1.Decoding the immune microenvironment of secondary chronic myelomonocytic leukemia due to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with CD19 CAR-T failure by single-cell RNA-sequencing.
Xudong LI ; Hong HUANG ; Fang WANG ; Mengjia LI ; Binglei ZHANG ; Jianxiang SHI ; Yuke LIU ; Mengya GAO ; Mingxia SUN ; Haixia CAO ; Danfeng ZHANG ; Na SHEN ; Weijie CAO ; Zhilei BIAN ; Haizhou XING ; Wei LI ; Linping XU ; Shiyu ZUO ; Yongping SONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(15):1866-1881
BACKGROUND:
Several studies have demonstrated the occurrence of secondary tumors as a rare but significant complication of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy, underscoring the need for a detailed investigation. Given the limited variety of secondary tumor types reported to date, a comprehensive characterization of the various secondary tumors arising after CAR-T therapy is essential to understand the associated risks and to define the role of the immune microenvironment in malignant transformation. This study aims to characterize the immune microenvironment of a newly identified secondary tumor post-CAR-T therapy, to clarify its pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
METHODS:
In this study, the bone marrow (BM) samples were collected by aspiration from the primary and secondary tumors before and after CD19 CAR-T treatment. The CD45 + BM cells were enriched with human CD45 microbeads. The CD45 + cells were then sent for 10× genomics single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify cell populations. The Cell Ranger pipeline and CellChat were used for detailed analysis.
RESULTS:
In this study, a rare type of secondary chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) were reported in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had previously received CD19 CAR-T therapy. The scRNA-seq analysis revealed increased inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and an immunosuppressive state of monocytes/macrophages, which may impair cytotoxic activity in both T and natural killer (NK) cells in secondary CMML before treatment. In contrast, their cytotoxicity was restored in secondary CMML after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
This finding delineates a previously unrecognized type of secondary tumor, CMML, after CAR-T therapy and provide a framework for defining the immune microenvironment of secondary tumor occurrence after CAR-T therapy. In addition, the results provide a rationale for targeting macrophages to improve treatment strategies for CMML treatment.
Humans
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Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/therapy*
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Tumor Microenvironment/genetics*
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Antigens, CD19/metabolism*
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Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/genetics*
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Immunotherapy, Adoptive/adverse effects*
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Male
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Single-Cell Analysis/methods*
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Female
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Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods*
;
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
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Middle Aged
2.Correlation between clinical phenotypes and genotypes among 46 children with SCN1A-related developmental epileptic encephalopathy
Bingwei PENG ; Haixia ZHU ; Yang TIAN ; Xiaojing LI ; Xiuying WANG ; Yuanyuan GAO ; Yani ZHANG ; Huiling SHEN ; Wenxiong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(4):426-431
Objective:To explore the correlation between clinical phenotypes and genotypes among 46 children with SCN1A-related developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Methods:Clinical data of 46 children with DEE and SCN1A variants identified at the Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center between January 2018 and June 2022 were collected. The children were grouped based on their age of onset, clinical manifestations, neurodevelopmental status, and results of genetic testing. The correlation between SCN1A genotypes and clinical phenotypes was analyzed. Results:Among the 46 patients, 2 children (4.35%) had developed the symptoms before 3 months of age, 42 (91.30%) were between 3 to 9 months, and 2 cases (4.35%) were after 10 months. Two cases (4.35%) presented with epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS), while 44 (95.7%) had presented with Dravet syndrome (DS), including 28 cases (63.6%) with focal onset (DS-F), 13 cases (29.5%) with myoclonic type (DS-M), 1 case (2.27%) with generalized type (DS-G), and 2 cases (4.55%) with status epilepticus type (DS-SE). Both of the two EIMFS children had severe developmental delay, and among the DS patients, 7 cases had normal development, while the remaining had developmental delay. A total of 44 variants were identified through genetic sequencing, which included 16 missense variants and 28 truncating variants. All EIMFS children had carried the c. 677C>T (p.Thr226Met) missense variant. In the DS group, there was a significant difference in the age of onset between the missense variants group and the truncating variants group ( P < 0.05). Missense variants were more common in D1 (7/15, 46.7%) and pore regions (8/15, 53.3%), while truncating variants were more common in D1 (12/28, 42.9%). Children with variants outside the pore region were more likely to develop myoclonic seizures. Conclusion:The clinical phenotypes of DEE are diverse. There is a difference in the age of onset between individuals with truncating and missense variants in the SCN1A gene. Missense variants outside the pore region are associated with a higher incidence of myoclonic seizures.
