Objective:To investigate the effect of atosiban on hemodynamic parameters of uterine arteries and clinical effect evaluation in patients with previous implantation failure undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze 298 cycles of FET in the Department of Reproductive Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients were categorized into atosiban group ( n=149) and control group ( n=149) according to whether administered atosiban or not. The related indicators and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Hemodynamic parameters of the uterine arteries, including bilateral uterine artery peak systolic velocity/diastolic velocity (S/D), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and serum levels of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and oxytocin were compared before and after atosiban treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to assess the effect of atosiban on pregnancy outcomes. The effect of atosiban on live birth rate was analyzed by age stratification. Results:The implantation rate [51.92% (135/260)], the clinical pregnancy rate [67.11% (100/149)] and the live birth rate [59.06% (88/149)] in atosiban group were significantly higher than those in control group [41.13% (102/248), P=0.015; 51.01% (76/149), P=0.005; 40.27% (60/149), P=0.001]; and the early miscarriage rate [9.00% (9/100)] was lower than that of control group [19.74% (15/76), P=0.040]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atosiban was an independent influencing factor of live birth rate ( OR=2.236, 95% CI: 1.371-3.646, P=0.001). The post-treatment right uterine artery blood flow S/D [4.61 (4.00, 5.36)], PI [1.81 (1.58, 2.05)], RI [0.79 (0.75, 0.82)], and left uterine artery blood flow S/D [4.62 (3.83, 5.61)], PI (1.84±0.38), RI [0.79 (0.74, 0.82)] were all lower than those before treatment [right S/D 4.93 (4.06, 6.04), P<0.001; PI 1.93 (1.60, 2.17), P=0.001; RI 0.80 (0.76, 0.83), P<0.001; left S/D 5.05 (4.20, 6.32), P<0.001; PI 1.95±0.43, P<0.001; RI 0.81 (0.76, 0.84), P<0.001]. Besides, the levels of PGF2α [97.01 (85.15, 109.93) ng/L] and oxytocin [41.18 (37.16, 46.78) ng/L] after treatment in atosiban group were significantly lower than those before treatment [119.71 (108.85, 129.99) ng/L, P<0.001; 51.87 (46.44, 55.54) ng/L, P<0.001). Moreover, the endometrial peristalsis waves in atosiban group were significantly less after treatment [1.00 (0.00, 2.00) times/min] than before treatment [2.00 (1.00, 3.00) times/min], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Atosiban can improve uterine artery blood flow and reduce endometrial peristalsis waves in women with previous implantation failure, which increases endometrial blood perfusion. Additionally, it can also reduce the levels of PGF2α and oxytocin, and optimize the pregnancy outcome of the frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of intrauterine perfusion of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB-MNCs) on thin endometrium.Methods:SPF-grade Kunming mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected. A mouse model of thin endometrium was established by infusing 95% ethanol into the uterine cavity for a duration of 5 min. Using a completely randomized grouping method, 40 female mice with regular estrous cycles were randomly divided into four groups: untreated group (no intervention, n=10), sham-operated group (operation without modeling, n=10), experimental group (intrauterine infusion of UCB-MNCs during estrus after one estrous cycle post-modeling, n=10) and negative control group (intrauterine infusion of saline during estrus after one estrous cycle post-modeling, n=10). Following the administration of UCB-MNCs or physiological saline, all groups' uterine tissues were collected two estrous cycles later during their respective estrus phases. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to assess endometrial morphology, measure thickness, and count glands. Western blotting and reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were utilized to measure the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), integrin (ITG) α V, ITG β 3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the endometrium across different groups for intergroup comparisons. Results:The endometrial thickness and the number of glands in the untreated group [(507.32±85.66) μm, 18.67±6.66] showed no statistically significant differences compared with those in the sham-operated group [(502.78±73.26) μm, 19.33±7.73, all P>0.05]. The experimental group showed significantly increased endometrial thickness [(347.71±82.24) μm vs. (118.85±29.19) μm, P<0.001] and gland number (15.00±2.65 vs. 2.00±2.00, P=0.030) compared with the negative control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of LIF, VEGF, ITG α v, ITG β 3, and PCNA in the endometrium between the untreated group and the sham-operated group (all P>0.05). The relative protein and mRNA expression levels of endometrial LIF, VEGF, ITG α V, ITG β 3 and PCNA of the experimental group were all significantly higher than those in the negative control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Intrauterine perfusion with UCB-MNCs may promote endometrial regeneration and repair, as well as improve endometrial receptivity, through the upregulation of the expression levels of PCNA, LIF, VEGF, and ITG α V, ITGβ 3.

