Cervical microbiota dysbiosis associated with high-risk Human Papillomavirus infection

High-risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) genotypes, specifically HPV16 and HPV18, pose a significant risk for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. In the multifaceted cervical microenvironment, consisting of immune cells and diverse microbiota, Lactobacillus emerges as a pivotal factor, wielding significant influence in both stabilizing and disrupting the microbiome of the reproductive tract. To analyze the distinction between the cervical microbiota and Lactobacillus-dominant/non-dominant status of HR-HPV and non-infected healthy women, sixty-nine cervical swab samples were analyzed, included 44 with HR-HPV infection and healthy controls. All samples were recruited from Human Papillomavirus-based cervical cancer screening program and subjected to 16s rRNA sequencing analysis. Alpha and beta diversity analyses reveal no significant differences in the cervical microbiota of HR-HPV-infected women, including 16 and 18 HPV genotypes, and those with squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), compared to a control group. In this study we identified significantly lower abundance of Lactobacillus mucosae in women with HR-HPV infection compared to the control group. Furthermore, changes in bacterial diversity were noted in Lactobacillus non-dominant (LND) samples compared to Lactobacillus-dominant (LD) in both HR-HPV-infected and control groups. LND samples in HR-HPV-infected women exhibited a cervical dysbiotic state, characterized by Lactobacillus deficiency. In turn, the LD HR-HPV group showed an overrepresentation of Lactobacillus helveticus. In summary, our study highlighted the distinctive roles of L. mucosae and L. helveticus in HR-HPV infections, signaling a need for further research to demonstrate potential clinical implications of cervical microbiota dysbiosis.

Conception of minichannel cooling for a PVT heat exchanger

In the paper, a new construction of a compact plate heat exchanger dedicated to PVT cooling was numerically tested. The efficiency of photovoltaic panels decreases as their temperature increases, but cooling improves efficiency. A model counter-current heat exchanger with rectangular minichannels was presented. A heated wall of the heat exchanger was a photovoltaic cell. There were laminar flows of Fluorinert FC-72 and distilled water in the minichannels. FC-72 was heated by the photovoltaic panel. The CAD model of a minichannel heat exchanger was proposed. CFD calculations were performed using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software. The fluid temperature and velocity profile in the minichannels were determined to finally obtain the values of the heat transfer coefficient. The main parameters taken into consideration in the computations concerned: meshes, physics, and geometry. Finally, local heat transfer coefficients were determined.

Numerical calculations of heat transfer during FC-72 flow in minichannels performed with ANSYS software

The main aim of the paper was to apply numerical calculations in ANSYS software to solve problems related to steady-state convective heat transfer during FC-72 flow in a minichannel heat sink. A mathematical model of fluid flow in a minichannel heat sink was proposed. Data from research conducted on the experimental stand with asymmetrically heated test section were selected. The element cooled by fluid flowing in minichannels was a thin foil. The distribution of temperature on the outer heated foil surface was measured using infrared thermography. Thermocouples and pressure meters were installed at the inlet and outlet of the minichannels. A CAD model was prepared with respect to the geometry of the test section. The mesh was created in ANSYS Mesher. A suitable model of turbulences was selected and materials temperature dependencies were considered. The iterative process of creating the model and comparing the results obtained by the CFD calculation was used to capture the fluid behavior. The velocity magnitudes and temperature distributions were presented as the main results of numerical calculations.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software for CFD and heat transfer calculations in minichannels

The paper focuses on CFD modelling and numerical simulation of heat transfer during fluid flow in minichannels. The data from the experiment were adopted into Simcenter Star-CCM+ software. The test section comprised seven or twenty-one parallel minichannels of rectangular cross sections. Each minichannel was 1 mm height. During the experimental series, the temperature measurements of the heated wall were recorded due to an infrared camera. Measurement data was compared with the results obtained from numerical calculations. Fluorinert FC-72 was used as a working fluid in experiments and simulations. An increase in the values of the heat transfer coefficient was observed for the test section with 21 minichannels compared to that with seven minichannels. Numerical simulations helped to identify how the change in the number of minichannels affects the intensification of heat transfer during flow without the timeand cost-consuming experimental tests