3.Multimodal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy for distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules of C-TIRADS grade 4
Di ZHONG ; Di TANG ; Xiaoqiang GAO ; Haixia LI ; Hongbo WANG ; Ying LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2024;40(2):182-185
Objective To compare the value of multimodal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy(US-FNAB)for distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules of Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system(C-TIRADS)grade 4.Methods Data of 247 thyroid nodules in 201 patients were retrospectively analyzed,including 193 malignant and 54 benign noes.Taken postoperative pathology as the gold standards,the value of multimodal ultrasound,i.e.the combination of conventional ultrasound,shear wave elastography(SWE)and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)and US-FNAB for distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules were compared.Results The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,misdiagnosis rate and rate of missed diagnosis of conventional ultrasound for diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules was 86.53%,59.26%,80.57%,40.74%and 13.47%,respectively,of SWE was 78.76%,74.07%,77.73%,25.93%and 21.24%,respectively,of CEUS was 90.16%,77.78%,87.45%,22.22%and 9.84%,respectively,while of multimodal ultrasound was 97.93%,88.89%,95.95%,11.11%and 2.07%,respectively,and of US-FNAB was 89.64%,96.30%,91.09%,3.70%and 10.36%,respectively.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of multimodal ultrasound for distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules were higher,while the misdiagnosis rate and missed diagnosis rate were lower than those of conventional ultrasound,SWE and CEUS alone.The sensitivity,accuracy and misdiagnosis rate of multimodal ultrasound were higher,while its specificity and missed diagnosis rate were both lower than those of US-FNAB(all P<0.05).Conclusion For distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules of C-TIRADS grade 4,multimodal ultrasound had higher sensitivity and accuracy but higher misdiagnosis rate,while US-FNAB had higher specificity but also higher missed diagnosis rate.
4.Isolation,identification and whole genome sequence analysis of goose astrovirus from Xinjiang
Haixia XIAO ; Ling ZHANG ; Yan WANG ; Wanpeng MA ; ASIYEMU·Yasen ; Jin GAO ; Zhanqiang SU
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(7):1401-1407
In order to understand the infection and molecular genetic characteristics of goose astro-virus(GAstV)in Hotan,Xinjiang,visceral organs and swabs of dead goslings were collected asep-tically from three goose farms in Hotan,Yutian and Pashan counties,and GAstV was detected by RT-PCR.The positive samples were screened and identified in LMH cells,and the whole genome was sequenced,and the genetic characteristics of the isolates were analyzed.The results showed that the total positive rate of GAstV was 11.25%(65/578).Two strains of GAstV named as GAstV/XJHT-1 and GAstV/XJHT-2 were isolated and the lengths of their genome sequences were determined as 7 190 bp and 7 125 bp,respectively.Whole genome homology analysis showed that the homology of the two isolates with GAstV-1 and GAstV-2 was higher than 95%,and the homology with other sources(chicken,duck,and turkey)ranged from 54.1%to 61.5%.Genetic e-volution analysis showed that the genetic distance between GAstV isolates from Henan and Anhui was relatively close,suggesting that the isolated GAstV may be related to the introduction of gos-lings or goose eggs from these two places.The findings provide a basis for further development of vaccines or control products.
