[Effect of testicular puncture biopsy on the success rate of microdissection testicular sperm extraction for idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the predictive effect of testicular puncture biopsy and the biopsy results on the success rate of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the micro-TESE performance in patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) referred to the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital between January 2012 and August 2017. We discussed whether to take the testicular biopsy and testicular biopsy results, including the intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathology findings, could predict the success rate of the late micro-TESE.

RESULTS

There were 237 patients who were diagnosed as idiopathic NOA and received micro-TESE involved in the study and the total sperm retrieve rate was 25.7%. In 103 patients without testicular biopsy and 134 patients with preoperative testicular biopsy, the sperm retrieve rate was 26.2% and 25.4%, respectively. And there was no significant difference between the two groups. The testicular volume and serum follicle stimulating hormone levels of the two groups were (4.3±1.4) mL vs.(8.5±2.4) mL and (36.1±5.2) IU/L vs.(26.1±3.5) IU/L, respectively. Compared to the patients with preoperative testicular biopsy, the group of patients without testicular biopsy had a much smaller test volume and higher serum follicle stimulating hormone and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. For the patients who were found with a small amount of sperm in both intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological examination, the sperm retrieve rate was 100% (7/7). And for the patients who were only found with sperm in intraoperative microscopic examination or postoperative pathology examination, the sperm retrieve rate (SRR) was 47.2% (17/36). For the patients who could be not found with sperm in both intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological examination, the SRR was only 11% (10/91). The difference between the groups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia patients with smaller testicular volume still have a chance to be found with sperm by micro-TESE. The testicular biopsy results, including intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological findings, have predictive effect on the SRR for late micro-TESE. The patient who could not be found with sperm in both intraoperative microscopic examination and postoperative pathological examination have a small chance of success in micro-TESE.

[Analysis of pregnancy outcomes of polycystic ovary syndrome patients after frozen embryo transfer]

Objective: To investigate pregnancy outcomes of the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after frozen embryo transfer (FET) . Methods: Data of 2 367 PCOS patients received in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer [including fresh embryo transfer (fET) and FET] from January 2009 to December 2015 in Peking University Third Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. The basal characteristics, pregnancy complications and outcomes were analyzed, then identified the relative factors followed. Results: Totally 2 367 patients received in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: 1 106 were treated with fET, and the rest 1 261 cases were treated with FET. The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was lower in FET group [4.04%(51/1 261) versus 6.15%(68/1 106)], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Singletons born after FET had higher birth weight than fET [(3 406±548) versus (3 360±533) g], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no difference of other pregnancy complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). fET was an independent risk factor for GDM (adjusted OR=1.570, 95%CI: 1.075-2.294). Conclusion: Compared with fET, FET could decrease the risk of GDM and receive better neonatal outcomes in patients with PCOS.

[Factors correlated with height gain after posterior spinal correction surgery in lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis]

Objective: To investigate the correlated factors of height gain (ΔSH) after posterior spinal correction surgery in Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and to propose the predictive model of ΔSH. Methods: From 2013 to 2015, a total of 150 Lenke 1 AIS patients undergoing posterior spinal correction surgery were included in the study, with the age of (14.3±2.9) years. The Cobb angle of major curve, thoracic kyphosis (TK) and lumbar lordosis (LL) were measured on both pre-op and post-op standing whole spine x-rays. The change in Cobb angle, TK and LL were calculated. The difference between pre-operation and post-operation was compared and the linear regression analysis was used for the predictive model of ΔSH. Results: The pre-op and post-op values were (41.6±3.0)cm and (43.9±2.7)cm for spinal height (SH)[ΔSH=(2.4±0.8)cm, P=0.000]; (50.5±10.4)° and (14.6±6.4)° for Cobb angle (P=0.000). The Pearson correlation analysis showed that ΔSH was significantly correlated with pre-op SH (P=0.000), pre-op Cobb angle (P=0.000), pre-op TK (P=0.000), post-op SH (P=0.020), post-op Cobb angle (P=0.000), change in Cobb angle (P=0.000) and change in TK (P=0.000). The linear regression model 1 revealed that ΔSH was linearly correlated with change in Cobb angle (P=0.000) as well as change in TK (P=0.000); the linear regression model 2 showed that the pre-op Cobb angle (P=0.000) and pre-op TK (P=0.020) could be used for the pre-op prediction of ΔSH. Conclusions: The positively correlated factors of ΔSH include pre-op and post-op Cobb angle, TK, change in Cobb angle and change in TK. High pre-op Cobb angle and TK indicates high height gain in Lenke 1 AIS patients.

