Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Fertilization Rate Does Not Depend on the Proportion of Round-headed Sperm, Small-acrosomal Sperm, or Morphologically Normal Sperm in Patients with Partial Globozoospermia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Generally, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be the preferable method to treat partial globozoospermia, but whether there exist some correlations between ICSI fertilization rate and the proportion of round-headed sperm or morphologically normal sperm remains open. This study was to explore the correlation between ICSI fertilization rate and the sperm morphology in patients with partial globozoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-four patients diagnosed with partial globozoospermia accepted the following assisted fertilization treatments - 2 cases accepted in-vitro fertilization (IVF) alone, 26 cases accepted ICSI alone, and 6 accepted split IVF/ICSI. Detailed morphological characteristics were described using Diff-Quik rapid staining. Sixty cases accepting IVF or ICSI treatment in our reproductive center were considered as the control group after being matched by relevant criteria. Fertilization rate, embryo quality, embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Besides very high proportion of round-headed sperm, partial globozoospermia also showed very high proportion of small-acrosomal sperm and very low proportion of morphologically normal sperm. Fertilization rate of IVF (IVF alone plus split IVF) was very low in partial globozoospermia (25.4% ± 17.4%), but ICSI (ICSI alone plus split ICSI) achieved satisfying fertilization rate compared with the control group (66.2% ± 22.5% vs. 68.8% ± 29.4%, P > 0.05). In patients with partial globozoospermia, there were no correlations between ICSI fertilization rate and the proportion of round-headed sperm, small-acrosomal sperm, or morphologically normal sperm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was high proportion of small-acrosomal sperm in partial globozoospermia. For patients with partial globozoospermia, ICSI is more preferable than IVF. ICSI fertilization rate does not depend on the proportion of round-headed sperm, small-acrosomal sperm, or morphologically normal sperm.</p>

Expression and distribution of calcium-binding protein S100P in human placenta during pregnancy

S100P is a member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, and it participates in pathophysiological events, such as tumor growth and invasion. Based on the striking similarities between trophoblast cells and tumor cells with regard to proliferative and invasive properties, we raised the question of whether and how S100P expresses in trophoblast cells during development. This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern of S100P in the human placenta during pregnancy development. In this experimental study, we collected 16 first-trimester placental tissues, 10 second-trimester placental tissues, and 12 term placentas. The mRNA expression levels of S100P were detected by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] and quantitative real-time PCR, the protein expression levels were detected by western blot, and the localization of S100P was measured by immunohistochemical staining. The values obtained from PCR and western blot analysis were expressed as the mean +/- SD. Levene's test was used to test equal variances, and one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] was used to evaluate differences between groups. Protein and mRNA expression of S100P could be detected in placenta during pregnancy, with minor higher levels in first-trimester [p>0.05]. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that S100P protein was strongly expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts, and moderate expression was detected in villous cytotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblast columns. The S100P protein was localized to both cytoplasm and nuclei in syncytiotrophoblasts, while it only existed in the cytoplasm of cytotrophoblasts. S100P was strongly detected in human placenta during pregnancy. The specific expression and distribution of S100P in human placenta throughout gestation suggested that S100P function might vary with its location in the placenta

Fertility-preserving treatment and pregnancy outcomes in the early stage of endometrial carcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed to review the available literature on fertility-preserving treatment and pregnancy outcomes in patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma who desired to preserve their fertility.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>The PubMed database (1992-2012) was searched for the words "conservative "OR" fertility sparing "OR" fertility preserving" AND "endometrial neoplasms" (MeSH). All relevant articles in English and the relevant references were collected.</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Data from published articles about fertility-preserving treatment of endometrial cancer, including the response and recurrence rate of conservative treatment, strategies of infertility treatment, pregnancy, and obstetric outcomes, were selected. Data were mainly extracted from 41 studies, which are listed in the reference section of this review.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hormone therapy was the most common method used for early-stage endometrial carcinoma in patients who wished to preserve fertility. Sixty percent of the patients became pregnant after remission of the carcinoma. The percentage of patients who conceived in the assisted reproductive technology group was higher than that of the natural pregnancy group (80.0% vs. 43.2%, P < 0.01). A higher rate of preterm labor and multiple pregnancies was observed in the assisted reproductive technology group than that in the natural pregnancy group. The majority of pregnancies (71.4%) in the assisted reproductive technology group were achieved by in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. The clinical pregnancy rate of transfer cycles in patients with endometrial carcinoma was 34.1%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Assisted reproductive technology is a good option in well-selected patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma who have completed conservative treatment. In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer offers an opportunity to achieve an immediate pregnancy.</p>

Outcome of conservative treatment and subsequent assisted reproductive technology for patients with early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and poor fertility potential / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Conservative treatment with high doses of progestin is an alternative to standard hysterectomy for young patients with early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma who desire to preserve their fertility. Here we report a patient with well-differentiated early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and poor fertility potential who failed to become pregnant in two in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles and suffered a relapse after conservative treatment. This case illustrates that assessment of fertility potential is critical at the time of initial evaluation and conservative treatment planning for patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Three-dimensional cultures of human endometrial cells on Matrigel mimic in vivo morphology / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The regulation of endometrial physiology and morphogenesis by the paracrine effectors has been well established using in vivo studies. A more complete understanding of the endometrial function has been delayed due, in part, to a lack of appropriate culture models. In this study, we aimed to simulate the in vivo three-dimensional (3-D) growth pattern of endometrial cells using a 3-D in vitro culture system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Isolated endometrial epithelial cells, stromal cells and RL95-2 cells were seeded into culture chambers coated with the extracellular matrix Matrigel and observed using light microscopy. Fluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the morphology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Depending on the culture conditions, epithelial cells and RL95-2 cells formed multicellular structures on Matrigel; stromal cells remained individually distinguishable or grew together to form 3-D lattice-like structures.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Matrigel provided a good microenvironment for culturing endometrial cells. The cells cultured in the Matrigel-coated chambers closely resembled those seen in vivo.</p>

Comparison between the results of ICSI with fresh and with frozen-thawed sperm obtained by PESA to treat azoospermia / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Retrospective study of the results of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm insemination) with frozen sperm obtained by PESA (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration) was performed in 27 patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With conventional freezing method, sperm from diagnosing PESA and the remaining motile sperm after treating cycle were frozen. After frozen-thawed and ICSI process, fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate were compared and other outcomes including pregnant combinations and parameters of newborns of experimental group (which used frozen-thawed sperm) and control group (which used fresh PESA sperm) were analyzed respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and sixty three and 1 157 oocytes of stage M II were injected respectively in the experimental group (15 cycles) and control group (100 cycles), and fertilization rate of experimental group was prominently higher than that of control group (84.05% vs 73.29%, P < 0.05), while implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were of no difference from the control, respectively (23.07% vs 15.73%; 53.33% vs 37.00%, P > 0.05). The differences in newborn's weights between two groups were of no statistical significance (P > 0.05). In the experimental group, eight clinical pregnancies were achieved including 5 live deliveries and 3 ongoing pregnancies, 37 clinical pregnancies including 30 deliveries with only 1 fetal death, 3 ongoing pregnancies and 4 abortions in the control group. Neither vital pregnant combinations nor neonate malformations were found in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ICSI using frozen-thawed sperm obtained by PESA is an economic effective and safe method to treat azoospermia. Recovering rates of frozen sperm form PESA should be further increased.</p>