Effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on blastocyst formation rate and subsequent IVF outcome

Background: Male infertility associated with sperm DNA alteration has raised a new issue in assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs).Methods: It was a retrospective analytical study on 250 cases of routine IVF/ICSI performed at Swagat ART Centre from January 2017 to January 2020. We divided the patient according to the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) as normal DFI≤15%, n=95, a moderate DFI≤30%, n=89, and a high DFI group >30%, n=66. Oocytes of each patient were almost equally divided and fertilization method was adopted as half IVF half ICSI or only ICSI in poor quality (oligo, astheno, teratozoospermia or with two or all three defect and compared the fertilization, cleavage, embryo formation, blastocyst formation, pregnancy and early embryo formation rate among these six groups. Results: Fertilization, cleavage, embryo formation, and clinical pregnancy rates were reported as higher in ≤15% DFI group of both IVF and ICSI-ET (87.3±26.2, 77.7±26.1, 68.2±28.8, 50.8 in IVF and 78.3±17.8, 70.3±31.2, 67.2±28.8, 57.6 respectively). Significant differences (p<0.01) are observed among all six groups. Higher abortion rate is observed in high DFI group of both IVF and ICSI.Conclusions: High sperm DFI causes low blastocyst formation and pregnancy outcome. Higher abortion rate observed in high DFI group indicated need of further study.

The Quality Changes and Proteomic Analysis of Cattle Muscle Postmortem during Rigor Mortis

Rigor mortis occurs in a relatively early postmortem period and is a complex biochemical process in the conversion of muscle to meat. Understanding the quality changes and biomarkers during rigor mortis can provide a theoretical basis for maintaining and improving meat quality. Herein, a tandem mass tag proteomic method is used to investigate the effects of differentially expressed proteins on the meat quality of cattle Longissimus lumborum muscle postmortem (0, 6, and 24 h). The pH, total sulfhydryl content and sarcomere length decrease significantly during storage. In contrast, meat color values (L*, a*, and b*) and the myofibril fragmentation index increase significantly. Altogether, 147 differentially expressed proteins are identified, most being categorized as metabolic enzymes, mitochondrial proteins, necroptosis and ferroptosis proteins and structural proteins. The results also reveal additional proteins that are potentially involved in rigor mortis, such as cardiac phospholamban, acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase, and ankyrin repeat domain 2. The current results provide proteomic insights into the changes in meat quality during rigor mortis.

Effects of Neck-Arm Restraint Suspension of Beef Carcasses on Meat Quality and Proteome of Different Muscles During Post-mortem Aging

Beef quality is the first deciding factor for consumers to consider before purchasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of suspension and aging time on beef quality. We compared the differences in pH, drip loss, cooking loss, color, shear force, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), and electron microscope of three muscle tissues between Achilles tendon (AT) and neck-arm restraint (NR) suspensions during seven aging periods (days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 21) after slaughter using the carcasses of six Xinjiang brown cattle. We found that NR suspension could significantly increase the water loss rate and MFI, as well as reduce the shear force compared to AT suspension. The muscle fiber structure with NR suspension was more severely damaged. The proteomics of longissimus dorsi was checked for the post-mortem days 1, 7, and 14. We detected 50, 26, and 29 differentially expressed proteins between NR and AT suspension at post-mortem days 1, 7, and 14, respectively. These proteins were involved in metabolic and muscle structure associated pathways and contributed to a comprehensive understanding of suspension-dependent meat quality regulation by proteins in beef cattle. To conclude, NR suspension can accelerate the aging time of beef carcasses, which will reduce the cost of carcass suspension and bring more benefits in the beef industry.

Cumulus Cell DNA Damage as an Index of Human Oocyte Competence

The determination of oocyte quality is crucial for achieving effective syngamy post-sperm injection and embryonic development. Cumulus cells (CCs) have been proposed as biomarkers of oocyte quality because of their close bio-dynamic relationship with the oocyte. To determine the quality of the oocyte, CCs were sampled during oocyte preparation for ICSI to determine a CC DNA fragmentation index (CCDFI) of each individual oocyte using a variant of the chromatin dispersion test. One hundred and thirty oocytes were selected and studied from two Spanish fertility clinics, 90 of which were fertilized and developed to embryos. Significant differences were found between the CCDFI of unfertilized and fertilized oocytes (p < .001) and between the CCDFI of embryos that were discarded and those that developed suitable for transfer or cryopreservation (p < .001). Oocyte quality was negatively correlated with CCDFI (Spearman’s rho = − 0.45; p < .001). Receiver operator characteristics curves (ROC) suggested that a cut-off value of 24% CCDFI was able to discriminate the capacity of the gametes to result in syngamy with a sensitivity and specificity of 75.6% and 65%, respectively. This cut-off supports the application of CCDFI as potential index for the evaluation of the reproductive potential of oocytes prior to fertilization.

