Regression analysis of 538 semen samples demonstrated that percentages of normal nuclear sperm and all spermatozoa with abnormalities of nuclear form at high magnification had significant negative ...correlation with percentages of DNA fragmentation. On the other hand, there was a positive correlation between percentages of spermatozoa with nuclear vacuoles and those with DNA fragmentation.
The purpose of this study was to compare laboratory and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) and conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ...in couples with repeated implantation failures.
A total of 200 couples with at least two prior unsuccessful ICSI cycles were enrolled: 100 couples were submitted to IMSI and 100 were submitted to routine ICSI. For IMSI, spermatozoa were selected at 8400× magnification using an inverted microscope equipped with Nomarski (differential interference contrast) optics. For conventional ICSI, spermatozoa were selected at 400× magnification. Clinical outcomes were evaluated between the two groups.
Study patients were comparable in age, number of treatment failures, aetiology of infertility, percentage of normal form assessed by MSOME (motile sperm organelle morphology examination), semen parameters, total number of oocytes collected, number of mature oocytes collected, total number of embryos transferred and number of high-quality embryos transferred. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed with regard to rates of fertilisation, implantation and pregnancy/cycle. Although not statistically significant, rates of miscarriage (IMSI:15.3% vs ICSI:31.7%), ongoing pregnancy (IMSI:22% vs ICSI:13%) and live births (IMSI:21% vs ICSI:12%) showed a trend towards better outcomes in the IMSI group. In addition, analysis of subpopulations with or without male factor showed similar results.
Our results suggest that IMSI does not provide a significant improvement in clinical outcome compared to ICSI, at least in couples with repeated implantation failures after conventional ICSI. However, it should be noted that there were clear trends for lower miscarriage rates (≈50% reduced) and higher rates of ongoing pregnancy and live births (both nearly doubled) within the IMSI group. Further confirmation as well as randomized large-scale trials are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of IMSI in couples with poor reproductive prognoses.
The aim of this study was to produce chocolate goat dairy beverages with the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis and to evaluate the effects of goat cheese whey and prebiotics (inulin and oligofructose) ...on the physicochemical parameters and sensory features of the beverages. All of the formulations (n = 7) exhibited decreased pH values and a concomitant increase in acidity during refrigerated storage. Beverages made with the lowest amounts of whey (F1 and F3) exhibited a greater decrease in pH after 14 days of storage. The apparent viscosity increased for up to 21 days for all formulations and up to 28 days for F4 (6 g 100 mL−1 prebiotics and 45 mL 100 mL−1 whey). B. lactis exhibited counts between 6 and 8 log CFU mL−1. F4 presented the highest median sensory attributes for flavor and aroma, which may be related to the larger amounts of prebiotics and whey in this formulation. Thus, F4 is considered to be the formulation that best represents the desirability profile chosen for the probiotic chocolate goat dairy beverage as defined as probiotic viability above 7 log CFU mL−1 and improved viscosity and sensory features.
•Bifidobacterium lactis viability was kept between 6 and 8 log CFU mL−1.•Prebiotics increased viscosity of the goat dairy beverages.•45 mL whey and 6 g prebiotics 100 mL−1 resulted in better flavor and aroma acceptance.
Carvacrol (CARV), has been shown to possess various pharmacological properties, especially in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated the antihypertensive effect of the CARV free and ...encapsulation of CARV in β‐cyclodextrin (CARV/β‐CD), and whether CARV/β‐CD is able to improve the antihypertensive effects of CARV free in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The rats were randomly divided into four groups, each treated daily for 21 days and the mean arterial pressure and heart rate was measured every 5 days: group 1, Wistar‐vehicle solution; group 2, SHR‐vehicle; group 3, SHR‐CARV 50 mg/kg/d; and group 4, CARV/β‐CD 50 mg/kg/d. After 21 days of treatment, the mesenteric artery from treated animals was tested for phenylephrine (Phe) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) sensitivity. In addition, administration of CARV/β‐CD induced important antihypertensive activity when compared with the uncomplexed form, reducing the progression of arterial hypertension in SHR. Moreover, pharmacological potency to Phe in the SHR‐CARV and CARV/β‐CD groups was increased, approaching values expressed in the Wistar‐vehicle. Furthermore, CARV/β‐CD reduced the production of the pro‐inflammatory mediator, IL‐1β, and increased anti‐inflammatory cytokine, IL‐10. Together, these results produced evidence that the encapsulation of CARV in β‐CD can improve cardiovascular activity, showing potential anti‐inflammatory and antihypertensive effects.