"It's not a seven-headed beast": abortion experience among women that received support from helplines for medication abortion in restrictive settings

There are a growing number of abortion helplines where counselors provide person-centered medication abortion services in legally restrictive settings. Few researchers have explored the perceptions and experiences of the people who obtain support from these helplines. Between April and August 2017, we conducted 30 interviews with women who had a medication abortion with support from helpline counselors in Poland, Brazil, or Nigeria. Before seeking care with the helpline, women often heard negative stories about abortion and faced enacted stigma from the formal healthcare sector, or chose not to seek services from their doctors due to fear of stigmatizing treatment. Conversely, during their care with the helpline counselors, women received clear information in a timely manner, and were treated with kindness, compassion, respect, and without judgment. Many women gained knowledge and understanding of medication abortion, and some gained a sense of community among those who experienced abortion. Helpline models can provide high-quality, person-centered abortion care to people seeking abortions in legally restrictive contexts. Evidence from these service-delivery models could help improve service within the formal healthcare systems and expand access to high-quality, safe abortion by redefining what it means to provide care.

Psychiatric and neurocognitive consequences of endogenous hypercortisolism

Psychiatric and neurocognitive symptoms due to hypercortisolism were already described by Harvey Cushing in his original paper on patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). Nowadays, it is well known that psychiatric and cognitive complaints are two of the most common, and most distressing, symptoms in patients with CS. Psychiatric symptoms are indeed a major clinical manifestation of CS. The most commonly observed psychiatric conditions are depression and anxiety, whilst mania and psychosis are less common. Several domains of cognitive function are impaired at diagnosis, including episodic and working memory, executive function and attention. Following treatment, one-fourth of the patients still experience depressed mood, and the cognitive impairments are only partially restored. Consequently, quality of life in patients with CS is severely and persistently affected. Neuroimaging studies have also illustrated the deleterious effects of hypercortisolism on the brain by demonstrating reduced grey matter volumes and cortical thickness, altered resting-state functional responses and during cognitive tasks, as well as widespread reduced white matter integrity, especially in structures important for cognitive function and emotional processing, both before and after successful abrogation of hypercortisolism. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge on the psychiatric and neurocognitive consequences of hypercortisolism in patients with CS, both before, and after successful treatment. In addition, we review the structural and functional brain abnormalities associated with hypercortisolism and discuss the influence of these factors on quality of life.

Cooling liquid flow boiling heat transfer in an annular minigap with an enhanced wall

The paper focused on flow boiling heat transfer in an annular minigap. This gap of 1 mm width was created between the metal pipe with an enhanced surface contacting fluid and the external glass pipe positioned along the same axis. The heated element for the HFE-649 flowing in the minigap was a cartridge heater. Thermocouples were used to measure the temperature of the metal pipe in the contact surface with a fluid. The local values of the heat transfer coefficient for stationary state conditions were calculated using an one-dimensional method in which the multilayer cylindrical wall was assumed to be planar. The results were presented as a function of the heat transfer coefficient along the minigap length and as boiling curves, prepared for selected values of mass flow rate and five types of the enhanced heated surface and a smooth one. Observations indicated that the highest local values of heat transfer coefficient were obtained with using the enhanced surface produced by electromachining process (spark erosion) at the saturated boiling region. The boiling curves generated for two distances from the minigap inlet have similar plots without a drop in the temperature of the heated surface characteristic for nucleation hysteresis.

Impact of selected thermal and flow parameters on flow boiling heat transfer in a minichannel

This paper reports an impact of selected thermal and flow parameters i.e., mass flux and inlet pressure on flow boiling heat transfer in a minichannel. Research was carried out on the experimental set up with the test section fitted with a single, rectangular and vertically oriented minichannel 1.7 mm deep. Infrared thermography was used to determine changes in the temperature on the outer side of the heated minichannel wall in the central part of the minichannel. The heated element for HFE-649 flowing in the minichannel was a thin alloy plate, made of Haynes-230. Local values of heat transfer coefficient for stationary state conditions were calculated using a simple one-dimensional method. Analysis of the results was based on experimental series obtained for the same heat flux, various mass fluxes and average inlet pressures. The experimental results are presented as the relationship between the heat transfer coefficient and the distance along the minichannel length and boiling curves. The highest local heat transfer coefficients were obtained for the lower average inlet pressure and for the highest mass flux at lower heat flux.