Night-to-Night Associations Between Light Exposure and Sleep Health

Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to light preceding and during sleep is associated with poor sleep, but most research to date has utilized either experimental or cross-sectional designs. The current study expands upon prior studies by using a microlongitudinal design that examines the night-to-night associations between light and sleep health in a diverse sample of adults (pre-registered at osf.io/k5zgv). U.S. adults aged 18 to 87 from two parent studies (N= 124) wore an actiwatch for up to 10 nights. Light variables estimated from actigraphy include both average exposure and time above light threshold of 10 (TALT10) and 40 (TALT40) lux both during sleep and for the 1-hour preceding sleep. Actigraphy-based sleep variables included sleep offset, duration, percentage, and fragmentation index. Higher average light exposure during sleep was associated with a later sleep offset time, lower sleep percentage, and higher fragmentation index (all p &lt;.01). More minutes of TALT10 during sleep was associated with later sleep timing, lower sleep percentage, and higher fragmentation index (all p &lt; .01) and greater TALT40 during sleep was associated with lower sleep percentage. Light exposure was not related to sleep duration. In summary, greater light exposure during sleep was related to poorer sleep continuity and later wake time. The lack of association between light and sleep duration may be the result of compensating for sleep disruption by delaying wake time. Multi-level interventions to consistently reduce light levels during sleep should be considered.

Effect of refrigeration on the collagen and texture characteristics of yak meat

To investigate the effect of refrigeration on the collagen and texture characteristics of yak meat, the changes in collagen content, solubility, shear force, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness of yak meat at 4±1°C were measured. The results showed that the contents and solubility of collagen in yak meat significantly decreased (P<0.05). The myofibrillar fragmentation index of yak meat significantly increased (P<0.05). The shear force, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness of yak meat significantly decreased (P<0.05). Correlation analysis and histological structure analysis confirmed that myofibrillar fragmentation and collagen characteristics significantly affected the formation of yak meat texture during refrigeration. After 5 days of refrigerated storage, yak meat has a higher quality. The results provide a theoretical basis and data to support the deep processing and quality control of yak meat.

Effects of Radio Frequency Tempering on the Texture of Frozen Tilapia Fillets

Radio frequency (RF) tempering has been proposed as a new alternative method for tempering frozen products because of its advantages of rapid and volumetric heating. In this study, the texture of RF-tempered frozen tilapia fillets was determined under different RF conditions, the effects of related factors on the texture were analyzed, and the mechanisms by which RF tempering affected the texture of the tempered fillets were evaluated. The results show that the springiness (from 0.84 mm to 0.79 mm), cohesiveness (from 0.64 mm to 0.57 mm), and resilience (from 0.33 mm to 0.25 mm) decreased as the electrode gap was increased and the power remained at 600 W, while the shear force increased as the power was increased for the 12 cm electrode gap (from 15.18 N to 16.98 N), and the myofibril fragmentation index (MFI) values were markedly higher at 600 W than at 300 W or 900 W (p < 0.05). In addition, the tempering uniformity had a positive effect on hardness and chewiness. The statistical analysis showed that the texture after RF tempering under different RF conditions correlated relatively strongly with the free water content, cooking loss, and migration of bound water to immobilized water. The decrease in free water and bound water migration to immobilized water resulted in a significant increase in cohesiveness and resilience.

