Cellular and Molecular Nature of Fragmentation of Human Embryos

Embryo fragmentation represents a phenomenon generally characterized by the presence of membrane-bound extracellular cytoplasm into the perivitelline space. Recent evidence supports the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of embryo fragments. In this narrative review, we described the different embryo fragment-like cellular structures in their morphology, molecular content, and supposed function and have reported the proposed theories on their origin over the years. We identified articles related to characterization of embryo fragmentation with a specific literature search string. The occurrence of embryo fragmentation has been related to various mechanisms, of which the most studied are apoptotic cell death, membrane compartmentalization of altered DNA, cytoskeletal disorders, and vesicle formation. These phenomena are thought to result in the extrusion of entire blastomeres, release of apoptotic bodies and other vesicles, and micronuclei formation. Different patterns of fragmentation may have different etiologies and effects on embryo competence. Removal of fragments from the embryo before embryo transfer with the aim to improve implantation potential should be reconsidered on the basis of the present observation

W/Mo-Oxide nanomaterials: structure-property relationships and ammonia-sensing studies

W/Mo-oxides of the hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) type have been investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy to obtain detailed insight into the substitution process of W by Mo that leads to mixed HTB frameworks. Both the morphology of the nanostructured W/Mo-HTBs as well as the oxidation state of Mo are significantly influenced through the incorporation of different alkali cations into the hexagonal channels of this open structure. A variety of complementary analytical methods, including TG, in situ and ex situ XRD, SEM, and solid-state NMR analyses, were applied to determine the thermal stability of the obtained W/Mo-HTB materials with respect to their alkali cation and NH(4)(+) contents. A strong correlation between composition and stability was found with the Rb-W/Mo-HTBs exhibiting the highest structural and morphological resistance among the series (up to 580 degrees C). The NH(3)-sensing properties of selected W/Mo-oxides in test atmospheres furthermore point to promising features of the Rb-stabilized hexagonal framework materials

