Revealing the synergistic mechanism of Shenfu Decoction for anti-heart failure through network pharmacology strategy / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to investigate the targets and synergistic mechanism of Shenfu Decoction (SFD) in the treatment of heart failure. A heart failure animal models was established to evaluate the pharmacological effects of SFD for anti-heart failure, then constructed ingredient-target interaction network by developing ingredient and target databases, the Discovery sdudio software was used for molecular docking. In addition, we validated the predicted protein targets of active ingredients in SFD by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Our results demonstrated that SFD could enhance ejection fraction, alleviate myocardial histopathological characteristics, and reduce the level of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), aldosterone (ALD), atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) and Renin (REN) in heart failure rat model. In addition, the ingredient database including 349 constituents and target database including 236 proteins were established, and 75 proteins were screened and identified by molecular docking strategy. 22 core target proteins were identified through network pharmacology, and the component-core target network was constructed. Finally, the affinity between the compounds and targets were verified by the SPR analysis method. The present study suggested that SFD may act on ACE 2, REN, ACE, ICAM-1, EGF, HTR2B, PARP1, NPPB and other proteins through AC, BAC, ACN, Re, Rg1, Rb1 to exert synergistic effects against heart failure.

Effect of Long-time Slow-frozen Storage on Epigenetic Changes of Histone in Cleavage-stage Embryos / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To investigate the impact of long- term storage time on epigenetic modification of histone in human cleavage stage embryos.【Methods】According to the length of storage time，donated embryos after slow-freezing were divided into 3 groups ：6-year group ，9-year group ，and 12-year group ，while the control group consisted of donated fresh embryos. Immunocytochemistry was performed to compare the expression levels of HDAC1， H3K9ac， H3K4me3 ，and H3K9me3 among 4 groups. Transcription levels of HDAC1 ，SUV39H1 ，SETDB1 ，and KDM5A were analyzed through Single-Cell qRT-PCR.【Results】The relative abundances of HDAC1 and SUV39H1 mRNA showed no significant differences among 4 groups（P > 0.05）. SETDB1 exhibited a climbing pattern as storage time increased，but no significant difference was observed（P > 0.05）. There were no differences in H3K9 trimethylation and H3K9 methylation among 4 groups. However ，the expression level of KDM5A increased with the increasing storage time（P < 0.05）.【Conclusions】 Storage time did not affect the expression of deacetylase HDAC1，methylase SUV39H1 and SETDB1. H3K9ac/me3 and H3K4me3 also exhibited no significant difference as the storage time increases. However ，the increasing storage length might induce the elevating expression of demethylase KDM5A，which may be associated with inhibition of embryonic transcription.

Clinical Outcome Analysis of Single Embryo Transfer / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To explore the application prospect of single embryo transfer（SET）in assisted reproduction. 【Methods】A total of 5 130 cases of fresh and frozen embryo transfer in the Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital，Sun Yat-sen University in the recent two years were analyzed retrospectively. To analyze the main outcome of clinical pregnancy in different age groups，we classified the SET cycles into 4 groups of fresh or frozen，elective or obliged.【Results】In non-preimplantation genetic testing（PGT）elective SET cycles，the clinical pregnancy rate of the day 3 embryos（D3）and day 6 embryos（D6）in patients under 35 were as high as 35%. The clinical pregnancy rate of day 5 embryos（D5）was 50% approximately. While in PGT cycles，the clinical pregnancy rate of patients less than 42 years old was 45%，especially implantation rate of D5 embryos was close to 60% in all patients under 40. With the increase of age，the pregnancy rate of SET decreased. In non-PGT group，D3 embryos showed significant difference in either elective/obliged or fresh/frozen cycles（P < 0.001 for all）. In general，elective SET showed a higher pregnancy rate than obliged cycles. There was no significant difference between the elective and obliged frozen cycles of D5 or D6 embryos regarding clinical pregnancy rate（P = 0.074 and P = 0.596，respectively）. Elective D5 embryo transfer group had a higher pregnancy rate than that of the obliged group（P = 0.011）. However，there was no significant difference of clinical pregnancy rate between elective and obliged groups of D6 embryos（P = 0.979）. In non-PGT cycles，clinical pregnancy rate was significantly different among different age groups of either elective/obliged or fresh/ frozen cycles（P < 0.001）. Obliged D3 and D6 embryo transfer groups showed the lowest pregnancy rate，and in PGT cycles of patients under 40，D5 embryo showed a higher pregnancy rate than that of D6 group as a whole（P < 0.001）.【Conclusion】The outcome of SET strategy seemed good in the last 2 years. In order to avoid perinatal complications caused by multiple fetuses，clinicians and patients should actively promote and choose SET.

