Skeletal phenotypes and molecular mechanisms in aging mice

Aging is an inevitable physiological process,often accompanied by age-related bone loss and subsequent bone-related diseases that pose serious health risks.Research on skeletal diseases caused by aging in humans is challenging due to lengthy study durations,difficulties in sampling,regional variability,and substantial investment.Consequently,mice are preferred for such studies due to their similar motor system structure and function to humans,ease of handling and care,low cost,and short generation time.In this review,we present a comprehensive overview of the characteristics,limitations,applicability,bone phenotypes,and treatment methods in naturally aging mice and prematurely aging mouse models(including SAMP6,POLG mutant,LMNA,SIRT6,ZMPSTE24,TFAM,ERCC1,WERNER,and KL/KL-deficient mice).We also summarize the molecular mechanisms of these aging mouse models,including cellular DNA damage response,senescence-related secretory phenotype,telomere shortening,oxidative stress,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)abnormalities,and mitochondrial dysfunction.Overall,this review aims to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of aging-related bone diseases.

Changes of the peripapillary vascular parameters inpremature infants without retinopathy of prematurityusing U-net segmentation

AIM:To quantitatively assess the changes in mean vascular tortuosity(mVT)and mean vascular width(mVW)around the optic disc and their correlation with gestational age(GA)and birth weight(BW)in premature infants without retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS:A single-center retrospective study included a total of 133(133 eyes)premature infants[mean corrected gestational age(CGA)43.6wk]without ROP as the premature group and 130(130 eyes)CGA-matched fullterm infants as the control group.The peripapillary mVT and mVW were quantitatively measured using computerassisted techniques.RESULTS:Premature infants had significantly higher mVT(P=0.0032)and lower mVW(P=0.0086)by 2.68(10^(4) cm^(-3))and 1.85μm,respectively.Subgroup analysis with GA showed significant differences(P=0.0244)in mVT between the early preterm and middle to late preterm groups,but the differences between mVW were not significant(P=0.6652).The results of the multiple linear regression model showed a significant negative correlation between GA and BW with mVT after adjusting sex and CGA(P=0.0211 and P=0.0006,respectively).For each day increase in GA at birth,mVT decreased by 0.1281(10^(4) cm^(-3))and for each 1 g increase in BW,mVT decreased by 0.006(10^(4) cm^(-3)).However,GA(P=0.9402)and BW(P=0.7275)were not significantly correlated with mVW.CONCLUSION:Preterm birth significantly affects the peripapillary vascular parameters that indicate higher mVT and narrower mVW in premature infants without ROP.Alterations in these parameters may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ocular vascular disease.

Rice melatonin deficiency causes premature leaf senescence via DNA methylation regulation

In a study of DNA methylation changes in melatonin-deficient rice mutants,mutant plants showed premature leaf senescence during grain-filling and reduced grain yield.Melatonin deficiency led to transcriptional reprogramming,especially of genes involved in chlorophyll and carbon metabolism,redox regulation,and transcriptional regulation,during dark-induced leaf senescence.Hypomethylation of mCG and mCHG in the melatonin-deficient rice mutants was associated with the expression change of both protein-coding genes and transposable element-related genes.Changes in gene expression and DNA methylation in the melatonin-deficient mutants were compensated by exogenous application of melatonin.A decreased S-adenosyl-L-methionine level may have contributed to the DNA methylation variations in rice mutants of melatonin deficiency under dark conditions.

