Purpose
This study compared the therapeutic effects of transdermal testosterone gel (TTG) application at 4 and 6 weeks before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in women with poor ovarian ...response (POR).
Methods
In this randomized control trial, infertile women with POR who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) were recruited and randomly classified into 4 week (n = 42) and 6 week (n = 38) TTG treatment groups and control group (n = 42). The primary outcome was total number of retrieved mature oocytes. The secondary outcomes were the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate.
Results
No significant differences were observed in the number of oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes and embryos between all groups. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) positive, clinical, and ongoing pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the TTG pretreatment groups than in the control group but no differences were observed between the 4‐ and 6 week groups.
Conclusions
Applying TTG in infertile women with POR may ameliorate the outcomes of IVF. The extended application of TTG to 6 weeks did not improve the response to ovarian stimulation regarding the number of retrieved oocytes nor pregnancy outcomes compared to the 4 week pretreatment.
This study presents the modification of cassava root husk-derived biochar (CRHB) with ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for the simultaneous adsorption of As(
iii
), Cd(
ii
), Pb(
ii
) and Cr(
vi
). By ...conducting batch-mode experiments, it was concluded that 3% w/w was the best impregnation ratio for the modification of CRHB using ZnO-NPs, and was denoted as CRHB-ZnO3 in this study. The optimal conditions for heavy metal adsorption were obtained at a pH of 6-7, contact time of 60 min, and initial metal concentration of 80 mg L
−1
. The heavy metal adsorption capacities onto CRHB-ZnO3 showed the following tendency: Pb(
ii
) > Cd(
ii
) > As(
iii
) > Cr(
vi
). The total optimal adsorption capacity achieved in the adsorption of the 4 abovementioned metals reached 115.11 and 154.21 mg g
−1
for CRHB and CRHB-ZnO3, respectively. For each Pb(
ii
), Cd(
ii
), As(
iii
), and Cr(
vi
) metal, the maximum adsorption capacities of CRHB-ZnO3 were 44.27, 42.05, 39.52, and 28.37 mg g
−1
, respectively, and those of CRHB were 34.47, 32.33, 26.42 and 21.89 mg g
−1
, respectively. In terms of kinetics, both the pseudo-first-order and the pseudo-second-order fit well with metal adsorption onto biochars with a high correlation coefficient of
R
2
, while the best isothermal description followed the Langmuir model. As a result, the adsorption process of heavy metals onto biochars was chemisorption on homogeneous monolayers, which was mainly controlled by cation exchange and surface precipitation mechanisms due to enriched oxygen-containing surface groups with ZnO-NP modification of biochar. The FTIR and EDS analysis data confirmed the important role of oxygen-containing surface groups, which significantly contributed to removal of heavy metals with extremely high adsorption capacities, comparable with other studies. In conclusion, due to very high adsorption capacities for metal cations, the cassava root husk-derived biochar modified with ZnO-NPs can be applied as the alternative, inexpensive, non-toxic and highly effective adsorbent in the removal of various toxic cations.
This study presents the modification of cassava root husk-derived biochar (CRHB) with ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for the simultaneous adsorption of As(
iii
), Cd(
ii
), Pb(
ii
) and Cr(
vi
).
To investigate the relationship between unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL) and polymorphisms of homocysteine metabolism-related genes in women.
A case-control study included 90 women with ...two or more consecutive unexplained pregnancy losses and 92 controlled women without miscarriage history; the female participants were in the age category of 18-35 years. The high-resolution melting technique was used to detect the single-nucleotide variants related to homocysteine metabolism disorder, namely
C677T,
A1298C,
A2756G, and
A66G polymorphism.
The
C677T polymorphism had significantly correlation with URPL. Indeed, the frequency of the677T allele and genotypes (677CT, 677TT) in the URPL group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). However, the allele, as well as genotype distribution of
A1298C,
A2756G, and
A66G polymorphisms showed no significant difference (p > 0.05).
677CT-1298AC genotype combination led to a 9.0-fold increased risk of URPL (OR 9.0; 95% CI, 2.25-35.99; p = 0.001), while the risk increased 10.0-fold (OR 10.0; 95% CI, 1.8-55.53; p = 0.008) when participants had more than the 3 variant loci.
The
C677T polymorphism was a risk factor for URPL, and determining the
C677T polymorphism had a potential prediction of URPL risk. Moreover, the
C677T and
A1298C joint mutants might have a synergistic effect on URPL. Conversely, there is a lack of evidence suggesting the URPL risk of
A1298C,
A2756G, and
A66G polymorphisms.
