No abstract

Background: Oxidative stress (OS), defined as an imbalance between excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/ or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production and antioxidant insufficiency, has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of poor ovarian response (POR). Growth hormone (GH) can reduce OS in some cell types. This study investigated whether GH can improve OS and the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes of poor ovarian responders. Methods: This study enrolled 105 patients with POR and 58 patients without POR (controls) who were diagnosed according to the Bologna criteria and underwent conventional IVF-ET. Poor ovarian responders were randomly assigned to two groups: the POR-GH group, which received pretreatment with GH 4 IU/d on day 2 of the previous menstrual cycle before IVF until the trigger day, and the POR-C group, which received no pretreatment. OS markers in follicular fluid (FF), ROS levels in granulosa cells (GCs), and the IVF outcomes of the groups were compared. Results: Endometrial thickness on trigger day, the number of cleaved embryos, the number of higher-quality embryos, and the rates of embryo formation, higher-quality embryo formation, implantation and clinical pregnancy were significantly increased in the POR-GH group compared with the POR-C group (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared to those in the non-POR group, FF malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and ROS levels in GCs were significantly higher, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly lower in the POR-C group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with those in the POR-C group, the FF TAC was significantly increased in the POR-GH group, and TOS, OSI and intracellular ROS levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05).

Buchang NaoXinTong (NXT) is a Chinese medicine that has been used for many years for treatment of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in China. Statins substantially reduce hypercholesterolemia and CHD mortality and morbidity. However, there is still a lot of CHD patients who do not respond well to statin therapy. Herein, we report the effects of NXT on atorvastatin-inhibited atherosclerosis and atorvastatin-induced hepatic side effects. After 10 weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, apoE-deficient mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and received the following treatment for another 8 weeks: group 1, HFD; group 2, HFD containing NXT; group 3, HFD containing atorvastatin; and group 4, HFD containing both NXT and atorvastatin. After treatment, serum lipid profiles, atherosclerotic lesions, and hepatic lipid content and inflammation were determined. NXT moderately increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, although had little effect on atorvastatin-induced reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Both NXT and atorvastatin reduced en face lesions and sinus lesions of aortic root. In addition, NXT enhanced atorvastatin-induced lesion plaque stability by increasing smooth muscle cell/collagen content and reducing macrophage accumulation and calcification in lesion areas. The co-treatment of NXT and atorvastatin further reduced hepatic triglyceride levels by downregulating acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 while activating hormone-sensitive lipase, adipose triglyceride lipase, and comparative gene identification-58 expression. The AMPKα pathway was also further activated by the co-treatment. More importantly, the liver injuries caused by atorvastatin, such as hepatic inflammation and elevated serum aminotransferase activities, were substantially attenuated by NXT. Therefore, our study demonstrates that NXT enhances atorvastatin-induced plaque stability and ameliorates atorvastatin-induced hepatic side effects.

Background Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) genes play important roles in folliculogenesis. Altered expression of the two have been found among patients with poor ovarian response (POR). In this prospective cohort study, we have determined the expression of the GDF9 and BMP15 genes in follicle fluid (FF) and granulosa cells (GCs) derived from poor ovarian responders grouped by age, and explored its correlation with the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment. Methods A total of 196 patients with POR were enrolled from a tertiary teaching hospital. The patients were diagnosed by the Bologna criteria and sub-divided into group A (< 35 year old), group B (35–40 year old), and group C (> 40 year old). A GnRH antagonist protocol was conducted for all patients, and FF and GCs were collected after oocyte retrieval. Expression of the GDF9 and BMP15 genes in the FF and GCs was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Results Compared with group C, groups A and B had significantly more two pronuclei (2PN) oocytes and transplantable embryos, in addition with higher rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy (P <  0.05). The expression level of GDF9 and BMP15 genes in the FF and GCs differed significantly among the three groups (P <  0.05), showing a trend of decline along with age. The ratio of GDF9/BMP15 mRNA levels were similar among the three groups (P > 0.05). The relative levels of GDF9 and BMP15 proteins in GCs have correlated with the relative mRNA levels in GCs and protein concentrations in FF (P <  0.05). Conclusions For poor ovarian responders, in particular those over 40, the expression of GDF9 and BMP15 is declined along with increased age and in accompany with poorer oocyte quality and IVF outcome, whilst the ratio of GDF9/BMP15 mRNA levels remained relatively constant. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Center (ChiCTR1800016107). Registered on 11 May 2018.