Defect in an immune regulator gene BrSRFR1 leads to premature leaf senescence in Chinese cabbage

Leaf senescence is the final stage of leaf development, where the nutrients and energy of senescent leaves are redistributed to developing tissues or organs for plant growth, reproduction, and defense. Outer leaves are photosynthetic organs that usually senesce at the late heading stage in Chinese cabbage, and premature leaf senescence often reduces leafy head yield and quality. In this study, 11 premature leaf senescence mutants were screened from an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized population of the double haploid line ‘FT' in Chinese cabbage. At the early heading stage, the mutants exhibited edge yellowing within its outer leaves, and at the mature stage, its leafy head weight decreased significantly. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutated trait of all 11 mutants corresponds to single gene recessive inheritance. Semi-diallel cross tests showed that 5 of the 11 were allelic mutants. MutMap and Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR genotyping revealed that BraA01g001400.3C was the candidate gene, which is orthologous of Arabidopsis SUPPRESSOR OF rps4-RLD 1, encoding an immune regulator, so we named it as BrSRFR1. All the BrSRFR1 in the five allelic mutants exhibited single nucleotide polymorphisms at different positions on their exons and led to premature translation termination, which confirmed that defect in BrSRFR1 led to premature leaf senescence. These results verify the role of Br SRFR1 on leaf senescence and provide a new insight into the mechanisms of leaf senescence in Chinese cabbage, which reveals a novel function of SRFR1 in plant development.

Nomogram to predict severe retinopathy of prematurity in Southeast China

AIM:To define the predictive factors of severe retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)and develop a nomogram for predicting severe ROP in southeast China.METHODS:Totally 554 infants diagnosed with ROP hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and hospitalized in Taizhou Women and Children’s Hospital were included.Clinical data and 43 candidate predictive factors of ROP infants were collected retrospectively.Logistic regression model was used to identify predictive factors of severe ROP and to propose a nomogram for individual risk prediction,which was compared with WINROP model and Digirop-Birth model.RESULTS:Infants from the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University(n=478)were randomly allocated into training(n=402)and internal validation group(n=76).Infants from Taizhou Women and Children’s Hospital were set as external validation group(n=76).Severe ROP were found in 52 of 402 infants,12 of 76 infants,and 7 of 76 infants in training group,internal validation group,and external validation group,respectively.Birth weight[odds ratio(OR),0.997;95%confidence interval(CI),0.996-0.999;P<0.001],multiple births(OR,1.885;95%CI,1.013-3.506;P=0.045),and non-invasive ventilation(OR,0.288;95%CI,0.146-0.570;P<0.001)were identified as predictive factors for the prediction of severe ROP,by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis.For predicting severe ROP based on the internal validation group,the areas under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)was 78.1(95%CI,64.2-92.0)for the nomogram,32.9(95%CI,15.3-50.5)for WINROP model,70.2(95%CI,55.8-84.6)for Digirop-Birth model.In external validation group,AUC of the nomogram was also higher than that of WINROP model and Digirop-Birth model(80.2 versus 51.1 and 63.4).The decision curve analysis of the nomogram demonstrated better clinical efficacy than that of WINROP model and Digirop-Birth model.The calibration curves demonstrated a good consistency between the actual severe ROP incidence and the predicted probability.CONCLUSION:Birth weight,multiple births,and noninvasive ventilation are independent predictors of severe ROP.The nomogram has a good ability to predict severe ROP and performed well on internal validation and external validation in southeast China.

FPR1 Antagonist (BOC-MLF) Inhibits Amniotic Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition

Objective:Premature rupture of membranes(PROM)is a common pregnancy disorder that is closely associated with structural weakening of fetal membranes.Studies have found that formyl peptide receptor 1(FPR1)activates inflammatory pathways and amniotic epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT),stimulates collagen degradation,and leads to membrane weakening and membrane rupture.The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and EMT inhibitory effects of FPR1 antagonist(BOC-MLF)to provide a basis for clinical prevention of PROM.Methods:The relationship between PROM,FPR1,and EMT was analyzed in human fetal membrane tissue and plasma samples using Western blotting,PCR,Masson staining,and ELISA assays.Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was used to establish a fetal membrane inflammation model in pregnant rats,and BOC-MLF was used to treat the LPS rat model.We detected interleukin(IL)-6 in blood from the rat hearts to determine whether the inflammatory model was successful and whether the anti-inflammatory treatment was effective.We used electron microscopy to analyze the structure and collagen expression of rat fetal membrane.Results:Western blotting,PCR and Masson staining indicated that the expression of FPR1 was significantly increased,the expression of collagen was decreased,and EMT appeared in PROM.The rat model indicated that LPS caused the collapse of fetal membrane epithelial cells,increased intercellular gaps,and decreased collagen.BOC-MLF promoted an increase in fetal membrane collagen,inhibited EMT,and reduced the weakening of fetal membranes.Conclusion:The expression of FPR1 in the fetal membrane of PROM was significantly increased,and EMT of the amniotic membrane was obvious.BOC-MLF can treat inflammation and inhibit amniotic EMT.

