Different CO2 settings (6.0% vs 7.0%) do have an impact on extracellular pH of culture medium (pHe) and euploidy rates rather than on blastocyst development: a sibling oocyte study

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics - To determine whether euploidy rates and blastocyst development differ in a continuous culture medium under different CO2 concentrations. A...     

Polymyalgia rheumatica and interspinous FDG uptake on PET/CT

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disease with macrophage infiltration and CD4+ T-lymphocytes-related mild synovitis commonly causing neck, shoulder, and hip stiffness in patients older than 50 years. Closely related to giant cell arthritis (GCA), PMR symptoms can be similar to rheumatoid arthritis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels are elevated in >90% of cases. In 4 patients with PMR, (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) demonstrates uptake in the shoulder and hip joints and also interspinous and supraspinous focal and diffuse uptake. We propose diffuse uptake may reflect ligament inflammation with focal uptake in adjacent interspinous bursitis.     

A consultation on the optimization of controlled human malaria infection by mosquito bite for evaluation of candidate malaria vaccines

Early clinical investigations of candidate malaria vaccines and antimalarial medications increasingly employ an established model of controlled human malaria infection (CHMI). Study results are used to guide further clinical development of vaccines and antimalarial medications as CHMI results to date are generally predictive of efficacy in malaria-endemic areas. The urgency to rapidly develop an efficacious malaria vaccine has increased demand for efficacy studies that include CHMI and the need for comparability of study results among the different centres conducting CHMI. An initial meeting with the goal to optimize and standardise CHMI procedures was held in 2009 with follow-up meetings in March and June 2010 to harmonise methods used at different centres. The end result is a standardised document for the design and conduct of CHMI and a second document for the microscopy methods used to determine the patency endpoint. These documents will facilitate high accuracy and comparability of CHMI studies and will be revised commensurate with advances in the field.     

Intraoperative rescue by placement of a stent following a surgical coronary arterial injury in a child

An acute injury to a coronary artery was recognized during the surgical construction of the Fontan circulation. Surgical manipulation of the site of injury was not successful in restoring normal myocardial blood flow. A stent was therefore placed intraoperatively under direct vision, with restoration of normal coronary arterial flow acutely and at short-term follow-up.     

一个肝癌相关基因的生物信息学及其基因表达分析

目的 :筛选并克隆肝癌相关基因 ,探讨肝癌发病机制。方法 :在国家人类基因组南方研究中心肝癌基因表达谱及其功能研究的工作基础上 ,发现 1个未知功能基因 (暂命名LLC基因 ) ,其DNA拷贝数在肝癌基因组中呈降低的趋势。本研究利用生物信息学和RT PCR的方法 ,对其进行功能预测并在转录组水平检测该基因的表达。结果 :LLC基因定位于染色体8p2 3 3区段 ,全长为 670 6bp ,含有 2个外显子 ,1个内含子 ,其开放阅读框长为 1871bp ,编码 1个含有 62 3个氨基酸的蛋白。该基因在 67%( 16/2 4)肝癌组织中呈现下调趋势。同时其在人体内多种组织均有表达。结论 :LLC基因有可能是一个新的肝癌相关抑癌基因     

Effects of drotrecogin alfa (activated) on organ dysfunction in the PROWESS trial

OBJECTIVE: To assess morbidity in patients with severe sepsis managed with and without drotrecogin alfa (activated). DESIGN: Analysis of secondary end points in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 3 trial (PROWESS). SETTING: A total of 164 medical institutions in 11 countries. PATIENTS: A total of 1,690 consecutive adult patients with severe sepsis. INTERVENTIONS: A 96-hr infusion of drotrecogin alfa (activated) (human recombinant activated protein C) or placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores for cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hematologic, and hepatic organ systems were measured for 28 days. Mean cardiovascular SOFA scores were significantly lower for patients treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated) compared with placebo patients over this time period (p = .022). Drotrecogin alfa (activated)-treated patients also showed significantly faster resolution of cardiovascular (p = .009) and respiratory (p = .009) dysfunction and significantly slower onset of hematologic organ dysfunction (p = .041) compared with placebo patients for days 1 to 7. No significant differences in morbidity were observed between treatment groups among 28-day survivors. CONCLUSION: Drotrecogin alfa (activated) demonstrated significant improvements in organ function compared with placebo in a large phase 3 clinical trial that has shown a mortality benefit in patients with severe sepsis.     

ESHRE PGD consortium best practice guidelines for organization of a PGD centre for PGD/preimplantation genetic screening

In 2005, the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) PGD Consortium published a set of Guidelines for Best Practice PGD to give information, support and guidance to potential, existing and fledgling PGD programmes. Subsequent years have seen the introduction of new technologies as well as the evolution of current techniques. Additionally, in light of recent advice from ESHRE on how practice guidelines should be written/formulated, the Consortium believed it was timely to update the PGD guidelines. Rather than one document that covers all of PGD, the new guidelines are separated into four documents, including one relating to organization of the PGD centre and three relating to the methods used: DNA amplification, fluorescence in situ hybridization and biopsy/embryology. Here, we have updated the sections on organization of the PGD centre. One area that has continued to expand is Transport PGD, in which patients are treated at one IVF centre, whereas their gametes/embryos are tested elsewhere, at an independent PGD centre. Transport PGD/preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) has a unique set of challenges with respect to the nature of the sample and the rapid turn-around time required. PGS is currently controversial. Opinions of laboratory specialists and clinicians interested in PGD and PGS have been taken into account here. Current evidence suggests that PGS at cleavage stages is ineffective, but whether PGS at the blastocyst stage or on polar bodies might show improved delivery rates is still unclear. Thus, in this revision, PGS has been included. This document should assist everyone interested in PGD/PGS in developing the best laboratory and clinical practice possible.