Low Birth Rate Research Articles

Delivery mode and subsequent birth rate: A nationwide register-based analysis in Finland.

The study aimed to calculate the subsequent birth rate for different delivery modes, comparing them with spontaneous vaginal deliveries, using a comprehensive nationwide high-quality registry. Data from the National Medical Birth Register (MBR) were used to evaluate the birth rate after different delivery modes. All first deliveries for a mother during the years 2004 to 2016 were included. For these women, all second pregnancies from the MBR during the years 2004 to 2018 were retrieved and combined with the data of the first deliveries. A Cox regression model was used to evaluate the risk for the second pregnancy after giving birth the first time. The results were interpreted with adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 375 619 women with a first and second pregnancy leading to birth were included in this study. Of these, a total of 50 579 women underwent assisted vaginal delivery, 50 429 had an unplanned cesarean section (CS), 22 021 had elective CS, and 252 593 had spontaneous vaginal delivery as a mode of delivery in their first pregnancy. Women with assisted vaginal delivery (aHR, 1.23 [CI, 1.21-1.24]) and unplanned CS (aHR, 1.03 [CI, 1.02-1.05]) had higher birth rates after the first birth, and women with elective CS as a mode of delivery had lower birth rates (aHR, 0.86 [CI, 0.84-0.88]) when compared with women who had spontaneous vaginal delivery. The findings of this study indicate that the CS operation itself is not the only cause of the observed lower birth rate; rather, there are underlying factors that have a greater impact on birth rates.

Identify high-risk DOR women ≤ 35 years old following assisted reproduction technology through cutoffs of anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle counts

BackgroundFemales with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) have significantly lower cumulative live birth rates (CLBRs) than females with normal ovarian reserve. A subset of young infertile patients, whose ovarian reserve is declining but has not yet met the POSEIDON criteria for DOR, has not received the attention it merited. These individuals have not been identified in a timely manner prior to the initiation of assisted reproductive technology (ART), leading to suboptimal clinical pregnancy outcomes. We categorized this overlooked cohort as the “high-risk DOR” group.ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study was to identify high-risk DOR patients through anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle counts (AFCs).MethodsA total of 10037 young women (≤ 35 years old) who underwent their first initial oocyte aspiration cycle at a single reproductive medicine center were included and further classified into three groups, based on the thresholds for AMH and AFC established through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and in alignment with the POSEIDON criteria. Two ROC analyses were performed to identify the cutoff values of AMH and AFC to obtain one viable embryo (one top-quality embryo or one viable blastocyst). The cutoffs of ROC were measured by sensitivity and specificity. The primary outcome was the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) per oocyte aspiration cycle. The secondary outcomes included the number of oocytes retrieved and the number of viable embryos formed. Pearson’s chi-square tests were conducted to compare the clinical outcomes among the three groups. Furthermore, univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between ovarian reserve and clinical outcomes. All of the above comparisons between the high-risk DOR and NOR were further confirmed by propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1 nearest-neighbor matching, with a caliper width of 0.02).ResultsAccording to the ROC analyses and POSEIDON criteria, the present study identified a population of high-risk DOR patients (1.20 ng/mL < AMH values < 2.50 ng/mL, with 6 ≤ AFC ≤ 10; n = 682), and their outcomes were further compared to those of DOR patients (positive control, AMH values ≤ 1.2 ng/mL, and/or AFC ≤ 5; n = 1153) and of NOR patients (negative control, 2.5 ng/mL ≤ AMH values ≤ 5.5 ng/mL, and 11 ≤ AFC ≤ 20; n = 2649). Patients in the high-risk DOR group had significantly lower CLBRs than those in the NOR group (p < 0.001) but higher CLBRs than those in the DOR group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression further demonstrated that high-risk DOR was associated with a lower likelihood of cumulative live birth chance (OR 0.401, 95% CI: 0.332–0.486, p < 0.001) than NOR was, with a greater likelihood of cumulative live birth chance (OR 1.911, 95% CI:1.558–2.344, p < 0.001) than DOR was. To investigate the effects of embryo development stage, the outcomes of D3 embryos and blastocysts were analyzed separately. Significant differences in pregnancy outcomes were detected only in D3 embryo ET cycles among the three groups (high-risk DOR vs. NOR, all p < 0.05; DOR vs. NOR, all p < 0.05). DOR/high-risk DOR did not influence the pregnancy loss rates or pregnancy outcomes (clinical pregnancy rates and ongoing pregnancy rates) per positive HCG cycle (all p > 0.05). After PSM, the differences in ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes between the high-risk DOR and NOR groups were consistent with the results before PSM.Conclusion(s)Our study revealed that the CLBR of the high-risk DOR patients was significantly lower than that of females with normal ovarian reserve and greater than that of females with DOR. The values of AMH ranging from 1.2 to 2.5 and AFC ranging from 6 to 10 appeared to constitute meaningful thresholds in females with mildly reduced ovarian reserve.

