High E2 Research Articles

Combined effects of 17β-estradiol and copper on growth, biochemical characteristics and pollutant removals of freshwater microalgae Scenedesmus dimorphus

Contamination by estrogens and heavy metals can cause great environment concern and necessitate efficient approaches for their removals. In this study, the combined effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and Cu(II) on microalgae growth and biochemical characteristics were investigated. Results showed that 1 mg/L Cu(II) promoted the growth of Scenedesmus dimorphus, while 2 mg/L Cu(II) exhibited growth inhibition, compared with the same concentration of E2. Biochemical characteristics including enzyme activities as well as the contents of chlorophyll, protein and carbohydrate were significantly affected by the coexistence of E2 and Cu(II) after 12 d of cultivation. S. dimorphus exhibited high E2 and Cu(II) removal efficiencies (89.9% of E2 and 76.6% Cu(II) under the coexistence of 0.5 mg/L E2 and 1 mg/L Cu(II), respectively). Lower concentration of Cu(II) might serve as a bridge during E2 removal by S. dimorphus while competitive adsorption of Cu(II) and E2 occurred under the condition of excessive Cu(II). Results could confirm that S. dimorphus was a potential bioresource for the effective removal of E2 and Cu(II).

Interactions of circulating estradiol and progesterone on changes in endometrial area and pituitary responsiveness to GnRH†.

Changes in circulating progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) during proestrus produce dynamic changes in endometrial function and pituitary release of gonadotropins. Independent and combined effects of P4 and E2 on endometrium and pituitary were evaluated. In a preliminary study, an exogenous hormone model of proestrus was created by removal of corpus luteum and follicles ≥5mm followed by gradual removal of intravaginal P4 implants during 18h and treatment with increasing doses of estradiol benzoate during 48h to mimic proestrus using high E2 (n=9) or low E2 (n=9). Decreased P4, increased E2, and increased endometrial area (EA) simulated proestrus in high-E2 cows and this was used subsequently. The main experiment used a 2×2 factorial design with: high E2 and low P4 (n=11); high E2 and high P4 (n=11); low E2 and high P4 (n=11); low E2 and low P4 (n=10). At 48h, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release was determined. Variables were analyzed using PROCMIXED of Statistical Analysis System. The EA increased dramatically during 48h only in high-E2 and low-P4 cows. For FSH, high-E2 cows had greater area under the curve (AUC) and FSH peak after GnRH than low E2, with mild negative effects of high P4. For LH, concentration at peak and AUC were 2-fold greater in high E2 compared to low-E2 groups, with low P4 also 2-fold greater than high-P4 groups. Thus, maximal changes in uterus and pituitary during proestrus depend on both low P4 and high E2, but different physiologic responses are regulated differently by E2 and P4. Changes in endometrium depend on low P4 and high E2, whereas GnRH-induced FSH secretion primarily depends on high E2, and GnRH-induced LH secretion is independently increased by high E2 or reduced by high P4.

Impact of Supraphysiological Estradiol Serum Levels on Birth Weight in Singletons Born After Fresh Embryo Transfer

In assisted reproductive technology, high estradiol (E2) levels at trigger may increase the risk of low birth weight (LBW). Our objective was to investigate the impact of supra-physiological E2 levels at trigger, on the rate of LBW in singleton pregnancies following fresh embryo transfers (ET), in a center that typically employs the 'freeze-all' strategy in case of high E2 levels, to prevent ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome risk. A cohort study was conducted in a university hospital between November 2012 and January 2017. The main inclusion criterion was having a live birth (LB) singleton (≥ 24weeks of gestation) after a fresh-ET. Four groups were defined according to the E2 level at trigger, as quartiles of the entire patient population. The main measured outcome was the rate of LBW. 497 fresh-ET led to LB. Mean E2 level was 1608.4 ± 945.5pg/ml. The groups were allocated as follows: 124LB in the Group E2 < 25 percentile(p) (1106.5pg/ml), 124LB in the Group E2 [25p-50p] (1106.5-1439pg/ml), 124LB in the Group E2[50p-75p] (1440-1915pg/ml), and 125LB in the Group E2 > 75p (>1915pg/ml). There was no significant difference in the rate of LBW (Group E2 < 25p, n = 8/124, (6.5%); Group E2[25p-50p], n = 15/124, (12.1%); Group E2 [50p-75p], n = 13/124, (10.4%); and Group E2 > 75p, n = 10/12, (8.1%); (p = 0.43)). After multivariate analysis, E2 level at trigger was not significantly correlated to the rate of LBW. In our cohort, E2 level on the day of hCG trigger was not associated with increased odds of LBW after fresh embryo transfers.

