The exploration of infertility′s pathogenesis through gene editing technology / 中国医师杂志

Recently, the incidence rate of infertility has been increasing year by year. Lesions of the female reproductive system are the most important causes of infertility, such as premature ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, recurrent abortion, etc. However, the specific pathogenesis of infertility needs to be further studied. Gene editing is a technical method to change the sequence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in biological cells, which is an indispensable tool for studying gene function and disease pathogenesis. In this research, we review the recent progress in studying the pathogenesis of female infertility related diseases through gene editing technology, so as to explore a new direction for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

Effectiveness of noninvasive embryo chromosome screening in preimplantation genetic testing at different ages / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To study the effectiveness of noninvasive embryo chromosome screening (NICS) based on blastocyst culture medium and cystic fluid in preimplantation genetic detection (PGT) of embryos in different age groups.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 62 couples who underwent PGT assisted pregnancy in Shenzhen Hospital of Peking University from January 2019 to June 2021. A total of 310 blastocysts were biopsied. At the same time, D3-6 blastocyst culture medium and blastocyst cavity fluid were collected for NICS. According to the age of the patients, they were divided into three groups: <35 years old group, 35≤age<40 years old group and ≥40 years old group. The results of NICS were compared with those of embryonic trophoblast (TE) biopsy in each group, and the consistency, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Then the consistency, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of NICS and TE among the three age groups were statistically analyzed.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the consistency rate of NICS and TE among the three age groups ( P>0.05), but there was an upward trend in the elderly group (35≤age<40 years and ≥40 years). There was no statistically significant difference in specificity, sensitivity and PPV among the three age groups ( P>0.05). There was significant difference in NPV between the ≥40 years group and the other two groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:There was no statistical difference in the effectiveness of NICS among different age groups, However, there was an increasing trend in people ≥35 years of age.

Progress in molecular mechanism and clinical application of primordial follicle activation / 中国医师杂志

With the continuous elucidation of the molecular mechanism of primordial follicle activation, clinical in vitro activation (IVA) has gradually become a clinical treatment for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and reduced ovarian reserve (DOR). This article will review the mechanism of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), hippo signal and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signal involved in the activation of primordial follicles, and the application of IVA in patients with POI and DOR.

Relationship between body mass index and outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycle in patients with endometriosis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) cycles in patients with endometriosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the data of infertile women with endometriosis undergoing 244 IVF/ICSI-ET cycles between January, 2011 and August, 2012. The patients, categorized into 3 groups with mild endometriosis, moderate to severe endometriosis, and no endometriosis (control), underwent a long protocol, and the relationship of the general conditions, dose of gonadotropin, days of stimulation, BMI, number of oocytes retrieved and embryos transferred with the outcome of IVF were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was significant difference between moderate to severe endometriosis group and the control group in the number of ampules, oocytes retrieved and embryos transferred. The patients with moderate or severe endometriosis had significantly lower BMI and clinical pregnancy rate than those with mild or no endometriosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endometriosis is inversely correlated with BMI, and BMI of the patients with endometriosis may affect the pregnancy rate of IVF cycles.</p>

Study on microRNA expression in endometrium of luteal phase and its relationship with infertility of endometriosis / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To study the different expression of microRNA(miRNA) including mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the mid-secretary endometrium and its relationship with infertility of endometriosis.Methods From August 2011 to February 2013,36 infertile cases with endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy and pathology and excluded the other infertile factors in Department of Reproductive Medicine in Peking University Shenzhen Hospital were enrolled in this study,which were divided into 17 cases with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,19 cases with stage Ⅲ]-Ⅳ according to the revised classification American Fertility Society.Forty-four healthy women with male factor infertility were chosen as control group.The relative expression levels of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium of women in two groups were detected by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Those women were followed up for pregnancy outcome of endometriosis group after assisted reproductive techniques (pregnancy and nonpregnancy group respectively).Results (1) The expression of miRNA between endometriosis and control groups:the average expression level of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium of endometriosis group was 2.46 ± 1.98,3.20 ± 2.45,6.378 ± 3.275,which were significantly higher than 1.36 ± 1.05,2.04 ±1.16,4.548 ± 1.885 in control group (P =0.026,0.027,0.041,respectively).(2) The expression of miRNA between Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage and Ⅲ-Ⅳ:the average expression level of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium was 0.53 ± 0.51,0.33 ± 0.26,0.048 ± 0.021 in patients with of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,while 0.26 ±0.18,0.28 ±0.12,0.045 ±0.016 in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ respectively,there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups(P =0.191,0.661,0.753,respectively).(3) The expression of miRNA between pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups:the average expression level of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrium were 0.60 ± 0.30,1.23 ± 0.48,0.886 ± 0.238 in pregnancy group,while 2.64 ± 1.73,4.39 ± 2.58,7.199 ± 3.945 in non pregnancy group,there were statistically significant differences between the two groups(P =0.030,0.039,0.028,respectively).Conclusion Up-regulation of mir-29c,mir-200a,mir-145 in the endometrial tissue might play a role in endometriosis associated infertility.

Association of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphism with semen quality / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the association of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphism with semen quality in China.@*METHODS@#The experimental group included 75 males with oligospermia, asthenospermia or teratospermia. The control group included 72 fertile males with normal fertility and sperm quality. The differences in the frequency of genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G in the 2 groups were analyzed, and the plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level in both groups was detected.@*RESULTS@#The frequency of MTHFR C677T genotypes (CT, TT and CT+TT) in the abnormal sperm group was higher than that in the control group (P0.05). The Hcy level in abnormal sperm group was higher than that in the control group. In all subjects, the Hcy level of the MTHFR genotypes (CT, TT and CT+TT) was higher than that of the CC genotype, with no difference among the three MS A2756G genotypes.@*CONCLUSION@#CT and TT genotypes of MTHFR C677T are associated with abnormal sperm, which might be part of the pathogenesis of abnormal sperms. T allele may be the risk factor in China. The one mechanism of the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and semen quality could be higher Hcy level. MS A2756G polymorphism may not associate with semen quality in China.

Chitosan and its applications in synthesis of metal nanomaterials / 生物工程学报

Chitosan has natural abundance, unique bioactivity and attractive physicochemical properties. Recent years, the synthesis of chitosan-based metal nanomaterials has attracted increasing attention. The synthesis of metal nanoparticles utilizing biomolecular or organism offers a mild medium, and thus a greater degree of control over the nanoparticles produced, along with higher reproducibility. In particular, preparation of metal nanoparticles based on biomolecular or organism has its unique facility in integrating "minimum feature sizes" into labile biological components to an excellent synergy and bifunctional effect and consequently a more broad application. Herein, we review the new development of chitosan, chitosan-based synthesis of metal nanomaterials, and their application.