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Yu-Shih Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Yu-Shih Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Decreased expression of CD25 on decidual activated T lymphocytes is not mediated by reduced CD25 messenger ribonucleic acid.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether the down-regulation of CD25 on decidual T cells occurred at the activated T cells and was governed through reduced CD25 messenger RNA (mRNA) production. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis and prospective study. SETTING: University hospital and medical college. PATIENT(S): A total of 12 women receiving hysterectomies and 20 pregnant women having elective abortions were included. INTERVENTION(S): The amount of CD25 mRNA in isolated T cells from peripheral blood, endometrium, and decidua was analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction and was compared after coculture with autologous cytotrophoblast cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression levels of CD25 and CD25 mRNA before and after coculture. RESULT(S): The percentage of activated T cells expressing CD25 is lower in decidua than in peripheral blood but the opposite in regulatory T cells. Nevertheless, the amount of CD25 mRNA in decidual T cells did not decrease, instead of approaching that in corresponding fully activated T cells. In the coculture model, we found that the cytotrophoblast cells could induce the decreased expression of CD25 on T lymphocytes. However, there was no change in the amount of CD25 mRNA in T cells after coculture. CONCLUSION(S): This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the coculture model to study fetomaternal interactions and provides evidence that fetal cells may contribute to the control of maternal local immunity and that the decreased expression of CD25 on decidual T lymphocytes is not through the reduced CD25 mRNA level.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Decreased suppression of interleukin-6 after treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate and danazol in endometrial stromal cells of women with adenomyosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in local cytokine production in the eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis after treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and danazol. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-four women with adenomyosis (study group) and 22 women without adenomyosis (control group). INTERVENTION(S): Eutopic endometrium was separated into single endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), and was cultured in vitro alone, with MPA (10(-7) M), or with danazol (10(-7) M) for 8 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Messenger RNA expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in ESCs, and their concentrations in the supernatants of ESCs. RESULT(S): A significant decrease of IL-6 concentration in the supernatant, measured by ELISA, was found with time of ESCs cultured with MPA and danazol in the control group, but not in adenomyosis. The IL-6 mRNA in ESCs determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain, as well as its concentration in the supernatant, was much higher in adenomyosis than that in the control group after treatment with MPA and danazol for 8 days. CONCLUSION(S): Medroxyprogesterone acetate and danazol appeared to have a decreased effect on the suppression of IL-6 liberated by ESCs in adenomyosis. This aberrant secretion of IL-6 might play a role in the formation of ectopic endometrial implants in adenomyosis.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed2006

Novel direct cover vitrification for cryopreservation of ovarian tissues increases follicle viability and pregnancy capability in mice.

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is valuable for fertility preservation. We develop an innovative vitrification method using less concentrated cryoprotectants and direct application of liquid nitrogen to the ovarian tissue (direct cover vitrification, DCV) to improve its efficiency. METHODS: Ovaries of 5- to 6-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to four groups: DCV, conventional vitrification, slow-freezing and non-frozen controls. Experiment 1: observing the follicle morphology. Experiment 2: assessing viability. Experiment 3: investigating the ultrastructure. Experiment 4: examining the follicle number after grafting. Experiment 5: ascertaining pregnancy potential by allogeneic orthotopic transplantation. RESULTS: The percentages of morphologically normal or viable follicles from DCV were significantly greater than those achieved from conventional vitrification and slow freezing (P < 0.01). The ultrastructure of primordial follicles from DCV appeared better than that achieved from conventional vitrification and slow freezing. After grafting, the follicle number from DCV was greater than conventional vitrification (P = 0.001) and slow freezing (P = 0.021). The pregnancy rate of DCV was higher than conventional vitrification (P < 0.01). The litter size from DCV was comparable with that from non-frozen graft and was significantly greater than that achieved from conventional vitrification and slow freezing (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: DCV is highly efficient for cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. Using less concentrated cryoprotectants appears to reduce toxicity. Direct cover by liquid nitrogen maximizes cooling that could facilitate vitrification and prevent ice crystal injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Association of a single dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist with nitric oxide and embryo quality in in vitro fertilization cycles.

