Add-on effects of oral tocopherol supplementation to surgical varicocelectomy on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology: a single-center pilot study report

IntroductionVaricocelectomy is well known to improve the pregnancy outcome of patients with clinical varicoceles in assisted reproductive technologies as well as spontaneous conception. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the additional effects of oral antioxidant therapy after varicocelectomy on the pregnancy outcome in the assisted reproductive technology setting.MethodsThis study was a retrospective cohort study. The subjects were couples among whom the male partner had undergone varicocelectomy and was scheduled for subsequent assisted reproductive technology. Pregnancy outcomes were followed retrospectively in 62 couples with male partners who received tocopherol (antioxidant group) and 37 couples who did not (control group). The tocopherol and control groups were assigned dependent on the decision of the physician in charge and the patient's request. The clinical pregnancy rates per couple and embryo transfer, time to pregnancy, and the number of cycles during transfer to pregnancy were evaluated.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in the pregnancy rate per couple (antioxidant group 70.9% vs. control group 64.9%, P = 0.55) and per embryo transfer (50.4% vs. 39.6%, P = 0.22). Regarding the time to event analyzed by adjusted restricted mean survival time, the mean time to pregnancy was significantly shorter in the antioxidant (tocopherol) group (14.2 vs. 17.4 months, P = 0.025). No significant difference was observed in the embryo transfer cycle to pregnancy (mean embryo transfer cycles: 2.6 vs. 3.0, P = 0.238).ConclusionsAdditional oral tocopherol nicotinate as antioxidant therapy after varicocelectomy was shown to shorten the time to pregnancy. It is recommended that add-on effects be tested in more well-designed randomized controlled trials to examine whether it improves assisted reproductive outcomes

Fermi level tuning of Ag-doped Bi2Se3 topological insulator

The temperature dependence of the resistivity (rho) of Ag-doped Bi2Se3 (AgxBi2-xSe3) shows insulating behavior above 35 K, but below 35 K, rho suddenly decreases with decreasing temperature, in contrast to the metallic behavior for non-doped Bi2Se3 at 1.5-300 K. This significant change in transport properties from metallic behavior clearly shows that the Ag doping of Bi2Se3 can effectively tune the Fermi level downward. The Hall effect measurement shows that carrier is still electron in AgxBi2-xSe3 and the electron density changes with temperature to reasonably explain the transport properties. Furthermore, the positive gating of AgxBi2-xSe3 provides metallic behavior that is similar to that of non-doped Bi2Se3, indicating a successful upward tuning of the Fermi level

Pressure-induced superconductivity in AgxBi2-xSe3

We investigated the pressure dependence of electric transport and crystal structure of Ag-doped Bi2Se3. In the sample prepared by Ag doping of Bi2Se3, the Bi atom was partially replaced by Ag, i.e., Ag0.05Bi1.95Se3. X-ray diffraction patterns of Ag0.05Bi1.95Se3 measured at 0–30 GPa showed three different structural phases, with rhombohedral, monoclinic, and tetragonal structures forming in turn as pressure increased, and structural phase transitions at 8.8 and 24 GPa. Ag0.05Bi1.95Se3 showed no superconductivity down to 2.0 K at 0 GPa, but under pressure, superconductivity suddenly appeared at 11 GPa. The magnetic field (H) dependence of the superconducting transition temperature Tc was measured at 11 and 20.5 GPa, in order to investigate whether the pressure-induced superconducting phase is explained by either p-wave polar model or s-wave model

The electronic structure of Ag1-xSn1+xSe2 (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.25 and 1.0)

