Septic shock after a saline infusion hysterosalpingosonogram in a woman with stage IV endometriosis and infertility: A case report.

Saline infusion sonohysterography/hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography is commonly used in the work-up of infertility. Overall, pelvic infection following these investigations is rare, but risk may be increased in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not professionally recommended in patients with advanced endometriosis, a point that requires reconsideration.

Pregnancy outcomes after superovulation-intrauterine insemination (SO-IUI) using gonadotropins versus letrozole in the obese population.

Purpose: To compare fertility outcomes of obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m) undergoing superovulation and intrauterine insemination (SO-IUI) using gonadotropins versus letrozole.

Methods: A single centre retrospective cohort study of obese patients undergoing SO-IUI using gonadotropins or letrozole between January/2019 and June/2022. Primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate (intrauterine pregnancy with positive fetal heart rate).

The physiological and pathophysiological roles of copper in the nervous system.

Copper is a critical trace element in biological systems due the vast number of essential enzymes that require the metal as a cofactor, including cytochrome c oxidase, superoxide dismutase and dopamine-β-hydroxylase. Due its key role in oxidative metabolism, antioxidant defence and neurotransmitter synthesis, copper is particularly important for neuronal development and proper neuronal function. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that copper also serves important functions in synaptic and network activity, the regulation of circadian rhythms, and arousal.

Oocyte cryopreservation and reciprocal in vitro fertilization in a transgender man on long term testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy: a case report.

Objective: To report a successful case of oocyte cryopreservation and subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a transgender male receiving continued testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy, followed by reciprocal embryo transfer (ET).

Design: A case report of a rare case of fertility preservation in a transgender man with concomitant use of testosterone therapy for 4 years before and during ovarian stimulation.

Setting: Private fertility clinic with university affiliation.

Live birth rates after resolution of endometrial cavity fluid in frozen embryo transfer cycles.

Research Question: Are live birth rates affected in frozen embryo transfer cycles that develop transient endometrial cavity fluid that resolves by day of embryo transfer?

Design: The first frozen blastocyst transfer cycle between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study at an academic fertility center. The presence or absence of endometrial cavity fluid (ECF) detected on initial ultrasound and at time of transfer was recorded. Patients who had persistent ECF at time of transfer were excluded from the study.

Copper induces neuron-sparing, ferredoxin 1-independent astrocyte toxicity mediated by oxidative stress.

Copper is an essential enzyme cofactor in oxidative metabolism, anti-oxidant defenses, and neurotransmitter synthesis. However, intracellular copper, when improperly buffered, can also lead to cell death. Given the growing interest in the use of copper in the presence of the ionophore elesclomol (CuES) for the treatment of gliomas, we investigated the effect of this compound on the surround parenchyma-namely neurons and astrocytes in vitro.

Evaluation of Early Frozen Blastocyst Transfer in A True Natural Cycle Protocol in Comparison to A Hormone Replacement Protocol: A Single-Center Cohort Study.

Objective: Timing of frozen embryo transfer (FET) within a purported window of implantation is of increasing interest, and there is a paucity of evidence surrounding the transfer of frozen embryos early within these frozen embryo transfer protocols. This study aimed to evaluate whether live birth rates were equivalent after FET of blastocysts 4 days after luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in a true natural cycle protocol, compared to a hormone replacement (HR) protocol.

Materials And Methods: Single-centre, retrospective cohort study involving patients undergoing autologous frozen blastocyst transfer from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016.

Microglial reprogramming by Hv1 antagonism protects neurons from inflammatory and glutamate toxicity.

Although the precise mechanisms determining the neurotoxic or neuroprotective activation phenotypes in microglia remain poorly characterized, metabolic changes in these cells appear critical for these processes. As cellular metabolism can be tightly regulated by changes in intracellular pH, we tested whether pharmacological targeting of the microglial voltage-gated proton channel 1 (Hv1), an important regulator of intracellular pH, is critical for activated microglial reprogramming. Using a mouse microglial cell line and mouse primary microglia cultures, either alone, or co-cultured with rat cerebrocortical neurons, we characterized in detail the microglial activation profile in the absence and presence of Hv1 inhibition.

Comparative Embryo Development Outcomes following Extending Embryo Culture to Day 6: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Past studies have shown that culturing slow-growing embryos from day 5 to day 6 may increase vitrification yield. This study aims to evaluate if the proportion of embryos eligible for vitrification increases by growing embryos not vitrified by day 5 to day 6.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a Canadian tertiary-care clinic-based cohort was identified between August 2019 and December 2020.

Intracellular zinc signaling influences NMDA receptor function by enhancing the interaction of ZnT1 with GluN2A.

Zinc, loaded into glutamate-containing presynaptic vesicles and released into the synapse in an activity-dependent manner, modulates neurotransmission through its actions on postsynaptic targets, prominently via high-affinity inhibition of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors. Recently, we identified a postsynaptic transport mechanism that regulates endogenous zinc inhibition of NMDARs. In this new model of zinc regulation, the postsynaptic transporter ZnT1 mediates zinc inhibition of NMDARs by binding to GluN2A.

NUP62 localizes to ALS/FTLD pathological assemblies and contributes to TDP-43 insolubility.

A G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTLD (C9-ALS/FTLD) with cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions observed in regions of neurodegeneration. The accumulation of repetitive RNAs and dipeptide repeat protein (DPR) are two proposed mechanisms of toxicity in C9-ALS/FTLD and linked to impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport. Nucleocytoplasmic transport is regulated by the phenylalanine-glycine nucleoporins (FG nups) that comprise the nuclear pore complex (NPC) permeability barrier.

