The European study of assisted reproduction families: a comparison of family functioning and child development between Eastern and Western Europe.

Developments in reproductive technology over the past 20 years have given infertile couples new opportunities to have children. Although assisted reproduction does not appear to lead to negative consequences with respect to parent-child relationships or the socioemotional development of the child, the outcome for children and their parents may well differ according to the social and cultural environment. The aim of the present study was to compare family functioning and the social and emotional development of children in families created as a result of assisted reproductive techniques in Western Europe with assisted reproduction families in an Eastern European country (Bulgaria) where there is a history of specific pronatalist interventions.

[Immunohistochemical and electron microscopical study of the myoepithelium in mastopathy and carcinoma of the mammary gland].

Biopsies obtained from 45 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma and 41 cases of cystic mastopathy were immunohistochemically investigated, with electron microscopy being used on some of them, for the purpose of clearing up presence, distribution, and ultrastructural peculiarities of the myoepithelial cells. Focal or diffuse myoepithelial proliferations were observed in all cases of cystic mastopathy, with peripheral layers of myoepithelium at the basal membrane being widely preserved. Myoepithelial cells had lost their normal position and cellular orientation in the regions with intraductal carcinoma.

Early effect of the anticancer drug biocarbazin (DTIC synonym) on mice spermatogenesis.

Biocarbazin (DTIC synonym) is an anticancer drug acting as a purine analogue, as an alkylating agent, as a SH-group blocker. Biocarbazin administration in doses 50 and 200 mg/kg of body weight to adult male BALB/c mice suppresses the process of spermatogenesis. Seminiferous tubule of the testis displayed dose-dependent histological alterations manifested with decrease of mitotically dividing cells and increase in the number of multinucleated spermatocytes and spermatids.