Multiparameter analysis of human oocytes at metaphase II stage after IVF failure in non-male infertility.

Background: Using fluorescence imaging, an a posteriori multiparametric analysis was performed of human oocytes which failed to give pronucleated zygotes after IVF in cases of very low rates of fertilization or complete fertilization failure.

Methods: The analysis included: (i) the state of the maternal and paternal chromatin; (ii) quality of the metaphase II oocytes; and (iii) cortical granule (CG) distribution.

Results: Most oocytes were arrested in metaphase II, but they were abnormal in 50% of cases.

Impact of ring wearing on hand contamination and comparison of hand hygiene agents in a hospital.

We determined risk factors for hand contamination and compared the efficacy of 3 randomly allocated hand hygiene agents in a group of surgical intensive care unit nurses. We cultured samples of one of the subjects' hands before and samples of the other hand after hand hygiene was performed. Ring wearing was associated with 10-fold higher median skin organism counts; contamination with Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative bacilli, or Candida species; and a stepwise increased risk of contamination with any transient organism as the number of rings worn increased (odds ratio [OR] for 1 ring worn, 2.

Chromatin configuration and transcriptional control in human and mouse oocytes.

In vitro maturation of human oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage could offer an alternative in several cases of female infertility. It however rests on a better knowledge of the quality of human oocyte. Using fluorescence imaging of DNA and of the transcription sites, combined with electron microscopy, we show that human oocytes follow size-dependent changes in chromatin configuration, transcription sites distribution and nuclear ultrastructure that follow those observed in mouse GV oocytes.

Difference in the incidence of Clostridium difficile among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus admitted to a public hospital and a private hospital.

Objective: To compare the occurrence of Clostridium difficile among inpatients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in two different hospitals.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: Specialized HIV inpatient units.

Possible overestimation of penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization rates due to misidentification of oropharyngeal streptococci.

Standard identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae by optochin and bile solubility testing can lead to ambiguous results for certain isolates. Newer bacteriologic identification techniques (e.g.