Objective:To investigate the effect of atosiban on hemodynamic parameters of uterine arteries and clinical effect evaluation in patients with previous implantation failure undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze 298 cycles of FET in the Department of Reproductive Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients were categorized into atosiban group ( n=149) and control group ( n=149) according to whether administered atosiban or not. The related indicators and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Hemodynamic parameters of the uterine arteries, including bilateral uterine artery peak systolic velocity/diastolic velocity (S/D), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and serum levels of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and oxytocin were compared before and after atosiban treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to assess the effect of atosiban on pregnancy outcomes. The effect of atosiban on live birth rate was analyzed by age stratification. Results:The implantation rate [51.92% (135/260)], the clinical pregnancy rate [67.11% (100/149)] and the live birth rate [59.06% (88/149)] in atosiban group were significantly higher than those in control group [41.13% (102/248), P=0.015; 51.01% (76/149), P=0.005; 40.27% (60/149), P=0.001]; and the early miscarriage rate [9.00% (9/100)] was lower than that of control group [19.74% (15/76), P=0.040]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atosiban was an independent influencing factor of live birth rate ( OR=2.236, 95% CI: 1.371-3.646, P=0.001). The post-treatment right uterine artery blood flow S/D [4.61 (4.00, 5.36)], PI [1.81 (1.58, 2.05)], RI [0.79 (0.75, 0.82)], and left uterine artery blood flow S/D [4.62 (3.83, 5.61)], PI (1.84±0.38), RI [0.79 (0.74, 0.82)] were all lower than those before treatment [right S/D 4.93 (4.06, 6.04), P<0.001; PI 1.93 (1.60, 2.17), P=0.001; RI 0.80 (0.76, 0.83), P<0.001; left S/D 5.05 (4.20, 6.32), P<0.001; PI 1.95±0.43, P<0.001; RI 0.81 (0.76, 0.84), P<0.001]. Besides, the levels of PGF2α [97.01 (85.15, 109.93) ng/L] and oxytocin [41.18 (37.16, 46.78) ng/L] after treatment in atosiban group were significantly lower than those before treatment [119.71 (108.85, 129.99) ng/L, P<0.001; 51.87 (46.44, 55.54) ng/L, P<0.001). Moreover, the endometrial peristalsis waves in atosiban group were significantly less after treatment [1.00 (0.00, 2.00) times/min] than before treatment [2.00 (1.00, 3.00) times/min], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Atosiban can improve uterine artery blood flow and reduce endometrial peristalsis waves in women with previous implantation failure, which increases endometrial blood perfusion. Additionally, it can also reduce the levels of PGF2α and oxytocin, and optimize the pregnancy outcome of the frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of intrauterine perfusion of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB-MNCs) on thin endometrium.Methods:SPF-grade Kunming mice aged 6-8 weeks were selected. A mouse model of thin endometrium was established by infusing 95% ethanol into the uterine cavity for a duration of 5 min. Using a completely randomized grouping method, 40 female mice with regular estrous cycles were randomly divided into four groups: untreated group (no intervention, n=10), sham-operated group (operation without modeling, n=10), experimental group (intrauterine infusion of UCB-MNCs during estrus after one estrous cycle post-modeling, n=10) and negative control group (intrauterine infusion of saline during estrus after one estrous cycle post-modeling, n=10). Following the administration of UCB-MNCs or physiological saline, all groups' uterine tissues were collected two estrous cycles later during their respective estrus phases. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to assess endometrial morphology, measure thickness, and count glands. Western blotting and reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were utilized to measure the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), integrin (ITG) α V, ITG β 3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the endometrium across different groups for intergroup comparisons. Results:The endometrial thickness and the number of glands in the untreated group [(507.32±85.66) μm, 18.67±6.66] showed no statistically significant differences compared with those in the sham-operated group [(502.78±73.26) μm, 19.33±7.73, all P>0.05]. The experimental group showed significantly increased endometrial thickness [(347.71±82.24) μm vs. (118.85±29.19) μm, P<0.001] and gland number (15.00±2.65 vs. 2.00±2.00, P=0.030) compared with the negative control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of LIF, VEGF, ITG α v, ITG β 3, and PCNA in the endometrium between the untreated group and the sham-operated group (all P>0.05). The relative protein and mRNA expression levels of endometrial LIF, VEGF, ITG α V, ITG β 3 and PCNA of the experimental group were all significantly higher than those in the negative control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Intrauterine perfusion with UCB-MNCs may promote endometrial regeneration and repair, as well as improve endometrial receptivity, through the upregulation of the expression levels of PCNA, LIF, VEGF, and ITG α V, ITGβ 3.