Vascular risk factors in glaucoma: The results of a national survey

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Volume 245, Issue 6, 1 June 2007, Pages 795-802 Vascular risk factors in glaucoma: The results of a national survey (Article) Orzalesi, N.a , Rossetti, L.a, Omboni, S.b, Sborgia, C.c, Vetrugno, M.c, Cantatore, F.c, Campos, E.d, Baldi, A.d, Quaranta, L.e, Serra, A.f, Zucca, I.f, Mura, M.f, Malocci, M.f, Uva, M.g, Longo, A.g, Lombardo, A.g, Scorcia, G.h, Moschettini, R.h, Gallenga, P.E.i, Mastropasqua, L.i, Ciancaglini, M.i, Carpineto, P.i, Lobefalo, L.i, Perri, P.j, Paduano, B.j, Alfieri, G.k, Menchini, U.k, Campana, F.k, Giansanti, F.k, Delle Noci, N.l, Balducci, F.l, Calabria, G.m, Saccà, S.m, Sanna, G.m, Camicione, P.m, Mastromarino, A.m, Balestrazzi, E.n, Di Staso, S.n, Ferreri, G.o, D’Andrea, A.o, Orzalesi, N.p, Rossetti, L.p, Fogagnolo, P.p, Mazzolani, F.p, Brancato, R.q, Carassa, R.q, Bettin, P.q, Fiori, M.q, Guerra, R.r, Martini, E.r, Scarale, G.r, Campi, L.r, Bonavolontà, G.s, Rinaldi, E.s, Di Meo, A.s, Fusco, R.s, Dorigo, M.T.t, Doro, D.t, Grgic, V.t, Lodato, G.u, Morreale Bubella, D.u, Signorelli, F.u, Gandolfi, S.v, Trimarchi, F.w, Milano, G.w, Fiore, C.x, De Carolis, A.x, Sbordone, G.x, Nardi, M.y, Bartolomei, M.P.y, Figus, M.y, Guidi, G.y, Scullica, L.z, Salgarello, T.z, Colotto, A.z, Bucci, M.G.aa, Cerulli, L.aa, Manni, G.L.aa, Centofanti, M.aa, Parravano, M.aa, Scuderi, G.aa, Nucci, C.aa, Carta, F.ab, Pinna, A.ab, Caporossi, A.ac, Frezzotti, P.ac, Grignolo, F.ad, Brogliatti, B.ad, Rolle, T.ad, Ravalico, G.ae, Vattovani, O.ae, Tritto, D.ae, Canziani, T.ae, Marchini, G.af, Marraffa, M.af, OPTIME Study Group (Osservatorio sulla Patologia glaucomatosa, Indagine Medico Epidemiologica)ag, CONPROSO (Collegio Nazionale dei Professori Ordinari di Scienze Oftalmologiche)ah Hide additional authors a Department of Medicine, Surgery and Odontology, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy b Docleader Srl, Somma Lombardo, VA, Italy c University of Bari, Italy View additional affiliations View references (52) Abstract Background The role of vascular risk factors in glaucoma is still being debated. To assess the importance of vascular risk factors in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), data from the medical history of 2,879 POAG patients and 973 age-matched controls were collected and analyzed. Methods Design: observational survey. Setting: 35 Italian academic centers. Study population: POAG patients and age-matched controls. In order to reduce bias consecutive patients were included. Observation procedures: data concerning vascular risk factors were collected for all patients with a detailed questionnaire. A complete ophthalmological examination with assessment of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field, optic disc, and systemic blood pressure was performed. Main outcome measures: the ESH-ESC (European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology) guidelines were used to calculate the level of cardiovascular risk. Crude and adjusted estimates of the odds ratios (OR) were calculated for all cardiovascular risk factors in POAG and controls. Results The study included 2,879 POAG patients and 973 controls. POAG cases had a significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.001) and systolic perfusion pressure (p=0.02) as compared with controls. Also mean IOP was significantly higher in the POAG group (p=0.01), while diastolic perfusion pressure was not significantly different in the two groups. Myopia was more prevalent in the POAG group (23 vs 18%, p=0.005) as well as a positive family history for glaucoma (26 vs 12%, p= 0.004). POAG patients tended to have a higher cardiovascular risk than controls: 63% of glaucoma cases vs 55% of controls (OR: 1.38, p=0.005) had a “high” or “very high” cardiovascular risk. Conclusions The level of cardiovascular risk was significantly higher in glaucoma patients than in controls. © Springer-Verlag 2006

Correction to: Which elderly newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients can benefit from radiotherapy and temozolomide? A PERNO prospective study (Journal of Neuro-Oncology, (2016), 128, 1, (157-162), 10.1007/s11060-016-2093-1)

The members of the PERNO Study Group were not individually captured in the metadata of the original publication. They are included in the metadata of this publication

Search for pair production of vector-like quarks in leptonic final states in proton-proton collisions at s \sqrt{s} = 13 TeV

A search is presented for vector-like T and B quark-antiquark pairs produced in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. Data were collected by the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC in 2016–2018, with an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$. Events are separated into single-lepton, same-sign charge dilepton, and multi-lepton channels. In the analysis of the single-lepton channel a multilayer neural network and jet identification techniques are employed to select signal events, while the same-sign dilepton and multilepton channels rely on the high-energy signature of the signal to distinguish it from standard model backgrounds. The data are consistent with standard model background predictions, and the production of vector-like quark pairs is excluded at 95% confidence level for T quark masses up to 1.54 TeV and B quark masses up to 1.56 TeV, depending on the branching fractions assumed, with maximal sensitivity to decay modes that include multiple top quarks. The limits obtained in this search are the strongest limits to date for $\textrm{T}\overline{\textrm{T}}$ production, excluding masses below 1.48 TeV for all decays to third generation quarks, and are the strongest limits to date for $\textrm{B}\overline{\textrm{B}}$ production with B quark decays to tW.[graphic not available: see fulltext