Publications by authors named "Luping Cong"

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a severe complication of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) during fertilization (IVF) treatment, characterized by increased capillary permeability. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key mediator in OHSS, with serum VEGF levels correlating with its severity. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and its derivative, Pro-EGCG, in mitigating OHSS.

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Background: Time-lapse imaging systems for embryo incubation and selection might improve outcomes of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment due to undisturbed embryo culture conditions, improved embryo selection, or both. However, the benefit remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of time-lapse imaging systems providing undisturbed culture and embryo selection, and time-lapse imaging systems providing only undisturbed culture, and compared each with standard care without time-lapse imaging.

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Article Synopsis
  • Scientists wanted to find out if germs from sperm and fluid around eggs could contaminate the liquid used to grow embryos during fertility treatments.
  • They collected samples from 61 couples and studied the germs using special techniques, discovering that 82.5% of the cases had germs from the sperm in the growing media.
  • While some germs in sperm were linked to poorer sperm health and certain germs in egg fluid were associated with female infertility, they didn’t find a link between these germs and the success of the fertility treatments.
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The ovary ages earlier than most other tissues, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomic landscapes in different organs in young and middle-aged mice revealed that the ovaries showed earlier expression of age-associated genes, identifying increased NADase CD38 expression and decreased NAD levels in the ovary of middle-aged mice. Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that CD38 deletion mitigated ovarian aging, preserving fertility and follicle reserve in aged mice by countering age-related gene expression changes and intercellular communication alterations.

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Ovarian dermoid cysts, also called mature cystic teratomas (MCTs), account for 69% of ovarian germ cell tumors in young women. The tumors are formed by tissues derived from three germ layers, and sebaceous materials are most commonly seen. The origin of MCTs is widely considered to be the germ cell origin, which completes meiosis I.

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Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), the main deacetylase in the mitochondria, maintains cellular energy metabolism and redox balance by deacetylating mitochondrial proteins in a NAD-dependent manner. Growing evidence indicates that decreased Sirt3 expression is involved in various age-related maladies. However, the role of Sirt3 in ovarian and testicular senescence remains unclear.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Studies indicate that MSTN is crucial for various processes related to female fertility, such as follicular development and oocyte maturation, and its dysregulation may be linked to reproductive disorders like PCOS and preeclampsia.
  • * This review highlights the need for more research on MSTN in the context of female reproduction, summarizing its expression and functions in both normal and pathological conditions.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent heterogeneous endocrine disorder characterized by ovulation dysfunction, androgen excess, ovarian polycystic changes, insulin resistance, and infertility. Although underlying mechanisms for PCOS are still unknown, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in granulosa cells (GCs) of PCOS patients have been reported. Here, we found that Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) levels in GCs of PCOS patients was significantly decreased when compared with controls.

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Loss of follicles together with decreased oocyte quality and quantity contribute to age-associated ovarian senescence and infertility. Although underlying mechanisms for ovarian senescence are still unknown, mitochondrial dysfunctions have been reported. Here, we showed age-dependent decreases in ovarian Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) levels in mice whereas supplementing aging mice with nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD precursor, increased ovarian NAD content.

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Background: Increasing evidence demonstrate that cadmium (Cd) has adverse effects on the mammalian reproductive system. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of Cd on ovarian function and the strategies to reverse these effects have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: In this study, 60 CD-1 mice were divided into four groups (control, melatonin, Cd, Cd with melatonin).

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