Abstract: Objective　To investigate the influencing factors related to the recent transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Hainan Province, with the goal of providing an epidemiological basis for the region's prevention and control strategies, as well as clinical decision-making regarding MDR-TB. Methods Clinical respiratory specimens from MDR-TB patients treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from July 2019 to June 2021 were collected for mycobacterial isolation and cultivation. Isolates of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-MTB) identified through proportional drug-susceptibility screening were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In conjunction with clinical and epidemiological data, factors influencing recent MDR-TB transmission were analyzed. Results A total of 202 MDR-TB patients were included in the study, primarily distributed across 18 cities and counties of Hainan Province (excluding Sansha City), and the patients were predominantly male. Phylogenetic analysis of the MDR-MTB strains showed that 56.4% (114/202) belonged to Lineage 2.2 (Beijing), 27.2% (55/202) to Lineage 2.1 (non-Beijing), 13.4% (27/202) to Lineage 4 (Euro-American), and 3.0% (6/202) to Lineage 1 (Indo-Oceanic). Through genetic distance analysis, 42 strains of MDR-MTB were found to be grouped into 15 clusters, with a clustering rate of 20.8%, indicating a significant level of recent transmission. Analysis of transmission-related factors revealed that non-agricultural occupations, initial treatment, and unmarried status were positively correlated with recent MDR-TB transmission, while older age and a history of smoking were negatively correlated. Notably, Lineage 2.2 (Beijing) showed a higher likelihood of MDR-TB transmission compared to Lineage 2.1 (non-eijing). Multivariate logistic regression analysis further identified that patients receiving initial treatment were an independent risk factor for recent MDR-TB transmission. Conclusions MDR-TB in Hainan Province exhibits distinctive genetic diversity, with Lineage 2.2 (Beijing) being the predominant epidemic strain. Recent transmission of MDR-TB in Hainan Province is associated with non-agricultural occupations, initial treatment, unmarried status, and Lineage 2.2 (Beijing), with the initial treatment being a likely independent risk factor for transmission. These findings offer vital clues for controlling MDR-TB and are expected to guide the formulation of targeted prevention and control strategies to reduce the transmission of the MDR-TB epidemic.

Objective: To investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Gm8097 (LncGm8097) is associated with male infertility. Methods: The expression and bilogical role of LncGm8097 were investigated. Results: LncGm8097 expression was down-regulated in the testis tissues with moderate and severe hypospermatogenesis compared with those with normal spermatogenesis and mild hypospermatogenesis (p<0.05). LncGm8097 down-regulation significantly promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in GC1 and GC2 cells. In addition, LncGm8097 was significantly down-regulated in mouse model of hypospermatogenesis and correlated with cell apoptosis and proliferation. LncGm8097 was located immediately upstream of PRPS2, and correlated with Bcl-2/P53/caspase 6/caspase 9 signal pathway. Conclusion LncGm8097 down-regulation correlates with hypospermatogenesis, which may offer new insights into the pathogenesis of male infertility.

Objective: To investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Gm8097 (LncGm8097) is associated with male infertility. Methods: The expression and bilogical role of LncGm8097 were investigated. Results: LncGm8097 expression was down-regulated in the testis tissues with moderate and severe hypospermatogenesis compared with those with normal spermatogenesis and mild hypospermatogenesis (p<0.05). LncGm8097 down-regulation significantly promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in GC1 and GC2 cells. In addition, LncGm8097 was significantly down-regulated in mouse model of hypospermatogenesis and correlated with cell apoptosis and proliferation. LncGm8097 was located immediately upstream of PRPS2, and correlated with Bcl-2/P53/caspase 6/caspase 9 signal pathway. Conclusion LncGm8097 down-regulation correlates with hypospermatogenesis, which may offer new insights into the pathogenesis of male infertility.

