Originating but free from chromosomal DNA, extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) are organized in circular form and have long been found in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. Their biogenesis and function are poorly understood as they are characterized by sequence homology with linear DNA, for which few detection methods are available. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have revealed that eccDNAs play crucial roles in tumor formation, evolution, and drug resistance as well as aging, genomic diversity, and other biological processes, bringing it back to the research hotspot. Several mechanisms of eccDNA formation have been proposed, including the breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) and translocation-deletion-amplification models. Gynecologic tumors and disorders of embryonic and fetal development are major threats to human reproductive health. The roles of eccDNAs in these pathological processes have been partially elucidated since the first discovery of eccDNA in pig sperm and the double minutes in ovarian cancer ascites. The present review summarized the research history, biogenesis, and currently available detection and analytical methods for eccDNAs and clarified their functions in gynecologic tumors and reproduction. We also proposed the application of eccDNAs as drug targets and liquid biopsy markers for prenatal diagnosis and the early detection, prognosis, and treatment of gynecologic tumors. This review lays theoretical foundations for future investigations into the complex regulatory networks of eccDNAs in vital physiological and pathological processes.
Male ; Female ; Animals ; Humans ; Swine ; DNA, Circular/genetics* ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; Semen ; DNA ; Reproduction

Objective To explore the relationship of menarche age,menopause age,and reproductive period with cognitive function in the female patients with hypertension.Methods Hypertension screening was carried out in Wuyuan county of Jiangxi province from July to August in 2018.Data were collected through a face-to-face questionnaire survey,physical measurement,and biochemical tests.The cognitive function was scored according to the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scale.Multiple linear regression and Logistic regression were employed to analyze the effects of menarche age,menopause age,and reproductive period on cognitive function,and the penalized spline regression to fit the curves.Results A total of 4595 postmenopausal women with hypertension were included in the analysis,with the mean age of(65.1±8.4)years,mean menarche age of(16.6±2.2)years,mean menopause age of(48.2±5.0)years,mean reproductive period of(31.7±5.5)years,mean MMSE score of(19.0±6.3)points,and total cognitive impairment detection rate of 40.4%(1859/4595).The detection rates of cognitive impairment were 28.4%,39.1%,and 45.8% in the females with the menarche ages of <15,15-16,and ≥17 years,47.9%,39.7%,and 38.3% in the females with the menopausal ages of <45,45-49,and ≥50 years,and 56.0%,44.4%,40.6%,and 32.6% in the females with the reproductive periods of <25,25-29,30-34,and ≥35 years,respectively.Moreover,the detection rates of cognitive impairment among different age groups were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Compared with the group with the menarche age <15 years,the groups with the menarche ages of 15-16 years and ≥17 years showed increased detection rates of cognitive impairment(OR=1.45,95%CI=1.19-1.75,P<0.001;OR=1.65,95%CI=1.37-1.98,P<0.001).Compared with the group with the menopausal age <45 years,the groups with the menopausal ages of 45-49 years and ≥50 years showed decreased detection rates of cognitive impairment(OR=0.80,95%CI=0.66-0.95,P=0.013;OR=0.78,95%CI=0.65-0.93,P<0.001).Compared with the group with the reproductive period <25 years,the groups with the reproductive periods of 25-29,30-34,and ≥35 years showed decreased detection rates of cognitive impairment(OR=0.66,95%CI=0.52-0.84,P<0.001;OR=0.62,95%CI=0.50-0.76,P<0.001;OR=0.51,95%CI=0.41-0.63,P<0.001).Conclusion The detection rate of cognitive impairment had a positive correlation with menarche age and negative correlations with menopause age and reproductive period in the female patients with hypertension.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adolescent ; Menopause ; Menarche ; Reproduction ; Hypertension ; Cognition ; Age Factors ; Risk Factors

