P-336 Progesterone receptor is not downregulated in the endometrial epithelial compartment of women without embryo implantation during frozen thawed embryo transfer cycles

Study question

Is the mean endometrial progesterone receptor (PGR) expression in the endometrial epithelial compartment different between women with and without embryo implantation failure?

Summary answer

PGR expression is higher in epithelial endometrial compartment of women with embryo implantation failure, during mock hormonal endometrial preparation preceding frozen thawed embryo transfer cycles.

What is known already

PGR downregulation is critical for embryo implantation. Downregulation takes place during the window of implantation in the EEC, while, in stromal cells, it is highly expressed. Embryos are unable to attach to the maternal surface when PGR expression remains expressed in epithelial endometrial compartment (EEC). Limited information is available whether PGR is downregulated during hormonal endometrial preparation for frozen thawed embryo transfer cycles.

Study design, size, duration

In this cohort study, 47 endometrial biopsies were obtained between 2016-2017

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Infertile women (n = 47) submitted to frozen thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles had an endometrial biopsy after 5 days of intravaginal progesterone supplementation during mock hormonal endometrial preparation (HEP) preceding FET and prospectively followed until confirmation of an intrauterine pregnancy. PGR immunostaining was performed using standard immunohistochemical technique (clone BSB2 - BS2126, BIO SB). PRG expression was quantified using the histologic score (HScore, range from 0 - 4). Ethical approval was obtained from local ethical committee.

Main results and the role of chance

Age, body mass index, endometrial thickness, and the number of embryos transferred were not significantly different between women who became or not pregnant. PGR Hscore (mean ± SD) in EEC was significantly lower in pregnant women (1.2 ± 0.8; n = 14 ) compared to women without pregnancy (2.8 ± 0.6; n = 33 ) Student t-test p < 0.0001. The AUC was 0.90 ± 0.05 (95% CI: 0.7-1) p < 0.0001 displaying 94.2 % sensitivity and 80.4% specificity for a 1.65 PGR cut-off value.

Limitations, reasons for caution

This is an observational study to determine if a difference in PGR expression was identified in these cases

Wider implications of the findings

The mean PGR expression is abnormally higher in EEC of women with embryo implantation failure using HEP for FET cycles. The 1.65 cut-off may be used in future studies to investigate whether high PGR expression is a risk factor for failure of blastocyst implantation in HEP for FET.

Trial registration number

not applicable

First Results on Dark Matter Annual Modulation from the ANAIS-112 Experiment

ANAIS is a direct detection dark matter experiment aiming at the testing of the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation result, which, for about two decades, has neither been confirmed nor ruled out by any other experiment in a model independent way. ANAIS-112, consisting of 112.5 kg of sodium iodide crystals, has been taking data at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory, Spain, since August 2017. This Letter presents the annual modulation analysis of 1.5 years of data, amounting to 157.55 kg yr. We focus on the model independent analysis searching for modulation and the validation of our sensitivity prospects. ANAIS-112 data are consistent with the null hypothesis (p values of 0.67 and 0.18 for [2-6] and [1-6] keV energy regions, respectively). The best fits for the modulation hypothesis are consistent with the absence of modulation (S_{m}=-0.0044±0.0058  cpd/kg/keV and -0.0015±0.0063  cpd/kg/keV, respectively). They are in agreement with our estimated sensitivity for the accumulated exposure, which supports our projected goal of reaching a 3σ sensitivity to the DAMA/LIBRA result in five years of data taking.

Quantifying the relative effects of environmental and direct transmission of norovirus

Norovirus is a common cause of outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in health- and child-care settings, with serial outbreaks also frequently observed aboard cruise ships. The relative contributions of environmental and direct person-to-person transmission of norovirus have hitherto not been quantified. We employ a novel mathematical model of norovirus transmission, and fit the model to daily incidence data from a major norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship, and examine the relative efficacy of potential control strategies aimed at reducing environmental and/or direct transmission. The reproduction number for environmental and direct transmission combined is [Formula: see text] [6.1,9.5], and of environmental transmission alone is [Formula: see text] [0.9,2.6]. Direct transmission is overwhelmingly due to passenger-to-passenger contacts, but crew can act as a reservoir of infection from cruise to cruise. This is the first quantification of the relative roles of environmental and direct transmission of norovirus. While environmental transmission has the potential to maintain a sustained series of outbreaks aboard a cruise ship in the absence of strict sanitation practices, direct transmission dominates. We find that intensive promotion of good hand washing practices may prevent outbreaks. Isolation of ill passengers and cleaning are beneficial, but appear to be less efficacious at outbreak control.