Kobayashi, Kaya/0000-0001-6707-6964; HACISALIHOGLU, Muammer Yasin Yasin/0000-0002-0795-2931; Bondino, Federica/0000-0001-6505-9319; HACISALIHOGLU, Muammer Yasin/0000-0002-0795-2931; MAGNANO, ELENA/0000-0001-6465-807X; Olivi, Luca/0000-0002-8368-7105WOS: 000412763700020PubMed: 28967026We have studied the valence electronic structure of Ag1-xSn1+xSe2 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.25) and SnSe (x = 1.0) by a combined analysis of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. Both XAS and XPS reveal an increase in electron carriers in the system with x (i.e. excess Sn concentration) for 0 <= x <= 0.25. the core-level spectra (Sn 3d, Ag 3d and Se 3d) show that the charge state of Ag is almost 1+, while that of of Sn splits into Sn2+ and Sn4+ (providing clear evidence of valence skipping for the first time) with a concomitant splitting of Se into Se2- and Se2-delta states. the x dependence of the split components in Sn and Se together with the Se-K edge XAS reveals that the Se valence state may have an essential role in the transport properties of this system.Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research University from MEXT; Program for Advancing Strategic International Networks to Accelerate the Circulation of Talented Researchers from JSPS [R2705]; Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [15H03691, 25000003, 15K13524, 26247057, 15H05886]; PRIN of MIUR, ItalyMinistry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) [2012X3YFZ2]; TUBITAK BIDEB foundationTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK); Grants-in-Aid for Scientific ResearchMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceGrants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) [15H03691] Funding Source: KAKENWe thank Elettra staff for the assistance during the measurements. Two of us (T. W. & K. T.) would like to acknowledge hospitality at the Sapienza University of Rome. One of us (M. Y. H.) would like to thank Sapienza University for the hospitality and TUBITAK BIDEB foundation for the fellowship. This research was partially supported by the Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research University from MEXT and the Program for Advancing Strategic International Networks to Accelerate the Circulation of Talented Researchers from JSPS (R2705). the support from the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (15H03691, 25000003, 15K13524, 26247057 and 15H05886), is acknowledged. the work is a part of the executive protocol of the general agreement for cooperation between the Sapienza University of Rome and the Okayama University, Japan. the work at Sapienza is partially supported by PRIN2012 (grant number 2012X3YFZ2) of MIUR, Italy

Two linear regimes in optical conductivity of a type-I Weyl semimetal: the case of elemental tellurium

Employing high-pressure infrared spectroscopy we unveil the Weyl semimetal phase of elemental Te and its topological properties. The linear frequency dependence of the optical conductivity provides clear evidence for metallization of trigonal tellurium (Te-I) and the linear band dispersion above 3.0 GPa. This semimetallic Weyl phase can be tuned by increasing pressure further: a kink separates two linear regimes in the optical conductivity (at 3.7 GPa), a signature proposed for Type-II Weyl semimetals with tilted cones; this however reveals a different origin in trigonal tellurium. Our density-functional calculations do not reveal any significant tilting and suggest that Te-I remains in the Type-I Weyl phase, but with two valence bandsin the vicinity of the Fermi level. Their interplay giving rise to the peculiar optical conductivity behavior with more than one linear regime. Pressure above 4.3 GPa stabilizes the more complex Te-II and Te-III polymorphs, which are robust metals.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Indoxyl sulfate treatment induces podocyte injury in mice.

<p>FVB/N mice were exposed to vehicle or indoxyl sulfate (600 mg/kg, i.p.) for 8 w. Transmission electron microscopy images of glomeruli (<b>a–d</b>) demonstrate that indoxyl sulfate exposure is associated with wrinkled and partially collapsed glomerular basement (<b>b</b> and <b>c</b>) and focal podocyte (Pod) foot process effacement (<b>b</b> and <b>c</b>, arrows). Electron-lucent materials were observed in the Bowman space (Bs) in the indoxyl sulfate-exposed mouse (<b>c</b>), and the podocytes contained cytoplasmic vacuoles, consistent with protein resorption droplets (<b>d</b>, arrows). Ery denotes erythrocyte; Cap denotes capillary lumen; Par denotes parietal cell; and Mes denotes mesangial cell. Bars = 1 µm. Representative images of immunostaining of renal cortices are shown (<b>e</b>), bars = 20 µm. Histomorphometry of immune-positive glomerular area fraction that stained for podocin, synaptopodin, vimentin, and AhR in glomeruli are shown (<b>e</b>, <b>f</b>). n≥3, mean ± S.D. * denotes significant differences between the vehicle and indoxyl sulfate groups (<i>P</i><0.05). A representative immunoblot for podocin, synaptopodin, and β-actin by using whole kidney lysate from kidneys lacking visible atrophy is shown (<b>f</b>); arrowheads indicate the predicted sizes of podocin (42 kDa), synaptopodin (100 kDa), and β-actin (42 kDa). The band intensities were quantified by performing image analysis; n = 7, mean ± S.D (<b>g</b>). * denotes significant differences between the vehicle and indoxyl sulfate groups (<i>P</i><0.05).</p