Objective To examine whether sperm DNA fragmentation has an effect on pregnancy and miscarriage after IVF and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. ...Setting University-affiliated teaching hospital. Patient(s) Infertility patient(s). Intervention(s) An exhaustive electronic literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, from database inception to October 2013. We included clinical trials that examined the influence of sperm DNA damage on pregnancy and miscarriage of IVF/ICSI. Main Outcome Measure(s) The outcomes of interest were pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate. Result(s) In the analysis of pregnancy, 16 cohort studies (3,106 couples) were included. Of these, 14 studies (2,756 couples, 965 pregnancies) that also mentioned miscarriage were identified in the analysis of miscarriage. Meta-analysis showed that high-level sperm DNA fragmentation has a detrimental effect on outcome of IVF/ICSI, with decreased pregnancy rate and increased miscarriage rate. The stratified analysis by type of procedure (IVF vs. ICSI) indicated that high sperm DNA damage was related to lower pregnancy rates in IVF but not in ICSI cycles, whereas it was associated with higher miscarriage rates in both IVF and ICSI cycles. Conclusion(s) The results indicate that assays detecting sperm DNA damage should be recommended to those suffering from recurrent failure to achieve pregnancy. Selection of sperm without DNA damage for use may improve the clinical outcome of ART. The data also provide a rationale for conducting further research aimed at evaluating the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for the detrimental effect of high sperm DNA fragmentation and the potential therapy.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Glutamic acid (Glu) is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and an elevated level of Glu may indicate some neuropathological diseases. Herein, three isomorphic ...microporous lanthanide metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) (CH3)2NH22Ln6(μ3-OH)8(BDC-OH)6(H2O)6·(solv) x (ZJU-168; ZJU = Zhejiang University, H2BDC-OH = 2-hydroxyterephthalic acid, Ln = Eu, Tb, Gd) were designed for the detection of Glu. ZJU-168(Eu) and ZJU-168(Tb) suspensions simultaneously produce the characteristic emission bands of both lanthanide ions and ligands. When ZJU-168(Eu) and ZJU-168(Tb) suspensions exposed to Glu, the fluorescence intensity of ligands increases while the emission of lanthanide ions is almost unchanged. By utilizing the emission of ligands as the detected signal and the emission of lanthanide ions as the internal reference, an internal calibrated fluorescence sensor for Glu was obtained. There is a good linear relationship between fluorescence intensity ratio and Glu concentration in a wide range with the detection limit of 3.6 μM for ZJU-168(Tb) and 4.3 μM for ZJU-168(Eu). Major compounds present in blood plasma have no interference for the detection of Glu. Furthermore, a convenient analytical device based on a one-to-two logic gate was constructed for monitoring Glu. These establish ZJU-168(Tb) as a potential turn-on, ratiometric, and colorimetric fluorescent sensor for practical detection of Glu.
Full text
Available for:
IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The ingestion of microplastics by organisms presents a potential exposure route for humans via seafood consumption. Although mariculture has become an essential source of seafood worldwide, the ...content of microplastics in the mariculture zone has received less scrutiny than in the wild environment. The Maowei Sea is a semi-closed bay that is rich in fishery resources. The specific levels of microplastics in the Maowei Sea and its fishery products remain undetermined. In this paper, we detail the distributions and characteristics of microplastics in the aquaculture water and biota of the Maowei Sea. Microplastics were detected in the range of 1.2–10.1 particles/L in Maowei Sea surface water, with high microplastic content in estuarine oyster nursery (10.1 particles/L) and Qinzhou harbor (8.8–9.5 particles/L) sites. In water samples from the three inflowing rivers, the abundances ranged from 2.9 to 4.5 particles/L, which is comparable to that in Maowei Sea surface water. Of 66 collected fish belonging to 12 species, microplastics were observed in all of the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) and in the gills of 40 individuals. In the GIT and gill tests, the abundances of microplastics ranged from 2.0 to 14.0 and from 0.0 to 8.5 particles/individual, respectively. The enhanced particles/individual figures in the GIT relative to the gill are particularly noteworthy. Demersal species showed significantly higher abundances of microplastics than pelagic species (p < 0.05). Microplastics were also detected in the soft tissues of all oyster samples, with abundances ranging from 3.2 to 8.6 particles/individual. The microplastic composition was dominated by rayon and polyester and tended to be white in color and fibrous in shape. Altogether, these results correspond to high levels of microplastics in the Maowei Sea. As the study region is a mariculture bay, the observed microplastics contamination in its fishery products presents a route for human exposure.
Microplastics are widespread in the aquaculture water and biota in the Maowei Sea, a mariculture bay.
Display omitted
•Microplastics are widespread in the Maowei Sea, a typical mariculture bay•Microplastic abundance in the Maowei Sea is comparable to that in inflowing rivers•The gastrointestinal tract has more microplastics than the gills in many fish species.•Microplastics were also detected in the soft tissue of all oyster samples.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Current evidence on associations between intakes of linoleic acid (LA), the predominant n–6 (ω-6) fatty acid, and mortality is inconsistent and has not been summarized by a systematic review and ...meta-analysis.
