Pregnancy outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with strontium oocyte activation in a globozoospermic patient

Dear Editor, I am Dr Xiao-Yu Yang, from the Center of Clinical Reproductive Medicine in the First Affiliated Hospital at the NanJing Medical University, Nanjing, China. We present here a case report of a globo- zoospermic patient whose partner became pregnant after intracyto- plasmic sperm injection （ICSI） with assisted oocyte activation （AOA）.

多巴胺改性聚二乙炔复合热致变色材料的制备及性能

聚二乙炔变色温度较高且受热构象转变后难以回复,可通过端基改性赋予其热致变色可逆的性能并改变变色温度,以适合应用在人体温度智能传感方面.采用多巴胺改性二乙炔形成分子间氢键,二乙炔头基处多巴胺聚合形成共价键,254 nm紫外光照形成双聚合体系(Poly-PCDA-PDA),且将改性二乙炔与热塑性聚氨酯(TPU)进行复合.改性后聚二乙炔相转变点由62℃降低至约39℃,热致变色温度为35℃且能够在蓝-紫相之间发生完全可逆转变,改性二乙炔与TPU的复合制备了稳定性高且能够发生可逆热致变色的薄膜,更符合人体温度环境应用场景.提供了一种多巴胺取代头基后通过共价键连接进一步改性聚二乙炔的策略,有望在聚二乙炔基人体温度传感材料的研究中起到重要作用.

Preimplantation genetic testing guidelines of International Society of Reproductive Genetics

The International Society of Reproductive Genetics(ISRG)assembled a workgroup made up of clinicians,clinical laboratory directors,and scientists for the purpose of creating the guidelines for preimplantation genetic testing(PGT).The most up-to-date information and clinical insights for the optimal PGT practice were incorporated in these guidelines.Recommendations are provided for embryologists,medical geneticists,clinical laboratorians,and other healthcare providers to improve the wellbeing of patients seeking assisted reproductive treatment and their offspring.

电针和经皮穴位电刺激技术在生殖医学中的应用:专家共识（英文）

本文从传统针刺治疗不孕症的选穴依据与现代电针/经皮穴位电刺激技术的相关原理着手,从最优刺激参数选择、穴位辨证、疗程与治疗次数的确定及基本原理等方面阐述了电针/经皮穴位电刺激技术在多囊卵巢综合症、取卵镇痛、卵巢储备功能降低、胚胎移植以及男性少/弱精症等生殖领域中的具体应用。首次对电针/经皮穴位电刺激技术在生殖领域优势病种中的应用进行了系统的分析和总结,在最优刺激参数选择、穴位辨证、疗程与治疗次数的确定等方面提出了一系列专家共识,并为临床实践提供了指导意见和理论依据。

纳米通道限域生长制备取向生长的钙钛矿纳米线阵列及其在偏振光探测方面的应用

有序排列、取向生长的钙钛矿纳米线阵列的合成通常需要复杂的工艺条件和精密的仪器设备,这不利于其广泛应用.本文提出了一种纳米通道限域生长的方法来制备钙钛矿纳米线阵列.利用场发射扫描电子显微镜、原子力显微镜和X射线衍射等分析手段,表征了纳米线阵列的形貌和晶体结构,证明了该方法可用于在各种衬底上制备大面积的具有取向生长特点的不同种类的钙钛矿纳米线阵列.基于MAPb I3纳米线阵列所制备的光电探测器光响应优异,响应度和比探测率分别为20.56 A W^(-1)和4.73×10^(12)Jones.此外,由于所制备的一维钙钛矿纳米线结构的各向异性,该光电探测器还实现了对于偏振光的探测,其偏振比为2.2.

Diagnostic Guidelines for Infertility

Infertility seriously endangers the reproductive health of women at childbearing age.It is defined as the failure to achieve successful pregnancy after 1 year or more of regular unprotected intercourse.Broadly defined,infertility includes two aspects-failure to conceive or have a live birth.This guideline only addressed content relevant to the former.It was proposed by the gynecological endocrine group of the Chinese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Chinese Medical Association,based on relevant guidelines of the World Health Organization,the American Society for Reproductive Medicine,the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence,as well as the clinical practice in China.The guideline was reviewed by experts and doctors from medical institutions at all levels,which is applicable to the diagnosis of infertility by physicians in obstetrics,gynecology,and andrology at various medical institutions nationwide.

Comparison of the Effects and Safety of Mild Ovarian Stimulation and Conventional Ovarian Stimulation with A Long GnRH Agonist Protocol on IVF Outcomes

Objective To conduct a Meta-analysis of studies that compared the efficacies of mild ovarian stimulation and conventional long GnRH agonist protocol in patients under- going IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI）. Methods Meta-analysis was performed. All studies were published by July 2012 with data related to outcomes following mild ovarian stimulation compared with the conventional protocol. Odds ratios （ORs） and weighted/standardized mean difference （WMD/SMD） from individual study were pooled in fixed and random effect models. Main outcome measure was the efficacy of mild ovarian stimulation. Results Six articles were included in this Meta-analysis. The number of oocytes retrieved was lower, the cycle cancellation rate was higher and the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome （OHSS） was lower in the mild stimulation group than in conventional ovarian stimulation group. Clinical pregnancy rates were similar in both mild and conventional stimulation groups. Conclusions The level of evidence supporting the use of mild stimulation protocols in IVF is low, considering the fewer oocytes retrieved and the higher rates of cycle cancellation.

