Pregnancy outcome after blastocyst transfer as compared to early cleavage stage embryo transfer

BACKGROUND: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate differences in outcome when embryo transfer was performed either on day 2-3 (cleavage stage, CS-group) or on day 4-5 (blastocyst stage, BS-group). METHODS: A total of 1259 consecutive cycles yielding 500 live born babies performed at a single centre in Bregenz, Austria, were included. Main outcome measures were implantation and (multiple) pregnancy rates and neonatal outcome including birth defects. RESULTS: Total Pregnancy rate was 44% vs 28% (P < 0.001) and the total 'take home baby rate' was 37% vs 22% in the BS-group and the CS-group, respectively. Rate of multiple gestations (34% vs 17%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group, resulting in a higher rate of preterm deliveries < 36 weeks (26% vs 17%, P = 0.045). Female factor causing infertility (40% vs 21%, P < 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group. For the CS-group, rate of singleton pregnancies (83% vs 66%, P = 0.001) and idiopathic cause of infertility (34% vs 22%, P = 0.012) were significantly higher. No statistically significant differences were found in sex, Caesarean section rate, Apgar score and umbilical artery pH-values, total mean birth weight, admission rate to intensive care unit, days of hospitalization and number of minor and major birth defects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that blastocyst transfer may lead to a higher pregnancy rate with an overall better take-home baby rate (THBR) at the cost of higher rates of multiples and preterm deliveries.     

长程体外反搏对高胆固醇血症猪高级氧化蛋白产物和高敏C反应蛋白的影响

目的探讨长程体外反搏对高胆固醇血症猪血清中高级氧化蛋白产物(AOPP)和高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)的影响.方法 18头雄性乳猪随机分为正常饲养组(n=6)、高脂饲养组(n=6)及高脂饲养+体外反搏组(n=6).后2组通过高脂饲养复制高胆固醇血症猪模型并对高脂饲养+体外反搏组进行36 d共36 h的长程增强型体外反搏.分别于分组饲养前、反搏前、反搏中期和反搏结束时留取3组动物静脉血,采用分光光度法检测血清AOPP浓度,采用乳胶凝集反应法检测血清hs-CRP浓度.结果高脂饲养组和高脂饲养+体外反搏组经高脂饲养后血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白明显升高(P<0.05).血清AOPP和hs-CRP浓度在分组饲养前组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).反搏前、反搏中期和反搏结束时,高脂饲养组与高脂饲养+体外反搏组血清AOPP和hs-CRP浓度较正常饲养组同时期均有显著增高(P<0.05);而反搏中期和反搏结束时高脂饲养+体外反搏组血清AOPP浓度较高脂饲养组显著降低[(95.38±12.66)μmol/L比(128.46±12.55)μmol/L;(85.78±10.33)μmol/L比(158.22±16.32)μmoL/L,P<0.05];且反搏中期和反搏结束时高脂饲养+体外反搏组血清hs-CRP浓度较高脂饲养组也有显著降低[(0.47±0.14)mg/L比(0.62±0.32)mg/L;(0.47±0.16)mg/L比(0.59±0.43)mg/L,P<0.05].结论 AOPP和hs-CRP参与了高胆固醇血症猪的发病过程.长程体外反搏可能通过减轻机体体内氧化应激和微炎性反应过程,从而阻止高胆固醇血症的病理生理进程.     

局部晚期肺癌外科手术治疗(附18例报告)

目的为提高晚期肺癌患者的外科手术切除率及提高手术疗效，总结18例晚期肺癌患者手术治疗中切开心包处理肺静脉或切除部分左心房的经验。方法对18例晚期肺癌患者施行肺叶或全肺切除时，在心包内处理肺静脉或切除部分左心房。左肺下叶切除5例、左全肺切除3例、右肺中下叶切除4例、右肺下叶切除4例、右全肺切除2例；术中发现13例患者的肺静脉根部有癌侵犯或有癌栓，在心包外元法常规处理肺静脉，在切开心包后可较满意地处理肺静脉，切开心包后发现其中有9例明显有左心房侵犯，行肺切除的同时切除部分左房；5例虽可在心包外处理，但癌肿离肺静脉根部太近处理肺静脉困难，而切开心包后处理肺静脉很轻松。结果18例均无手术死亡，术后有2例发生心律失常，2例并发肺炎，1年生存率61．2％（11／18）、3年生存率38．8％（7／18）、2例生存〉5年。结论晚期肺癌累及肺静脉根部或左心房时应切开心包处理肺静脉或同时切除部分左心房以达到肿瘤学上的根治性切除，从而延长病人的寿命。     

