Using Carbonized Cotton Fabric Waste to Prepare Poly(ethylene glycol) Composite Phase Change Materials with Improved Thermal Conductivity and Solar-to-Thermal Conversion.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) boasts excellent thermal energy storage capabilities but lacks efficiency in thermal conductivity and solar absorption. Simultaneously, the escalating concern surrounding the substantial volume of discarded cotton fabric underscores environmental issues. In this study, we devised composite phase change materials (PCMs) by embedding PEG into a carbon cotton material (CCM), varying PEG content from 50 to 80%, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of their thermal properties and solar-to-thermal conversion. The CCM, crafted from a waste 100% cotton towel through carbonization, provided an optimal porous structure that accommodated a significant 70% PEG content without any leakage, thanks to interactions such as surface tension, capillary forces, and interfacial hydrogen bonds. These PEG/CCM composites exhibited impressive crystallization fractions (>92%), resulting in notable thermal energy storage capacities ranging from 85.3 to 143.2 J/g as the PEG content increased from 50 to 80%. Moreover, these composites showed high thermal stability and exceptional cycling durability even after 500 melting/crystallization cycles. Notably, their thermal conductivities markedly increased to a range of 0.46-0.85 W/m·K compared to pure PEG's modest 0.24 W/m·K. Furthermore, the PEG/CCM composites substantially augmented visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) light absorption. Evaluation of solar-to-thermal conversion illustrated the composite's ability to efficiently convert solar energy into thermal energy, storing and subsequently releasing it through melting and crystallization processes. This study introduces a novel class of composite PCMs characterized by cost-effectiveness, outstanding thermal performance, and impressive solar-to-thermal conversion capabilities. These composite PCMs hold significant promise for large-scale solar-to-thermal energy storage applications while contributing to the sustainability of cotton waste management.

Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection does not improve the quality of embryos: A cross-sectional investigation on sibling oocytes / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#This study aimed to compare the efficacy of physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in terms of the fertilization rate and embryo quality using sibling oocyte cycles. @*Methods@#This prospective, cross-sectional study collected data from 76 couples who underwent their first cycle at the Hue Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Vietnam, between May 2019 and November 2021. The inclusion criteria were cycles with at least eight oocytes and a sperm concentration of 5×106/mL. Sperm parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), fertilization, and the quality of cleavage-stage embryos on day 2 and blastocysts on day 5 were examined. @*Results@#From 76 ICSI cycles, 1,196 metaphase II (MII) oocytes were retrieved, half of which were randomly allocated to either the PICSI (n=592) or ICSI (n=604) treatment group. The results showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of fertilization (72.80% vs. 75.33%, p=0.32), day 2 cleavage rate (95.13% vs. 96.04%, p=0.51), blastulation rate (52.68% vs. 57.89%), and high-quality blastocyst rate (26.10% vs. 31.13%, p=0.13). However, in cases where SDF was low, 59 cycles consisting of 913 MII oocytes produced a considerably higher blastulation rate with PICSI than with ICSI (50.49% vs. 35.65%, p=0.00). There were no significant differences between the pregnancy outcomes of the PICSI and ICSI embryo groups following embryo transfer. @*Conclusion@#Using variable sperm quality provided no benefit for PICSI versus ICSI in terms of embryo outcomes. When SDF is low, PICSI appears to be able to produce more blastocysts.

The Optimal Cut-Off Point of the ADNEX Model for the Prediction of the Ovarian Cancer Risk

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and determine the optimal cut-off point of the ADNEX model in women presenting with a pelvic or adnexal tumor. Method: All women presented with adnexal mass and were scheduled for operation at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and Hue Central Hospital, Vietnam during June 2019 ­ May 2021 were included and categorized according to their histopathologic reports into ovarian cancer groups and benign ovarian tumor groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore for potential predictors. The ADNEX model with and without CA125 was used to assess the risk of ovarian cancer preoperative. The goldden standard to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography using the ADNEX model was the pathological report. In addition, the accuracy as well as optimum cut-off point of the ADNEX model was estimated with and without CA125. Results: A total of 461 participants were included in analysis and predictive model development, 65 patients in ovarian cancer group and 361 in benign tumor group. The ADNEX model combined with CA125 proved to be a useful predictor with an area under ROC of 0.961 (0.940 ­ 0.977) with Youden's index of 0.8395, p < 0.001. The ADNEX model without CA125 also had high predictive value between benign and malignant tumors, with an area under ROC of 0.956 (0.933 ­ 0.973) with Youden's index of 0.8551, p < 0.001. Cut-off of the ADNEX with CA125 was 13.5 and without CA125 was 13.1 for sensitivities were 90.8 (81.0 ­ 96.5) and 93.9 (85.0 ­ 97.5), specificities 93.2 (90.2 ­ 95.5) and 91.67 (88.5 ­ 94.2). The difference in the predictive value of malignancy-risk between the ADNEX model with CA125, without CA125 was not statistically significant, p=0.4883. Conclusion: The ADNEX model, with or without the combining marker CA 125, provides a valuable predictive value for ovarian tumor malignancy preoperative.