5.A multicenter study on effect of delayed chemotherapy on prognosis of Burkitt lymphoma in children
Li SONG ; Ling JIN ; Yonghong ZHANG ; Xiaomei YANG ; Yanlong DUAN ; Mincui ZHENG ; Xiaowen ZHAI ; Ying LIU ; Wei LIU ; Ansheng LIU ; Xiaojun YUAN ; Yunpeng DAI ; Leping ZHANG ; Jian WANG ; Lirong SUN ; Rong LIU ; Baoxi ZHANG ; Lian JIANG ; Huixia WEI ; Kailan CHEN ; Runming JIN ; Xige WANG ; Haixia ZHOU ; Hongmei WANG ; Shushuan ZHUANG ; Chunju ZHOU ; Zifen GAO ; Xiao MU ; Kaihui ZHANG ; Fu LI
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(10):941-948
Objective:To analyze the factors affecting delayed chemotherapy in children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and their influence on prognosis.Methods:Retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 591 children aged ≤18 years with BL from May 2017 to December 2022 in China Net Childhood Lymphoma (CNCL) was collected. The patients were treated according to the protocol CNCL-BL-2017. According to the clinical characteristics, therapeutic regimen was divided into group A, group B and group C .Based on whether the total chemotherapy time was delayed, patients were divided into two groups: the delayed chemotherapy group and the non-delayed chemotherapy group. Based on the total delayed time of chemotherapy, patients in group C were divided into non-delayed chemotherapy group, 1-7 days delayed group and more than 7 days delayed group. Relationships between delayed chemotherapy and gender, age, tumor lysis syndrome before chemotherapy, bone marrow involvement, disease group (B/C group), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 4 times than normal, grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ myelosuppression after chemotherapy, minimal residual disease in the interim assessment, and severe infection (including severe pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis, chickenpox, etc.) were analyzed. Logistic analysis was used to identify the relevant factors. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the patients' survival information. Log-Rank was used for comparison between groups.Results:Among 591 patients, 504 were males and 87 were females, the follow-up time was 34.8 (18.6,50.1) months. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was (92.5±1.1)%,and the 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was (90.5±1.2)%. Seventy-three (12.4%) patients were in delayed chemotherapy group and 518 (87.6%) patients were in non-delayed chemotherapy group. The reasons for chemotherapy delay included 72 cases (98.6%) of severe infection, 65 cases (89.0%) of bone marrow suppression, 35 cases (47.9%) of organ dysfunction, 22 cases (30.1%) of tumor lysis syndrome,etc. There were 7 cases of chemotherapy delay in group B, which were seen in COPADM (vincristine+cyclophosphamide+prednisone+daunorubicin+methotrexate+intrathecal injection,4 cases) and CYM (methotrexate+cytarabine+intrathecal injection,3 cases) stages. There were 66 cases of chemotherapy delay in group C, which were common in COPADM (28 cases) and CYVE 1 (low dose cytarabine+high dose cytarabine+etoposide+methotrexate, 12 cases) stages. Multinomial Logistic regression analysis showed that the age over 10 years old ( OR=0.54,95% CI 0.30-0.93), tumor lysis syndrome before chemotherapy ( OR=0.48,95% CI 0.27-0.84) and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ myelosuppression after chemotherapy ( OR=0.55,95% CI 0.33-0.91)were independent risk factors for chemotherapy delay.The 3-year OS rate and the 3-year EFS rate of children with Burkitt lymphoma in the delayed chemotherapy group were lower than those in the non-delayed chemotherapy group ((79.4±4.9)% vs. (94.2±1.1)%, (80.2±4.8)% vs. (92.0±1.2)%,both P<0.05). The 3-year OS rate of the group C with chemotherapy delay >7 days (42 cases) was lower than that of the group with chemotherapy delay of 1-7 days (22 cases) and the non-delay group (399 cases) ((76.7±6.9)% vs. (81.8±8.2)% vs. (92.7±1.3)%, P=0.002).The 3-year OS rate of the chemotherapy delay group (9 cases) in the COP (vincristine+cyclophosphamide+prednisone) phase was lower than that of the non-chemotherapy delay group (454 cases) ((66.7±15.7)% vs. (91.3±1.4)%, P=0.005). Similarly, the 3-year OS rate of the chemotherapy delay group (11 cases) in the COPADM1 phase was lower than that of the non-chemotherapy delay group (452 cases) ((63.6±14.5)% vs. (91.5±1.3)%, P=0.001). Conclusions:The delayed chemotherapy was related to the age over 10 years old, tumor lysis syndrome before chemotherapy and grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ myelosuppression after chemotherapy in pediatric BL. There is a significant relationship between delayed chemotherapy and prognosis of BL in children.