Objective:To investigate the correlations of β-catenin expression with the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and prognosis of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations.Methods:The clinical data of 125 patients with stage Ⅲ B-Ⅳ lung adenocarcinoma who were treated with first-line EGFR-TKI treatment in the 901st Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of Chinese PLA from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected. The expression of β-catenin protein was detected by immunohistochemistry, and subtypes of EGFR mutations were detected by amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Correlations of β-catenin expression with clinicopathological features, efficacy of EGFR-TKI and prognosis were analyzed. Twenty-eight pairs of specimens were selected before EGFR-TKI treatment and after resistance to EGFR-TKI to observe the changes of β-catenin expression. Results:Among 125 advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients with EGFR mutations, there were 60 cases of EGFR 19 del, 55 cases of L858R mutation and 10 cases of rare sensitive mutation; 79 cases (63.2%) had reduced membranous expression of β-catenin, 66 cases (52.8%) had ectopic expression in cytoplasm and 28 cases (22.4%) had ectopic expression in nucleus. The positive rates of Napsin A protein in the groups with different abnormal expression patterns of β-catenin were lower than those in the corresponding normal expression groups (all P < 0.001). Patients with International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) grade Ⅲ showed more frequent translocation in cytoplasma and nucleus of β-catenin than patients with IASLC gradeⅠ-Ⅱ (ectopic expression in cytoplasm: χ2 = 3.99, P = 0.046,ectopic expression in nucleus: χ2 = 11.07, P = 0.001). The objective remission rate (ORR) in patients with reduced membranous expression of β-catenin and ectopic expression in nucleus was lower than that in patients with normal membranous expression ( χ2 = 4.66, P = 0.031) and negative ectopic expression in nucleus ( χ2 = 10.22, P = 0.001), and the disease control rate (DCR) in patients with ectopic expression in nucleus was lower than that in the corresponding normal expression group ( χ2 = 10.95, P = 0.001). Patients with ectopic expression of β-catenin in nucleus and cytoplasma had worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than the corresponding cytoplasmic and nuclear ectopic expression negative groups (both P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that nuclear β-catenin ectopic expression was an independent risk factor for both PFS and OS (PFS: HR = 2.088, 95% CI 1.331-3.274, P = 0.001; OS: HR = 3.656, 95% CI 1.795-7.444, P<0.001). β-catenin membranous expression was reduced in 11 of 28 tissue samples that underwent secondary biopsy compared with pre-treatment ( P = 0.049). Conclusions:β-catenin expression in advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR-sensitive mutations can be used as a molecular marker to predict the efficacy of EGFR-TKI and prognosis of patients.