Correlations between abnormalities of morphological details and DNA fragmentation in human sperm / 대한생식의학회지

As the associations of sperm DNA fragmentation with morphology have not been examined in detail, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between abnormalities of morphological details and DNA integrity in human sperm. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, men from infertile couples were enrolled at Hue Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Vietnam. Conventional semen parameters, including morphological details, were analyzed following the World Health Organization 2010 criteria. Sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated using a sperm chromatin dispersion assay. The relationships and correlations between semen parameters, sperm morphology, and the type of halosperm and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were analyzed. Results: Among 130 men in infertile couples, statistically significant differences were not found in the sperm halo type between the normal and abnormal sperm morphology groups. The percentage of round-head spermatozoa was higher in the DFI >15% group (16.98%±12.50%) than in the DFI ≤15% group (13.13% ±8.82%), higher values for amorphous heads were found in the DFI >15% group, and lower values for tapered heads were observed in the DFI ≤15% group; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Small-halo sperm and the DFI were positively correlated with round-head sperm (r=0.243, p=0.005 and r=0.197, p=0.025, respectively). Conclusion: The rate of general sperm morphological abnormalities in semen analysis was not related to sperm DNA integrity. However, round sperm heads were closely associated with sperm DNA fragmentation.

Does conventional freezing affect sperm DNA fragmentation? / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Sperm cryopreservation has been widely used in assisted reproductive technology, as it offers great potential for the treatment of some types of male infertility. However, cryopreservation may result in changes in membrane lipid composition and acrosome status, as well as reductions in sperm motility and viability. This study aimed to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation damage caused by conventional freezing using the sperm chromatin dispersion test. METHODS: In total, 120 fresh human semen samples were frozen by conventional methods, using SpermFreeze Solution as a cryoprotectant. Routine semen analysis and a Halosperm test (using the Halosperm kit) were performed on each sample before freezing and after thawing. Semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were compared between these groups. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in sperm progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology after conventional freezing (32.78%, 79.58%, and 3.87% vs. 16%, 55.99%, and 2.55%, respectively). The sperm head, midpiece, and tail defect rate increased slightly after freezing. Furthermore, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was significantly higher after thawing than before freezing (19.21% prior to freezing vs. 22.23% after thawing). Significant increases in the DFI after cryopreservation were observed in samples with both normal and abnormal motility and morphology, as well as in those with normal viability. CONCLUSION: Conventional freezing seems to damage some sperm parameters, in particular causing a reduction in sperm DNA integrity.

Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance Syndrome among Infertile Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study from Central Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies among reproductive-age women. Its metabolic features often overlap with those associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin resistance syndrome (IRS). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of MS and IRS in infertile Vietnamese women with PCOS. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary fertility centre at Hue University Hospital from June 2016 to November 2017. A total of 441 infertile women diagnosed with PCOS based on the revised 2003 Rotterdam consensus criteria were enrolled. MS and IRS were defined based on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/American Heart Association Adult Treatment Panel III 2005 and American College of Endocrinology IRS 2003 criteria, respectively. Complete clinical and biochemical measurements of 318 women were available for analysis. Independent predictors of MS and IRS were identified using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of MS and IRS in women with PCOS was 10.4% and 27.0%, respectively. We identified older age (>30 years) and obesity as independent predictors of MS and IRS. Elevated anti-Müllerian hormone levels increased the risk of IRS, but not that of MS. CONCLUSION: MS and IRS are prevalent disorders among infertile Vietnamese women with PCOS. PCOS is not solely a reproductive problem. Screening and early intervention for MS and/or IRS based on anthropometric, metabolic, and reproductive hormone risk factors should be an integral part of fertility care.

Thinning and drilling laser-assisted hatching in thawed embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: In frozen and thawed embryos, the zona pellucida (ZP) can be damaged due to hardening. Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) of embryos can increase the pregnancy rate. This study compared thinning and drilling of the ZP before frozen embryo transfer (FET). METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated into two groups for LAH using thinning or drilling on day 2 after thawing. Twenty-five percent of the ZP circumference and 50% of the ZP thickness was removed in the thinning group, and a hole 40 µm in diameter was made in the drilling group. RESULTS: A total of 171 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection FET cycles, including 85 cycles with drilling LAH and 86 cycles with thinning LAH, were carried out. The thinning group had a similar β-human chorionic gonadotropin-positive rate (38.4% vs. 29.4%), implantation rate (16.5% vs. 14.4%), clinical pregnancy rate (36.0% vs. 25.9%), miscarriage rate (5.8% vs. 2.4%), ongoing pregnancy rate (30.2% vs. 23.5%), and multiple pregnancy rate (7.0% vs. 10.6%) to the drilling LAH group. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between subgroups defined based on age (older or younger than 35 years) or ZP thickness (greater or less than 17 µm) according to the LAH method. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that partial ZP thinning or drilling resulted in similar outcomes in implantation and pregnancy rates using thawed embryos, irrespective of women's age or ZP thickness.