P–138 When is low quality really low? Should we transfer low-grade blastocysts?

Study question

What is the live birth rate after single, low-grade blastocyst (LGB) transfer?

Summary answer

The live birth rate for LGBs is 28%, ranging between 15–31% for the different inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) subgroups of LGBs.

What is known already

Live birth rates following LGB transfer are varied and have been reported to be in the range of 5–39%. However, these estimates are inaccurate as studies investigating live birth rates following LGB transfer are inherently limited by sample size (n = 10–440 for LGB transfers) due to LGBs being ranked last for transfer. Further, these studies are heterogenous with varied LGB definitions and design. Collating LGB live birth data from multiple clinics is warranted to obtain sufficient numbers of LGB transfers to establish reliable live birth rates, and to allow for delineation of different LGB subgroups, including blastocyst age and female age.

Study design, size, duration

We performed a multicentre, multinational retrospective cohort study in 9 IVF centres in China and New Zealand from 2012 to 2019. We studied the outcome of 6966 single blastocyst transfer cycles on days 5–7 (fresh and frozen) according to blastocyst grade, including 875 transfers from LGBs (<3bb, this being the threshold typically applied to LGB studies). Blastocysts with expansion stage 1 or 2 (early blastocysts) were excluded.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The main outcome measured was live birth rate. Blastocysts were grouped according to quality grade: good-grade blastocysts (GGBs; n = 3849, aa, ab and ba), moderate-grade blastocysts (MGBs; n = 2242, bb) and LGBs (n = 875, ac, ca, bc, cb and cc) and live birth rates compared using the Pearson Chi-squared test. A logistic regression analysis explored the relationship between blastocyst grade and live birth after adjustment for the confounders: clinic, female age, expansion stage, and blastocyst age.

Main results and the role of chance

The live birth rates for GGBs, MGBs and LGBs were 45%, 36% and 28% respectively (p < 0.0001). Within the LGB group, the highest live birth rates were for grade c TE (30%) and the lowest were for grade c ICM (19%). The lowest combined grade (cc) maintained a 15% live birth rate (n = 7/48). After accounting for confounding factors, including female age and blastocyst characteristics, the odds of live birth were 2.33 (95% CI = 1.88–2.89) for GGBs compared to LGBs and 1.56 (95% CI = 1.28–1.92) for MGBs compared to LGBs following fresh and frozen blastocyst transfers (p < 0.0001, odds ratios confirmed in exclusively frozen blastocyst transfer cycles). When stratified by individual ICM and TE grade, the odds of live birth according to ICM grade were 1.31 (a versus b; 95% CI = 1.15–1.48), 2.82 (a versus c; 95% CI = 1.91–4.18) and 2.16 (b versus c; 95% CI = 1.48–3.16; all p < 0.0001). The odds of live birth according to TE grade were 1.33 (a versus b; 95% CI = 1.17–1.50, p < 0.0001), 1.85 (a versus c; 95% CI = 1.45–2.34, p < 0.0001) and 1.39 (b versus c; 95% CI = 1.12–1.73, p = 0.0024).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Despite the large multicentre design of the study, analyses of transfers occurring within the smallest subsets of the LGB group were limited by sample size. The study was not randomised and had a retrospective character.

Wider implications of the findings: LGBs maintain satisfactory live birth rates (averaging 28%) in the general IVF population. Even those in the lowest grading tier maintain modest live birth rates (15%; cc). It is recommended that LGBs not be universally discarded, and instead considered for subsequent frozen embryo transfer to maximize cumulative live birth rates.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Gamma-Ray Observation of the Cygnus Region in the 100-TeV Energy Region

We report observations of gamma-ray emissions with energies in the 100-TeV energy region from the Cygnus region in our Galaxy. Two sources are significantly detected in the directions of the Cygnus OB1 and OB2 associations. Based on their positional coincidences, we associate one with a pulsar PSR J2032+4127 and the other mainly with a pulsar wind nebula PWN G75.2+0.1, with the pulsar moving away from its original birthplace situated around the centroid of the observed gamma-ray emission. This work would stimulate further studies of particle acceleration mechanisms at these gamma-ray sources.

