Organoid co-culture model of the human endometrium in a fully synthetic extracellular matrix enables the study of epithelial-stromal crosstalk.

Background: The human endometrium undergoes recurring cycles of growth, differentiation, and breakdown in response to sex hormones. Dysregulation of epithelial-stromal communication during hormone-mediated signaling may be linked to myriad gynecological disorders for which treatments remain inadequate. Here, we describe a completely defined, synthetic extracellular matrix that enables co-culture of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells in a manner that captures healthy and disease states across a simulated menstrual cycle.

Infertility services integrated within the maternal health department of a public hospital in a low-income country, Rwanda.

Objective: To describe the initiation, integration, and costs of reduced-cost infertility services within the maternal health department of a public hospital in a low-income country.

Design: Retrospective review of the clinical and laboratory components of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in Rwanda from 2018 to 2020.

Setting: Academic tertiary referral hospital in Rwanda.

Take it or leave it: oophorectomy at the time of benign hysterectomy.

Purpose Of Review: Previous modeling data suggest ovarian conservation up to age 65 for women without adnexal disease and at average risk of ovarian cancer because of an increase in mortality associated with ovarian removal. Recent modeling data challenges this practice. This review of recent literature will update providers regarding consideration for oophorectomy at time of benign hysterectomy.

Residential Water Softeners Release Carbon, Consume Chlorine, and Require Remediation after Hydrocarbon Contamination.

Water quality impacts of new ion exchange point-of-entry residential softeners and their ability to be decontaminated following hydrocarbon exposure were investigated. During startup, significant amounts of total sulfur (445 ± 815 mg/L) and total organic carbon (937 ± 119 mg/L) were released into the drinking water that flowed through the softeners. Particulate organic carbon was released until the third regeneration cycle, and resin may also have been released.