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Abstract: Microcapsules with adequate performance are required for self-healing materials. Novel self-repairing microcapsules with better heat resistance and water resistance were prepared by introducing melamine to urea–formaldehyde resin as wall material. The as-synthesized microcapsules were studied by various characterizations techniques, including scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical microscope (OM), particle size analyzer (PSA), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and contact angle meter. Spherical poly(urea–formaldehyde) microcapsules (mean size: 96μm) and melamine modified poly(urea–formaldehyde) microcapsules (mean size: 46μm, wall thickness: ∼3μm) were obtained when the amount of melamine was 6–8wt% and the amount of core materials was 75wt%. After modified by melamine, the water-resistance of microcapsule is improved and contact angle increases from 43° to 50°. The heat resistance, solvent resistance, acid resistance and alkali resistance are improved because of triazine ring in melamine, which resulting in long storage time for microcapsule at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate S100P expression and localization in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.Design: Experimental study.Setting: University hospital.Patient(s): Eighty-four women.Intervention(s): Complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray analysis was performed on human endometrium from days LH+4, LH+7, and hCG+7. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of S100P and of additional S100 family members, S100A4, S100A13, and S100A6. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the localization of S100P protein in LH+7 and LH+4 endometrium.Main Outcome Measure(s): Differential gene expression, levels of S100P messenger RNA (mRNA), and protein expression and immunofluorescent localization of S100P.Result(s): A statistical method, based on hierarchical clustering, identified genes whose expression varied at LH+7 compared with LH+4. We found that S100P was the fourth most up-regulated gene at LH+7. The S100P mRNA and protein levels were quite low during the proliferative phase and LH+4, but were elevated significantly at LH+7. The S100P expression at hCG+7 was lower than that at LH+7. However, the expression of S100A4, S100A13, and S100A6 did not vary throughout the menstrual cycle.Conclusion(s): S100P was specifically up-regulated during the implantation window. The underlying biological effects of S100P need further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we introduced a novel individual sperm freezing device named SpermCD, which consists of a right angular cryopiece (RA‐Cryopiece, or "C") and a grooved petri dish ("D"). SpermCD allows embryologists to transfer sperm and perform ICSI on the same focal plane. Thirty‐five patients underwent single sperm cryopreservation using SpermCD, including four patients with non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA), 14 patients with virtual azoospermia and 17 patients with cryptozoospermia. One hundred and twenty‐five cryopreserved spermatozoa from nine patients were thawed on the day of the oocyte retrieval and 121 spermatozoa were found, with a sperm recovery rate of 97.1 ± 4.6%. Sixty‐five MII oocytes from their spouse were injected with thawed sperm. Normal fertilization and high‐quality embryo rates were 68.0% ± 33.2% and 24.4% ± 22.2%. Nineteen transplantable embryos were formed after fertilization with frozen sperm, eight of which were transplanted in five couples, resulting in four successful deliveries. SpermCD is a simple and practical individual sperm freezing device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report two successful pregnancies after frozen-thawed ET in discontinued hormone replacement treatment cycles. Design: Case report. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Two infertile patients. Intervention(s): Hormone replacement treatment for endometrial preparation and frozen-thawed ET. Main Outcome Measure(s): Ovarian ultrasonography, serial hormone measurements of serum E2 and P, successful pregnancy, and follow-up visit. Result(s): One patient discontinued both E2 and P support 2 weeks after ET. The other discontinued estrogen support on the day preceding ET. No spontaneous follicle development was observed by ultrasonography, and no increase in serum P concentration was observed. Both patients became pregnant and achieved deliveries. Conclusion(s): These two cases show that maintenance of pregnancy is possible without early hormone support in hormone replacement treatment cycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