Application of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for premature ovarian insufficiency: Recent advances from mechanisms to therapeutics

The incidence of premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)is increasing worldwide,particularly among younger women,posing a significant challenge to fertility.In addition to menopausal symptoms,POI leads to several complications that profoundly affect female reproductive function and overall health.Unfortunately,current clinical treatment strategies for this condition are limited and often yield unsatisfactory outcomes.These approaches typically involve hormone repla-cement therapy combined with psychological support.Recently,mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)therapies for POI have garnered considerable attention in global research.MSCs can restore ovarian reproductive and endocrine functions through diverse mechanisms,including controlling differentiation,promoting angiogenesis,regulating ovarian fibrosis,inhibiting apoptosis,enhancing autocrine and paracrine effects,suppressing inflammation,modulating the immune system,and genetic regulation.This editorial offers a succinct summary of the application of MSC therapy in the context of POI,providing evidence for groundbreaking medical approaches that have potential to enhance reproductive health and overall well-being for women.

Significance of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity tests as biomarkers of premature ovarian insufficiency: A case control study

BACKGROUND Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)is a condition that causes secondary amenorrhea owing to ovarian hypofunction at an early stage.Early follicular depletion results in intractable infertility,thereby considerably reducing the quality of life of females.Given the continuum in weakened ovarian function,progressing from incipient ovarian failure(IOF)to transitional ovarian failure and further to POI,it is necessary to develop biomarkers for predicting POI.The oxidative stress states in IOF and POI were comprehensively evaluated via oxidative stress[diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites(d-ROMs)]test and anti-oxidant capacity[biological antioxidant potential(BAP)].METHODS Females presenting with secondary amenorrhea over 4 mo and a follicle stimulating hormone level of>40 mIU/mL were categorized into the POI group.Females presenting with a normal menstrual cycle and a follicle stimulating hormone level of>10.2 mIU/mL were categorized into the IOF group.Healthy females without ovarian hypofunction were categorized into the control group.Among females aged<40 years who visited our hospital from January 2021 to June 2022,we recruited 11 patients into both POI and IOF groups.For the potential antioxidant capacity,the relative oxidative stress index(BAP/d-ROMs×100)was calculated,and the oxidative stress defense system was comprehensively evaluated.RESULTS d-ROMs were significantly higher in the POI and IOF groups than in the control group,(478.2±58.7 U.CARR,434.5±60.6 U.CARR,and 341.1±35.1 U.CARR,respectively)(U.CARR is equivalent to 0.08 mg/dL of hydrogen peroxide).However,no significant difference was found between the POI and IOF groups.Regarding BAP,no significant difference was found between the control,IOF,and POI groups(2078.5±157.4μmol/L,2116.2±240.2μmol/L,and 2029.0±186.4μmol/L,respectively).The oxidative stress index was significantly higher in the POI and IOF groups than in the control group(23.7±3.3,20.7±3.6,and 16.5±2.1,respectively).However,no significant difference was found between the POI and IOF groups.CONCLUSION High levels of oxidative stress suggest that evaluating the oxidative stress state may be a useful indicator for the early detection of POI.

