General anesthesia with propofol during oocyte retrieval and in vitro fertilization outcomes: retrospective cohort study.

General anesthesia is frequently administered during oocyte retrieval. Its effects on the outcomes of IVF cycles are uncertain. This study investigated whether administration of general anesthesia (specifically propofol) during oocyte retrieval affects IVF outcomes.

Standardization of Post-Vitrification Human Blastocyst Expansion as a Tool for Implantation Prediction.

The increased use of vitrified blastocysts has encouraged the development of various criteria for selecting the embryo most likely to implant. Post-thaw assessment methods and timetables vary among investigators. We investigated the predictive value of well-defined measurements of human blastocyst re-expansion, following a fixed incubation period.

Hypoglycemia during the oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy-maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by hypoglycemia on 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of all live-born deliveries in a single medical center during 2018 and 2019 with available OGTT results and birth outcomes. Preterm deliveries (<34 weeks), multiple pregnancies and major anomalies were excluded.

Lipid droplets in granulosa cells are correlated with reduced pregnancy rates.

Background: Lipids are an important source for energy production during oocyte maturation. The accumulation of intracellular lipids binds to proteins to form lipid droplets. This may lead to cellular lipotoxicity.

The Wave complex controls epidermal morphogenesis and proliferation by suppressing Wnt-Sox9 signaling.

Development of the skin epidermis requires tight spatiotemporal control over the activity of several signaling pathways; however, the mechanisms that orchestrate these events remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a key role for the Wave complex proteins ABI1 and Wave2 in regulating signals that control epidermal shape and growth. In utero RNAi-mediated silencing of or induced cellular hyperproliferation and defects in architecture of the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) and delayed hair follicle growth.

Pax6 regulation of in the mouse retinal pigmented epithelium controls its timely differentiation and choroid vasculature development.

The synchronized differentiation of neuronal and vascular tissues is crucial for normal organ development and function, although there is limited information about the mechanisms regulating the coordinated development of these tissues. The choroid vasculature of the eye serves as the main blood supply to the metabolically active photoreceptors, and develops together with the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Here, we describe a novel regulatory relationship between the RPE transcription factors Pax6 and Sox9 that controls the timing of RPE differentiation and the adjacent choroid maturation.

T-plastin is essential for basement membrane assembly and epidermal morphogenesis.

The establishment of epithelial architecture is a complex process involving cross-talk between cells and the basement membrane. Basement membrane assembly requires integrin activity but the role of the associated actomyosin cytoskeleton is poorly understood. Here, we identify the actin-bundling protein T-plastin (Pls3) as a regulator of basement membrane assembly and epidermal morphogenesis.

Blastomere biopsy for PGD delays embryo compaction and blastulation: a time-lapse microscopic analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the effect of blastomere biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) on the embryos' dynamics, further cleavage, development, and implantation.

Methods: The study group included 366 embryos from all PGD treatments (September 2012 to June 2014) cultured in the EmbryoScope™ time-lapse monitoring system. The control group included all intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) embryos cultured in EmbryoScope™ until day 5 during the same time period (385 embryos).

MicroRNAs are essential for differentiation of the retinal pigmented epithelium and maturation of adjacent photoreceptors.

Dysfunction of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) results in degeneration of photoreceptors and vision loss and is correlated with common blinding disorders in humans. Although many protein-coding genes are known to be expressed in RPE and are important for its development and maintenance, virtually nothing is known about the in vivo roles of non-coding transcripts. The expression patterns of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been analyzed in a variety of ocular tissues, and a few were implicated to play role in RPE based on studies in cell lines.

PAX6 regulates melanogenesis in the retinal pigmented epithelium through feed-forward regulatory interactions with MITF.

During organogenesis, PAX6 is required for establishment of various progenitor subtypes within the central nervous system, eye and pancreas. PAX6 expression is maintained in a variety of cell types within each organ, although its role in each lineage and how it acquires cell-specific activity remain elusive. Herein, we aimed to determine the roles and the hierarchical organization of the PAX6-dependent gene regulatory network during the differentiation of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE).

Pax6 regulates gene expression in the vertebrate lens through miR-204.

During development, tissue-specific transcription factors regulate both protein-coding and non-coding genes to control differentiation. Recent studies have established a dual role for the transcription factor Pax6 as both an activator and repressor of gene expression in the eye, central nervous system, and pancreas. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory activity of Pax6 is not fully understood.

Lung cancer in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: enhancing surgical options and outcomes.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for both the development of primary lung cancer, as well as poor outcome after lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. Because of existing impairments in lung function, patients with COPD often do not meet traditional criteria for tolerance of definitive surgical lung cancer therapy. Emerging information regarding the physiology of lung resection in COPD indicates that postoperative decrements in lung function may be less than anticipated by traditional prediction tools.