The encapsulation of carvacrol in β‐cyclodextrin demonstrated an enhanced antihypertensive effect; CARV/β‐CD reduced the production of the pro‐inflammatory mediator and increased anti‐inflammatory cytokine; β‐CD may be an important tool to improve the cardiovascular activity of carvacrol.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the deadliest noncommunicable disease worldwide. Hypertension is the most prevalent risk factor for the development of CVD. Although there is a wide range of ...antihypertensive drugs, there still remains a lack of blood pressure control options for hypertensive patients. Additionally, natural products remain crucial to the design of new drugs. The natural product 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-HC) exhibits pharmacological properties linked to antihypertensive mechanisms of action. This study aimed to evaluate the vascular effects of 7-HC in an experimental model of essential hypertension. The isometric tension measurements assessed the relaxant effect induced by 7-HC (0.001 μM–300 μM) in superior mesenteric arteries isolated from hypertensive rats (SHR, 200–300 g). Our results suggest that the relaxant effect induced by 7-HC rely on K+-channels (KATP, BKCa, and, to a lesser extent, Kv) activation and also on Ca2+ influx from sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum mobilization (inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and ryanodine receptors). Moreover, 7-HC diminishes the mesenteric artery’s responsiveness to α1-adrenergic agonist challenge and improves the actions of the muscarinic agonist and NO donor. The present work demonstrated that the relaxant mechanism of 7-HC in SHR involves endothelium-independent vasorelaxant factors. Additionally, 7-HC reduced vasoconstriction of the sympathetic agonist while improving vascular endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation.
The treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) could greatly benefit from using nitric oxide (NO) donors. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of NONO2P that contribute to the ...observed responses in the mesenteric artery. The hypothesis was that NONO2P would have similar pharmacological actions to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and NO.
Male Wistar rats were euthanized to isolate the superior mesenteric artery for isometric tension recordings. NO levels were measured using the DAF-FM/DA dye, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were determined using a cGMP-ELISA Kit.
NONO2P presented a similar maximum efficacy to SNP. The free radical of NO (NO•) scavengers (PTIO; 100 μM and hydroxocobalamin; 30 μM) and nitroxyl anion (NO−) scavenger (L-cysteine; 3 mM) decreased relaxations promoted by NONO2P. The presence of the specific soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor (ODQ; 10 μM) nearly abolished the vasorelaxation. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibition (KT5823; 1 μM) attenuated the NONO2P relaxant effect. The vasorelaxant response was significantly attenuated by blocking inward rectifying K+ channels (Kir), voltage-operated K+ channels (KV), and large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa). NONO2P-induced relaxation was attenuated by cyclopiazonic acid (10 μM), indicating that sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activation is involved in this relaxation. Moreover, NONO2P increased NO levels in endothelial cells and cGMP production.
NONO2P induces vasorelaxation with the same magnitude as SNP, releasing NO• and NO−. Its vasorelaxant effect involves sGC, PKG, K+ channels opening, and SERCA activation, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option for CVD.
report the experience of applying the theoretical data saturation technique in qualitative research with schoolchildren.
critical reading of primary sources and compilation of raw data, followed by ...thematic grouping through colorimetric codification and allocation of themes/types of statements in charts to find theoretical saturation for each grouping.
colorimetric codification occurred according to previously established themes: bodily hydration; physical activities and play; handling of sickle-cell disease; feeding and clothing. On the eleventh interview, it was possible to reach the theoretical saturation of themes, with four additional interviews being performed.
this experience report enabled the description of the five sequential steps for identification of theoretical data saturation in qualitative research conducted with schoolchildren.
