Meiotic spindle size is a strong indicator of human oocyte quality.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between the meiotic spindle size in human metaphase II oocytes and embryo developmental potential after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods: Analyzed were 1302 oocytes with a visible meiotic spindle from 281 patients aged under 40 years undergoing ICSI cycles. The meiotic spindle was imaged by using PolScope before ICSI.

Separation efficiency of a microfluidic sperm sorter to minimize sperm DNA damage.

Objective: To evaluate whether microfluidic sperm sorters (MFSSs) allow effective recovery of sorted motile sperm without DNA damage compared with the centrifugation and swim-up procedure.

Design: Experimental laboratory study. All participants completed questionnaires regarding previous and/or current diseases, surgery, reproductive experiences, lifestyle factors, and date of the preceding ejaculation.

Enzymatic phosphatidylation of thiamin, pantothenic acid, and their derivatives.

Phospholipase D from Streptomyces sp. was found to catalyze the transfer reaction of the dipalmitoylphosphatidyl residue from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine to thiamin, pantothenic acid, and their derivatives in a biphasic system. The following phosphatidylated compounds were synthesized: 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylthiamin, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylthiamin propyl disulfide, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylthiamin tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylpantothenic acid, and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-sn-phosphatidyl-pantothenyl ethyl ether.