The use of activated carbon in adsorbing organic compounds inherent in human urine and subsequently desorbing them as nutrients for hydroponic solutions has been examined in this study. Human urine ...was collected for adsorption and desorption. The adsorbent was characterized in terms of porosity, surface area, SEM images, and FTIR spectrum. After being washed, activated carbon was set into columns. Urine was subsequently pumped in with 3 distinct urine concentrations of 100%, 50%, and 20% for adsorption during sixteen hours. Afterward, the activated carbon was removed from the columns and was settled at the ambient temperature in 3 days to decompose adsorbed organic compounds, producing constituents that facilitate absorption in plants. For desorption, the three kinds of dried activated carbon from adsorption was crammed into columns for a desorption process in sixteen hours. To evaluate adsorption and desorption, TOC, IC, NH4+, NO3−, and P2O5 were the parameters recorded during experimenting and resulted in highest numbers of 1610 mg/l, 326.30 mg/l, 2.61 mg/l, 7.24 mg/l, and 256.87 mg/l, respectively. The study also obtained EC and pH of the columns with the highest numbers of 16630 μS/cm and 9.48, respectively. Nutrients gained from desorption were tested for the cultivation of Brown mustard (Brassica juncea) in hydroponics. The nutrient resulting from the 50% urine generated the most productive parameters of growth compared to the rest. Through this study, it is clear that the application of adsorption–desorption in agricultural production is completely feasible in terms of practical implementation.
Display omitted
•Hydroponic solution was produced from Human urine via adsorption–desorption.•Brassica juncea was grown well in hydroponic solution derived from 50% urine.•EC, pH, TOC, IC, NH4+, NO3−, and P2O5 were used to evaluated hydroponic solution.•Mechanism of hydroponic solution production involved ion exchange between H+ and OH−.
•Pristine hydrochar (PSH) was generated from paper waste sludge with support of NaOH.•The PSH was modified by iron at the most suitable ratio of 15 % (PSH-Fe15).•The adsorption capacity of PSH-Fe15 ...was higher than that of PSH by 1.5 times.•The Cr(VI) adsorption main mechanism on hydrochar was adsorption-coupled reduction.•The PSH-Fe15 was the low-cost adsorbent with reusability through five cycles.
This work investigated Cr(VI) adsorption onto pristine and iron modified hydrochar (PSH and PSH-Fe15, respectively) which were generated from paper waste sludge. The results indicate that the hydrothermal carbonization temperature of 200 °C was the most suitable for hydrochar production. The batch experiments and the adsorption isotherm and kinetic of Cr(VI) onto PSH and PSH-Fe15 were conducted and used to elucidate the adsorption mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity and efficiency onto both PSH and PSH-Fe15 reached equilibrium after 120 min at pH 3 and an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 60 mg/L. In this condition, the adsorption capacities were 5.94 mg/g and 8.67 mg/g and the removal efficiencies were 39.62 % and 57.80 % for PSH and PSH-Fe15, respectively. The adsorption processes were well described by the Sips and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models (with R2 of 0.9895, 0.9987 and 0.9947 and 0.9981 for PSH and PSH-Fe15, respectively) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (with R2 of 0.98412 and 0.99681, respectively, for PSH and PSH-Fe15). The analysis of characteristics of PSH and PSH-Fe15 indicates the rough and heterogamous surface structures. Moreover, there was presence of iron ions on PSH-Fe15 based on EDS analysis and appearance of oxygen-containing surface functional groups recorded through FTIR results. Finally, it was observed that the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) caused by iron ions on PSM-Fe15’s surface and the presence of OH groups resulting in the precipitation of Cr(OH)3 on the hydrochar’s surface was the main mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption onto PSH-Fe15.
Background and Aims: Frozen embryo transfer is a current trend in practice worldwide. Modified Natural Cycle, Hormone Replacement Therapy are common endometrial preparation protocols in Vietnam. The ...aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of a Modified Natural Cycle vs Hormone Replacement Therapy for Endometrial Preparation for Frozen Embryo Transfer. Method: This was a single center randomized clinical trial. It was conducted in the period between August 2022 and March 2023 in Andrology and Fertility Hospital of Hanoi. A total of 166 patients were randomly allocated to two groups, either the hormone replacement cycle (83 patients) (HRT group) or the modified natural cycle (83 patients) (mNC group). Results: The mean age was 31 vs 30 years in mNC and HRT. The endometrial thickness on the day of Progesterone administration in mNC was higher than HRT (10.99±1.46 và 10.70±1.06 mm), p>0.05. There was no significant difference between mNC group and HRT group regarding implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, on-going rate. After adjusting for age, BMI, duration of infertility, type of infertility, history of miscarriage, number of failed embryo transfers, endometrial thickness on the day of Progesterone administration, number of good-quality embryos transferred showed that the clinical pregnancy rate in the HRT was higher than that mNC, but the relationship was not statistically significant with p>0.05. Conclusion: The selection of regimen to use for endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer depends on individualized patient treatment, particularly with respect to the selection of the endometrial preparation method particularly with respect to the selection of the endometrial preparation method.
