Reproductive outcomes in patients with high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation using testicular sperm for intracytoplasmic injection: a retrospective analysis.

This study aims to compare the embryological and clinical parameters of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles using testicular versus ejaculated sperm in male patients with elevated sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). A total of 73 ICSI cycles were examined in couples where the male partner exhibited high levels of SDF. ICSI was performed using either ejaculated or testicular sperm. The primary outcomes were rates of blastocyst formation, high-quality embryo development, and clinical pregnancy. The DNA fragmentation index (DFI) for testicular sperm (16.81 ± 17.51) was significantly lower than that of ejaculated sperm (56.96 ± 17.56). While the blastocyst formation rate was significantly higher in the testicular sperm group compared to the ejaculated sperm group, no statistically significant differences were noted in fertilization rate (72.15% vs. 77.23%), rate of high-quality embryo formation (47.17% vs. 46.53%), clinical pregnancy (50% vs. 56.52%), Cumulative pregnancy (70.2% vs. 55.6%), or live birth rate (43.75% vs.43.48%). Testicular spermatozoa have no additional advantage over ejaculated spermatozoa except for blastocyst quality in patients with high SDF, the use of testicular spermatozoa for the first ICSI cycle in male infertility patients with high SDF should be undertaken after much consideration at present.

Should we should consider day 3 blastomere number during single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycle? A retrospective study.

The present study investigated whether day 3 blastomere number has an effect on the clinical outcomes during single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles. A total of 3294 vitrified-warmed single day 5 blastocyst transferred cycles were analyzed in this retrospective study from January 2018 to December 2021. The cycles were divided into ≥ 7 and < 7 blastomere groups depending on the day 3 embryo blastomere number. The clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups, moreover multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between the number of day 3 blastomeres and clinical outcomes. The chi-square test demonstrated that the rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth were significantly higher in the ≥ 7 blastomere group compared to the < 7 blastomere group with respect to single high-quality blastocyst transfer cycles. Conversely, these rates were similar in the two groups with respect to single low-quality blastocyst transfer cycles. These results were confirmed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. However, the miscarriage rate was higher in the < 7 blastomere group than in ≥ 7 group during low-quality blastocyst transfer cycles. These results suggested that day 3 blastomere number should be considered during single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles. Thus, blastocsyts derived from ≥ 7 blastomere embryos are preferred when choosing the same quality blastocysts.

Screening the predictors for live birth failure in women after the first frozen embryo transfer based on the Lasso algorithm: a retrospective study.

This study aimed to screen factors related to live birth outcomes of women with first frozen embryo transfer (FET). The enrolled women were divided into training and validation cohorts. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression algorithm of machine learning and the multiple regression model were then used to screen factors relevant to live birth failure (LBF) for the training dataset. A nomogram risk prediction model was established on the basis of the screened factors, and the consistency index (C-index) and calibration curve were derived for evaluating the model. The validation cohort was utilized to validate the nomogram model further. In total, 2083 women who accepted the first FET in our hospital were included and 44 factors were initially screened in this study. On the basis of the training cohort, the screened risk factors via multiple regression analysis with odds ratio (OR) values were female age (OR: 3.092, 95%CI: 1.065-4.852), body mass index (BMI; OR: 1.106, 95%CI: 1.015-1.546), caesarean section (OR: 1.909, 95%CI: 1.318-2.814), number of high-quality embryos (OR: 0.698, 95%CI: 0.599-0.812), and endometrial thickness (OR: 0.957, CI: 0.904-0.980). The nomogram model was generated based on five predictors. Furthermore, favourable results with C-indexes and calibration curves close to ideal curves indicated the accurate predictive ability of the nomogram. Female age, BMI, caesarean section, number of high-quality embryos, and endometrial thickness were independent predictors for LBF. The five factors of the risk assessment model may help to identify LBF with high accuracy in women who accept FET.

Identification of lncRNA-associated competing endogenous RNA networks for occurrence and prognosis of gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the common digestive malignancies worldwide and causes a severe public health issue. So far, the underlying mechanisms of GC are largely unclear. Thus, we aim to identify the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-associated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for GC. METHODS: TCGA database was downloaded and used for the identification of differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs, respectively. Then, the ceRNA network was constructed via multiple online datasets and approaches. In addition, various in vitro assays were carried out to validate the effect of certain hub lncRNAs. RESULTS: We constructed a ceRNA network, including 76 lncRNAs, 18 miRNAs, and 159 mRNAs, which involved multiple critical pathways. Next, univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated 11 lncRNAs, including LINC02731, MIR99AHG, INHBA-AS1, CCDC144NL-AS1, VLDLR-AS1, LIFR-AS1, A2M-AS1, LINC01537, and LINC00702, and were associated with OS, and nine of those lncRNAs were considered as hub lncRNAs involved in the sub-ceRNA network. The in vitro assay indicated two lncRNAs, INHBA-AS1 and CCDC144NL-AS1, which were positively related to the GC aggressive features, including proliferation, invasion, and migration. CONCLUSIONS: We identified nine hub lncRNAs and the associated ceRNA network related to the prognosis of GC, and then validated two out of them as promising oncogenes in GC.

