Comparison of palmar aponeuroses from individuals with diabetes Mellitus and Dupuytren's contracture

It is well known that Dupuytren's contracture is often associated with diabetes mellitus. Palmar fascia from individuals with diabetes mellitus and/or Dupuytren's contracture as well as controls were subjected to differential scanning calorimetry, biomechanical and biochemical analysis. The collagen denaturation temperature of the palmar aponeurosis from individuals with diabetes mellitus in the presence (71.0°C) or absence of Dupuytren's contracture (70.6°C) was increased as compared with controls (68.5°C), while this parameter was significantly reduced (about 3.5°C) in contracture bands of Dupuytren's contracture. Stress relaxation experiments revealed that the viscous fraction was slightly reduced in diabetes mellitus (6.5%) vs. controls (8.3%), whereas in Dupuytren's contracture, irrespective of additional diabetes mellitus, a pronounced increase of this parameter was seen (36.5% vs. 24.5%) in the presence of diabetes mellitus. The time constants were significantly elevated by both disorders, this increase being more pronounced in Dupuytren's contracture. Taken together, these changes can be explained by increased cross‐linking in diabetes mellitus, while in Dupuytren's contracture other structural changes, such as increased collagen type III content and loss of fascicular organization, play an additional role besides the finding of reduced cross linking. Anat Rec 255:401–406, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Vitrification versus slow freezing gives excellent survival,post warming embryo morphology and pregnancy outcomes for human cleaved embryos

Purpose  The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitrification and slow freezing for the cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos in terms of post-warming survival rate, post-warming embryo morphology and clinical outcomes. Methods  The embryos of 305 patients at cleavage stages were cryopreserved either with vitrification (153 patients) or slow-freezing (152 patients) methods. After warming; the survival rate, post-warmed embryo morphology, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Result(s)  In the vitrification group versus slow freezing group, the survival rate (96.9% vs. 82.8%) and the post-warmed excellent morphology with all blastomeres intact (91.8% vs. 56.2%) were higher with an odds ratio of 6.607 (95% confidence interval; 4.184–10.434) and 8.769 (95% confidence interval; 6.460–11.904), respectively. In this group, the clinical pregnancy rate (40.5% vs. 21.4%) and the implantation rate (16.6% vs. 6.8%) were also higher with an odds ratio of 2.427 (95%confidence interval; 1.461–4.033) and 2.726 (95% confidence interval; 1.837–4.046), respectively. Conclusion(s)  Vitrification in contrast to slow freezing is an efficient method for cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos. Vitrification provides a higher survival rate, minimal deleterious effects on post-warming embryo morphology and it can improve clinical outcomes. Capsule Cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos with vitrification versus slow freezing provides better laboratory and clinical outcomes.     

Polyethylene glycol-coated porous magnetic nanoparticles for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics under magnetic hyperthermia condition

Purpose: Although magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are promising agents for hyperthermia therapy, insufficient drug encapsulation efficacies inhibit their application as nanocarriers in the targeted drug delivery systems. In this study, porous magnetite nanoparticles (PMNPs) were synthesized and coated with a thermosensitive polymeric shell to obtain a synergistic effect of hyperthermia and chemotherapy.

Materials and methods: PMNPs were produced using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide template and then coated by a polyethylene glycol layer with molecular weight of 1500?Da (PEG1500) and phase transition temperature of 48?±?2?°C to endow a thermosensitive behavior. The profile of drug release from the nanostructure was studied at various hyperthermia conditions generated by waterbath, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), and alternating magnetic field (AMF). The in vitro cytotoxicity and hyperthermia efficacy of the doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-PEG1500-PMNPs) were assessed using human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells.

Results: Heat treatment of DOX-PEG1500-PMNPs containing 235?±?26?mg·g^?1 DOX at 48?°C by waterbath, MRgFUS, and AMF, respectively led to 71?±?4%, 48?±?3%, and 74?±?5% drug release. Hyperthermia treatment of the A549 cells using DOX-PEG1500-PMNPs led to 77% decrease in the cell viability due to the synergistic effects of magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy.

Conclusion: The large pores generated in the PMNPs structure could provide a sufficient space for encapsulation of the chemotherapeutics as well as fast drug encapsulation and release kinetics, which together with thermosensitive characteristics of the PEG1500 shell, make DOX-PEG1500-PMNPs promising adjuvants to the magnetic hyperthermia modality.     

Protective effect of oestrogen receptor α-PvuII transition against idiopathic male infertility: a case-control study and meta-analysis

Research questionWhich blastocyst morphology parameter is associated with live birth after controlling for female age and endometrial receptivity?DesignRetrospective study including fresh single blastocyst transfers (n = 2461) where the value of serum progesterone on day of human chorionic gonadotrophin trigger (PdHCG) was available. Generalized estimating equation regression models evaluated the independent effects of developmental stage (DevSt), inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm grade on live birth rates while controlling for the confounding effects of female age and PdHCG.ResultsDevSt was strongly associated with the probability of live birth (P < 0.0001) independently of female age (odds ratio [OR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–0.91) and PdHCG (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74–0.87). For full blastocysts, expanded blastocysts and hatching blastocysts, addition of ICM and trophectoderm grading in the multivariable analysis suggested that besides female age (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90–0.94) and PdHCG (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73–0.87), only DevSt (P = 0.001) and trophectoderm quality (P = 0.004) were independent predictors of live birth, while the predictive capacity of ICM was no longer significant. The mean probability of live birth was highest for AA blastocysts (35.0%), followed by BA blastocysts (31.2%) and AB blastocysts (27.7%).ConclusionThis large study analyses for the first time the independent role of blastocyst morphology in predicting live birth while controlling for female age and PdHCG. Its findings suggest that DevSt and then trophectoderm grade are stronger predictors of live birth over ICM grade when selecting a single blastocyst for transfer.     

Retinoic acid and 17β-estradiol improve male germ cell differentiation from mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells

This research aimed to explore the impacts of retinoic acid (RA)/17β-estradiol (E) induction and embryoid body formation to enhance differentiation of mouse-induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) into male germ cells in vitro. Flow cytometry and qPCR were conducted to describe miPSCs differentiation process. Various temporal expression profiles of germ cell-related genes were traced. Stra8 gene expression increased in the RA group on the 4th day compared to other groups. The RA group experienced a more significant increase than E group. The expression of Sycp3 increased in RA + E group on 4th day compared with other groups. Expression of AKAP3 enhanced in the RA + E group than other groups on day 4. Moreover, miPSCs showed that this gene expression in the RA + E group was increased in comparison to RA and E groups on day 7. AKAP3 gene expression on day 7 of miPSCs decreased in RA and E groups. Flow cytometry data indicated that 3%–8% of the cells in sub-G1 stage were haploid after RA and E induction compared to other groups on day 4. This study showed that miPSCs possess the power for differentiating into male germ cells in vitro via formation of embryoid body by RA with/or E induction.