Acquired methemoglobinemia in a third trimester puerpera and her premature infant with sodium nitrite poisoning:A case report

BACKGROUND The common cause of sodium nitrite poisoning has shifted from previous accidental intoxication by exposure or ingestion of contaminated water and food to recent alarming intentional intoxication as an employed method of suicide/exit.The subsequent formation of methemoglobin(MetHb)restricts oxygen transport and utilization in the body,resulting in functional hypoxia at the tissue level.In clinical practice,a mismatch of cyanotic appearance and oxygen partial pressure usually contributes to the identification of methemoglobinemia.Prompt recognition of characteristic mismatch and accurate diagnosis of sodium nitrite poisoning are prerequisites for the implementation of standardized systemic interventions.CASE SUMMARY A pregnant woman was admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University due to consciousness disorders and drowsiness 2 h before admission.Subsequently,she developed vomiting and cyanotic skin.The woman underwent orotracheal intubation,invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV),and correction of internal environment disturbance in the ICU.Her premature infant was born with a higher-than-normal MetHb level of 3.3%,and received detoxification with methylene blue and vitamin C,supplemental vitamin K1,an infusion of fresh frozen plasma,as well as respiratory support via orotracheal intubation and IMV.On day 3 after admission,the puerpera regained consciousness,evacuated the IMV,and resumed enteral nutrition.She was then transferred to the maternity ward 24 h later.On day 7 after admission,the woman recovered and was discharged without any sequelae.CONCLUSION MetHb can cross through the placental barrier.Level of MetHb both reflects severity of the sodium nitrite poisoning and serves as feedback on therapeutic effectiveness.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derivedexosomes on VEGF-A in hypoxic-induced mice retinal astrocytes and mice model of retinopathy of prematurity

AIM:To observe the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUCMSCs)secretions on the relevant factors in mouse retinal astrocytes,and to investigate the effect of hUCMSCs on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A)and to observe the therapeutic effect on the mouse model of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).METHODS:Cultured hUCMSCs and extracted exosomes from them and then retinal astrocytes were divided into control group and hypoxia group.MTT assay,flow cytometry,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blot were used to detect related indicators.Possible mechanisms by which hUCMSCs exosomes affect VEGF-A expression in hypoxia-induced mouse retinal astrocytes were explored.At last,the efficacy of exosomes of UCMSCs in a mouse ROP model was explored.Graphpad6 was used to comprehensively process data information.RESULTS:The secretion was successfully extracted from the culture supernatant of hUCMSCs by gradient ultracentrifugation.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)and hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)of mice retinal astrocytes under different hypoxia time and the expression level of VEGF-A protein and VEGF-A mRNA increased,and the ROP cell model was established after 6h of hypoxia.The secretions of medium and high concentrations of hUCMSCs can reduce ROS and HIF-1α,the expression levels of VEGF-A protein and VEGF-A mRNA are statistically significant and concentration dependent.Compared with the ROP cell model group,the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signal pathway related factors in the hUCMSCs exocrine group is significantly decreased.The intravitreal injection of the secretions of medium and high concentrations of hUCMSCs can reduce VEGF-A and HIF-1αin ROP model tissues.HE staining shows that the number of retinal neovascularization in ROP mice decreases with the increase of the dose of hUCMSCs secretion.CONCLUSION:In a hypoxia induced mouse retinal astrocyte model,hUCMSCs exosomes are found to effectively reduce the expression of HIF-1αand VEGF-A,which are positively correlated with the concentration of hUCMSCs exosomes.HUCMSCs exosomes can effectively reduce the number of retinal neovascularization and the expression of HIF-1αand VEGF-A proteins in ROP mice,and are positively correlated with drug dosage.Besides,they can reduce the related factors on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Pharmacological methods for ovarian function and fertility preservation in women with cancer:A literature review

