Assessment of cGMP level in medium during in vitro growth period of murine preantral follicles with and without supplementation of C-type natriuretic peptide.

To enhance the developmental competency of murine ovarian follicles cultured in vitro, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) was supplemented in the culture system. Although the mechanism is not fully elucidated, it was reported that the effect of CNP supplementation was mediated by increased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In the present study, cGMP levels in media for murine preantral follicle culture were compared both between a control group without CNP supplementation and an experimental group with CNP supplementation and between days in each group. In addition, follicle growth patterns and oocyte maturity were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results demonstrated that along with in vitro culture, cGMP levels increased (P < 0.05) both in the control group and the experimental group, whereas cGMP levels were not significantly different between the two groups on the same day of in vitro culture (P > 0.05). The oocyte's maturity was superior in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). As ovarian follicles grew three-dimensionally in the experimental group but were flattened in the control group, CNP might improve oocyte maturity through maintaining the three-dimensional architecture of the ovarian follicle because of increased transzonal projections (TZP) and functional gap junctions between oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells.

Wang's Yijing Decoction Combined with Conventional Therapy： Performance in Treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Kidney Deficiency and Phlegm-dampness Syndrome and Regulating Effect on Intestine-brain Axis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of Wang's Yijing decoction combined with conventional therapy on the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） with kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness syndrome and its regulating effect on the intestine-brain axis. MethodThe 132 patients from the gynecological clinic of Shanxi Bethune Hospital were randomly assigned into a control group and an observation group， with 66 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with drospirenone and ethinylestradiol tablets and metformin tablets， and those in the observation group were administrated with Wang's Yijing decoction on the basis of the therapy in the control group. The treatment in both groups lasted for 3 menstrual cycles. The changes in menstrual blood volume， color， and texture， as well as that in the menstrual cycle before and after treatment were scored. Further， the Rosenfield， hirsutism， and kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness syndrome were scored before and after treatment. Pelvic ultrasound was performed before and after treatment to compare the bilateral ovarian volume. The levels of anti-mullerian hormone （AMH）， estradiol （E2）， luteinizing hormone （LH）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， testosterone （T）， dihydrotestosterone （DHT）， and sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG） were measured before and after treatment， and the free androgen index （FAI） was calculated. After the fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose were examined before and after treatment， the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） was calculated. The levels of ghrelin， glucagon-like peptide-1 （GLP-1）， peptide tyrosine-tyrosine （PYY） in serum and short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs） in fresh stool were measured before and after treatment. ResultThe treatments in both groups lowered the scores of irregular menstruation， Rosenfield， hirsutism， and kidney deficiency and phlegm-dampness syndrome （P<0.01）， and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.01）. After treatment， the T， DHT， FAI， AMH， E2， LH， and FSH levels lowered （P<0.01）， while the SHBG level elevated （P<0.01）. In addition， the AMH， E2， LH， T， DHT， and FAI in the observation group were lower than those in control group， while the SHBG level presented an opposite trend （P<0.01）. After treatment， the bilateral ovarian volume and HOMA-IR of the two groups decreased （P<0.01）， and were lower in the observation group than in the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The treatments in both groups elevated the levels of ghrelin， GLP-1， PYY， and SCFAs （P<0.01）， which were higher in the observation group than in the control group （P<0.01）. After treatment， the recovery rate in the observation group was 65.57% （40/61）， which was higher than 44.83% （26/58） in the control group （χ2=5.180， P<0.05）. ConclusionWang's Yijing decoction combined with conventional western medicine treatment can regulate the intestine-brain axis， endocrine and metabolic disorders， and sex hormones， adjust the menstrual cycle， and alleviate clinical symptoms， demonstrating good clinical effect for the PCOS patients with kidney deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome.

Supplementation of c-type natriuretic peptide during in vitro growth period benefits the development of murine preantral follicles.

The present study investigated the effects of c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on the development of murine preantral follicles during in vitro growth (IVG). Preantral follicles isolated from ovaries of Kunming mice were cultured in vitro. In the culture system, CNP was supplemented in the experimental groups and omitted in the control groups. In Experiment 1, CNP was only supplemented at the early stage and follicle development was evaluated. In Experiments 2 and 3, CNP was supplemented during the whole period of in vitro culture. In Experiment 2, follicle development and oocyte maturity were evaluated. In Experiment 3, follicle development and embryo cleavage after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were assessed. The results showed that in the control groups in all three experiments, granulosa cells migrated from within the follicle and the follicles could not reach the antral stage. In the experimental groups in all three experiments, no migration of granulosa cells was observed and follicle development was assessed as attaining the antral stage, which was significantly superior to that of the control group (P < 0.0001). Oocyte meiotic arrest was effectively maintained, hence giving good developmental competence. In conclusion, CNP supplementation in the culture system during IVG benefited the development of murine preantral follicles.

Analysis of influencing factors leading to major birth defects in six counties of Shanxi province / 中华全科医师杂志

To explore the influencing factors of major birth defects.The children of 0 -3 years and their mother from six different districts were surveyed from November 2009 to December 2009.The incidence rate was 134.27/10 000 (493/36 716)in 6 counties. And the first five birth defects were as follows:congenital heart disease,neural tube defects,cheilopalatognathus,polydactylia and hypophrenia.The risks and protective factors of the first 5 birth defects were different.Anamnesis of birth defects and defective children from relatives,multiple pregnancy & birth and intake of antipyretic analgesics during pregnancy were the common risk factor for the first 5 birth defects.The key points for the prevention of birth defects are to reinforce the pre-pregnancy guidance,the screening and evaluation of risk factors and disease prevention during pregnancy.