CircadianClockandFemaleReproduction / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#Circadianclockisanendogenousoscillatorentrainedforenvironmentaladaptation.Itisresponsiblefor multiplephysicalactivities，suchassleep-wakecycleformation，hormonesynthesis，cellularmetabolism，andimmune regulation.Inwomen，ovarianphysiologyisorchestratedbyaprimaryclockinthesuprachiasmaticnucleus（SCN）ofthe hypothalamus-pituitaryaxis，whichcoordinatesperipheralorganswiththecentralnervoussystem（CNS）.Disruptionof theseinternalcircadianrhythms（orcalleddesynchronization）isassociatedwiththeonsetandprogressionofvariousfe⁃ malereproductivepathologies，includingmenstrualcycledisorder，miscarriagesandsubfertility，etc.Thepurposeofthis reviewistohighlighttheregulationroleofcircadianclockinthefemalereproductivephysiologyfromtheperspectiveof ovarianfollicularrecruitment，ovulationinduction，embryoimplantationandpregnancymaintenance.

Clinical efficacy and safety of controlled-release dinoprostone insert: a multicenter retrospective study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the effectiveness and safety of controlled-release dinoprostone insert for term labor induction in the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty hospitals using controlled-release dinoprostone insert for term labor induction in the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong province were stratified into provincial hospitals and municipal hospitals, and three hospitals of each level were selected as research units. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1390 pregnant women receiving term labor induction using controlled-release dinoprostone insert were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the the effectiveness and safety with another 957 pregnant women with induced abortion using oxytocin as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the controlled-release dinoprostone insert group showed a significantly longer length of the latent phase of labor (4.06∓2.65 vs 3.20∓2.08 h, P=0.003, 95%CI [0.182, 0.920]) and shorter lengths of the active phase (1.73∓1.32 vs 2.22∓1.75 h, P=0.000, 95%CI [-0.795, -0.363]) and the second stage of labor (0.49∓0.37 vs 0.54∓0.43 h, P=0.003, 95%CI [-0.137, -0.028]). No significant differences were found in the length of the first stage of labor, the vaginal delivery rate, adverse reactions, or fetal outcomes between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Controlled-release dinoprostone insert is effective and safe for labor induction at term.</p>

Effects of M II stage oocytes zona pellucida birefringence on pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effects of different M II stage oocytes zona pellucida birefringence on pregnancy outcome.@*METHODS@#A total of 46 couples with infertile which induced by single cause received in-vitro fertilization treatment were analyzed retrospectively, and randomly divided into the high zona birefringence (HZB)/HZB group, HZB/low zona birefringence (LZB) group and LZB/LZB group according to different oocytes zona pellucida birefringence. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome was analyzed and compared.@*RESULTS@#The proportion of HZB oocytes, implantation rate and the pregnancy rate were decreased in three groups (HZB/HZB group>HZB/LZB group>LZB/LZB group) (P0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that factors affect M II stage oocytes zona pellucida birefringence were age, basal FSH level and the LH level on the day of HCG injection. Age and FSH levels were negatively correlated with the single oocyte zona pellucida birefringence; While the LH level on the day of hCG injection was positively correlated with the single oocyte zona pellucida birefringence.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The primary influence factors on M II stage oocytes zona pellucida are age, basal FSH level and the LH level on the day of hCG injection. The birefringence value of zona pellucida can affect the pregnancy outcome.

A follow-up study on children conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the perinatal complications, birth defects and growth of children conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods A total of 575 children conceived by ICSI in our reproductive medical center, were studied. The follow-up study would include items as pregnant complications, neonatal complications, birth defects in perinatal period, subsequently detected birth defects, body weight and body length/height growth. Results Prematurity and low birth weight of ICSI children were higher in the multiple births than in the singleton births. The rates of materal gestational hypertension, neonatal asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, infection diseases were higher in the multiple pregnancies than in the singleton pregnancies(P＜0.05). Eleven ICSI children had died. Ten of them died in the neonatal period and they were preterm infants. One fullterm singleton ICSI child died of hepatoblastoma at the age of 2. The rate of birth defects in perinatal period was higher in ICSI children of multiple pregnancies than in the general population (P＜0.05). The body weight and body length/height of most ICSI children had obtained the standard range between 1 to 3 year-olds. Conclusion The higher rates of perinatal complications in ICSI children were closely related to multiple pregnancies.

The clinical application of whole chromosome painting probes in preimplantation genetic diagnosis for translocation carriers / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To make preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for female translocation carriers by analyzing first polar bodies (1PBs) with whole chromosome painting probe (WCP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>WCP was used in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of 1PBs for four female Robertsonian carriers presented for PGD with 45 XX, der(13;14)(q10;q10) karyotype. All the patients underwent ovarian stimulation and during 6 h after oocyte retrieval 1PBs were biopsied and WCP were used in FISH. On day 3 after fertilization embryos diagnosed as normal or balanced were transferred.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 61 oocytes were collected in 4 PGD cycles. Of the 54 matured oocytes, 50 were biopsied and 45 were fixed successfully. Results were obtained in 40 1PBs. Overall, 74.1% (40/54) oocytes were diagnosed. The fertilization rate and good embryo rate were 64.8% (35/54) and 65.7% (23/35) respectively. Two clinical pregnancies were obtained. One patient delivered a normal female baby with karyotype 46, XX in June 2006. For another patient, the fetus spontaneously aborted at 9th week of pregnancy with karyotype of 45, X confirmed by amniotic villus diagnosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>WCP can differentiate normal, balanced and unbalanced oocytes accurately and can be used as an efficient PGD method for female carriers of translocation.</p>