Oncofertility is an extremely significant topic that is increasingly being discussed owing to increased evidence indicating that fertility preservation does not affect the treatment outcomes of patients with cancer but significantly contributes to preserving life quality.The effect of chemotherapy can range from minimal effects to complete ovarian atrophy.Limited data are available on the effects of monoclonal antibodies and targeted therapies on the ovaries and fertility.Temporary ovarian suppression by administering a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist(GnRHa)during chemotherapy decreases the gonadotoxic effect of chemotherapy,thereby diminishing the chance of developing premature ovarian insufficiency(POI).At present,the concomitant administration of GnRH analogs during chemotherapy is the only accepted pharmacological method for preserving ovarian function.Notably,most randomized studies on the effectiveness of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists during chemotherapy in preventing POI have been conducted in women with breast cancer,with a considerably small number of studies on patients with hematological malignancies.Furthermore,most randomized controlled trials on breast cancer have revealed a decrease in treatment-induced POI risk,regardless of the hormone receptor status.In addition,studies on hematological malignancies have yielded negative results;nevertheless,thefindings must be interpreted with caution owing to numerous limitations.Current guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend sperm,oocyte,and embryo cryopreservation as a standard practice and only offering GnRHa to patients when proven fertility preservation methods are not feasible.In this manuscript,we present a comprehensive literature overview on the application of ovarian suppression with GnRHa during chemotherapy in patients with cancer by addressing preclinical and clinical data,as well as future perspectives in thisfield that upcoming research should focus on.

An Improved Harris Hawk Optimization Algorithm for Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem

Flexible job shop scheduling problem(FJSP)is the core decision-making problem of intelligent manufacturing production management.The Harris hawk optimization(HHO)algorithm,as a typical metaheuristic algorithm,has been widely employed to solve scheduling problems.However,HHO suffers from premature convergence when solving NP-hard problems.Therefore,this paper proposes an improved HHO algorithm(GNHHO)to solve the FJSP.GNHHO introduces an elitism strategy,a chaotic mechanism,a nonlinear escaping energy update strategy,and a Gaussian random walk strategy to prevent premature convergence.A flexible job shop scheduling model is constructed,and the static and dynamic FJSP is investigated to minimize the makespan.This paper chooses a two-segment encoding mode based on the job and the machine of the FJSP.To verify the effectiveness of GNHHO,this study tests it in 23 benchmark functions,10 standard job shop scheduling problems(JSPs),and 5 standard FJSPs.Besides,this study collects data from an agricultural company and uses the GNHHO algorithm to optimize the company’s FJSP.The optimized scheduling scheme demonstrates significant improvements in makespan,with an advancement of 28.16%for static scheduling and 35.63%for dynamic scheduling.Moreover,it achieves an average increase of 21.50%in the on-time order delivery rate.The results demonstrate that the performance of the GNHHO algorithm in solving FJSP is superior to some existing algorithms.

Exploration of standard dosage for GnRH antagonist protocol and dosage adjustments after premature luteinizing hormone surge

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol has emerged as an efficacious alternative to the GnRH agonist protocol for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, and has been demonstrated applicability in infertile female patients with diverse ovarian responses. While the clinical implementation of the antagonist COH protocol has achieved widespread consensus, opportunities for refinement persist. Therefore, this review article focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of GnRH antagonist protocol, the selection of optimal standard doses, and the strategies for adjusting antagonist doses after the premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, aiming to provide more reasonable and scientific recommendations for the application of this scheme.

Mechanism of Camellia nitidissima Chi in Treating Premature Ovarian Failure Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore active components and molecular biological mechanisms of Camellia nitidissima Chi in the treatment of premature ovarian failure(POF).[Methods]The active components and corresponding targets of C.nitidissima Chi were retrieved through literature and the TCMSP database.POF-related disease targets were identified using the OMIM and Genecards databases.A PPI network was constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.10.2.A herb-active component-target-pathway network diagram was also constructed with Cytoscape 3.10.2.The CytoNCA plugin was used to screen out the top five core targets and core active components.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the intersecting targets were performed using DAVID.Finally,molecular docking was conducted using Auto Dock to verify the interaction between core targets and active components,and visualization was done using PyMol.[Results]A total of 26 active components and 461 targets of C.nitidissima Chi were identified,with 154 intersecting targets related to POF.The core components of the herb included 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol,3',4-O-dimethylcedrusin,eriodictyol,quercetin,and vanillin.The PPI network revealed that the main targets were epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),protein kinase B1(AKT1),proto-oncogene Src(SRC),hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF1A),and estrogen receptor 1(ESR1).KEGG enrichment analysis revealed 10 pathways closely related to POF,mainly involving the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species,endocrine resistance,and the HIF-1 signaling pathway.Molecular docking results showed that the core active components had strong binding activity with the targets.[Conclusions]C.nitidissima Chi has multi-component,multi-target,and multi-pathway characteristics in the comprehensive treatment of POF,providing informational support for its clinical application.