Improved pregnancy, implantation, and birth rates have been reported after the use of reduced O2 concentration during embryo culture, mainly due to a reduction of the cumulative detrimental effects ...of reactive oxygen species. However, some studies have failed to report any positive effects. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of a low-O2 environment on IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes.
All available published and ongoing randomised trials that compared the effects of low (~5%; OC~5) and atmospheric (~20%; OC~20) oxygen concentrations on IVF/ICSI outcomes were included. Search strategies included online surveys of databases from 1980 to 2011. The outcomes measured were fertilisation rate, implantation rate and ongoing pregnancy rates. The fixed effects model was used to calculate the odds ratio.
Seven studies were included in this analysis. The pooled fertilisation rate did not differ significantly (P=0.54) between the group of oocytes cultured at low O2 tension and the group at atmospheric O2 tension. Concerning all cycles, the implantation (P=0.06) and ongoing pregnancy (P=0.051) rates were not significantly different between the group receiving transferred sets containing only OC~5 embryos and the group receiving transferred sets with only OC~20 embryos. In a meta-analysis performed for only those trials in which embryos were transferred on day 2/3, implantation (P=0.63) and ongoing pregnancy (P=0.19) rates were not significantly different between the groups. In contrast, when a meta-analysis was performed using only trials in which embryos were transferred on days 5 and 6 (at the blastocyst stage), the group with transferred sets of only OC~5 embryos showed a statistically significantly higher implantation rate (P=0.006) than the group receiving transferred sets with only OC~20 embryos, although the ongoing pregnancy (P=0.19) rates were not significantly different between the groups.
Despite some promising results, it seems too early to conclude that low O2 culture has an effect on IVF outcome. Additional randomised controlled trials are necessary before evidence-based recommendations can be provided. It should be emphasised that the present meta-analysis does not provide any evidence that low oxygen concentration is unnecessary.
The selection of developmentally competent human gametes may increase the efficiency of assisted reproduction. Spermatozoa and oocytes are usually assessed according to morphological criteria. Oocyte ...morphology can be affected by the age, genetic characteristics, and factors related to controlled ovarian stimulation. However, there is a lack of evidence in the literature concerning the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, either agonists or antagonists, on oocyte morphology. The aim of this randomized study was to investigate whether the prevalence of oocyte dysmorphism is influenced by the type of pituitary suppression used in ovarian stimulation.
A total of 64 patients in the first intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle were prospectively randomized to receive treatment with either a GnRH agonist with a long-term protocol (n: 32) or a GnRH antagonist with a multi-dose protocol (n: 32). Before being subjected to ICSI, the oocytes at metaphase II from both groups were morphologically analyzed under an inverted light microscope at 400x magnification. The oocytes were classified as follows: normal or with cytoplasmic dysmorphism, extracytoplasmic dysmorphism, or both. The number of dysmorphic oocytes per total number of oocytes was analyzed.
Out of a total of 681 oocytes, 189 (27.8%) were morphologically normal, 220 (32.3%) showed cytoplasmic dysmorphism, 124 (18.2%) showed extracytoplasmic alterations, and 148 (21.7%) exhibited both types of dysmorphism. No significant difference in oocyte dysmorphism was observed between the agonist- and antagonist-treated groups (P>0.05). Analysis for each dysmorphism revealed that the most common conditions were alterations in polar body shape (31.3%) and the presence of diffuse cytoplasmic granulations (22.8%), refractile bodies (18.5%) and central cytoplasmic granulations (13.6%). There was no significant difference among individual oocyte dysmorphisms in the agonist- and antagonist-treated groups (P>0.05).
Our randomized data indicate that in terms of the quality of oocyte morphology, there is no difference between the antagonist multi-dose protocol and the long-term agonist protocol. If a GnRH analogue used for pituitary suppression in IVF cycles influences the prevalence of oocyte dysmorphisms, there does not appear to be a difference between the use of an agonist as opposed to an antagonist.
In this Policy Forum piece, Aditya Narayan and colleagues discuss the challenges and opportunities for tuberculosis preventive treatment in carceral settings.
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