Endometrial changes in estrogen and progesterone receptor expression during implantation in an oocyte donation program

Implantation is the final and most important stage of embryogenesis and is of paramount importance in achieving a successful pregnancy. Progesterone and estrogen are steroid hormones responsible for the regulation of the implantation window and the current study hypothesised that their receptors may be implicated in women undergoing oocyte donation. A total of 15 women aged 25‑32 years old (mean ± SD, 28.9±2.89) undergoing oocyte donation were recruited into the present study. Participants underwent ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin‑releasing hormone antagonist and recombinant follicle‑stimulating hormone. Endometrial aspiration biopsy was performed on the day of oocyte retrieval and after 5 days (on days 0 and 5, respectively). Endometrial histology and evaluation of estrogen receptor (ER)α and progesterone receptor (PR)‑B were performed on days 0 and 5. The ER nodal staining percentage on day 0 was age‑associated, with patients aged 30 years exhibiting 90% staining. Pathological staining revealed statistically significant differences between days 0 and 5 following all staining procedures. Wilcoxon signed‑rank test resulted in the following P‑values, for ER (nodes % and stromal %) day 0/5, P=0.0001; for PR (nodes % and stromal %) day 0/5, P=0.0001 and P=0.035, respectively; for ER (grade nodes and stromal %) day 0/5, P=0.0001; and PR (grade nodes and stromal %) day 0/5 P=0.0001 and P=0.016, respectively. Synchronization between blastocyst development and the acquisition of endometrial receptivity is a prerequisite for the success of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Aside from the recent discovery of molecules that are considered crucial for successful embryo implantation, assessing the functional characteristics of the endometrium may offer unique insights into this process, thus improving IVF results

An experimental study of dynamic behaviour of graphite polycarbonatediol polyurethane composites for protective coatings

Segmented polycarbonatediol polyurethane (PUPH) has been synthesized and modified with different amounts of graphite conductive filler (from 0 to 50 wt%). Thermal and dynamical thermal analysis of the composites clearly indicates changes in the polyurethane relaxations upon addition of graphite. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy has been used to study the dielectric properties of the (PUPH) and one composite in the frequency range from 10−2 to 107 Hz and in the temperature window of −140 to 170 ◦C. Relaxation processes associated with different molecular motions and conductivity phenomena (Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars and electrode polarization) are discussed and related to the graphite contentWe acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Finances and Competitiveness through the Grant CDS2010-0044 belonging to the "Consolider-Ingenio Programme" and for the Grant MAT2012-33483. The authors thank UBE Chem Eur for the PCD supply for this work.Gómez, C.; Culebras, M.; Cantarero Saez, A.; Redondo Foj, MB.; Ortiz Serna, MP.; Carsí Rosique, M.; Sanchis Sánchez, MJ. (2013). An experimental study of dynamic behaviour of graphite polycarbonatediol polyurethane composites for protective coatings. Applied Surface Science. 275:295-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.12.108S29530227

Prevalence of Frailty in European Emergency Departments (FEED): an international flash mob study

Introduction Current emergency care systems are not optimized to respond to multiple and complex problems associated with frailty. Services may require reconfiguration to effectively deliver comprehensive frailty care, yet its prevalence and variation are poorly understood. This study primarily determined the prevalence of frailty among older people attending emergency care. Methods This cross-sectional study used a flash mob approach to collect observational European emergency care data over a 24-h period (04 July 2023). Sites were identified through the European Task Force for Geriatric Emergency Medicine collaboration and social media. Data were collected for all individuals aged 65 + who attended emergency care, and for all adults aged 18 + at a subset of sites. Variables included demographics, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), vital signs, and disposition. European and national frailty prevalence was determined with proportions with each CFS level and with dichotomized CFS 5 + (mild or more severe frailty). Results Sixty-two sites in fourteen European countries recruited five thousand seven hundred eighty-five individuals. 40% of 3479 older people had at least mild frailty, with countries ranging from 26 to 51%. They had median age 77 (IQR, 13) years and 53% were female. Across 22 sites observing all adult attenders, older people living with frailty comprised 14%. Conclusion 40% of older people using European emergency care had CFS 5 + . Frailty prevalence varied widely among European care systems. These differences likely reflected entrance selection and provide windows of opportunity for system configuration and workforce planning