Initiation of ovarian stimulation independent of the menstrual cycle (random-start) in an oocyte donation programme a large, single-center experience

Research Question Do live birth rates differ between recipients matched with donors using conventional ovarian stimulation versus those using random-start protocols? Design Retrospective analysis of 891 ovarian stimulations in egg donors (January-December 2018) and clinical outcomes in matched recipients (n=935). Donors commenced ovarian stimulation on day 1/3 of the menstrual cycle (n=223) or in the mid/late-follicular (n=388) or luteal phase (n=280) under a conventional antagonist protocol. Live birth rate of matched recipients was the main outcome. Results Duration of stimulation and total gonadotropins dose were comparable between conventional versus random-start groups. The number of collected eggs were also similar: 17.6±8.8 vs 17.2±8.5, p=0.6, respectively. Sub-group analysis showed an increased stimulation length (10.2±1.8 vs 9.8±1.7 vs 10.4±1.7, p<0.001) and gonadotropin consumption (2041.5±645.3 vs 2003.2±647.3 vs 2158.2±685.7 IU, p=0.01) in the luteal phase group vs the mid/late follicular and conventional groups; respectively. In matched recipients receiving fresh oocytes and undergoing fresh embryo transfer, the biochemical pregnancy (63.8% and 63.3%; p=0.9), clinical pregnancy (54.6% and 56.1%; p=0.8) and live birth rates (47.7% and 46.6%; p=0.7) per embryo-transfer were similar between conventional versus random groups. Similar results were obtained in recipients receiving vitrified eggs. Euploidy rate was also comparable. Conclusions There were no notable variations in clinical outcomes using oocytes obtained from random-start protocols and those proceeding from conventional ovarian stimulation in oocyte donation treatments. However, luteal-phase stimulation seems to require longer stimulation and higher FSH consumption. Our results indicate that random-start stimulation strategy does not impair the potential of the oocyte yield or clinical outcomes in oocyte donation cycles

Pressure and temperature combination for inactivation of soymilk trypsin inhibitors

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing, an emerging technology for food preservation, in combination with thermal treatment (250/50, 550/19, 550/65, and 550/80 MPa/�C) was applied to soymilk made from previously soaked soybeans (in distilled water or 0.5% sodium bicarbonate solution). First order kinetics constants ranging from 0.081 to 0.217 min-1, for residual trypsin, were estimated in soymilk from soaked soybeans at selected pressure-temperature combinations. Residual trypsin, at 550 MPa and 80 �C, was high at higher HHP holding times. The highest percentage of residual trypsin (76%) was estimated after a 15 min holding time. The use of sodium bicarbonate for soaking of soybeans synergistically decreased the trypsin inhibitor activity in soymilk in comparison with residual trypsin using distilled water alone. � 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of moisture content and temperature, on the rheological, microstructural and thermal properties of MASA (dough) from a hybrid corn (Zea Mays sp.) variety [Efecto del contenido de humedad y de la temperatura, en las propiedades reol�gicas, microestructurales y t�rmicas de masa de una variedad de maiz (zea mays sp.) h�brido]

The effect of the moisture content (55, 60 and 65% (w/w)) and temperature (30, 40 and 50 �C) on the X-ray diffraction (XDR), microstructural, pasting, thermal and rheological properties of nixtamalized dough (masa) from a corn hybrid variety (Zea mays sp.) is reported here. A complete set of rheological tests including temperature and frequency sweeps, steady shear and transient shear flow was performed in order to get detailed information on the food processing issues. The nixtamalization process affected significantly (P &lt; 0.05) the microstructural and thermal properties of masa. Polarized Light microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XDR) showed that crystallinity in starch granules decreased for the masa; whereas, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), showed swollen granules dispersed into a plasticized surface. Moreover, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed significant (P &lt; 0.05) differences on the gelatinization enthalpy (?Hgel) of masa, where it increased with increasing the moisture content from 6.7 � 0.84 J/g for 55% (w/w) to 10.2 � 0.4 J/g for 60% (w/w). Frequency sweeps showed a predominant elastic behavior where the storage modulus (G?) was higher than the loss modulus (G?) and they were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected by the moisture content and temperature into a small range. The steady shear data exhibited a shear-thinning flow behavior and followed a power law equation, where the power law index (n) decreased when the temperature and the moisture content increased. The effect of temperature on the shear-viscosity (?) was well described by the Arrhenius equation, exhibiting energy activation energy (Ea) values in the range from 25.52 to 59.35 KJ/mol. For transient shear test, all masas presented a stress overshoot at high shear rate before reaching a steady state. It was found that the amplitude of this overshoot depends on the shear rate. On the other hand, the stress relaxation test, which gives the main relaxation time (?), showed fast relaxation decay at short times, whereas at long times, a slow relaxation was observed. The ? values ranged from 10.46 to 0.43 s, which decreased with increasing shear rate. The rheological behavior of masa was related to a weak gel-like structure formation, composed by dispersed swollen starch granules into a cross-linked starch network, similar to a biocomposite material

