Circulatory Neutrophils Exhibit Enhanced Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation in Early Puerperium: NETs at the Nexus of Thrombosis and Immunity.

Pregnancy is associated with elevated maternal levels of cell-free DNA of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) origin, as circulatory neutrophils exhibit increased spontaneous NET formation, mainly driven by G-CSF and finely modulated by sex hormones. The postpartum period, on the other hand, involves physiological alterations consistent with the need for protection against infections and fatal haemorrhage. Our findings indicate that all relevant serum markers of neutrophil degranulation and NET release are substantially augmented postpartum.

"Locus minoris resistentiae" and connective tissue weakness in older women: a case report and literature review on pelvic organ prolapse with inguinal bladder hernia.

Background: Conditions such as genital prolapse and hernia are known to be related to connective tissue dysfunction. In this report on cases of the rare simultaneous finding of large genital prolapse and post-prolapse repair female inguinal bladder hernia, we aim to contribute to the discussion of a possible clinical definition of connective tissue weakness, for its clinical assessment and preoperative patient counselling.

Case Presentation: Three cases of medial third-grade (MIII, Aachen classification) inguinal bladder hernia developing or enlarging after successful stage-IV pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair at a university pelvic floor centre are presented.

Risk of fetal loss after chorionic villus sampling in twin pregnancy derived from propensity score matching analysis.

Objective: To estimate the risk of fetal loss associated with chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in twin pregnancy, using propensity score analysis.

Methods: This was a multicenter cohort study of women with twin pregnancy undergoing ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks' gestation, performed in eight fetal medicine units in which the leadership were trained at the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine in London, UK, and in which the protocols for screening, invasive testing and pregnancy management are similar. The risk of death of at least one fetus was compared between pregnancies that had and those that did not have CVS, after propensity score matching (1:1 ratio).

Gonadotrophin stimulation reduces follicular fluid hormone concentrations and disrupts their quantitative association with cumulus cell mRNA.

Research Question: Do follicular fluid hormone concentrations and the mRNA expression of LHCG, FSH and androgen receptors, aromatase and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in cumulus granulosa cells differ in naturally matured and stimulated follicles?

Design: Cross-sectional study involving 57 natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF) and 36 conventional gonadotrophin-stimulated IVF (cIVF) cycles performed between 2014 and 2016. cIVF was performed by ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists. Hormone concentrations were determined in the follicular fluid of the leading follicle, and mRNA concentrations were quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in RNA extracted from granulosa cells of the cumulus oophorus complex obtained from these fluids.

Impact of chronic stress exposure on cognitive performance incorporating the active and healthy aging (AHA) concept within the cross-sectional Bern Cohort Study 2014 (BeCS-14).

Purpose: This study aims to verify that the mental-cognitive domain of the validated generic bio-functional status (BFS)/bio-functional age (BFA) assessment tool, incorporating the concept of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA), reflects cognitive performance. In addition, the effects of chronic stress exposure on the mental-cognitive BFS/BFA should be investigated.

Methods: The study was carried out as a monocenter, cross-sectional, observational, non-interventional trial (Bern Cohort Study 2014, BeCS-14) with the participation of 147 non-pediatric, non-geriatric subjects.

Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in cause severe fetal akinesia with arthrogryposis multiplex.

Background: Fetal akinesia (FA) results in variable clinical presentations and has been associated with more than 166 different disease loci. However, the underlying molecular cause remains unclear in many individuals. We aimed to further define the set of genes involved.

Limitations in functioning in climacteric syndrome: a systematic literature review using the ICF.

Introduction: This study is the first of four preparatory studies in the process to develop an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for climacteric syndrome. The aim was to identify perimenopausal and postmenopausal limitations in functioning reported in the scientific literature.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed on MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase and CINAHL including publications from 2010 to 2020.

Reduced frequency of perforin-positive CD8+ T cells in menstrual effluent of endometriosis patients.