Control of sperm penetration using stereumamide A derived from Trichaptum fuscoviolaceum in the in vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.

Fungal metabolites are known to have potent and diverse properties such as antiviral, antidiabetic, antitumour, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and antibacterial effects which can be utilized to treat diseases. In this study, we investigated the functional activity of stereumamide A (StA) derived from a culture broth of Trichaptum fuscoviolaceum during the in vitro fertilization (IVF) of pig oocytes, to determine its effects on sperm penetration. Oocytes matured in vitro were fertilized in the absence or presence of varying concentrations of StA (0-50 μg/ml StA). When StA was directly added into the IVF medium, significantly lower fertilization rates were seen with the 20 or 50 μg/ml StA (2.0-17.5%) treatments compared with those of 10 μg/ml StA or the controls (60.9-62.3%), whereas StA had no influence on the survival of oocytes and spermatozoa throughout the IVF process. For evaluating the control of sperm entry, mature oocytes were pre-incubated in a medium containing 20 μg/ml StA for 1 h, and then IVF was subsequently performed. The incidence of polyspermy was significantly reduced when oocytes were pre-incubated with StA (15.0% vs. 50.4-57.5% in controls). In conclusion, sperm penetration was inhibited in the medium in the presence of StA during IVF, while StA did not affect sperm motility and fertility competence. Fertilization was controlled when mature oocytes were incubated with StA prior to IVF, suggesting the possible use of the fungal metabolite in assisted reproductive technology for humans and animals.

Transforming public health and economic outcomes by reducing risky behaviors: the potential for South Korea

South Korea faces a diminishing workforce driven by the world's lowest fertility rate, restrictive immigration, and low female labor participation. This paper explores reducing non-communicable diseases from risky behaviors as a solution. We investigate how many cases could be prevented if South Koreans changed risky consumption patterns, and the associated economic healthcare burden impact. Utilizing the Preventable Risk Integrated Model (PRIME), we model hypothetical 2022 reductions in tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy diet risks to estimate disease case and economic cost impacts. We contrast actual 2022 consumption against a moderate harm reduction scenario. Findings reveal potentially preventing approximately 73,400 new non-communicable disease cases, 69% among working-age Koreans, benefiting the workforce. This reduction could save $13 billion from avoided treatment costs, absenteeism, and premature deaths, including $3.7 billion in 2022 and $9.3 billion in future economic losses. The study emphasizes needing a harm reduction regulatory approach balancing public health and societal realities. We advocate risk-proportionate taxation policies incentivizing consumers toward less harmful alternatives. Given government responsibilities preserving both public health and productivity, smart regulation of risky consumption is critical. This timely research quantifies the significant potential gains from strategic interventions on key risk factors, informing policymakers navigating health promotion and economic objectives.

Demographic transition in South Korea: implications of falling birth rates.

