Preparation of time-lapse culture dishes with refrigerated medium, rather than pre-warmed, may result in better clinical outcomes.

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of using refrigerated versus pre-warmed media for preparing time-lapse dishes in fertilization (IVF). Patients undergoing their first IVF/ICSI cycle were divided into two groups. The control group used pre-warmed culture media, while the experimental group used refrigerated culture media.

Identification of YBX2 and TSKS As STK33 Interacting Proteins in Testicular Germ Cells.

Spermiogenesis is a unique process, in which round spermatids undergo morphological changes to form spermatozoa. Serine/Threonine Kinase 33 (STK33), a member of the serine/threonine protein kinase family, plays a pivotal role in spermiogenesis, manifested by the infertile phenotype of Stk33 knockout mice and patients carrying STK33 mutations. To date, the mechanism by which STK33 promotes spermiogenesis is not fully understood.

Effects of Zishen Yutai pills combined with metformin on women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization.

In this study, we analyzed the clinical efficacy of Zishen Yutai pills (ZSYTP) combined with metformin hydrochloride on infertile women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Patients were assigned into 3 groups: the ZSYTP group (n = 50), the metformin group (n = 50), and the combination group (ZSYTP combined with metformin hydrochloride, n = 50), based on their respective and the indicated treatments before undergoing IVF-ET. Then, their glucose metabolism indices, sex hormone indices, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, and outcomes of IVF-ET were compared.

Mitochondrial Morphology and Function Abnormality in Ovarian Granulosa Cells of Patients with Diminished Ovarian Reserve.

In this study, we examined the changes in the mitochondrial structure and function in cumulus granulosa cells of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) to explore the causes and mechanisms of decreased mitochondrial quality. The mitochondrial ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscope, and the function was determined by detecting the ATP content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, the number of mitochondria, and the mitochondrial membrane potential. The expression of ATP synthases in relation to mitochondrial function was analyzed.

Mitochondrial abnormality in ovarian granulosa cells of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The quality of oocytes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) decreases, which is closely related to the function of oocytes' mitochondria. If mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in PCOS, it is likely to affect the function of cumulus cells. However, the mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction remains unclear.

ZnT 9 Involvement in Estradiol-Modulated Zinc Homeostasis of the Human Follicular Microenvironment.

Female subfertility has been a growing concern for reproductive health. Assisted reproductive technologies make pregnancy possible, but the outcome rate is still suboptimal. Zinc is an essential factor for fertility and development.

The efficacy of Fuke Qianjin tablets combined with clomiphene citrate on infertility patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A retrospective analysis.

Purpose: Clinical efficacy of Fuke Qianjin tablets combined with clomiphene citrate on infertility patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was expected to be retrospectively analyzed in this study.

Methods: In this paper, 100 infertility patients with PCOS were selected and divided into the observation and control groups based on different medications. Firstly, clinical data of both groups of patients were acquired.

Mechanisms of damage to sperm structure in mice on the zinc-deficient diet.

Background: Zinc (Zn)is an essential trace element for spermatogenesis and its deficiency causes abnormal spermatogenesis.

Objective: The present study was conducted to examine the mechanisms by which Zn-deficient diet impairs sperm morphology and its reversibility.

Methods: 30 SPF grade male Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into three groups, 10 mice per group.

Altered microRNA expression profiles of human spermatozoa in normal fertile men of different ages.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are mediators of the aging process. The purpose of this work was to analyze the miRNA expression profiles of spermatozoa from men of different ages with normal fertility. Twenty-seven donors were divided into three groups by age (Group A, n = 8, age: 20-30 years; Group B, n = 10, age: 31-40 years; and Group C, n = 9, age: 41-55 years) for high-throughput sequencing analysis.

Application value of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Clinical value of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was investigated in this study.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 100 PCOS patients who received IVF-ET for the first time at Hebei Institute of reproductive health science and technology from January 2010 to June 2020. The patients were divided into Inhibitor group and Control group according to whether they were treated with or without TNF inhibitors.

Modification of PEG reduces the immunogenicity of biosynthetic gas vesicles.

Nanobubbles have received great attention in ultrasound molecular imaging due to their capability to pass through the vasculature and reach extravascular tissues. Recently, gas vesicles (GVs) from archaea have been reported as acoustic contrast agents, showing great potential for ultrasound molecular imaging. However, the immunogenicity and biosafety of GVs has not yet been investigated.

Zinc Improves Semen Parameters in High-Fat Diet-Induced Male Rats by Regulating the Expression of LncRNA in Testis Tissue.

This study aimed to identify differentially expressed LncRNAs in testis tissue of male rats induced by high-fat diet and their changes after zinc supplementation, by constructing a high-fat feeding rat model, and then supplemented with zinc, and observed the expression of LncRNA in three groups of normal, high-fat fed, and zinc-intervened rats. Experimental studies show that the semen parameters of male rats with high-fat diet were decreased but recovered after zinc supplementation, and the related LncRNA also changed. Zinc may improve the high-fat diet-induced reduction of semen parameters by changing the expression of related LncRNA.

Correlation between serum zinc and testosterone: A systematic review.

Zinc is a vital trace element for normal function of the living system. In male, zinc is involved in various biological processes, an important function of which is as a balancer of hormones such as testosterone. For this purpose, studies related to the influence of zinc on serum testosterone were selected and summarized, including the effect of dietary zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation on testosterone concentrations.

Association of SNPs in zinc transporter genes on seminal plasma zinc levels in humans.

This study is to examine the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SLC30A and SLC39A on seminal plasma zinc concentration. Blood and seminal plasma samples were collected from outpatients. SNPs of zinc transporters were analyzed by next Generation sequencing technology, and seminal plasma zinc concentration were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Zinc-Deficient Diet Causes Imbalance in Zinc Homeostasis and Impaired Autophagy and Impairs Semen Quality in Mice.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for human growth and its deficiency causes huge health impacts. The present study was conducted to examine the mechanisms by which Zn-deficient diet impairs reproductive function and its reversibility. Hence, SPF grade male Kunming (KM) mice were divided into three groups.

A predicting model of child-bearing-aged women' spontaneous abortion by co-infections of TORCH and reproductive tract.

To develop a predicting model of child-bearing-aged women' spontaneous abortion (SA) by co-infections of TORCH and reproductive tract, in order to provide a reference tool for accurately predicting the risk of SA and guide the early prevention, diagnosis and treatment of SA. A prospective cohort study was designed based on 218 958 child-bearing-aged women following up in Hebei province in China from 2010 to 2017. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to select candidate predictive variables.