Effect of parental age on fertilization and pregnancy characteristics in couples treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection

The purpose of this study was to investigate any influence of maternal and/or paternal age on gamete characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. In all, 821 consecutive ICSI cases were analysed retrospectively. While a significant linear decline in semen volume was detected, no significant differences in the concentration, motility or morphology of the spermatozoa were found with paternal ageing. A significant decline in the number of oocytes retrieved and the number of mature oocytes obtained was found with advancing maternal age. An increase in the occurrence of digyny was noted with parental ageing, while no difference in single or bipronuclear fertilization was found. Older women had a decreased incidence of single pronucleus formation and an increase in digyny, but no significant difference in the percentage of oocytes that underwent two-pronuclear fertilization was detected with regard to maternal ageing. Pregnancy outcomes were not influenced by the age of the male partner, while a strong negative correlation was found with maternal ageing. To better analyse male partner ageing as a factor affecting pregnancy outcome, we analysed a subgroup of patients with a female partner aged <35 years who underwent ICSI. No paternal influence on ICSI pregnancy outcome was found in this subgroup of patients. We conclude that the influence on pregnancy outcome after ICSI is related mostly to maternal and not paternal age.      

羧烷基化合成萘普生工艺改进

１－溴－２－甲氧基萘与０－对在苯磺酰乳酸乙酯（１）在无水氯化铝催化下化Ｆｒｉｅｄｅｌ－Ｃｒａｆｔｓ反应，还原脱溴直接合成ｄｌ－１ａ萘普生（３），以上反应均在“一锅”内完成，收率达９５。     

Selective kinase inhibition with daily imatinib intensifies toxicity of chemotherapy in patients with solid tumours

The aim of this study was to determine the safety and maximum-tolerated doses of imatinib combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy (either gemcitabine or doxorubicin). Patients with advanced solid tumours were enrolled separately in two different combinations of imatinib with chemotherapy (imatinib + gemcitabine or imatinib + doxorubicin). A standard modified Fibonacci inter-cohort dose escalation was planned for each combination. Sixteen patients were accrued. Seven patients received gemcitabine and imatinib. A separate cohort of nine patients received imatinib and doxorubicin. In both groups, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed at the initial dose level requiring dose reductions for subsequent cohorts. Further DLTs were observed necessitating closure of the protocol. Daily dosing of imatinib with concurrent administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy (either gemcitabine or doxorubicin) at standard doses was associated with toxicity that was clinically unacceptable. It remains unclear whether addition of growth factors might improve tolerability for imatininb in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy.