Association between ovarian reserve and organophosphate flame retardants in women of childbearing age.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and ovarian reserve in women of childbearing age.

Materials And Methods: In this Cross-sectional study, the participants were recruited from August 2020 to October 2022 at the outpatient department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center in Taiwan. The inclusion criteria were as follows: adult women of childbearing age were eligible to participate.

The Potential Protective Role of Mitochondrial Haplogroup R in Ovarian Response: An Exploratory Study.

An investigation of the mtDNA haplogroup in 96 Taiwanese women with diminished ovarian response (DOR) and normal ovarian response (NOR) showed that only the haplogroup R is less likely to experience DOR than other mtDNA haplogroups. When analyzing the relationship between age and mitochondria-related markers (mtDNA copy number, ROS levels, and telomere length), it was observed that ROS levels and telomere length exhibited age-dependent changes, and the number of retrieved oocytes decreased with age. However, in the R haplogroup, these mitochondria-related markers remained stable and did not show significant changes with age.

The establishment of a molecular diagnostic platform for mitochondrial diseases: From conventional to next-generation sequencing.

Background: The aim of this study was to create a molecular diagnostic platform and establish a diagnostic pipeline for patients highly suspected of mitochondrial disorders. The effectiveness of three methods, namely, traditional restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR), Sanger sequencing for hotspot detection and whole mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and third-generation (Nanopore) whole mtDNA sequencing, will be compared in diagnosing patients with suspected primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs). The strengths and limitations of different methods are also discussed.

Interaction between Chromodomain Y-like Protein and Androgen Receptor Signaling in Sertoli Cells Accounts for Spermatogenesis.

Spermatogenesis is a highly regulated process dependent on androgen receptor (AR) signaling in Sertoli cells. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of spermatogenic failure, by which loss of AR impairs downstream target genes to affect Sertoli cell function, remain incompletely understood. By using microarray analysis, we identified several AR-regulated genes involved in the maturation of spermatogenesis, including chromodomain Y-like protein (CDYL) and transition proteins 1 (TNP-1), that were significantly decreased in ARKO mouse testes.

A Preliminary Investigation of the Roles of Endometrial Cells in Endometriosis Development via In Vitro and In Vivo Analyses.

Endometriosis is a complex gynecological disease that affects more than 10% of women in their reproductive years. While surgery can provide temporary relief from women's pain, symptoms often return in as many as 75% of cases within two years. Previous literature has contributed to theories about the development of endometriosis; however, the exact pathogenesis and etiology remain elusive.

Fipronil disturbs the antigen-specific immune responses and GABAergic gene expression in the ovalbumin-immunized BALB/c mice.

Background: Fipronil (FPN) is a broad-spectrum pesticide and commonly known as low toxicity to vertebrates. However, increasing evidence suggests that exposure to FPN might induce unexpected adverse effects in the liver, reproductive, and nervous systems. Until now, the influence of FPN on immune responses, especially T-cell responses has not been well examined.

Validation of Non-Invasive Preimplantation Genetic Screening Using a Routine IVF Laboratory Workflow.

Embryo selection is needed to optimize the chances of pregnancy in assisted reproduction technology. This study aimed to validate non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) using a routine IVF laboratory workflow. Can niPGT-A combined with time-lapse morphokinetics provide a better embryo-selection strategy? A total of 118 spent culture mediums (SCMs) from 32 couples were collected.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Combined with Platelet-Rich Plasma during Preventive and Therapeutic Stages of Intrauterine Adhesion in a Rat Model.

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is caused by artificial endometrial damage during intrauterine cavity surgery. The typical phenotype involves loss of spontaneous endometrium recovery and angiogenesis. Undesirable symptoms include abnormal menstruation and infertility; therefore, prevention and early treatment of IUA remain crucial issues.

Cinnamtannin B1 attenuates rosacea-like signs via inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and down-regulation of the MAPK pathway.

Background: Rosacea is a common inflammatory disease of facial skin. Dysregulation of innate immunity with enhanced inflammation and increased abundance of LL-37 at the epidermal site is a characteristic feature of rosacea. Cinnamtannin B1 (CB1) is a condensed tannin with anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Activity Constituents from the Stem of .

One new dibenzocycloheptene, validinol (), and one butanolide firstly isolated from the natural source, validinolide (), together with 17 known compounds were isolated from the stem of . Among the isolates, lincomolide A (), secosubamolide (), and cinnamtannin B1 () exhibited potent inhibition on both superoxide anion generation (IC values of 2.98 ± 0.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Taiwanese Species on Th1 and Th2 Functionality.

species, medicinal plants belonging to Lauraceae, contain rich alkaloids, steroids, sesquiterpenoids, and triterpenoids which possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. However, species differences in the immunomodulatory effects and evidence pertaining to the effects of species on adaptive immunity are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of ten Taiwanese plants on T helper (Th) cell functionality, especially Th1 and Th2.

Profiling transcriptomes of human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to maleic acid.

Background: Maleic acid is a multi-functional chemical widely used in the field of industrial chemistry for producing food additives and food contact materials. As maleic acid may contaminate food by the release from food packages or intentional addition, it raises the concern about the effects of excessive dietary exposure to maleic acid on human health. However, the influence of maleic acid on human health has not been thoroughly studied.

Attenuation of antigen-specific T helper 1 immunity by and its derived terpenoids.

Background: T cells play a pivotal role in the adaptive immunity that participates in a wide range of immune responses through a complicated cytokine network. Imbalance of T-cell responses is involved in several immune disorders. species, one of the biggest genera in the family Lauraceae, have been employed widely as folk medicines for a long time in Asia.