Factors Influencing the Live Birth Rate Following Fresh Embryo Transfer Cycles in Infertile Women After Endometrioma Cystectomy.

Background: Reproductive outcomes after fresh in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) cycles are diverse in infertile women with a history of ovarian cystectomy for endometriomas. We aimed to develop a logistic regression model based on patients' characteristics including number of embryos transferred and stimulation protocols to predict the live birth rate in fresh IVF/ICSI-ET cycles for such patients. Methods: We recruited 513 infertile women with a history of ovarian cystectomy for endometriomas who underwent their first fresh ET with different stimulation protocols following IVF/ICSI cycles in our unit from January 2014 to December 2018. One or two embryo are implanted. Clinical and laboratory parameters potentially affecting the live birth rate following fresh ET cycles were analyzed. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the relationship between predictive factors and live birth rate. Results: The overall live birth rate was 240/513 (46.8%). Multivariable modified Poisson regression models showed that two factors were significantly lowers the probability of live birth: female age ≥ 5 years (aOR 0.603; 95% CI 0.389-0.933; P = 0.023); BMI range 21-24.99 kg/m2 compared with BMI <21 kg/m2 (aOR 0.572; 95% CI 0.372-0.881, P = 0.011). And two factors significantly increased the probability of live birth: AFC >7 (aOR 1.591; 95% CI 1.075-2.353; P = 0.020); two embryos transferred (aOR 1.607; 95% CI 1.089-2.372; P = 0.017). Conclusions: For these infertile women who had undergone ovarian cystectomy for endometriosis, female age <35 years, AFC > 7, and two embryos transferred might achieve better clinical fresh IVF/ICSI-ET outcomes. BMI <21 kg/m2 or ≥25 kg/m2 might also have positive effects on the live birth rate, but different ovarian stimulation protocols had no significant effects. However, a larger sample size may be needed for further study.

Investigation of platelet-rich plasma in increasing proliferation and migration of endometrial mesenchymal stem cells and improving pregnancy outcome of patients with thin endometrium.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains abundant growth factors and is gradually used in the field of reproduction. A thin endometrium is recognized as a critical factor in embryo implantation failure. Endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EnMSCs), which were isolated from human menstrual blood, are highly proliferative and show multiple differentiation capacity. The current study was to investigate the effect of PRP on the proliferation and migration of EnMSCs, and the effectiveness of PRP in the treatment of patients with thin endometrium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EnMSCs were treated with PRP in vitro, followed by measuring cell proliferation, migration, and adhesion by using CCK8, scratch, and adhesion test, respectively. Twenty patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with refractory thin endometrium history were given PRP by infusion into the uterine cavity after the treatment of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). RESULTS: All components of PRP significantly stimulated the growth, migration, and adhesion of EnMSCs when compared with the negative control. Cell proliferation and migration were induced by PRP in a dose-dependent manner with maximum proliferation at a 2% PRP dose. The clinical data showed that successful endometrial expansion and pregnancy were discovered in 12 patients after PRP infusion, and the pregnancy rate increased to 60%. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine PRP infusion represents a new way for female patients with thin endometrium with poor response. This study lays the foundations for the potential treatment of thin endometrium with PRP in vivo.

Cucurbitacin B induces DNA damage and autophagy mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Cucurbitacin B (Cuc B), a natural compound extracted from cucurbitaceous plants, demonstrated potent anticancer activities, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the anticancer effect of Cuc B on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cuc B drastically decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Cuc B treatment caused DNA damage, as shown by long tails in the comet assay and increased γH2AX protein expression. Immunofluorescence staining showed that Cuc B treatment induced nuclear γH2AX foci. Cuc B activated DNA damage pathways by phosphorylation of ATM/ATR [two large phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-like kinase family (PIKKs) members]. Furthermore, it also induced autophagy, as evidenced by monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and autophagic protein expression. In addition, Cuc B treatment led to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which was inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) pretreatment. NAC pretreatment inhibited Cuc-B-induced DNA damage and autophagy. Taken together, these results suggest that ROS-mediated Cuc-B-induced DNA damage and autophagy in MCF-7 cells, which provides new insights into the anticancer molecular mechanism of Cuc B.