Long-term N fertilization reduces uptake of N from fertilizer and increases the uptake of N from soil.

Long-term supply of synthetic nitrogen (N) has the potential to affect the soil N processes. This study aimed to (i) establish N response curves to find the best balance between inputs and outputs of N over four ratoons; (ii) use N-labeled fertilizer to estimate the N recovery efficiency of fertilizer applied in the current season as affected by the N management in the previous three years. Nitrogen rates (control, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha N) were applied annually in the same plots after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sugarcane cycles.

Blastocyst formation in in vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: influence of the fertilization procedure.

Objective: To compare the quality of early cleaving embryos and blastocysts obtained by IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary infertility center.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for neurofibromatosis type 1.

PGD is an alternative to prenatal diagnosis that circumvents therapeutic abortion. Diagnosis is carried out on single cells obtained from three-day-old embryos, and only those that are free of the disease under consideration are transferred to the mother. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common neurocutaneous disorder, inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and caused by mutations in the NF1 gene.

PGD for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease type 1.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is primarily characterized by renal cysts and progression to renal failure. It is a genetically heterogeneous disease, with mutations in the PKD1 gene accounting for the majority of cases. Direct mutation detection for PKD1-linked ADPKD or type 1 is complicated by the large size and complex genomic structure of PKD1.