Co-Morbidities Associated with Prematurity in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Introduction: Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death in Africa. More than a million children die each year due to co-morbidities related to prematurity. In addition to being one of the causes of neonatal deaths, the health problems associated with prematurity can also lead to severe lifelong impairment in those who survive. Objectives: This paper aims to determine the epidemiology and identify co-morbidities of prematurity in the neonatology units of the Douala General Hospital (DGH) and the Laquintinie Hospital of Douala (LHD). Patients and Methodology: We conducted an analytical retrospective cohort study from January 2015 to January 2018 in the neonatology department of the GDH and the LHD, which are considered reference hospitals for the management of preterm babies in Cameroon. We included all newborns aged less than 37 weeks admitted to the neonatology units of the GDH and the LHD. The descriptive component was based on the analysis of quantitative variables using measures of central tendency. The analytical component was evaluated using Spearman correlations and the Chi-square and Fisher tests. Simple and multiple logistic regressions measured factors predictive of mortality. The Kaplan Meier survival curve used the Log Rank test and significance at p ≤ 0.05. Results: We recorded 908 preterm newborns in neonatal service and 1,124 preterm deliveries in maternity, representing an incidence of 32.5% in neonatal unit and 10.6% in maternity. 51% of whom were girls, given a sex ratio M/F of 0.9. Hypertension was the main prenatal pathology (9.1%), while premature rupture of membranes: PROM (35.5%) and eclampsia/pre-eclampsia (18.6%) were the most common obstetrical pathologies. 75.9% of deliveries were vaginal with 65.2% being performed in our referral hospitals. Gestational age ranged from 22 to 36 weeks, with a mean of 32.4 weeks. Late preterm birth rate was 53.7%, and birth weight varied between 590 and 3200 g with an average of 1747 ± 479 g. The percentage of low birth weight (1500 - 2499 g) preterm infants was predominant (65.3%), and the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was estimated to be 12.4%. The majority (96.7%) had pathologies in the neonatal period, the most common being neonatal infection (86.9%). The case-fatality rate was 27.4%, compared to 72.6% live births. Factors influencing mortality are risk of premature labour, gestational age ≤ 32 SA, premature birth in hospitals other than our two referral hospitals, birth weight ≤ 1500 g, Apgar at the 10th minute, late secondary anaemia, hospital resuscitation, oxygen therapy, and duration of hospitalization Conclusion: The incidence of prematurity and the mortality rate remains high in neonatal units in Cameroon. Adequate monitoring of pregnancies and management of preterm infants remains a challenge in our context.

Predictors and Complications of Prematurity in Two Health Facilities in Fako Division, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Background: Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal mortality. Most preterm births can be associated to an identifiable risk factor. In Cameroon, especially in the Southwest Region, there is limited data regarding prematurity associated risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors and complications of prematurity in two health facilities in the Fako division, the BRH and RHL. Methods: A hospital based retrospective case control study was done from the 1st of January 2021 to 28th of February 2022. We assessed the gestational ages at which preterm birth occurred and their short-term outcome using a structured pretested questionnaire to collect data from files. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: The minimum sample size was 137 preterms. 45.5% of cases were born between 34 and increased the risk of having a preterm birth meanwhile being married (AOR: 0.410;95% CI: 0.217 - 0.773;p = 0.006) decreased the risk. Hospital complications were neonatal infection 103 (51.5%), respiratory distress 79 (39.5%) and neonatal jaundice 61 (30.50%). Among the cases, 97 (48.50%) stayed in the hospital for 2 to 4 weeks and 177 (88.5%) were discharged alive. Conclusions: Modifiable factors that increased the risk of prematurity were advanced maternal age, secondary level of education, rural residence, and prenatal alcohol consumption. Being married decreased the risk. The most common hospital complications in both the cases and controls were neonatal infection, respiratory distress syndrome and neonatal jaundice.