Neuroprotective Effects of Raloxifene on Aβ_(25-35)-induced Damages in PC12 Cells via Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of this protection of raloxifene （RLX）, a selective estrogen receptor modulator.Methods MTT assay and flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/PI staining were performed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of RLX on Aβ25-35-induced toxicity. The potential mechanisms were studied by Western blotting in cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells （PC12 cells）.Results RLX（1 000 nmol/L）, in combination with Aβ25-35 （30 llmol/L）, increased the cell viability （P 〈0.001）, and reduced the number of apoptotic cells （P 〈0.05）. RLX attenuated Aβ25-35-induced loss of △ψm （P 〈0.01）. The changing of △ψm was similar to the variation of apoptosis. PD98059 （inhibitor of ERK1/2） inhibited the effects of RLX on cell viability and phosphorylation of cleaved caspase-9. No significant difference of cell viability or phosphorylation of cleaved caspase-9 had been found when PC12 cells were incubated with SB203580 （inhibitor of p38MAPK） or SP600125 （inhibitor of JNK）. Afl25.35 induced a time-dependent phosphorylation of p38MAPK and JNK. In PC12 cells treated solely with RLX, ERK1/2 was activated （P〈0.01）. In PC12 cells treated with Aβ25-35 and RLX, Aβ2545-induced phosphorylation of p38MAPK and JNK were inhibited （P〈0.01 and P〈0.001, respectively）.Conclusion RLX inhibited Af125.35-induced cell apoptosis by activating the ERK1/2 pathway in PC12 cells. RLX also attenuated Aβ25-35-induced activation of p38MAPK and JNK. The mitochondria pathway Was involved in this inhibitory effect.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in Chinese men with multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella

Asthenozoospermia is a common cause of decreased male fertility, and several factors can inhibit or prevent sperm motility, including ultrastructural defects of the sperm flagellum） An ultrastructural defect leading to severe asthenozoospermia is a syndrome called dysplasia of the fibrous sheath （DFS）.

Expression of Target Genes in Cumulus Cells Derived from Human Oocytes with and without Blastocyst Formation

Objective:The transcriptional profile of cumulus cells(CCs)during oocyte maturation provides information for predicting oocyte developmental competence.Our previous study using a mouse model indicated that there were nine different genes related to oocyte development potential expressed in CCs during oocyte maturation.The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether gene expression levels of CCs during oocyte maturation are associated with oocyte developmental competence.Methods:The human CCs collected from each oocyte were divided into two groups after tracking depending on whether or not they developed to the blastocyst stage:(1)the oocytes were developed to blastocyst stage after fertilization(B+)and(2)the oocytes were not developed to blastocyst stage after fertilization(B−).The expression levels of the nine selected genes(ARRB1,ATP2C1,CDH5,CNTNAP1,LGR4,MKLN1,RHOBTB1,SIX2,and SMC2)were examined.CCs were obtained from 29 women who were undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment cycles.Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed on cumulus masses collected before insemination.Each sample was run three times.Statistically significant differences in mRNA expression of the target genes in independent samples were evaluated by two-tailed Student’s t-test,and P<0.05 was considered significantly different.Results:There were significant differences in the mRNA expression levels of ARRB1(P=0.016),LGR4(P=0.025),and SMC2(P=0.013)between the groups B+and B−.Gene expression of ARRB1,LGR4,and SMC2 in CCs is related to blastocyst development.Conclusions:Analysis of expression of ARRB1,LGR4,and SMC2 genes in CCs as biomarkers may provide predictive information on oocyte developmental competence before insemination and fertilization.

Improved Prediction of In Vitro Fertilization Clinical Outcomes by Combining Ultrasound, Serum Hormones and Body Mass Index

Objective To identify efficient predictors of clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization （IVF）. Methods Two hundred and one women undergoing their first IVF cycle were measured for antral follicle count （AFC） and endometrial thickness via ultrasound. On day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle and the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）, luteinizing hormone （LH）, estradiol, and progesterone were determined. The difference of ovarian response and clinical pregnancy rates were measured. Results Basal FSH was the single best predictor of ovarian response in women 〈35 years old before the initiation of treatment, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （A UC） of 0. 752. For women ≥ 35 years old, none of parameters was a single good predictor of lVF pregnancy. For women older than 35 years, adding body mass index （BMI） with AFC and basal FSH improved prediction of ovarian response （A UC=0. 859）. Prediction of clinical pregnancy for women ≥ 35 years was improved either by combining only AFC and basal FSH （AUC=0. 757） or adding BMI to the combined AFC and FSH （AUC=0. 722）. Conclusion Combining AFC, basal FSH, and BMI was the best predictor of ovarian response and clinical pregnancy after IVF in women ≥ 35 years.