Peta-electron volt gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula

The Crab Nebula is a bright source of gamma rays powered by the Crab Pulsar's rotational energy through the formation and termination of a relativistic electron-positron wind. We report the detection of gamma rays from this source with energies from 5 × 10^-4 to 1.1 peta-electron volts with a spectrum showing gradual steepening over three energy decades. The ultrahigh-energy photons imply the presence of a peta-electron volt electron accelerator (a pevatron) in the nebula, with an acceleration rate exceeding 15% of the theoretical limit. We constrain the pevatron's size between 0.025 and 0.1 parsecs and the magnetic field to ≈110 microgauss. The production rate of peta-electron volt electrons, 2.5 × 10³⁶ ergs per second, constitutes 0.5% of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, although we cannot exclude a contribution of peta-electron volt protons to the production of the highest-energy gamma rays.

Extended Very-High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission Surrounding PSR J0622+3749 Observed by LHAASO-KM2A

We report the discovery of an extended very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray source around the location of the middle-aged (207.8 kyr) pulsar PSR J0622+3749 with the Large High-Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). The source is detected with a significance of 8.2σ for E>25  TeV assuming a Gaussian template. The best-fit location is (right ascension, declination) =(95.47°±0.11°,37.92°±0.09°), and the extension is 0.40°±0.07°. The energy spectrum can be described by a power-law spectrum with an index of -2.92±0.17_{stat}±0.02_{sys}. No clear extended multiwavelength counterpart of the LHAASO source has been found from the radio to sub-TeV bands. The LHAASO observations are consistent with the scenario that VHE electrons escaped from the pulsar, diffused in the interstellar medium, and scattered the interstellar radiation field. If interpreted as the pulsar halo scenario, the diffusion coefficient, inferred for electrons with median energies of ∼160  TeV, is consistent with those obtained from the extended halos around Geminga and Monogem and much smaller than that derived from cosmic ray secondaries. The LHAASO discovery of this source thus likely enriches the class of so-called pulsar halos and confirms that high-energy particles generally diffuse very slowly in the disturbed medium around pulsars.

[The Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (2020)]

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are highly heterogeneous, and the management of pNENs patients can be intractable. To address this challenge, an expert committee was established on behalf of the Group of Pancreatic Surgery, Chinese Society of Surgery, Chinese Medical Association, which consisted of surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, medical oncologists, endocrinologists, radiologists, pathologists, and nuclear medicine specialists. By reviewing the important issues regarding the diagnosis and treatment of pNENs, the committee concluded evidence-based statements and recommendations in this article, in order to further improve the management of pNENs patients in China.

Ultrahigh-energy photons up to 1.4 petaelectronvolts from 12 γ-ray Galactic sources

The extension of the cosmic-ray spectrum beyond 1 petaelectronvolt (PeV; 10¹⁵ electronvolts) indicates the existence of the so-called PeVatrons-cosmic-ray factories that accelerate particles to PeV energies. We need to locate and identify such objects to find the origin of Galactic cosmic rays¹. The principal signature of both electron and proton PeVatrons is ultrahigh-energy (exceeding 100 TeV) γ radiation. Evidence of the presence of a proton PeVatron has been found in the Galactic Centre, according to the detection of a hard-spectrum radiation extending to 0.04 PeV (ref. ²). Although γ-rays with energies slightly higher than 0.1 PeV have been reported from a few objects in the Galactic plane^3-6, unbiased identification and in-depth exploration of PeVatrons requires detection of γ-rays with energies well above 0.1 PeV. Here we report the detection of more than 530 photons at energies above 100 teraelectronvolts and up to 1.4 PeV from 12 ultrahigh-energy γ-ray sources with a statistical significance greater than seven standard deviations. Despite having several potential counterparts in their proximity, including pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants and star-forming regions, the PeVatrons responsible for the ultrahigh-energy γ-rays have not yet been firmly localized and identified (except for the Crab Nebula), leaving open the origin of these extreme accelerators.

First Detection of sub-PeV Diffuse Gamma Rays from the Galactic Disk: Evidence for Ubiquitous Galactic Cosmic Rays beyond PeV Energies

We report, for the first time, the long-awaited detection of diffuse gamma rays with energies between 100 TeV and 1 PeV in the Galactic disk. Particularly, all gamma rays above 398 TeV are observed apart from known TeV gamma-ray sources and compatible with expectations from the hadronic emission scenario in which gamma rays originate from the decay of π^{0}'s produced through the interaction of protons with the interstellar medium in the Galaxy. This is strong evidence that cosmic rays are accelerated beyond PeV energies in our Galaxy and spread over the Galactic disk.