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma in a renal transplant recipient

The incidence of transplanted kidneys derived from elderly donors is increasing because of the larger waiting lists and greater age of patients with end-stage renal failure. Compared with young donors, one of the problems is the heightened risk of neoplasm transmission. We report 2 cases of kidney recipients, both of whom developed a sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma after receiving a kidney transplant from the same 68-year-old male donor, who did not show signs of a neoplasm on a previous abdominal ultrasound or a pretransplant biopsy. The first recipient was a 66-year-old woman who developed a kidney mass with several urologic obstructive complications, tumor dissemination, and death at 9 months after kidney transplantation. The second recipient was a 48-year-old asymptomatic man with normal renal function, who was studied after the results of the first recipient, revealing another renal tumor. Transplant nephrectomy was performed and a peritoneal implant was resected. The patient is alive without evidence of a neoplasm after 18 months. Herein we have discussed the mechanisms of neoplasm transmission in kidney transplantation and possible strategies for its prevention and treatment.

Acalculous cholecystitis in a patient with Plasmodium falciparum infection after a trip to the Dominican Republic

Acalculous cholecystitis has been associated with several infectious agents, but its relation with Plasmodium falciparum infection has not been clearly defined. This is the first case of acalculous cholecystitis produced by Plasmodium falciparum infection that is directly documented and should be included among the differential diagnoses of acalculous cholecystitis.

[Pasteurella multocida bacteremic meningitis]

Human infections by Pasteurella multocida are usually associated with bites or scratches from dogs and cats. Many of them are accompanied by other oropharyngeal microorganisms of these animals. We herein present a case of bacteremic meningitis by P. multocida in an 86-year-old woman who was living with seven cats. Even though no skin or soft tissue infection was recorded, it is possible that a mild infection had gone undetected and a subsequent bacteremia had impacted on the meninges, or that meningitis could have occurred after nasopharyngeal colonization (not demonstrated). The isolates obtained from blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid were identified as P. multocida by API 20NE, API 20E, and Vitek 1. In agreement with findings in the literature, this strain was susceptible to penicillin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin and tetracyclines.

[Retinal manifestations of infectious diseases]

The retina and the choroids are richly vascularised structures and can therefore be colonised by germs via the haematogenous route in the course of a systemic infectious disease. The germs responsible for this type of infection can be fungi, viruses, bacteria and parasites. Ocular candidiasis is outstanding amongst these colonisations because of its frequency; it can manifest itself as an endophthalmitis with a slow and hidden course. The so-called ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, although it is infrequent in our setting, is an important cause of choroidal neovascularisation. The viruses that most frequently affect the retina are of the herpes type and can produce devastating symptoms in immunoincompetent patients, named acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Retinitis due to cytomegalovirus is more frequent in immunodepressed patients, as in the case of AIDS, but it must also be contemplated in patients with lymphoma and immunomodulatory treatment. The most frequent bacterial diseases that affect the retina are syphilis and tuberculosis. Disease due to cat scratches, caused by a borrelia, can produce a neuroretinitis. Toxoplasmosis is the most common of the infectious diseases caused by a parasite and gives rise to chorioretinitis. Toxocariasis, also caused by a parasite, is second in importance, giving rise to choroidal granulomas and retinal tractions.

Ergosterol from Phytophthora drechsleri, a unusual metabolite of a member of this genus

Ergosterol was isolated from the plant pathogenic pseudofungus Phytophthora drechsleri grown on clarified V8 booth (CV8-B). Its structure was confirmed by comparison to an authentic sample. The species was identified by morphological analysis and molecular characterization by PCR: ITS (Internal transcribed spaces). This is the first report of this sterol in Phytophthora. This result is unusual because Phytophthora fungi were previously thought to be unable to synthesize sterols and the Oomycetes in general do not produce ergosterol.

Glucocorticoids and the development of agonistic behaviour during puberty in male golden hamsters

During puberty, the agonistic behaviour of male golden hamsters undergoes a transition from play fighting to adult aggression. Repeated exposure to social stress early in puberty accelerates this transition. The present study investigated the possible role of glucocorticoids on the maturation of agonistic behaviour. First, we compared serum cortisol levels following a 20-min restraint stress during early puberty, mid-puberty or adulthood. Across puberty, animals exhibited a two-fold increase in post-restraint cortisol levels. We also compared corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) immunoreactive fibres projecting to the median eminence between animals in early puberty and adulthood. The CRH fibre density was two-fold greater in adults compared to juveniles. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of stress hormones on the maturation of agonistic behaviour. Male hamsters were injected daily with dexamethasone, a corticosteroid receptor type II agonist (0, 10 or 40 microg/100 g), early in puberty from postnatal day 31 (P-31) to P-36. When paired with a smaller and younger intruder on P-37, attack frequency did not differ between groups. However, dexamethasone-treated animals showed a dose-dependent decrease in the percentage of play-fighting attacks and an increase in the percentage of adult attacks. In summary, puberty can be described as a period of increasing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity in male golden hamsters. Moreover, increasing glucocorticoid levels influence the maturation of agonistic behaviour. These data shed new light on the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate the maturation of social behaviours during puberty.

