Problem The role of vitamin D (VD) in IVF outcome and immune parameters has not been elucidated well. Method of study Women undergoing IVF treatment with GnRH agonist (Agonist) and progestin‐primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocols were divided into VD lower (VDL, 25(OH)VD ≤20 ng/mL) and VD higher (VDH, 25(OH)VD >20 ng/mL) groups. Follicular fluid (FF) VD level, IVF outcomes, and peripheral blood immunophenotypes by flow cytometry were analyzed. Results FF VD levels of the whole subjects were positively correlated with peripheral blood VD level (r = 0.86, P < 0.001). The number of mature oocytes and the blastocyst formation rate were significantly higher in women with VDH group as compared with those of VDL group in both Agonist and PPOS groups (P < 0.05, respectively). In women with PPOS protocol, peripheral blood NK and B‐cell proportions and T helper/T cytotoxic (Th/Tc) cell ratios of VDL group were significantly higher than those of VDH group (P < 0.05, respectively). In women with Agonist protocol, peripheral blood B‐cell proportion and Th/Tc ratios of VDL group were significantly higher than those of VDH group (P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion VD level is associated with IVF outcomes possibly derived by T‐cell immunity, particularly Th/Tc ratios.

Purpose: To present an assortment of molecular targets evident from a variety of signal transduction pathways and downstream e ectors, which may have clinical relevance for the treatment of medulloblastomas.Source: Data were archived from MEDLINE, using Boolean-formatted queries on the keywords including: medulloblastoma, pathology, prognosis, classi cation, tumor regression, inhibition, therapy, clinical trial, therapeutic agent, drug, molecular inhibitor, and signalling pathway. Only the most reputable articles were selected for critical analyses based on the qualitative assessment of the citation index, novelty of the ndings and relevance to prospective novel ways of targeted therapies for medulloblastomas.Principal ndings: Medulloblastomas are highly aggressive embryonal tumors of the cerebellum, akin to primitive neuroectodermal tumors elsewhere in the brain. Current treatments for medulloblastomas which include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, remain challenging especially, for younger patients; however, advances in understanding regulatory pathways in medulloblastomas are crucial to develop more e ective therapeutic targets. Evidence showing several molecular and pharmacological targets within key signalling pathways, such as HEDGEHOG, WNT, NOTCH, Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (ERB, IGF-IR, c-MET, PDGF, Estrogen, p75NTR) , their downstream e ectors like PI3K/AKT, c-MYC and STAT3, and as well as other targets such as telomerase and cytoskeletal elements, is summarized. All molecular and pharmacological targets have pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of medulloblastomas. Most importantly, these pathways can be e ectively pharmacologically targeted to regress the growth of medulloblastomas. Pre-clinical studies were routinely undertaken with a variety of human and murine cell lines and as well as murine models of medulloblastomas. us far, two drugs which target the NOTCH and HEDGEHOG signalling have completed Phase I clinical trials, but with evidence of low e cacies; hence, reinforcing the importance of continuing investigations in search of new therapeutic agents and targets.Conclusion: Novel therapies, based on better understanding key biological pathways in medulloblastomas, hold promise for improved treatments in due course among patients with medulloblastomas.