Background: The Y chromosome has a specific region, namely the Azoospermia Factor (AZF) because azoospermia is typically reported in the microdeletion of the AZF region. This study aims to assess the ...characteristics of AZF microdeletion after screening a massive number of low sperm concentration men; and the Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) outcomes for retrieving sperm from azoospermic patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective multiple-center study enrolled a total of 1121 men with azoospermia, cryptozoospermia, and severe oligozoospermia from December 2016 to June 2022. An extension analysis used a total of 17 STSs to detect the position-occurring microdeletion in the AZF region (AZFa, b, c, and/or d loci). Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) was performed to retrieve sperm in azoospermic men diagnosed AZFc microdeletion. Results: One hundred and fifty-three men carried AZF microdeletion were detected in the 1121 participants (13.64%). The incidences of AZF microdeletion were confined to AZF a, c, and d regions, both individual and concurrence, with the most common in the AZFc region accounting for 49.67%; There was no significant difference in clinical and paraclinical characteristics between the deleted regions, except FSH level (highest in AZFa microdeletion, p = 0.043). The AZFc region was the most common type of AZF microdeletion (49.67%), including complete microdeletion (4 patients) and gr/gr partial microdeletion (39 patients) with 50.00% and 63.63% in the success rate of mTESE, separately. Conclusion: The absence of AZFa and/or AZFb regions often express the most severe phenotype--azoospermia and the increasing FSH level. The AZFc region played the most common microdeletion. Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) was the possible therapy for sperm retrieval from the testis of azoospermia men having AZFc microdeletion. Keywords: Y chromosome microdeletion, AZF microdeletion, azoospermia, mTESE
Material additive or 3D printing technology has been recognized as a future manufacturing technique. The mechanical properties of products manufactured using 3D printing technology depend on many ...factors, especially the printing angle. Resin Castable Wax can be used as a matrix or scaffold for sensor devices in 3D printing. In this study, we explore the effects of printing angle on the mechanical properties of Resin Castable Wax V1 using the 3D stereolithography printing method. The samples are printed at three different printing angles of 0, 45, and 90°. Increasing the printing angle from 0 to 90° improves the tensile and compressive strengths. The sample printed at the angle of 90° shows the highest ultimate tensile and compressive strengths of 23.13 and 124.97 MPa, respectively, and vice versa for the sample printed at 0º. Because of the gradual inclination of the material toward the direction of load force and the larger printing boundary at a higher printing angle, the mechanical properties are improved when the printing angle is increased. These findings can be used to choose an appropriate printing angle for Resin Castable Wax V1.
Mussel shells are often considered an abundant waste with no use. This study shows that the employment of mussel shells as a biosorbent for ammonium from water environment is completely possible. By ...using batch experimental method, optimal conditions for the ammonium adsorption onto mussel shells were determined. Specifically, those include a pH level of 8, contact time of 90 min, an initial ammonium concentration of 40 mg/l and the adsorbent dose of 700 mg/25 ml. With such operating conditions, experiments in laboratory aqueous solutions resulted in a maximum adsorption capacity of 2.33 mg/g, corresponded by 46.575% of efficiency. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were well described with the Freundlich isothermal model, suggesting a heterogeneous adsorption process occurring on multilayers and both the pseudo-first-order and the pseudo-second-order, implying that the operational fundament was based on chemisorption. Analyses regarding SEM, EDS and FTIR were also implemented to identify the morphology, composition and functional groups of the adsorbent.
Background: The Y chromosome has a specific region, namely the Azoospermia Factor (AZF) because azoospermia is typically reported in the microdeletion of the AZF region. This study aims to assess the ...characteristics of AZF microdeletion after screening a massive number of low sperm concentration men; and the Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) outcomes for retrieving sperm from azoospermic patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective multiple-center study enrolled a total of 1121 men with azoospermia, cryptozoospermia, and severe oligozoospermia from December 2016 to June 2022. An extension analysis used a total of 17 STSs to detect the position-occurring microdeletion in the AZF region (AZFa, b, c, and/or d loci). Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) was performed to retrieve sperm in azoospermic men diagnosed AZFc microdeletion. Results: One hundred and fifty-three men carried AZF microdeletion were detected in the 1121 participants (13.64%). The incidences of AZF microdeletion were confined to AZF a, c, and d regions, both individual and concurrence, with the most common in the AZFc region accounting for 49.67%; There was no significant difference in clinical and paraclinical characteristics between the deleted regions, except FSH level (highest in AZFa microdeletion, p = 0.043). The AZFc region was the most common type of AZF microdeletion (49.67%), including complete microdeletion (4 patients) and gr/gr partial microdeletion (39 patients) with 50.00% and 63.63% in the success rate of mTESE, separately. Conclusion: The absence of AZFa and/or AZFb regions often express the most severe phenotype--azoospermia and the increasing FSH level. The AZFc region played the most common microdeletion. Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) was the possible therapy for sperm retrieval from the testis of azoospermia men having AZFc microdeletion. Keywords: Y chromosome microdeletion, AZF microdeletion, azoospermia, mTESE
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