1,720,988 research outputs found
A novel splice variant of the human dicer gene is expressed in neuroblastoma cells
No full textDicer is a ribonuclease playing a key role in the biogenesis of microRNAs and small interfering RNAs. Here we report the identification of a novel splice variant of human dicer gene, the first one bearing a modified coding sequence. It encodes a truncated protein, t-Dicer that lacks the dsRNA-binding domain and is defective in one of the two RNase III catalytic centers. The splice variant was found in neuroblastoma cells and in cells induced to neuronal differentiation, whereas it was not detectable in other cell lines or in normal tissues. Interestingly, it occurred in primary neuroblastic tumors, mainly in stroma poor neuroblastomas. © 2010 Federation of European Biochemical Societies
A two-step approach in using hyaluronic acid for selection of spermatozoa improves implantation rate in ICSI cycle
No full textContraception in cancer survivors: insights from oncofertility follow-up visits
No full textObjective: Current literature suggests that cancer survivors are less likely to receive adequate contraception counseling. However, limited data existed on barriers to contraception usage in this population and on the efficacy of dedicated consultations. This study aims to describe how contraception is perceived by cancer survivors after counseling and acceptance rates of highly effective contraceptives. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical records from 313 consecutive cancer survivors at their first follow-up visit at the Oncofertility Unit of a tertiary hospital, from 2014 to 2019. Contraception acceptance and choice were examined stratified for the type of malignancy (hormone-sensible or not). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate possible predictors of acceptance. Results: Thity-three women were excluded from the analysis because trying to conceive or already pregnant. Out of the remaining 280, only 9 (3.2%) asked spontaneously for contraception, in all the other visits the issue was brought up by the physician. After counseling 44.3% of the women without contraindications still opted out effective methods for fear of hormones or refusal of more medications. Age < 33 years and being in a relationship were correlated with acceptance. Conclusions: Even after a complete counseling in a dedicated service, fears of hormones and refusal of more medications remain strong issues for these patients. Family planning needs to be discussed with cancer survivors, preferably in the context of a long-term healthcare relationship. The Oncofertility Unit should become a privileged place for this type of counseling
Pronuclear score improves prediction of implantation rate in ICSI cycles
No full textBackground: In assisted reproduction technology embryo competence is routinely evaluated on morphological
criteria but efficacy remains relatively low. Additional information could be obtained by evaluating pronuclear (PN)
morphology. Up to now controversial results have been reported about the prognostic value of PN score. One of
the main limitations of literature data is the use of different PN classification methods. In this regard, in 2011 the
ESHRE and Alpha Scientists in Reproductive Medicine defined three PN categories to standardize zygote
assessment. In this study we evaluated whether the consensus ESHRE-Alpha system for the pronuclear scoring
could be an useful additional criterion to improve prediction of embryo implantation potential.
Methods: This is a retrospective, longitudinal, observational, cohort study. We included 3004 zygotes from 555
women who underwent ICSI treatment at our Center between January 2014 and June 2019. The PN were
categorized as score 1: symmetrical, 2: non-symmetrical, 3: abnormal. A subset of 110 zygotes did not cleaved. On
day 2–3 1163 embryos were transferred, 232 arrested, and 9 were cryopreserved. Among the 1490 embryos
cultured up to day 5–7, 516 became blastocysts: 123 were transferred on day 5 and 393 were cryopreserved.
Comparisons of age, cleavage and blastocyst rate, quality of embryos, implantation success among PN score groups
were evaluated by chi-square test or Kruskal-Wallis test as appropriate. Potential predictors of embryo implantation
were first tested in univariable analysis using generalized estimating equations taking into account
correlation between embryos originated from the same patient. Then, variables potentially associated with
implantation success (P<0.05) were included in a multivariable analysis for calculating the adjusted odds ratio (OR)
and 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: There was no significant difference in patients’age, cleavage and blastulation rates, and embryo
morphology among the three PNscore groups. The PN score 1-embryos had a greater implantation success
respect to score 2-3-ones (OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.34-2.50, P=0.0001). Consistently, the pronuclear score remained
predictive of implantation in top quality embryos (OR 1.68; 95%CI 1.17-2.42, P= 0.005).