KIF4A knockdown suppresses ovarian cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by downregulating BUB1 expression.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common lethal gynecological malignancies worldwide. Abnormal kinesin family member 4A (KIF4A) expression has been implicated in ovarian cancer progression; however, the potential mechanism underlying KIF4A in ovarian cancer is not completely understood. The present study aimed to clarify the molecular basis of KIF4A in ovarian cancer. KIF4A and budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1) expression levels were detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, TUNEL and flow cytometry assays were performed to assess cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution, respectively. Ki67 expression levels were detected by conducting immunofluorescence assays. The expression levels of migration- and apoptosis-related proteins were measured via western blotting. A co-immunoprecipitation assay was conducted to determine the association between KIF4A and BUB1. The results demonstrated that KIF4A was expressed at significantly higher levels in ovarian cancer cell lines compared with IOSE-80 cells. Compared with the short hairpin RNA-negative control group, KIF4A knockdown significantly inhibited cell viability, colony formation and migration, and markedly induced cell apoptosis. The results indicated that KIF4A could bind to BUB1 and regulate BUB1 expression. BUB1 overexpression weakened KIF4A knockdown-mediated effects on cell viability, colony formation, migration and apoptosis. Overall, the present study demonstrated that KIF4A knockdown suppressed ovarian cancer progression by regulating BUB1, and suggested the potential value of KIF4A and BUB1 as therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.

ABO blood type is associated with ovarian reserve in Chinese women with subfertility.

Ovarian reserve reflects both the quantity and quality of oocytes available for procreation, and is affected by many known and unknown factors. ABO blood type is related to a number of infertility processes, but it is unclear whether and how ABO blood type affects ovarian reserve. Here, we explored the relationship between ABO blood type and ovarian reserve in Chinese women with subfertility. Day-3 serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and blood type were examined in 14,875 women who underwent IVF or ICSI treatment. Blood type proportions in the patient population were as follows: 30.98% type A, 24.54% type B, 7.57% type AB, and 36.91% type O. A higher percentage of women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) were blood type O, while a lower percentage had the B antigen (B and AB). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that blood type O was associated with a greater risk of DOR than blood type B and B antigen-positive types. By contrast, the B antigen (B and AB) was associated with a lower incidence of DOR than blood type O. These results suggest that blood type O is a risk factor for DOR while the B antigen (blood type B or AB) is a protective factor for ovarian reserve in Chinese women with subfertility. Further studies are needed to confirm this effect and identify the underlying mechanisms.

[Comparison of the efficiency between in-vitro maturation and in-vitro fertilization after early follicular phase GnRH agonist down-regulation in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of in-vitro maturation (IVM) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) after early follicular phase gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) down-regulation in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: From July 2010 to December 2012, 72 infertile patients with PCOS undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment in the Affiliated First Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups, which were patients with early follicular phase down-regulation IVM (36 cases) at IVM group and early follicular phase down-regulation long protocol IVF (36 cases) at IVF group. The laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULTS: (1) Lab parameters: a total of 442 oocytes were retrieved in group IVM, and 560 were in group IVF. The rate of mature oocytes of 83.8% (469/560) and high-quality embryos of 70.9% (212/299) at group IVF were significantly higher than that of group IVM[54.1% (239/442) and 50.7% (73/144), retrospectively, P < 0.01]. In group IVM, the average duration of gonadotropin (Gn) was (2.8 ± 1.5) days and the average dosage of Gn was (285 ± 169) U, which were significantly lower than (11.0 ± 1.0) days and (1499 ± 165) U in group IVF (P < 0.01). The mean number of oocytes retrieved 12.8 ± 2.5, fertilization rate of 64.8% (155/239), and implantation rate of 31% (23/74) in group IVM and 15.6 ± 3.1, 65.5% (307/469), 31% (23/74) in group IVF, which did not reach statistical difference (P > 0.05) . (2) Clinical outcomes: the clinical pregnancy rate (17/31, 55%) of IVF group was not significantly higher than that 44% (14/32) at IVM group (P > 0.05). The abortion rate was 1/17 at Group IVF and 1/14 in group IVM, which did not show statistical difference. Women at IVM group has no ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) cycle, group IVF has 31% (11/36) cycles presented moderate and severe OHSS. CONCLUSIONS: Infertile patients with PCOS undergoing IVM and IVF treatment after early follicular phase GnRH-a down-regulation can get satisfactory laboratory and clinical outcome. In addition to short treatment cycle, IVM can also avoid the occurrence of OHSS completely, but it has a rising trend in the abortion rate. IVF has a high incidence of OHSS, meanwhile, it increases the dosage of gonadotropins.