Morphological study of apoptosis in granulosa cells and ovulation in a model of atresia in rat preovulatory follicles.

SummaryPrevious studies have established a model of atresia in preovulatory follicles after stimulation of immature rats with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). This gonadotropin recruits a follicular pool and the deprivation of preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge induces the atresia in preovulatory follicles. The present study investigated the occurrence of ovulation and provided some morphological features of granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis of atretic follicles at 0, 48, 72 and 120 h after eCG stimulation.

Fast and slow-twitching muscles are differentially affected by reduced cholinergic transmission in mice deficient for VAChT: A mouse model for congenital myasthenia.

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) result from reduced cholinergic transmission at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). While the etiology of CMS varies, the disease is characterized by muscle weakness. To date, it remains unknown if CMS causes long-term and irreversible changes to skeletal muscles.

Body surface infrared thermometry in patients with central venous cateter-related infections.

Objective: To evaluate if body surface temperature close to the central venous catheter insertion area is different when patients develop catheter-related bloodstream infections.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Using a non-contact infrared thermometer, 3 consecutive measurements of body surface temperature were collected from 39 patients with central venous catheter on the following sites: nearby the catheter insertion area or totally implantable catheter reservoir, the equivalent contralateral region (without catheter), and forehead of the same subject.

The involvement of melatonin in the clinical status of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SMT) in the urine of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and correlate them with the score obtained by these patients in four clinical assessment instruments.

Methods: Fifty-eight women with primary FM and 39 healthy women matched for age and body mass index were included in the study sample. The levels of 6-SMT were evaluated in urine collected from 8 pm until 8 am the next day by the immunosorbent assay.

Increased levels of IL-17A in patients with fibromyalgia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of IL-17A in fibromyalgia patients, and to look for any correlations between this data and the concentrations of some pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Methods: We performed a study including 58 fibromyalgia patients and 39 healthy women matched for age and body mass index. The plasma levels of IL-17A and other pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured by using the technique of cytometric bead array (CBA).