Risk stratification of ulcer-like projections in patients with acute type B aortic intramural hematoma

Background

Acute type B aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) with ulcer-like projections (ULP) is associated with various adverse aortic-related events (AAE) and recommended for preventive endovascular repair as alternative. However, we have no therapeutic criterion on which to decide preventive treatment.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value and risk stratification of ULP in patients with acute type B IMH for proper treatment.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 61 consecutive patients with acute type B IMH and with present of ULP from January 2015 to December 2018 in our center. All patients were treated medically initially and CT scans were performed on admission and during follow-up period.

Results

During a median follow-up of 4.5 months (range, 0.3 to 49.8 months) from onset, 36 patients (59.0%) had composites of adverse aortic events, including 1 patient died for aortic rupture, 6 patients converted to endovascular repair, 6 progressed into aortic dissection, and 28 developed to aortic enlargement. A cutoff value to estimate risk is 6.0 mm for maximal ULP width (72.2% sensitivity and 84.0% specificity) and 4.0 mm for maximal ULP depth (94.4% sensitivity and 52.0% specificity). Patients with widest (P=0.005) or deepest ULP (P=0.019) in aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta had significant poorer aorta-related event-free survival rates. On multivariate analysis, maximal ULP width ≥6.0 mm [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.569, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.157 to 5.705, P=0.020], maximal ULP depth ≥4.0 mm (HR=5.198, 95% CI: 1.154 to 23.420, P=0.032) and widest ULP in aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta (HR=2.363, 95% CI: 1.012 to 5.517, P=0.047) were independently associated with AAE. ULP with both risk location (widest ULP in aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta) and size (maximal ULP width ≥6.0 mm) were significantly associated with a poorer aortic-related event-free survival rate than others (both P<0.001).

Conclusions

Maximal ULP width ≥6.0 mm, maximal ULP depth ≥4.0 mm and widest ULP in aortic arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta are predictive for progression of acute type B aortic intramural hematoma. For patients with ULP in both risk location and size, preventive endovascular treatment should be considered.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): This research was supported by grant DFJH201807 from High-level Hospital Construction Project of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital.

Impulse Control and ERP Characteristics of Patients with Mental Disorder Caused by Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective To explore the impulse control and event-related potential （ERP） characteristics of patients with mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury （TBI） in forensic psychiatry identification and to provide objective auxiliary indicators for forensic psychiatry identification. Methods Thirty patients （TBI group） with mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury, who were identified as mild psychiatric impairment by judicial psychiatry, including 24 males and 6 females, as well as the thirty people in the control group participated in the study. All the participants completed Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 （BIS-11） and ERP induced by Go/NoGo tasks. BIS-11 and ERP data were collected and analyzed. Results The results of the BIS-11 showed that the total score and subscale scores of the TBI group were higher compared to the control group （P<0.05）. Moreover, the TBI group exhibited significantly lower NoGo-N2 amplitude and lower NoGo-P3 amplitude than the control group. The NoGo-N2 amplitude was larger than the Go-N2 amplitude, and the NoGo-P3 amplitude was larger than the Go-P3 amplitude in both groups （P<0.05）. Conclusion Traumatic brain injury could impair impulse control of mild psychiatric impairment patients, and the amplitudes of NoGo-N2 and NoGo-P3 could be important parameters to evaluate the impulse control of patients with mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury.

Activation of the STAT1 Pathway Accelerates Periodontitis in Nos3-/- Mice

Early studies on the etiology and pathogenesis of hypertension have shown that it has a considerable association with inflammation and the immune response as well as periodontitis. Clinical studies have also shown that hypertension can promote the periodontal tissue destruction caused by periodontitis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the possible mechanisms of how hypertension aggravates periodontitis. Treatment with or without the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) inhibitor fludarabine was performed in an endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene knockout-related (Nos3^-/-) mouse model with the hypertension phenotype of periodontitis induced by bacteria. Micro-computed tomography, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were performed. We demonstrated that Nos3^-/--related hypertension increases bone resorption and periodontal destruction in periodontitis lesion areas, which can be inhibited by the STAT1 inhibitor. Experimental data also showed that Nos3^-/- significantly increased macrophage infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine expression in the periodontitis lesion area, which is dependent on the angiotensin II-induced STAT1 pathway. Inhibition of STAT1 in vivo can decrease the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, data in this study showed that Nos3^-/--related hypertension further downregulated the STAT3 anti-inflammatory function and its downstream chemokine expression in a STAT1-dependent manner. By applying RAW 264.7 and L929 cell lines and monocytes isolated from Nos3^-/- mice, we confirmed that activation of the STAT1 pathway inhibits STAT3 and its downstream pathway and promotes inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro. Collectively, our current study demonstrated that STAT1 plays an indispensable role in the Nos3^-/--related hypertension with aggravation of periodontitis, suggesting that STAT1 may be a key target for the treatment of periodontitis with hypertension.