Effect of moisture content and temperature, on the rheological, microstructural and thermal properties of MASA (dough) from a hybrid corn (Zea Mays sp.) variety [Efecto del contenido de humedad y de la temperatura, en las propiedades reológicas, microestructurales y térmicas de masa de una variedad de maiz (zea mays sp.) híbrido]

The effect of the moisture content (55, 60 and 65% (w/w)) and temperature (30, 40 and 50 °C) on the X-ray diffraction (XDR), microstructural, pasting, thermal and rheological properties of nixtamalized dough (masa) from a corn hybrid variety (Zea mays sp.) is reported here. A complete set of rheological tests including temperature and frequency sweeps, steady shear and transient shear flow was performed in order to get detailed information on the food processing issues. The nixtamalization process affected significantly (P &lt; 0.05) the microstructural and thermal properties of masa. Polarized Light microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XDR) showed that crystallinity in starch granules decreased for the masa; whereas, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), showed swollen granules dispersed into a plasticized surface. Moreover, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed significant (P &lt; 0.05) differences on the gelatinization enthalpy (ΔHgel) of masa, where it increased with increasing the moisture content from 6.7 ± 0.84 J/g for 55% (w/w) to 10.2 ± 0.4 J/g for 60% (w/w). Frequency sweeps showed a predominant elastic behavior where the storage modulus (G′) was higher than the loss modulus (G″) and they were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected by the moisture content and temperature into a small range. The steady shear data exhibited a shear-thinning flow behavior and followed a power law equation, where the power law index (n) decreased when the temperature and the moisture content increased. The effect of temperature on the shear-viscosity (η) was well described by the Arrhenius equation, exhibiting energy activation energy (Ea) values in the range from 25.52 to 59.35 KJ/mol. For transient shear test, all masas presented a stress overshoot at high shear rate before reaching a steady state. It was found that the amplitude of this overshoot depends on the shear rate. On the other hand, the stress relaxation test, which gives the main relaxation time (τ), showed fast relaxation decay at short times, whereas at long times, a slow relaxation was observed. The τ values ranged from 10.46 to 0.43 s, which decreased with increasing shear rate. The rheological behavior of masa was related to a weak gel-like structure formation, composed by dispersed swollen starch granules into a cross-linked starch network, similar to a biocomposite material

Effectiveness of the combination elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir/emtricitabine (EVG/COB/TFV/FTC) plus darunavir among treatment-experienced patients in clinical practice : A multicentre cohort study

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of the combination elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir/emtricitabine plus darunavir (EVG/COB/TFV/FTC + DRV) in treatment-experienced patients from the cohort of the Spanish HIV/AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). Methods: Treatment-experienced patients starting treatment with EVG/COB/TFV/FTC + DRV during the years 2014-2018 and with more than 24 weeks of follow-up were included. TFV could be administered either as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir alafenamide. We evaluated virological response, defined as viral load (VL) < 50 copies/ml and < 200 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks after starting this regimen, stratified by baseline VL (< 50 or ≥ 50 copies/ml at the start of the regimen). Results: We included 39 patients (12.8% women). At baseline, 10 (25.6%) patients had VL < 50 copies/ml and 29 (74.4%) had ≥ 50 copies/ml. Among patients with baseline VL < 50 copies/ml, 85.7% and 80.0% had VL < 50 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks, respectively, and 100% had VL < 200 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks. Among patients with baseline VL ≥ 50 copies/ml, 42.3% and 40.9% had VL < 50 copies/ml and 69.2% and 68.2% had VL < 200 copies/ml at 24 and 48 weeks. During the first 48 weeks, no patients changed their treatment due to toxicity, and 4 patients (all with baseline VL ≥ 50 copies/ml) changed due to virological failure. Conclusions: EVG/COB/TFV/FTC + DRV was well tolerated and effective in treatment-experienced patients with undetectable viral load as a simplification strategy, allowing once-daily, two-pill regimen with three antiretroviral drug classes. Effectiveness was low in patients with detectable viral loads