OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess toxicities of cryoprotectants. METHODS: Toxicities of two cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 1,2-propanediol (PROH), were investigated using a murine embryo model. Female F-1 mice were stimulated with gonadotropin, induced ovulation with hCG and mated. Two cell embryos were collected and cultured after exposure to either DMSO or PROH. Embryo development was evaluated up to the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts were stained with bis-benzimide to evaluate the cell count and with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick labeling (TUNEL) to assess apoptosis. RESULTS: The total cell count of blastocysts that were treated with DMSO at the 2-cell stage was significantly lower than that were treated with PROH (75.9+/-27.0) or the control (99.0+/-18.3) (p<0.001). On comparison of two cryoprotectant treated groups, the DMSO treated group showed a decreased cell count compared with the PROH treated group (p<0.05). Both DMSO (14.2+/-1.5) and PROH (11.2+/-1.4) treated groups showed higher apoptosis rates of cells in the blastocyst compared with the control (6.2+/-0.9, p<0.0001). In addition, the DMSO treated group showed more apoptotic cells than the PROH treated group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The potential toxicity of cryoprotectants was uncovered by prolonged exposure of murine embryos to either DMSO or PROH at room temperature. When comparing two cryoprotective agents, PROH appeared to be less toxic than DMSO at least in a murine embryo model.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Cryoprotective Agents ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Embryonic Development* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Mice ; Ovulation ; Pregnancy ; Propylene Glycol

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether GnRH-agonist (GnRH-Ag) using in IVF-ET affects apoptosis of human granulosa-luteal cells and expression of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) protein involved in the apoptosis of the cells. METHODS: Granulosa-luteal cells obtained during oocyte retrieval were cultured and treated with 10(-5) M GnRH-Ag. Apoptosis of the cells by the treatment was confirmed using DNA fragmentation analysis 24 h after culture. The presence of PBR protein within the cells was examined by immunofluorescence staining and the expression of the protein was analyzed by Western blotting. In addition, it was measured for progesterone and nitric oxide (NO) produced by granulosa-luteal cells after GnRH-Ag treatment. To evaluate the relationship between NO production and PBR expression, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a NO donor was added in media and investigated the expression of PBR protein by Western blotting. RESULTS: Apoptosis increased in the granulosa-luteal cells 24 h after GnRH-Ag treatment, whereas the expression of PBR protein significantly decreased. Furthermore, the production of progesterone and nitric oxide (NO) by the cells significantly fell from 12 h after the treatment. In the results of Western blotting after SNP treatment, the expression of PBR protein increased in the treatment with SNP alone to the granulosa-luteal cells, but was suppressed in the treatment with GnRH-Ag and SNP. Additionally, the staining result of PBR protein in the cells showed the even distribution of it through the cell. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that GnRH-Ag treatment induces apoptosis, decreasing expression of PBR protein and NO production in human granulosa-luteal cells. The present study suggests that one of the apoptosis mechanism of human granulosa-luteal cells by GnRH-Ag might be a signal transduction pathway via NO and PBR.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans* ; Luteal Cells* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Progesterone ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Signal Transduction ; Tissue Donors

Objective: Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern. Extensive research has established a critical link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer. As a result, high-risk HPV (Hr-HPV) testing has emerged as a promising screening method. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the prevalence of Hr-HPV genotypes among women in three regions of Uzbekistan. Methods: Between 2021 and 2023, the Research Institute of Virology of Uzbekistan and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare conducted a comprehensive population-based study in Tashkent, Andijan, and Samarkand. The study targeted 43,921 women aged 20 and above, utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction to investigate the prevalence of 12 HrHPV genotypes. The analysis included an examination of the distribution of these genotypes based on age, region, and various demographic factors. Results: The overall prevalence of Hr-HPV among women aged 20 and above in Uzbekistan was 7.4%. Regional variations were observed and Hr-HPV prevalence was higher in individuals in their 20s than in other age groups in all 3 regions (p<0.001). The proportion of HPV 16 and 18 was 32.5% and 6.4% in the single infections, 41.9% and 14.7% in the double infections, and 59.3% and 20.0% in the multiple infections. There were also significant differences in prevalence across demographic factors, such as marital status, parity, current smoking, and contraceptive method (p<0.005). Conclusion The findings emphasize the importance of early screening and educational initiatives, particularly targeting young and co-infected women. This foundational data aims to improve women's health strategies in Uzbekistan.

Objective: Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern. Extensive research has established a critical link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer. As a result, high-risk HPV (Hr-HPV) testing has emerged as a promising screening method. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the prevalence of Hr-HPV genotypes among women in three regions of Uzbekistan. Methods: Between 2021 and 2023, the Research Institute of Virology of Uzbekistan and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare conducted a comprehensive population-based study in Tashkent, Andijan, and Samarkand. The study targeted 43,921 women aged 20 and above, utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction to investigate the prevalence of 12 HrHPV genotypes. The analysis included an examination of the distribution of these genotypes based on age, region, and various demographic factors. Results: The overall prevalence of Hr-HPV among women aged 20 and above in Uzbekistan was 7.4%. Regional variations were observed and Hr-HPV prevalence was higher in individuals in their 20s than in other age groups in all 3 regions (p<0.001). The proportion of HPV 16 and 18 was 32.5% and 6.4% in the single infections, 41.9% and 14.7% in the double infections, and 59.3% and 20.0% in the multiple infections. There were also significant differences in prevalence across demographic factors, such as marital status, parity, current smoking, and contraceptive method (p<0.005). Conclusion The findings emphasize the importance of early screening and educational initiatives, particularly targeting young and co-infected women. This foundational data aims to improve women's health strategies in Uzbekistan.

Objective: Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern. Extensive research has established a critical link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer. As a result, high-risk HPV (Hr-HPV) testing has emerged as a promising screening method. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the prevalence of Hr-HPV genotypes among women in three regions of Uzbekistan. Methods: Between 2021 and 2023, the Research Institute of Virology of Uzbekistan and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare conducted a comprehensive population-based study in Tashkent, Andijan, and Samarkand. The study targeted 43,921 women aged 20 and above, utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction to investigate the prevalence of 12 HrHPV genotypes. The analysis included an examination of the distribution of these genotypes based on age, region, and various demographic factors. Results: The overall prevalence of Hr-HPV among women aged 20 and above in Uzbekistan was 7.4%. Regional variations were observed and Hr-HPV prevalence was higher in individuals in their 20s than in other age groups in all 3 regions (p<0.001). The proportion of HPV 16 and 18 was 32.5% and 6.4% in the single infections, 41.9% and 14.7% in the double infections, and 59.3% and 20.0% in the multiple infections. There were also significant differences in prevalence across demographic factors, such as marital status, parity, current smoking, and contraceptive method (p<0.005). Conclusion The findings emphasize the importance of early screening and educational initiatives, particularly targeting young and co-infected women. This foundational data aims to improve women's health strategies in Uzbekistan.