The patients undertaking a single-dose protocol for GnRH antagonist were associated with elevated serum and follicular levels of nitric oxide (NO) and decreased embryo quality scores compared with those who underwent the long protocol for GnRH agonist. The relatively poor embryo quality may be NO related instead of Fas related.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed2006

Low sex hormone-binding globulin is associated with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS.

BACKGROUND: Decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, and the metabolic syndrome, are all closely associated with a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We investigated the association between HDL-C, SHBG and the metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 106 young Taiwanese women (mean age +/- SD, 24.9 +/- 4.8 years) with PCOS, 69 (65.1%) women had an HDL-C level <50 mg dl(-1). The level of HDL-C was highly correlated with that of serum SHBG (gamma = 0.6034, P < 0.0001). The SHBG level was significantly lower in subjects with an HDL-C <50 mg dl(-1) than that in subjects with an HDL-C > or =50 mg dl(-1). Using multiple linear regression models with adjustment for age, BMI and other anthropometric, metabolic, liver function and hormonal variables, we showed serum SHBG to be independently correlated with HDL-C. Based on logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, the SHBG level was significantly lower in women with PCOS with the metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 0.92, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of SHBG in women with PCOS were associated with low levels of HDL-C, independent of insulin resistance and obesity. The SHBG level was inversely related to the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, further strengthening the potential link between SHBG levels and cardiovascular disease in women with PCOS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Embryo quality is more important for younger women whereas age is more important for older women with regard to in vitro fertilization outcome and multiple pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficiency of embryo scoring systems for multiple pregnancy in women undergoing IVF procedures. DESIGN: Retrospective record analysis. SETTING: University hospital, tertiary medical center. PATIENT(S): Three hundred one patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation, IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and day 3 embryo transfer. INTERVENTION(S): IVF/ICSI and embryo transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Rate of pregnancy and rate of multiple pregnancy. RESULT(S): The score of the best three embryos (Top3) was more correlated with IVF outcome than were the number of good embryos (P=.009) or the cumulative embryo score (P=.038). In the logistic regression model, Top3 was more relevant to IVF outcome and multiple pregnancy for younger patients than was age (P<.05). For older patients, age was more correlated with IVF outcome and multiple pregnancy than was embryo morphology (P<.05). CONCLUSION(S): The embryo morphology criteria can help reduce the number of embryos transferred into younger patients. We could use the age of patients as an indicator to determine the number of embryos transferred into older patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Factors related to meaning of life in Taiwanese women treated with in vitro fertilization.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The meaning of life can be defined as a sense of a clear aim in life and a belief that one's daily activities are meaningful. Pregnancy is clearly an important aim of women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the meaning of life and its related factors among women who underwent IVF treatment throughout the first treatment cycle until either pregnancy was achieved or when the attempt was abandoned. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in a single medical center in Taiwan. A total of 149 subjects were recruited from women receiving IVF (n = 69) and women who had experienced IVF failure within the previous 1 year (n = 80). These women were classified into four subgroups according to their treatment stages: beginning of first IVF (n = 39); pregnancy/delivery (n = 22); continuing treatment (n = 64); and discontinuing treatment (n = 24). The Purpose in Life (PIL) test, a previously developed instrument designed to measure meaning of life, was administered to all patients at their follow-up IVF visit. RESULTS: The mean PIL score was 99.1 +/- 19.5, which indicated that all subjects had some degree of uncertainty regarding the meaning of life; however, no significant difference in PIL score was found among the four groups. Four factors were extracted from PIL by factor analysis, among which "existential frustration" (factor 4) was highest in the continuing group and those with a lower level of education; whereas "being in control" (factor 2 ) was lowest in women whose infertility had a female etiology. CONCLUSION: Treatment stage, educational level, and etiology of infertility were found to be factors influencing the meaning of life in women undergoing IVF.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Increased interleukin-6 messenger RNA expression in macrophage-cocultured endometrial stromal cells in adenomyosis.

