Effect of the ratios of estradiol increase on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer with antagonist regimens: a single center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF) is often determined according to follicle and estradiol levels following gonadotropin stimulation. In previous studies, although most of them analyzed the estrogen level from ovaries or the average estrogen level of a single follicle, there was no study on the ratio of estrogen increase, which was also correlated with pregnancy outcomes in the clinic. This study aimed to make timely adjustments to follow-up medication to improve clinical outcomes based on the potential value of estradiol growth rate. METHODS: We comprehensively analyzed estrogen growth during the entire ovarian stimulation period. Serum estradiol levels were measured on the day of gonadotropin treatment (Gn1), five days later (Gn5), eight days later (Gn8), and on the trigger day (HCG). This ratio was used to determine the increase in estradiol levels. According to the ratio of estradiol increase, the patients were divided into four groups: A1 (Gn5/Gn1 ≤ 6.44), A2 (6.44 < Gn5/Gn1 ≤ 10.62), A3 (10.62 < Gn5/Gn1 ≤ 21.33), and A4 (Gn5/Gn1 > 21.33); B1 (Gn8/Gn5 ≤ 2.39), B2 (2.39 < Gn8/Gn5 ≤ 3.03), B3 (3.03 < Gn8/Gn5 ≤ 3.84), and B4 (Gn8/Gn5 > 3.84). We analyzed and compared the relationship between data in each group and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: In the statistical analysis, the estradiol levels of Gn5 (P = 0.029, P = 0.042), Gn8 (P < 0.001, P = 0.001), and HCG (P < 0.001, P = 0.002), as well as Gn5/Gn1 (P = 0.004, P = 0.006), Gn8/Gn5 (P = 0.001, P = 0.002), and HCG/Gn1 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) both had clinical guiding significance, and lower one significantly reduced the pregnancy rate. The outcomes were positively linked to groups A (P = 0.036, P = 0.043) and B (P = 0.014, P = 0.013), respectively. The logistical regression analysis revealed that group A1 (OR = 0.376 [0.182-0.779]; P = 0.008*, OR = 0.401 [0.188-0.857]; P = 0.018*) and B1 (OR = 0.363 [0.179-0.735]; P = 0.005*, OR = 0.389 [0.187-0.808]; P = 0.011*) had opposite influence on outcomes. CONCLUSION: Maintaining a serum estradiol increase ratio of at least 6.44 on Gn5/Gn1 and 2.39 on Gn8/Gn5 may result in a higher pregnancy rate, especially in young people.

Identification of volatile organic compounds in muscle tissues of different species based on Headspace-Gas-Chromatography Ion-Mobility spectrometry.

Species identification of unknown biological samples is crucial for forensic applications, especially in cases of explosion, disaster accidents, and body mutilation after murdering, as well as poaching, illegal trade in endangered animals, and meat food fraud. In this study, we identified 60 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fresh skeletal muscle tissues of seven different animal species (cattle, sheep, pigs, rabbits, rats, chickens and carp) and a human dead body by headspace-gas-chromatography ion-mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS), and compared their differences by retention time, drift time and molecular weight. The results showed that these VOCs formed different gallery plot fingerprints in the skeletal muscle tissues of the human dead body and seven animal species. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed significantly different fingerprints between these species, and these fingerprints maintained good stability between the species and within the same species. Some VOCs have high species specificity, while VOCs of human fresh muscle tissues from different individual sources have little difference, demonstrating that all tested muscle tissue samples could be distinguished based on different VOCs. HS-GC-IMS has proved to be a rapid, high-throughput, highly sensitive and specific species identification method, which can be used for forensic species identification in criminal cases and disaster accidents, as well as detection in the field of food safety, such as meat fraud and adulteration.

Enantioselective direct functionalization of indoles by Pd/sulfoxide-phosphine-catalyzed N-allylic alkylation.

A general and efficient Pd/sulfoxide-phosphine complex-catalyzed direct asymmetric N-allylic alkylation of indoles has been developed to allow for the preparation of various N-allylated indoles in generally good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This catalytic system could also be extended to other N-containing heterocycles with good results.

[Clinical study on treatment of endometriosis-related infertility patients by laparoscopic surgery in combination of quyu jiedu recipe].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy of the laparoscopic surgery in combination of Quyu Jiedu Recipe (QYJDR) on endometriosis (EMs)-related infertility patients. METHODS: 130 EMs-related infertility patients of blood stasis and toxin accumulation syndrome diagnosed and treated by laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to two groups, i.e., the test group (75 cases) and the control group (55 cases). All patients received routine progesterone treatment after laparoscopic surgery. QYJDR was given to patients in the test group after laparoscopic surgery, lasting for twelve months. The pregnancy rate within one year after laparoscopic surgery were compared between the two groups. The Chinese medicine syndrome integrals, serum endometrium antibody (EMAb) and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels were compared between before drug therapy and three months after drug therapy. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate within one year after laparoscopic surgery was higher in the test group than in the control group [61.33% (46/75) vs 45.45% (25/55)], showing significant difference (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine syndrome integral was (16.07 +/- 6.77) score and (7.25 +/- 3.27) score before and 3 months after drug therapy in the test group, while it was (15.92 +/- 7.51) score and (12.73 +/- 6.12) score in the control group. The Chinese medicine syndrome integral after drug therapy was lower than that before drug therapy in the same group. Besides, the integral difference between before and after drug therapy was higher in the test group than in the control group [(9.12 +/- 6.16) score vs (3.48 +/- 2.06) score)], showing statistical difference (P<0.05). After three-month drug therapy, the serum EMAb negative conversion rate was obviously higher in the test group than in the control group (44.44% vs 15.62%), showing statistical difference (P<0.05). The serum CA125 level was (31.88 +/- 15.78) U/mL before drug therapy and (18.82 +/- 10.08) U/mL three months after drug therapy in the test group, while it was (30.63 +/- 19.28) U/mL and (18.05 +/- 11.20) U/mL respectively in the control group. It was lowered after drug therapy in the two groups with statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups after drug therapy (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic surgery in combination of QYJDR could effectively improve clinical symptoms of EMs patients of blood stasis and toxin accumulation syndrome, promote negative conversion of EMAb, lower serum CA125 levels, and elevate the clinical pregnancy rate. QYJDR is an effective formula in treatment of EMs-related infertility.