Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce mouse mononuclear macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) to establish the inflammation model for investigating the effect and mechanism of Mailuoning oral liquid on arteriosclerosis occlusion (ASO) in vitro. RAW264.7 cells viability was measured by MTT assay. NO concentration was determined by Griess. mRNA levels and protein expressions of NFAT5/NLRP3 signaling pathway were detected by Q-PCR and Western blot. The relationship between NFAT5 and NLRP3 was explored by cellular transfection of NFAT5-siRNA combined with Western blot. Nuclear translocation of NFAT5 was detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that Mailuoning oral liquid decreased the NO release induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. The mRNA levels of NFAT5, NLRP3, caspase1, IL-18 and MMP9, the protein expressions of NFAT5, NLRP3, cleaved-caspase1 (p20) and the phosphorylation of NF-κB-P65 were decreased after administration of Mailuoning oral liquid. NFAT5-siRNA significantly reversed the increase in protein expressions of NLRP3 induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. Both Mailuoning oral liquid and KRN2 (NFAT5 inhibitor) could inhibit the expressions and nuclear translocation of NFAT5. In conclusion, Mailuoning oral liquid exert significant anti-inflammatory effects in vitro by inhibiting the NFAT5/NLRP3 signaling pathway, and NFAT5 might be involved in regulating the expressions of NLRP3.

Objective:To investigate whether hysteroscopic transcervical resection of septum (TCRS) prior to in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) can improve cumulative live birth rates in patients with uterine septum. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze data from 244 patients with partial uterine septum who underwent IVF/ICSI at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2016 and August 2022. The patients were divided into a surgical group ( n=171) and a non-surgical group ( n=73) based on whether TCRS was performed prior to IVF/ICSI. The clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI in the two groups were analyzed, with the primary observation indicator being the cumulative live birth rate. Cox regression analysis was employed to identify determinants. Results:The age of patients in the operated group [(31.20±3.80) years] was younger than that in the non-operated group [(32.92±5.34) years, P=0.005], and the basal antral follicle count [17.0 (11.0, 24.0)] was higher than that in the non-operated group [14.0 (8.0, 21.5), P=0.039]. There were no significant differences in other baseline data (all P>0.05). The cumulative pregnancy rate [79.53% (136/171)] and the cumulative live birth rate [60.23% (103/171)] in the operated group during the 24-month follow-up period were significantly higher than those in the non-operated group [65.75% (48/73), P=0.022; 45.21% (33/73), P=0.030]. Compared with the operated group [296.0 (260.0, 430.0) d], the duration from the start of ovarian stimulation to the first live birth was significantly prolonged in the non-operated group [379.0 (329.5, 471.5) d, P<0.001]. Adjusted Cox-regression analysis showed that whether or not surgery was performed ( HR=1.683, 95% CI: 1.116-2.539, P=0.013) and the basal antral follicle count ( HR=1.032, 95% CI: 1.000-1.065, P=0.048) were independent factors affecting cumulative live birth rate. Conclusion:Performing TCRS before IVF/ICSI can improve cumulative live birth rates of patients with uterine septum.

Objective:To investigate whether hysteroscopic transcervical resection of septum (TCRS) prior to in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) can improve cumulative live birth rates in patients with uterine septum. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze data from 244 patients with partial uterine septum who underwent IVF/ICSI at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2016 and August 2022. The patients were divided into a surgical group ( n=171) and a non-surgical group ( n=73) based on whether TCRS was performed prior to IVF/ICSI. The clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI in the two groups were analyzed, with the primary observation indicator being the cumulative live birth rate. Cox regression analysis was employed to identify determinants. Results:The age of patients in the operated group [(31.20±3.80) years] was younger than that in the non-operated group [(32.92±5.34) years, P=0.005], and the basal antral follicle count [17.0 (11.0, 24.0)] was higher than that in the non-operated group [14.0 (8.0, 21.5), P=0.039]. There were no significant differences in other baseline data (all P>0.05). The cumulative pregnancy rate [79.53% (136/171)] and the cumulative live birth rate [60.23% (103/171)] in the operated group during the 24-month follow-up period were significantly higher than those in the non-operated group [65.75% (48/73), P=0.022; 45.21% (33/73), P=0.030]. Compared with the operated group [296.0 (260.0, 430.0) d], the duration from the start of ovarian stimulation to the first live birth was significantly prolonged in the non-operated group [379.0 (329.5, 471.5) d, P<0.001]. Adjusted Cox-regression analysis showed that whether or not surgery was performed ( HR=1.683, 95% CI: 1.116-2.539, P=0.013) and the basal antral follicle count ( HR=1.032, 95% CI: 1.000-1.065, P=0.048) were independent factors affecting cumulative live birth rate. Conclusion:Performing TCRS before IVF/ICSI can improve cumulative live birth rates of patients with uterine septum.