Current Status of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a prevalent cause of female infertility. POF features include estrogen hypofunction, amenorrhea, infertility, and high gonadotropin levels. The etiology of POF is genetic diseases, autoimmune diseases, enzyme defects and environmental factors. The development of Regenerative medicine has made stem cell and exosome (EXOs) therapy effective for POF. This review discusses POF stem cell research and development.

Being a Father of a Premature Newborn: The Parental Experience and the Father/Premature Newborn Relationship: A Study Carried out in the Department of Neonatology Intensive Care Unit of Mohammed VI University Hospital

Introduction: Despite advances in obstetrics and pediatrics over the past 20 years, premature birth remains an unpredictable event that can have a devastating impact on parenthood. This study aimed to analyze the psycho-affective experiences of fathers of premature newborns. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in the department of neonatology and neonatal intensive care unit of the CHU Mohamed VI in OUJDA, over 6 months from March 2022 to August 2022. It focused on 30 fathers of premature newborns hospitalized in our department. Results: The majority of fathers described a state of fear and stress, and attributed their negative experience to the unexpected nature of the premature birth. At the first meeting, half the fathers had a positive image of their newborn’s physical appearance, while 22% of fathers reported feeling uncomfortable about their newborn’s low weight. Most fathers reported that they appreciated the welcome they received, the skill with which they cared for their newborn, and the availability of the pediatrician to provide information on their child’s state of health. Two fathers enjoyed skin-to-skin contact with their newborns. None of the fathers met a psychologist. When they returned home, half the fathers had a positive outlook, marked by happiness at being able to fully invest in their role as fathers, the other half reported being torn between the desire to see their child integrated into the family cocoon and the fear of not being able to manage delicate situations properly without a medical team. Conclusion: Bringing a premature baby into the world can be a difficult experience, leading to the development of even minor psychological distress in some fathers, and hence the need for specific psychological care.

Impact of Delivery Mode on Morbidity in Preterm Infants with Very Low Birth Weights (<1500 Grams)

The mode of delivery and gestational age for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants are not yet well established and are constant topics of debate. Objective: To analyze the impact of delivery mode on morbidity in preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g. Results: Among 21,957 births, 81 were analyzed;53 were delivered vaginally, and 28 were delivered by cesarean section. The median maternal age, gestational age and body mass index among those delivered vaginally and by cesarean section were 20 years and 22.5 years, 27.6 weeks and 30.1 weeks, and 26.0 kg/m2 and 27.8 kg/m2, respectively. With respect to neonatal blood gas parameters, for those born vaginally and by cesarean section, the median pH was 7.32 and 7.24, the pCO2 was 41.5 mmHg and 51.1 mmHg, and the pO2 was 22.3 mmHg and 16 mmHg. The median fetal weight among those born by cesarean section and vaginally were 1180 g and 955 g, respectively. The median Apgar scores at the first and fifth minutes among those born by cesarean section and vaginally were 5.00 and 8.00 and 4.50 and 7.00, respectively. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the results of vaginal and cesarean delivery for VLBW infants. Thus, further studies on this subject are needed.

Recent Research Progress in Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure refers to ovarian function failure in women before the age of 40 years due to follicular depletion or follicular dysfunction resulting in abnormal hormone levels.The etiology and pathogenesis of premature ovarian failure may be related to genetic,immunological,medical,environmental,infectious,psychological and enzyme deficiencies.The treatment involves Western medicine,Chinese medicine,and a combination of Chinese and Western medicine,and the treatment level includes hormone level,cellular level,surgery and psychological aspect.This paper would like to review the progress of the etiology,pathogenesis and treatment of premature ovarian failure in recent years.