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Cancer cells with their distinct energy supply and metabolic patterns offer unique opportunities for targeted therapy development. This study presents pH/ROS dual-responsive enzyme-carrying nanoparticles for efficient starvation and oxidative therapy in cancer treatment. The nanoparticles, composed of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), glucose oxidase (GOx), and hyaluronic acid (HA), were designed to leverage the unique metabolic characteristics of cancer cells. GOx was covalently modified onto HA to create HA-GOx, demonstrating enhanced enzymatic activity and thermal stability compared with free GOx. The nanoparticles ZIF@HAgel-GOx were then synthesized by adsorbing HA-GOx onto ZIF-8 and crosslinking with a ROS-sensitive crosslinker, acetone-[bis-(2-amino-ethyl)-dithioacetal] (TK). The enzymatic properties of ZIF@HAgel-GOx in solution and in cells were comparable to those of free GOx, and both could consume glucose to catalyze the reaction. The produced H2O2 could decrosslink the gel layer of ZIF@HAgel-GOx, and the produced gluconic acid could degrade the ZIF-8 core, eventually leading to the complete disassembly of ZIF@HAgel-GOx. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that GOx-carrying nanoparticles exhibited superior cytotoxicity to DOX carriers and could effectively eliminate cancer cells with minimal dosage. The findings provide a scientific rationale for the use of enzyme-based therapies in the treatment of various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare clinical outcomes following fresh or frozen embryo transfer (FET) in women with advanced reproductive age (ARA). Women aged 35–45 years who underwent their first autologous fresh or frozen cleavage stage embryo transfer cycle in the Centre for Assisted Reproduction of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were included. The primary outcome was live birth after the first embryo transfer of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Multiple covariates were used for propensity score matching (PSM) and generalized estimating equations were performed to examine the independent association between FET and live birth. Of the total 1453 patients, 327 patients had FET and 1126 patients had fresh ET. After the PSM procedure, 274 patients were included in each group. The live birth rate was 24.8% in the FET group and 25.2% in the fresh ET group (OR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.67–1.44, P = 0.92). Other pregnancy, perinatal and neonatal outcomes were all comparable between the two groups. This study showed that FET did not improve live birth and other clinical outcomes as compared with fresh embryo transfer in women with ARA who underwent their first IVF cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Does ambient temperature exposure affect outcomes including clinical pregnancy and live birth in women undergoing IVF? SUMMARY ANSWER Both extreme cold and hot ambient temperatures were significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes of IVF cycles. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Heat exposure has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes worldwide. However, the effect of ambient temperature on infertile women undergoing IVF treatment is unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A retrospective cohort study was conducted from a database of 3452 infertile women who underwent their first fresh or frozen embryo transfer in the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital from April 2016 to December 2020. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Daily mean ambient temperature exposure for each patient was obtained based on their residential address. Temperature-stratified multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate associations between temperature exposure and pregnancy outcomes after controlling for confounders. Vulnerable sub-groups were identified using forest plots. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were 45.7% and 37.1%, respectively. Regarding clinical pregnancy, a higher temperature during cold weather was significantly associated with a higher pregnancy rate in the period about 11 weeks before ovarian stimulation (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.102, 95% CI: 1.012–1.201). Regarding live birth, an increased temperature during cold weather was significantly related to a higher live birth rate in the period after confirmation of clinical pregnancy or biochemical pregnancy, with the aORs of 6.299 (95% CI: 3.949–10.047) or 10.486 (95% CI: 5.609–19.620), respectively. However, a higher temperature during hot weather was negatively associated with the live birth rate in the periods after confirmation of clinical pregnancy or biochemical pregnancy, with the aORs at 0.186 (95% CI: 0.121–0.285) or 0.302 (95% CI: 0.224–0.406), respectively. Moreover, the decline in live birth rates during cold and hot weather was accompanied by increased rates of early miscarriage (P  < 0.05). Stratified analyses identified susceptibility characteristics among the participants. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Climate monitoring data were used to represent individual temperature exposure levels according to the patient's residential address in the study. We were not able to obtain information of personal outdoor activity and use of indoor air conditioners in this retrospective study, which may affect actual temperature exposure. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study highlights that the ambient temperature exposure should be taken into account during IVF treatment and afterwards. There is a need to be alert to extremes in cold and hot ambient temperatures, especially during the period of follicle development and pregnancy. With this knowledge, clinicians can scientifically determine the timing of IVF treatment and reinforce patients' awareness of self-protection to minimize adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with extreme temperatures. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by a grant from the Clinical Research Plan of Shanghai Hospital Development Center [SHDC2020CR4080], a grant from the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality [19411960500], and two grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [81871213, 81671468]. B.W.M. is supported by a NHMRC Investigator grant (GNT1176437). B.W.M. reports consultancy for ObsEva, and research grants from Merck KGaA, Ferring and Guerbet. The other authors have no conflict of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests that in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be associated with an increased risk of developing obesity and metabolic diseases later in life in the offspring. Notably, the addition of melatonin to culture medium may improve embryo development and prevent cardiovascular dysfunction in IVF adult mice. This study aimed to determine if melatonin supplementation in the culture medium can reverse impaired glucose metabolism in IVF mice offspring and the underlying mechanisms. Blastocysts used for transfer were generated by natural mating (control group) or IVF with or without melatonin (10−6 M) supplementation (mIVF and IVF group, respectively) in clinical‐grade culture media. Here, we first report that IVF decreased hepatic expression of Fbxl7, which was associated with impaired glucose metabolism in mice offspring. Melatonin addition reversed the phenotype by up‐regulating the expression of hepatic Fbxl7. In vitro experiments showed that Fbxl7 enhanced the insulin signaling pathway by degrading RhoA through ubiquitination and was up‐regulated by transcription factor Foxa2. Specific knockout of Fbxl7 in the liver of adult mice, through tail intravenous injection of recombinant adeno‐associated virus, impaired glucose tolerance, while overexpression of hepatic Fbxl7 significantly improved glucose tolerance in adult IVF mice. Thus, the data suggest that Fbxl7 plays an important role in maintaining glucose metabolism of mice, and melatonin supplementation in the culture medium may rescue the long‐term risk of metabolic diseases in IVF offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]