Estimating uncertainty of temperature measurements for studies of flow boiling heat transfer in minichannels

This paper presents the method of estimating the uncertainty of temperature measurements conducted using K-type thermocouples in the study of flow boiling heat transfer in minichannels. During heat transfer experiments. the fluid temperature at the inlet and outlet of the minichannel is measured with thermocouples connected to a DaqLab 2005 data acquisition station. The major part of the experimental setup for calibration of temperature measurement included a calibrator of thermocouples. The thermocouples were manufactured by Czaki Thermo-Product. Poland. The temperatures recorded with the thermocouples were compared statistically while measuring the temperature of demineralised water at several characteristic points at liquid phase change or using the reference temperature known from the calibrator. The experimental error of the temperature measurement method was determined according to the principles of statistical analysis. Estimates of the mean value and the experimental standard deviation of the experimental error as well as the confidence interval for a single experimental error and the measurement accuracy were presented. The uncertainty of the difference in temperature was also calculated

The heat transfer coefficient determination with the use of the Beck-Trefftz method in flow boiling in a minichannel

In this paper, the solution of the two-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem with the use of the Beck method coupled with the Trefftz method is proposed. This method was applied for solving an inverse heat conduction problem. The aim of the calculation was to determine the boiling heat transfer coefficient on the basis of temperature measurements taken by infrared thermography. The experimental data of flow boiling heat transfer in a single vertical minichannel of 1.7 mm depth, heated asymmetrically, were used in calculations. The heating element for two refrigerants (FC-72 and HFE-7100, 3M) flowing in the minichannel was the plate enhanced on the side contacting with the fluid. The analysis of the results was performed on the basis of experimental series obtained for the same heat flux and two different mass flow velocities. The results were presented as infrared thermographs, heated wall temperature and heat transfer coefficient as a function of the distance from the minichannel inlet. The results was discussed for the subcooled and saturated boiling regions separately.

Photoswitchable transition metal complexes with azobenzene-functionalized imine-based ligands: structural and kinetic analysis

We report on the characterization of two imine type ligands containing photoresponsive azobenzene units as side groups and their transition metal ions complexes.

Impact of different thickness of the smooth heated surface on flow boiling heat transfer

This paper presents a comparison of the performance of three smooth heated surfaces with different thicknesses. Analysis was carried out on an experimental setup for flow boiling heat transfer. The most important element of the setup was the test section with a rectangular minichannel, 1.7 mm deep, 16 mm wide and 180 mm long, oriented vertically. The heated element for the FC-72 Fluorinert flowing in the minichannel was designated as a Haynes-230 alloy plate (0.10 mm and 0.45 mm thick) or a Hastelloy X alloy plate (0.65 mm thick). Infrared thermography was used to measure the temperature of the outer plate surface. The local values of the heat transfer coefficient for stationary state conditions were calculated using a simple one-dimensional method. The experimental results were presented as the relationship between the heat transfer coefficients in the subcooled boiling region and the distance along the minichannel length and boiling curves. The highest local heat transfer coefficients were recorded for the surface of 0.10 mm thick heated plate at the outlet and 0.45 mm thick plate at the minichannel inlet. All boiling curves were typical in shape.

Bacterial Contamination of Boar Semen and its Relationship to Sperm Quality Preserved in Commercial Extender Containing Gentamicin Sulfate

This study was designed to determine the degree and type of bacterial contamination in boar semen (79 ejaculates from Large White and Landrace boars) and its consequences for sperm quality during storage (27 extended semen samples, 16°C for five days) under practical conditions of artificial insemination (AI). The results revealed the presence of aerobic bacteria in 99% of the ejaculates (from 80 to 370 ×106 colony-forming units/mL). Most of the ejaculates contained two or three bacterial contaminants, while the Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas bacterial genera were most frequently isolated. Also detected were Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Proteus spp., Escherichia coli, P. fluorescens, and P. aeruginosa. In general, the growth of certain bacterial types isolated prior to semen processing (Enterobacter spp., E. coli, P. fluorescens, and P. aeruginosa) was not discovered on different days of storage, but fluctuations (with a tendency towards increases) were found in the frequencies of Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Staphylococcus spp. isolates up to the end of storage. Semen preserved for five days exhibited decreases in sperm motility and increases in the average number of total aerobic bacteria; this was associated with sperm agglutination, plasma membrane disruption, and acrosome damage. We inferred that, due to the different degrees and types of bacterial contaminants in the boar ejaculates, the inhibitory activity of some antimicrobial agents used in swine extenders (such as gentamicin sulfate) may be limited. Because such agents can contribute to the overgrowth of certain aerobic bacteria and a reduction in the quality of stored semen, procedures with high standards of hygiene and microbiological control should be used when processing boar semen.