Natural Cordyceps sinensis as an insect-fungal complex, which is developed after Ophiocordyceps sinensis infects a larva of Hepialidae family. Seventeen genotypes of O. sinensis have been identified in natural C. sinensis. This paper summarized the literature reports and GenBank database regarding occurrence and transcription of the mating-type genes of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs in natural C. sinensis, in Hirsutella sinensis(GC-biased Genotype #1 of O. sinensis), to infer the mating pattern of O. sinensis in the lifecycle of natural C. sinensis. The mating-type genes and transcripts of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs were identified in the metagenomes and metatranscriptomes of natural C. sinensis. However, their fungal sources are unclear because of co-colonization of several genotypes of O. sinensis and multiple fungal species in natural C. sinensis. The mating-type genes of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs were differentially present in 237 H. sinensis strains, constituting the genetic control of the O. sinensis reproduction. Transcriptional control of the O. sinensis reproduction includes: differential transcription or silencing of the mating-type genes of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs, and the MAT1-2-1 transcript with unspliced intron I that contains 3 stop codons. Research on the H. sinensis transcriptome demonstrated differential and complementary transcriptions of the mating-type genes of MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs in Strains L0106 and 1229, which may become mating partners to accomplish physiological heterothallism. The differential occurrence and transcription of the mating-type genes in H. sinensis are inconsistent with the self-fertilization hypothesis under homothallism or pseudohomothallism, but instead indicate the need of mating partners of the same H. sinensis species, either monoecious or dioecious, for physiological heterothallism, or heterospecific species for hybridization. Multiple GC-and AT-biased genotypes of O. sinensis were identified in the stroma, stromal fertile portion(densely covered with numerous ascocarps) and ascospores of natural C. sinensis. It needs to be further explored if the genome-independent O. sinensis genotypes could become mating partners to accomplish sexual reproduction. S. hepiali Strain FENG experienced differential transcription of the mating-type genes with a pattern complementary to that of H. sinensis Strain L0106. Additional evidence is needed to explore a hybridization possibility between S. hepiali and H. sinensis, whether they are able to break the interspecific reproductive isolation. Genotypes #13～14 of O. sinensis feature large DNA segment reciprocal substitutions and genetic material recombination between 2 heterospecific parental fungi, H. sinensis and an AB067719-type fungus, indicating a possibility of hybridization or parasexuality. Our analysis provides important information at the genetic and transcriptional levels regarding the mating-type gene expression and reproduction physiology of O. sinensis in the sexual life of natural C. sinensis and offers crucial reproductive physiology evidence, to assist in the design of the artificial cultivation of C. sinensis to supplement the increasing scarcity of natural resource.
Cordyceps/genetics* ; Genes, Mating Type, Fungal/genetics* ; Reproduction/genetics*

To analyze the trend of abnormal birth weight of full-term newborns and its correlation with parental reproductive age in Chongqing municipality from 2010 to 2022. Based on the Chongqing Birth Certificate System, full-term newborns born from January 2010 to December 2022 were selected. Parental information and birth weight were abstracted from the system. The joinpoint regression model was used to assess the trend of incidence of low birth weight (LBW) and macrosomia in the offspring from 2010 to 2022. The logistic regression model was utilized to analyze the association between parental reproduction age and birth weight of newborns. The average birth weight of 3 155 542 newborns was (3 305.8±410.5) g. The joinpoint regression model showed a decreasing trend for the incidence of LBW from 2010 to 2016 (APC=-4.26%, P<0.05), and an increasing trend from 2020 to 2022 (APC=8.99%, P<0.05). The incidence of macrosomia exhibited a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2022 (APC=-3.37%, P<0.05). The logistic regression model showed that, compared to the group with parents aged 20-34 years, the risk of LBW increased in other age groups. The risk of macrosomia decreased when either parent was aged<20 years, and increased when both parents were aged≥20 years. In conclusion, from 2010 to 2022, the incidence of LBW in full-term offspring in Chongqing municipality decreased first and then increased, and the incidence of macrosomia increased first and then decreased. Both young and advanced parental age were associated with an increased risk of LBW in offspring, and advanced parental age was also associated with an increased risk of macrosomia in offspring. Attention should be paid to the effects of advanced maternal and paternal age on offspring birth weight. Further efforts to control childbearing at a young age were needed.
Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Fetal Macrosomia/epidemiology* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Reproduction ; Weight Gain ; Parents