Long-term blood glucose monitoring with implanted telemetry device in conscious and stress-free cynomolgus monkeys

AIMS

Continuous blood glucose monitoring, especially long-term and remote, in diabetic patients or research is very challenging. Nonhuman primate (NHP) is an excellent model for metabolic research, because NHPs can naturally develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) similarly to humans. This study was to investigate blood glucose changes in conscious, moving-free cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) during circadian, meal, stress and drug exposure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood glucose, body temperature and physical activities were continuously and simultaneously recorded by implanted HD-XG telemetry device for up to 10 weeks.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Blood glucose circadian changes in normoglycemic monkeys significantly differed from that in diabetic animals. Postprandial glucose increase was more obvious after afternoon feeding. Moving a monkey from its housing cage to monkey chair increased blood glucose by 30% in both normoglycemic and diabetic monkeys. Such increase in blood glucose declined to the pre-procedure level in 30 min in normoglycemic animals and >2 h in diabetic monkeys. Oral gavage procedure alone caused hyperglycemia in both normoglycemic and diabetic monkeys. Intravenous injection with the stress hormones, angiotensin II (2 μg/kg) or norepinephrine (0.4 μg/kg), also increased blood glucose level by 30%. The glucose levels measured by the telemetry system correlated significantly well with glucometer readings during glucose tolerance tests (ivGTT or oGTT), insulin tolerance test (ITT), graded glucose infusion (GGI) and clamp.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that the real-time telemetry method is reliable for monitoring blood glucose remotely and continuously in conscious, stress-free, and moving-free NHPs with the advantages highly valuable to diabetes research and drug discovery.

Ribonucleotide reductase represents a novel therapeutic target in primary effusion lymphoma

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a highly aggressive B-cell malignancy that is closely associated with one of oncogenic viruses infection, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). PEL prognosis is poor and patients barely survive more than 6 months even following active chemotherapy interventions. There is therefore an urgent need to discover more effective targets for PEL management. We recently found that the ribonucleotide reductase (RR) subunit M2 is potentially regulated by the key oncogenic HGF/c-MET pathway in PEL (Dai et al., Blood. 2015;126(26):2821-31). In the current study, we set to investigate the role of RR in PEL pathogenesis and to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target. We report that the RR inhibitor 3-AP actively induces PEL cell cycle arrest through inhibiting the activity of the NF-κB pathway. Using a xenograft model, we found that 3-AP effectively suppresses PEL progression in immunodeficient mice. Transcriptome analysis of 3-AP treated PEL cell lines reveals altered cellular genes, most of whose roles in PEL have not yet been reported. Taken together, we propose that RR and its signaling pathway may serve as novel actionable targets for PEL management.

The relationship between quality of life and clinical phenotype in patients with treatment resistant and non-treatment resistant depression

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the differences in quality of life (QOL) and clinical phenotype between patients with treatment resistant (TRD) and non-treatment resistant depression (NTRD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The severity, QOL, and cognitive function of 107 TRD and 173 NTRD patients were evaluated and calculated by the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the P300 component of event-related potentials (ERP), respectively.

