The impact of pronuclear orientation to select chromosomally normal embryos

Purpose: To find an effective method to select embryos from ICSI with better chromosomal status when preimplantation-genetic-diagnosis (PGD) is not applied.Methods: Several morpholological evaluations were done in same embryos. Embryos from ICSI were classified on day 1 according to pronuclear-nucleoli arrangement. On day 3, classification was done according to number, fragmentation, size and shape of cells. In some patients, embryos exhibiting good quality on day 3 (at least six regular blastomeres with cell fragmentation lower than 20%) were also submitted to PGD, irrespective to pronuclear-nucleoli morphology.Results: Forty-two per cent of normally fertilized embryos showed pronuclear-nucleoli-good-morphology; from those, 86% were also classified as good quality on day 3. Good-quality embryos submitted to PGD have shown lower chromosomal abnormality rates when also classified as pronuclear-nucleoli-good-morphology.Conclusions: Pronuclear-nucleoli morphology seems to be correlated with PGD results. This criterion may prove useful for pre-select embryos with normal chromosomal package when PGD is not applied.     

Molecular and genotypic characterization of human thyroid follicular cell carcinoma-derived cell lines.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to characterize the molecular and genotypic profile of eight thyroid carcinoma-derived cell lines-TPC1, FB2, B-CPAP, K1, XTC-1, C643, 8505C, and Hth74-in order to use them as in vitro models of thyroid carcinogenesis. DESIGN: We evaluated the expression of five thyroid-specific genes (Tg, TSHr, TPO, PAX8, and TTF-1) to establish the cell lineage and to assess the differentiation status of each of the cell lines. We screened for mutations in the most relevant oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes affected in thyroid carcinogenesis: RAS, BRAF, CTNNB1, and TP53 along with RET/PTC rearrangements. Considering the putative relevance in general carcinogenesis, we have also studied other molecules such as EGFR, PI3K, RAF-1, and THRB. To determine the genetic identity of the cell lines, we performed genotypic analysis. MAIN OUTCOME: The panel of cell lines we have studied displayed activation of several oncogenes (BRAF, RAS, RET/PTC) and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TP53) known to be important for thyroid carcinogenesis. Two of the cell lines-TPC1 and FB2-shared the same genotypic profile, probably representing clones of an ancestor cell line (TPC1). CONCLUSION: Due to their different molecular alterations, these cell lines represent a valuable tool to study the molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid carcinogenesis. We suggest that genotypic analyses should be included as a routine procedure to guarantee the uniqueness of each cell line used in research.     

Influence of oxidative stress and alpha tocopherol supplementation on urothelial cells of the urinary bladder in ovariectomised rats

The present study was designed to investigate whether vitamin E supplementation would influence the levels of oxidative stress and the damage to urothelial cell DNA in the bladders of castrated rats. A total of 30 rats of the Wistar breed were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals each. Group 1 underwent a sham procedure and was killed after 30 days; group 2 underwent bilateral oophorectomy and was killed after 30 days without receiving vitamin E supplementation and group 3 underwent bilateral oophorectomy and received vitamin E supplementation at a dose of 1,000 IU/kg once a week intra-muscularly for 30 days. Four weeks after the procedure, the rats were anesthetised and their bladders were rapidly removed, frozen and stored at −70°C for Comet assaying, which was carried out on lymphocytes and vesicular urothelium cells. The 8-isoprostane concentration in plasma was also determined to confirm the presence of oxidative stress. The 8-isoprostane levels found were higher in oophorectomised rats that had not received vitamin E supplementation than in the sham group and the oophorectomised group with vitamin replacement. Tail moment analysis on the urothelial cells demonstrated that the oophorectomised group presented DNA damage that was statistically significant in comparison with the other groups. On the basis of the above data, vitamin E decreased the effects of oophorectomy on lipid peroxidation and avoided the DNA damage observed in urothelial cells.     

Regular use of pedometer does not enhance beneficial outcomes in a physical activity intervention study in type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the use of pedometer increases walking and/or enhances beneficial outcomes in a physical intervention study in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Seventy persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to a pedometer and a nonpedometer group (P and non-P groups). All participants were seen by a nurse at a baseline visit (V1), after 1 month, after 3 months, and after 6 months and were then encouraged to increase walking. Subjects in the P group additionally registered pedometer steps 3 days twice per month for 6 months. After V1 and the visit at 6 months, aerobic capacity (VO2peak) was measured; and subjects reported perceived physical fitness and activity. Twenty-two subjects did not complete the study (dropouts). The VO2peak at V1 was lower in dropouts than in subjects who completed the study (completers) (P=.003). In the P group, the number of steps per day did not increase from month 1 to month 6 (P=.65). In completers, taken together, there was a decrease in body weight (P=.005), hemoglobin A1c (P=.034), fasting blood glucose (P=.033), triglycerides (P=.002), and diastolic blood pressure (P=.048) and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<.001), with no difference between the P group and non-P group for these variables (all P values>.38). Perceived improvement in physical and mental state correlated with improvement in VO2peak (r=0.45, P=.008 and r=0.38, P=.03, respectively; n=34). We conclude that the use of pedometer did not increase walking or enhance beneficial metabolic outcomes. The low aerobic capacity in dropouts indicates that persons most needy of physical exercise are the least compliant in exercise programs.     

Reduction Mammaplasty and the Use of Dextran Against Thromboembolism

A retrospective study was conducted on 98 consecutive patients who had reduction mammaplasty done by different techniques during 1995, to find out the effect of dextran 70 on operative blood loss and postoperative complications. The most common procedure was reduction with a laterally based flap ( n = 67) followed by a Lejour vertical mammaplasty ( n = 15) and a medially based flap ( n = 12). Four had other operations. Dextran 70 was given peroperatively to 64 patients and their median (range) blood loss was 350 (30-1000) ml and drainage volume 80 (10-465) ml. In 33 patients not treated with dextran 70 the median (range) blood loss was 200 (25- 650) ml and the drainage volume 40 (0-115) ml. Ten patients developed major complications and 16 minor complications and there was no difference in the complication rate between those given dextran 70 (18/64, 28%) and those who were not (8/33, 24%), p = 0.8. Complications were no more common in smokers, overweight patients or those whose breasts were reduced by more than 1500 g, but there was a tendency to find more complications after the Lejour vertical mammaplasty. In conclusion, the study shows that patients undergoing mammaplasty and given Dextran 70 have an acceptable blood loss and drainage. In patients with a high risk of developing thromboembolism there is a need for a prophylactic agent and this study shows that dextran 70 may safely be used during reduction mammaplasty.     

Association of common variants in mismatch repair genes and breast cancer susceptibility: a multigene study

Background  

MMR is responsible for the repair of base-base mismatches and insertion/deletion loops. Besides this, MMR is also associated with an anti-recombination function, suppressing homologous recombination. Losses of heterozygosity and/or microsatellite instability have been detected in a large number of skin samples from breast cancer patients, suggesting a potential role of MMR in breast cancer susceptibility.