Development of a Noble On-Site Dual Screening System for Male Fertility of Sperm Count and Hyaluronidase Activity.

Purpose: To develop a noble on-site dual screening system for sperm concentration and hyaluronidase (HAdase) activity of male fertility based on lateral-flow assay methods, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this dual screening system.

Materials And Methods: A chromogenic reaction for sperm count was established using a sperm-specific antibody against sperm antigen-10 (SP-10). Substrate-enzyme reaction was developed in which the activity of sperm HAdase on hyaluronic acid (HA) substrates could be measured through a color reaction.

Concentrations of trace metals in serum: Implications for type 2 diabetes mellitus and gender difference.

Trace metals play a pivotal role in maintaining normal and healthy physiology due to their various metabolic functions in humans. This study was performed to identify the association between trace metals and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through a comparative analysis of serum samples from both healthy controls and T2DM patients. Additionally, we aim to explore the potential connection between gender differences and the concentration of trace metals in T2DM patients.

Subtypes of tic disorders in children and adolescents: based on clinical characteristics.

Background: Tic disorder (TD) is a diverse neurodevelopmental disorder with various symptoms and comorbidities. Traditional classifications based on age onset and duration fail to adequately characterize the full clinical features of TD. This study aims to redefine TD subtypes by a comprehensive analysis of clinical features and comorbidities.

Relationship Between Anxiety Symptoms and Age-Related Differences in Tic Severity.

Purpose: Tic disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by movements or vocalizations, often accompanied by anxiety symptoms. However, the relationships between tic severity, age, and anxiety symptoms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the association between tic severity and age and examined how anxiety symptoms might influence this relationship.

Advances in Clustering and Classification of Tic Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Tic disorders (TD) are common neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by heterogeneous tic symptoms in children, making diagnostic classification difficult. This complexity requires accurate subtyping using data-driven computational methods to identify patterns within clinical data. This systematic review primarily summarizes the current evidence for the classification of TD using a data-driven approach.

Effect of nicotinamide mononucleotide on osteogenesis in MC3T3-E1 cells against inflammation-induced by lipopolysaccharide.

Objective: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is extensively utilized as an anti-aging agent and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates Toll-like receptor 4, a process modulated by intracellular signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study investigated the impact of NMN on osteogenesis in the presence of LPS.

Enhancement of preimplantation mouse embryo development with optimized in vitro culture dish via stabilization of medium osmolarity.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed optimized in vitro culture (OIVC) dish for cultivating preimplantation mouse embryos. This dish minimizes the need for mineral oil and incorporates microwells, providing a stable culture environment and enabling independent monitoring of individual embryos.

Methods: Mouse pronuclear (PN) zygotes and two-cell-stage embryos were collected at 18 and 46 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin injection, respectively.

Non-invasive evaluation of embryo quality for the selection of transferable embryos in human in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

The ultimate goal of human assisted reproductive technology is to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, ideally from the selection and transfer of a single competent embryo. Recently, techniques for efficiently evaluating the state and quality of preimplantation embryos using time-lapse imaging systems have been applied. Artificial intelligence programs based on deep learning technology and big data analysis of time-lapse monitoring system during in vitro culture of preimplantation embryos have also been rapidly developed.

Peripubertal requirement of Tsg101 in maintaining the integrity of membranous structures in mouse oocytes.

Objective: As a component of Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) complex I, the tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101) carries out multiple functions. In this work, we report that oocyte-specific deletion of tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101) leads to age-dependent oocyte demise in mice.

Materials And Method: Tsg101 floxed mice (Tsg101 ) were bred with Zp3 transgenic mice to examine oocyte-specific roles of Tsg101.

Ovarian Tissue-Based Hormone Replacement Therapy Recovers Menopause-Related Signs in Mice.

Purpose: In women, menopause manifests with a variety of symptoms related to sex-hormone deficiency. Supplementing steroid hormones with pharmacological drugs has been widely practiced. However, considering the possible complications associated with artificial hormone therapy, studies have been conducted to find an alternative to pharmacological hormone replacement therapy.

Effects and safety of COVID-19 vaccination on assisted reproductive technology and pregnancy: A comprehensive review and joint statements of the KSRM, the KSRI, and the KOSAR.

Humanity is in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and vaccines-including mRNA vaccines-have been developed at an unprecedented speed. It is necessary to develop guidelines for vaccination for people undergoing treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART) and for pregnancy-related situations based on the extant laboratory and clinical data. COVID-19 vaccines do not appear to adversely affect gametes, embryos, or implantation; therefore, active vaccination is recommended for women or men who are preparing for ART.

Dynamic Oxygen Conditions Promote the Translocation of HIF-1 to the Nucleus in Mouse Blastocysts.