RESULTS

The scores of HAMD-17 showed no significant statistical differences between TRD (28.8±6.7) and NTRD patients (29.3±8.2). The scores of anxiety/somatization (t=4.535, p=0.002), core item (t=3.514, p=0.005) and sleep item (t=6.079, p=0.000) were statistically significantly higher in TRD patients than in NTRD patients. The scores of physiological function (75.46±20.1, 88.23±21.4), body pain (61.39±17.1, 77.19±21.2) and social functioning (40.27±20.6, 58.82±22.1) in SF-36 were statistically significantly lower in TRD patients than in NTRD patients. The P300 latency of ERP was statistically significantly longer in TRD patients than in NTRD patients. Each item in the quality of life was negatively related to the items in HAMD-17 in TRD patients, especially for anxiety/somatization, and sleep items. The QOL was negatively related to core item and retardation item in NTRD patients, and the QOL was negatively related to the P300 latency of ERP in both groups, p<0.05. The sleep disorder, anxiety/somatization and core items were more serious in TRD patients than in NTRD patients, when the severity of depression was not significantly different. The QOL was significantly lower in TRD patients than in NTRD patients, the anxiety/somatization and sleep disorder were the main symptomatic factors that caused decreased QOL in TRD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The abilities of abstract generalization, thinking transfer, and performing a function, were significantly lower in TRD patients than in NTRD patients, which were important factors which caused decreased QOL in TRD patients.

Identification of Suitable Reference Genes for mRNA Studies in Bone Marrow in a Mouse Model of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Bone marrow micro-environment changes during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with subsequent alteration of genes expression. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) is a reliable and reproducible technique for the analysis of gene expression. To obtain more accurate results, it is essential to find a reference during HSCT. However, which gene is suitable during HSCT remains unclear. This study aimed to identify suitable reference genes for mRNA studies in bone marrow after HSCT.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were treated with either total body irradiation (group T) or busulfan/cyclophosphamide (BU/CY) (group B) followed by infusion of bone marrow cells. Normal mice without treatments were served as a control. All samples (group T + group B + control) were defined as group G. On days 7, 14, and 21 after transplantation, transcription levels of 7 candidate genes, ACTB, B2M, GAPDH, HMBS, HPRT, SDHA, and YWHAZ, in bone marrow cells were measured by use of real-time quantitative PCR. The expression stability of these 7 candidate reference genes were analyzed by 2 statistical software programs, GeNorm and NormFinder.

RESULTS

Our results showed that ACTB displayed the highest expression in group G, with lowest expression of PSDHA in group T and HPRT in groups B and G. Analysis of expression stability by use of GeNorm or NormFinder demonstrated that expression of B2M in bone marrow were much more stable during HSCT, compared with other candidate genes including commonly used reference genes GAPDH and ACTB.

CONCLUSIONS

ACTB could be used as a suitable reference gene for mRNA studies in bone marrow after HSCT.

[Effect of concentrated growth factors on the treatment of degree II furcation involvements of mandibular molars]

OBJECTIVE

Concentrated growth factors (CGF), a new generation of platelet concentrate products, appears to have more abundant growth factors because of its special centrifugation process. However, there are few studies supporting this. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of CGFs in the treatment of II° furcations of mandibular molars.

METHODS

In the present study, thirty-one II° furcation involvements in twenty mandiblular molars were included and randomly divided into two groups. The furcation involvements in the experimental group were treated with bone graft therapy combined with CGFs, and the furcation involvements in the control group were treated with bone graft therapy alone. The clinical examination and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed at baseline and 1 year post-surgery for the two groups. The changes of clinical and CBCT data at baseline and 1 year post-surgery were compared between the experimental group and the control group.