Flow cytometry application in the assessment of sperm DNA integrity of men with asthenozoospermia

Sperm genomic integrity and ultrastructural features of ejaculated spermatozoa contributing to the assessment of gamete fertility potential in patients with asthenozoospermia are discussed. The proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the semen of patients with low sperm motility (n=40; p<0.01) as compared to men with normal sperm motility (n=54). Sperm DNA fragmentation negatively correlated (n=94) with sperm motility, sperm concentration, and integrity of the sperm cellular membrane (HOS-test). Two categories of patients were distinguished: (1) patients (23 out of 94 subjects) with < or = 4% of TUNEL-positive cells and (2) patients (71 subjects) with 4% of TUNEL-positive cells. A significant difference was noted in the sperm motility and HOS-test results between patients from both groups. Large numbers of immature spermatozoa with extensive cytoplasmic retention, ultrastructural chromatin and midpiece abnormalities, and conglomerates containing sperm fragments were present more frequently in the semen of asthenozoospermic subjects with >4% of TUNEL-positive sperm cells. Low sperm motility seems to be accompanied by serious defects of gamete chromatin expressed as diminished sperm genomic integrity and abnormal DNA condensation and by defects of sperm midpiece. These abnormalities may reflect developmental failure during the spermatogenic remodeling process. The DNA fragmentation test may be considered as an additional assay for the evaluation of spermatozoa beside standard analysis and taken together with electron microscopy may help to determine the actual number of "healthy" spermatozoa thereby playing an important role during diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Evaluation of sperm genomic integrity of normozoospermic men: a prospective study

The objective of our study was to evaluate the incidence of spermatozoa with nuclear DNA strand breaks in patients with normal routine sperm parameters (26 subjects). Sperm DNA fragmentation was measured using TUNEL test assessed in flow cytometer. Variable percentages of sperm with damaged DNA (9.42 +/- 7.68%; range: 2-36) were found. Two categories of patients were distinguished: (1) patients (8 out of 26 subjects) with < or = 4% of TUNEL-positive sperm and (2) patients (18 out of 26 subjects) with > 4% of TUNEL-positive sperm. A significantly lower percentage of normal sperm forms was found in patients with > 4% of TUNEL-positive sperm than in patients with < or = 4% of TUNEL-positive sperm. Moreover, a significant negative correlation (r(s) = -0.50) was noted only between a proportion of normal sperm forms and a proportion of TUNEL-positive spermatozoa. In electron microscope, a large number of spermatozoa with immature chromatin was observed more frequently in subjects with > 4% of TUNEL-positive cells (11 out of 18 subjects). Our results suggest that in some patients with normal routine sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation may be associated with poor sperm morphology. The diminished sperm genomic integrity may result from molecular disturbances in nuclear remodeling process during spermiogenesis. TUNEL assay is a screening tool that may help to discriminate between fertile and infertile men and may help to predict successful in vitro fertilization.

Diagnostic evaluation of oxidoreductive capability of sperm mitochondria

In the present paper, morphological and functional features of human sperm midpiece, contributing to the assessment of sperm fertility potential, have been described. The NADH-dependent NBT screening assay was used to identify and visualise: 1/ morphological defects of sperm midpiece, 2/ immature sperm forms with extensive cytoplasmic retention, reflecting developmental failure in spermatogenic remodelling process, 3/ cytoplasmic sperm conglomerates, related to apoptotic bodies and 4/ sperm NADH-dependent oxidoreductase system at the mitochondrial level, related to the reaction intensity. The used assay is an adequate marker of sperm mitochondrial activity and sperm maturity. It can also help discover sperm defects that result in asthenozoospermia and can be used as an additional indicator in the evaluation of the sperm midpiece, as well as in routine morphological examination of spermatozoa, having a considerable predictive value for in vivo and in vitro fertilization.