To analyze the trend of abnormal birth weight of full-term newborns and its correlation with parental reproductive age in Chongqing municipality from 2010 to 2022. Based on the Chongqing Birth Certificate System, full-term newborns born from January 2010 to December 2022 were selected. Parental information and birth weight were abstracted from the system. The joinpoint regression model was used to assess the trend of incidence of low birth weight (LBW) and macrosomia in the offspring from 2010 to 2022. The logistic regression model was utilized to analyze the association between parental reproduction age and birth weight of newborns. The average birth weight of 3 155 542 newborns was (3 305.8±410.5) g. The joinpoint regression model showed a decreasing trend for the incidence of LBW from 2010 to 2016 (APC=-4.26%, P<0.05), and an increasing trend from 2020 to 2022 (APC=8.99%, P<0.05). The incidence of macrosomia exhibited a decreasing trend from 2015 to 2022 (APC=-3.37%, P<0.05). The logistic regression model showed that, compared to the group with parents aged 20-34 years, the risk of LBW increased in other age groups. The risk of macrosomia decreased when either parent was aged<20 years, and increased when both parents were aged≥20 years. In conclusion, from 2010 to 2022, the incidence of LBW in full-term offspring in Chongqing municipality decreased first and then increased, and the incidence of macrosomia increased first and then decreased. Both young and advanced parental age were associated with an increased risk of LBW in offspring, and advanced parental age was also associated with an increased risk of macrosomia in offspring. Attention should be paid to the effects of advanced maternal and paternal age on offspring birth weight. Further efforts to control childbearing at a young age were needed.
Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Fetal Macrosomia/epidemiology* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Reproduction ; Weight Gain ; Parents

The application status of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for assisted reproductive field in the United States was analyzed, and the existing problems and future development directions were discussed. According to the survey on the 456 websites of assisted reproductive clinic in the United States mentioned in the report of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 111 clinics among 456 assisted reproductive clinics recommend and used acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, accounting for 24.3%. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy had obvious effect, good safety and low cost, and the assisted reproductive institutions in the United States had a high degree of application and recognition to acupuncture and moxibustion therapy. However, some problems, such as immature treatment scheme, unclear mechanism and imperfect insurance policies, still existed. In the future, the advantages of Chinese traditional acupuncture and moxibustion should combine with international modern assisted reproductive technology, and multi-center and large-sample clinical randomized controlled trials and basic experimental research on the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for assisted reproduction should be carried out.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion ; Reproduction ; United States

Objective To construct a nursing quality index system for the assisted reproduction hospitals integrating outpatient department,wards,and operating rooms and provide a reference for the application of the system in the quality control of clinical reproductive care. Method On the basis of Donabedian's health care quality model of structure-process-outcome,we established a nursing quality index system for assisted reproduction hospitals via literature retrieval,semi-structured interviews,Delphi method,and analytic hierarchy process. Results The two rounds of expert's questionnaire survey demonstrated the response rates of 100% and 92%,the expert authority coefficients of 0.911 and 0.919,and the Kendall coefficients of concordance of 0.228 and 0.253,respectively (all P<0.001).The nursing quality index system for assisted reproduction hospitals was established,which consisted of 3 first-level indicators,13 second-level indicators,and 39 third-level indicators. Conclusion The nursing quality index system of assisted reproduction hospitals is comprehensive,systematic and reasonable,which can be used as quality management standard and provide a reference for clinical application.
Delphi Technique ; Hospitals ; Operating Rooms ; Reproduction ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To analyze the pollution status and influencing factors of Legionella pneumophila in a secondary water supply facility in a city. Methods: From June to August 2020, a survey on the level of Legionella pneumophila in secondary water supply unit was carried out in a city in northern China, and 304 sets of secondary water supply facilities were included in the study. A total of 760 water samples were collected from the inlet and outlet water of the secondary water supply facilities and some water samples in the water tank were collected for the detection of Legionella pneumophila, standard plate-count bacteria and related physical and chemical indicators. Through questionnaire survey, the basic information of secondary water supply facilities and daily management of water quality were collected. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of Legionella pneumophila contamination. Results: Among 304 sets of secondary water supply facilities, most of them were located in residential buildings [57.24% (174/304)]. High and low water tank water supply, low water tank variable frequency conversion water supply and non-negative pressure water supply accounted for 26.6% (81/304), 36.8% (112/304) and 36.5% (111/304), respectively. About 25.7% of facilities (78/304) were positive for Legionella pneumophila. Among them, the positive rates of Legionella pneumophila in high and low water tank water supply, low water tank variable frequency conversion water supply and non-negative pressure water supply facilities were 38.3% (31/81), 29.5% (33/112) and 12.6% (14/111), respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that the disinfectant residue could reduce the risk of Legionella pneumophila contamination in water samples, and the OR (95%CI) value was 0.083 (0.022-0.317). The increase of the standard plate-count bacteria and conductivity might increase the risk of Legionella pneumophila contamination in water samples. The OR (95%CI) values were 3.160 (1.667-5.99) and 1.004 (1.001-1.006), respectively. Compared with the non-negative pressure water supply, the risk of Legionella pneumophila contamination of secondary water supply facilities was increased by water supply from high and low water tanks and variable frequency conversion water supply from low water tanks, with OR (95%CI) values of 4.296 (2.096-8.803) and 2.894 (1.449-5.782), respectively. Conclusion: The positive rate of Legionella pneumophila in secondary water supply in the study city is high. Disinfectant residue, conductivity and method of water supply are associated with the positive rate of Legionella pneumophila.
Humans ; Legionella ; Water Microbiology ; Water Supply ; Legionella pneumophila ; Reproduction ; Disinfectants

Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of the precise prevention and control strategies of dynamic zero COVID-19 in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. Methods: Based on the incidence data of COVID-19 and case epidemiological survey report in Ningbo in December 2021, the incidence curve of COVID-19 was generated and a dynamics model was developed to estimate the case number of under different intervention measures. The basic reproduction number (R₀) and real-time reproduction number (R_t) were calculated to evaluate intervention effect. Results: A total of 74 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Ningbo as of 17 December, 2021. The R₀ was estimated to be 4.3. With the strengthening of prevention and control measures, the R_t showed a gradual downward trend, dropping to below 1.0 on December 11 and 0.4 on December 14. The model fitting results showed that the actual case number was close to the estimated case number (76 cases) when the effectiveness of intervention was 90%. The number of cases decreased by 98.4% compared with that if no intervention was taken. Conclusion: The precise prevention and control strategies of dynamic zero COVID-19 have obvious effect, which can facilitate the rapid control of COVID-19 epidemic in Ningbo.
Basic Reproduction Number ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Epidemics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The study is aimed to investigate the reproductive biology characteristics of Polygonatum cyrtonema, especially including phenology, flower bud differentiation, flowering timing, floral traits, pollen vigor and stigma receptivity. The results showed that P. cyrtonema forms inflorescence before the leaves spread. In the wild, P. cyrtonema is mainly pollinated by insects such as bumblebees, with a seed setting rate of 65.12%. The seed setting rate of indoor single plant isolation or self-pollination enclosed by parchment paper bag is 0, indicating that it is self-incompatible. In Lin'an city, seedlings begin to emerge from mid-March to early April(the temperature is higher than 7.5 ℃), buds begin to emerge from the end of March to mid-April, and then undergo the full bloom stage from mid-to-late April, and the final flowering stage from the end of April to mid-May. The whole flowering period lasts 36 to 45 days. There are obvious differences in the phenology of different provenances. The flowers come into bloom from the base to the top along the aboveground main axis, which usually contain 4-22 inflorescences with(2-) 4-10(-21) flowers per inflorescence. The flowering pe-riod for a single plant is 26-38 days. The single flower lasts about 20-25 days from budding to opening and withers 2 days after pollination, and then the ovary will gradually expand. If unpollinated, it will continue to bloom for 3-5 days and then wither. Flower development period is significantly related to pollen vigor and stigma remittance. The pollen viability is the highest when the flower is fully opened with anthers gathering on the stigma, and the receptivity is the strongest when the stigma protrudes out of the perianth and secretes mucus. The fruits and seeds ripen in October, and proper shading can ensure the smooth development and maturity of the seeds. This study provides a basis for the hybrid breeding and seed production of P. cyrtonema.
Flowers ; Plant Breeding ; Pollination ; Polygonatum ; Reproduction