Increased live births after day 5 versus day 6 transfers of vitrified-warmed blastocysts.

Purpose: An investigation into the clinical implications of delayed blastulation (day 5 versus day 6) was carried out for cryo cycles, as heterogeneous results persist in the current literature.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study comparing clinical pregnancies and live births between 178 blastocysts vitrified and warmed on day 5 versus 149 on day 6. The stage of blastocyst development was taken into account and adjustment for confounding factors was performed.

In vitro fertilization when men, women, or both partners are positive for HIV: a case-control study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples where one or both partners were positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to matched control couples.

Methods: A matched case-control retrospective study was performed. Data for 104 couples where the woman was HIV-positive; for 90 couples where the man was HIV-positive; and for 33 couples where both partners were HIV-positive were prospectively analyzed in comparison to matched controls treated in our center during the same period.

In vitro fertilization for women infected by hepatitis C virus: a matched case-control study and a systematic literature review.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether infection of women by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces the chance of conceiving after in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: We performed a retrospective blind matched case-control study where IVF outcomes for the first 37 cycles of HCV sero-positive women were compared to those of 107 cycles of an uninfected control group. Our results were included in a systematic literature review.

Oocytes affected by smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates: to discard or not to discard?

Purpose: Oocytes containing smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates (SERa) have been associated with reduced fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates as well as compromised neonatal outcomes. It was therefore recommended by an Alpha-ESHRE Consensus to discard oocytes presenting this dysmorphism. The data in the literature are nevertheless conflicting and healthy babies have recently been obtained from affected oocytes.

Can healthy babies originate from oocytes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates? A systematic mini-review.

Study Question: Is it time to reconsider whether oocytes affected by smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates (SERa) should still be destroyed?

Summary Answer: At the time of writing, the literature shows that 171 apparently healthy babies have been born from SERa+ cycles amongst which 22 were from SERa+ oocytes.

What Is Known Already: The SER dysmorphism has been associated with negative embryological, clinical and neonatal outcomes, which led to a recommendation in 2011 to avoid inseminating affected oocytes. The data in the literature are nevertheless conflicting and some centres have continued using SERa+ oocytes.

Vitrification of blastocysts derived from fair to poor quality cleavage stage embryos can produce high pregnancy rates after warming.

Purpose: This study investigates whether certain embryos considered unsuitable for cryopreservation on day 3 might nevertheless have the potential to develop into worthwhile blastocysts that could be vitrified in the same cycle.

Methods: Retrospective study: between 2010 and 2011, embryo transfers and cryopreservation took place mainly on day 3 in our centre. Supernumerary embryos of intermediate to poor quality were reassessed on days 5/6 and any good quality blastocysts were vitrified.

Cellular uptake of Antennapedia Penetratin peptides is a two-step process in which phase transfer precedes a tryptophan-dependent translocation.

Several homeodomains and homeodomain-containing proteins enter live cells through a receptor- and energy-independent mechanism. Translocation through biological membranes is conferred by the third alpha-helix of the homeodomain, also known as Penetratin. Biophysical studies demonstrate that entry of Penetratin into cells requires its binding to surface lipids but that binding and translocation are differentially affected by modifications of some physico-chemical properties of the peptide, like helical amphipathicity or net charge.

Changing homeodomain residues 2 and 3 of Hoxa1 alters its activity in a cell-type and enhancer dependent manner.

The second and third amino acid residues of the N-terminal arm of most Hox protein homeodomains are basic (lysine or arginine), whereas they are asparagine and alanine, respectively, in the Hoxa1 homeodomain. Previous reports pinpointed these residues as specificity determinants in the function of Hoxa1 when it is acting as a monomer. However, in vitro data supported that these residues do not influence the target specificity of Hoxa1 in Pbx1a-Hoxa1 heterodimers.

Absence of internal ribosome entry site-mediated tissue specificity in the translation of a bicistronic transgene.

The 5' noncoding regions of the genomes of picornaviruses form a complex structure that directs cap-independent initiation of translation. This structure has been termed the internal ribosome entry site (IRES). The efficiency of translation initiation was shown, in vitro, to be influenced by the binding of cellular factors to the IRES.

Protein 2A is not required for Theiler's virus replication.

Nonpolar mutations were introduced into all 12 regions of the genome of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. In agreement with data previously reported for other picornaviruses, mutations in regions 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D totally abrogated viral RNA replication. Viruses with deletions in each of the capsid proteins retained RNA replication proficiency, although they were unable to propagate from cell to cell.

Infection of macrophages by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus is highly dependent on their activation or differentiation state.

Macrophages are the main targets of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) during persistent demyelinating infection of mice. Replication of TMEV in macrophages was previously shown to depend on their activation state. Here, we show that the quality of the serum used for culture drastically influences viral entry in RAW264.