Serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta, progesterone, relaxin and chorionic gonadotrophin during blastocyst implantation in natural pregnancy cycle and in embryo transfer cycle in the rhesus monkey

The present study was undertaken to assess the temporal association between the profiles of serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta, progesterone, chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) and relaxin in pregnancies established naturally, and after embryo transfer, as well as in failed pregnancies in rhesus monkeys. In naturally mated cycles (group 1) a conception rate of 75% was obtained. In group 1, the mean day of CG detection in serum was 11.5 +/- 1.9 day post-ovulation, and for relaxin, 9.0 +/- 2.5 day post-ovulation. In group 2, embryo transfer to synchronous, non-mated surrogate recipients was performed; seven embryo transfer cycles yielded three pregnancies which were allowed to continue to term and normal infants were delivered. In embryo transfer cycles the mean day of CG detection was 14.8 +/- 1.8 day post- ovulation, and for relaxin, 11.4 +/- 2.6 day post-ovulation. A delay of about 3 days was observed in the appearance in circulation of CG (P < 0.05) and also of relaxin (P < 0.05) between natural mated and embryo transfer conception cycles. Significant differences (P < 0.05 for progesterone and P < 0.03 for oestradiol) were obtained for the areas under the curves for progesterone and oestradiol between days 12 and 16 in conception cycles compared with failed pregnancies. These data provide the first observation of the normal hormonal signals associated with maternal recognition of transferred embryos during the peri- implantation period, and suggest that the use of such an experimental primate embryo transfer model may help to elucidate components of maternal and embryonic signal-response mechanisms during embryo implantation.      

How will new genetic technologies,such as gene editing,change reproductive decision-making? Views of high-risk couples

Couples at increased risk of having offspring with a specific genetic disorder who want to avoid having an affected child have several reproductive options including prenatal diagnosis (PND) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). In the future, non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD), germline gene editing (GGE) and somatic gene editing (SGE) might become available. This study explores if, and how, availability of new genetic technologies, including NIPD, GGE, SGE, would change reproductive decision-making of high-risk couples. In 2018, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 genetically at-risk couples. Couples previously had received genetic counselling for PND and PGT, and in most cases opted for (one of) these techniques, at one Dutch Clinical Genetics Center between 2013 and 2017. Considerations participants mentioned regarding the hypothetical use of NIPD, GGE and SGE, seem similar to considerations regarding PND and PGT and are reflected in underlying concepts. These include safety and burden for mother and child, and moral considerations. Couples generally favoured NIPD over PND as this would be safe and enables earlier diagnosis. Increased opportunities of having a ‘healthy’ embryo and less embryo disposal were considerations in favour of GGE. Some regarded GGE as unsafe and feared slippery slope scenarios. Couples were least favourable towards SGE compared to choosing for a genetic reproductive technology, because of the perceived burden for the affected offspring. With the possibly growing number of technological options, understanding high risk couples’ perspectives can assist in navigating the reproductive decision-making process. Counsellors should be prepared to counsel on more and complex reproductive options.Subject terms: Genetic testing, Genetic counselling, Genetic engineering     

Short-Ti inversion-recovery pulse sequence: analysis and initial experience in cancer imaging

Inversion recovery (IR), commonly considered a pulse sequence capable of producing T1-weighted images with excellent display of normal anatomy, is versatile: The null point and peak time provide a useful, succinct summary of the properties of IR and its capacity for producing both T1- and T2-weighted images. Shortening of the inversion time (TI) and creation of a short-TI inversion-recovery (STIR) pulse sequence increases sensitivity to malignancy and other abnormalities by making the effects of prolonged T1 and T2 on signal intensity additive and by nulling the signal from fat. The authors examined over 300 patients with various malignancies and compared STIR images with T1- and T2-weighted images obtained at 0.5 T. In 43 cases, signal-difference-to-noise ratios (SD/Ns) were calculated between tumor, fat, and muscle. In general, STIR images demonstrated tumor as a conspicuously high-intensity area in a background of muted, discernible anatomic detail. The good contrast achieved with STIR sequences between tumor and fat (SD/N = 18.1) and tumor and muscle (SD/N = 12.9) consolidated into a single image the information contained separately on T1- and T2-weighted images, which facilitates efficient detection and localization of malignancy.     

US-guided percutaneous biopsy: use of a screw biopsy stylet to aid needle detection

Insertion of a screw biopsy stylet into a thin-walled biopsy needle greatly enhances detection of the needle during ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy. This technique is helpful when precise needle-tip localization is needed for biopsies of small lesions.     

Myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma: sonographic assessment

The depth of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma was evaluated using real-time sonography (US) in 20 patients with histologically proved adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. In 14 of 20 (70%) cases, US-based estimation of the depth of myometrial invasion was within 10% of the actual measurement in the gross specimen. The US-based estimation of tumor invasion was low in seven patients, high in four patients, and agreed with pathologic findings (+/- 5%) in nine patients. In four patients with polypoid intraluminal extension of tumor, a deeply invasive tumor was suspected on US but was not found on pathologic examination. In 12 superficially invasive tumors, the continuity of the demarcating subendometrial halo was intact in nine and incomplete in three. In six patients with deeply invasive tumors, this zone was partially disrupted in four, totally disrupted in one, and intact in one. Errors of estimation of the depth of myometrial invasion on US most frequently occurred when a tumor had a significant intraluminal polypoid extension. Demonstration of a subendometrial halo usually indicated superficial invasion, whereas the absence of a halo was frequently associated with deep invasion.     

Erythropoietin production in a primary culture of human renal carcinoma cells maintained in nude mice

The present studies report erythropoietin (Ep) production in primary cultures of a human renal carcinoma from a patient with erythrocytosis that has been serially transplanted to BALB/c nude mice. The levels of erythropoietin in the culture media were estimated using the exhypoxic polycythemic mouse assay (EHPCMA), fetal mouse liver erythroid colony- forming technique (FMLC), and a radioimmunoassay (RIA). The spent culture media of the exponentially growing cells contained less than 10 mU/ml of Ep measured by RIA. However, after the cells became confluent, Ep levels (RIA) in the spent media showed a marked increase to approximately 300 mU/ml. Ep levels estimated using the FMLC and EHPCMA were approximately 2/3 and 1/10, respectively, of those measured by RIA. Rabbit antiserum to highly purified human urinary Ep (70,400 U/mg protein) was utilized for immunocytochemical (peroxidase-antiperoxidase method) localization of Ep in the cultured cells. Very few of the cells in exponential growth exhibited Ep-like immunoreactivity, whereas intense Ep-like immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of the cells maintained in culture for a prolonged period after reaching confluency. The most intense staining was observed in some of the cells forming domes. The domes developed after the cells reached confluency, and their numbers increased with increasing time in confluent culture, in parallel with the increase in Ep levels in the spent media. This primary cell culture system of a renal cell carcinoma maintained in nude mice, which produces immunologically and biologically active Ep, may provide a useful model for studies of the mechanism of Ep production.