Women of 40 and older in i.v.f. and i.c.s.i.: the FIVNAT data

The proportion of women over 40 in i.v.f. and in i.c.s.i. has been dramatically increasing to reach 12% in 2002. Tubal and unexplained infertility increases with age. Short protocols or protocols with GnRH antagonists are more and more often used for older women. Best results are nevertheless still obtained with long protocols! Up to 35 years, pregnancy rates are similar with two or three transferred embryos. Over 35, better results are observed with three embryos. However, the rate of twins only falls below 20% when the woman is over 38, in i.v.f. as well as in i.c.s.i. The decreasing pregnancy rate should be better known by patients and clinicians so that women are treated sooner for i.v.f.     

Isolated congenital aplasia of the anterior cruciate ligament treated by reconstruction in a 5-year-old boy

Agenesia of the anterior cruciate ligament is a rare entity which is exceptionally symptomatic. We report a case observed in a 5-year-old boy who presented an unstable knee which was treated by Clocheville ligamentopàlasty. At five years followup, the functional outcome was satisfactory. The patient was symptom free and practiced sports activities. He did not develop any complications excepting flexion which was limited to 130 degrees . Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated good integration of the autograft. Anterior instability in the child limits physical activity and can cause meniscal injury and early osteoarthritis. The Clocheville technique is adapted for pediatric patients with knee instability caused by a congenital defect or injury.     

Ghrelin and NUCB2/Nesfatin-1 Co-Localization With Digestive Enzymes in the Intestine of Pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis)

Ghrelin (orexigenic) and nesfatin-1 (anorexigenic) are two peptides with opposing actions on food intake regulation and are mainly expressed in the hypothalamus and gut of mammals and fish. Both are involved in the regulation of a wide range of physiological processes in vertebrates, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction. However, the anatomical relationship between these peptides and the nutrient assimilation processes are not well understood. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine the localization of ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and several enzymes involved in the digestive process (lipoprotein lipase, aminopeptidase A, trypsin, and sucrase-isomaltase) in the intestine of pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis), a species with commercial importance in South America. We observed co-localization of ghrelin and nesfatin-1 in enteroendocrine cells, absorptive cells, and in cells of the lamina propia. Approximately half of the cells displaying ghrelin-like immunoreactivity co-localized the NUCB2/nesfatin-1-like signal. In addition, both peptides showed co-localization with lipoprotein lipase, aminopeptidase A, trypsin, or sucrase-isomaltase. All digestive enzymes except for aminopeptidase A and trypsin, showed high co-localization (68–88%) with both ghrelin-like and NUCB2/nesfatin-1-like signals in absorptive, enteroendocrine, and lamina propria cells. Together, our results provide immunohistochemical evidence supporting a role for both ghrelin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the regulation of nutrient assimilation in fish. Anat Rec, 302:973–982, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Interleukin-6 receptor in spindle-shaped stromal cells,a prognostic determinant of early breast cancer

Tumor Biology - Spindle-shaped stromal cells, like carcinoma-associated fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells, influence tumor behavior and can serve as parameters in the clinical diagnosis,...     

Translational boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) studies for the treatment of tumors in lung

Abstract

Purpose: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) combines selective accumulation of ¹⁰B carriers in tumor tissue with subsequent neutron irradiation. BNCT has been proposed for the treatment of multiple, non-resectable, diffuse tumors in lung. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of BNCT in an experimental model of lung metastases of colon carcinoma in BDIX rats and perform complementary survival studies.

Materials and methods: We evaluated tumor control and toxicity in lung 2?weeks post-BNCT at 2 dose levels, including 5 experimental groups per dose level: T0 (euthanized pre-treatment), Boronophenylalanine-BNCT (BPA-BNCT), BPA?+?Sodium decahydrodecaborate-BNCT ((BPA?+?GB-10)-BNCT), Beam only (BO) and Sham (no treatment, same manipulation). Tumor response was assessed employing macroscopic and microscopic end-points. An additional experiment was performed to evaluate survival and oxygen saturation in blood.

