1.Analysis of Cumulative Live Birth Rate of Selective Single Embryo Transfer by Time-lapse Monitoring System and Conventional Morphological Assessment in IVF/ICSI-ET
Guihong CHENG ; Aiyan ZHENG ; Jie DING ; Qinyan ZOU ; Yongle XU ; Rui ZHU ; Fuxin WANG ; Huihua WU ; Hong LI ; Qingxia MENG
Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024;40(2):130-135
Objective:To analyse the clinical significance of selective single embryo transfer by time-lapse mo-nitoring(TLM)or conventional morphology assessment(CMA)in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm in-jection and embryo transfer(IVF/ICSI-ET),and to initially explore the predictive value of Raman spectral analy-sis of embryo culture medium for clinical pregnancy rate.Methods:The study is a prospective randomized con-trolled clinical trial.We assigned 139 patients treated with IVF/ICSI-ET in Reproductive and Genetics Center of Suzhou Municipal Hospital from April 2019 to July 2020,which were randomly assigned to either the CMA or the TLM group.We performed selective single-embryo transfer(fresh cycle and FET)after selecting the optimal em-bryos with TLM or CMA respectively.If the patient's first embryo transfer was unsuccessful,a second one would be performed to compare the differences in the cumulative live birth rate of embryo transfer and other pregnancy outcomes between the two groups.Meanwhile,we collected 15 μl of embryo culture medium at day 3 after IVF/ISCI fertilization for Raman spectroscopy analysis.Results:There were no differences in cumulative live birth,cu-mulative clinical pregnancy,cumulative premature birth,cumulative early spontaneous abortion,cumulative ectopic pregnancy and LGA or SGA between TLM and CMA groups(P>0.05).The Neonatal sex ratio in the TLM group was lower than that in the CMA group,but the difference was not significant(P>0.05).Raman spectros-copy analysis of embryo culture medium predicted the clinical pregnancy rate with 67.21%accuracy.Conclu-sions:In young women with a good ovarian reserve,the advantage of using TLM to evaluate embryos is not obvi-ous,so we should remain vigilant that embryo selection based on morphokinetic parameters may affect the sex ratio.Raman spectroscopic analysis of embryo culture medium is not yet able to effectively predict the planting ability of embryos.
2.Effect, Mechanism, and Active Ingredients of Medicinal and Edible Herbs Against Alzheimer's Disease: A Review
Lili ZHONG ; Xin LU ; Qinyan ZHAO ; Xueyan NI ; Yifu MA ; Yajing YI ; Hong LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(21):235-242
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common degenerative disease of the central nervous system in the elderly, with memory impairment and behavioral changes as the main clinical manifestations. Modern research has demonstrated that many herbs with both medicinal and edible values have anti-oxidation and anti-aging activities. In addition, these herbs are naturally safe and play a role in disease prevention and health care. The 110 medicinal and edible herbs announced by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic ofChina in 2021 were studied. The relevant papers published in the last five years were searched against CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, PubMed and other databases. The effects, mechanism, and active ingredients of the medicinal and edible herbs against Alzheimer's disease were summarized. The results showed that more than 30 herbs including Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Corni Fructus, Gastrodiae Rhizoma, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Cistanches Herba, Croci Stigma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Ganoderma and their active ingredients were effective in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Among them, ten herbs that met the requirements were screened out for analysis. The medicinal and edible herbs and their active ingredients can act on multiple targets and treat Alzheimer's disease via multiple signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase 5 (MEK5)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), cytochrome C (CytC) and cysteine aspartate-specific protease (Caspase)-3/(Caspase)-9, Wnt/β-catenin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), thus improving learning, cognitive ability, and memory ability. Most of the medicinal and edible herbs have the tropism to the heart, spleen, liver, and kidney meridians and tonifying effect.
3.Treatment of Aural Vertigo Ménière's Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Ziyu WU ; Xin WANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Jingjing YUAN ; Wei WU ; Zijun DONG ; Qinyan HONG ; Yuting SU ; Zhonghai XIN ; Zhanfeng YAN ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(21):196-203
Ménière's disease (MD) is an inner ear disease characterized by vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear stuffiness. Modern therapies such as drugs, surgery, and vestibular function rehabilitation have limited effects in relieving the symptoms and reducing the recurrence. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can alleviate the symptoms of MD with simple operation and mild adverse reactions while emphasizing psychological adjustment. The TCM treatment of MD is individualized depending on different stages and pathogenic factors. The internal treatment mainly targets phlegm, dampness, water, wind, fire, deficiency, and blood stasis. External interventions include acupuncture and moxibustion. This paper reviewed the published articles about the treatment of MD with TCM. In recent five years, the published studies were mainly clinical trials and experience discussion (or case reports), and few reports of fundamental research were published. In these studies, the Western medicine diagnosis of MD mostly refers to the Diagnostic Basis and Efficacy Evaluation of Ménière's Disease (Guiyang, 2006) and the Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Ménière's Disease (2017), while the TCM diagnosis mostly refers to the Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect of Diseases and Syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine issued by the National Administration of TCM in 1994. The efficacy was mostly evaluated based on clinical efficacy, scales, syndrome scores, pure tone audiometry, etc., while caboratory indexes were rarely used. The available clinical studies about the treatment of MD with TCM generally have low quality of evidence and single intervention means. In the future, the research on the treatment of MD with TCM can be improved by standardizing the research program, improving the quality of evidence, exploring more intervention methods, and strengthening basic research.