Background: Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) genes play important roles in folliculogenesis. Altered expression of the two have been found among patients with poor ovarian response (POR). In this prospective cohort study, we have determined the expression of the GDF9 and BMP15 genes in follicle fluid (FF) and granulosa cells (GCs) derived from poor ovarian responders grouped by age, and explored its correlation with the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment.Methods: A total of 196 patients with POR were enrolled from a tertiary teaching hospital. The patients were diagnosed by the Bologna criteria and sub-divided into group A (< 35 year old), group B (35-40 year old), and group C (> 40 year old). A GnRH antagonist protocol was conducted for all patients, and FF and GCs were collected after oocyte retrieval. Expression of the GDF9 and BMP15 genes in the FF and GCs was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.Results: Compared with group C, groups A and B had significantly more two pronuclei (2PN) oocytes and transplantable embryos, in addition with higher rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy (P < 0.05). The expression level of GDF9 and BMP15 genes in the FF and GCs differed significantly among the three groups (P < 0.05), showing a trend of decline along with age. Conclusions: For poor ovarian responders, in particular those over 40, the expression of GDF9 and BMP15 is declined with increased age and in accompany with poorer oocyte quality and IVF outcome.

High dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) is an internal based radiation treatment for prostate cancer. The treatment can deliver radiation to the site of dominant tumor growth within the prostate. Imaging methods to delineate the dominant tumor are imperative to ensure the maximum success of HDR. This paper investigates the feasibility of using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) as the main imaging modality during robot-aided internal radiation therapy. A procedure utilizing brachytherapy needles in order to perform EIT for the purpose of robot-aided prostate cancer imaging is proposed. It is known that cancerous tissue exhibits different conductivity than healthy tissue. Using this information, it is hypothesized that a conductivity map of the tissue can be used to locate and delineate cancerous nodules via EIT. Multiple experiments were conducted using eight brachytherapy needle electrodes. Observations indicate that the imaging procedure is able to observe differences in tissue conductivity in a setting that approximates transperineal HDR and confirm that brachytherapy needles can be used as electrodes for this purpose. The needles can access the tissue at a specific depth that traditional EIT surface electrodes cannot. The results indicate the feasibility of using brachytherapy needles for EIT for the purpose internal radiation therapy.

No abstract

Background Oxidative stress (OS), defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) excessive production and antioxidant insufficient, has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of poor ovarian response (POR). Growth hormone (GH) can function reduce OS in some types of cells. This study investigated whether GH can significantly improve OS and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes in patients with POR.Methods This study enrolled 105 and 58 patients with and without POR (controls), respectively, diagnosed according to the Bologna criteria, who underwent conventional IVF-ET. Patients with POR were randomly assigned to two groups: POR-GH group: pretreatment with GH 4IU/d on day 2 of the previous menstrual cycle before IVF till the trigger day; POR-C group: no pretreatment. The markers of OS in follicle fluid (FF),reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in granulosa cells (GC), and IVF outcomes of the patients were compared between the three groups.Result(s) The endometrial thickness on trigger day, number of cleaved embryos, higher quality embryos, the rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy were significantly increased in POR-GH group compared with POR-C group (P<0.05). Moreover, the FF malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and ROS levels in GC were significantly higher,whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly lower in POR-C group compared with non-POR group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the FF TAC was significantly increased, whereas TOS, OSI and intracellular ROS levels were significantly reduced in POR-GH group compared with POR-C group (P<0.05).Conclusion(s) Pretreatment with GH alleviated OS and improved oocyte quality and IVF outcomes in patients with POR.Clinical Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. ChiCTR1900021269. Registered 8 February 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=35837&htm=4.