Objective:To investigate clinical and laboratory characteristics of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) associated with secondary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) .Methods:CTCL patients with clinically suspected sHLH were collected from Department of Hematology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital from January 2016 to October 2021, and were evaluated according to the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria and HScore.Results:Seven CTCL patients were confirmedly diagnosed with sHLH, including 2 with primary cutaneous γδT-cell lymphoma (PC-GDTCL) , 3 with cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (C-ENKTCL) , and 2 with primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC-ALCL) . All the 7 patients received chemotherapy, but 6 died finally, and the median overall survival duration was 26.5 days (range: 14 - 60 days) after the confirmed diagnosis of CTCL complicated by sHLH. HLH-related gene mutations, which were located in the PRF1 and LYST genes, were identified in 2 patients; lymphoma-related gene mutations were identified in the KRAS and KMT2D genes in 1 PC-GDTCL patient,and in the JAK3 and SAMHD1 genes in another PC-GDTCL patient.Conclusions:CTCL complicated by sHLH usually progresses rapidly, so early diagnosis and treatment are needed. Bone marrow biopsy and mutation screening of lymphoma- and HLH-related genes at initial diagnosis and during disease progression may facilitate early diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the influence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with different body mass index (BMI) on perinatal and neonatal outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed on the clinical data of patients with PCOS infertility who underwent cryopreservation transplantation in Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from 2016 to 2020. The clinical pregnancy was singleton, a total of 1 481 cycles were divided into 4 groups according to BMI value. There were 75 cycles in the underweight group (BMI<18.5 kg/m 2), 793 cycles in the normal weight group (18.5 kg/m 2≤BMI<24.0 kg/m 2), 468 cycles in the overweight group (24.0 kg/m 2≤BMI<28.0 kg/m 2), 145 cycles in the obese group (BMI≥28.0 kg/m 2). The differences of general information, perinatal outcome and neonatal outcome were compared among the four groups. Results:Compared with the overweight group, the normal weight group and the underweight group, the obesity group had the highest early abortion rate [23.4% (34/145) vs. 15.8% (74/468) vs. 14.0% (111/793) vs. 9.3% (7/75), P=0.014], and the lowest live birth rate [68.3% (99/145) vs. 76.7% (359/468) vs. 79.7% (632/793) vs. 88.0% (66/75), P=0.003]. The incidence of gestational diabetes in the obesity group and the overweight group [6.9% (10/145) and 4.5% (21/468)] was higher than that in the normal weight group [2.3% (18/793)] (the obesity group vs. the normal weight group P=0.005, the overweight group vs. the normal weight group P=0.028). The rate of cesarean section in the obesity group and the overweight group [81.8% (81/99), 74.9% (269/359)] was higher than that in the normal weight group [67.6% (427/632)] and the underweight group [57.6% (38/66), the obesity group vs. the normal weight group P=0.005, the obesity group vs. the underweight group P=0.001, the overweight group vs. the normal weight group P=0.015, the overweight group vs. the underweight group P=0.004]. The macrosomia birth rate [18.2% (18/99), 15.6% (56/359)] was also higher than that of the normal weight group [10.1% (64/632)] and the underweight group [6.1% (4/66), the obesity group vs. the normal weight group P=0.018, the obesity group vs. the underweight group P=0.025, the overweight group vs. the normal weight group P=0.011, the overweight group vs. the underweight group P=0.041]. There were no significant differences in late abortion rate, gestational hypertension, ectopic pregnancy and premature birth rate, Apgar score, height and birth defects (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Obesity and overweight affect the perinatal outcomes and neonatal outcomes in patients with PCOS. In clinical work, attention should be paid to the weight management of PCOS patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of preconception expanded carrier screening (PECS) in Chinese Han population of childbearing age.Methods:The gene detection results of infertile couples with PECS in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2019 to May 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The carrier rate of pathogenic gene, the detection rate of high-risk couples and the clinical outcome of high-risk couples were counted and analyzed.Results:A total of 1 565 patients received PECS and they were all Chinese Han. A total of 504 patients received the 108 extended monogenic diseases testing, including 420 females and 84 males, the overall carrier rate of the target genes was 30.75% (129/420), and the detection rate of high-risk couples was 1.19% (1/84), the higher carrier rates of the tested genes were MMACHC [2.58% (13/504)], ATP7B [2.38% (12/504)], SLC22A5 [2.18% (11/504)], GALC [1.79% (9/504)], PAH [1.79% (9/504)] and MLC1 [1.19% (6/504)], the rest are less than 1%. There were 555 patients accepted FMR1 gene detection, and 5 patients with FMR1 gene mutation, accounting for 0.90%. Testing for direct relatives of patients with complete mutations, her mother is a pre mutation carrier with a CGG repeat count of 105. A total of 502 patients accepted SMN1 gene testing. Totally 14 femals and 2 males were found to be SMN1 gene carriers in this study, with a carrier rate of 3.19%. Conclusion:The carryier rate of single gene recessive disorder is high in the population. Screening before pregnancy can provide birth health guidance for patients, help them to choose preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic/single gene disorders (PGT-M) and prenatal diagnosis, to avoid the birth of silk children.