Analysis of chromosome mosaicism in preimplantation embryos by using 2 sequential rounds of fluorescence in situ hybridization / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism and factors affecting mosaicism in human preimplantation embryos by using 2 sequential rounds of fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 51 normal fertilized embryos, which were not suitable for embryo transfer and cryopreservation, were analyzed on day 3 after fertilization by using two sequential rounds of FISH. Chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 51 embryos, 16 (31.4%) were mosaic, 12 (23.5%) were chaotic, and the remaining were either normal (27.5%) or non-mosaic abnormal (17.6%). The incidence of mosaic embryos was related to embryo developmental stage, for the incidence of mosaicism increased from 12.5% in embryos <or= 4 cell stage to 40.0% in 5-8 cell stage embryos. The aneuploidy rate for the patients over 35 years of age was significantly higher than that of the patients under 35 years (57.1% vs 23.3%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mosaicism is common in human preimplantaion embryos, which may be one of the important factors affecting the success rates in IVF-ET. Most of the chromosomal abnormalities can be identified by two sequential rounds of FISH.</p>

Sperm sex chromosome analysis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis of patients with sex chromosome anomalies / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the constitution of abnormal spermatozoa from patients with sex chromosome anomalies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Triple color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to determine the sex chromosome constitution of spermatozoa from three patients with sex chromosome anomalies (case 1:46,XY/47,XXY, case 2:45,XO/46,X,Yqh-, case 3:47,XXY). The preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was performed to case 2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An increased ratio (2.05 vs 1) of X-bearing to Y-bearing spermatozoa was only observed in case 2, who also had an increased incidence of total abnormal spermatozoa (29.71%). An increased incidence of total abnormal spermatozoa (4.91%) was also observed in case 3. Among the constitution of abnormal spermatozoa, case 2 had the increased proportions of XY18 disomy, O18 monosomy and XO monosomy, while case 3 had an increase proportion of XY18 disomy (1.87%). PGD was performed to case 2 and one embryo with XX1818 was selected for implanting.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Using FISH to detect the sperm sex chromosomes in patients with sex chromosome anomalies can provide the useful information to evaluate the risk of sex chromosome anomalies in preimplantation embryos.</p>

Clinical analysis of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in patients with previous fertilization failure after conventional IVF / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with previous fertilization failure after conventional IVF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data from 20 ICSI cases (22 ICSI cycles) with previous complete failure of fertilization or with fertilization rate < or = 20% between January 2002 and December 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. The control group consisted of 100 consecutive ICSI cycles for male factor infertility in the same period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fertilization rate dramatically increased from 5.4% after conventional IVF to 76.9% after ICSI treatment (chi-squared = 264.66, P < 0.001). However, the fertilization rate in the subgroup with previous low fertilization was significantly lower than those in the control and in the subgroup without previous fertilization (67.9% vs 77.5%, 67.9% vs 84.2%). Compared with the control group, the subgroup without previous fertilization had a higher pregnancy rate and implantation rate, but only the difference in the implantation rate was statistically significant (40.5% vs 18.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ICSI can overcome previous fertilization failure with conventional in vitro fertilization and thus improve the clinical outcome.</p>

The latest development in preimplantation genetic diagnosis / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is the integration of both assisted reproductive technologiesand molecular genetic technologies.Since the birth of the first healthy females after PGD in 1990,re-markable advances have been achieved in this field.Most research in PGD is focused on new methods toimprove the sensitivity and accuracy of single cell analysis.The principal problems in single cell PCR in-clude amplification failure,ADO and contamination.Fluorescent PCR with multiplex amplifications ofhighly polymorphic markers is a highly effective strategy to avoid contamination and detect ADO.The ad-vantages and disadvantages of fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect age-related aneuploidy are stillunder debate.We summarize the most recent developments in this review,and also introduce our own ex-periences in PGD.

Formation and Characteristics of Wine Bouquet Produced by Wine Yeasts / 微生物学通报

In the process of vinification, the metabolic products of various yeasts are key to the sensory characteristics. Different species produce different volatile composition, which results in direct influences on wine's bouquet mostly. Metabolic characteristics of Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces and the different influences on odour by them as well as interactions among various species were described in this paper. Research progress on non-Saccharomyces was summarized.Studies confirmed that some characteristics of non-Saccharomyces play a positive role in the structure of bouquet of wine. Combined use of Saccharomyces and some of non-Saccharomyces will be beneficial to sensory characteristics of wine.