Noninvasive assays of in vitro matured human oocytes showed insignificant correlation with fertilization and embryo development

Purpose Recently, the upgrading of in vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocytes as a promising strategy has emerged in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The goal was to evaluate the correlation of the in vitro matured oocytes selected on the basis of the zona pellucida (ZP) birefringence and meiotic spindles (MS) detection with fertilization and subsequent embryo development in ICSI program. Methods A total of 168 immature oocytes [germinal vesicle (n = 140) and metaphase I (n = 28)] obtained from patients undergoing oocytes retrieval for ICSI. After in vitro culture for 24–40 h, 112 (67 %) oocytes reached to MII stage. Using a polarized microscopy, the presence of MS and ZP birefringence were assessed in matured oocytes, followed by ICSI performance. Results The rates of fertilization in oocytes with spindles (51.3 %) were similar to that of the oocytes without spindles (50.7 %; P = 1.00). Moreover, the fertilization rates in high birefringence (HB) oocytes was not statistically different than oocytes with low birefringence (LB) (P = 0.44). The findings also showed that 64.9 % of the fertilized oocytes developed to embryos, in which 33.3 % were derived from spindle-detected oocytes. Regarding the ZP birefringence, 35.5 % of the embryos were derived from HB oocytes. Conclusions There were insignificant relationships between the MS detection and ZP birefringence score with the rates of fertilization and embryo development in IVM oocytes

Case Reports - Huge Primary Intrascrotal Schwannoma: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature

Testicular schwannoma is a very rare benign scrotal tumor. It is a painless mass, but sometimes referred because of pain or sensory losses. Tumor markers are normal and radical orchidectomy is its best treatment. Here we present an unusual case of intrascrotal schwannoma in a 57 year old man, with a review of the literature

Protective effect of methanolic extracts of Thymus vulgaris L. against cyclophosphamide-induced DNA damage in mouse bone marrow cells using the micronucleus test

Cyclophosphamide is a chemo-therapeutic agent used in the treatment of various cancers and autoimmune diseases. This composition has cytotoxic and clastogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of methanol extracts of Thymus vulgaris L. against DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide in mouse bone marrow cells by the micronucleus test. The extract concentrations of 375, 750, 1500 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally (Ip) into mice for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the last injection, cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg Ip was injected. 24 hours after cyclophosphamide injection, the animals were killed and the samples of bone marrow were prepared and stained using the standard methods. For each sample, 1000 cells of polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and the same number of normochromatic erythrocyte (NCE) and the cells containing their micronucleus were counted. Cyclophosphamide increased the frequency of micronuclei polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCE) and decreased cell proliferation (PCE/PCE+NCE). All doses of extracts significantly reduced the micronucleus frequency ratio (P<0.05). The cells proliferation ratio (PCE/PCE+NCE) was also increased. The best effect in reducing the micronucleus frequency was at 1500 mg/kg dosage. Thymus extract is able to reduce the clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide, due to its antioxidant properties, playing a protective role

Pentalogy of Cantrell: A case report

Cantrell′s pentalogy (CP), a rare congenital malformation, consists of the supraumbilical abdominal wall defect, the sterna lower part defect and agenesis of the anterior portion of the diaphragm, an absence of the diaphragmatic part of the pericardium, and a malformation of cardia. This case report presents a female neonate, who was born at 32 weeks of conception, weighing 1300 g and was admitted one hour after delivery. She had the five anatomical defects known for Cantrell′s Pentalogy. Moreover, autopsy revealed a bilateral cleft lip and palate, a patent ductus arteriosus, and an atrial and ventricular septal defect

The protective therapeutic effect of Silymarin in acute hepatotoxicity of CCl4 in rats

Background & Objective: Tetra Carbon Cholride has been known as reference hepatotoxin because it can cause necrosis, fatty change, cirrhosis and cancer liver. Silymarin has hepatoprotective and anti hepatoxin effect. This study was done to determine the protective effect of Silymarin in acute hepatotoxicity of CCl4 in rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, we chose 25ml/kg dose of CCl4 (in mineral oil solvent) as an optimum dose. The hepatotoxic effects of intraperiotoneal injection of CCl4 for obtaining parameters of toxicity and therapeutic effects have been examined. According to enzymatic results (increase in ALT and AST) and histopathologic changes (grading the changes in liver including cytoplasmic granularity, cloudy swelling, necrosis and fatty change), the interval between prescribing silymarin and sampling  was determined. Silymarin as a suspension in propylene glycol CMC 2% (3/2 ratio) has been prescribed in 50, 200 and 800mg/kg doses and serum and liver samples were obtained. Negative control group received silymarin vehicle in CCl4 solvent, drug control received 800 mg/kg of silymarin in CCl4 solvent and positive control received silymarin vehicle after injecting CCl4. Results: The results showed that prescribing 50mg/kg silymarin one hour after injecting CCl4, in addition to inhibiting transaminase activity, prevents progress of liver injury up to 50% of positive control group. Cellular repair and regeneration are also enhanced, So the grade 3necrosis in positive control group is decreased to grade 0.5 in silymarin gourp in 48 hours prescribing silymarin (50mg/kg). Conclusion: This study showed that up to six hours after injecting CCl4 significantly prevents hepatotoxicity, and cause acceleration in repair of liver injuries

Histopathological criteria of the analyzed SCC patients.

<p>Histopathological criteria of the analyzed SCC patients.</p