Epidermal Growth Factor Regulation Of Porcine Oocyte Maturation And Cumulus Cell Expansion In Vitro

The overall objective of this study was to investigate the role in vitro of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the regulation of both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of the porcine oocyte, and in the expansion of cumulus cells.;Studies aimed at the induction of oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion revealed that EGF is a potent stimulant of the resumption of meiosis in the oocyte and that the addition of FSH, but not LH, to EGF further enhances its effect on germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Both estradiol-17{dollar}\beta{dollar} (E{dollar}\sb2{dollar}) and androstenedione (A{dollar}\sb4{dollar}) inhibited FSH-stimulated GVBD, but had no effect on EGF-stimulated GVBD, suggesting that EGF may be acting through a different mechanism than that of FSH. EGF stimulated cumulus expansion in about 50% of oocyte-cumulus cell complexes (OCC), however FSH was much more effective and induced expansion in {dollar}\sim{dollar}90% of the complexes.;The removal of the oocyte did not impair the ability of porcine cumulus cells to expand in response to EGF, indicating that EGF-induced expansion of porcine cumuli oophori is not dependent on the oocyte. However, the denuded porcine oocytes enabled mouse cumulus cells, which do not undergo expansion in the absence of the oocyte, to expand in response to FSH, indicating that the porcine oocyte is capable of secreting the putative cumulus expansion-enabling factor required for mouse cumulus cell expansion and that this factor is not species specific.;Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunolocalization studies revealed local follicular production of EGF and the presence of its receptor in the ovarian follicle. From the relative abundance of the mRNAs and immunoreactive peptides, it appeared that, within the follicle, the oocyte is the primary, although not necessarily the exclusive source of EGF, and the somatic cells that of EGF-R, suggesting that an EGF paracrine system may be in place in the porcine ovarian follicle.;Both EGF and FSH influenced cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes as revealed by the success of fertilization and by the changes in the pattern of protein synthesis. Fertilization studies indicated that the effect of EGF is beneficial when added alone to the oocyte maturation media, whereas FSH appeared to influence cytoplasmic maturation adversely. Addition of EGF alone decreased the proportion of polyspermic oocytes and increased the percentage of monospermic oocytes forming male pronuclei, whereas FSH abolished these effects of EGF and increased the percentage of polyspermic oocytes forming more than two pronuclei. Both EGF and FSH altered the synthesis of certain proteins in the oocyte and cumulus cells after different culture periods.;RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry indicated the presence of TGF-{dollar}\alpha{dollar} in the cumulus and granulosa cells. Since EGF was also localized in porcine cumulus and granulosa cells, the presence of two ligands which trigger a similar signal transduction cascade after binding to the EGF-R may indicate ligand redundancy.;In conclusion, evidence is provided that EGF of follicular origin may play a vital role in bringing a complete physiological maturation to the porcine oocyte, including expansion of the surrounding cumulus cells. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

Differential operators on a hypersurface

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Synthesis of 2,2',4,4',6,6' Hexanitrostilbene

An economical method of synthesis of HNS has been developed in which solution of TNT is treated with 6 per cent sodium hypochlorite at 3 +-1 degree Celsius to get the desired product. Effect of concentration as well as pH of sodium hypochlorite on the yield of HNS has also been studied. The solubility of HNS in various organic solvents has also been determined

Concurrent Rhinoplasty and Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Combining rhinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) was first reported in 1991 by Sheman and Matarasso. Since then, many authors have documented a large series showing the overall efficacy of combining the two procedures. The focus of this manuscript is to document the author’s recent experience with combining rhinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery and highlight the changes that have occurred during the author’s 2-years experience. A retrospective data review was performed on 53 (31 females and 22 men, age range 16–55 years) patients who underwent combined rhinoplasty and ESS between January 2016 and December 2018 at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur by the same surgeon. The mean age was 31.8 years. All patients had severe nasal obstruction with chronic rhinosinusitis and were followed up for a minimum of 6 months post-surgery and underwent ENT workup, which included history, office rigid endoscopy, CT scans of paranasal sinuses and preoperative photography. Initially, the ESS was performed followed by the open rhinoplasty with or without osteotomy. The ESS consisted of middle turbinate reduction [15/53 (28.3%)], maxillary antrostomy [36/53 (67.9%)], ethmoidectomy [38/53 (71.6%)], frontal sinusotomy [7/53 (13.2%)], and sphenoidotomy [9/53 (16.9%)]. Most of the sinus symptoms resolved postoperatively with 47 (88.6%) of 53 patients describing their improvement as significant. Fifty (94.3%) of 53 patients stated that they would recommend the concurrent procedure. The benefits of these advances are illustrated by a review of the literature with good results (functional and cosmetic) and minimal complications

Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy

Epiphora, or abnormal tearing, occurs because of the blockage in the lacrimal drainage system, which impairs normal tearing channeling into the nose. It is essential that with proper history and examination including syringing and probing, a correct diagnosis is made. Syringing and probing are performed only in congenital and acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is a procedure performed for the treatment of tearing (epiphora) due to blockage of the nasolacrimal drainage system. Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (E-DCR) using telescopes has gained a lot of momentum among otolaryngologists, since the outcomes are comparable to the external approach. Advances in surgical technique and a better understanding of the anatomy have resulted in improvements in outcomes. The anatomy of the lacrimal system will be discussed in detail including the surgical indications and techniques of DCR. The advantages, results, and complications of surgery will be highlighted

Schistosoma japonicum, and the problem of schistosomiasis in India

It may be stated in conclusion that the position with regard to this wide spread disease has improved considerably during the past few years. In spite of the profound pathological changes it produces in the bodies of hyper- infected people, thanks to the efforts of the various investigators, the future is definitely hopeful, and as the sanitary and educational conditions,in the endemic areas improve schistosomjasis should slowly disappear.In Nouadin we have a reliable and safe specific for the disease, but it falls short of being the ideal drug. It is hoped that before long a drug will be found which can be administered orally, and is cheap enough for employment on a large scale.From the data available, and the results of the author's investigations in Bombay, it would appear that this disease most probably does not affect the human beings in this country.It is possible that the snails found in this country, though Morphologically allied to those found in some of the endemic areas, are not suitable for the development of the larvae of the schistosome worms which attack man. Until such time, when this can be proved by experimental work in various parts of the country, the possibility of the introduction, and spread of schistcsomiasis can not be ignored.In the event of the disease making its appearance in any part of the country, active prophylactic measures, on the lines laid down, will have to be employed to pret vent its spread. If, on the other hand, the disease is 234, once allowed to establish itself to any extent in this . country, the problem of control may assume a greater magnitude than it does in countries like China and Egypt. It is therefore the duty of the State, and the medical profession in general to see that schistosomiasis does not add itself to the already long list of the public health problems of India

Organo-mineral interactions in contrasting soils under natural vegetation

Organo-mineral interactions are important for the cycling and preservation of organic carbon (OC) in soils. To understand the role of soil mineral surfaces in organo-mineral interactions, we used a sequential density fractionation procedure to isolate 2.6 g cm-3 density fractions from topsoils (0-10 cm) of contrasting mineralogies. These soils were under natural vegetation of four major Australian soil types - Chromosol, Ferrosol, Sodosol and Vertosol. The soils and their organic matter (OM) contents were found to be partitioned in four distinct pools: i) particulate organic matter 2.6 g cm-3; and iv) Fe oxides dominant >2.0 g cm-3 (in the Ferrosol.) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate organic C and N bonding environments associated within each density fraction. Mineral pools were shown to be enriched in distinct organic functional groups: phyllosilicate dominant fractions were enriched with oxidized OC species (C-O, C=O, O-C=O) and protonated amide forms; quartz and feldspar dominated fractions were enriched in aliphatic C and protonated amide forms; Fe oxides dominant fractions had the greatest proportions of oxidized OC species and were low in protonated amide forms. The enrichment of different C species was related to the interaction of functional groups with the mineral surfaces. These results demonstrate the potential of mineral surfaces in influencing the chemical composition of OM bound in surfaces reactions and subsequently the stability of OM in organo-mineral interactions