as a target gene of oxidative toxicity.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are extensively assessed in physiological and pathological studies; however, the genes and mechanisms involved in antioxidant reactions are elusive. To address this knowledge gap, we used a forward genetic approach with mouse haploid embryonic stem cells (haESCs) to generate high-throughput mutant libraries, from which numerous oxidative stress-targeting genes were screened out. We performed proof-of-concept experiments to validate the potential inserted genes.

Rif1 and Hmgn3 regulate the conversion of murine trophoblast stem cells.

The appearance of trophectoderm (TE) is a hallmark event in preimplantation development during murine embryogenesis. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying TE specification. We find that the depletion of Rif1 breaks down the barrier to the transition from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to trophoblast stem cells (TSCs).

Interleukin-4 activates the PI3K/AKT signaling to promote apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of granulosa cells.

The inflammatory microenvironment has been demonstrated to play a role in folliculogenesis, ovulation and premature ovarian failure (POF), as well as infertility. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of inflammation in modulating growth and apoptosis in granulosa cells (GCs), the main components of ovarian follicles. ELISA was used to analyze the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10) in follicular fluid samples and GCs derived from POF patients and healthy normal individuals.

Rapid generation of murine haploid-induced trophoblast stem cells a Tet-on system.

Haploid trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) are advanced in studying placental development for their placental precursor and homozygous features. Here, we describe how to generate haploid-induced TSCs (haiTSCs) from haploid embryonic stem cells with a Tet-on system. Our haiTSCs can maintain haploidy long-term and can produce genome-wide mutants combined with transposons.

Delivery management of a complete hydatidiform mole and co-existing viable fetus: A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objective: A twin pregnancy with a complete hydatidiform mole and co-existing viable fetus (CHMCF) is an exceedingly rare obstetric complication with few data related to perinatal treatment. This study determined the optimal timing of pregnancy termination and mode of delivery in women with CHMCF and a viable fetus.

Methods: The articles published involving CHMCF and a viable fetus from 1967 to 31 December 2020 in the PubMed and EMBASE databases were systematically reviewed.

Hypermethylation of DLG3 Promoter Upregulates RAC1 and Activates the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway to Promote Breast Cancer Progression.

Objective: This investigation aimed to figure out the relation between discs large homolog 3 (DLG3) expression and the progression and prognosis of breast cancer (BC).

Methods: qRT-PCR was utilized for confirming DLG3 expression and RAC1 mRNA expression in BC tissues and cells. Subsequently, after overexpression or interference of DLG3, the changes of the biological activities of BC cells, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, were detected through CCK-8, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively.

Pregnancy outcomes of infertile women with ultrasound-diagnosed adenomyosis for in vitro fertilization and frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound-diagnosed adenomyosis on assisted pregnancy outcomes, i.e., in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

High-throughput screening in postimplantation haploid epiblast stem cells reveals Hs3st3b1 as a modulator for reprogramming.

Epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) derived from postimplantation epiblast are pluripotent stem cells, epigenetically distinct from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which are widely used in reprogramming studies. Recent achieved haploid cell lines in mammalian species open a new era for high-throughput genetic screening, due to their homozygous phenotypes. Here, we report the generation of mouse haploid EpiSCs (haEpiSCs) from postimplantation chimeric embryos at embryonic day 6.

DNA methylation markers as triage test for the early identification of cervical lesions in a Chinese population.

Objective strategies are required in cervical cancer screening. We have identified several DNA methylation markers with high sensitivity and specificity to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse (CIN2+) in Dutch women. Our study aims to analyze the diagnostic characteristics of these markers in a Chinese cohort.

The milestone of genetic screening: Mammalian haploid cells.

Mammalian haploid cells provide insights into multiple genetics approaches as have been proved by advances in homozygous phenotypes and function as gametes. Recent achievements make ploidy of mammalian haploid cells stable and improve the developmental efficiency of embryos derived from mammalian haploid cells intracytoplasmic microinjection, which promise great potentials for using mammalian haploid cells in forward and reverse genetic screening. In this review, we introduce breakthroughs of mammalian haploid cells involving in mechanisms of self-diploidization, forward genetics for various targeting genes and imprinted genes related development.

Construction of dysregulated long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma.

Background: Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) render the functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) more complicated during cancer processes. Potential lncRNA biomarkers as ceRNAs have not been clearly described for uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). In this research, we researched the functions and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs as ceRNAs in UCEC, and their potential applications in prognosis.

Unclassified mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumor with multiple malignant cellular elements in a young woman: a case report and review of the literature.

Unclassified mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumor composed of germ cells and sex cord derivatives is a rare neoplasm. Approximately 10% of such tumors have malignant germ cell components. We report the case of a 28 year-old female with a right adnexal mass measuring 8 cm in greatest dimension, containing areas with both germ cell and sex cord components.

Low-grade endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary associated with undifferentiated carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.

The association of low-grade endometrioid carcinoma with undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) was first reported in endometrium carcinoma, termed with dedifferentiated carcinoma (DC). However, the coexistence of low-grade endometrioid carcinoma (LGEC) or serous carcinoma (LGSC) with UC has received minimal attention in ovary, and the behavior of this kind of neoplasm remains at further discussion. In this study, we reported a case of low-grade ovarian endometrioid carcinoma associated with UC and reviewed another four cases previously reported.

Mouse induced pluripotent stem cell microenvironment generates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mouse Lewis lung cancer cells.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may be a powerful tool in regenerative medicine, but their potential tumorigenicity is a significant challenge for the clinical use of iPS cells. Previously, we succeeded in converting miPS cells into cancer stem cells (CSCs) under the conditions of tumor microenvironment. Both stem cells and tumor cells are profoundly influenced by bi-directional communication with their respective microenvironment, which dictates cell fate determination and behavior.