Conclusions: The consensus pronuclear score may be routinely included among criteria for embryo evaluation to
increase patients’ chance of becoming pregnant
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Semen parameters and male reproductive potential are not adversely affected after three or more months of recovery from COVID-19 disease
No full textBackground: The male reproductive system may be a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 since the presence of ACE and TMPRS2 receptors. After a first report of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen of COVID-19 patients, several papers reported that SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the semen. However, some evidences indicated that COVID-19 disease could impair semen parameters. During the infection, or in a short period after, a reduction in sperm concentration and motility and an increase in DNA fragmentation were observed, even in asymptomatic patients. There is no conclusive data exploring whether this damage changes with time. We investigated whether COVID-19 disease has a negative impact on semen parameters and male reproductive potential after recovery. Methods: In this longitudinal retrospective study, we enrolled 20 men who had COVID-19 disease. We compared sperm parameters in samples collected before COVID-19 and after infection (8.3 ± 4.8 months). We also evaluated the reproductive potential in pre- and post-COVID-19 infertility treatments of 8 self-controlled couples as well as in 40 cycles after COVID-19 infection of the male partner. Results: For most patients, we obtained results of more than one semen analysis before and after COVID-19. After adjusting for age, days of sexual abstinence, frequency of ejaculations and presence of fever, we found no significant difference over time in any semen parameter. The interval between COVID-19 infection and subsequent infertility treatments was 10.7 ± 7.5 months. There were no differences in the embryological and clinical outcomes of infertility treatments performed before and after male infection. One couple obtained a single pregnancy in the post COVID-19 IUI. Normal fertilization (65%), cleavage (99%) and blastocyst development (40%) rates in treatments performed after male infection were within the expected range of competencies. A total of 5 singleton and 1 twin clinical pregnancies were obtained, and 6 healthy children were born. A total of 10 blastocysts have been cryopreserved. Conclusion: Our data are reassuring that COVID-19 disease has no negative effect on semen quality and male reproductive potential when semen samples are collected three months or more after infection
Telehealth for infertile patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: far and yet close
No full textBackground: In Italy during the first pandemic wave of SARS-CoV-2 the activity of fertility centers was stopped, with the exception of fertility preservation in oncological patients. We adopted telehealth and we evaluated whether it could help in the management of infertile couples at a fertility center. Methods: A longitudinal study performed at a public fertility center. Telehealth was offered to 72 couples referred to our center for a first consultation from March 17th to May 31st, 2020. Percentage of patients who performed the first assisted reproduction technology (ART) cycle or intrauterine insemination (IUI) within 6 months from the first visit and drop-out rate were analyzed during COVID-19 pandemic and compared to historical controls (couples admitted to our center in 2017-2019). Results: Eighty-five (61/72) percent of couples accepted telehealth. Time to first treatment after online consultation in telehealth group (4.5 (1.8) months) was significantly shorter (p = 0.033) respect to time to first treatment after face-to-face visit of historical controls (7.5 (6.9) months). After telehealth consultation, we observed a significant reduction (p = 0.002) of drop-out rate from 39% in historical controls to 17% of telehealth group. Telehealth significantly diminished the drop-out rate also during the COVID-19 pandemic respect to 73% after traditional face-to-face visits (p = 0.0005), with a time to first treatment of 3.7 (2.1) months in couples who refused telehealth. Conclusions: Telehealth could be a useful tool to facilitate the path of patients in a fertility center
The storage time of cryopreserved human spermatozoa does not affect pathways involved in fertility
No full textBackground Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa is a widely used technique in the assisted reproduction technology laboratory for the storage of gametes for later use, for the fertility preservation and for sperm donation programs. Cryopreservation can cause damage to membrane, cytoskeletal, acrosome and increased oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage and transcriptome changes. To assess the impact of storage time on the transcriptome of frozen human spermatozoa, semen samples were collected from 24 normospermic donors of whom 13 had cryostored semen for a short-time (1 week) and 11 had cryostored semen for a long-time (median 9 years). Results RNA was extracted from each frozen-thawed sperm sample, randomized in pools, and analyzed by microarrays. Five transcripts were in higher abundance in the long-time respect to the short-time storage group. Functional annotation enrichment disclosed that that the length of cryostorage has no effect on critical pathways involved in sperm physiology and function. Conclusions The storage time of cryopreserved human spermatozoa does not affect pathways involved in fertility
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