AIM:To investigate the role of specific long noncoding RNA SLC25a6(lncSLC25a6)in homocys-teine(Hcy)-induced cuproptosis in cardiomyocytes.METHODS:Rat cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro and divided into control group and Hcy group.After 48 h of intervention,the expression levels of cuproptosis-related proteins,ferre-doxin 1(FDX1)and heat shock protein 70(HSP70),were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.The oxidative stress state of cardiomyocytes was assessed using fluorescence staining,and the intracellular Cu2+levels were measured using a copper ion assay kit.Furthermore,the impact of Hcy on the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins in cardiomyocytes was analyzed following overexpression of lncSLC25a6.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,80 μmol/L Hcy significantly accelerated cardiomyocyte damage,with a notable underexpression of lncSLC25a6(P<0.05).Western blot results indicated that,compared with the control group,the expression level of FDX1 in the Hcy intervention group was significantly reduced(P<0.05),while the expression level of HSP70 was significantly elevated(P<0.05),and the expression level of copper ions in cardiomyocytes of the Hcy group was increased(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant reduction in FDX1 fluorescence intensity and a significant increase in HSP70 fluorescence in-tensity in the Hcy group.Further overexpression of lncSLC25a6 significantly mitigated Hcy-induced cuproptosis in cardio-myocytes,resulting in elevated expression of FDX1 and reduced expression of HSP70(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the expression level of lncSLC25a6 was negatively correlated with FDX1 protein expression(r=-0.676,P=0.046)and positively correlated with HSP70 expression(r=0.680,P=0.044).CONCLUSION:lnc-SLC25a6 significantly mitigates Hcy-induced cuproptosis in cardiomyocytes,positioning it as a potential therapeutic target for managing Hcy-induced cardiac injury.

Objective:To explore the reasons for delayed medical treatment in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using the treatment pathway theory as a framework, and to propose corresponding strategies to guide timely medical care for PCOS patients.Methods:Purposeful sampling was used to select 14 PCOS patients who sought treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School between November 2022 and May 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and directed content analysis was applied to analyze and extract data.Results:The delay in seeking medical treatment for PCOS patients ranged from five to 60 months. Four main themes and 11 sub-themes were identified as reasons for treatment delays: misconception and delayed recognition of the disease (misunderstanding of symptoms, intermittent symptom presentation) ; delayed seeking of medical help (mismanagement of symptoms, feelings of shame, role conflict, distance and financial constraints, lack of social support) ; delayed diagnosis by healthcare providers (misdiagnosis by healthcare providers, lack of medical resources and services) ; and delayed participation in treatment (lack of health education from medical staff, no immediate fertility needs) .Conclusions:Delays in seeking medical care for PCOS patients are common. Efforts should be made to enhance public education on PCOS for adolescent and reproductive-age women, emphasize the management of the disease in patients without immediate fertility needs, improve primary healthcare institutions' capacity for managing PCOS, and mobilize the social support system to encourage patients to seek medical treatment early, thus reducing the occurrence of delayed medical care.

Objective To study the role of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9(UBC9)in the pyroptosis of homocysteine-induced macrophages mediated by small ubiquitin-like modifier(SUMO)modification.Methods First,the effects of homocysteine at different concentrations(0 μmol/L,50 μ.mol/L,100 μmol/L,150 μmol/L and 200 μmol/L)on the viability and pyrodeath of mouse macrophages(RAW264.7)were detected by CCK-8 and Western blot.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of UBC9,SUMO-1,and the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in different groups of cells.qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of UBC9 before and after RNA interference and the expression of UBC9,pyrogen-related protein,and SUMO-1 after RNA interference.Results After stimulation with 100 μmol/L homocysteine,the effect of macrophage activity was minimal,and NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were the proteins with the most obvious increase in expression(P＜0.05).Compared with the Control group,the Hcy group's expression of IL-1β and SUMO-1 was increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the Control group,the Hcy group's UBC9 protein and mRNA levels were increased(P＜0.05).The expression of NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β,UBC9,and SUMO-1 was decreased in the si-UBC9+Hcy group compared with the si-NC+Hcy group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Homocysteine induces pyroptosis in macrophages,and its mechanism of action is related to the up-regulation of UBC9 to induce SUMO modification.