Behavioural and neuroendocrine adaptations to repeated stress during puberty in male golden hamsters

In adult animals, the consequences of stress are often severe and long lasting. Repeated subjugation in adult male golden hamsters inhibits aggression and increases submissive and avoidant behaviours. By contrast, subjugation during puberty enhances offensive aggression. The goals of this study were to characterize behavioural and neuroendocrine responses of naïve and repeatedly subjugated juveniles to social defeat and to assess potential recovery from social stress. From the onset of puberty on postnatal day 28 (P28) to mid puberty (P42), animals were either socially subjugated or placed in a clean and empty cage for 20 min daily. The subjugated and control groups were further divided into subgroups and sacrificed under basal conditions or after social defeat on P28, P35 (early puberty), P45 (mid puberty) and P70 (early adulthood). On P35 and P45, repeatedly subjugated juveniles showed a complete inhibition of olfactory investigation (i.e. risk assessment) towards aggressive adults. Repeatedly subjugated also animals had lower postdefeat cortisol levels than controls on P45. Interestingly, basal cortisol levels increased gradually during puberty but did not differ between treatment groups at any point. Repeated subjugation was also associated with increased tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (ir-TH) within the extended medial amygdala. After a 4-week recovery period, none of these variables differed between subjugated and control groups. In an additional experiment, subjugated adults also had increased ir-TH in the medial extended amygdala, suggesting that these neurones are particularly responsive to social stress. In conclusion, puberty may be a developmental period characterized by behavioural and neuroendocrine plasticity in stress responsiveness. Furthermore, peri-pubertal changes in stress hormones may explain why juvenile hamsters are more resilient to social stress than adults.

[Bacteremia by Brucella canis. Isolation with the Bact-Alert system]

Brucella canis and other species of the genus Brucella can cause human disease. However, this species infrequently cause human disease, including in countries where dogs population is highly infected. A 15 years old male was admitted to the hospital with 15 days history of fever without visible focus. Physical examination revealed pain at liver palpation and axillar, cervical and inguinal lymphoadenomegalies. Abdominal ultrasonography showed spleenomegally, the chest Rx and the trans thoracic echocardiogram were normal. Five blood samples were obtained and cultured in 2 standards bottles (time of positivization 72 - 64.8 hours), and 3 pediatric FAN bottles (time of positivization 74.5; 72 and 67.2 hours) (Bact-Alert system, Biomerieux, Marcy, l'Etolie, France). The microorganism was presuntive identified as B. canis, and then was confirmed in the National Reference Center Instituto ANLIS "Carlos G. Malbran". After 14 days of initiating ceftriaxone treatment the patient was afebrile. When the confirmation of Brucella was made, he was discharged and ambulatory was prescribed with doxycycline and rifampin for 21 days. Bones were not compromised and the outcome was good with complete resolution of his illness.

A 3,12-connected vertice sharing adamantoid hydrogen bonded network featuring tetrameric clusters of cyclotriveratrylene

The crystalline supramolecular complex [Sr(H2O)8][(CH3CN) [symbol: see text] (CTV)]4(H2O)4[Co(C2B9H11)2]2 features [(CH3CN) [symbol: see text] (CTV)] host-guest interactions, back-to-back tetrameric clusters of CTV host molecules and an extensive hydrogen bonding giving a 3,12-connected net.

First highly regio- and diastereoselective [3+2] cycloaddition of chiral nonracemic Fischer carbene complexes with azomethine ylides: an enantioselective synthesis of (+)-rolipram

A new procedure for the synthesis of 1,3,4-trisubstituted and 1,4-disubstituted pyrrolidin-2-one derivatives in an enantioselective fashion is reported. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of (+/-)-menthol and (-)-8-phenylmenthol derived Fischer alkoxy alkenyl carbene complexes with in situ generated functionalized azomethine ylides gives the corresponding cycloadducts as chelated tetracarbonyl Fischer carbene complexes. Only one regioisomer is detected in all cases, and the diastereoselectivity of the reaction is very high when (-)-8-phenylmenthol derived carbenes are employed. Oxidation and further transformation of the cycloadducts provide an easy access to pyrrolidin-2-ones. The anti-inflammatory and antidepressant drug (+)-Rolipram is readily prepared in four steps in a 20% overall yield by taking advantage of this newly developed methodology.