Endometriosis is a widespread disease and commonly reduces the life quality of those affected. Scientific literature indicates different underlying immunological changes. Frequently examined tissues are peripheral blood, endometrial tissue and peritoneal fluid.

Sexual Disorders in Women with Overactive Bladder and Urinary Stress Incontinence Compared to Controls: A Prospective Study.

Female urinary incontinence (UI) has a negative impact on sexual function and sexual quality of life (QoL) in women. But there is still no consensus on the type of UI or the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD). The aim of the study was to evaluate sexual disorders in women with overactive bladder (OAB) compared to patients with urinary stress incontinence (SUI) and healthy controls.

and AKT/mTOR Signaling in Human Granulosa Cells: Functional Interaction and Impact on Ovarian Response.

We aimed to determine whether a functional link with impact on female ovarian reserve exists between expression and expression ratios of AKT/mTOR signaling genes in human granulosa cells in vivo, as suggested from prior in vitro data. Three hundred and nine women, who were classified as normal (NOR; = 225) and poor (POR; = 84) responders based on their ovarian reserve, were recruited during stimulation for assisted reproductive techniques. Expressions of and of key genes of the AKT/mTOR and AKT/FOXO1/3 signaling pathways were comparatively analyzed in their granulosa cells.

Robotic mesh-supported pectopexy for pelvic organ prolapse: expanding the options of pelvic floor repair.

Pelvic organ prolapse affects 30-50% of the female population. For definitive treatment surgery is unavoidable. Sacrocolpopexy has been the gold standard for anatomical correction of pelvic organ prolapse since the 1990s.

Differential Diagnosis and Prognosis of Fetuses with Bilateral Enlarged, Hyperechogenic Kidneys: Renal Volume and Amniotic Fluid Volume with Advancing Gestation.

Introduction: This study's objective was to identify prenatal criteria helping differential diagnosis of bilateral enlarged, hyperechogenic kidneys, especially looking at development of renal volume and amniotic fluid volume with increasing gestational age.

Method: Retrospective analysis (single-center database) of all bilateral enlarged, hyperechogenic kidneys between 2000-2018. Renal enlargement was defined as renal volume>90 percentile.

Prepectoral versus subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy or nipple-sparing mastectomy (OPBC-02/ PREPEC): a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised, superiority trial.

Introduction: The emphasis on aesthetic outcomes and quality of life (QoL) has motivated surgeons to develop skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy (SSM/ NSM) for breast cancer treatment or prevention. During the same operation, a so-called immediate breast reconstruction is performed. The breast can be reconstructed by positioning of a breast implant above (prepectoral) or below (subpectoral) the pectoralis major muscle or by using the patients' own tissue (autologous reconstruction).

The Action of Reproductive Fluids and Contained Steroids, Prostaglandins, and Zn on CatSper Ca Channels in Human Sperm.

The sperm-specific Ca channel CatSper registers chemical cues that assist human sperm to fertilize the egg. Prime examples are progesterone and prostaglandin E that activate CatSper without involving classical nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors, respectively. Here, we study the action of seminal and follicular fluid as well of the contained individual prostaglandins and steroids on the intracellular Ca concentration of sperm from donors and -deficient patients that lack functional CatSper channels.

First pregnancy in China after ovarian tissue transplantation to prevent premature ovarian insufficiency.

Objective: This article reports the first case of pregnancy after frozen-thawed ovarian tissue transplantation to prevent iatrogenic premature ovarian insufficiency in China.

Methods: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation was performed in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) before multi-agent chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Two years later, she showed complete remission from MDS, and six frozen-thawed ovarian tissue strips were transplanted into the peritoneal pocket.

Efficacy and safety of Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules used in TCM for fertility preservation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve.

Objective: To evaluate for the first time whether Zi Gui Nv Zhen capsules (ZGNZC), until now used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for menopausal complaints, can increase the fertility of Chinese women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

Methods: Prospective, randomized, open-labeled 3-monthly study; 109 DOR patients (aged 20-40 years) receiving either ZGNZC (experimental group,  = 75) or not (control group,  = 34). Main outcomes: markers for ovarian function, thickness/type of the endometrium during ovulation, and pregnancy rate.

Gene expression analyses on multi-target mode of action of black cohosh in menopausal complaints - a pilot study in rodents.

Purpose: This study aimed at assessing gene expression profiles in hippocampus and hypothalamus of ovariectomized (OVX) rats with or without treatment with an isopropanolic extract of Cimicifuga racemosa rhizomes (iCR) in comparison to intact rats.

Methods: Exploration of hippocampal (Hi) and hypothalamic (Hy) tissue from Sprague Dawley rats: without OVX (N = N = 4), tissues 3 months after OVX (N = 4, N = 3), or tissues of rats after their treatment with iCR for 3 months after OVX (N = N = 2). Gene expression profiles in these tissues were investigated by RNA-microarray-analysis and subsequent verification by qPCR.

Stratifying Cumulus Cell Samples Based on Molecular Profiling to Help Resolve Biomarker Discrepancies and to Predict Oocyte Developmental Competence.

To increase the efficiency of assisted reproductive techniques (ART), molecular studies have been performed to identify the best predictive biomarkers for selecting the most suitable germ cells for fertilization and the best embryo for intra-uterine transfer. However, across different studies, no universal markers have been found. In this study, we addressed this issue by generating gene expression and CpG methylation profiles of outer cumulus cells obtained during intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Utility of the CPS + EG scoring system in triple-negative breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is associated with superior survival. This association is strongest in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The CPS + EG system, based on pre-treatment clinical (CS) and post-treatment pathological stage (PS), oestrogen-receptor status (E) and grade (G), leads to a refined estimate of prognosis after NACT in all-comers and hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer.

Long-time low-temperature transportation of human ovarian tissue before cryopreservation.

Research Question: Can the low-temperature transport time of removed human ovarian tissue be prolonged until cryopreservation?

Design: Fresh ovarian cortex from nine premenopausal patients was either slow-frozen immediately or stored at 4°C for 24 or 48 h before slow-freezing. The fresh and frozen-thawed biopsies were evaluated by follicle counting via calcein staining, histologic analyses via haematoxylin and eosin staining, and apoptosis via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL). The fresh cortex was assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay to detect oxidative stress.

The endocrine milieu in naturally matured follicles is different in women with high serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations.

Research Question: Is the endocrine milieu different in women with low serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration compared with women with high concentration?

Design: Cohort study of 84 women (four groups) classified according to AMH concentration and age undergoing natural cycle IVF treatment. Concentrations of LH, oestradiol, testosterone, androstenedione and AMH were determined in follicular fluid (FF), associations analysed and clinical outcome parameters evaluated.

Results: A positive correlation between serum and FF AMH concentrations was confirmed.

Diagnostic accuracy of an interdisciplinary tertiary center evaluation in children referred for suspected congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract on fetal ultrasound - a retrospective outcome analysis.

Background: Fetal ultrasound organ screening has become a standard of care in most high-income countries. This has resulted in increased detection of congenital abnormalities, which may lead to major uncertainty and anxiety in expectant parents, even though many of them are of minor relevance. In order to optimize prenatal counselling, we introduced an interdisciplinary approach for all pregnant women referred to our center by private obstetricians for a co-assessment of suspected relevant fetal abnormalities of the kidney or urinary tract, involving both experienced prenatal ultrasound specialists and a pediatric nephrologist or urologist.

Sexual Function in Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Correlation with Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics.

To investigate sexual function in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to explore the correlation with clinical and biochemical characteristics. A cross-sectional study was designed in 1000 PCOS women, aged 18-45 years, via the Chinese version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) evaluating sexual function, with additional questions possibly related to sexual life. Clinical and biochemical characteristics likely to affect sexual function were determined, including anthropometric indicators, serum levels of hormones, luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone ratio (LH/FSH ratio), prolactin (PRL), total testosterone (TT), free androgen index (FAI), sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), glucose, and lipid metabolism indicators.