SAT0181 ALTERATIONS OF PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND THEIR CHANGES AFTER OUR NEW IMMUNOREGULATORY COMBINATION THERAPIES

Background:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal activation of circulating lymphocytes and overproduction of autoantibodies1. Breakdown of self-tolerance is considered as a critical cause in the development of SLE2. However, the quantitative changes of lymphocyte subsets in SLE are unclear. Since low-dose IL-2 and several drugs have been used to promote the proliferation of regulatory T cells (Tregs)3, we developed immunoregulatory therapies using these drugs to rebalance effector T cells with Tregs and test whether they are benefit to remission disease activity of SLE.

Objectives:

To observe the different levels of peripheral lymphocyte subsets at the first laboratory examination of SLE patients with those of healthy controls (HCs) and to evaluate the effect of immunoregulatory combination therapies on levels of lymphocyte subsets in patients with SLE.

Methods:

From September 2014 to December 2019, a total of 985 diagnosed patients with SLE (878 females, 107 males, mean age 42.99±13.37 years) and 206 healthy adults were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional study. And 795 patients with SLE (711 females and 84 males, mean age 38.26±15.242 years) were received the immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) such as low-dose interleukin-2, rapamycin, metformin, retinoic acid, coenzymes Q10 or other immunomodulatory treatments. The absolute numbers of T, B, NK, CD4+T, CD8+T, Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T regulatory cells (Tregs) in peripheral blood (PB) of these individuals were measured by Flow Cytometer (FCM) combined with standard absolute counting beads.

Results:

As compared with those of HCs, patients with SLE had lower absolute numbers of total T, NK, and CD4+T but higher proportions of all lymphocyte subpopulations except NK, CD4+T cells(P< 0.001) (Figure 1 A, C). Notably, the absolute numbers and proportions of Tregs as well as Th1 in CD4+T subsets were decreased (P<0.05) (Figure 1 B, D). Further, there was a significant increase in the ratio of Teffs/Tregs such as Th1/Tregs, Th2/Tregs and Th17/Tregs (P<0.05) (Figure 1 E). After receiving immunoregulatory combination therapies, the absolute numbers and proportions of T, NK, CD4+T, and CD8+T were increased, while the proportion of B cells was decreased (Figure 2 A, C); the absolute numbers of most CD4+T subsets as well as the proportions of only Th1 and Tregs were significantly increased (P< 0.001) (Figure 2 B, D). The ratios of Th1/Th2 and Th1/Tregs increased while that of Th17/Tregs and Th2/Tregs decreased (P<0.01) (Figure 2 E).

Conclusion:

Quantitative and functional alterations of peripheral lymphocyte subsets, especially reduced Tregs, play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of the patients. Immunoregulatory combination therapies mainly promote the proliferation and functional recovery of Tregs to rebalance pro- and anti-inflammatory T cells in patients with SLE for patients’ symptoms remission.

References:

[1]Sharabi A, Tsokos GC. T cell metabolism: new insights in systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis and therapy. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2020 doi: 10.1038/s41584-019-0356-x [published Online First: 2020/01/18]

[2]Durcan L, O’Dwyer T, Petri M. Management strategies and future directions for systemic lupus erythematosus in adults. Lancet 2019;393(10188):2332-43. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30237-5 [published Online First: 2019/06/11]

[3]Spolski R, Li P, Leonard WJ. Biology and regulation of IL-2: from molecular mechanisms to human therapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2018;18(10):648-59. doi: 10.1038/s41577-018-0046-y [published Online First: 2018/08/10]

Acknowledgments :

None.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Feasibility of using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for differentiating thymic carcinoma from thymic lymphoma based on semi-quantitative and quantitative models

AIM

To evaluate the value of using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) derived parameters to differentiate thymic carcinoma and thymic lymphoma based on semi-quantitative and quantitative models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine pathologically confirmed anterior mediastinum tumours in 29 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study, including 15 thymic carcinoma and 14 lymphoma patients. All the patients underwent pre-treatment mediastinum DCE-MRI. Both semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters were calculated and the volume transfer constant K^trans, the flux rate constant between extravascular extracellular space and plasma k_ep, the extravascular extracellular volume fraction v_e were obtained based on a modified Tofts model. DCE-MRI derived parameters were compared between thymic carcinoma and thymic lymphoma groups.