Objective By employing surgically induced varicocele(VC)in SD rats and an apomorphine(APO)test,we screened rats with erectile dysfunction(ED)after VC and explored method to establish VC and ED models.Methods Sixty rats were randomly divided into Control,Sham,and Model groups with 20 rats in each group.Using the Turner method,we partially ligated the left renal vein to induce left VC three times.APO tests were conducted to screen rats with ED after inducing VC.The numbers of erections,genital grooming,and yawning were observed and recorded.The diameter of bilateral spermatic veins were measured.Both testises and kidneys were weighed.HE staining was used to observe pathological changes of penis and left testis.The success rate of modeling was calculated in the Model group.Results A VC and ED model was successfully established in 15 out of 20 rats in the Model group with a success rate of 75％.After modeling,the diameter of the left spermatic vein in the model group was increased significantly(P＜0.01)and was significantly larger than that before modeling(P＜0.01).The diameter of the right spermatic vein in the Model group was increased(P＜0.05)and higher(P＜0.05)than that before modeling.The weight of the left testis in the Model group was significantly decreased(P＜0.01)compared with that of the right testis.No significant difference in the bilateral kidney weights were observed between or within groups(P＜0.05).In the Model group,the numbers of erections,yawning,and genital grooming decreased significantly(P＜0.01)with the time of modeling.Pathological changes of the left testis and penis were significant in the Model group.Conclusions The Turner method increases the diameter of the spermatic vein in rats,causing testis injury and weight loss,and APO tests can be used to screen rats with ED after VC induction.The combination of the two method is suitable to establish an animal model of VC with an ED status similar to humans.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH） in the patients with the syndrome of healthy Qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodA total of 94 BPH patients were randomized into control and observation groups， with 47 patients in each group. The control group was treated with doxazosin mesylate sustained-release tablets， and the observation group with Fuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction on the basis of the therapy in the control group. After eight weeks， the international prostate symptom score （IPSS）， quality of life （QOL） score， residual urine volume （RUV）， maximum urinary flow rate （Q_max）， TCM syndrome score， TCM symptom score， electrocardiogram， and liver and kidney function were determined to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups. ResultAfter 8 weeks of treatment， the total response rate in the control group was 63.64% （28/44）， which was lower than that （84.44%， 38/45） in the observation group （χ²=5.026， P<0.05）. The clinical efficacy in the observation group was higher than that in the control group （Z=-2.17， P=0.030）. The treatment in both groups decreased the IPSS， QOL score， RUV， and TCM syndrome scores and increased the Q_max （P<0.05）. Moreover， the observation group had lower IPSS， QOL score， RUV， and TCM syndrome score （P<0.05） and higher Q_max than the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. The treatment in the observation group decreased all the TCM symptom scores （P<0.05）， while that in the control group only decreased the frequency of urination at night and the scores of dysuria， weak urine stream， and post-urinary drainage （P<0.05）. After treatment， the observation group had lower frequency of urination at night and lower scores of mental fatigue， cold limbs， lower abdominal discomfort， and loose stool than the control group （P<0.05）. No adverse events associated with the administration of Fuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction were observed during the treatment period. ConclusionFuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction is effective in treating BPH in the patients with the syndrome of healthy qi deficiency and blood stasis. It can relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life， being a safe and reliable choice for clinical application.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） suppository combined with Yishen Tongluo Qingkang decoction in the treatment of immune infertility. MethodA total of 116 patients meeting the inclusion criteria of this study were randomly divided into an observation group （58 cases） and a control group （58 cases）. The observation group was treated with TCM suppository combined with Yishen Tongluo Qingkang decoction，and the control group was treated with prednisone acetate tablets. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks and followed up six months after treatment. Semen samples of the patients were collected before and after treatment，and the pregnancy status of their spouses，negative conversion rate of seminal plasma anti-sperm antibody （AsAb），sperm concentration，motility，percentage of forward motile sperm，sperm acrosin activity， and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. ResultA total of 104 patients completed the study，including 53 cases in the observation group and 51 cases in the control group. Before treatment，the baseline data of the two groups were balanced. After treatment，the total effective rate of the observation group was 92.45%，which was higher than that of the control group （76.47%）（P<0.05），and the negative conversion rate of AsAb in the observation group was higher than that in the control group，but the difference was not statistically significant. After treatment，the sperm motility， percentage of forward motile sperm， and sperm acrosin activity increased in the two groups（P<0.05），and the sperm concentration in the observation group increased （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in sperm concentration in the control group. After treatment，the sperm concentration，motility，percentage of forward motile sperm， and acrosin activity in the observation group were better than those in the control group （P<0.05）. During the trial，the incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was lower than that in the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionTCM suppository combined with Yishen Tongluo Qingkang decoction can significantly increase the negative conversion rate of AsAb and improve the quality of semen in patients with immune infertility.

