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Objective To explore whether a previous late miscarriage(LM) has a prognostic impact on the subsequent pregnancy outcomes in in-vitro fertilization(IVF) women. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Reproductive medicine centre at a tertiary hospital Population 1072 infertile women who had a LM following first embryo transfer. Methods Women were grouped by the causes of LM, 458 women with unexplained factor(unLM), 146 women with fetal factor(feLM), 412 women with cervical factor(ceLM), 56 women with trauma factor(trLM). Subgroup analysis and binary logistic regression were performed to evaluate the associations between LMs with different causes and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Main outcome measures The frequency of live birth and miscarriage following the subsequent embryo transfer after LM. Results Compared with general IVF population, the early miscarriage rate was significantly higher in unLM group(8.28% vs. 13.47%,P=0.003, rate ratio(RR)=1.725,95% confidence interval(CI)1.204-2.470). Further, women with a unLM or ceLM had a dramatically elevated risk of recurrent LM(for unLM:4.24% vs. 9.43%,P=0.000,RR=2.348,95%CI 1.527-3.610; for ceLM: 4.24% vs. 15.53%,P=0.000,RR=4.147,95%CI 2.836-6.064) and a consequently reduced frequency of live birth(for unLM: 49.96% vs. 43.01%,P=0.005, RR=0.756,95%CI 0.622-0.918; for ceLM: 49.96% vs. 38.59%,P=0.000,RR=0.629,95%CI 0.512-0.774). Conclusions Only one previous LM resulted from unexplained factor or cervical factor was significantly associated with a higher risk of miscarriage and a lower live birth rate after the subsequent embryo transfer. Keywords Late Miscarriage/Live Birth/Early Miscarriage/Cervical Incompetence/In Vitro Fertilization Tweetable abstract Women who had a LM for unexplained factor or cervical factor following the first embryo transfer had a significantly poor pregnancy prognosis after the subsequent transfer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether miR-148a-3p overexpression is associated with disrupted decidualization of recurrent implantation failure (RIF). METHODS: Endometrial miRNA and mRNA expression profiles during the implantation window derived from women with and without RIF were identified using microarray and RT-qPCR. Immortalized human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were cultured for proliferation and in vitro decidualization assays after enhancing miR-148a-3p expression or inhibiting putative target gene homeobox C8 (HOXC8) expression. RT-qPCR, western blot, and luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the relationship between miR-148a-3p and HOXC8 gene. RESULTS: MiR-148a-3p was significantly upregulated in RIF endometrial tissues. Forced expression of miR-148a-3p notably attenuated HESC in vitro decidualization. Mechanistic studies revealed that miR-148a-3p directly bounds to the HOXC8 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) and suppressed HOXC8 expressions in both mRNA and protein levels. Further investigations demonstrated that inhibition of HOXC8 in HESCs induced similar effects on decidual process as those induced by miR-148a-3p overexpression. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our findings suggested that elevated miR-148a-3p might account for flawed decidualization in RIF by negatively regulating HOXC8, raising the possibility that miR-148a-3p might be a novel therapeutic target in RIF. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s10815-020-01900-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Do embryo euploidy rates differ in the four groups of women with low prognosis as stratified by the POSEIDON criteria?This was a retrospective cohort study of low-prognosis patients who met the POSEIDON criteria and underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) from January 2013 to June 2020 at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, China. A total of 3016 blastocysts from 1269 PGT-A cycles were included in the study. The primary outcome was the euploidy rate of the blastocysts. For each group, regression analyses were performed to quantitatively describe the relationship between maternal age and embryo euploidy rate.The euploidy rate of embryos in women with poor ovarian response (POR) was 39.1% in total. There were 727, 1052, 275 and 962 blastocysts in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, with corresponding embryo euploidy rates of 57.2%, 34.9%, 52.4% and 26.2% (P0.001). Within each group, the euploidy rate decreased with age, especially in women aged 35 years or older (i.e. groups 2 and 4).Euploidy rates were more favourable in groups 1 and 3, of a young age, re-emphasizing that oocyte quality is the primary factor determining embryo euploidy rate. The study's findings demonstrated the reasonability of categorizing women with POR by the POSEIDON criteria depending on female age and ovarian reserve biomarkers. These results also provide information for women with POR in different subgroups so they can receive proper counselling on the possible prognosis.

STUDY QUESTION Are meiotic segregation patterns of reciprocal translocations affected by the combined effect of chromosome type and carrier's sex? SUMMARY ANSWER Interaction of an acrocentric chromosome (Acr-ch) involved in the translocation and sex of the carrier influences the proportion of alternate segregation for normal or balanced chromosome contents during meiotic segregation in autosomal reciprocal translocations. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Carriers of reciprocal translocations are at a significantly increased risk of fertility problems due to the generation of unbalanced gametes in meiotic segregation of a quadrivalent. Previous studies have reported that meiotic segregation patterns of a quadrivalent can be affected by factors such as a carrier's sex and age and the chromosome type. However, the reported proportion of alternate segregation does not differ significantly, except in one study, and whether combined effects between these factors exist is unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A retrospective study of array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) outcome data from patients with autosomal reciprocal translocations was conducted to analyse meiotic segregation patterns and blastocyst euploidy rates. We enroled 473 couples whose embryos were tested between January 2013 and September 2016. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Meiotic segregation patterns of 2101 blastocysts from 243 female carriers, including 76 cases with translocations involving Acr-ch, and 230 male carriers, including 88 cases with translocations involving Acr-ch, were analysed according to chromosome type, carrier's sex and age. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In cases with translocations involving the Acr-ch subgroup, the proportion of alternate segregation (53.9 vs 33.4%, P < 0.0001) was significantly higher in male carriers than in female carriers, with the proportion of 3:1 segregation (6.8 vs 16.3%, P < 0.0001) being significantly lower. The proportions of alternate segregation were similar between sexes in cases with translocations not involving the Acr-ch subgroup. Meanwhile, in the female carrier subgroup, the proportion of alternate segregation (33.4 vs 45.2%, P < 0.001) was significantly lower and the proportion of 3:1 segregation (16.3 vs 8.2%, P < 0.001) was significantly higher in cases with translocations involving Acr-ch than in those not. In the male carrier subgroup, the proportion of alternate segregation (53.9 vs 46.9%, P = 0.031) was higher and the proportion of adjacent-1 segregation (27.1 vs 37.3%, P < 0.001) was significantly lower in cases with translocations involving Acr-ch than in those not. Carrier's age did not affect the meiotic segregation patterns. However the euploidy rates were significantly lower in couples with advanced compared to young maternal age respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Mosaic embryos were not identified using aCGH in this study. Patients with complex chromosome rearrangements and translocations involving sex chromosomes were excluded. Interchromosomal effect was not analysed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The findings of this study provide detailed information for genetic counselling of couples with autosomal reciprocal translocations on their chances of producing euploid gametes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC1000202); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81671522); the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province in China (ZR2016HP09); and the Innovative Foundation of Reproductive Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University (20171114, 20171111). No competing interests are declared. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.