This review examines the critical issues of declining total fertility rates (TFRs) and aging populations in East Asia with special focus on South Korea. It provides a comprehensive analysis of TFR trends, aging demographics, and the policy responses of these nations to the low-fertility crisis. This study highlights the intricate tapestry of the factors contributing to these demographic shifts, including economic, social, and cultural influences. It also examines the effectiveness of various prenatal policies implemented across these countries, offering insight into their successes and limitations. Furthermore, it explores the role of immigration as a potential solution to the structural challenges posed by low birth rates. This review underscores the importance of multifaceted strategies for addressing the complex demographic challenges faced by South Korea.

The effect of nitrogen fertilisation, biostimulant application and extra-root phosphorus fertilization on yield and quality of malting barley grain

A series of small-plot field trials were conducted between 2019 and 2021 with the spring barley variety Francin. The impact of Vital Root and YaraVita KOMBIPHOS on the grain quality of malting barley at varying nitrogen fertilization rates (50 kg·ha-1 N, 70 kg·ha-1 N, 90 kg·ha-1 N, and 110 kg·ha-1 N) was investigated. The following parameters were evaluated: grain size, thousand grain weight, specific weight, starch content, and protein content. The portion of grain &lt;2.5 mm, weight of thousand grains, and specific weight decreased with increasing nitrogen fertilization. Additionally, a decrease in starch content was observed with an increase in protein content in the grain. The application of Vital Root and YaraVita KOMBIPHOS at lower nitrogen fertilization rates up to 70 kg·ha-1 N had a positive effect on grain quality.

State Social Expenditures and Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight in the US

Adverse birth outcomes in the US, including preterm birth and low birth weight, are strongly tied to socioeconomic disadvantage and disproportionately impact infants of Black mothers. Increasing investments in social programs represents a potential policy approach to addressing disparities in birth outcomes. To examine state-level associations of government expenditures on social programs with rates of preterm birth and low birth weight both overall and by race. This cross-sectional, ecological study was conducted among liveborn infants in the 50 US states between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019. Data analysis was performed from May 2022 to May 2024. Yearly state and local government expenditures per low-income person on social programs in the following categories: state refundable Earned Income Tax Credit; cash assistance; childcare assistance; housing and community development; and public health. Yearly state-level rates of preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks) and low birth weight (<2500 g). From January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2019, there were 35.1 million live births in the US, of which 3.4 million (9.8%) were preterm and 2.8 million (8.1%) were low birth weight. Median (IQR) state social expenditures per low-income person were $1546 ($1074-$2323). Greater total state social expenditures were associated with lower overall rates of preterm birth (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] for every increase of $1000 per low-income person, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-0.999) but not with overall rates of low birth weight. In secondary analyses, greater state social expenditures were associated with lower preterm birth rates for infants of Black mothers (aPR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.999). Greater state expenditures specifically on cash assistance (aPR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.94) and housing and community development (aPR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98) were associated with lower preterm birth rates for infants of Black mothers. In this cross-sectional, ecological study, greater state-level expenditures on social programs were associated with reduced rates of preterm birth, particularly for infants of Black mothers. State and local governments may consider bolstering investments in cash assistance and housing and community development to address maternal and infant health disparities.

Trends and predictors of severe and moderate anaemia among children aged 6–59 months in India: an analysis of three rounds of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data

BackgroundChildhood anaemia remains a significant public health problem in India, as it adversely affects child development and overall health outcomes. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of severe and moderate anaemia among children aged 6–59 months and identify consistent predictors of this condition over the past 15 years.MethodsData from the three most recent rounds of the NFHS were used for this analysis. The final weighted sample included 40,331 children from the NFHS-3 (2005–2006), 200,093 from the NFHS-4 (2015–2016), and 178,909 from the NFHS-5 (2019–2021). Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted, followed by binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with severe and moderate anaemia in children aged 6–59 months. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 14.ResultsOver the past 15 years, the prevalence of severe and moderate anaemia among children in India has shown a slight decline. However, the influence of various predictors has changed over time. Young children (aged 6–23 months), those from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, and children born to mothers with high parity and low educational attainment remain particularly vulnerable to anaemia. Additionally, short-term illness significantly increases the risk of anaemia. Furthermore, women’s autonomy, indicated by higher education and lower fertility rates, along with maternal nutrition education, have emerged as key factors in reducing anaemia burden in the future. Notably, children whose mothers had no education were 1.4 times more likely to suffer from severe or moderate anaemia. Similarly, children born to mothers with four to five children (OR 1.1, p < 0.05) and those with six or more children (OR 1.2, p < 0.05) had an elevated risk of anaemia.ConclusionThe findings highlight three key areas for programmatic focus to accelerate anaemia reduction in India: [1] targeting young children (aged 6–23 months); [2] ensuring the inclusion of SC and ST communities in all relevant interventions; and [3] promoting women’s autonomy. These strategies are essential for reducing the burden of anaemia across the country.