Distribution and Potential Effects of 17β-Estradiol (E2) on Aeromonas Diversity in Wastewater and Fish Samples.

Recently, there has been evidence for the accumulation of steroid hormones in the water environment with negative consequences on fish and humans. However, there is paucity of information on how the steroid hormones influence the microbial community in environmental waters. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of 17β-estradiol (E2) and its potential influence on the diversity of Aeromonas spp. Wastewater samples were obtained from sewage treatment plants in northern South Africa and fish samples were collected from the Nandoni dam. Aeromonas spp. were isolated using microbiological methods and PCR protocols were used for their identification. A commercial Elisa kit was used for measuring the concentration of 17β-estradiol (E2) from the wastewater samples as well as the fish samples. 17β-estradiol (E2) was found in high concentration in sewage samples varying from 0.32-348.6 pg mL-1 while in fish samples, it ranged from 1.1-73.6 pg mL-1. There was a tendency of samples with high E2 concentrations to have higher diversity of Aeromonas spp., implying that steroid hormones may serve as nutrient for Aeromonas spp. Aeromonas hydrophila was the most prevalent species (71%), followed by A. sobria with (68%). The presence of Aeromonas spp. in environmental waters and fish that is consumed by the local community poses a serious health concern. The high content of E2 in treated wastewater is of serious concern as well. For the first time, the present study showed a positive impact of E2 on Aeromonas growth.

Protein expression profiles and prognostic value of E2F family members in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The derangement of the cell cycle facilitates uncontrolled cell proliferation and acquisition of genetic alterations favorable for malignancy. However, the protein expression profiles of E2 F family cell cycle regulators in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we aimed to examine the protein expression profiles and prognostic value of E2 F1, E2 F3, and E2 F4 in ccRCC cases. The immunohistochemical expression of E2 F1, E2 F3, and E2 F4 was quantitatively scored in 180 ccRCC tumor tissues and 79 normal kidney tissues. The prognostic implications of these E2 F members were determined. We found that ccRCC tumor cells showed higher nuclear expression of E2 F1, E2 F3 and E2 F4 than normal kidney samples. High E2 F1 and E2 F3 expression in tumor cells was associated with poor prognostic factors of ccRCC, whereas high E2 F4 correlated with beneficial prognostic factors. High expression of E2 F1 and E2 F3 in tumor cells was correlated with a poor overall and recurrence-free survival, while high E2 F4 expression did not. In conclusion, E2 F1, E2 F3 and E2 F4 may function as oncogenes during tumorigenesis of ccRCC, although they contribute to the progression of ccRCC in different ways. Additional studies are required to clarify the conflicting role of E2 F4 in the tumor evolution of ccRCC.

Association between higher levels of serum estradiol and elevated levels of fibrin (fibrinogen) degradation products in late pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology treatment

IntroductionAssisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment is a risk factor for pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study aims to explore the risk factors for elevated fibrin (fibrinogen) degradation products (FDPs), an indicator of hypercoagulability, in late pregnancy among women who underwent ART treatment. Materials and methodsThis retrospective case-control study recruited 227 women who spontaneously conceived and 214 women who underwent ART treatment and gave birth. A subgroup analysis of the 214 pregnant women after ART treatment was performed. 156 women with elevated FDP levels and 58 women with normal FDP levels were designated as the case and control groups, respectively. ResultsWe found that ART treatment was a risk factor for higher FDP. After adjustments were made for confounders in the group of 214 women after ART treatment, fresh embryo transfer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.33, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57–7.03) and >10 oocytes retrieved (aOR = 2.09, 95% CI, 1.10-3.99) were associated with elevated FDP in late pregnancy. Serum estradiol (E2) levels on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger day were higher in the high-FDP group. A positive correlation between E2 on hCG trigger day and FDP was found for both fresh embryo transfer (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and frozen embryo transfer (FET) (r = 0.53, p < 0.001). ConclusionsA higher E2 level on hCG trigger day is closely associated with dysfunction of coagulation and fibrinolysis in late pregnancy. When performing the thromboprophylaxis assessment during pregnancy, clinicians should pay more attention to patients who had previous ART treatment and had a high E2 level on hCG trigger day.

Associations of Endogenous Sex Hormones with Carotid Plaque Burden and Characteristics in Midlife Women.

Endogenous sex hormones may be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. Carotid plaque characteristics, such as echogenicity, an ultrasound measure that reflects plaque composition, may identify unstable plaques that are more likely to rupture, precipitating a CVD event. However, few studies have considered sex steroids in relation to carotid plaque and its characteristics. To evaluate estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and free T (FT) in relation to carotid plaque in women. In MsHeart, a cross-sectional study of 304 women aged 40 to 60 years, participants underwent a carotid artery ultrasound assessment. The current analysis included MsHeart participants with carotid plaque (n = 141, 46%). E1, E2, and T were assayed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; FT was estimated using ensemble allostery models. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and CVD risk factors. Carotid plaque burden (number of plaques, total plaque area [TPA]) and characteristics (calcification, echogenicity) were determined using semi-automated software. SHBG was inversely related to TPA (odds ratio [OR] 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21, 0.74; multivariable) and higher FTs were associated with greater TPA (OR 2.89; 95% CI 1.31, 6.37; multivariable). Higher E1 was related to echogenicity (OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.26, 4.33; multivariable), characteristic of more stable plaque. SHBG and FT are related to TPA while E1 is related to plaque echogenicity, suggesting these hormones have different roles in the development of carotid plaque. Our findings highlight the importance of sex hormones in the development of carotid plaque in midlife women.

Inhibition of viral and bacterial trigger-stimulated prostaglandin E2 by a throat lozenge containing flurbiprofen: An in vitro study using a human respiratory epithelial cell line.

Objectives:Symptoms of sore throat result from oropharyngeal inflammation, for which prostaglandin E2 is a key mediator. Flurbiprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory that provides sore throat relief. The preliminary objective of this study was to develop an in vitro model for assessing prostaglandin E2 stimulation by viral and bacterial triggers. The primary objective was to investigate the effect of diluted flurbiprofen-containing lozenges on prostaglandin E2 concentrations in stimulated cells.Methods:Prostaglandin E2 production was stimulated in three epithelial cell lines (A549, HEp2, and clonetics bronchial/tracheal epithelial) with influenza A virus (4.5 log10 tissue culture infectious dose50/mL), or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (10µ g/mL) and peptidoglycan (3µ g/mL) and incubated overnight. Prostaglandin E2 levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay up to 24 h after stimulation. The effect of flurbiprofen 8.75 mg lozenges (diluted to 0.44 mg/mL) on PGE2 production in stimulated cells was assessed in parallel; prior to viral/LPS/PEP stimulation of cells, 300 μL of test product or control was added and incubated for 30 s, 2 and 5 min (and 10 min for bacterial trigger). Prostaglandin E2 levels were measured following stimulation.Results:Viral and lipopolysaccharide/peptidoglycan infection did not consistently stimulate HEp2 cells and bronchial/tracheal epithelial cells to produce prostaglandin E2. Influenza virus, and lipopolysaccharide/peptidoglycan stimulated high prostaglandin E2 concentrations in A549: mean prostaglandin E2 concentration 106.48 pg/mL with viral stimulation vs 33.82 pg/mL for uninfected cells; 83.84 pg/mL with lipopolysaccharide/peptidoglycan vs 71.96 pg/mL for uninfected cells. Flurbiprofen produced significant reductions in virus-stimulated prostaglandin E2 vs stimulated untreated cells at 2 min (p = 0.03). Flurbiprofen produced significant reductions in lipopolysaccharide/peptidoglycan-stimulated prostaglandin E2 concentrations from 30 s (p = 0.02), and at 2, 5 and 10 min (all p < 0.005) vs stimulated untreated cells.Conclusions:A549 cells provide a suitable model for assessment of prostaglandin E2 stimulation by viral and bacterial triggers. Diluted flurbiprofen-containing lozenges demonstrated rapid anti-inflammatory activity in viral- and lipopolysaccharide/peptidoglycan-stimulated A549 cells.

Follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol are associated with bone mineral density and risk of fractures in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a higher fracture risk. Sex hormones are important for maintaining skeletal health. It is not clear which sex hormone(s) contribute(s) to bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in males with T2DM. This study investigated the relationships of these parameters in males with T2DM. This study involved 482 men with T2DM. BMDs at the lumbar spine (L2-4), femoral neck (FN), and total hip (TH) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The 10-year probability of fractures was assessed using the modified Fracture Risk Algorithm (FRAX) tool. Serum levels of sex hormones were measured. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were associated with BMDs at L2-4 (FSH, β = -.162, P < .05; E2, β = .176, P < .001), and E2 was associated with BMD at FN (β = .137, P < .05) and TH (β = .140, P < .05). FSH was associated with major osteoporotic fractures (β = .288, P < .001) and hip fractures (β = .235, P < .001). Higher FSH was a risk factor for osteoporosis/osteopenia (odds ratios [OR] = 2.92, 95% CI = 1.66-5.14, P < .001), whereas higher E2 was a protective factor (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.22-0.60, P < .001). Patients in the higher tertile of FSH and lower tertile of E2 had an increased risk of osteoporosis/osteopenia (OR = 5.05, 95% CI = 1.37-18.65, P < .05). For males with T2DM, FSH and E2 are significantly associated with BMD, osteoporosis/osteopenia, and fracture risk.

Effects of Supraphysiologic Levels of Estradiol on Endometrial Decidualization, sFlt1, and HOXA10 Expression.

Supraphysiologic estradiol (E2) levels associated with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in high in vitro fertilization (IVF) responders may alter implantation and placentation and increase the risk of preeclampsia. Our hypothesis is that elevated E2 levels in vitro significantly alter endometrial decidualization, sFlt1, and HOXA10 expression. Human endometrial stromal cells were treated with a decidualization cocktail of medroxyprogesterone, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and 3 concentrations of E2 10 nM (standard), 100 nM (intermediate), or 1000 nM E2 (high). Effects on sFlt1, prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and HOXA10 were studied. Prolactin, IGFBP-1, and VEGF significantly increased at all 3 E2 concentrations. While IGFBP-1 and VEGF did not change with increasing E2, PRL was less with high E2 (6.0 ng/mL ± 1.4 standard error of the mean) compared to standard (21.4 ± 3.2) and intermediate (19.8 ± 3.8). sFlt1 decrease was similar at all E2 concentrations. HOXA10 was lower at standard (10%) and intermediate (30%) as expected, but did not change with high E2. Supraphysiologic E2 levels associated with high IVF responders that exceed in vivo levels may impair in vitro endometrial decidualization. Although PRL did increase with high E2, the levels were, however, attenuated and 3.4-fold lower than standard and intermediate E2. sFlt1 was decreased under all 3 conditions with no differences between concentrations. Reduced HOXA10 was not observed with high E2. These findings suggest that elevated E2 levels in vitro may alter endometrial decidualization and subsequently affect implantation and placentation.

Sex-Dependent Mechanisms of Glucocorticoid Regulation of the Mouse Hypothalamic Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene.

