Prospective assessment of Y-chromosome microdeletions and reproductive outcomes among infertile couples of Japanese and African origin

BACKGROUND: To compare the frequency of Y-chromosome microdeletions in Japanese and African azoospermic and oligozoospermic men and describe embryo characteristics and reproductive outcome following in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: Our study was performed prospectively at two centers, a private IVF clinic and a university hospital. Japanese and African (Tanzanian) men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) and oligozoospermia (concentration < 5 × 10(6 )/ml) were evaluated for Y-chromosome microdeletions (n = 162). Of the 47 men with NOA, 26 were Japanese and 21 were Africans. Of the 115 men with oligozoospermia, 87 were Japanese and 28 were Africans. Reproductive outcomes of patients with Y-chromosome microdeletions were then compared with those of 19 IVF+ICSI cycles performed on couples with Y-chromosome intact males/tubal factor infertility which served as a control group. RESULTS: Seven azoospermic and oligozoospermic patients had Y-chromosome deletions; the total number of deletions in the AZFc region was five. There was only one deletion in the AZFa region and one complete deletion involving all three regions (AZFa, b, and c) within AZF. In our study population, microdeletion frequency among Japanese men was 6.2% (95% CI, 4.25% – 14.45%), whereas no deletions were identified in the African group (95% CI, 0.0% – 7.27%). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, however. Embryos derived from ICSI utilizing sperm with Y-chromosome microdeletion showed reduced rates of fertilization, blastocyst development, implantation, and pregnancy compared to the Y-chromosome intact group, although these observed differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The observed frequency of Y-chromosome microdeletion was 6.2% among Japanese azoospermic and oligozoospermic males; no microdeletions were identified among our African study patients. In this population of couples undergoing IVF+ICSI, there was no statistically significant difference in embryo characteristics or pregnancy outcome between patients with Y-chromosome microdeletion and those with an intact Y-chromosome

Endoscopic and histological assessment of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease over a three year follow-up period

Objectives:Discrepancies between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) endoscopic/histological extent are documented at diagnosis. It is unclear whether these differences persist through disease course, with potential impact on categorization and management. We aimed to analyze the progression of disease over a 3-year period.Methods:Patients younger than 17 years, diagnosed between 2010 and 2013 at Southampton Children's Hospital and followed-up for 3 years were eligible. Primary outcome was disease extent at diagnosis and follow-up. Data are presented as percentage of patients undergoing endoscopy. Paris classification (PC) and PC using histological, rather than endoscopic disease, were determined.Results:One hundred and twenty-five patients were included, 66 boys; Crohn's disease (CD) 74, ulcerative colitis (UC) 40, IBD unclassified (IBDU) 11. All had endoscopy at diagnosis. One hundred and two patients underwent ≥1 repeat endoscopies.Results:Disease extent reduced from diagnosis to first follow-up endoscopy for both endoscopic and histological disease extent (CD/UC/IBDU, all P &lt; 0.00006). Histological extent remained greater than endoscopic in CD with significant differences in stomach, ileum, and large bowel at all follow-up points (P =  &lt; 0.045). Endoscopic matched histological extent in UC/IBDU. Applying a modified PC resulted in significant changes for CD (L3 27.4%−53.2%, P = 0.006, L3 + L4A 21%−50%, P = 0.001, and upper gastrointestinal disease 50%–80.6%, P = 0.0006) but not UC. CD height (−0.37 to −0.25) and weight (−1.09 to −0.19) standard deviation scores increased from diagnosis to follow-up.Conclusions:Histological disease is greater than endoscopic extent at diagnosis and during follow-up in CD, although not in UC/IBDU. Classification of disease extent in CD should be based on both endoscopic and histological criteria

Transoral robotic surgery for squamous cell carcinomas of the posterior pharyngeal wall

International audiencePosterior pharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are rare and have an associated poor prognosis. Progress in transoral resection techniques, in particular, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), have renewed the role of surgery in their treatment. This article presents the oncological and functional results obtained by the French Group of Head and Neck Robotic Surgery for TORS for posterior pharyngeal wall SCC-curative surgery. This retrospective, multicentre study presents data collected between September 2009 and November 2013 for patients treated with TORS for posterior pharyngeal wall SCCs. Analysis of patient characteristics, tumour and treatment details were completed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate overall survival rates and recurrence-free survival rates. Student's t test and Chi2 test were also calculated. 23 patients were included (mean age of 62 years). 12 patients had a prior HNSCC. Ten patients had pT1 cancers. The overall two-year survival rate was 59%, but 89% for pT1 compared to 28% for pT2-T3 (p = 0.01). It was noted that TORS was simple to perform, but generated significant post-operative dysphagia. Two cases of spondylodiscitis were reported as specific post-operative complications of TORS. In conclusion, TORS is a treatment solution for selected posterior pharyngeal wall SCCs. It provides a possible alternative to medical treatment for early pT1 lesions and is often the only remaining curative solution in patients previously treated with radiotherapy. In cases of bulky resection, or when there is a past medical history of radiotherapy, a tissue reconstruction by forearm free-flap may be indicated

Facile Synthesis of Fluorescent Latex Nanoparticles with Selective Binding Properties Using Amphiphilic Glycosylated Polypeptide Surfactants

Block copolymers comprising a poly(styrene) and a poly(l-lysine) or poly(l-glutamic acid) block were obtained by sequential reversible addition–fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) and N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization. Subsequent partial glycosylation of the poly(l-glutamic acid) block with d-galactosamine (GA) and the poly(l-lysine) block with lactobionic acid (LA) yielded block copolymers with a degree of glycosylation of 50% and 35%, respectively, in the poly(amino acid) block. These amphiphilic block copolymers were successfully employed as macromolecular surfactants in the emulsion polymerization of styrene to produce uniform 100–150 nm size nanoparticles with a poly(syrene) core and galactose containing poly(l-amino acid) periphery. Introduction of fluorescence was achieved by incorporation of Nile Red during latex formation and reaction of remaining lysine functionalities on the nanoparticle periphery with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The availability of the galactose units at the nanoparticles surface for selective binding was demonstrated by lectin binding experiments and binding to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Confocal images of live CHO cells following incubation with fluorescent glycosylated nanoparticles confirmed that the nanoparticles bound strongly to the cell surface and could only be removed by addition of free lactobionic acid, highlighting selective binding of the nanoparticles on the cell surface