Sterile catheters for newborn infants

The use of sterile gastroenterologic and umbilical catheters in clinical practice considerably reduces bacterial contamination and postsurgical complications, they may find application in emergency cases as well. Delivery of sterile catheters in sealed packages saves time of medical personnel engaged in obstetric services, ensures long-term storage of products in a sterile form.     

Urethral olive-tipped bougies constructed in one piece from polymeric materials

The development of urethral olive-shaped bougies of the integral design made of polymers will permit to make easier know-how processes, to raise their reliability under operating conditions, and to extend service life in comparison with olive-shaped bougies of the built-up construction.     

Improved maturation competence of ovarian tissue oocytes using a biphasic in vitro maturation system for patients with gynecological malignancy: a study on sibling oocytes

Purpose

To investigate the developmental competence of ovarian tissue oocytes from patients with gynecological tumors using a biphasic in vitro maturation system with capacitation (CAPA-IVM) in comparison with standard IVM.

Methods

This sibling pilot study included 210 oocytes in 10 patients with gynecological malignancies. After ovariectomies, ovaries were cut into even halves and immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were retrieved from the ovarian tissue. COCs were separately cultured in either a biphasic CAPA-IVM system for 53 h or in standard IVM for 48 h. After IVM, all COCs were denuded and mature oocytes were either vitrified (N=5) or used for ICSI (N=5). Embryos were cultured for 5–6 days and obtained blastocysts were vitrified.

Results

Use of the CAPA-IVM system led to a higher meiotic maturation rate in ovarian tissue oocytes (OTO) compared to standard IVM (56 vs 35%, p=0.0045) and had a tendency to result in lower degeneration after IVM. Only the CAPA-IVM method supported blastocyst formation.

Conclusions

The biphasic in vitro maturation system improved the competence of OTO in comparison to the standard IVM method. The study suggests that fertility preservation programs could become more efficient using IVM after capacitation culture.

     

Trends in the dynamics of age-related morbidity and mortality from malignant neoplasms in the population of Astrakhan Province

An analysis of the rates of morbidity and mortality from malignant disease in Astrakhan Region showed that these indexes tend to decrease. These standardised indexes for males are higher than for females. Neoplasms tend to occur in advanced age groups, particularly, in females. The morbidity and mortality rates in the city of Astrakhan are higher than in the region. Mortality from malignant tumors ranks second after mortality from cardio-vascular diseases and is responsible for 18.3% of all causes of deaths. Within the last few years, lung cancer has been invariably the main factor claiming the lives of males.     

Bougies for retrograde stretching of esophageal strictures

The article deals with bougies (developed by its authors) of various types and sizes designed for gullet bougienage after chemical burns. The suggested bougies ensure less trauma to the esophagus walls during the bougienage procedure, which, in its turn, essentially cuts the time of recanalization and, according to authors' data, prevents ruptures in the internal tissues.