To limit excessive glucocorticoid secretion following hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stimulation, circulating glucocorticoids inhibit corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons. As HPA function differs between sexes and depends on circulating estradiol (E2) levels in females, we investigated sex/estrous stage-dependent glucocorticoid regulation of PVN Crh. Using NanoString nCounter technology, we first demonstrated that adrenalectomized (ADX'd) diestrous female (low E2), but not male or proestrous female (high E2), mice exhibited a robust decrease in PVN CRH mRNA following 2-day treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonist RU28362. Immunohistochemical analysis of PVN CRH neurons in Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice, where TdTomato fluorescence permanently tags CRH-expressing neurons, showed similarly abundant co-expression of GR-immunoreactivity in males, diestrous females, and proestrous females. However, we identified sex/estrous stage-related glucocorticoid regulation or expression of GR transcriptional coregulators. Out of 17 coregulator genes examined using nCounter multiplex analysis, mRNAs that were decreased by RU28362 in ADX'd mice in a sex/estrous stage-dependent fashion included: GR (males = diestrous females > proestrous females), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (males < diestrous = proestrous), and HDAC1 (males < diestrous > proestrous). Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3), nuclear corepressor 1 (NCoR1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnrnpu), CREB binding protein (CBP) and CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) mRNAs were lower in ADX'd diestrous and proestrous females versus males. Additionally, most PVN CRH neurons co-expressed methylated CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2)-immunoreactivity in diestrous female and male Crh-IRES-Cre;Ai14 mice. Our findings collectively suggest that GR's sex-dependent regulation of PVN Crh may depend upon differences in the GR transcriptional machinery and an underlying influence of E2 levels in females.

Uncertainty Analysis of Factors Influencing Stimulated Fracture Volume in Layered Formation

Hydraulic fracture dimension is one of the key parameters affecting stimulated porous media. In actual fracturing, plentiful uncertain parameters increase the difficulty of fracture dimension prediction, resulting in the difficulty in the monitoring of reservoir productivity. In this paper, we established a three-dimensional model to analyze the key factors on the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), with the response surface method (RSM). Considering the rock properties and fracturing parameters, we established a multivariate quadratic prediction equation. Simulation results show that the interactions of injection rate (Q), Young’s modulus (E) and permeability coefficient (K), and Poisson’s ratio (μ) play a relatively significant role on SRV. The reservoir with a high Young’s modulus typically generates high pressure, leading to longer fractures and larger SRV. SRV reaches the maximum value when E1 and E2 are high. SRV is negatively correlated with K1. Moreover, maintaining a high injection rate in this layered formation with high E1 and E2, relatively low K1, and μ1 at about 0.25 would be beneficial to form a larger SRV. These results offer new perceptions on the optimization of SRV, helping to improve the productivity in hydraulic fracturing.

Maternal Exposure to High Estrogen Increases Hyperlipidemia Risk of Childhood Offspring

