Exposure of Porcine Oocytes to Methylparaben During In Vitro Maturation Alters the Expression of Genes Involved in Cumulus Cell Expansion and Steroidogenesis, Decreasing Hyaluronic Acid and Progesterone Synthesis.

Parabens are widely used because of their antimicrobial properties in drugs, cosmetics, and food; however, it has been reported that methylparaben may adversely influence female reproduction. Methylparaben decreases oocyte in vitro maturation at a maturation inhibition concentration 50 of 780.31 μM but also decreases oocyte viability at a lethal concentration 50 of 2028.

In vitro exposure of porcine spermatozoa to methylparaben, and propylparaben, alone or in combination adversely affects sperm quality.

Parabens (PBs) are widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries as preservatives of products. Because of its great use, humans and other organisms are highly exposed daily. However, little is known about the effect of PBs on male infertility.

Biological, demographic, and health factors associated with HPV infection in Ecuadorian women.

Objectives: The study aims to identify the correlation between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and sociodemographic and sexual reproductive health factors in Ecuadorian women from March to August 2019.

Methods: 120 women were randomly selected from two gynecological clinics to complete a questionnaire and provide a biospecimen. PCR-Hybridization was used to genotype 37 HPV serotypes in samples obtained by endo-cervical brushing for liquid-based cytology.

Genetic Variability in the E6/E7 Region of Human Papillomavirus 16 in Women from Ecuador.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer (CC). Ecuador has a high prevalence of cervical cancer, with more than 1600 new cases diagnosed annually. This study aimed to analyze oncogenes E6 and E7 of HPV16 in samples collected from women with cancerous and precancerous cervical lesions from the Ecuadorian coast.

Do You Believe Your (Social Media) Data? A Personal Story on Location Data Biases, Errors, and Plausibility as Well as Their Visualization.

We present a case study on a journey about a personal data collection of carnivorous plant species habitats, and the resulting scientific exploration of location data biases, data errors, location hiding, and data plausibility. While initially driven by personal interest, our work led to the analysis and development of various means for visualizing threats to insight from geo-tagged social media data. In the course of this endeavor we analyzed local and global geographic distributions and their inaccuracies.

Research led by people who use drugs: centering the expertise of lived experience.

Background: Research collaborations between people who use drugs (PWUD) and researchers are largely underutilized, despite the long history of successful, community-led harm reduction interventions and growing health disparities experienced by PWUD. PWUD play a critical role in identifying emerging issues in the drug market, as well as associated health behaviors and outcomes. As such, PWUD are well positioned to meaningfully participate in all aspects of the research process, including population of research questions, conceptualization of study design, and contextualization of findings.

Treatment experiences for skin and soft tissue infections among participants of syringe service programs in North Carolina.

Introduction: Bacterial and fungal infections, such as skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and infective endocarditis (IE), are increasing among people who use drugs in the United States. Traditional healthcare settings can be inaccessible and unwelcoming to people who use drugs, leading to delays in getting necessary care. The objective of this study was to examine SSTI treatment experiences among people utilizing services from syringe services programs.

Take-home dosing experiences among persons receiving methadone maintenance treatment during COVID-19.

Purpose: Methadone maintenance treatment is a life-saving treatment for people with opioid use disorders (OUD). The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has introduced many concerns surrounding access to opioid treatment. In March 2020, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued guidance allowing for the expansion of take-home methadone doses.

Consumer discernment of fentanyl in illicit opioids confirmed by fentanyl test strips: Lessons from a syringe services program in North Carolina.

Background: The United States (U.S.) continues to witness an unprecedented increase in opioid overdose deaths driven by precipitous growth in the supply and use of illicitly-manufactured fentanyls (IMF).

GPR30 expression and function in breast cancer cells are induced through a cis‑acting element targeted by ETS factors.

The capacity that G protein‑coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) has demonstrated for triggering estrogen‑dependent signaling pathways has attracted the interest of breast cancer researchers; however, the reported expression profiles and functions of GPR30 in breast cancer are inconsistent. The main purpose of the present investigation was to identify transcriptional mechanisms underlying the expression of GPR30 that allow a better understanding of its role in breast cancer progression. In the cell lines used as different polarity models in the present study, it was determined immunologically that GPR30 is expressed in normal mammary gland cells and that this expression decreased considerably during breast cancer development, where cell identity is lost.

Effect of perfluorodecanoic acid on pig oocyte viability, intracellular calcium levels and gap junction intercellular communication during oocyte maturation in vitro.

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is a synthetic perfluorinated compound, which has been reported to exert adverse effects on somatic cells. However, its effects on germ cells have not been studied to date. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of PFDA on the viability, intracellular calcium levels and gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) during porcine oocyte maturation in vitro.