6.Degree centrality study of resting-state functional MRI in elderly patients with chronic insomnia disorder
Qianqian GAO ; Haixia MAO ; Siyuan ZENG ; Lin MA ; Xiangming FANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(12):1953-1957
Objective To explore the changes of resting-state degree centrality(DC)in elderly patients with chronic insomnia disorder(CID).Methods Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)data were collected from 26 untreated elderly patients with CID(CID group)and 45 healthy controls(HC)(HC group).Two-sample t-test was conducted to compare the intergroup differences in whole-brain DC values,and the correlation between DC values in different brain regions and clinical indicators were analyzed,and logistic regression analysis was performed to verify the diagnostic efficacy of changes in DC values for elderly CID.Results Compared with the HC group,the DC values of the right insula,left rolandic operculum,and opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus in the elderly CID group decreased[P<0.05,false discovery rate(FDR)corrected],while the DC values of the right middle frontal gyrus increased(P<0.05,FDR corrected).And the DC values of the opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus in the elderly CID group were positively correlated with sleep efficiency(r=0.504,P=0.009)and self-rating depression scale(SDS)(r=0.401,P=0.042),respectively.The sensitivity of DC value in the opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus for diagnosing elderly CID was 0.822,the specificity was 0.615,and the accuracy was 0.701.Conclusion Elderly CID patients have abnormal DC values in the right insula,left rolandic operculum,opercular part of right inferior frontal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus,which may provide imaging evidence for exploring the pathogenesis of CID and clinical diagnosis and treatment.
7.Mechanism of the effect of Xuebijing injection on neurological function and survival of rats after cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Deqing HUANG ; Yuguang GAO ; Yuankan ZHANG ; Zhenglin WANG ; Haixia DENG ; Xiabing HUANG ; Yan PANG ; Lin WU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(6):653-658
OBJECTIVE To explore the potential mechanism of the effect of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on neurological function and survival of rats after cardiac arrest (CA)/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) based on the S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR)/S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) pathway. METHODS The CA/CPR rat model was established by ventricular fibrillation. Using a sham operation group as control, high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze and mine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the contents of GSNOR and GSNO in the hippocampus; the active components of XBJ were screened and subjected to molecular docking analysis with GSNOR. The rats successfully modeled using the same method were divided into model group (n=30), inhibitor (GSNOR inhibitor) group (n=30), XBJ group (n=30) and XBJ+inhibitor group (n=30), and a sham operation group (n=30) was set up. Neurological function was evaluated and survival status was recorded at 3 hours, 24 hours and 3 days after the first 89) drug intervention. The contents of GSNOR and GSNO in the hippocampus of rats were determined in each group at the 0191) above time points, and the relationship of the contents of GSNOR and GSNO with modified neurologic severity scale (mNSS) score was analyzed. RESULTS GSNOR coding gene was differentially expressed between the model group and the sham operation group. Compared with the sham operation group, GSNOR content increased significantly in the hippocampus of rats in model group, while GSNO content decreased significantly (P<0.05). The active components of XBJ, such as 4- methylenemiltirone and salviolone, could be bound to GSNOR protein, with the binding energy lower than -6 kcal/mol, mainly connected by hydrogen bonds. Animal experiments revealed that mNSS score and GSNOR levels in the hippocampus of rats in the model group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group (P<0.05), while GSNO levels and survival rate were significantly lower than those in the sham operation group (P<0.05). The above indexes of rats were improved significantly in administration groups, the mNSS score in the XBJ group was significantly lower than that in the inhibitor group, the content changes of GSNOR and GSNO in the inhibitor group were more obvious than those in the XBJ group, and the various indicators in the XBJ+inhibitor group were significantly better than the XBJ group and the inhibitor group (P<0.05). GSNOR content was positively correlated with the mNSS score, and GSNO content was negatively correlated with the mNSS score (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS XBJ can improve the neurological function of rats and enhance their survival rates after CA/CPR, the mechanism of which may be associated with the down-regulation of GSNOR and the up-regulation of GSNO.