The formation of mesoderm and mesectoderm in 5- to 41-somite rat embryos cultured in vitro, using WGA-Au as a marker

Summary The formation of mesectodermal cells by the neural crest in 5- to 41-somite stage embryos was investigated experimentally in rat embryos cultured in vitro, using lectincoated colloidal gold as a probe. This method labelled all ectodermal cells, among them neural crest, surface ectodermal placodal and epiblastic (primitive streak) cells. The neural crest provides the mesodermal compartment of the entire head region with cells, including the primitive cranial ganglia and the branchial arches. In the head region migration of neural crest cells over a great distance (long-distance migration) was not observed. In the trunk region neural crest derived cells were mainly found to form the primitive spinal ganglia and the sympathetic trunk, once again without long-distance cell migration. Structures and tissues that supposedly were derived from the primitive streak were hardly labelled with colloidal gold. Surface ectodermal placodes were not only found at the expected sites (e.g. epibranchial placodes) but also in the ectoderm covering the transverse septum and lateral abdominal walls.     

Psychological functioning across stages of treatment for infertility

Psychological functioning was examined for a cross section of 104 couples in different stages of medical investigation for infertility. Couples were separated into three stages based upon the length of time they had been pursuing medical treatment for infertility: year 1, year 2, and year 3 and beyond. Emotional strain was moderately elevated during the first year, returned to more normal levels during the second year, and showed marked increases beyond year 3. Indices of marital adjustment and sexual satisfaction were stable across the first two stages but deteriorated after the third year. These data suggest that the stage of treatment may exert a major influence upon psychological functioning for infertile couples pursuing medical assistance. The results are consistent with a model of psychological strain that reflects an acute stress reaction to the initial diagnosis and treatment overlaid with a chronic strain response to longer-term treatment.Research was aided by a grant-in-aid of research from Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, a research fellowship from the University of South Carolina, and NIMH Institutional Training Grant MH-15930.     

Live human germ cells in the context of their spermatogenic stages

BACKGROUND: Various types of live, dispersed, human testicular cells in vitro were previously compared with the morphologic characteristics of human spermatogenic germ cells in situ within seminiferous tubules. The current study extends those observations by placing live human germ cells in the context of their developmental steps and stages of the spermatogenic cycle. METHODS: Live human testicular tissue was obtained from an organ-donating, brain-dead person. A cell suspension was obtained by enzymatic digestion, and dispersed cells were observed live with Nomarski optics. Testes from 10 men were obtained at autopsy within ten hours of death, fixed in glutaraldehyde, further fixed in osmium, embedded in Epon, sectioned at 20 microm, and observed unstained by Nomarski optics. RESULTS: In both live and fixed preparations, Sertoli cells have oval to pear-shaped nuclei with indented nuclear envelopes and large nucleoli, which makes their appearance distinctly different from germ cells. For germ cells, size, shape, and chromatic pattern of nuclei, the presence of meiotic metaphase figures, acrosomic vesicles/structures, tails, and/or mitochondria in the middle piece are characteristically seen in live dispersed cells and those in the fixed seminiferous tubules. These lead to identification of live germ cells in man and placement of each in the context of their developmental steps of spermatogenesis at corresponding stages of the spermatogenic cycle. CONCLUSIONS: This comparative approach allows verification of the identity of individual germ cells seen in vitro and provides a checklist of distinguishing characteristics of live human germ cells to be used in clinical procedures or by scientists interested in studying live cells at known steps in spermatogenic development characteristic of germ cells in specific stages of the spermatogenic cycle.     