Objective:To explore the effect of body fat percent (BFP) on assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) and fresh embryo transfer. Methods:We analyzed clinical data on infertile women in a retrospective cohort study, who underwent IVF/ICSI and embryo transfer at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2022 to October 2023. The study subjects were divided into non-obese group (BFP<35%, 800 cases) and obese group (BFP≥35%, 742 cases) according to BFP. The baseline data, ovulation induction outcomes and clinical pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results:1) The body mass index [BMI, 25.85 (24.22, 28.04) kg/m 2], basal testosterone [0.80 (0.45, 1.12) nmol/L], triglyceride [1.29 (1.03, 1.59) mmol/L], serum total cholesterol [4.55 (4.29, 4.81) mmol/L], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [3.17 (2.90, 3.40) mmol/L], fasting glucose [5.40 (5.10, 5.75) mmol/L], fasting insulin [12.99 (9.01, 18.31) mU/L], homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance [3.09 (2.14, 4.50)], antral follicle count [16.00 (11.00, 22.00)], the patients combined with polycystic ovary syndrome [9.4% (70/742)] in obese group were significantly higher than those in non-obese group [21.94 (20.32, 23.51) kg/m 2, P<0.001; 0.69 (0.43, 0.98) nmol/L, P<0.001; 1.00 (0.79, 1.21) mmol/L, P<0.001; 4.42 (4.19, 4.66) mmol/L, P<0.001; 2.91 (2.67, 3.15) mmol/L, P<0.001; 5.22 (5.00, 5.45) mmol/L, P<0.001; 11.30 (8.33, 14.82) mU/L, P<0.001; 2.61 (1.86, 3.48), P<0.001; 14.00 (10.00, 20.00) mmol/L, P<0.001; 4.8% (38/800), P<0.001]. Basal follicle-stimulating hormone [6.58 (5.64, 7.73) U/L], basal estradiol [133.01 (102.35, 171.56) pmol/L], basal luteinizing hormone [4.80 (3.62, 6.53) U/L] and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [1.29 (1.17, 1.39) mmol/L] in obese group were significantly lower than those in non-obese group [6.91 (5.86, 8.33) U/L, P<0.001; 145.52 (105.23, 187.95) pmol/L, P=0.001; 5.16 (3.82, 6.94) U/L, P=0.022; 1.45 (1.36, 1.55) mmol/L, P<0.001]. 2) The initiated dosage of gonadotropin (Gn) used [187.50 (150.00, 225.00) U] and the total dosage of Gn used [2 481.25 (1 856.25, 3 225.00) U] in obese group were significantly higher than those in non-obese group [225.00 (175.00, 250.00) U, P<0.001; 2 925.00 (2 250.00, 3 675.00) U, P<0.001]. Serum estradiol level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection [8 984.00 (6 087.75, 11 978.25) pmol/L], luteinizing hormone level on the day of hCG injection [1.23 (0.87, 1.79) U/L], the rate of blastocyst formation [55.56% (33.33%, 75.00%)] in obese group were significantly lower than those in non-obese group [9 378.50 (6 528.50, 12 624.50) pmol/L, P=0.016; 1.37 (0.94, 2.01) U/L, P=0.001; 60.00% (37.86%, 80.00%), P=0.014]. 3) Sustained pregnancy rate in obese group [41.5% (308/742)] was lower than that in non-obese group [47.6% (381/800), P=0.016]. The number of embryo transfer, embryo transfer type, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate and live birth rate were not statistically significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). 4) BFP was not an independent factor of clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05). 5) The area under the curve (AUC) of BMI and BFP to predict clinical pregnancy was 0.509 and 0.518, and there was no significant difference between them (AUC difference=0.009, 95% CI: -0.010-0.028, P=0.376). The AUC of BMI and BFP for predicting live birth was 0.501 and 0.513, with no statistically significant difference (AUC difference=0.012, 95% CI: -0.007-0.030, P=0.221). Conclusion:High BFP can increase total dosage of Gn used, decrease blastocyst formation rate and continuous pregnancy rate.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing patients' willingness to have a second child after obtaining their first singleton live birth by in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Methods:The data of patients who achieved their first single live birth via IVF/ICSI at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected between July 2016 and July 2021 in a retrospective cohort study. Until July 2023, the patients were divided into the returning group ( n=1 809) and the non-returning group ( n=5 824) according to whether they returned again to receive assisted reproduction treatment for the birth of a second child. The clinical data of the two groups were