With the in-depth study of the human genome and the increasing popularity of gene sequencing, it has been gradually confirmed that genetics can play a crucial role in infertility. To provide references for clinical treatment, we have focused on genes and drug therapy for genetic infertility. This review recommends adjuvant therapy and drug substitution. Examples of these therapies include antioxidants (such as folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin E, inositol, coenzyme Q10 etc.), metformin, anticoagulants, levothyroxine, dehydroepiandrosterone, glucocorticoids, and gonadotropins etc. Based on the pathogenesis, we provide an overview of the current knowledge, including randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, and predict potential target genes and signaling pathways, proposing possible future strategies for the use of targeted drugs to treat infertility. Non-coding RNAs are anticipated to become a novel target for the treatment of reproductive illnesses since they have a significant role in controlling the occurrence and development of reproductive diseases.

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to the decline in fertility caused by the loss of normal ovarian function. DOR is associated with adverse reactions to ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), increasing cycle cancellation rates and reducing pregnancy rates. Although it is well known that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can be used as a dietary supplement for age-related diseases, its potential has gradually been shown for many diseases. In this review, we focus on the effects of DHEA on DOR, briefly analysing its clinical benefits and limitations and describing the mechanism of function and the clinical trials conducted. Therefore, we summarize the mechanisms and indications of DHEA for DOR.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection day (LH_HCG) on outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) patients. It is a retrospective cohort study involving 620 women who had an IVF cycle in Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University between 2018-2020. The participants were divided into different groups according to LH_HCG level and age. The clinical data and outcomes were compared between groups. The numbers of follicles (≥ 14 mm) on HCG day, retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, and two pronuclei (2PN) embryos in women with LH_HCG < 2 IU/L were more than those with LH_HCG ≥ 2 IU/L. Women with LH_HCG < 2 IU/L had lower high-quality embryo rate (42.2% vs. 46.5%, p = 0.002) and implantation rate (40.0% vs. 58.8%, p = 0.044) compared to those with LH_HCG ≥ 2 IU/L. When LH_HCG < 2 IU/L, there was no significant difference in implantation rates in patients < 35 years compared to those ≥ 35 years. When LH_HCG ≥ 2 IU/L, patients < 35 years old had higher implantation rates (71.7% vs. 41.2%, p < 0.001) compared to those ≥ 35 years old. The success rates of IVF fertilization and ICSI fertilization and biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates were not significantly different between groups. Our results demonstrated that women undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET might benefit from maintaining LH_HCG levels at ≥ 2 IU/L. In addition, age might associate with LH_HCG levels and be a better determining factor of the transfer outcome than serum LH_HCG levels for IVF/ICSI-ET.

Since nanoparticles are taken up into cells by endocytosis, phagocytosis, or pinocytosis, they have been studied as intracellular drug carriers. Janus particles have an anisotropic structure composed of two or more distinct domains and have been proposed for use in various applications, including use as imaging agents or nanosensors. This study aimed to clarify the influence of the type of nanoparticles on their distribution in a human Caucasian colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cell monolayer. We fabricated Janus and conventional spherical nanoparticles composed of pharmaceutically applicable ingredients. Janus and spherical nanoparticles composed of a cationic polymer and surfactant lipids were prepared by controlling the solvent removal pattern from the oil phase in the solvent removal process using the solvent evaporation and solvent diffusion methods. The distribution of nanoparticles in the Caco-2 cell monolayer was then evaluated using confocal laser microscopy. The mean hydrodynamic size of the fabricated Janus nanoparticles was 119.2 ± 4.6 nm. Distribution analysis using Caco-2 cells suggested that Janus nanoparticles were localized around the adherens junctions located just below the tight junction. Clear localization was not observed in non-Janus nanoparticles with the same composition. The clear localization of the Janus nanoparticles around the adherens junction may be due to their positive charge and asymmetric structure. Our results suggest the considerable potential for the development of nanoparticulate drug carriers to target cellular gaps.

Oxidative stress, glycation and inflammation are the main causes of many severe diseases. To date, no single extract has been shown to simultaneously inhibit these three reactions. In this study, the antioxidant, antiglycation and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts from four edible plants that are commonly used as Thai folk medicine were compared. Among these extracts, Caesalpinia mimosoides extract (CME) showed the highest antioxidant potential with Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) of 5.9 ± 0.1 mM/mg followed closely by Zingiber officinale extract (ZOE) with a TEAC value of 5.4 ± 0.2 mM/mg. However, CME showed no cytotoxicity, whereas ZOE greater than 60 μg/mL showed cytotoxicity to normal human cells. Antiglycation assay using bovine serum albumin-ribose showed comparable potency between CME and Spondias dulcis extract (SDE). However, CME exhibited a high anti-inflammatory activity, significantly higher than SDE and activity depending on the dose. At a concentration of 60 μg/mL, approximately 85% of the interleukin-6 pro-inflammatory cytokine produced from human monocytes, induced by lipopolysaccharides, was completely inhibited by CME whereas SDE showed no inhibition. In summary, CME is the most potential extract with simultaneously activity of these three reactions. CME has the highest total phenolic content expressed as gallic acid equivalent to 301 ± 8 mg/g. Identification using high-performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of at least four phenolic compounds, gallic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ellagic acid are existed in CME. Our finding suggests that CME is a promising natural source for inhibition of oxidative stress, glycation, and inflammation.