RESULTS

At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the probing depth (PD), vertical clinical attachment loss (CAL-V) and horizontal clinical attachment loss (CAL-H): PD (7.36±2.32) mm (the experimental group) vs. (7.53±2.06) mm (the control group); CAL-V (8.69±1.65) mm (the experimental group) vs. (8.81±1.53) mm (the control group); CAL-H (5.24±2.01) mm (the experimental group) vs. (5.35±2.14) mm (the control group). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, the clinical parameters of both groups were significantly improved (P<0.001). For the experimental group, the average vertical attachment gain was (2.78±1.66) mm, and the vertical attachment loss was improved significantly compared with the baseline (P<0.001); the average horizontal attachment gain was (2.10±1.89) mm, and the horizontal attachment loss were improved significantly compared with the baseline (P<0.001). Furthermore, the improvement degree of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.001). At baseline, there were no statistical differences in the vertical bone loss (BL-V) or horizontal bone loss (BL-H) between the two groups (P>0.05): BL-V (5.08±2.17) mm (the experimental group) vs. (5.84±2.65) mm (the control group); BL-H (5.85±2.13) mm (the experimental group) vs. (6.01±2.27) mm (the control group). At 1 year post-surgery, both groups showed significant radiographic bone gain at vertical and horizontal directions compared with baseline (P<0.001). For the experimental group, the average vertical radiographic bone gain was (2.20±1.98) mm, the horizontal radiographic bone gain was (2.51±2.18) mm, the vertical and horizontal radiographic bone loss were both significantly reduced compared with the baseline (P<0.001). For the control group, the average vertical radiographic bone gain was (1.89±2.15) mm, the horizontal radiographic bone gain was (1.30±2.47) mm, the vertical and horizontal radiographic bone losses were both significantly reduced compared with the baseline (P<0.001). And the experimental group showed significantly higher bone gain at vertical and horizontal directions compared with the control group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Within the limitation of the present study, CGFs showed positive role in the treatment of II° furcation involvements of mandibular molars.

The levels of bone turnover markers 25(OH)D and PTH and their relationship with bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in a suburban district in China

This study evaluated the levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs) and investigated relationships between them and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women in China suburban district. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 25.03 % at lumbar spine and 6.23 % at femoral neck, and BTMs were negatively correlated with BMDs.

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this study were to evaluate the levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs), including serum N-terminal procollagen of type I collagen (P1NP), beta C-terminal cross-linked of type I collagen (β-CTX), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], and parathyroid hormone (PTH), and to investigate relationships between these markers and bone mineral density (BMD) as well the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women of suburban district.

METHODS

A population of 4822 postmenopausal women aged 55-69 years old (62.22 ± 6.75) from the suburban district was recruited voluntarily. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; 2251 women in this group had the serum BTMs 25(OH)D and PTH tested.

RESULTS

The prevalence of osteoporosis was 25.03 % at lumbar spine and 6.23 % at femoral neck. The median (interquartile range) values of serum P1NP, β-CTX, 25(OH)D, and PTH were 59.3 ng/mL (44.7-75.52), 0.370 ng/mL (0.280-0.490), 23.0 ng/mL (17.1-30.5), and 31.4 pg/mL (24.9-39.7), respectively. Serum P1NP and β-CTX levels presented significantly negative correlations with BMDs at the all the sites (Beta_std = -0.098 to -0.208, respectively, P < 0.001), whereas PTH levels were negatively correlated with BMDs of the femoral neck and total hip (Beta_std = -0.062 and -0.054, P < 0.01, respectively). Serum 25(OH)D had positive associations with BMDs at total hip (Beta_std = 0.051, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The BMD of postmenopausal women in China suburban area is higher than that in downtown area, and over 60 % of the participants had their serum 25(OH)D level over 20 ng/mL. BTMs were negatively correlated with BMDs, suggesting that BTMs are reliable factors for early declines in BMD.

[Differential expression of microRNA in eutopic endometrium tissue during implantation window for patients with endometriosis related infertility]

OBJECTIVE

To predict the genes that affect endometrial receptivity through the differential expression of microRNA (miRNA) in eutopic endometrial tissues during implantation window in patients with endometriosis infertility.