Background: Maternal endocrine disorders can cause abnormal metabolism in offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate whether prenatal high E2 exposure influenced the lipid metabolism of childhood offspring. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of 3,417 women whose E2 levels on the day of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) administration were tested, 1326 were pregnant between 2005-2010. Of 803 women who delivered, 298 women declined child testing and 165 were lost to follow up. Finally, 209 children (125 singleton and 84 twins) born to 167 women without high E2 (low E2 group), and 220 children (126 singleton and 94 twins) from 173 women with high E2 (high E2 group) completed our follow-up study. Information about their 429 children at 3-10 years old was available. Serum lipid levels of these children were examined, and, the relationship between serum lipid levels in offspring and maternal estrogen levels was analyzed. Furthermore, animal models of high estrogen exposure were established to study the lipid metabolism in the offspring. Findings: The serum total cholesterol (TC) levels were 4.10±0.67 mmol/L (low E2 group) and 4.24±0.71 mmol/L (high E2 group, p<0.05), respectively, and, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were 2.10±0.47 mmol/L (low E2 group) and 2.22±0.50 mmol/L (high E2 group, p<0.05), respectively. Serum triglyceride (TG) levels and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were comparable in the two groups. In addition, children in high E2 group had significantly larger birth length than those in low E2 group, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed in birth weight, age, BMI, singleton and twins’ ratio, gender ratio, feeding pattern, blood pressure and heart rate of children between two groups. On the other hand, there was an independently significant association between serum lipid levels in childhood and prenatally maternal serum E2 levels. It was confirmed in the mouse model that intrauterine high E2 resulted in hypercholesterolemia in offspring until adulthood. Interpretation: This study provides evidence that the offspring exposed to intrauterine high estrogen had significantly higher levels of lipids in childhood, suggesting that prenatal high estrogen exposure may predispose offspring to lipid metabolism disorder in later life. Funding: Research supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFC1001300), National Natural Science Foundation of China (81671519, 81801444, 81490742, 31571556). Declaration of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethical Approval: Our study was approved by the ethical committee of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. All experiments were conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine, Zhejiang University and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-OCC-14004682). Our animal experiments were approved by the Zhejiang University Animal Care and Use Committee.

Relationships between the antral follicle count, steroidogenesis, and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and anti-M\xfcllerian hormone during follicular growth in cattle

BackgroundThe antral follicle count (AFC) in mammalian ovaries positively correlates with female fertility. To clarify the causes of differences in fertility between low and high AFC cows, we investigated follicular growth dynamics and hormone concentrations in plasma, follicular fluid, and in vitro growth (IVG) media at different stages of follicular growth.MethodsSeven cows were divided into high AFC (n = 4, > 30 follicles) and low AFC (n = 3, < 30 follicles) groups based on the peak AFC detected by ultrasonography. These cows were subjected to estrous synchronization, daily ovarian ultrasonography, and blood collection. Their follicular fluid was collected from dominant follicles at different stages (selection, luteal, and ovulatory phases). In another experiment, we cultured oocyte-cumulus-granulosa cell complexes collected from early antral follicles (< 1 mm) for 12 days. Estradiol-17β (E2), testosterone (T), progesterone (P4), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in follicular fluids and plasma were measured. Plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were examined. E2, P4, and AMH concentrations were also measured in IVG media.ResultsThe numbers of small (< 4 mm) and intermediate (4–8 mm) follicles were larger in the high AFC group than in the low AFC group (P < 0.05). The number of intermediate follicles was stable in the low AFC group, indicating consistent development. However, the number of these follicles fluctuated in the high AFC group. Plasma FSH concentrations were higher, whereas E2 and T concentrations were lower in the low AFC group (P < 0.05). E2 concentrations and the E2/P4 ratio in ovulatory follicles and IVG media on day 8 were higher in the high AFC group (P < 0.05). AMH concentrations in plasma and IVG media (P < 0.01) were higher in the high AFC group.ConclusionsThe weaker response to FSH of granulosa cells caused low E2 production in the low AFC group, resulting in high FSH concentrations and the consistent development of intermediate follicles. Conversely, higher E2 concentrations suppressed FSH secretion in the high AFC group. Granulosa cells in the high AFC group had the ability to produce more AMH than those in the low AFC group throughout IVG culture.

Oocyte exposure to supraphysiological estradiol during ovarian stimulation increased the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes after frozen-thawed embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