Microvasculature of regular and irregular areolae of the areola-gland subunit of the porcine placenta: structural and functional aspects

To examine the vasculature of the areola-gland subunit of advanced pig placenta, tissues from ten animals between 43 and 112 days of gestation were prepared for histology and for scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts from both maternal and fetal sides. Regular areolae, tributary to one gland only, are round with a wide-meshed and smooth subepithelial capillary network on the maternal side, which is similar to the pre-implantative stage and bordered by an abrupt rim towards the interareolar maternal capillary network. On the fetal side, the capillary network follows papillae which protrude into the areolar cavity or converge to form a ring towards the areolar periphery. Irregular areolae, in contrast, have indistinct boundaries and are characterized by two or more gland openings. The maternal capillary network has moderate density and follows the corrugations, whereas the fetal capillary network is basically two-dimensional with some blunt sinusoidal protrusions. Vessel architecture of both areolar types implies facilitated external inflow of blood into the areola on arteriolar as well as on capillary levels, whereas the outflow from the areolar capillaries comprises venules converging into one or two areolar stem veins, and therefore conducts venous blood in a manner different from that of the interareolar region. It is suggested that this arrangement could favour vascular control mechanisms in uterus, placenta and fetus. On the basis of these observations and the discussion, it is suggested that these areolaspecific vessel systems are important for sustaining the characteristic substance transfers in the areola, the secretion, metabolism and absorption, which according to the literature are not the same in the regular as in the irregular areolar type of the porcine areola-gland subunit of the placenta.     

姑息关怀服务模式对癌症晚期患者生命质量的影响研究

目的 评估姑息关怀服务对癌症晚期患者生命质量的影响并提出管理建议。方法 采用问卷调查的方式对H医院接受姑息关怀治疗和常规抗癌治疗的248名癌症晚期住院患者的生命质量进行调查。选取中国癌症患者生命质量量表对癌症晚期患者的生命质量进行评估,然后通过统计分析探讨不同治疗方式下患者生命质量的差异。结果 癌症晚期患者生命质量普遍较差(36.38±4.82),其中躯体症状得分最低,依次是精神心理和社会关系。接受姑息关怀后患者生命质量及各指标得分均有显著提高。治疗前生命质量更差、疼痛程度更高的姑息关怀组患者,其治疗后的生命质量评分与常规抗癌组患者相比无显著差异,疼痛程度更是低于常规抗癌组。两组治疗方式下患者生命质量治疗前后的差值对比(6.82±2.71 vs 2.53±2.95),姑息关怀组的改善效果更明显(t=11.908,P<0.05)。结论 姑息关怀治疗相对于常规抗癌治疗,对癌症晚期患者生命质量的改善效果更为显著,应加强对以价值为核心的姑息关怀服务模式的宣传和推广。     

互动式头针结合镜像疗法对脑卒中软瘫期上肢功能障碍的康复疗效

目的：探索脑卒中患者促进上肢运动功能恢复中头针与镜像疗法联合应用的临床价值。方法：选取株洲市中心医院2021年8月至2022年11月期间收治的60例脑卒中后上肢功能障碍患者,以随机分组的方式分为两组,每组30例。其中常规康复训练联合镜像治疗纳入对照组,在对照组基础上增加头针治疗纳入观察组。在治疗4周后,比较两组患者临床治疗有效性、Fugl–meyer运动功能评定量表（FMA）上肢部分评分以及Brunnstrom分期。结果：两组患者治疗后FMA评分均高于治疗前,且观察组患者治疗后FMA评分高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组患者治疗后上肢Brunnstrom运动功能分期结果优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（Z=–2.101,P <0.05）。观察组患者治疗后手Brunnstrom运动功能分期结果优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（Z=–2.152,P <0.05）。结论：在恢复早期,头针、镜像疗法与常规康复训练有效结合,对脑卒中患者软瘫期上肢运动功能恢复具有积极作用。     

急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死患者提前肝素化的疗效评价及风险观察

目的探讨急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死(STEMI)患者提前肝素化的疗效及风险。方法选取2019年5月至2020年5月我院收治的160例STEMI患者作为研究对象,随机分为两组各80例。治疗组给予提前肝素化PCI术治疗,对照组给予常规肝素化PCI术治疗。比较两组的TIMI血流分级、不良事件发生率以及治疗前后的症状评分、 LVEF。结果术后,治疗组的TIMI血流0~1级率低于对照组,3级率高于对照组(P <0.05)。治疗后,两组的症状评分均低于治疗前,LVEF水平均高于治疗前(P<0.05);治疗组的症状评分低于对照组,LVEF水平高于对照组(P <0.05)。治疗组的不良事件发生率低于对照组(P <0.05)。结论 PCI术提前肝素化可以提高灌注效果,有效缓解STEMI患者的病情,改善患者心功能,改善预后,且具有较高的安全性。