PROBLEM: To determine the effects of macrophage on endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in women with adenomyosis. METHOD OF STUDY: Eutopic endometrium was obtained and separated into single ESC in 10 women with adenomyosis (study group) and 11 without adenomyosis (control group). ESCs were then cultured alone or with macrophage for 24 hr. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry identified the presence of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-10 in ESCs. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that the IL-6 mRNA was significantly expressed in macrophage-cocultured ESCs in adenomyosis than that in the controls, but was not different in ESCs cultured alone between the two groups. The levels of IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA were similar in ESCs either cultured alone or with macrophage between women with and without adenomyosis. CONCLUSION: IL-6 mRNA was significantly expressed in ESCs after in vitro coculture with macrophage in adenomyosis. This aberrant behavior of ESCs might play a role in the formation of ectopic endometrial implants in adenomyosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Observational clinical follow-up of oocyte cryopreservation using a slow-freezing method with 1,2-propanediol plus sucrose followed by ICSI.

BACKGROUND: The value of oocyte cryopreservation remains controversial. Two major problems exist: poor survival and injury to the oocyte meiotic spindle after freezing and thawing. METHODS: For slow oocyte cryopreservation, we used 1.5 mol/l 1,2-propanediol and 0.3 mol/l sucrose. We waited 3 h after thawing for possible recovery of the meiotic spindles before performing ICSI. RESULTS: Forty-three women undergoing IVF or ICSI cycles cryopreserved some or all of their harvested oocytes; of these, 20 thawed their cryopreserved oocytes for personal use and one for donation. The survival rate of oocytes after thawing was 75%, with 67% of oocytes fertilizing normally after ICSI. All 21 cycles (100%) resulted in fertilization and embryo transfers. Seven pregnancies (33%) resulted. Four women delivered five babies with normal karyotypes. Three conceptions are ongoing. Compared to 38 cycles of frozen-thawed embryos at the pronuclear stage in the same period, the percentages of survival, pregnancy and implantation were similar. Additionally, four unmarried women with white blood cell diseases underwent oocyte freezing before preconditioning treatment for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol achieved reproducible success of survival, fertilization and pregnancy for freezing and thawing of human oocytes. The 3 h post-thaw incubation could permit restoration of the meiotic spindles, thus facilitating normal fertilization.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Successful pregnancy achieved by intracytoplasmic sperm injection using cryopreserved electroejaculate sperm in a couple both with spinal cord injury: a case report.

