Despite ample focus on this endangered species, conservation planning for chimpanzees residing outside Africa has proven a challenge because of the lack of ancestry information. Here, we analysed the ...largest number of chimpanzee samples to date, examining microsatellites in >100 chimpanzees from the range of the species in Africa, and 20% of the European zoo population. We applied the knowledge about subspecies differentiation throughout equatorial Africa to assign origin to chimpanzees in the largest conservation management programme globally. A total of 63% of the genotyped chimpanzees from the European zoos could be assigned to one of the recognized subspecies. The majority being of West African origin (40%) will help consolidate the current breeding programme for this subspecies and the identification of individuals belonging to the two other subspecies so far found in European zoos can form the basis for breeding programmes for these. Individuals of various degree of mixed ancestry made up 37% of the genotyped European zoo population and thus highlight the need for appropriate management programmes guided by genetic analysis to preserve maximum genetic diversity and reduce hybridization among subspecies.
A review of recent results on stand-off Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis and applications is presented. Stand-off LIBS was suggested for elemental analysis of materials located in ...environments where any physical access was not possible but optical access could be envisaged. This review only refers to the use of the open-path LIBS configuration in which the laser beam and the returning plasma light are transmitted through the atmosphere. It does not present the results obtained with a transportation of the laser pulses to the target through an optical fiber. Open-path stand-off LIBS has mainly been used with nanosecond laser pulses for solid sample analysis at distances of tens of meters. Liquid samples have also been analyzed at distances of a few meters. The distances achievable depend on many parameters including the laser characteristics (pulse energy and power, beam divergence, spatial profile) and the optical system used to focus the pulses at a distance. A large variety of laser focusing systems have been employed for stand-off analysis comprising refracting or reflecting telescope. Efficient collection of the plasma light is also needed to obtain analytically useful signals. For stand-off LIBS analysis, a lens or a mirror is required to increase the solid angle over which the plasma light can be collected. The light collection device can be either at an angle from the laser beam path or collinear with the optical axis of the system used to focus the laser pulses on the target surface. These different configurations have been used depending on the application such as rapid sorting of metal samples, identification of material in nuclear industry, process control and monitoring in metallurgical industry, applications in future planetary missions, detection of environmental contamination or cleaning of objects of cultural heritage. Recent stand-off analyses of metal samples have been reported using femtosecond laser pulses to extend LIBS capabilities to very long distances. The high-power densities achievable with these laser pulses can also induce self-guided filaments in the atmosphere which produce LIBS excitation of a sample. The first results obtained with remote filament-induced breakdown spectroscopy predict sample analysis at kilometer ranges.
Summary
One of the many challenges facing laboratories is the verification of their automated Complete Blood Count cell counters for the enumeration of body fluids. These analyzers offer improved ...accuracy, precision, and efficiency in performing the enumeration of cells compared with manual methods. A patterns of practice survey was distributed to laboratories that participate in proficiency testing in Ontario, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan to determine the number of laboratories that are testing body fluids on automated analyzers and the performance specifications that were performed. Based on the results of this questionnaire, an International Working Group for the Verification and Performance of Automated Cell Counters for Body Fluids was formed by the International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) to prepare a set of guidelines to help laboratories plan and execute the verification of their automated cell counters to provide accurate and reliable results for automated body fluid counts. These guidelines were discussed at the ICSH General Assemblies and reviewed by an international panel of experts to achieve further consensus.
Summary
Recently several parameters have been introduced to the complete blood count such as nucleated red blood cells, immature granulocytes; immature reticulocyte fraction, immature platelet ...fraction and red cell fragments as well as new parameters for detection of functional iron deficiency. Leucocyte positional parameters, which may diagnose specific diseases (e.g. differentiate between abnormal lymphocytes in leukaemia and viral conditions and may also detect malarial infection) are now available. At this time they are only used for research; however, generally such parameters later become reportable. One manufacturer’s routine analyser allows measurement of cells by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. Currently, there are no accredited external quality assessment schemes (EQAS) for these parameters. For a number of parameters, on some instruments, there is no internal quality control, which brings into question whether these parameters should be used for clinical decision making. Other more established parameters, such as mean platelet volume, red cell distribution width and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate do not have EQAS available. The UK National EQAS for General Haematology held a workshop earlier this year in 2008 to discuss these parameters. Participants were asked to provide a consensus opinion on which parameters are the most important for inclusion in future haematology EQAS.
Background and Objectives
Obtaining accurate and precise platelet enumeration in automatic platelet analysers at low platelet counts is a challenge. To explore the performance of current haematology ...analysers in counting platelet concentrations usually used as platelet transfusion threshold.
Material and Methods
An international exercise where four blood samples with platelet levels near usual platelet transfusion thresholds was prepared and distributed.
Results
The samples shipped had a platelet count of 6·3, 13·3, 21·6 and 53·0 × 109/l according to the international reference method. We received 82 sets of results from nine countries. Instruments from six different manufacturers were represented. Although the mean count for each of the four samples was very similar to the values, according to the reference method (9·0, 16·2, 23·0 and 57·6 × 109/l), significant variability in the results was found. Assuming that these were patient samples and the result of the count used to indicate a prophylactic platelet transfusion, undertransfusion would have occurred for 24·5% of the LP1 samples at a transfusion threshold of 10 × 109/l and, at a threshold of 20 × 109/l, undertransfusion would have occurred for 7·2% of the LP1 and 16·2% of the LP2 samples and overtransfusion would have occurred with 23·1% of the LP3 samples.
Conclusion
The results suggest that significant inaccuracy exists in counting low levels of platelets and that this inaccuracy might have a significant impact in under‐ and overtransfusion of platelet concentrates to patients.