Oxygen tension is one of the most critical factors for mammalian embryo development and its survival. The HIF protein is an essential transcription factor that activated under hypoxic conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of dynamic oxygen conditions on the expression of embryonic genes and translocation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in cultured mouse blastocysts.

Advanced Maternal Age Deteriorates the Developmental Competence of Vitrified Oocytes in Mice.

Advanced maternal age (AMA) is known to be related to the decrease in the quality and quantity of oocytes. Oocyte vitrification is now considered an established assisted reproductive technology for fertility preservation. However, it remains unclear whether the oocytes in older women are more sensitive to various insults during vitrification.

Detrimental effects of lipopolysaccharide on the attachment and outgrowth of various trophoblastic spheroids on human endometrial epithelial cells.

Objective: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria causes poor uterine receptivity by inducing excessive inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. This study aimed to investigate the detrimental effects of LPS on the attachment and outgrowth of various types of trophoblastic spheroids on endometrial epithelial cells (ECC-1 cells) in an in vitro model of implantation.

Methods: Three types of spheroids with JAr, JEG-3, and JAr mixed JEG-3 (JmJ) cells were used to evaluate the effect of LPS on early implantation events.

Extracellular Vesicles From a Three-Dimensional Culture of Perivascular Cells Accelerate Skin Wound Healing in a Rat.

Background: Soluble proteins and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial wound repair mediators in cell-based therapy. Previous studies reported that EVs of perivascular cells stimulated migration and proliferation of cell types involved in the dermatological wound healing process. However, these studies only show effects of EVs from perivascular cells (PVCs) for in vitro models.

Impact of imatinib or dasatinib coadministration on in vitro preantral follicle development and oocyte acquisition in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

Objective: We investigated the impact of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib or dasatinib) coadministration with cyclophosphamide (Cp) on preantral follicle development in an in vitro mouse model.

Methods: Seventy-three female BDF1 mice were allocated into four experimental groups: group A, saline; group B, Cp (25 mg/kg); group C, Cp (25 mg/kg) and imatinib (7.5 mg/kg); and group D, Cp (25 mg/kg) and dasatinib (7.

Evaluation of morphokinetic characteristics of zona pellucida free mouse pre-implantation embryos using time-lapse monitoring system.

The mammalian zygote cleaves and develops to blastocyst within the zona pellucida (ZP) in vivo. The presence or absence of ZP may affect the characteristics of the embryo, including blastomere alignment, cell-cell junction, and compaction. This study aimed to compare the morphokinetic characteristics of ZP intact and ZP free mouse pre-implantation embryos with time-lapse monitoring system.

An autophagic deficit in the uterine vessel microenvironment provokes hyperpermeability through deregulated VEGFA, NOS1, and CTNNB1.

The uterus undergoes vascular changes during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. Steroid hormone deprivation induces macroautophagy/autophagy in major uterine cell types. Herein, we explored the functions of uterine autophagy using the -driven deletion model.

Melatonin in the colon modulates intestinal microbiota in response to stress and sleep deprivation.

Background/aims: Stress is closely related to the deterioration of digestive disease. Melatonin has potent anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of water stress (WS) and sleep deprivation (SD) on intestinal microbiota and roles of melatonin in stressful condition.

Advantages of the outgrowth model for evaluating the implantation competence of blastocysts.

The implantation process is highly complex and difficult to mimic in vitro, and a reliable experimental model of implantation has yet to be established. Many researchers have used embryo transfer (ET) to assess implantation potential; however, ET with pseudopregnant mice requires expert surgical skills and numerous sacrificial animals. To overcome those economic and ethical problems, several researchers have tried to use outgrowth models to evaluate the implantation potential of embryos.

Loss-of-function of EBP50 is a new cause of hereditary peripheral neuropathy: EBP50 functions in peripheral nerve system.

Finding causative genetic mutations is important in the diagnosis and treatment of hereditary peripheral neuropathies. This study was conducted to find new genes involved in the pathophysiology of hereditary peripheral neuropathy. We identified a new mutation in the EBP50 gene, which is co-segregated with neuropathic phenotypes, including motor and sensory deficit in a family with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Effects of dynamic oxygen concentrations on the development of mouse pre- and peri-implantation embryos using a double-channel gas supply incubator system.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of different oxygen conditions (20% [high O2], 5% [low O2] and 5% decreased to 2% [dynamic O2]) on mouse pre- and peri-implantation development using a novel double-channel gas supply (DCGS) incubator (CNC Biotech Inc.) to alter the oxygen concentration during in vitro culture.

Methods: The high-O2 and low-O2 groups were cultured from the one-cell to the blastocyst stage under 20% and 5% oxygen concentrations, respectively.