S100P was originally isolated from the placenta, and is expressed in very high levels in trophoblast cells, but its role on trophoblast cells proliferation has not yet been studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of S100P in human placental development, and the impact of its expression regulation on cellular function as well as molecular mechanisms involved in trophoblast-like cells. We found that the expression of S100P in first trimester placenta was significantly reduced in spontaneous abortion patients with respect to normal pregnant women. Up-regulation of S100P in JAR cells promoted JAR cells proliferation, and increased the expression of phosphorylated P38 (p-P38) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p-ERK MAPK. However, the effects of S100P on JAR cells proliferation were prevented by P38 inhibitor-SB203580, but not by ERK inhibitor-PD98059. These results showed that S100P may have a physiological role in normal pregnant development, and regulate trophoblast-like cell proliferation via modulating the P38 MAPK pathway. S100P最初从胎盘中分离，在滋养细胞中有非常高的表达水平，但是它在滋养细胞增殖过程中的作用还没有被研究过。我们这项研究的目的是研究S100P在人类胎盘发育过程中的潜在作用，以及对细胞功能的表达调控和与滋养样细胞相关的分子机制的影响。我们发现，早孕期流产的病人比正常的妊娠孕妇的S100P的表达水平显著下降。上调S100P在JAR细胞的表达，可以促进JAR细胞的增殖，并增加了磷酸化的P38促分裂原活化蛋白激酶和p-ERK蛋白激酶的表达。然而，S100P对JAR细胞增殖的效应可以被P38抑制剂SB203580阻断，但不被ERK抑制剂PD98059抑制。这些结果表明，S100P可能在正常妊娠发展中有一定的生理作用，通过调节P38 MAPK途径调节滋养样细胞增殖。 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To evaluate the effects of high progesterone prior to oocyte retrieval on the genomic profile of peri-implantation endometrium, we conducted this single-center, prospective cohort study. Depending on whether or not the progesterone level on the day of hCG administration and the day after hCG administration were elevated, a total of 20 women undergoing IVF treatment who did not have fresh embryo transfer were included: Group 1 refers to subjects with normal progesterone level on both days; Group 2 refers to subjects with normal progesterone level on the day of hCG administration and high progesterone level on the day after hCG administration; Group 3 refers to subjects with high progesterone level on the day of hCG administration and normal progesterone level on the day after hCG administration; Group 4 refers to subjects with high progesterone level on both days. Five subjects were included in each group. Endometrial samples were obtained 7 days after hCG administration. We found that high progesterone level prior to oocyte retrieval predominantly affected components of the NK cell mediated cytotoxicity pathway in the endometrium and that significant differences were only seen when progesterone measurements on both the day of and day after hCG administration were considered together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to compare slow freezing (SF) and vitrification (VT) techniques for day 3 embryo cryopreservation in infertile couples. Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 5613 infertile patients, with 7862 frozen-thawed day 3 embryos and 3845 vitrified-warmed day 3 embryos, from 2010 to 2014, at a single center. The rates of embryo survival, pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, live birth, and live birth weight were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 5613 cycles with 5520 transfers were analyzed. Using SF, the rates of overall embryo survival and fully intact blastomeres were lower than those in VT (91.5 vs. 97.4 % and 68.7 vs. 92.3 %, respectively). The rate of good quality embryos after thawing/warming was lower in SF than in VT. In single frozen embryo transfer cycles (FETs), the pregnancy and implantation rates were similar between the two groups (35.0 vs. 40.8 % and 34.6 vs. 35.9 %, respectively). In double FETs, the pregnancy rate per cycle was also similar between the groups (58.8 vs. 58.4 %). The implantation rate per embryo transfer was significantly higher with SF than with VT (38.8 vs. 34.6 %). With adjustment for maternal age and the number of good quality embryos, differences in implantation rate remained significant (adjusted P value, SF vs. VT P < 0.05). No independent effect was found for the method of cryopreservation on the pregnancy rate. No significant differences in the rates of miscarriage, live birth, and live birth weight were observed between the two techniques. Conclusions: Despite the significantly low embryo survival rate, fully intact blastomere rate, and good quality embryo rate in SF, the pregnancy and implantation rates were not adversely affected in single and double FETs. SF yielded an equivalent miscarriage rate, live birth rate, and live birth weight compared with VT. The SF protocol to cryopreserve day 3 embryos still should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]