Objective:To investigate the effect of different assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and transplanted embryos at different developmental stages on live birth sex ratio in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.Methods:From April 2010 to October 2018, the clinical data of patients and neonatal underwent in vitro fertilization-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (IVF-FET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (ICSI-FET) and preimplantation genetic testing-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (PGT-FET) cycles that led to birth in the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship of the sex ratio of the live births to different ART and transplanted embryos at different developmental stages was studied. Results:1) IVF-FET cycles included 898 couples (920 FET cycles) and 1166 babies, with a general sex ratio of 106.7. The live birth sex ratio increased gradually at pre-morula stage, morula stage and blastocyst stage embryo transfer (99.0, 135.4, 142.6), but no statistical difference was observed between the groups ( P>0.05). 2) ICSI-FET cycles included 415 couples (433 FET cycles) and 555 babies, with a general live birth sex ratio of 111.0. After the transfer of embyos at different stages the proportion of male babies displayed no significant difference ( P>0.05). 3) PGT-FET cycles included 33 couples (33 FET cycles) and 33 babies, with a general live birth sex ratio of 153.8. Transplantation of blastocysts in IVF, ICSI or PGT had no significant effect on the proportion of male babies ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In FET cycles, compared with embryo transfer at early stage, late stage embryo transfer may be associated with a higher live birth sex ratio. The transfer of ICSI-FET embryos at different developmental stages and the transfer of blastocysts by IVF, ICSI or PGT technique did not affect the sex ratio of live birth.

Objective:To investigate the effect of different assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and transplanted embryos at different developmental stages on live birth sex ratio in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.Methods:From April 2010 to October 2018, the clinical data of patients and neonatal underwent in vitro fertilization-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (IVF-FET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (ICSI-FET) and preimplantation genetic testing-frozen-thawed embryo transfer (PGT-FET) cycles that led to birth in the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship of the sex ratio of the live births to different ART and transplanted embryos at different developmental stages was studied. Results:1) IVF-FET cycles included 898 couples (920 FET cycles) and 1166 babies, with a general sex ratio of 106.7. The live birth sex ratio increased gradually at pre-morula stage, morula stage and blastocyst stage embryo transfer (99.0, 135.4, 142.6), but no statistical difference was observed between the groups ( P>0.05). 2) ICSI-FET cycles included 415 couples (433 FET cycles) and 555 babies, with a general live birth sex ratio of 111.0. After the transfer of embyos at different stages the proportion of male babies displayed no significant difference ( P>0.05). 3) PGT-FET cycles included 33 couples (33 FET cycles) and 33 babies, with a general live birth sex ratio of 153.8. Transplantation of blastocysts in IVF, ICSI or PGT had no significant effect on the proportion of male babies ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In FET cycles, compared with embryo transfer at early stage, late stage embryo transfer may be associated with a higher live birth sex ratio. The transfer of ICSI-FET embryos at different developmental stages and the transfer of blastocysts by IVF, ICSI or PGT technique did not affect the sex ratio of live birth.

One of the great challenges in assisted reproduction today is the management of cases with poor-quality oocytes. Ooplasmic transfer (OT) has been used with the aim of augmenting embryo viability in patients with multiple implantation failures, usually associated with developmentally compromised oocytes. The justification for the technique was that the ooplasm from the donor contained beneficial components lacking in the recipient's oocytes, and that the transfer of these components to the recipient's oocytes would result in normal growth and viability. This review focuses on concerns regarding its use in assisted reproduction, like mitochondrial functioning, mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy, regulation of apoptosis, cleavage division, epigenetic modifications, oocyte contents and mRNA which are the factors affecting oocytes due to mixing of two entities. The applications, efficacy and adverse effects of OT techniques in human are summarized.

One of the great challenges in assisted reproduction today is the management of cases with poor-quality oocytes. Ooplasmic transfer (OT) has been used with the aim of augmenting embryo viability in patients with multiple implantation failures, usually associated with developmentally compromised oocytes. The justification for the technique was that the ooplasm from the donor contained beneficial components lacking in the recipient's oocytes, and that the transfer of these components to the recipient's oocytes would result in normal growth and viability. This review focuses on concerns regarding its use in assisted reproduction, like mitochondrial functioning, mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy, regulation of apoptosis, cleavage division, epigenetic modifications, oocyte contents and mRNA which are the factors affecting oocytes due to mixing of two entities. The applications, efficacy and adverse effects of OT techniques in human are summarized.