Anejaculation and poor semen quality are 2 major causes of infertility in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). The low motility of retrieved sperm often results in use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to achieve fertilization. Pregnancy is a challenging event for women with SCI. Herein we report a pregnancy after ICSI with cryopreserved electroejaculate sperm for a couple both with SCI. The husband had T10 paraplegia with a neurogenic bladder. He underwent 2 electroejaculations. The concentration of sperm was 0.1 x 10(6)/mL to 0.3 x 10(6)/mL, with a motility of 5% to 20%. ICSI was considered the best choice for the couple. His wife had L2 paraplegia with cauda equina syndrome. She underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, and 10 oocytes were retrieved. Eight mature oocytes were injected using thawed sperm, which resulted in 5 normal zygotes. Conception was achieved by the transfer of 4 embryos into the uterus. A healthy female baby was delivered vaginally at 39 weeks of gestation. This woman had never undergone any other assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. With the advancement of ART and prenatal care, this couple achieved a successful pregnancy. The use of cryopreserved electroejaculated sperm for ICSI can avoid the inconvenience or cost to the patient of repeated electroejaculations.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Successful pregnancy in a gonadectomized woman with 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis and gonadoblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of successful pregnancy after conservative bilateral gonadectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a 46,XY gonadal dysgenetic woman with gonadoblastoma and malignant germ cell tumor. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Infertility center in university hospital. PATIENT(S): An 18-year-old female with 46,XY karyotype underwent bilateral gonadectomy, and the pathology revealed gonadoblastoma with malignant mixed germ cell tumor. INTERVENTION(S): Chromosomal analysis, bilateral gonadectomy, donor oocyte, and IVF program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Tumor markers and pregnancy result. RESULT(S): The patient was free from tumor recurrence after 13 years' follow-up. A successful twin pregnancy was achieved after oocyte donation and IVF. CONCLUSION(S): Gonadectomy without adjuvant therapies could be done in 46,XY gonadal dysgenetic women with gonadoblastoma in view of preservation of future fertility.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ovarian response and follicular development for single-dose and multiple-dose protocols for gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist administration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficiency of a single-dose and a multiple-dose protocol for GnRH antagonist administration. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: University hospital, tertiary medical center. PATIENT(S): Sixty-one patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and IVF/ICSI. INTERVENTION(S): COS with either a multiple-dose (MD) or a single-dose (SD) protocol for GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix) administration, or with a long protocol (LP) for GnRH agonist (buserelin) administration, followed by oocyte retrieval, IVF/ICSI, and embryo transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follicular development and serum levels of E2 and LH. RESULT(S): The SD protocol for cetrorelix was associated with a more reduced level of follicular development, lower levels of serum estradiol on the day of HCG administration, and a more reduced number of zygotes than the LP for buserelin. The pregnancy and implantation rates did not differ significantly for the three study groups. CONCLUSION(S): The MD and SD GnRH antagonist protocols were effective for preventing LH surge and appear to elicit an equivalent pregnancy rate to that corresponding to a LP GnRH agonist. In terms of follicular development, the SD protocol requires further modification, including flexible scheduling or possibly a small reduction of the dosage of the administered cetrorelix.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Microsuction of blastocoelic fluid before vitrification increased survival and pregnancy of mouse expanded blastocysts, but pretreatment with the cytoskeletal stabilizer did not increase blastocyst survival.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain effects of thermal change, size of blastocoele, artificial shrinkage, and cytoskeletal stabilizer on survival of blastocysts from vitrification. DESIGN: In vitro and in vivo study. SETTING: University infertility clinic and academic research laboratory. ANIMAL(S): Female mice of outbred ICR strain, aged 6 to 8 weeks. INTERVENTION(S): In experiment 1, various stages of mouse blastocysts were vitrified by using conventional straws or closed pulled straws (CPS). In experiment 2, microsuction was performed of blastocoelic fluid for blastocysts and expanded blastocysts before vitrification. In experiment 3, cytochalasin B (CCB) was used to treat embryos during vitrification. In experiment 4, vitrified expanded blastocysts were transferred to pseudopregnant mice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Survival and pregnancy. RESULT(S): The survival rates of early blastocysts were high and not different between the conventional straws and the CPS. The survival rates decreased for blastocysts and expanded blastocysts in both of the two methods. But the use of CPS achieved higher survival rates for blastocysts (83% vs. 70%) and expanded blastocysts (60% vs. 39%) than did the conventional straws. Microsuction before vitrification increased the survival rates for blastocysts (92% vs. 80%) and expanded blastocysts (89% vs. 59%). Survival of vitrified embryos was not distinct between CCB treatment and non-CCB treatment. The percentage of live young from vitrified expanded blastocysts using microsuction was greater than that from vitrified expanded blastocysts without microsuction (34% vs. 9%). CONCLUSION(S): The size of the blastocoeles influenced survival of blastocysts from vitrification. A rapid thermal change of CPS and effective reduction of blastocoelic fluid by microsuction may facilitate vitrification and reduce ice crystal damage for blastocysts and expanded blastocysts. The microfilament inhibitor of CCB treatment did not increase their survival rates.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Increased hyaluronan and CD44 expressions in intravenous leiomyomatosis.

BACKGROUND: To determine the influence of hyaluronan and its receptor CD44 in the angiogenesis and invasiveness of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL). METHODS: Paraffin-embedded sections from four IVL cases and 10 uterine leiomyoma cases were immunohistochemically stained for CD34, CD44, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor and assayed for microvessel densities. Hyaluronan was immunostained by biotinylated hyaluronan-binding peptide and the results were clinically correlated. RESULTS: CD34 labeling showed significantly increased microvessel counts in IVL (156.6+/-3.7), when compared to uterine leiomyomas (61.3+/-27.3; P<0.001). Hyaluronan and its receptor CD44 were prominently expressed in IVL when compared to leiomyomas and associated with an elevation in bFGF expression. CONCLUSIONS: IVL is a highly vascular neoplasm with elevated microvessel counts. The increase of hyaluronan and CD44 expression in IVL suggests that it is highly angiogenic and has an invasive potential. Elevation of hyaluronan may play a possible role in the pathogenesis of IVL.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Increased frequency of genital human papillomavirus infection in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive Taiwanese women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with increased incidence and severity of HPV-related cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer in women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study examined the incidence of genital HPV infection in HIV-infected Taiwanese women and its relationship with cervical neoplasia. METHODS: This hospital-based, case-control study enrolled 31 consecutive HIV-seropositive women and 124 age-matched women who were free from HIV infection. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to distinguish high-risk (types 16, 18, 31, 33, 52 and 58) and low-risk HPV (types 6 and 11). The occurrence of genital HPV infection was compared between women with and without HIV infection. In addition, CD4 lymphocyte counts were determined by flow cytometry and Papanicolaou test was done in women with HIV infection. RESULTS: HPV and Papanicolaou test were done soon after the diagnosis of HIV infection. HIV seropositive women had a significantly greater high-risk HPV infection rate (48.4%; 15/31) than women without HIV infection (20.2%; 25/124; odds ratio, 3.71; p = 0.001). However, the prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was similar between women with and without HIV infection. The CD4 lymphocyte counts in HIV-seropositive women were similar between those with and without genital HPV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of genital HPV infection was significantly increased in HIV-infected women. Due to the association between high-risk HPV infection and the development of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer, regular follow-up of Papanicolaou test is necessary in these women.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Successful pregnancy following blastocyst cryopreservation using super-cooling ultra-rapid vitrification.

BACKGROUND: Blastocysts were cryopreserved by a new two-step ultra-rapid cooling in super-cooled liquid nitrogen (-205 degrees C). METHODS: There were 308 mouse blastocysts collected from fertile B6CBF1 mice and 249 human blastocysts collected from 51 couples treated with IVF. The blastocysts were super-cooled by a Vit-Master and cryoloops after treatment in 50 and 100% vitrification solution (VS) for 2 min and 30 s, respectively. The 100% VS was composed of 20% ethylene glycol, 20% dimethylsulphoxide and 0.5 mol/l sucrose in human tubular fluid medium with 20% human serum albumin. The embryos were warmed after treatment in 0.25 and 0.125 mol/l sucrose for 2 and 3 min, respectively. The survival of embryos was observed after re-swell. RESULTS: The survival rate (SR) and hatching rate (HR) of mouse blastocysts in the super-cooled, the cryosolution-treated and control groups were not significantly different (SR, 87, 95.5 and 100%; HR, 50, 33 and 44.6%, respectively; P>0.05). After 96 super-cooled human blastocysts were warmed, 60 survival blastocysts were transferred into 13 patients. The successful SR and pregnancy rate (PR) for the super-cooled blastocyst group were 77.1% (74 out of 96) and 53.8% (seven out of 13). CONCLUSION: The ultra-rapid vitrification of blastocysts with a successful SR and PR could be used to replace classical slow cooling.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Decreased expression of killer cell inhibitory receptors on natural killer cells in eutopic endometrium in women with adenomyosis.

BACKGROUND: Increased expression of killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIRs) has been found on natural killer (NK) cells in peritoneal fluid in women with endometriosis. In this study, we tried to measure the expression of KIRs on NK and T cells in women with adenomyosis, in an attempt to find the possible role of KIRs in the development of adenomyosis. METHODS: A total of 10 women with adenomyosis (study group) and 12 women with uterine myoma (control group) were included in this study. The expression of KIRs, including NKB1, GL183, EB6 and CD94, on NK and T cells in myometrium and endometrium was examined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: There was a decreased expression of NKB1 and GL183 on NK cells in the endometrium, but not in the myometrium, in women with adenomyosis. However, the expression of KIRs on T cells, either CD4+ or CD8+, was not different in either myometrium or endometrium between women with and without adenomyosis. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of KIRs on NK cells was decreased in eutopic endometrium in women with adenomyosis. It may be a compensatory effect in which the NK cytotoxicity is activated in order to eradicate the abnormal endometrial cells that might exit of the eutopic site of the endometrium.

Adult↗