Aging process of epithelial cells of the rat prostate lateral lobe in experimental hyperprolactinemia induced by haloperidol

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of hyperprolactinemia, induced by haloperidol (HAL) on age related morphology and function changes of epithelial cells in rat prostate lateral lobe. The study was performed on sexually mature male rats. Serum concentrations of prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) were measured. Tissue sections were evaluated with light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical reactions for Anti-Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) were performed. In rats of the experimental group, the mean concentration of: PRL was more than twice higher, whereas T concentration was almost twice lower than that in the control group. Light microscopy visualized the following: hypertrophy and epithelium hyperplasia of the glandular ducts, associated with increased PCNA expression. Electron microscopy revealed changes in columnar epithelial cells, concerning organelles, engaged in protein synthesis and secretion.

Germ cells with nuclear DNA fragmentation related to apoptotic cells in rat testis in experimental hyperprolactinemia induced by metoclopramide

The cells with nuclear DNA fragmentation related to apoptosis were detected by TUNEL technique in the seminiferous epithelium of control rats and of rats with experimental hyperprolactinemia induced by metoclopramide. The percentage of convoluted tubules with apoptotic cells and the number of apoptotic cells (predominantly spermatogonia and spermatocytes) was increased in the experimental group. The results indicated stage-specific germ cell apoptosis. In the experimental group, apoptotic cells were most evident at early (I-IV), middle (VII-VIII) and late (XII-XIV) stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, as revealed by light and electron microscopy. We suggest that a decreased concentration of testosterone and an increased concentration of prolactin could disturb spermatogenesis and contribute to the intensive apoptosis of germ cells in rats with hyperprolactinemia. Sertoli cells which have receptors for testosterone and prolactin and play an important role in spermatogenesis and in the initiation of apoptosis in seminiferous epithelium, could mediate such an influence of both hormones.

Computerized analysis of cytochemical reactions for dehydrogenases and oxygraphic studies as methods to evaluate the function of the mitochondrial sheath in rat spermatozoa

Cytochemical reactions for mitochondrial NADH-dependent dehydrogenases (diaphorase/NADH which is related to flavoprotein), NAD-dependent dehydrogenases (isocitrate, malate) and succinate dehydrogenase were carried out in rat spermatozoa. In addition to a morphological evaluation, the intensity of the reactions was assessed using a computer image analysing system (Quantimet 600 S). The intensity of the reactions was examined in sperm midpieces by measuring integrated optical density (IOD) and mean optical density (MOD). The activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes was also analysed using the polarographic method. In the population of spermatozoa studied, all whole spermatozoa midpieces were completely filled with formazans, the product of the cytochemical reaction. These morphological findings corresponded to the values obtained for IOD and MOD for the given enzymes. In the oxygraphic studies, the spermatozoa demonstrated consumption of oxygen in the presence of substrates for I, II and IV complexes and their mitochondria revealed normal integrity and sensitivity to the substrates and inhibitors. However, the oxygraphic studies revealed differences between the sperm and somatic cells. These differences concerned the stimulation of pyruvate oxidation by malate, the lack of an effect of malonic acid on phenazine methosulphate (an acceptor of electrons) oxidation and the lack of an effect of cytochrome c on ascorbate oxidation. The cytochemical method, together with densitometric measurements, enables: (1) the reaction intensity to be determined objectively; (2) subtle and dramatic differences in reaction intensity to be revealed between spermatozoa that do not differ under morphological evaluation of the intensity; (3) possible defects within the mitochondrial sheath to be located and assessed in a large number of spermatozoa. This method can be used as a screening method alongside the routine morphological examination of spermatozoa. On the other hand, the oxygraphic method in the inner membrane of mitochondria can reveal functional changes which are related to the action of respiratory chain complexes and display characteristic features of mitochondria energy metabolism. The methods used are complementary and allow the complex evaluation of mitochondria in spermatozoa. Both methods can be used in experimental and clinical studies.