Effect of perfluorooctane sulfonate on viability, maturation and gap junctional intercellular communication of porcine oocytes in vitro.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a broadly used man-made surfactant whose long half-life has led to bioaccumulation. This perfluorinated compound is ubiquitous in human body fluids. PFOS concentrations as high as 26μM in plasma have been reported in occupationally exposed populations, and high levels of PFOS in human follicular fluid have been associated with subfertility.

Co-culture with granulosa cells improve the in vitro maturation ability of porcine immature oocytes vitrified with cryolock.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of two oocyte vitrification-warming procedures using two different devices: Superfine Open Pulled Straws (SOPS) and Cryolock, as well as the effect of the co-culture of vitrified immature oocytes with fresh granulosa cells to improve in vitro maturation (IVM). Immature oocytes were vitrified with two procedures: A) Oocytes were exposed to an increasing concentration of ethylene glycol (EG) from 4% to 35% with 0.5 M trehalose.

Effect of porcine follicular fluid proteins and peptides on oocyte maturation and their subsequent effect on in vitro fertilization.

The follicular fluid (FF) is a microenvironment that contains molecules involved in oocyte maturation, ovulation, and fertilization. Characterizing the proteins and peptides present in the FF could be useful for determining which proteins and peptides to use as a supplement for culture media. Biologically active peptides produced during the maturation or degradation of functional proteins are called cryptides.

Sebox plays an important role during the early mouse oogenesis in vitro.

Oogenesis is a highly complex process that requires the exquisite temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression at multiple levels. Skin-embryo-brain-oocyte homeobox (Sebox) gene encodes a transcription factor that is highly expressed in germinal vesicle stage oocytes and that plays an essential role in early embryogenesis at the 2-cell stage in the mouse. As Sebox is also expressed in mouse fetal ovaries, the aim of the present study was to study its role during the early oogenesis in vitro.

[Risk factors for ventricular peritoneal shunt infection in pediatric patients from the hospital Carlos Van Buren].

Hydrocephalus is a common problem in Neurosurgery and Neurology. The usual treatment is the installation of a Ventricular Peritoneal Shunt (VPS). Infection is the most frequent and serious complication.

Viability, maturation and embryo development in vitro of immature porcine and ovine oocytes vitrified in different devices.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitrification on immature porcine and ovine oocytes, collected at a slaughterhouse, by performing vitrification in devices with different volumes. Viability was evaluated both before and after vitrification and maturation. Immediately after warming, the percentage of viable pig oocytes was 81% regardless the type of device, while in the control (after oocyte selection) was 95%.

Impulse control disorder and piribedil: report of 5 cases.

Recent studies suggest that impulse control disorders (ICD) in Parkinson disease are not uncommon, and antiparkinsonian therapy, mainly the use of dopaminergic agonists, plays a causal role in the development of these symptoms. Pramipexole has been mainly related to the occurrence of ICDs, although these disorders may occur when any dopaminergic agonist-based therapy is administered.In this paper, we describe 4 patients with Parkinson disease and 1 with multisystem atrophy who presented a history (several months or years) of pathological gambling, hypersexuality, punding, and pathological use of the Internet secondary to piribedil.

Botulinum toxin in painful tardive dyskinesia.

An 81-year-old female patient with a 12-year history of lingual pain associated to tongue and jaw involuntary movements secondary to long-term neuroleptic intake was observed. She received several pharmacological therapies without major improvement or side effects. Treatment with botulinum toxin type A markedly benefited both pain and lingual dyskinesia.

Neuroacanthocytosis and carbamazepine responsive paroxysmal dyskinesias.

Neuroacanthocytosis (NA) comprises a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by dysfunction of the erythrocyte membrane, presenting with acanthocytes and several neurological manifestations. We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with NA who in addition had episodes consistent with paroxysmal dyskinesias. She was diagnosed with NA featuring mild chorea, weakness of the right lower extremity and myoclonic jerks.

Gene expression analysis on the early development of pig embryos exposed to malathion.

Malathion is a widely used pesticide and there is evidence that it could alter mammal's germ and somatic cells, as well as cell lines. There are not enough studies showing how the nonacute malathion doses affect gene expression. This study analyzes gene expression alterations in pig morular embryos exposed in vitro, for 96 h, to several malathion concentrations after in vitro fertilization.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with PML in AIDS: a treatable disorder.

An HIV-1-infected patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy presented clinical deterioration and contrast-enhancing lesions on brain nuclear MR after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Brain biopsy identified an inflammatory reaction compatible with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Treatment with corticosteroids and transient suppression of HAART led to marked neurologic improvement.