Nghiên cứu đặc điểm lâm sàng, cận lâm sàng và một số yếu tố liên quan đến cặp vợ chồng vô sinh nguyên phát

Mục tiêu: Nghiên cứu nhắm đánh giá đặc điểm lâm sàng, cận lâm sàng và nguyên nhân vô sinh của các cặp vợ chồng vô sinh nguyên phát. Đồng thời, tìm hiểu một số yếu tố liên quan đến tình trạng vô sinh nguyên phát. Đối tượng phương pháp nghiên cứu: Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang 91 cặp vợ chồng trong độ tuổi sinh sản được chẩn đoán vô sinh nguyên phát, đến khám và điều trị tại Trung tâm Nội tiết sinh sản và Vô sinh, Bệnh viện Trường Đại học Y dược Huế từ tháng 5/2020 đến tháng 4/2021. Kết quả: Nguyên nhân vô sinh do cả 2 vợ chồng là 54,9%, trong đó vô sinh nam chiếm 21,3% và vô sinh nữ chiếm 18,7%. Nguyên nhân vô sinh nữ chủ yếu là rối loạn phóng noãn (62,6%) mà phần lớn là nguyên nhân PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-hội chứng buồng trứng đa nang) (40,6%). Tỷ lệ vô sinh nguyên phát ở nhóm có chu kỳ kinh nguyệt không đều cao hơn so với nhóm có chu kỳ kinh nguyệt đều, tỷ lệ tương ứng là 82% so với 63,4% (OR= 2,6; 95% CI: 1,02 – 6,81; p=0,04). Nguyên nhân vô sinh nam chủ yếu là bất thường tinh trùng (78%). Ngoài ra, có 9,9% trường hợp có giãn tĩnh mạch thừng tinh. Tỷ lệ bất thường tinh dịch đồ ở nhóm đứt gãy DNA tinh trùng cao và trung bình cao hơn nhiều so với nhóm DFI (DNA fragmentation index - chỉ số phân mảnh DNA tinh trùng) thấp (tỷ lệ tương ứng là 82,1% và 81,5% so với 54,5%) với p=0,048. Không có mối liên quan giữa độ tuổi, BMI (Body mass index- chỉ số khối cơ thể) với tỷ lệ vô sinh nguyên phát ở 2 giới. Kết luận: Vô sinh nguyên phát có nguyên nhân đồng thời cả nam giới và nữ giới chiếm tỷ lệ cao nhất, trong đó nguyên nhân phổ biến nhất bao gồm rối loạn phóng noãn và tinh dịch đồ bất thường. Đặc điểm chu kỳ kinh nguyệt và kết quả phân mảnh DNA tinh trùng là những yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến chức năng sinh sản ở nữ giới và nam giới.

Effect of Sperm Dna Fragmentation Index on Clinical Outcomes of Intra-Uterine Insemination Patients

Objective: To study the effect of sperm chromatin condensation (DNA fragmentation index (DFI)) using aniline blue-eosin (AB-E) staining on pregnancy outcomes in patients facing unexplained infertility undergoing intra- uterine insemination (IUI). Our initial hypothesis states that if DNA fragmentation is high then chances of pregnancy are low/NIL hence these patients should be recommended with advanced ART procedures like IVF and ICSI. Design: Prospective study Setting: Tertiary care infertility centre Method: A total of 185 patients with age less than 40 years, non-smokers and without history of any pathogenic infection in the past 2months facing unexplained infertility i.e., males with normal semen analysis reports and females with normal ovulation and hysterosalpingography (HSG) reports were selected for the study. Patients were undergoing their first or second IUI treatment cycle between the period of June 2016 to December 2016. DNA fragmentation index (DFI) using aniline blue- eosin staining method was studied in semen samples provided on the day of IUI procedure. The patients were separated into 3 groups: low DFI (DFI<= 10%), medium DFI (DFI=11 % - 20%), and high DFI (DFI >= 21%) and clinical pregnancy outcomes of IUI were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson correlation co-efficient, ANOVA and Shapiro Wilk Test on the above groups. Main Outcome Measures: DNA fragmentation index (DFI) (%), Clinical pregnancy rate (%) Result: The overall clinical pregnancy rate for the selected patient pool was 21.08% with an average DFI of 8.84% in the pregnant female group and 14.65% in the non-pregnant female group. Sperm DFI % and clinical outcomes in IUI treated patients were statistically significant and negatively correlated with correlation coefficient (r) of -0.1, -0.3 and -0.3 in low DFI%, medium DFI and high DFI% groups respectively. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that DFI (%) and clinical pregnancy rate (%) are significantly and negatively correlated in patients with normal semen parameters undergoing IUI. The higher the DFI% the chances of clinical pregnancy become very low, therefore, these patients should not be recommended IUI but with advanced ART procedures like IVF and ICSI.