The PPOS protocol mitigates the detrimental effects of high BMI on embryo and clinical pregnancy outcomes

BackgroundThe impact of high body mass index (BMI) on embryo and pregnancy outcomes in women using the PPOS (progestin-primed ovarian stimulation) protocol during their first frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles is not clear. This study is to investigate the impact of BMI on oocyte, embryo, and pregnancy outcomes in patients who underwent the PPOS protocol.MethodsThis retrospective study included the first FET cycle of 22,392 patients following the PPOS protocol. The impact of BMI on oocyte and pregnancy outcomes was assessed across different BMI groups, using direct acyclic graph to determine covariates, followed by the application of multiple linear and logistic regressions to further validate this influence.ResultsThe high BMI groups exhibited a higher number of oocytes; however, no significant differences were observed in good-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and implantation rate. Nevertheless, the high BMI groups demonstrated a significantly elevated miscarriage rate (9.9% vs. 12.2% vs. 15.7% vs. 18.3%, P < 0.001), particularly in late miscarriages, resulting in lower live birth rates (LBR, 41.1% vs. 40.2% vs. 37.3% vs. 36.2%, P = 0.001). These findings were further confirmed through multiple liner and logistic regression analyses. Additionally, several maternal factors showed significant associations with adjusted odds ratios for early miscarriage. However, women with a BMI ≥ 24 who underwent hormone replacement cycle or hMG late stimulation protocol for endometrial preparation experienced an increased risk of late miscarriage.ConclusionsBy utilizing the PPOS protocol, women with a high BMI exhibit comparable outcomes in terms of embryo and clinical pregnancies. However, an elevated BMI is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, leading to a lower LBR. Adopting appropriate endometrial preparation protocols such as natural cycles and letrozole stimulation cycles may potentially offer benefits in reducing miscarriages.

Lipid droplet distribution in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) oocytes is related to the fertilisation and developmental outcome

At present, there is no simple and practical applicable method to determine the quality of Atlantic salmon oocytes upon collection at the fish farm. Investigating oocyte lipid droplet patterns might be a tool for the aquaculture industry to predict oocyte quality in Atlantic salmon. While examining the lipid distribution in oocyte batches from 16 females of Atlantic salmon with a range in fertilisation rate (6–97 %), five categories of lipid droplet patterns were distinguished. In category 1, the lipid droplets were evenly distributed whereas in the remaining categories lipid droplets showed varying degree of coalescence. Categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 were distinguished based on the area of coalesced lipid droplets. The fertilisation rate was observed to be high (≥ 90 %), in females that had more oocytes from category 1, 2 and 3 whereas females with more oocytes from category 4 and 5 showed a low fertilisation rate (<90 %). A similar pattern was revealed between lipid droplet categories and eyed embryo and hatching success. Staining of salmon oocytes further confirmed the observed lipid droplet patterns, and different sizes of lipid droplets were present in almost all oocytes. The study revealed a significant association between lipid droplet category and fertilisation outcome in oocytes of Atlantic salmon that can be a practical tool for predicting oocyte quality.