Maternal supraphysiological estradiol (E2) environment during pregnancy leads to adverse perinatal outcomes. However, the influence of oocyte exposure to high E2 levels on perinatal outcomes remains unknown. Thus, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore the effect of high E2 level induced by controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) on further outcomes after frozen embryo transfer (FET). The study included all FET cycles (n = 10,581) between 2014 and 2017. All cycles were categorized into three groups according to the E2 level on the day of the human Chorionic Gonadotropin trigger. Odds ratios (ORs) and their confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association between E2 level during COH and pregnancy outcomes and subsequent neonatal outcomes. From our findings, higher E2 level was associated with lower percentage of chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth as well as increased frequency of early miscarriage. Preterm births were more common among singletons in women with higher E2 level during COH (aOR1 = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.22-3.06; aOR2 = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.33-3.06). Incidence of small for gestational age (SGA) was more common in both singletons (aOR1 = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.30-3.11; aOR2 = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.69-3.74) and multiples (aOR1 = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.03-2.45; aOR2 = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.05-3.84) among women with relatively higher E2 level. No association was found between high E2 level during COH and the percentage of macrosomia or large for gestational age. In summary, oocyte exposure to high E2 level during COH should be brought to our attention, since the pregnancy rate decreasing and the risk of preterm birth and SGA increasing following FET.

Perkembangan Sel Endometrium Domba setelah Inkubasi dalam Kolagenase dan Dikultur In Vitro dengan Estradiol dan Progesteron

The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal incubation time of collagenase on concentration, viability, quality of endometrial cell culture, and the role of estradiol and progesterone on ovine endometrial cells proliferation. Endometrium minced was incubated into collagenase with different duration of time: 1 hour, 3 hours, and 6 hours repectively. Cell concentration and viability were calculated after incubation. The quality of cell culture was observed on 1st, 3rd, and 5th day after seeding. The best incubation result was then continued with the addition of the E2 (100 pg/ mL), P4 (100 ng/mL), E2:P4 (100 pg/mL : 10 ng/mL), and E2:P4 (10 pg/mL : 100 ng/mL) into the culture medium. After nine days, cell culture was harvested by trypsinization. Concentration and cell viability were analyzed using analysis of variance, followed by Duncan test. Quality of endometrial cell culture was analyzed descriptively. Results showed that there was a significant decreased in the concentration and cell viability obtained in each treatment of collagenase incubation time and optimum treatment of endometrial cell culture was found at 3 hours. Experiment on culture of endometrial cell revealed that proliferation rate treated by E2 and P4 was better then control (P&lt;0.05). Futhermore, additional of E2 into the culture medium even E2 alone (100 pg/mL or higher E2 combination with P4 (100 pg/mL : 10 ng/mL) showed better proliferation rate than P4 alone (100 ng/mL) or higher P4 combination (10 pg/mL : 100 ng/mL). In conclusion, suplementation of 100 pg/mL of estradiol (E2) could support better proliferation of ovine endometrial cells in vitro.

A Higher Estradiol Rise After Dual Trigger in Progestin-Primed Ovarian Stimulation Is Associated With a Lower Oocyte and Mature Oocyte Yield in Normal Responders.

Background: Prior studies have shown that patients with a >10% estradiol (E2) rise after trigger had more oocytes retrieved than plateauing or decreasing E2 responders. However, multiple follicles develop at different stages of maturation during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and may exhibit different responses to trigger. The association between the magnitude of E2 increase and oocyte retrieval outcomes is still unclear.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2,898 women undergoing their first COS cycles with normal response from January 2014 to December 2017 at a tertiary-care academic medical center. Patients were categorized into five groups according to the percentage increase in E2 levels before and after dual trigger: <10.0%, 10.0–19.9%, 20.0–29.9%, 30.0–39.9%, and ≥40.0%. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis were performed to explore the association between E2 increase and oocyte/mature oocyte yield, while logistic regression was used to assess its effect on low oocyte/mature oocyte yield (<10th percentile).Results: The post-trigger E2 increase was negatively associated with both oocyte yield (P-trend < 0.001, adjusted P-trend = 0.033) and mature oocyte yield (P-trend < 0.001, adjusted P-trend = 0.002). Compared with a <10.0% E2 increase after trigger, patients with a ≥40.0% rise had fewer mature oocyte yield [adjusted mean absolute difference [MD] = −5.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −8.2–−1.8] and higher risk of low mature oocyte yield (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.04–2.60), whereas no statistical significance was found in oocyte yield (adjusted MD = −2.7, 95% CI: −6.1–0.8) and low oocyte yield (adjusted OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.96–2.28). In addition, the rates of implantation, positive pregnancy test, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live birth were comparable among the 1,942 frozen embryo transfer cycles with embryos originating from different groups of E2 increase (all P > 0.05).Conclusions: A higher E2 rise after dual trigger is independently associated with a lower oocyte and mature oocyte yield in normal responders. Further studies are needed to explore the efficacy of individualized time interval from trigger to oocyte retrieval based on the magnitude of E2 increase after trigger.