Objective To study the cell morphology and differentiation efficiency when rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were induced osteogenic differentiation as culturing by autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) instead of serum,and to explore a new method of inducing BMSCs osteogenic differentiation.Methods The PRP was prepared by arterial blood of rabbit.Punctured and The bone marrow was sampled from rabbit's iliac bone,and BMSCs were collected,which divided into PRP group,fetal calf serum (FBS) group and serum-free control group,and cultured in 10％ autologous PRP,10％ FBS and serum-free respectively,combined with DMEM-F12 medium.The second generation cells were divided into experimental and control groups.The experimental groups' medium was added dexamethasone,β-sodium glycerophosphate and ascorbic acid,and the control groups went on.The cell morphological difference of each group was Observed between anterior and after inducing differentiation,and compared between each group.Results BMSCs of PRP and FBS groups grew quickly,presented like fusiform form before induction,and increasd in volume,became a triangle,polygonal and round form gradually after osteogenic induction.Cells of PRP and FBS groups aggregated spontaneously and multilayered,and formed calcium nodules and bone-like structure after induced 7 days averagely,which could be stained red by alizarin red S;cells of serum-free groups were induced 14 days averagely,only three samples showed osteogenesis performance.Cells of PRP and FBS groups differentiation efficiency was superior to serum-free groups when inducd 20 days,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05),and the difference between efficiency of PRP and FBS groups was not significant (P＞0.05).Conclusions Autologous PRP could be used to proliferate and induce osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs instead of serum.

Objective To explore the operating methods and its related questions of auricular reconstruction with totally expanded skin in combination with laser hair removal for the treatment of adolescent microtia.Methods From Jan.2013 to Dec.2016,30 adolescent microtia patients were treated with totally expanded skin.At the first stage,the 100 ml kidney-shaped expander was implanted under the skin of mastoid.After expanding capacity of 80 ml,the hair on the expanded skin was depilated once a month with reference to the healthy ear;at the second stage,after expanding capacity of 150 ml,the expander was taken out and the fiber capsule was removed;the tautologous rib cartilage was harvested and the scaffolds were sculptured;the cartilage was implanted and the expanded skin flap was used to cover the frontal surface and back surface of the scaffold;at the third stage,the earlobe transposition,conchal excavation and tragus construction were performed at the same time.Results All the patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months;the results showed 1 case of leakage of expander,4 cases of hematoma,2 case of expanded skin burst,and the complications were treated correctly,all patients were satisfied with the appearance;the color,texture,location,size;and height of ear cranial angle were matched with health ear;there was no obvious scar and auricle subunit structure was clear.Conclusions The laser in combination with the large capacity tissue expander in auricular reconstruction is simple,less trauma and less scarring.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of propranolol and 595 nm pulsed dye la ser (PDL) in treatment of infantile hemangioma.Methods 26 infants admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to January 2015 with hemangioma underwent oral propranolol 2 mg/(kg · d) treatment after excluding of taboos.The daily doses were divided equally to two parts,taken on the time of 8:00 and 20:00,when the electrocardiograph and pulse oxygen were monitored and recorded persistently.The patients were discharged from the hospital when it was stable,with review of blood routine examination,fasting blood glucose,liver and kidney function,and the change of size,character and color of hemangioma were recorded,and taken photos every two weeks after discharge.The 595 nm PDL was used to treat the hemangioma faded incompletely when the propranolol was terminated.Results The tension and color of all hemangioma decreased in varying degrees in taking propranolol for 72 hours,and evaluated the efficacy as recovery completely 19 cases;signifivantly effective in 3 cases and partial efficacy in 4 cases;the latter 7 cases were further treated with 595 nm PDL.Followed-up for 6-12 months showed that efficacy of recovery reached 100％.10 cases showed heart rate was mild reversibly slow,with no special treatment.5 cases had diarrhea,and healed with symptomatic treatment.No adverse reactions like liver and kidney dysfunction and so on were found.Conclusions Propranolol and 595 nm PDL can effectively treat infantile hemangioma,and thus it can be used as the recommended treatment of infantile hemangioma.