Proteomics-Based Systems Biology Modeling of Bovine Germinal Vesicle Stage Oocyte and Cumulus Cell Interaction

BACKGROUND: Oocytes are the female gametes which establish the program of life after fertilization. Interactions between oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells at germinal vesicle (GV) stage are considered essential for proper maturation or 'programming' of oocytes, which is crucial for normal fertilization and embryonic development. However, despite its importance, little is known about the molecular events and pathways involved in this bidirectional communication. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used differential detergent fractionation multidimensional protein identification technology (DDF-Mud PIT) on bovine GV oocyte and cumulus cells and identified 811 and 1247 proteins in GV oocyte and cumulus cells, respectively; 371 proteins were significantly differentially expressed between each cell type. Systems biology modeling, which included Gene Ontology (GO) and canonical genetic pathway analysis, showed that cumulus cells have higher expression of proteins involved in cell communication, generation of precursor metabolites and energy, as well as transport than GV oocytes. Our data also suggests a hypothesis that oocytes may depend on the presence of cumulus cells to generate specific cellular signals to coordinate their growth and maturation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Systems biology modeling of bovine oocytes and cumulus cells in the context of GO and protein interaction networks identified the signaling pathways associated with the proteins involved in cell-to-cell signaling biological process that may have implications in oocyte competence and maturation. This first comprehensive systems biology modeling of bovine oocytes and cumulus cell proteomes not only provides a foundation for signaling and cell physiology at the GV stage of oocyte development, but are also valuable for comparative studies of other stages of oocyte development at the molecular level

Early-Loaded One-Stage Implants Retaining Mandibular Overdentures By Two Different Mechanisms: 5-Year Results

Purpose: To compare the biologic and prosthetic outcomes of implants loaded early to retain mandibular overdentures by means of two different attachment systems. Materials and Methods: Patients were screened according to specific inclusion/exclusion criteria and randomly allocated to treatment groups involving two-implant-supported early loaded mandibular overdentures retained by ball attachments or Locator attachments. Marginal bone loss, Plaque Index, peri-implant infection, Bleeding Index, prosthetic complications, and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates of the groups were assessed at the 5-year recall. Results: Among the 29 patients (58 implants) who completed the study, one implant was lost during healing; all implants survived after prosthesis delivery. Bone loss in the ball attachment group (0.77 +/- 0.05 mm) was significantly greater than that in the Locator group (0.59 +/- 0.03 mm). The Plaque and Bleeding indices of both groups were comparable, and peri-implant inflammation scores in both groups were zero for all implants. The frequencies of activation of the matrix, replacement of the matrix, and denture reline in the ball attachment group were significantly higher than those observed in the Locator group. While assessments for the absence of any complication showed that the 1- and 3-year Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities of both groups were comparable, when activation of the retainer was excluded, survival probabilities of the ball attachment group were higher. Conclusions: The biologic outcomes of early loaded mandibular overdentures retained by ball attachments or Locators were comparable. Although the frequency of prosthetic complications with ball attachments was higher, this did not decrease the survival probability for the treatment

CAD/CAM Glass Ceramics for Single-Tooth Implant Crowns: A Finite Element Analysis

Purpose:To evaluate the load distribution of CAD/CAM mono-ceramic crowns supported with single-tooth implants in functional area.Materials and Methods:A 3-dimensional numerical model of a soft tissue-level implant was constructed with cement-retained abutment to support glass ceramic machinable crown. Implant-abutment complex and the retained crown were embedded in a O 1.5 x 1.5 cm geometric matrix for evaluation of mechanical behavior of mono-ceramic CAD/CAM aluminosilicate and leucite glass crown materials. Laterally positioned axial load of 300 N was applied on the crowns. Resulting principal stresses in the mono-ceramic crowns were evaluated in relation to different glass ceramic materials.Results:The highest compressive stresses were observed at the cervical region of the buccal aspect of the crowns and were 89.98 and 89.99 MPa, for aluminosilicate and leucite glass ceramics, respectively. The highest tensile stresses were observed at the collar of the lingual part of the crowns and were 24.54 and 25.39 MPa, respectively.Conclusion:Stresses induced upon 300 N static loading of CAD/CAM aluminosalicate and leucite glass ceramics are below the compressive strength of the materials. Impact loads may actuate the progress to end failure of mono-ceramic crowns supported by metallic implant abutments

Effect of low temperature thawing procedure and post-thaw cold shock on frozen bull semen

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of low temperature thawing and post-thaw cold shock application on sperm motility, as well as acrosomal and plasma membrane integrities of cryopreserved bull semen. Frozen semen was thawed in a water bath at 5-7 degrees C for 30, 60 or 90 s (low thawed groups), cold shocked (at 5-7 degrees C for 30, 60, 90 s) after thawing at 37 degrees C for 30 s (cold shocked groups), cold for 30 s (control group). The thawing procedure affected the percentages of motile spermatozoa (P < 0.001)and damaged acrosome (P < 0.001) while the bull factor affected the percentages of motile spermatozoa (P < 0.01) and damaged acrosome (P < 00.01). However, swollen tail spermatozoa rates were not affected by the the two factors. There was a significant interaction between thawing procedures and bulls in terms of the studies sperm parameters (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the percentages of motility, intact acrosome and swollen tail spermatozoa of the control group were higher than low-temperature thawed and post-thaw cold-shocked groups. These results indicate that frozen spermatozoa are significantly sensitive to lower temperature not only before but also after thawing