Objective: To investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Gm8097 (LncGm8097) is associated with male infertility. Methods: The expression and bilogical role of LncGm8097 were investigated. Results: LncGm8097 expression was down-regulated in the testis tissues with moderate and severe hypospermatogenesis compared with those with normal spermatogenesis and mild hypospermatogenesis (p<0.05). LncGm8097 down-regulation significantly promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in GC1 and GC2 cells. In addition, LncGm8097 was significantly down-regulated in mouse model of hypospermatogenesis and correlated with cell apoptosis and proliferation. LncGm8097 was located immediately upstream of PRPS2, and correlated with Bcl-2/P53/caspase 6/caspase 9 signal pathway. Conclusion LncGm8097 down-regulation correlates with hypospermatogenesis, which may offer new insights into the pathogenesis of male infertility.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of spermatozoa from different sources on normal fertilization of oocytes, embryo quality and embryo developmental potential in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted among 197 patients undergoing ICSI cycles in our center. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the sources of semen, namely ejaculated spermatozoa group (n=102), percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) group (n=68), and testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) group (n=27). The ejaculated spermatozoa group was further classified into oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n=67) and cryptozoospermia (n=35) subgroups. The normal fertilization, high-quality embryo, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were compared among the groups; the rate of high-quality blastocyst formation in in-vitro culture of non-top quality embryos was also observed.

RESULTSThe patients with PESA showed significantly higher normal fertilization rate (75.6%) than those in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (64.8%), cryptozoospermia (62.1%), and TESA (61.6%) groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the high-quality embryo, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates among the groups (P>0.05). The rate of high-quality blastocyst formation in the in-vitro culture of non-top quality embryos was also comparable among the groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAlthough spermatozoa obtained with by PESA is associated with a higher normal fertilization rate, the sources of spermatozoa do not significantly affect the embryonic quality and developmental potential in ICSI cycles.

Asthenozoospermia ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa

Objective To investigate the effect of autophagy regulation on apoptosis of spinal cord cell in diabetic neuropathic pain(DNP)rats.Methods The SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with Streptozotocin to establish DNP model,and were randomly divided into 4 groups:DNP group,DNP-Rapamycin(DNP-R)group, DNP-3-M(DNP-M)group and the control(C)group. Rapamycin or 3-MA was intrathecally injected in rats in DNP-R group and DNP-M group.The protein expression of LC3-II,Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 was detected by Western blot assay,the cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. Results Compared with DNP group,the expression of LC3-II was significantly up-regulated,while the expression of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were significantly down-regu-lated in DNP-R group. For DNP-M group,the expression of LC3-II was significantly down-regulated,while the expression of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 were significantly up-regulated. The cell apoptosis was significantly reduced in DNP-R group,and significantly increased in DNP-M group. Conclusion There might be a crosstalk between autophagy and apoptosis in spinal cord DNP model. The activation of autophagy might inhibit the apoptosis,while the depression of autophagy might increase the apoptosis of spinal cord cells.

Objective To evaluate the impact of spermatozoa from different sources on normal fertilization of oocytes, embryo quality and embryo developmental potential in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among 197 patients undergoing ICSI cycles in our center. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the sources of semen, namely ejaculated spermatozoa group (n=102), percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) group (n=68), and testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) group (n=27). The ejaculated spermatozoa group was further classified into oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n=67) and cryptozoospermia (n=35) subgroups. The normal fertilization, high-quality embryo, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were compared among the groups; the rate of high-quality blastocyst formation in in-vitro culture of non-top quality embryos was also observed. Results The patients with PESA showed significantly higher normal fertilization rate (75.6%) than those in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (64.8%), cryptozoospermia (62.1%), and TESA (61.6%) groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the high-quality embryo, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates among the groups (P>0.05). The rate of high-quality blastocyst formation in the in-vitro culture of non-top quality embryos was also comparable among the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Although spermatozoa obtained with by PESA is associated with a higher normal fertilization rate, the sources of spermatozoa do not significantly affect the embryonic quality and developmental potential in ICSI cycles.