compared, and the factors affecting patients' willingness to have a second child were analyzed. Results:The characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. Variables that were statistically significant after being included in the univariate analysis were employed to construct a multivariate logistic regression equation. The results indicated that the age of the female ( OR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.91-0.94, P<0.001), the duration of infertility ( OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.98, P=0.002), male+female factors of infertility factor ( OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.97, P=0.023) the previous reproductive history ( OR=0.33, 95% CI: 0.27-0.42, P<0.001), the method of assisted pregnancy ( OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.11-1.55, P=0.001), the transplantation plan ( OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.74-0.93, P=0.002), the mode of delivery ( OR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.55-0.71, P<0.001), pregnancy complications ( OR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82, P<0.001), the presence or absence of remaining embryos ( OR=2.67, 95% CI: 2.24-3.19, P<0.001), the gender of the first live birth ( OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.36-0.45, P<0.001), the degree of education ( OR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85, P<0.001), and the type of household registration ( OR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.65-0.84, P<0.001) were the influencing factors of the second-child fertility intention of patients after obtaining the first singleton live birth through IVF/ICSI. Conclusion:The age of the female, the duration of infertility, the factors of infertility, the previous reproductive history, frozen-thawed embryo transfer, cesarean section, having pregnancy complications, the gender of the first live birth being a boy, having a high school education or above, and urban household registration are negatively correlated with the patients' return visits. ICSI-assisted pregnancy and having remaining embryos are positively correlated with the patients' return visits.

Objective:To explore the effect of body fat percent (BFP) on assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) and fresh embryo transfer. Methods:We analyzed clinical data on infertile women in a retrospective cohort study, who underwent IVF/ICSI and embryo transfer at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2022 to October 2023. The study subjects were divided into non-obese group (BFP<35%, 800 cases) and obese group (BFP≥35%, 742 cases) according to BFP. The baseline data, ovulation induction outcomes and clinical pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results:1) The body mass index [BMI, 25.85 (24.22, 28.04) kg/m 2], basal testosterone [0.80 (0.45, 1.12) nmol/L], triglyceride [1.29 (1.03, 1.59) mmol/L], serum total cholesterol [4.55 (4.29, 4.81) mmol/L], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [3.17 (2.90, 3.40) mmol/L], fasting glucose [5.40 (5.10, 5.75) mmol/L], fasting insulin [12.99 (9.01, 18.31) mU/L], homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance [3.09 (2.14, 4.50)], antral follicle count [16.00 (11.00, 22.00)], the patients combined with polycystic ovary syndrome [9.4% (70/742)] in obese group were significantly higher than those in non-obese group [21.94 (20.32, 23.51) kg/m 2, P<0.001; 0.69 (0.43, 0.98) nmol/L, P<0.001; 1.00 (0.79, 1.21) mmol/L, P<0.001; 4.42 (4.19, 4.66) mmol/L, P<0.001; 2.91 (2.67, 3.15) mmol/L, P<0.001; 5.22 (5.00, 5.45) mmol/L, P<0.001; 11.30 (8.33, 14.82) mU/L, P<0.001; 2.61 (1.86, 3.48), P<0.001; 14.00 (10.00, 20.00) mmol/L, P<0.001; 4.8% (38/800), P<0.001]. Basal follicle-stimulating hormone [6.58 (5.64, 7.73) U/L], basal estradiol [133.01 (102.35, 171.56) pmol/L], basal luteinizing hormone [4.80 (3.62, 6.53) U/L] and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [1.29 (1.17, 1.39) mmol/L] in obese group were significantly lower than those in non-obese group [6.91 (5.86, 8.33) U/L, P<0.001; 145.52 (105.23, 187.95) pmol/L, P=0.001; 5.16 (3.82, 6.94) U/L, P=0.022; 1.45 (1.36, 1.55) mmol/L, P<0.001]. 