Note on matrices of random numbers

The statistical and structural characteristics of 13 matrices of random numbers in which both the cells and the entries were randomly chosen are discussed. Each matrix was explored considering row means, standard deviations, and correlations as well as column means, standard deviations, and correlations. A study concerning the sequential arrangement of digits was performed by finding out in tables of random numbers how many times the values 0 to 9 are followed by any other digit. Analyses indicate clear factor structures when factor analyzing correlations of rows and of columns and when examining sequential arrangements, concluding that for a given set of digits it is possible to assert both randomness and nonrandomness depending on how the data are examined.

Serosurvey for selected disease agents in white-tailed deer from Mexico

Serum samples from 350 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus texanus) collected in March 1994 from northeastern Mexico were tested for the prevalence of antibody activity against five infectious diseases of ruminants. The prevalence rate was 81% for bluetongue virus (BTV) of all serotypes, 72% for epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), 3% for Borrelia burgdorferi, 69% for Anaplasma marginale, and 0% for Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, and B. ovis. These are diseases that affect domestic ruminants, and deer may act as a reservoir of infection. In addition, if deer are translocated, they may introduce pathogens to formerly disease-free areas. The high seroprevalence of BTV and EHDV cannot be related to the presence of hemorrhagic disease in the deer in this region. This is the first report to indicate the presence of B. burgdorferi infection of deer in Mexico. Despite the high prevalence of A. marginale titers, it is uncertain that deer play a role in the epizootiology of cattle anaplasmosis in the region. Apparently, white-tailed deer are unimportant in the epizootiology of brucellosis of both cattle and goats in northeastern Mexico.

Analysis of airborne radon in an ultra-low background experiment

The contribution of 222Rn to the background in a low background experiment with a germanium detector has been estimated. We have also checked the efficacy of a standard radon cleaning system. The cleaning reduces the radon concentration two orders of magnitude with respect to the air in the laboratory. The residual 222Rn represents at most 12.5% of the background in the low energy region, a value low enough for the purpose of our experiment. A detailed study of the radioactive background is presented.

Human medial temporal lobe in aging: anatomical basis of memory preservation

The integrity of the hippocampal formation is necessary for the correct function of declarative memory for facts and events. Normal aging is associated with a widespread decrease in cortical volume, including the hippocampal formation and related cortical areas, although in many cases, memory is only minimally impaired. In the present study, we quantified the extent of the parahippocampal gyrus (entorhinal cortex, as well as the medial temporal lobe proisocortical areas related to memory function, such as temporopolar cortex, perirhinal cortex, and posterior parahippocampal cortex) in 42 control cases. After detailed cytoarchitectonic analysis (based on homology with the nonhuman primate medial temporal lobe), planimetric measurement (calculated area) of a two-dimensional reconstruction of the parahippocampal gyrus was performed, and cases older than 70 years were compared with cases younger than 70 years. All areas showed atrophy with aging (average, entorhinal cortex, 5%; perirhinal cortex, 4%; posterior parahippocampal cortex, 15%; temporal pole, not assessable). Both entorhinal and posterior parahippocampal cortices reached statistical significance. Our results suggest that cortical areas relevant in memory function, and anatomically linked to the hippocampus, present a small degree of atrophy with aging, thereby permitting the reciprocal flow of information between the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex necessary for memory encoding and retrieval.

Relationship between microstructure and ductility of investment cast ASTM F-75 implant alloy

Hip replacement implants fabricated using the ASTM F-75 alloy sometimes fail in a sudden catastrophic way. In general, fractures start at microstructural defects subjected to stress-corrosion under chemical attack by body fluids. In this paper the results of a study on the effect of casting parameters on the microstructure of ASTM F-75 are presented. The preheating mold temperature and the liquid temperature were varied between 900 and 1000 degrees C, and 1410 and 1470 degrees C, respectively. Optimum static strength and ductility were obtained when shrinkage microporosity and the volume fraction of M23C6 "eutectic" carbides precipitated at grain boundaries were minimized by increasing the preheating mold temperature to 1000 degrees C and by using intermediate pouring temperatures of 1455 degrees C. Under these casting conditions, however, the solidification rates are low, leading to large grain sizes, which, in turn, reduce the strength of the material under dynamic loading conditions. The volume fraction of the M23C6 "blocky" carbides appears to be independent of the casting conditions; however, their size and spatial distributions determine the strength of the as-cast alloys.

[The entorhinal cortex (hippocampal formation) in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Neuroanatomical interpretation]

This paper deals with the neuronal changes shown by the entorhinal cortex in aging (30 cases) and in Alzheimer's disease (17 cases). In both instances, changes show a neuronal loss (measured as an index of cortical atrophy). The entorhinal cortex more closely related to polymodal association cortex hardly shows any variation with age, while Alzheimer cases present very intense neuronal loss. This pattern is interpreted taking into account the present knowledge about the connectivity of the entorhinal cortex and the remainder of the hippocampal formation and their role in memory processing.