Developmental and family history-based analysis of congenital fused labia phenotype in the captive common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Background: Congenital fused labia (CFL) is defined as a failure or significant delay in the opening of the juvenile sealed labia majora. This phenotype is known to be variably common in adult captive female marmosets but has never been investigated in detail before.

Materials And Methods: Here, we define, describe and quantify the variations in the degree of closure of the vulva in 122 captive marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) from 1.

PSCDGs of mouse multipotent adult germline stem cells can enter and progress through meiosis to form haploid male germ cells in vitro.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) provide the basis for spermatogenesis throughout adult life by undergoing self-renewal and differentiation into sperm. SSC-derived cell lines called multipotent adult germline stem cells (maGSCs) were recently shown to be pluripotent and to have the same potential as embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In a differentiation protocol using retinoic acid (RA) and based on a double selection strategy, we have shown that ESCs are able to undergo meiosis and produce haploid male germ cells in vitro.

Text mining and natural language processing approaches for automatic categorization of lay requests to web-based expert forums.

Background: Both healthy and sick people increasingly use electronic media to obtain medical information and advice. For example, Internet users may send requests to Web-based expert forums, or so-called "ask the doctor" services.

Objective: To automatically classify lay requests to an Internet medical expert forum using a combination of different text-mining strategies.

Human oocyte chromosome analysis: complicated cases and major pitfalls.

Human oocytes that remained unfertilized in programmes of assisted reproduction have been analysed cytogenetically for more than 20 years to assess the incidence of aneuploidy in female gametes. However, the results obtained so far are not indisputable as a consequence of difficulties in evaluating oocyte chromosome preparations. Because of the lack of guidelines, we decided to summarize for the first time, the possible pitfalls in human oocyte chromosome analysis.

Access to genetic material: reproductive technologies and bioethical issues.

New assisted reproduction technologies provide access to, and require the handling of, genetic material. Such material includes gametes or early-stage embryos. After a selective appraisal of some of the most relevant developments facilitated by the access to germ cells and embryos, this paper identifies some major ethical challenges created by the assisted reproduction technologies, with a special focus on Germany.

In vitro-differentiated embryonic stem cells give rise to male gametes that can generate offspring mice.

Male gametes originate from a small population of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). These cells are believed to divide infinitely and to support spermatogenesis throughout life in the male. Here, we developed a strategy for the establishment of SSC lines from embryonic stem (ES) cells.

Information needs and visitors' experience of an Internet expert forum on infertility.

Background: Patients increasingly use health portals and Web-based expert forums (ask-the-doctor services), but little is known about the specific needs of Internet users visiting such websites, the nature of their requests, or how satisfied they are with Internet health experts.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the information requests of (mostly female) patients visiting an Internet expert forum on involuntary childlessness and their satisfaction with the experts' feedback.

Methods: We posted an electronic questionnaire on a website hosting an expert forum on involuntary childlessness.

Stem cell based therapeutical approach of male infertility by teratocarcinoma derived germ cells.

Infertility affects 13-18% of couples and growing evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggests an increasing incidence of male reproductive problems. There is a male factor involved in up to half of all infertile couples. The pathogenesis of male infertility can be reflected by defective spermatogenesis due to failure in germ cell proliferation and differentiation.