The Detrimental Impact of Low Birth Rates on Malaysia's Accelerated Transition to an Aged Society

The Detrimental Impact of Low Birth Rates on Malaysia's Accelerated Transition to an Aged Society

How educational inequality affects family multichild behavior—evidence from super high schools

In a context characterized by the dual issues of educational inequality and problems with fertility, the internal relationship between these two factors requires further in-depth exploration. On the basis of data drawn from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2010 to 2018, this paper investigates whether “super high schools” in cities represent a form of educational inequality, uses a combination of a two-way fixed effect model with the instrumental variable method to discuss the influence of this situation on family fertility and the corresponding transmission mechanism, develops a proportional risk regression model, and expands our understanding of the influence of educational inequality on the second-child birth interval. This study reveals that educational inequality significantly suppresses the number of family births and that the paths of action associated with this effect include both the explicit and implicit costs of education. The inhibitory effect of educational inequality on the number of family births varies according to urban grade, urban or rural classification, and the education levels attained by women. In addition to decreasing the number of family births, educational inequality increases the second-child birth interval. This paper not only enriches related research on family multichild behavior but also provides an educational reference for attempts to address the issue of continuously low fertility rates in China and establish a connection between population and educational economics.

The epidemiological declining in the human fertility rate in the arab world for 10 years period 2011–2021

Recently, there has been worldwide growing interest on profiling the human fertility of populations because there has been a noticeable global decline in fertility rate, leading to increased attention toward reproductive health and fertility.The decline in fertility of population of the Arab World was investigated for the 10 years period between 2011–2021. The Arab World was classified into three regional blocks; Block-1 Arabian Peninsula countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen. Block-2 Fertile Crescent Arab countries: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza. Block-3 African Arab countries: Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia. Data on fertility rates for the 10 years period between 2011–2021 were collected from the World Bank for Arab countries. Statistical analysis along with decline in the fertility rates were determined. Results: Fertility rates varied across Arab countries in 2011 and 2021, with notable decline ranging from 24.3% to 3.8%, except for Algeria, with zero decline. Countries that exhibited significant decline were Jordan (24.3%) followed by Iraq (22.2%) then Yemen (19.1%); Whereas, countries that exhibited slight fertility decline were Libya (3.8%), followed by Tunisia (4.5%), Lebanon (4.5%) and Kuwait (4.5%). On another note, lowest fertility rate was observed in UAE as maintained between 1.7% and 1.5% and the highest fertility rate was observed in Somalia as maintained between 7.3% and 6.3% for 2011 and 2021 respectively. Conclusion: The present study reveals the declining-trend in fertility rate across Arab countries, influenced by variable factors. Therefore, we recommend to the Council of the Health Ministries in the Arab-League to focus on investigating the fertility decline as an important parameter for public health in the Arab world to maintain natural balanced fertility rate.As some non-biological factors surrounding the Arabian region, such as instability, war, migration, the present study did not aim to include the influence of war and migration on fertility because both war and migration are non-biological external factors and both are not among the WHO criteria for fertility determination which based of the population growth rate of population under normal living conditions.

Projecting future excess deaths associated with extreme precipitation events in China under changing climate: an integrated modelling study

Climate-change-induced extreme precipitation events have attracted global attention; however, the associated excess deaths burden has been insufficiently explored and remains unclear. We first defined an extreme precipitation event for each county when the daily total precipitation exceeded the county-specific 99·5th percentile of the daily precipitation from 1986 to 2005; then we estimated the associations between extreme precipitation events and cause-specific deaths in 280 Chinese counties using a two-stage time-series model. Second, we projected the excess deaths related to extreme precipitation events by combining the bias-corrected multi-model precipitation predictions derived under different combined emission-population scenarios of three representative concentration pathways (RCPs; RCP2·6, RCP4·5, and RCP8·5) and three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2, a business-as-usual scenario) populations (S1, low fertility rate; S2, medium fertility rate; and S3, high fertility rate). We quantified the climate and population contributions to the changes of future excess deaths nationwide and by climatic zones. Compared with the non-extreme precipitation days, the percentage increase of deaths associated with exposure to extreme precipitation days is 13·0% (95% CI 7·0-19·3) for accidental cause, 4·3% (2·0-6·6) for circulatory disease, and 6·8% (2·8-10·9) for respiratory disease. The number of annual average excess deaths related to extreme precipitation events during 1986-2005 was 2644 (95% CI 1496-3730) for accidental cause, 69 (33-105) for circulatory disease, and 181 (79-279) for respiratory disease. In the 2030s, the total number of excess deaths of these three causes will increase by 1244 (43%), 1756 (61%), and 2008 (69%) under RCP2·6, RCP4·5, and RCP8·5 scenarios combined with a medium-fertility-rate population (SSP2-S2), respectively, but will decrease by 3% under RCP2·6-SSP2-S2 and increase by 25% under RCP8·5-SSP2-S2 in the 2090s. Humid and water-limited regions in subtropical, middle-temperate, and plateau climate zones will face highly increased risks. Climate and population factors contributed disproportionally among the five climate zones. This study is the largest integrated projection exploring the disease burden associated with extreme precipitation events. The excess deaths will be amplified by climate and population changes. Improving mitigation and adaptation capacities is crucial when responding to precipitation extremes. National Natural Science Foundation of China and Wellcome Trust.