2) The initiated dosage of gonadotropin (Gn) used [187.50 (150.00, 225.00) U] and the total dosage of Gn used [2 481.25 (1 856.25, 3 225.00) U] in obese group were significantly higher than those in non-obese group [225.00 (175.00, 250.00) U, P<0.001; 2 925.00 (2 250.00, 3 675.00) U, P<0.001]. Serum estradiol level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection [8 984.00 (6 087.75, 11 978.25) pmol/L], luteinizing hormone level on the day of hCG injection [1.23 (0.87, 1.79) U/L], the rate of blastocyst formation [55.56% (33.33%, 75.00%)] in obese group were significantly lower than those in non-obese group [9 378.50 (6 528.50, 12 624.50) pmol/L, P=0.016; 1.37 (0.94, 2.01) U/L, P=0.001; 60.00% (37.86%, 80.00%), P=0.014]. 3) Sustained pregnancy rate in obese group [41.5% (308/742)] was lower than that in non-obese group [47.6% (381/800), P=0.016]. The number of embryo transfer, embryo transfer type, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate and live birth rate were not statistically significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). 4) BFP was not an independent factor of clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05). 5) The area under the curve (AUC) of BMI and BFP to predict clinical pregnancy was 0.509 and 0.518, and there was no significant difference between them (AUC difference=0.009, 95% CI: -0.010-0.028, P=0.376). The AUC of BMI and BFP for predicting live birth was 0.501 and 0.513, with no statistically significant difference (AUC difference=0.012, 95% CI: -0.007-0.030, P=0.221). Conclusion:High BFP can increase total dosage of Gn used, decrease blastocyst formation rate and continuous pregnancy rate.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing patients' willingness to have a second child after obtaining their first singleton live birth by in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Methods:The data of patients who achieved their first single live birth via IVF/ICSI at the Reproductive Health Hospital of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected between July 2016 and July 2021 in a retrospective cohort study. Until July 2023, the patients were divided into the returning group ( n=1 809) and the non-returning group ( n=5 824) according to whether they returned again to receive assisted reproduction treatment for the birth of a second child. The clinical data of the two groups were compared, and the factors affecting patients' willingness to have a second child were analyzed. Results:The characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. Variables that were statistically significant after being included in the univariate analysis were employed to construct a multivariate logistic regression equation. The results indicated that the age of the female ( OR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.91-0.94, P<0.001), the duration of infertility ( OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.98, P=0.002), male+female factors of infertility factor ( OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.97, P=0.023) the previous reproductive history ( OR=0.33, 95% CI: 0.27-0.42, P<0.001), the method of assisted pregnancy ( OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.11-1.55, P=0.001), the transplantation plan ( OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.74-0.93, P=0.002), the mode of delivery ( OR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.55-0.71, P<0.001), pregnancy complications ( OR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82, P<0.001), the presence or absence of remaining embryos ( OR=2.67, 95% CI: 2.24-3.19, P<0.001), the gender of the first live birth ( OR=0.40, 95% CI: 0.36-0.45, P<0.001), the degree of education ( OR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.64-0.85, P<0.001), and the type of household registration ( OR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.65-0.84, P<0.001) were the influencing factors of the second-child fertility intention of patients after obtaining the first singleton live birth through IVF/ICSI. Conclusion:The age of the female, the duration of infertility, the factors of infertility, the previous reproductive history, frozen-thawed embryo transfer, cesarean section, having pregnancy complications, the gender of the first live birth being a boy, having a high school education or above, and urban household registration are negatively correlated with the patients' return visits. ICSI-assisted pregnancy and having remaining embryos are positively correlated with the patients' return visits.