This study aimed to explore the factors influencing subjective health views based on the living conditions and concerns of university students during the coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From March to April 2021, a questionnaire survey was administered to 8,547 Japanese university students, and logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors related to subjective health views. The results showed that satisfaction with quality of sleep (OR = 2.651, 95% Cl 2.370-2.966,p < 0.001), satisfaction with university life (OR = 2.486, 95%Cl 2.215-2.789, p < 0.001), satisfaction with diet (OR = 1.849, 95% CI: 1.496-2.285, p < 0.001), regular exercise (OR = 1.759, 95% CI: 1.594-1.941, p < 0.001), consciousness of nutritional balance (OR = 1.276, 95% CI: 1.147-1.420,p < 0.001), eating breakfast every day (OR = 1.247, 95% CI: 1.121-1.387, p < 0.001), and consuming soft drinks at least once a week (OR = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.755-0.966, p = 0.010) were positive factors for subjective views of health. On the other hand, anxiety about whether the necessary credits can be obtained (OR = 0.885, 95% CI: 0.799-0.980, p = 0.019), infection from minimal outings (OR = 0.881, 95% CI: 0.794-0.976, p = 0.016) building and maintaining friendships on campus (OR = 0.867, 95% CI: 0.767-0.980, p = 0.023), and being able to continue working (OR = 0.713, 95% CI: 0.640-0.795, p < 0.001) were identified as negative factors. To ensure a healthy university life during the COVID-19 pandemic or future pandemic, supports tailored to students' living conditions and measures to address their anxieties are required.

The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) offers high sensitivity, but has some drawbacks, such as the time required for the RNA extraction. Transcription reverse-transcription concerted reaction (TRC) Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i is easy to use and can be performed in about 40 minutes. TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i and real-time one-step RT-PCR using the TaqMan probe tests of cryopreserved nasopharyngeal swab samples from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were compared. The primary objective was to examine the positive and negative concordance rates. A total of 69 samples cryopreserved at -80° C were examined. Of the 37 frozen samples that were expected to be RT-PCR positive, 35 were positive by the RT-PCR method. TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i detected 33 positive cases and 2 negative cases. One frozen sample that was expected to be RT-PCR positive was negative on both TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i and RT-PCR. In addition, one frozen sample that was expected to be RT-PCR positive was positive by the RT-PCR method and negative by TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i. Of the 32 frozen samples that were expected to be RT-PCR negative, both the RT-PCR method and TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i yielded negative results for all 32 samples. Compared with RT-PCR, TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i had a positive concordance rate of 94.3% and a negative concordance rate of 97.1%. TRC Ready^® SARS-CoV-2 i can be utilized in a wide range of medical sites such as clinics and community hospitals due to its ease of operability, and is expected to be useful in infection control.

Mycobacterium abscessus causes chronic skin infections, lung diseases, and systemic or disseminated infections. Although a silkworm infection model with M. abscessus has been established, pathological analysis of the infected silkworms has not been performed. In this study, we performed hematoxylin-eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen staining of silkworms infected with M. abscessus. Four days after infection with M. abscessus, M. abscessus accumulation was observed in the fat bodies of silkworms. The number of viable M. abscessus cells in the fat bodies of the infected silkworms increased over time. These results suggest that M. abscessus proliferates in the fat bodies of the infected silkworms.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common clinical pathogen. Does every S. aureus infection require anti-MRSA drugs? Reported here are three cases of a community-acquired infection with S. aureus. The first case involveds a 45-year-old male who was admitted due to right ankle pain for 1 month; he was diagnosed with chronic suppurative osteomyelitis and an acute soft tissue infection of the ankle. S.aureus was cultured from the pus and was resistant to penicillin and sensitive to oxacillin and vancomycin. After receiving oxacillin, he was cured and discharged 45 days after admission. The second case involved a 44-year-old male who was admitted due to lumbar pain with right lower limb numbness for more than 1 month and fever for 1 day. S. aureus was cultured from blood specimens and was resistant to penicillin and sensitive to oxacillin and vancomycin. After receiving oxacillin, he as cured. The third case involved a 7-day-old newborn who was admitted due to skin jaundice for 6 days. S. aureus was cultured from skin secretions specimens and was resistant to penicillin and sensitive to oxacillin, erythromycin, and vancomycin. The newborn was treated with oxacillin for 4 days, and she was cured and discharged. Not all cases a suspected S. aureus infection require anti-MRSA drugs; instead, previous S. aureus susceptibility results in the area and hospital, as well as the patient's clinical profile, need to be taken into account.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem that causes millions of deaths in humans around the world, and the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is responsible for this disease. Evidence suggested that the inflammasome-pyroptosis pathway is crucial for preventing Mtb infection. Uncertainty exists regarding whether and how these infections can bypass this immune system by Mtb. A recent Science article by Chai et al. (doi: 10.1126/science.abq0132) revealed a novel role by a eukaryotic-like effector called PtpB during Mtb infection. The PtpB functions as a phospholipid phosphatase suppressing gasdermin D (GSDMD) dependent pyroptosis. And notably, the phospholipid phosphatase activity of PtpB is dependent on binding with mono-ubiquitin (Ub) of the host.