Objective:To investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of tumor necrosis factor-α-inducible protein 8-like 2(TIPE2)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)or interleukin-4(IL-4)-induced phenotypic switch of adipose tissue macrophages(ATM).Methods:The expression levels of TIPE2, inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1), CD206, and arginase 1(Arg-1)in the visceral adipose tissue of obese mice, TIPE2-knockout(KO)mice, and control mice were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time PCR(RT-qPCR). Peritoneal macrophages isolated from KO and wild-type mice and RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line were cultured, and then stimulated with LPS(100 ng/mL)or IL-4(20 ng/mL)for 6 hours. The expression levels of TIPE2, iNOS, MCP-1, CD206, and Arg-1 were detected by Western blotting and RT-qPCR.Results:Obese mice showed down-regulated TIPE2 expression, up-regulated pro-inflammatory markers iNOS and MCP-1 expressions, and down-regulated anti-inflammatory markers CD206 and Arg-1 expressions. LPS decreased the expression of TIPE2 in RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages from mice, increased the expression of the classically activated macrophages(M1 phenotype)markers iNOS and MCP-1, and decreased the expression of the substituting activated macrophages(M2 phenotype)markers CD206 and Arg-1. IL-4 increased the expression of TIPE2 in RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages, decreased the expression of iNOS and MCP-1, and increased the expression of CD206 and Arg-1. During the M1 polarization of macrophages, LPS increased toll-like receptor(TLR4)expression as well as nuclear transcription factor κBα suppressor protein(IκBα) and NF-κB phosphorylations in macrophages. Knockout of TIPE2 further increased the expression of the TLR4/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway and M1 macrophage markers, and further reduced the expression of the M2 macrophage markers.Conclusion:TIPE2 regulates ATM phenotypic transformation through inhibition of the TLR4/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway, which ameliorates adipose tissue inflammation in obese states.

Objective:To investigate the influence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with different body mass index (BMI) on perinatal and neonatal outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed on the clinical data of patients with PCOS infertility who underwent cryopreservation transplantation in Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from 2016 to 2020. The clinical pregnancy was singleton, a total of 1 481 cycles were divided into 4 groups according to BMI value. There were 75 cycles in the underweight group (BMI<18.5 kg/m 2), 793 cycles in the normal weight group (18.5 kg/m 2≤BMI<24.0 kg/m 2), 468 cycles in the overweight group (24.0 kg/m 2≤BMI<28.0 kg/m 2), 145 cycles in the obese group (BMI≥28.0 kg/m 2). The differences of general information, perinatal outcome and neonatal outcome were compared among the four groups. Results:Compared with the overweight group, the normal weight group and the underweight group, the obesity group had the highest early abortion rate [23.4% (34/145) vs. 15.8% (74/468) vs. 14.0% (111/793) vs. 9.3% (7/75), P=0.014], and the lowest live birth rate [68.3% (99/145) vs. 76.7% (359/468) vs. 79.7% (632/793) vs. 88.0% (66/75), P=0.003]. The incidence of gestational diabetes in the obesity group and the overweight group [6.9% (10/145) and 4.5% (21/468)] was higher than that in the normal weight group [2.3% (18/793)] (the obesity group vs. the normal weight group P=0.005, the overweight group vs. the normal weight group P=0.028). The rate of cesarean section in the obesity group and the overweight group [81.8% (81/99), 74.9% (269/359)] was higher than that in the normal weight group [67.6% (427/632)] and the underweight group [57.6% (38/66), the obesity group vs. the normal weight group P=0.005, the obesity group vs. the underweight group P=0.001, the overweight group vs. the normal weight group P=0.015, the overweight group vs. the underweight group P=0.004]. The macrosomia birth rate [18.2% (18/99), 15.6% (56/359)] was also higher than that of the normal weight group [10.1% (64/632)] and the underweight group [6.1% (4/66), the obesity group vs. the normal weight group P=0.018, the obesity group vs. the underweight group P=0.025, the overweight group vs. the normal weight group P=0.011, the overweight group vs. the underweight group P=0.041]. There were no significant differences in late abortion rate, gestational hypertension, ectopic pregnancy and premature birth rate, Apgar score, height and birth defects (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Obesity and overweight affect the perinatal outcomes and neonatal outcomes in patients with PCOS. In clinical work, attention should be paid to the weight management of PCOS patients.