Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation index at the time of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and standard in vitro fertilization is correlated with lower fertilization but not with blastocyst genetic diagnosis.

Objective: To determine the effects of sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation at the time of fertilization on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes and genetic diagnosis using next generation sequencing.

Design: Prospective double-blinded study.

Setting: Private Clinic.

A multicentre evaluation of the Elecsys anti-Müllerian hormone immunoassay for prediction of antral follicle count.

Research Question: What concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) corresponds to an antral follicle count (AFC) >15 for determination of ovarian reserve?

Design: A prospective study conducted at 13 US fertility clinics in women aged 21-44 years who presented for AFC evaluation by transvaginal ultrasound. Serum samples were collected at the time of AFC evaluation (menstrual cycle day 2-4). AMH concentrations were measured by the Elecsys AMH immunoassay; oestradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were also measured.

Pilot study to assess visualization and therapy of inflammatory mechanisms after vessel reopening in a mouse stroke model.

After reperfusion therapy in stroke patients secondary inflammatory processes may increase cerebral damage. In this pilot study, effects of anti-inflammatory therapy were assessed in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model after reperfusion. 1 hour after MCAO, the artery was reopened and tacrolimus or NaCl were administered intra-arterially.

Dismantling Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Creation and validation of 8-week focused attention and open monitoring interventions within a 3-armed randomized controlled trial.

Background: While mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) employ two distinct practices, focused attention (FA) and open monitoring (OM), the integrated delivery of these practices in MBIs precludes understanding of their practice-specific effects or mechanisms of action. The purpose of this study is to isolate hypothesized active ingredients and practice-specific mechanistic target engagement by creating structurally equivalent interventions that differ only by the active ingredient (meditation practice) offered and to test whether the hypothesized components differentially engage the mechanistic targets that they are purported to engage.

Methods: Participants were intended to be representative of American meditators and had mild to severe affective disturbances.