The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to examine associations between LA intake and mortality.
We conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through 31 July 2019 for prospective cohort studies reporting associations of LA (assessed by dietary surveys and/or LA concentrations in adipose tissue or blood compartments) with mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. Multivariable-adjusted RRs were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.
Thirty-eight studies reporting 44 prospective cohorts were identified; these included 811,069 participants with dietary intake assessment (170,076 all-cause, 50,786 CVD, and 59,684 cancer deaths) and 65,411 participants with biomarker measurements (9758 all-cause, 6492 CVD, and 1719 cancer deaths). Pooled RRs comparing extreme categories of dietary LA intake (high vs low) were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.94; I2= 67.9%) for total mortality, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.92; I2= 3.7%) for CVD mortality, and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.93; I2= 0%) for cancer mortality. Pooled RRs for each SD increment in LA concentrations in adipose tissue/blood compartments were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.95; I2= 64.1%) for total mortality, 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.94; I2= 28.9%) for CVD mortality, and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.98; I2= 26.3%) for cancer mortality. Meta-regressions suggested baseline age and dietary assessment methods as potential sources of heterogeneity for the association between LA and total mortality.
In prospective cohort studies, higher LA intake, assessed by dietary surveys or biomarkers, was associated with a modestly lower risk of mortality from all causes, CVD, and cancer. These data support the potential long-term benefits of PUFA intake in lowering the risk of CVD and premature death.
Full text
Available for:
CMK, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting millions of diabetic patients worldwide. DN is associated with proteinuria and progressive slowing of glomerular filtration, ...which often leads to end-stage kidney diseases. Due to the complexity of this metabolic disorder and lack of clarity about its pathogenesis, it is often more difficult to diagnose and treat than other kidney diseases. Recent studies have highlighted that the immune system can inadvertently contribute to DN pathogenesis. Cells involved in innate and adaptive immune responses can target the kidney due to increased expression of immune-related localization factors. Immune cells then activate a pro-inflammatory response involving the release of autocrine and paracrine factors, which further amplify inflammation and damage the kidney. Consequently, strategies to treat DN by targeting the immune responses are currently under study. In light of the steady rise in DN incidence, this timely review summarizes the latest findings about the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of DN and discusses promising preclinical and clinical therapies.
The feature extraction for multispectral images plays an important role in many computer vision applications. Recently, geometric algebra (GA) based scale invariant feature transform algorithm ...(GA-SIFT) and GA based speeded up robust Features algorithm (GA-SURF), have been proposed to extract feature of multispectral image in GA space. However those methods are difficult to be implemented in real-time applications. Now, the challenge is to design a new algorithm to extract the features of multispectral image more efficiently and quickly, so that it can be used in real-time applications. Although the proposed fast retina keypoint (FREAK) algorithm is faster to compute and more robust than SIFT and SURF, it can not be utilized to extract features directly for multispectral images. In this paper, we propose a novel fast retina keypoint extraction algorithm based on GA, named as GA-FREAK, for multispectral images. Firstly, the multispectral images are represented as multivectors in GA space, then the interest points are detected with the procedure of FREAK in GA space. Finally, our experiments demonstrate that the GA-FREAK is faster and more robust than some previous algorithms in multispectral images. It is expected that the proposed GA-FREAK will be a competitive alternative in real-time applications of multispectral images.
Intelligent transportation system (ITS) is the development direction of the future traffic system. ITS can effectively employ the existing traffic facilities and ensure the safety of traffic, urban ...traffic, and public security management for effective control in order to satisfy people’s travel demand. Therefore, the results of the system in-depth understanding and objective evaluation are very necessary. And it is frequently regarded as a multiattribute group decision-making (MAGDM) issue. Thus, a novel MAGDM method is required to tackle it. Depending on the conventional multiattributive border approximation area comparison (MABAC) method and intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs), this article designs a novel intuitive distance-based IF-MABAC method to assess the performance of financial management. First of all, a related literature review is conducted. Furthermore, some necessary theories related to IFSs are briefly reviewed. In addition, since subjective randomness frequently exists in determining criteria weights, the weights of criteria are decided objectively by utilizing the maximizing deviation method. Afterwards, relying on novel distance measures between intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (IFNs), the conventional MABAC method is extended to the IFSs to calculate the final value of each enterprise. Therefore, all enterprises can be ranked, and the one with the best environmental behaviors and awareness can be identified. Eventually, an application for evaluating the intelligent transportation system and some comparative analyses have been given. The results illustrate that the designed algorithm is useful for assessing the performance of financial management.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
BACKGROUND:Americans have a shorter life expectancy compared with residents of almost all other high-income countries. We aim to estimate the impact of lifestyle factors on premature mortality and ...life expectancy in the US population.