Growth and characterization of ZnO nanostructures on porous silicon substrates: Effect of solution temperature

ZnO nanostructures were grown on porous silicon (PSi) substrate at different solution temperatures (85–100 °C) by using electrodeposition method. Then PSi/ZnO samples were systematically characterized. XRD analysis indicated that crystal quality and polycrystalline nature of ZnO nanostructures increased with temperature. SEM analysis revealed that the structure changed from nanosheets to nanoflowers. Raman and PL analyses proves that the aligned nanostructures exhibited high E2(H) mode of hexagonal ZnO in the range of 430–440 cm−1 and the typical emission peaks in the visible regions. These nanostructures with finely-controlled novel morphologies can be used to fabricate nano-optical devices due to its structural and optical properties.

Characterization of the Humoral Immune Response Induced after Infection with Atypical Porcine Pestivirus (APPV)

Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is a widely distributed pathogen causing congenital tremor (CT) in piglets. So far, no data are available regarding the humoral immune response against APPV. In this study, piglets and their sows from an affected herd were tested longitudinally for viral genome and antibodies. APPV genome was detected in the majority of the piglets (14/15) from CT affected litters. Transient infection of gilts was observed. Kinetics of Erns- and E2-specific antibodies and their neutralizing capacity were determined by recently (Erns) and newly (E2) developed antibody ELISAs and virus neutralization assays. Putative maternally derived antibodies (MDA) were detected in most piglets, but displayed only low to moderate neutralizing capacity (ND50 ≤ 112). Horizontal APPV transmission occurred when uninfected and infected piglets were mingled on the flat deck. Horizontally infected piglets were clinically inapparent and showed only transient viremia with subsequently consistently high E2 antibody levels. For piglets from CT affected litters, significantly lower neutralizing antibody titers were observed. Results indicate that E2 represents the main target of neutralizing antibodies. Characterization of the humoral immune response against APPV will help to provide valuable serological diagnosis, to understand the epidemiology of this novel pathogen, and to implement tailored prevention strategies.

Analysis of Pr co-doped Al:ZnO thin films using feasible nebulizer spray technique for optoelectronic technology

The rare earth element, i.e., praseodymium (Pr) co-doped aluminium zinc oxide (AZO) thin films is coated on a well-cleaned glass substrate by facile and cost-effective nebulizer spray technique. The Pr co-doping concentrations varied from 0 to 1.5% with the AZO structure in the steps of 0.5%. The structural analysis was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), showing that all the diffracted peaks exhibit polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure and the size of the crystallites is abridged with increasing Pr doping level due to lattice defects. In Raman analysis, the existence of high mode peak E2 at 437 cm−1; confirmed ZnO wurtzite structure. From the morphological study, it is clearly visualized that the film possesses spherical shaped grains which were uniformly distributed without any pinholes and voids. The surface roughness of the films was increased considerably from 22 to 39 nm on growing Pr doping from 0 to 1.5% as seen using atomic force microscope. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis and elemental mapping images clearly showed the subsistence of Al, Zn, O and Pr elements in Pr:AZO film. The prepared films exposed good transmittance range between 84 and 90% and the optical band gap was found to be 3.28 eV for initial Pr (0.5%) doping concentration. The PL spectra clearly showed that a high intense emission peak observed at 390 nm are associated with NBE which indicates that the film has good optical quality. Hall measurement revealed that the prepared film, i.e., 1.5% Pr-doped AZO film has low resistivity and high carrier concentration which is perfectly suit for optoelectronic device applications.