RESULTS

Thymic carcinoma had significantly lower k_ep (p=0.040) and higher v_e (p=0.018) than thymic lymphoma; however, there were no significant differences on K^trans and semi-quantitative parameters between the two groups. v_e had the highest area under the curve (cut-off value, 0.282; area under the curve, 0.748; sensitivity, 71.4%; specificity, 80%). The combination of k_ep and v_e could increase the diagnostic performance significantly (area under the curve, 0.752; sensitivity, 57.1%; specificity, 93.3%).

CONCLUSION

DCE-MRI derived parameters may have value in the differentiating thymic carcinoma and thymic lymphoma.

[Adult femur CT modeling and 3D automatic measurement of anatomical parameters]

Objective: To reconstruct a 3D model from adult femur CT scan data and automate a measurement of femoral anatomical parameters to study the characteristics of Chinese femur anatomical parameters. Methods: Using Mimics17.0, models from the CT data of 148 adult patients were established. The completed model was imported into Geomagic Studio and the anatomical landmarks of the femur were extracted to establish 3D coordinate system and unified coordinate system. Programmed with Matlab, using the nearest point iterative ICP algorithm and the 3D automatic extraction algorithm of anatomical landmarks to provide precision positioning, the femoral anatomical parameters were automatically measured and analyzed. The data were compared by using independent sample t test. Results: In this group, the diameter of the male femoral condyle was (84.1±3.6) mm, and it was (74.8±3.3) mm in the female; the anteroposterior diameter of the male femoral condyle was (66.5±3.7) mm, and it was (61.2±3.5) mm in the female; the diameter of the male ball head was (48.8±2.1) mm and it was (43.4±2.2) mm in the female; the differences between the two genders were all statistically significant (t=16.21, 8.84, 15.20, all P<0.05). The male femoral moment radius was (112.5±24.5) mm, and it was (124.7±19.2) mm in the female (t=3.30, P=0.002). The neck angle in male participants was 124.9°±4.0°, and it was 126.1°±5.5° in the female (t=1.40, P>0.05). As the height growed, most of the anatomical parameters increased accordingly. Conclusions: The 3D automatic measurement of femoral anatomical parameters is more reproducible and accurate than manual measurement. It is necessary to establish and enrich the femoral anatomical database to design and develop internal fixation products that meet the needs of Chinese people.

Nuclear Dependence of the Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetry in the Production of Charged Hadrons at Forward Rapidity in Polarized p+p, p+Al, and p+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We report on the nuclear dependence of transverse single-spin asymmetries (TSSAs) in the production of positively charged hadrons in polarized p^{↑}+p, p^{↑}+Al, and p^{↑}+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. The measurements have been performed at forward rapidity (1.4<η<2.4) over the range of transverse momentum (1.8<p_{T}<7.0  GeV/c) and Feynman x (0.1<x_{F}<0.2). We observed positive asymmetries for positively charged hadrons in p^{↑}+p collisions, and significantly reduced asymmetries in p^{↑}+A collisions. These results reveal a nuclear dependence of TSSAs for charged-hadron production in a regime where perturbative techniques are applicable. These results provide new opportunities to use p^{↑}+A collisions as a tool to investigate the rich phenomena behind TSSAs in hadronic collisions and to use TSSAs as a new handle in studying small-system collisions.

First Detection of Photons with Energy beyond 100 TeV from an Astrophysical Source

We report on the highest energy photons from the Crab Nebula observed by the Tibet air shower array with the underground water-Cherenkov-type muon detector array. Based on the criterion of a muon number measured in an air shower, we successfully suppress 99.92% of the cosmic-ray background events with energies E>100  TeV. As a result, we observed 24 photonlike events with E>100  TeV against 5.5 background events, which corresponds to a 5.6σ statistical significance. This is the first detection of photons with E>100  TeV from an astrophysical source.

Retraction Note to: miR-200 Regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer via EGF/EGFR Signaling

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.