METHODS:Using data from the Nurses’ Health Study (1980–2014; n=78 865) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986–2014, n=44 354), we defined 5 low-risk lifestyle factors as never smoking, body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m, ≥30 min/d of moderate to vigorous physical activity, moderate alcohol intake, and a high diet quality score (upper 40%), and estimated hazard ratios for the association of total lifestyle score (0–5 scale) with mortality. We used data from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys; 2013–2014) to estimate the distribution of the lifestyle score and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER database to derive the age-specific death rates of Americans. We applied the life table method to estimate life expectancy by levels of the lifestyle score.
RESULTS:During up to 34 years of follow-up, we documented 42 167 deaths. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for mortality in adults with 5 compared with zero low-risk factors were 0.26 (95% confidence interval CI, 0.22–0.31) for all-cause mortality, 0.35 (95% CI, 0.27–0.45) for cancer mortality, and 0.18 (95% CI, 0.12–0.26) for cardiovascular disease mortality. The population-attributable risk of nonadherence to 5 low-risk factors was 60.7% (95% CI, 53.6–66.7) for all-cause mortality, 51.7% (95% CI, 37.1–62.9) for cancer mortality, and 71.7% (95% CI, 58.1–81.0) for cardiovascular disease mortality. We estimated that the life expectancy at age 50 years was 29.0 years (95% CI, 28.3–29.8) for women and 25.5 years (95% CI, 24.7–26.2) for men who adopted zero low-risk lifestyle factors. In contrast, for those who adopted all 5 low-risk factors, we projected a life expectancy at age 50 years of 43.1 years (95% CI, 41.3–44.9) for women and 37.6 years (95% CI, 35.8–39.4) for men. The projected life expectancy at age 50 years was on average 14.0 years (95% CI, 11.8–16.2) longer among female Americans with 5 low-risk factors compared with those with zero low-risk factors; for men, the difference was 12.2 years (95% CI, 10.1–14.2).
CONCLUSIONS:Adopting a healthy lifestyle could substantially reduce premature mortality and prolong life expectancy in US adults.
Objective To investigate whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) treatment could improve the regeneration of endometrium and improve the endometrial receptivity in an experimental model of ...thin endometrium. Design Randomized, control trial, animal research. Setting National key laboratory. Animal(s) Sprague-Dawley rats. Intervention(s) Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation by tail vein IV injection. Main Outcome Measure(s) Endometrial thickness, the expression of mark proteins for endometrial cell, and endometrial receptivity. Result(s) The endometrium was significantly thicker and the expression of cytokeratin, vimentin, integrin αγβ3, and leukemia inhibitor factor were significantly stronger compared with the control group. Some proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) messenger RNA (mRNA) and interleukin-1β mRNA, were significantly down-regulated, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as fibroblast growth factor-β (bFGF) mRNA and interleukin-6 mRNA, were significantly up-regulated in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusion(s) The BMSCs have beneficial effect on thin endometrium, and may play a role through migration and immunomodulatory of BMSCs.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To study the effect of endometrial thickness and pattern measured using ultrasound upon pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing IVF-ET.
One thousand nine hundred thirty-three women undergoing IVF ...treatment participated in the study. We assessed and recorded endometrial patterns and thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. Receiver operator curves (ROC) were used to determine the predictive accuracy of endometrial thickness. Cycles were divided into 3 groups depending on the thickness (group 1: ≤ 7 mm; group 2: > 7 mm to ≤ 14 mm; group 3: > 14 mm). Each group was subdivided into three groups according to the endometrial pattern as follows: pattern A (a triple-line pattern consisting of a central hyperechoic line surround by two hypoechoic layers); pattern B (an intermediate isoechogenic pattern with the same reflectivity as the surrounding myometrium and a poorly defined central echogenic line); and pattern C (homogenous, hyperechogenic endometrium). Clinical outcomes such as implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were analyzed.
The endometrial thickness predicts pregnancy outcome with high sensitivity and specificity. The cutoff value was 9 mm. The implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate in group 3 were 39.1% and 63.5%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in group 2 (33.8% and 52.1%, respectively) and group 1 (13% and 25.5%, respectively). Among those with Pattern A, the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 35.3% and 55.2%, respectively, which were significantly higher than among women with Pattern B (32.1% and 50.9%, respectively) and Pattern C (23.4% and 37.4%, respectively). In groups 1 and 3, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates did not show any significant differences between different endometrial patterns (P > 0.05), whereas in group 2, the clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate in women with pattern A were significantly higher than those with pattern B or C (P < 0.05).
Endometrial thickness and pattern independently affect pregnant outcomes. Combined endometrial thickness and pattern could not predict the outcome of IVF-ET when endometrial thickness was < 7 mm or >14 mm, while a triple-line pattern with a moderate endometrial thickness appeared to be associated with a good clinical outcome.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