Luteal insufficiency corresponds to a progesterone deficiency affecting women who receive treatment for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Different routes of progesterone administration exist and have ...varying degrees of acceptability to patients. The aim of this study was to compare two luteal phase support (LPS) treatments: oral dydrogesterone versus micronized vaginal progesterone on the clinical pregnancy occurrence after fresh embryo transfer.
This study was a monocentric historical and observational cohort study carried out in the reproductive medicine department at the University Hospital, Femme Mère Enfant in Lyon. All the data were collected retrospectively. Women between 18 and 43 years old, who completed an IVF cycle with or without ICSI, followed by fresh embryo transfer on the second or third day after oocyte retrieval (D2 or D3) or at the blastocyst stage (D5 or D6) between July 2019 and July 2020 were included. The 290 patients included between July 2019 and January 2020 received 600mg per day of PMV. The 290 patients in the OD group included between January and July 2020 received 30mg OD per day.
In the univariate analysis, the clinical pregnancy occurrence per transfer was comparable between the MVP and OD groups (P>0.05) (OR 95% CI): 0.904 0.630 ; 1.296. In the multivariate analysis, OD also appeared to be associated with a similar pregnancy occurrence compared to MVP, with a non-significant difference (OR 95% CI): 0.940 0.640; 1.380. The use of OD compared to MVP did not significantly influence the clinical pregnancy occurrence in any age group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the clinical pregnancy occurrence, whether the patients belonged to the reference population of the center or not (P>0.05) (OR 95% CI): 2.367 0.568; 3.568.
This important French retrospective study confirms the safety and efficacy of OD.
Perinatal metabolism of vitamin D Salle, B L; Delvin, E E; Lapillonne, A ...
The American journal of clinical nutrition,
05/2000, Volume:
71, Issue:
5 Suppl
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
During pregnancy, maternal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the circulating form of vitamin D, correlate with dietary vitamin D intake. Maternal serum concentrations of ...1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the hormonal circulating and active form of vitamin D, are elevated during pregnancy; 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D is synthesized mainly by the decidual cells of the placenta and allows for increased calcium absorption. The fetus is entirely dependent on the mother for its supply of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is believed to cross the placenta. Hypocalcemia and increased parathyroid hormone secretion induce synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D after birth in both full-term and preterm neonates. Nevertheless, serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are a rate-limiting factor in the synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. In vitamin D-replete infants, circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations are higher than those observed in older infants. In countries where dairy products are not routinely supplemented with vitamin D, maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy is necessary. However, there is no indication for the use of pharmacologic doses of vitamin D or its metabolites in the perinatal period.
Diminished ovarian reserve remains a challenge in the reproductive medicine field. Treatment options for these patients are limited and there is no consensus to make any recommendations. Regarding ...adjuvant supplements, DHEA could play a role in follicular recruitment and, therefore, may increase spontaneous pregnancy rate.
This study was a monocentric historical and observational cohort study carried out in the reproductive medicine department at the University Hospital, Femme-Mère-Enfant in Lyon. All women presenting with a diminished ovarian reserve treated with 75mg/day of DHEA were consecutively included. The main objective was to evaluate the spontaneous pregnancy rate. The secondary objectives were to identify predictive factors for pregnancy and the evaluation of treatment side effects.
Four hundred and thirty-nine women were included. In all, 277 were analyzed, 59 had a spontaneous pregnancy (21.3%). The probability of being pregnant was respectively 13.2% (IC95 9-17.2%), 21.3% (IC95 15.1-27%) and 38.8% (IC95 29.3-48.4%) at 6, 12 and 24 months. Only 20.6% of patients complained of side effects.
DHEA may improve spontaneous pregnancies in women with diminished ovarian reserve without any stimulation.
Comparisons between LIBS and ICP/OES Fichet, P; Tabarant, M; Salle, B ...
Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry,
05/2006, Volume:
385, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
In the framework of the development of new techniques, the ability of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to analyse remotely complex aqueous solutions was investigated. The jet configuration ...with a collimated gas stream was chosen because it appeared to be the most promising method for the LIBS probe, particularly in terms of sensitivity and repeatability. For emission collection, the echelle spectrometer offers a simultaneously recorded wavelength range from the UV to the near IR and is interesting for multielemental analysis for LIBS and also for inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The importance of parameters influencing the quantitative results of LIBS such as multispecies analysis, sheath gas, use of an internal standard and temporal parameters for analysis is described. LIBS quantitative data have been directly compared with results from the more standard ICP/OES technique.
The number of surviving children born prematurely has increased substantially during the last 2 decades. The major goal of enteral nutrient supply to these infants is to achieve growth similar to ...foetal growth coupled with satisfactory functional development. The accumulation of knowledge since the previous guideline on nutrition of preterm infants from the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition in 1987 has made a new guideline necessary. Thus, an ad hoc expert panel was convened by the Committee on Nutrition of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition in 2007 to make appropriate recommendations. The present guideline, of which the major recommendations are summarised here (for the full report, see http://links.lww.com/A1480), is consistent with, but not identical to, recent guidelines from the Life Sciences Research Office of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences published in 2002 and recommendations from the handbook Nutrition of the Preterm Infant. Scientific Basis and Practical Guidelines, 2nd ed, edited by Tsang et al, and published in 2005. The preferred food for premature infants is fortified human milk from the infant's own mother, or, alternatively, formula designed for premature infants. This guideline aims to provide proposed advisable ranges for nutrient intakes for stable-growing preterm infants up to a weight of approximately 1800 g, because most data are available for these infants. These recommendations are based on a considered review of available scientific reports on the subject, and on expert consensus for which the available scientific data are considered inadequate.
PDF
