The domestic cat is a model for both wild felids and human research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different vitrification protocols applied to feline oocytes at different maturational stages on the preservation
of oocyte viability and integrity of subcellular structures. The vitrification solutions consisted of 20% ethylene glycol, 20% DMSO, 20% FCS, and 1.5m Trehalose with and without 10% Ficoll PM-70. Markers for cell viability (PI/FDA), cytoskeleton organization (Anti-a-TubulinFITC SU5402 in vivo antibody, Phalloidin-TRITC), as well as nuclear configuration (DAPI) were used for evaluation of vitrified-warmed oocytes. Our results show that 52% and 41% of live mature and immature oocytes, respectively and until 32% of microtubules, 28% of nuclear configuration and 36% of microfilaments in the normal pattern can be obtained with protocol described in this paper. According to our data, Ficoll PM-70 essentially improves the oocytes survival upon vitrification.”
“Asthma exacerbation and other respiratory symptoms are associated with exposure to air pollution. Since environment affects gene methylation,
it is hypothesized that asthmatic responses to pollution are mediated through methylation. Materials & methods: We study the possibility that airborne particulate matter affects gene methylation in the asthma pathway. We measured methylation array data in clinic visits of 141 subjects from the Normative Aging Study. Black carbon and sulfate measures from a central monitoring site were recorded and 30-day 4SC-202 clinical trial averages AZD2014 in vitro were calculated for each clinic visit. Gene-specific methylation scores were calculated for the genes in the asthma pathway, and the association between the methylation in the asthma pathway and the pollution measures was analyzed using sparse Canonical Correlation Analysis. Results: The analysis found that exposures to black carbon and sulfate were significantly
associated with the methylation pattern in the asthma pathway (p-values 0.05 and 0.02, accordingly). Specific genes that contributed to this association were identified. Conclusion: These results suggest that the effect of air pollution on asthmatic and respiratory responses may be mediated through gene methylation.”
“Objectives. To describe a series of complex fetal anemia cases, detail the appropriate investigations and management, and review the literature.
Methods. Four cases of non-red cell alloimmunization or infective cases of fetal anemia are presented.
Results. Of the four cases presented, one was a neonatal death, one pregnancy was terminated, one case was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan anemia, and one case was due to recurrent feto-maternal hemorrhages despite negative Kleihauer tests.
Conclusions. Non-alloimmune causes of fetal anemia can be difficult to manage. Some cases require repeated and frequent intrauterine transfusions.