Objective To evaluate the impact of spermatozoa from different sources on normal fertilization of oocytes, embryo quality and embryo developmental potential in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among 197 patients undergoing ICSI cycles in our center. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the sources of semen, namely ejaculated spermatozoa group (n=102), percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) group (n=68), and testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) group (n=27). The ejaculated spermatozoa group was further classified into oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n=67) and cryptozoospermia (n=35) subgroups. The normal fertilization, high-quality embryo, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were compared among the groups; the rate of high-quality blastocyst formation in in-vitro culture of non-top quality embryos was also observed. Results The patients with PESA showed significantly higher normal fertilization rate (75.6%) than those in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (64.8%), cryptozoospermia (62.1%), and TESA (61.6%) groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the high-quality embryo, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates among the groups (P>0.05). The rate of high-quality blastocyst formation in the in-vitro culture of non-top quality embryos was also comparable among the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Although spermatozoa obtained with by PESA is associated with a higher normal fertilization rate, the sources of spermatozoa do not significantly affect the embryonic quality and developmental potential in ICSI cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of the level of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) in seminal plasma with teratospermia and the outcome parameters of fertilization (IVF). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 272 male patients receiving assisted reproduction treatment in the Center for Reproductive Medicine of our hospital between October, 2018 and March, 2019. The levels of seminal AOPPs and reactive oxygen species (ROS), demographic data, sperm parameters and IVF outcome parameters were analyzed for all the patients. According to the percentage of sperms with normal morphology, the patients were divided before IVF into teratozoospermia group and normal sperm morphology group, and those in teratozoospermia group were further divided into 3 subgroups with mild, moderate and severe teratozoospermia. The patients were also divided on the day oocyte retrieval into 2 groups with fertilizing rates lower (group Ⅰ) and higher (group Ⅱ) than the median rate. RESULTS: We found a significant negative correlation of seminal AOPP level before treatment with the percentage of normal sperm morphology (=0.003) and seminal ROS level (=0.013). The seminal levels of AOPPs (= 0.027) and ROS (=0.036) were significantly elevated in patients with teratospermia, and seminal AOPP level was significantly higher in severe teratospermia group than in mild (=0.019) and moderate (=0.015) teratospermia groups. The seminal levels of AOPPs (=0.003) and ROS (=0.017) on the day of oocyte retrieval were negatively correlated with the fertilization rate in IVF cycles, and the levels of AOPPs (=0.049) and ROS (=0.036) were significantly higher in group Ⅰ than in group Ⅱ. CONCLUSIONS An elevated level of seminal AOPPs may indicate an increased risk of severe teratospermia and a lower fertilization rate in IVF.
Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Spermatozoa ; Teratozoospermia

OBJECTIVE: To explore the causes of oocyte vitrification and its application in assisted reproduction. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 26 patients with 27 cycles of oocyte vitrification cryopreservation undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and embryo transfer between January, 2008 and October, 2018. The causes of oocyte vitrification and the outcomes of ICSI and clinical pregnancy were analyzed. RESULTS: The causes of oocytes vitrification included mainly azoospermia or severe spermatogenesis disorder of the husband, failure to obtain sperms from the husband, failure of the husband to be present on the day of oocyte retrieval and acute diseases of the husband to not allow sperm collection. A total of 274 oocytes were frozen in 27 oocyte retrieval cycles, and 217 eggs were thawed in 19 cycles with a survival rate of 81.11% (176/217). The normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate and high-quality embryo rate was 74.81% (98/131), 89.80% (88/98) and 36.73% (36/98), respectively. Fifteen patients underwent embryo transfer, and the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate was 53.33% (8/15) and 33.33% (5/15), respectively. Compared with patients below 35 years of age, the patients aged above 35 years had significantly lower oocyte survival rate after thawing (82.76% 74.42%, =0.211), clinical pregnancy rate (77.78% 16.67%, =0.041) and live birth rate (55.56% 0, =0.044). CONCLUSIONS Oocytes vitrification can be used as a remedy for infertile couples who fail to provide sperms due to male factors on the day of oocyte retrieval. Vitrification of the oocytes does not significantly affect the fertilization rate or the clinical pregnancy rate. The survival rate of the thawed oocytes is related to the age of the wife, and an age younger than 35 years can be optimal for achieving favorable clinical pregnancy outcomes after oocyte vitrification.
Adult ; Cryopreservation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitrification