Elevated Adipsin and Reduced C5a Levels in the Maternal Serum and Follicular Fluid During Implantation Are Associated With Successful Pregnancy in Obese Women

Introduction: Complement factors mediate the recruitment and activation of immune cells and are associated with metabolic changes during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine whether complement factors in the maternal serum and follicular fluid (FF) are associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in overweight/obese women. Methods: Forty overweight/obese (BMI = 30.8 ± 5.2 kg/m2) female patients, 33.6 ± 6.3 years old, undergoing IVF treatment for unexplained infertility were recruited. Baseline demographic information, including biochemical hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory markers, and pregnancy outcome, was collected. Levels of 14 complement markers (C2, C4b, C5, C5a, C9, adipsin, mannose-binding lectin, C1q, C3, C3b/iC3b, C4, factor B, factor H, and properdin) were assessed in the serum and FF and compared to IVF outcome, inflammatory, and metabolic markers using multivariate and univariate models. Results: Out of 40 IVF cycles, 14 (35%) resulted in pregnancy. Compared to women with failed pregnancies, women with successful pregnancies had higher levels of adipsin in the serum and FF (p = 0.01) but lower C5a levels (p = 0.05). Serum adipsin levels were positively correlated with circulating levels of vitamin D (R = 0.5, p = 0.02), glucagon (R = 0.4, p = 0.03), leptin (R = 0.4, p = 0.01), resistin (R = 0.4, p = 0.02), and visfatin (R = 0.4, p = 0.02), but negatively correlated with total protein (R = −0.5, p = 0.03). Higher numbers of top-quality embryos were associated with increased levels of C3, properdin, C1q, factors H and B, C4, and adipsin, but with reduced C2 and C5a levels (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Higher adipsin and lower C5a levels in the maternal serum during implantation are potential markers of successful outcome in obese women undergoing IVF-assisted pregnancies

Mixed convection in an eccentric annulus filled by copper nanofluid

A numerical study of mixed convection flow and heat transfer of Copper (Cu)-water nanofluid inside an eccentric horizontal annulus is presented. The inner and outer cylinders are kept at constant temperatures as Th and Tc, respectively. The inner cylinder rotates to generate the forced convection effect. The numerical work was carried out using an in-house CFD code written in FORTRAN. Different scenarios were explored to explain the effects of different parameters on the studied problem. These parameters are Richardson number, eccentricity ratio, and solid volume fraction. The range of the Richardson number Ri, solid volume fraction of the nanoparticles ζ, and the eccentricity ratioe, are 0.01 ≤ Ri ≤ 100 (natural convection), 0 ≤ ζ ≤ 0.05, 0 ≤ e ≤ 0.9 respectively. All results were performed with thermal Grashof number Gr, and radius ratio Rr, equaled to 104 and 2, respectively. The effects of eccentricity, nanoparticles volume fraction, and Richardson number on the average Nusselt number, streamlines and isotherms were investigated. Results were discussed, and were found to be in good agreement with previous works. It was also found that, the eccentricity has a positive remarkable effect on the average Nusselt number, while the effect of nanoparticles concentration was more pronounced at mixed convection region (Ri=1)

Elevated adipsin and reduced C5a levels in the maternal serum and follicular fluid during implantation are associated with successful pregnancy in obese women

Introduction: Complement factors mediate the recruitment and activation of immune cells and are associated with metabolic changes during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine whether complement factors in the maternal serum and follicular fluid (FF) are associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in overweight/obese women. Methods: Forty overweight/obese (BMI = 30.8 ± 5.2 kg/m2) female patients, 33.6 ± 6.3 years old, undergoing IVF treatment for unexplained infertility were recruited. Baseline demographic information, including biochemical hormonal, metabolic, and inflammatory markers, and pregnancy outcome, was collected. Levels of 14 complement markers (C2, C4b, C5, C5a, C9, adipsin, mannose-binding lectin, C1q, C3, C3b/iC3b, C4, factor B, factor H, and properdin) were assessed in the serum and FF and compared to IVF outcome, inflammatory, and metabolic markers using multivariate and univariate models. Results: Out of 40 IVF cycles, 14 (35%) resulted in pregnancy. Compared to women with failed pregnancies, women with successful pregnancies had higher levels of adipsin in the serum and FF (p = 0.01) but lower C5a levels (p = 0.05). Serum adipsin levels were positively correlated with circulating levels of vitamin D (R = 0.5, p = 0.02), glucagon (R = 0.4, p = 0.03), leptin (R = 0.4, p = 0.01), resistin (R = 0.4, p = 0.02), and visfatin (R = 0.4, p = 0.02), but negatively correlated with total protein (R = -0.5, p = 0.03). Higher numbers of top-quality embryos were associated with increased levels of C3, properdin, C1q, factors H and B, C4, and adipsin, but with reduced C2 and C5a levels (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Higher adipsin and lower C5a levels in the maternal serum during implantation are potential markers of successful outcome in obese women undergoing IVF-assisted pregnancies.</p

Examining the Mechanical and Thermomechanical Properties of Polymethylmethacrylate Composites Reinforced with Nettle Fibres

Buyukkaya, Kenan/0000-0002-8263-0756WOS: 000519133700016The aim of this study was to determine the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of nettle fibre-reinforced polymethylmethacrylate composites. The polymethylmethacrylate composites reinforced with nettle fibres were manufactured using nettle fibres obtained using the natural methods. The nettle fibre contents were 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 V-f %. The composites so formed were characterized in terms of their mechanical and thermomechanical properties. The mechanical properties of nettle-reinforced composites were characterized in terms of bending stress, bending modulus, impact strength, and fracture toughness tests, whilst their behaviour was determined by heat deviation temperature and Vicat softening temperature. The micro-mechanisms underlying the toughening and fracture processes were observed in the light of studies of the microstructure of fractures. From the mechanical properties of composites reinforced with 10% nettle fibres, an increase of 75% in bending stress, 40% in impact strength, and 106% in fracture toughness was recorded. The findings show that nettle fibres can be used as an important reinforcement material for environmentally friendly composite applications.Giresun University's Scientific Research Projects Office [FEN-BAP-A-250414-76]We would like to acknowledge the support of Giresun University's Scientific Research Projects Office (FEN-BAP-A-250414-76)