The Fertility Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Structural Change.

Despite recent economic growth and reductions in child mortality in many African countries, the region has experienced a slow fertility transition. In this study, we explore whether the slow structural economic change on the continent can explain this discrepancy. We construct a unique panel dataset combining Demographic and Health Surveys and nighttime light intensity data (an indicator of industrialization) from 57 countries at the subnational region level over three decades to analyze the drivers of fertility transitions across low- and middle-income countries. Our results confirm that household wealth, reduced child mortality, and female primary education are crucial for fertility declines. However, our analysis also highlights the importance of indicators of structural economic change, including the share of labor in nonagricultural occupations, industrialization, the share of women with higher education, and the formalization of the economy. Our simulations suggest that if high-fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa underwent structural economic transformations comparable to those of other low- and middle-income countries with low fertility rates, their fertility levels could fall by 1 to 1.6 children.

Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation

The use of progestins for the prevention of premature ovulation during ovarian stimulation is called progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS). Response to ovarian stimulation with PPOS and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs seem to be similar with the clinically insignificant differences being explained by endocrine characteristics as expected. PPOS has the advantage of oral administration and lower medication cost than GnRH analogs, but the mandatory cancellation of an otherwise possible fresh embryo transfer can render PPOS less cost-effective if a fresh transfer would have been possible. Oocytes collected in PPOS cycles have similar developmental potential, including blastocyst euploidy rates. Frozen embryo transfer outcomes of PPOS and GnRH analog cycles seem similar both in terms of ongoing pregnancy/live birth rates and obstetric and perinatal outcomes. While some studies reported lower cumulative live birth rates with PPOS, they suffer from methodological issues, including arbitrary definitions of cumulative live birth rates. PPOS has been used in all patient types with consistent results and seems a patient-friendly and cost-effective choice when a fresh embryo transfer is not intended.

Protein Modifications During Early Embryo Development.

Infertility is a global reproductive health burden. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have been widely used to help patients become pregnant. Few embryos develop to the blastocyst stage with ARTs, leading to relatively low live birth rates. Protein modifications play crucial roles in nearly every aspect of cell biology, including reproductive processes. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of protein modifications during embryonic development. Proteomic data from humans and mice were acquired from the integrated proteome resources (iProX) of ProteomeXchange (PXD024267) and a tandem mass tag (TMT)-mass spectrometry dataset. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were applied for functional annotation. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of the modification-related genes were revealed by the STRING database. Modified proteins during mouse embryogenesis were visualized through heatmaps of hierarchically clustering using k-means. We identified modification-related proteins in human embryo development and characterized them through heatmaps, GO analysis, KEGG analysis, and PPI network analysis. We found that the 4-cell stage to the 8-cell stage might be the demarcation period for modification-related protein expression patterns during embryo development. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we elucidated the methylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination events that occur during mouse embryogenesis to validate our findings in human embryonic development to some extent. The results of our study suggest that the posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of human preimplantation embryos might exhibit the same trends as those in mice to exert synergistic and fine-tuned regulatory effects during embryonic development.