METHODS

Among infertile patients that received treatments at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital between May and December 2013, patients with endometriosis infertility were selected as endometriosis group (among the selected 17 cases, there were 6 cases with follicular phase endometrium and 11 cases with implantation window phase endometrium), and patients with tubal factor infertility were selected as control group (among the selected 19 cases, there were 7 cases with follicular phase endometrium and 12 cases with implantation window phase endometrium). (1)Implantation window phase endometrium was selected from 3 cases in each group. Using miRNA and mRNA joint gene sequencing and database for forecast results, as well as using the negative regulatory relationship between miRNA and mRNA, the intersection of target gene that negatively correlates with miRNA expression were obtained. The co-expression network of miRNA-mRNA wae constructed. Combined with the genes associated with endometrial receptivity found through bioinformatics method, the miRNA with core regulatory functionwas found. (2) Expand sample size to 14 cases for endometriosis group and 16 cases for control group.Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technique was utilized to detect the expression of miR- 142- 5p, miR- 146a- 5p and miR- 543 in endometrial tissues, and verify miRNA microarray results.

RESULTS

(1) miRNA and mRNA microarray screening results showed that, among the endometrial tissues of patients with endometriosis infertility and with implantation window phase, 6 differentially expressed miRNA were indentified, among which miR-142-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-1281, miR-940, miR-4634 showed significantly enhanced expression and miR- 543 showed significantly inhibited expression. Sixty- three differentially expressed mRNA were indentified, among which 58 mRNA such as CADM1, IL-10RA, ITGAL and LPAR5 had significantly enhanced expression. Five mRNA such as HLA- DRB1,3,4,5 and SOHLH2 showed significantly inhibited expression. Thirty- six taget genes were found in consideration of negatively correlated miRNA expression with the genes, miRNA-mRNA co-expression network were constructed. The miR-543 was found at the core of the network. Targetscan and other database predicted that miR-142-5p, miR- 146a- 5p and miR- 543 could act on various types of endometrial receptivity molecular corresponding marker genes such as HOX10, ITGAV, ITGB3, OPN, LIF, ESR, PGR, CDH1 and MMP. (2) RT- PCR test showed that the average levels of expression of miR-142-5p and miR-146a-5p in implantation window phase endometrium in endometriosis group were 8.3±10.6 and 1.9±0.8 respectively; the average levels of that in control group were 1.1±0.6 and 0.9±0.4, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.027, P=0.015), and was consistent with results from miRNA microarray test. The expression of miR-543 in tissues of follicular phase endometrium in endometriosis group (2.3±1.0) was significantly higher than that in control group (1.0 ± 0.4), and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.008). However, when comparing the expression of miR-543 implantation window phase endometrium in endometriosis group (1.2±0.6) with that in control group (1.5±1.0), the difference was not statistical significant (P=0.890).

CONCLUSIONS

There are multiple differential expressions of miRNA in the implantation window phase endometrium tissues of endometriosis infertility patients, among which miR-142-5p and miR-146a-5p show significantly enhanced expression and may affect embryo implantation by acting on a variety of endometrial receptivity marker molecules. The expression of miR- 543 in implantation window phase endometrium of endometriosis infertility patients is lower than that in the follicular phase, forewarned changes in the pattern of cyclic variation of miR-543, and may be the reason for affecting endometrial receptivity.

[Effect of catheter choice during embryo transfer on the clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer]

OBJECTIVE

To compare two flexible embryo catheters and determine whether clinical outcome differs in the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.

