Initial serum HCG levels are higher in pregnant women with a male fetus after fresh or frozen single blastocyst transfer: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Substantial previous studies have almost reached an agreement on the gender effect on maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (MsHCG) in and after the late first trimester of pregnancy. However, there is little knowledge of the sex-related difference in MsHCG level at the preliminary stage of pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to reveal this difference in women after fresh or frozen single blastocyst transfer (SBT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 252 fresh SBT cycles and 1486 frozen-thawed SBT cycles collected between June 1, 2014 and May 30, 2017 were retrospectively analyzed in our center. Patients with MsHCG level ≥5 IU/L on day 11 after transfer, achieving a singleton intrauterine pregnancy and subsequent live birth were included. We compared MsHCG levels between women gave birth to a male neonate and those gave birth to a female one in fresh or frozen SBT cycles, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 136 neonates including 57 females and 79 males were born following fresh SBT. The male-female ratio was 1.39:1. The average MsHCG level of male fetuses was higher than that of female fetuses on day 11 after transfer (549.82 ± 253.24 IU/L versus 439.03 ± 198.41 IU/L, P < 0.05). Correspondingly, a total of 431 infants was born after frozen SBT, containing 188 females and 243 males. The male-female ratio was 1.29:1. Initial MsHCG level remained higher in women with a male neonate than the counterparts with a female neonate (894.43 ± 622.17 IU/L versus 758.05 ± 624.33 IU/L, P < 0.05). It was also found the pregnant women following frozen-thawed SBT exhibited higher initial MsHCG level than those following fresh SBT in whether male-bearing or female-bearing gestations. CONCLUSIONS: MsHCG levels are higher in pregnant women with a male fetus than those with a female one on day 11 after fresh or frozen SBT. A sex-specific response to the stress in the process of in vitro embryo culture was suggested.

[IVOS â ¡ versus Sperm Class Analyzer in the results of semen analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results obtained from the computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) systems of the two fully-automated commercial sperm quality analyzers, Hamilton-Thorn IVOS Ⅱ (IVOS Ⅱ) and Spanish Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA). METHODS: A total of 99 semen samples were collected in the Center of Reproduction of Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital from September 2018 to October 2018 and, according to the sperm concentration, divided into groups A (<15 ×106/ml), B (15－50 ×106/ml) and C (>50 ×106/ml). IVOS Ⅱ, SCA and manual microscopy were used for the examination of each sample, followed by comparison of the sperm concentration, sperm motility and percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) obtained from IVOS Ⅱ and SCA. RESULTS: The sperm concentrations derived from IVOS Ⅱ and SCA were significantly higher than that from manual microscopy in group A (ï¼»10.24 ± 4.60ï¼½ and ï¼»10.20 ± 5.11ï¼½ vs ï¼»8.45 ± 4.15ï¼½ ×106/ml, P < 0.05), but showed no statistically significant difference in group B (ï¼»30.95 ± 11.84ï¼½ and ï¼»31.81 ± 12.90ï¼½ vs ï¼»29.14 ± 10.65ï¼½ ×106/ml, P > 0.05) or C (ï¼»102.14 ± 45.97ï¼½ and ï¼»109.48 ± 46.32ï¼½ vs ï¼»104.74 ± 41.87ï¼½ ×106/ml, P > 0.05). Significant differences were not observed between IVOS Ⅱ and SCA in the percentage of PMS (ï¼»24.21 ± 14.62ï¼½% vs ï¼»23.92 ± 15.42ï¼½%, P > 0.05) or sperm motility (ï¼»37.48 ± 19.34ï¼½% vs ï¼»37.69 ± 16.61ï¼½%, P > 0.05) in group B, nor in group C (PMS: ï¼»30.80 ± 12.06ï¼½% vs ï¼»32.98 ± 16.10ï¼½%, P > 0.05; sperm motility: ï¼»44.50 ± 15.62ï¼½% vs ï¼»47.26 ± 17.46ï¼½%, P > 0.05). Both the percentage of PMS and sperm motility obtained from IVOS Ⅱ were remarkably lower than those derived from SCA in group A (PMS: ï¼»18.54 ± 12.96ï¼½% vs ï¼»22.90 ± 12.88ï¼½%, P < 0.05; sperm motility: ï¼»26.97 ± 14.05ï¼½% vs ï¼»34.90 ± 15.18ï¼½%, P < 0.05). IVOS Ⅱ and SCA both showed a high repeatability (CV <15%), and the former exhibited an even higher one than the latter, in detection of sperm concentration, sperm motility and the percentage of PMS. CONCLUSIONS: IVOS Ⅱ and SCA both had a good consistency in the results of sperm concentration, motility and progressive motility, but showed a poor comparability with low-concentration semen samples.

[Study on the pulmonary fibrogenetic effect induced by rush-mat dust in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the fibrogenetic effects induced by rush-mat dust in rats. METHODS: SD rats were treated with 50 mg of rush-mat dust per rat by intra-tracheal instillation, sacrificed 3, 6, and 12 months respectively after exposure. The lung tissue and lung lymph-node were taken out for pathological and electron microscopic examination. The content of collagen and ceruloplasmin (CP) in lung tissues were also determined. RESULTS: After treatment for 12 months, fresh wet lung weight in rush-mat dust group [(2.69 +/- 0.22) g] was higher than those in saline group [(1.87 +/- 0.25) g], TiO(2) group [(2.25 +/- 0.26) g], but lower than that in SiO(2) group [(11.41 +/- 1.63) g]; dry lung weight in rush-mat dust group [(0.47 +/- 0.03) g] was higher than those in saline group [(0.32 +/- 0.03) g], TiO(2) group [(0.41 +/- 0.08) g], but lower than that in SiO(2) group [(2.06 +/- 0.28) g]; lung collagen content in rush-mat dust group [(103.08 +/- 14.79) mg] was higher than those in saline group [(75.96 +/- 13.91) mg, TiO(2) group [(85.84 +/- 17.62) mg], but lower than that in SiO(2) group [(497.50 +/- 100.80) mg]; CP content in rush-mat dust group [(18.03 +/- 1.87) U/L] was higher than those in saline group [(15.05 +/- 2.24) U/L], TiO(2) group [(16.92 +/- 1.67) U/L], but lower than that in SiO(2) group [(25.37 +/- 3.58) U/L], P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. Pathological examination showed lung macrophage alveolitis, broadening of alveolar interval, one to two grade of silicotic nodes and increased amount of type II epithelial cell in alveolar as well as slight collagenous fibrosis in lung tissue of rush-mat dust group. Under electron microscope, primary and secondary lysosome and medullary sheath-like phagocytic residual body were found in lung tissue of rush-mat dust group, meanwhile the amount of type II alveolar epithelial cell and collagen fiber were slightly increased but these changes were less than those of quartz group. CONCLUSION: The rush-mat dusts have slight pulmonary fibrogenetic effect on rat.