8.Vascular endothelial growth factor combined with basic fibroblast growth factor improves replicative senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Weili SHI ; Shanshan LIU ; Hongbo CHANG ; Haixia GAO ; Xinzhou WANG ; Nan QIN ; Hong WU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(31):4958-4963
BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells are susceptible to senescence during in vitro expansion,which greatly hinders their application in vivo and in vitro.How to improve the replicative senescence of mesenchymal stem cells is an urgent problem to be solved in tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor combined with basic fibroblast growth factor can improve the aging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by replicative passage. METHODS:Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted by whole bone marrow adhesion method.Passage 2 cells were selected as normal control group.Passage 7 and later algebraic cells were selected as aging model group.Vascular endothelial growth factor(50 μg/L),basic fibroblast growth factor(10 μg/L),and their combination were administered.Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay.Cell senescence was observed by β-galactosidase activity staining.Cytoskeleton size and colony formation ability were observed by phalloidine staining and Giemsa staining,respectively,and the levels of senescence-related genes P16,P21,and P53 were detected by qRT-PCR.Gene expression levels of P16,P21,and P53 were tested by qRT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Vascular endothelial growth factor combined with basic fibroblast growth factor could promote the proliferation of aged bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,which began to enter the plateau stage on day 9,and the absorbance value of the combined intervention group was significantly higher than that of the model group on day 9(P<0.05).(2)The phenotypic markers of the cells in the combined intervention group did not change,and the cell morphology changed from broad to slender.(3)Compared with the model group,the positive rate of β-galactosidase was significantly decreased(P<0.01);the number of nuclei increased(P<0.001);the total area of cytoskeleton increased(P<0.01);colony formation ability was enhanced(P<0.05);expression level of P16 was decreased(P<0.01)in the combined intervention group.These results indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor combined with basic fibroblast growth factor can improve the senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells caused by replicative passage without changing the cell phenotype.
9.Feasibility study of expectant management of different degrees of vaginal fluid in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester
Yimin GAO ; Suhui WU ; Haixia SHANG ; Yanlin YANG ; Bohui ZHOU ; Xi YANG
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024;59(2):121-129
Objective:To investigate the feasibility of expectant management of different degrees of vaginal fluid in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect 103 pregnant women who were diagnosed with premature rupture of membranes in the second trimester of pregnancy and insisted on continuing the pregnancy in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from July 2012 to July 2022. According to the degree of vaginal fluid, pregnant women were divided into rupture group (with typical vaginal fluid, 48 cases) and leakage group (without typical vaginal fluid, 55 cases). The rupture latency (the time from rupture of membranes to termination of pregnancy), gestational weeks of termination, indications and methods of termination of pregnancy, maternal infection related indicators and perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Univariate regression model was used to analyze the correlation between different degrees of vaginal fluid in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes and maternal and neonatal outcomes.Results:(1) Obstetric indicators: there was no significant difference in the gestational age of rupture of membranes between the two groups ( P>0.05). However, the proportion of rupture latency >28 days in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [42% (23/55) vs 13% (6/48); χ2=33.673, P<0.001], and the incidence of pregnancy termination ≥28 weeks was significantly higher [47% (26/55) vs 19% (9/48); χ2=9.295, P=0.002]. (2) Indications and methods of termination: the incidence of progressive reduction of amniotic fluid as the indication for termination in the leakage group was significantly lower than that in the rupture group [22% (12/55) vs 42% (20/48); χ2=4.715, P=0.030], and the incidence of full-term termination in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [31% (17/55) vs 12% (6/48); χ2=5.008, P=0.025], while there were no significant differences in the indications of termination of pregnancy, including amniotic cavity infection, uterine contraction failure and fetal distress between the two groups (all P>0.05). The incidence of induced labor or spontaneous contraction in the leakage group was significantly lower than that in the rupture group [53% (29/55) vs 81% (39/48); χ2=9.295, P=0.002], while the cesarean section rate and vaginal delivery rate were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). (3) Infection related indicators: the incidence of amniotic cavity infection in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [31% (17/55) vs 13% (6/48); χ2=4.003, P=0.045]. However, there were no significant differences in the elevation of inflammatory indicators, the positive rate of cervical secretion bacterial culture and the incidence of tissue chorioamnionitis between the two groups (all P>0.05). (4) Perinatal outcomes: the live birth rate in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [51% (28/55) vs 27% (13/48); χ2=5.119, P=0.024]. The proportion of live births with 1-minute Apgar score >7 in the leakage group was significantly higher than that in the rupture group [38% (21/55) vs 17% (8/48); χ2=4.850, P=0.028]. However, there were no significant differences in the birth weight of live births and the incidence of neonatal complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). (5) Univariate regression analysis showed that compared with the rupture group, the leakage group had a higher risk of pregnancy termination at ≥28 gestational weeks ( RR=2.521, 95% CI: 1.314-4.838; P=0.002), amniotic infection ( RR=2.473, 95% CI: 1.061-5.764; P=0.025), perinatal survival ( RR=1.880, 95% CI: 1.104-3.199; P=0.014). Conclusion:Compared with pregnant women with typical vaginal fluid in the second trimester of premature rupture of membranes, expectant treatment for pregnant women with atypical vaginal fluid is more feasible, which could effectively prolong the gestational weeks and improve the perinatal live birth rate.