Metformin reverses infertility in a mouse model of endometriosis: unveiling disease pathways and implications for future clinical approaches

Research QuestionDoes metformin reverse endometriosis-associated infertility? DesignEndometriosis was induced by transplanting endometrial tissue fragments from B6CBAF1 mice into the same strain female recipients. Mice were divided into groups: Endometriosis-End (n=24), Sham-operated (n=12), Endometriosis with orally administrated metformin during 3 months (0,5mg/ml)-EndMet (n=21), and Sham-operated metformin-treated-ShamMet (n=16). Half of mice per group was used for fertility studies. Implant growth was monitored by ultrasound and serum estradiol, glucose, and cholesterol (total, LDL, HDL) levels were assessed. Fibrosis was quantified in Masson's trichrome-stained sections of eutopic-Eu and ectopic-Ec endometrial tissue by computer-assisted analysis. PCNA, CYP17a1, F4/80 and galectin-3 were analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting; NFkB, GPX-1 and HO-1 only by Western blotting. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. ResultsThe endometriosis model was successfully established. End animals showed lower fertility rates than sham-operated mice, whereas metformin treatment increased the number of fetuses per pregnant mouse, restoring fertility to control levels, besides reducing implant growth and vascularization. Ectopic endometrial tissue resembled eutopic counterpart but showed increased PCNA levels and fibrosis that decreased after metformin treatment. PCNA expression decreased in pregnant mice. Metformin diminished CYP17a1 expression in EuEnd and on the contrary upregulated F4/80, galectin-3, NFkB and antioxidant enzymes, HO-1 and GPX-1, in non-mated mice. ConclusionsThese results emphasize metformin's application, even in a subtherapeutic dose, to alleviate oxidative stress and to mitigate endometriosis lesions fibrosis in a murine model of endometriosis. The study highlights metformin's potential as a pharmacological intervention for improving infertility in endometriosis, reinforcing its promising contribution to reproductive health.

The Urgent Call for Academic Action: Rebooting SDGs to Reset Our Future

This manuscript, presented at GEEF2024, emphasizes the critical role of academia in revitalizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address current global challenges. The SDGs, adopted in 2015, aim to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development by 2030. However, progress has stalled due to financial constraints, governance issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical crises such as the Russian–Ukraine war. The COVID-19 pandemic has had multifaceted impacts, reversing poverty reduction trends and disrupting education and energy investments. It has also exacerbated social inequalities, leading to the conceptualization of COVID-19 as a syndemic, an ecodemic, and an econodemic. These terms highlight the pandemic's complex interplay with preexisting health issues, environmental degradation, and economic disparities. Geopolitical crises have further hindered SDG progress by disrupting food and energy supplies and diverting resources from sustainable development initiatives. Climate change, marked by unprecedented heatwaves and natural disasters, poses additional threats to achieving the SDGs. The need for carbon neutrality and effective international cooperation is more urgent than ever before. In this context, universities play a crucial role in advancing the SDGs through research, innovation, and community engagement. Engaged universities align their research agendas with the SDGs, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and developing solutions to global challenges. Yonsei University's Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment (IGEE) exemplifies this approach with its Yonsei SDGs Initiative. By analyzing research outputs via natural language processing, the initiative aligns academic activities with SDGs, particularly in health and well-being. The GEEF2024 conference underscored the importance of innovative strategies and international cooperation in achieving the SDGs. Discussions highlighted the need to address mental health crises, low birth rates, and the care economy's undervaluation. The conference also emphasized the necessity of inclusive development strategies that reflect the perspectives and priorities of Africa and Asia.In conclusion, universities must integrate social engagement into their core missions to remain relevant and impactful. By prioritizing research, teaching, and services that contribute to sustainable development, academia can play a pivotal role in overcoming global challenges and achieving the SDGs.

Analysis of Parents' Perception of Education and Care Policies Vis-à-Vis the Government's Plan to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend

Analysis of Parents' Perception of Education and Care Policies Vis-à-Vis the Government's Plan to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend