ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of corpus luteum blood flow measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound on pregnancy in elderly women.Methods We selected 464 elderly women with normal ovulation who came to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2016 to July 2017 as study group.Another 436 women aged less than 35 years old who planned pregnancy in the same period were selected as control group.The clinical data were compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in average diameter of dominant follicles and endometrial thickness at each monitoring point between the two groups (P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in corpus luteum blood flow grade 1 day after ovulation (P＞0.05),but corpus luteum blood flow grade 7 to 9 days after ovulation in study group was significantly reduced as compared with control group (P＜0.05).The two groups did not differ significantly in corpus luteum volume (V)or vascular parameters 1 day after ovulation,corpus luteum V 7-9 days after ovulation (P＞0.05).However,luteum vascularization index (VI),flow index (FI)and vascularization flow index (VFI) significantly decreased in study group compared with control group (P＜0.05).Biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 1 6 .3 8% and 9 .05 % in study group ,which were significantly lower than 2 3 .1 7 % and 19.04% in control group,respectively (P＜0.05).Miscarriage rate of biochemical pregnancy in study group was 7. 33%,significantly higher than 4.13% in control group (P＜0.05).Corpus luteum V and vascular parameters in women with biochemical pregnancy abortion in both groups were significantly lower than those with clinical pregnancy (P＜0.05).Conclusion The decreased of blood supply of the corpus luteum in embryo implantation window of elderly women may be related to the reduction of endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rate.Regardless of old age,biochemical pregnancy abortion is likely to lead to loss of corpus luteum blood supply,which results in pregnancy failure.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Successful treatment of hepatitis B can be achieved only if the template for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA replication, the covalently closed circular HBV DNA (cccDNA) can be completely cleared. To date, detecting cccDNA remains clinically challenging. The purpose of this study was to develop a nested real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detecting HBV cccDNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (MMNCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the structural differences between HBV cccDNA and HBV relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA), two pairs of primers were synthesized as well as a downstream TaqMan probe. Blood and bone marrow samples were collected from hepatitis B patients and healthy controls. To remove rcDNA, samples were incubated with mung bean nuclease and the resultant purified HBV cccDNA was then amplified by nested real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The cccDNA levels were calculated using a positive standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The nested real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method for HBV cccDNA was successful, with a linear range of 3.0 × 10(2) copies/ml to 3.9 × 10(8) copies/ml. Of the 25 PBMC samples and 7 MMNC samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis patients, 3 MMNC samples and 9 PBMC samples were positive for HBV cccDNA, while all of the 21 PBMC samples from healthy controls were negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The nested real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR may be used as an important tool for detecting cccDNA in hepatitis B patients.</p>