10.Mitochondrial Function Reveals Connotation of "Seven-Seven" Theory of Huangdi's Internal Classic and Mechanism of Herbal Intervention for Elderly Women Undergoing IVF-ET
Zhicheng JIA ; Ying GUO ; Hao LAI ; Fang LIAN ; Haixia GAO ; Yongqian LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(12):128-134
ObjectiveTo study the changes of mitochondrial function of ovarian granulosa cells in women of different ages and the effect of Erzhi-Tiangui prescription on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes for elderly women, so as to verify the connotation of the "Seven-Seven" theory in the Huangdi's Internal Classic (《黄帝内经》). MethodA total of 150 infertility patients undergoing IVF-ET at the Reproductive and Genetic Center of Integrative Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited and assigned into "hree-Seven/Four-Seven (30 cases), Five-Seven (60 cases), and Six-Seven (60 cases) groups according to the "Seven-Seven" theory. The Five-Seven and Six-Seven groups were further assigned into control and Chinese medicine subgroups using the random number plus envelope method, and the Chinese medicine group was administrated with Erzhi Tiangui prescription from the start day of controlled ovulation stimulation cycle to the trigger day. The IVF outcome was observed, and Western blot was employed to determine the levels of mitofusin 1 (MFN1), mitofusin 2 (MFN2), and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in the ovarian granulosa cells. ResultCompared with the Three-Seven/Four-Seven group, the control subgroups of the Five-Seven and Six-Seven groups showed decreased retrieved oocytes, two pronuclear (2PN) embryos, available embryos, high-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate (P<0.05). Moreover, the control subgroup of the Six-Seven group showed decreased fresh embryo transfer rate(P<0.05). Compared with the control subgroup of the Five-Seven group, that of the Six-Seven group showed reduced retrieved oocytes, 2PN embryos, available embryos, high-quality embryos, and clinical pregnancy rate (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine subgroup had more retrieved oocytes, 2PN oocytes, and available embryos than the control subgroup in the Five-Seven groups (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine subgroup had more retrieved oocytes, than the control subgroup in the Six-Seven groups (P<0.05). The control subgroup of the Six-Seven group showed lower expression levels of Mfn1 and Mfn2 and higher level of Drp1 than the control subgroup of the Five-Seven group (P<0.05), which indicated that the levels of Mfn1 and Mfn2 in ovarian granulosa cells were down-regulated while the expression of Drp1 was up-regulated with aging (P<0.05). The Chinese medicine subgroup had higher Mfn2 level and lower Drp1 level than the control subgroup in the Five-Seven group (P<0.05), and the Chinese medicine subgroup had higher Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels and lower Drp1 level than then control subgroup in the Six-Seven group (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe prognosis of IVF in women after "Five-Seven" became worse with aging, and the mitochondria in ovarian granulosa cells showed decreased fusion ability and increased fission, which verified the connotation of the "Seven-Seven" theory from the mitochondrial function. Erzhi Tiangui prescription can regulate the mitochondrial function of ovarian granulosa cells in elderly women, up-regulate the expression levels of Mfn1 and Mfn2 to promote mitochondrial fusion, and down-regulate the expression of Drp1 to reduce mitochondrial fission, thus alleviating the ovarian hypofunction caused by aging, improve the development potential of oocytes, and improve the IVF outcomes of elderly women. However, this prescription has limited efficacy for the elderly women in the age range of "Six-Seven".

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