Effect of obesity on asthma phenotype is dependent upon asthma severity.

Background: We recently reported that obese and non-obese patients with asthma have similar airflow limitation and bronchodilator responsiveness, but obese patients have more symptoms overall. There is limited information on the effect of obesity on asthmatics of varying severity measured by objective physiological parameters. Understanding how obesity affects asthmatics of differing severity can provide insights into the pathogenesis of asthma in the obese and a rationale for the therapeutic approach to such patients.

Diet and asthma.

Purpose Of Review: The goal of this review is to assess recent additions to the medical literature that contribute to the clinical question: 'How might diet act as a disease modifier in patients with asthma?' In vitro, animal, and epidemiologic data are presented as justification for interventional studies, which form the basis of clinical recommendations and decision-making.

Recent Findings: A number of studies suggest roles for n-3 fatty acids, soy isoflavones, vitamin D, and antioxidants as modifiers of asthma severity. However, these studies are generally complicated by small sample sizes and either negative results or findings that are of questionable clinical significance.

Temporal silencing of an androgenic gland-specific insulin-like gene affecting phenotypical gender differences and spermatogenesis.

Androgenic glands (AGs) of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii were subjected to endocrine manipulation, causing them to hypertrophy. Transcripts from these glands were used in the construction of an AG cDNA subtractive library. Screening of the library revealed an AG-specific gene, termed the M.

Age, gender, and level of activity as moderators of personal incentives to physical activity in Israel.

The authors conducted an exploratory study with Israeli adults examining their personal incentives for physical activity (e.g., appearance, weight management).

Alveolar epithelium and Na,K-ATPase in acute lung injury.

Active transport of sodium across the alveolar epithelium, undertaken in part by the Na,K-adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase), is critical for clearance of pulmonary edema fluid and thus the outcome of patients with acute lung injury. Acute lung injury results in disruption of the alveolar epithelial barrier and leads to impaired clearance of edema fluid and altered Na,K-ATPase function. There has been significant progress in the understanding of mechanisms regulating alveolar edema clearance and signaling pathways modulating Na,K-ATPase function during lung injury.

Males also have their time of the month! Cyclic disposal of old spermatophores, timed by the molt cycle, in a marine shrimp.

That sexually mature females go through hormonally regulated reproductive cycles is a well-established phenomenon in sexually reproducing organisms. Males, on the other hand, are commonly regarded as being continuously ready to mate. 'Programmed sperm degradation' on a periodic basis or an innate sperm 'expiry date' have never been shown.

Characterization of a vasa-like gene from the pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its expression during oogenesis.

The vasa gene encodes an ATP-dependent RNA helicase belonging to the DEAD-box family that, in many organisms, is specifically expressed in germline cells throughout the life cycle. In this study we first cloned Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) partial cDNAs of two members of the DEAD-box family, one belonging to the vasa subfamily (Lv-Vasa) and the other to the PL10 subfamily (Lv-PL10). Examination of their spatial expression pattern in adult tissues revealed that Lv-Vasa is restricted to the gonads, whereas Lv-PL10 is found in gonads as well as in somatic tissues.

Complete sequence of Litopenaeus vannamei (Crustacea: Decapoda) vitellogenin cDNA and its expression in endocrinologically induced sub-adult females.

The gene that encodes vitellogenin (Vg), the precursor of the major yolk protein, vitellin, is expressed during vitellogenesis in decapod crustaceans. In this study, we sequenced the full-length cDNA from the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Vg gene (LvVg). This is the first open thelycum penaeid shrimp Vg cDNA to be sequenced.

Age differences in motivational orientation toward physical activity: an application of social-cognitive theory.

According to social-cognitive theory, an individual's motivation to engage in physical activity is based on three postulates: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-evaluated satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The purpose of the present study was to examine age, gender, level of education, and level of activity in relation to those postulates in 2,298 Australians aged between 18 and 78. The authors conducted regression analyses for self-efficacy and for outcome expectations as dependent variables; age, gender, education level, and level of physical activity served as independent variables.

Long-term survival after "drop metastases" of renal cell carcinoma to the bladder.

Renal cell carcinoma can metastasize to virtually any organ, yet isolated bladder metastases are exceedingly rare, and most of these patients die within 1 year of diagnosis. Proposed mechanisms of renal cell carcinoma metastases to the bladder include hematogenous spread, lymphatic dissemination, and "drop metastases" by way of the urinary tract. We present the longest reported survival after isolated "drop metastases" of renal cell carcinoma to the bladder.