Results and conclusions: No dose-limiting signs of short/medium-term toxicity were observed in lung. All end-points revealed statistically significant BNCT-induced tumor control vs Sham at both dose levels. The survival experiment showed a statistically significant 45% increase in post-treatment survival time in the BNCT group (48?days) versus Sham (33?days). These data consistently revealed growth suppression of lung metastases by BNCT with no manifest lung toxicity.

• Highlights

• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy suppresses growth of experimental lung metastases

• No BNCT-induced short/medium-term toxicity in lung is associated with tumor control

• Boron Neutron Capture Therapy increased post-treatment survival time by 45%

     

Adverse effects of hepatitis B virus on sperm motility and fertilization ability during IVF

The consequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection for fertility are still unclear. Spermatozoa with decreased motility have been reported in HBV-infected patients. It has been demonstrated in vitro that HBV S protein has adverse effects on human sperm function with consequences for fertilization. In a case-control study design, 32 IVF cycles in couples with male HBV infection were compared with 64 cycles in non-infected couples, matched for age, time period, cycle rank and sperm parameters on the day of oocyte retrieval. Sperm motility before selection was significantly reduced in the HBV group (36.3 ± 11.6% versus 45.3 ± 14.4%,P = 0.003). A low fertilization rate (LFR) was more frequently observed in the HBV group (34.4% versus 15.6%, P = 0.036) and was associated with a decreased number of embryos available for transfer, although embryo quality on day 2 or 3 was not different.Implantation and pregnancy rates were comparable between groups. This study shows that HBV has a deleterious effect on sperm motility in vivo and that couples whose male partner is infected have a higher risk of LFR after IVF, a risk which is independent from the initial sperm motility.     

ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENCE OF Toxocara EGGS IN SOILS OF AN ARID AREA IN CENTRAL-WESTERN ARGENTINA

With the aim of studying the contamination of soils with eggs of Toxocara spp. in an arid area in the central-western region of Argentina, 76 soil samples were collected from 18 towns belonging to six provinces of central-western Argentina. They were processed by the centrifugal flotation method. No eggs of Toxocara spp. were found. It can be concluded that the negative results are directly related to the characteristics of the environment and climate present in the studied area. The finding of eggs in soils depends on several factors: the presence of canine or feline feces, the hygienic behavior of pet owners, the presence of stray animals without veterinary supervision, the weather and environmental conditions, and laboratory techniques used; and all these circumstances must be considered when comparing the results found in different geographical regions. In order to accurately define the importance of public spaces in the transmission of infection to humans, it is important to consider the role of backyards or green spaces around housing in small towns, where the population is not used to walking pets in public spaces, and in such cases a significant fraction of the population may acquire the infection within households.     

Ethanol sclerotherapy: a treatment option for ovarian endometriomas before ovarian stimulation

Several surgical treatment modalities have been described in cases of isolated or multiple ovarian endometriotic cysts. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate and test the efficacy of ethanol sclerotherapy (EST) for recurrent endometriotic cysts, before ovarian stimulation in infertile patients with an adequate ovarian status. In the setting of a prospective comparative study, EST was proposed to 31 infertile patients with recurrence of ovarian endometriomas before inclusion in assisted reproduction cycles. Reproductive outcome was compared with that of patients who had previous laparoscopic cystectomy for recurrent endometriomas. The mean size of endometriomas treated with sclerotherapy was 38.6 ± 11.2 mm in diameter. Ovarian cysts recurred in 12.9% of cases; at a mean time of 10 months after EST. Ovarian reserve and ovarian response to stimulation were better in the EST group than in the control group. Consequently, clinical and cumulative pregnancy rates of the study group were higher than those of the control group (48.3% versus 19.2%, P = 0.04; and 55.2% versus 26.9%, P = 0.03, respectively). Ethanol sclerotherapy may be a good alternative to surgical management of recurrent endometriotic cysts before assisted reproductive treatment. It could be advised for selected infertile patients.