METHODS

This prospective control study was conducted by one doctor between July 2012 and November 2013. In the study, 2 064 patients undergoing fresh embryo transfer by using IVF-ET/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-ET in Reproductive Medical Center of Peking University Third Hospital were recruited. The subjects were divided into two groups. Cook Sydney IVF embryo transfer catheters (product model: K-JETS-7019-SIVF) were used for embryo transfer in group 1 (n=949), and Frydman-CCD catheters (product model: 131230301) were used in group 2 (n=1 115). Pregnancy outcomes were compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in age, diagnosis for infertility and stimulation protocol used between the two groups. In addition, there was no difference in the number of oocytes collected and in the number and score of embryos transferred. The significantly higher implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate (34.40% vs. 26.92%, 51.21% vs. 41.52%, 42.57% vs. 33.09%, P<0.05) were observed in group 1 compared with group 2. The abortion rate was not significantly different between the two groups (11.93% vs. 15.98%, P>0.05). The proportion of difficult transfer was higher in group 1 than that in group 2 (5.27% vs. 3.41%, P<0.05). There was no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the two difficult transfer cycles.

CONCLUSION

The type of embryo transfer catheter affects the clinical outcome in IVF. Good clinical outcome can be obtained by using Cook Sydney IVF catheter, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

[Expression and regulation of CD36 mRNA in granulosa cells and its relation with clinical characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To study the expression of CD36 mRNA in granulosa cells (GCs) of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the impact of testosterone, insulin and PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone on GCs.

METHODS

The expression of CD36 mRNA inGCs of patients with PCOS and normal controls were assayed byreal-time PCR.The level of CD36 mRNA after treatment with testosterone, insulin, and rosiglitazone in GCs ofnormal controls were also tested by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

(1) The expression of CD36mRNA in the GCs of PCOS was significantly higher than that of the controls (P<0.05). (2) When testosterone concentration was 1 nmol/L, CD36 mRNA increased in the GCs, but there was no significantdifference compared to the blank control, (P>0.05). When testosterone concentration was 10 nmol/L, the expression of CD36 mRNA in the GCs was higher than that in the blank control with significant difference (P<0.05). When insulin concentration was 10 nmol/L, the expression of CD36 mRNA increased but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). When insulin concentration was 100 nmol/L, the expression of CD36mRNA in the GCswas higher than that in the blank control (P=0.05). When rosiglitazone concentration was 1nmol/L, the expression of PPARγ mRNA in GCs were significantly increased compared with the blank control (P<0.05). The expression of CD36 mRNA atrosiglitazone concentrationof 10 nmol/Lwere significantly increased compared to the concentration of 1 nmol/L (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

High testosterone and insulin induced the expression of CD36 mRNA.Rosiglitazone increased CD36 mRNA in a dose-related manner in GCs.Increased CD36 mRNA in the GCs of PCOS may be related to the clinical characteristics of PCOS.

Osteopontin and Integrin αvβ3 Expression during the Implantation Window in IVF Patients with Elevated Serum Progesterone and Oestradiol Level

Background: To explore whether endometrial receptivity is determined by osteopontin (OPN) and integrin αvβ3 expression in women with elevated serum progesterone (P) and/or oestradiol (E₂) who are undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Methods: According to serum hormone levels on the day of HCG administration, 33 infertile women were divided into 3 groups: the high E₂, high P, and high E₂ and P groups. The control group included 11 fertile, healthy women. Endometrial biopsy was performed on ovulation day + 7 to + 8 for all study participants, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of OPN and integrin αvβ3 were analyzed. Result: No statistically significant differences regarding OPN and integrin αvβ3 expression were found between infertile patients in the high P, high E₂, high E₂ and P and control groups. There was no significant correlation between OPN and integrin αvβ3 staining intensity during the implantation window biopsy in any of the groups studied. Conclusion: Endometrial OPN and integrant αvβ3 expression/co-expression is not impaired during the window of implantation in patients with high P, high E₂, or high E₂ and P levels. The clinical value of assessing endometrial receptivity with OPN and integrin αvβ3 seems to be uncertain.

Correction: Osteopontin and Integrin αvβ3 Expression during the Implantation Window in IVF Patients with Elevated Serum Progesterone and Oestradiol Level

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-111697.].