A Practical Approach to Fertility Considerations in Endometriosis Surgery.

Endometriosis surgery requires thoughtful consideration and planning for those with infertility or those who wish to conceive in the future. Clinical history, examination, imaging, and fertility assessment can help plan, prepare and provide goal-directed surgical interventions when required. Further understanding of the benefits and limitations of surgery on future fertility outcomes is essential for those who provide care for patients with endometriosis.

Time-lapse KIDScoreD5 for prediction of embryo pregnancy potential in fresh and vitrified-warmed single-embryo transfers.

Research Question: Can KIDScoreD5 predict which blastocysts have the highest potential for achieving pregnancy?

Design: A retrospective cohort study of 670 single fresh or frozen (FET) embryo transfer cycles was conducted between May 2019 and June 2021 at the Ottawa Fertility Centre, Canada. Blastocysts obtained from stimulated eligible cycles and cultured in a time-lapse incubator were selected for transfer or cryopreservation based on Gardner morphological scoring. Implantation and viable pregnancy rates were analysed retrospectively using KIDScoreD5 and Gardner scores associated with the transferred embryos.

Local translation in primary afferents and its contribution to pain.

Chronic pain remains a significant problem due to its prevalence, impact, and limited therapeutic options. Progress in addressing chronic pain is dependent on a better understanding of underlying mechanisms. Although the available evidence suggests that changes within the central nervous system contribute to the initiation and maintenance of chronic pain, it also suggests that the primary afferent plays a critical role in all phases of the manifestation of chronic pain in most of those who suffer.

Reduced live birth rates after embryo transfer in patients with prior cesarean delivery: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate whether live birth rates following first embryo transfer (ET) among patients after cesarean delivery are lower compared to patients with only prior vaginal delivery.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study including patients with prior delivery who underwent first subsequent embryo transfer (fresh or frozen) between January 2013 and September 2019. The primary outcome was live birth rate among patients with at least one prior cesarean delivery compared to vaginal delivery only.

Imprecision in Precision Medicine: Differential Response of a Disease-Linked GluN2A Mutant to NMDA Channel Blockers.

Mutations in N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) subunits have been implicated in a growing number of human neurodevelopmental disorders. Previously, a mutation in , encoding the GluN2A subunit, was identified in a patient with severe epilepsy and developmental delay. This missense mutation, which leads to GluN2A-P552R, produces significant dendrotoxicity in transfected rodent cortical neurons, as evidenced by pronounced dendritic blebbing.

Oocyte cryopreservation in a transgender man on long-term testosterone therapy: a case report.

Objective: To report a case of ovarian stimulation for the purposes of oocyte cryopreservation in a transgender man without cessation of long-term testosterone therapy.

Design: Report of a unique case of fertility preservation through ovarian stimulation and oocyte cryopreservation in a transgender man who had been on testosterone therapy for 18 months before treatment. The patient elected to continue testosterone therapy throughout ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval.

The Multifaceted Roles of Zinc in Neuronal Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Zinc is a highly abundant cation in the brain, essential for cellular functions, including transcription, enzymatic activity, and cell signaling. However, zinc can also trigger injurious cascades in neurons, contributing to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria, critical for meeting the high energy demands of the central nervous system (CNS), are a principal target of the deleterious actions of zinc.

Infection of arachnoid cyst associated with vasospasm and stroke in a pediatric patient: case report.

Arachnoid cysts are relatively common and benign intraarachnoid membrane outpouchings containing CSF-like fluid. The majority of arachnoid cysts remain stable and asymptomatic and do not require intervention in the pediatric population. Here, the authors present the first reported case of an infected arachnoid cyst in a pediatric patient resulting in severe vasospasm of the left terminal internal carotid artery, left A1 segment, and left M1 branches with a left middle cerebral artery infarct.

Pneumomyelia Secondary to Interlaminar Cervical Epidural Injection Causing Acute Cord Injury with Transient Quadriparesis.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy and cervicalgia are commonly managed with spinal epidural steroid injections in the outpatient setting. Although cervical epidural injections are routinely performed, there is potential for significant complications if proper technique and safety measures are not followed. Spinal cord infarction and stroke following transforaminal injection have been described in the literature, whereas interlaminar injections have been associated with both epidural hematomas and direct cord injury.

Does omitting teratospermia as a selection criterion for ICSI change pregnancy rates?

Purpose: There is controversy whether teratospermia is associated with poorer IVF outcomes and if ICSI may overcome this deficit. The debate likely lies in study heterogeneity, poor adjustment for confounders, and inter-observer variation in sperm morphology assessment. Given the current literature, a shift in practice was implemented at our center in February 2017, whereby teratospermia was no longer a criterion for ICSI.

Angiotensin II mediates the axonal trafficking of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase mRNAs and enhances norepinephrine synthesis in primary sympathetic neurons.

In the sympatho-adrenal system, angiotensin II (Ang II) acts as a key neuromodulatory component. At sympathetic nerve terminals, Ang II influences sympathetic transmission by enhancing norepinephrine (NE) synthesis, facilitating NE release and inhibiting NE uptake. Previously, it was demonstrated that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA is trafficked to the distal axons of primary superior cervical ganglia (SCG) neurons, directed by a cis-acting regulatory element (i.