The cruciferous herb Weixian radish (Raphanus sativus L.), also known as Lai Fu, is a popular type of edible vegetable. The present paper describes the molecular tracking and bioactivity of glucocerebroside isolated from Weixian radish for the first time. Methanol extraction was carried out by using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-C18 column chromatography. Based on their structures, the two compounds were determined to be 1-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(2S, 3S, 4R, 8E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxyl-tetracos-15'-enoyl amino]-8-octa-decene- 1, 3, 4-triol (glucocerebroside). The glucocerebroside could inhibit the growth of BEL-7402 cancer cells and induce apoptosis in these cells.

Objective To investigate whether LHX1 gene mutations exist in Han Chinese patients with mullerian duct abnormalities (MDAs). Design Mutation screening. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Ninety-six MDA patients and 105 control subjects from a Han Chinese population. The parents of the patients carrying the genetic variation were also screened. Intervention(s) Gene sequencing. Main Outcome Measure(s) Karyotype, LHX1 gene sequencing. Result(s) We found no significant mutation in coding regions of LHX1 . However, there is a new rare polymorphism of LHX1 gene, c.1070–1081del, found in 1 out of 77 incomplete mullerian fusion patients and 1 out of 105 control individuals in the Han Chinese population (thus affecting ∼1% of Han Chinese). Conclusion(s) No causative perturbation was identified in the LHX1 gene. Mutations in the coding regions of LHX1 may not be a common genetic etiologic factor involved in Han Chinese MDA patients.

A state of systemic chronic low grade inflammation has been observed in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It has been suggested that inflammation is a potential mechanism influencing the ovaries or endocrine system and might therefore contribute to the pathophysiology of PCOS. The aim of this study was to compare the total white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil granulocyte and lymphocyte differential counts between women with PCOS and controls. In addition, we estimated if the WBC differential counts had a relationship with body mass index (BMI), total testosterone levels, estradiol levels and luteinizing hormone levels of women with PCOS.1016 subjects with PCOS and 1016 age-matched healthy women from a Han Chinese population were enrolled in this case-control study. Blood samples were taken from all the patients and controls to test total WBC counts, lymphocyte counts, neutrophil counts and related serum hormones.Total WBC counts and lymphocyte counts were elevated in PCOS subjects (t-test P0.01). Higher lymphocyte counts which contributed to higher total WBC counts in PCOS women were compared to age-matched controls. When the data were adjusted by BMI, the difference of WBC counts and lymphocyte counts between patients and controls remained significant.The state of chronic low grade inflammation in patients with PCOS might be associated with immunological factors. Obesity and hyperandrogenism may be due to the underlying low grade inflammation.

We examined the PBX1 gene in 192 Chinese women with Mullerian duct abnormalities and revealed 2 known single nucleotide polymorphisms: c.61G＞A in exon 1 and c.998–1330A>G in intron 7. Future studies in large cohorts of different ethnic populations are warranted to establish definite associations between the PBX1 gene and Mullerian duct abnormalities.

The aim of this study was to explore the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs13405728 (in gene LHCGR), rs13429458 (in gene THADA) and rs2479106 (in gene DENND1A) in women with endometrial carcinoma.We conducted a case-control study comprising 96 Han Chinese women with endometrial carcinoma, and 192 healthy controls. SNPs rs13405728, rs13429458 and rs2479106 were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The effects of body mass index (BMI) and age were evaluated using an unconditional logistic regression model adjusted for potential confounders.The allele frequencies of SNPs rs2479106 and rs13405728 were significantly different (P0.05) between endometrial carcinoma group and control group, and the difference was especially significant in the subgroup of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Genotyping analysis showed that allele G in rs2479106 and allele A in rs13405728 could confer risk to endometrioid adenocarcinoma.Our results suggest that SNPs rs2479106 in gene DENND1A and rs13405728 in gene LHCGR are associated with endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

Objective To search for WNT7A gene mutations in a cohort of 191 Chinese Han patients with mullerian duct abnormalities (MDAs). Design Phenotypic and mutational study. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) A total of 191 Chinese Han patients with MDAs and 192 healthy control individuals. Intervention(s) Genomic DNA extracted from blood samples, all coding regions amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) then directly sequenced to screen variants. Main Outcome Measure(s) Not applicable. Result(s) The sequence analysis revealed one novel synonymous variant and three known single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Conclusion(s) The results indicate that mutations in the coding sequence of WNT7A are not responsible for mullerian duct abnormalities in the Chinese population.