Awareness, intentions and attitudes towards planned oocyte cryopreservation among female medical staff.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the awareness, intentions and attitudes of female medical staff towards planned oocyte cryopreservation? DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during June 2019 among 171 female medical staff at a single tertiary hospital. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of 39 questions. RESULTS: A total of 151 responses (88%) were received from 13 doctors and 138 nurses. The mean age of the respondents was 26.4 years. Fewer than half of the women (47.7%) answered correctly on the age at which female fertility markedly declines. The study demonstrated that 28.5% of respondents considered themselves as 'potential freezers' while 30.5% would not consider the procedure. Potential freezers (58.1% versus 21.7%, P < 0.001) and older age participants (44.2% versus 28.4, P = 0.014) were more interested in consulting about fertility preservation during an obstetrician/gynaecologist (OB/GYN) visit. If respondents were to consider oocyte cryopreservation, they thought that lack of information would be a major obstacle to accepting the procedure (57.6%). Of the respondents, 85.3% believed that oocyte cryopreservation is a woman's right. A strong majority of respondents (96.0%) agreed or were neutral on the statement that all women have the right to receive education on fertility preservation during OB/GYN visits, but none had ever received medical education about fertility preservation, reflecting lack of access to fertility preservation care. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that there was widespread awareness about planned oocyte cryopreservation among female medical staff. The majority of participants considered planned oocyte cryopreservation as a woman's right. There appears to be a critical need for proper education about fertility preservation.

Antenatal sonographic features of persistent extrahepatic vitelline vein aneurysm confused with umbilical vein varix.

Background: The persistent vitelline vein is a portal venous system malformation arising during the embryonic period. These abnormal blood vessels frequently thrombose and can lead superior mesenteric vein obstruction or portal hypertension. Case report: We visualized a fetal intra-abdominal cystic mass with turbulent flow on prenatal ultrasound at 28 weeks' gestation. Initially diagnosed as an umbilical vein varix, it was later determined to be an extrahepatic persistent vitelline vein with an internal thrombus by postnatal ultrasound. It was successfully surgically excised. Conclusion: When an abnormal abdominal vascular structure near the umbilicus is found during prenatal ultrasonography, the persistent vitelline vein should be included in the differential diagnosis to allow prompt evaluation and treatment after birth.

Myometrial relaxation of mice via expression of two pore domain acid sensitive K(+) (TASK-2) channels.

Myometrial relaxation of mouse via expression of two-pore domain acid sensitive (TASK) channels was studied. In our previous report, we suggested that two-pore domain acid-sensing K(+) channels (TASK-2) might be one of the candidates for the regulation of uterine circular smooth muscles in mice. In this study, we tried to show the mechanisms of relaxation via TASK-2 channels in marine myometrium. Isometric contraction measurements and patch clamp technique were used to verify TASK conductance in murine myometrium. Western blot and immunehistochemical study under confocal microscopy were used to investigate molecular identity of TASK channel. In this study, we showed that TEA and 4-AP insensitive non-inactivating outward K(+) current (NIOK) may be responsible for the quiescence of murine pregnant longitudinal myometrium. The characteristics of NIOK coincided with two-pore domain acid-sensing K(+) channels (TASK-2). NIOK in the presence of K(+) channel blockers was inhibited further by TASK inhibitors such as quinidine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis. Furthermore, oxytocin and estrogen inhibited NIOK in pregnant myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed stronger inhibition of NIOK by quinidine and increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretch-activated channels in the longitudinal myometrium of mouse. Activation of TASK-2 channels seems to play an essential role for relaxing uterus during pregnancy and it might be one of the alternatives for preventing preterm delivery.

Regulation of myometrial contraction by ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel via activation of SUR2B and Kir 6.2 in mouse.

ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels are well characterized in cardiac, pancreatic and many other muscle cells. In the present study, functional expression of the KATP channel was examined in non-pregnant murine longitudinal myometrium. Isometric contraction measurements and Western blot were used. KATP channel openers (KCOs), such as pinacidil, cromakalim, diazoxide and nicorandil, inhibited spontaneous myometrial contractions in a reversible and glibenclamide-sensitive manner. KCOs inhibited oxytocin (OXT)- and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α)-induced phasic contractions in a glibenclamide-sensitive manner. SUR2B and Kir6.2 were detected by Western blot, whereas SUR1, SUR2A and Kir6.1 were not. These results show that pinacidl, cromakalim, diazoxide and nicorandil-sensitive KATP channels exist in murine myometrium, which are composed of SUR2B and Kir6.2. Based on the modulatory effects of the KATP channel on spontaneous contraction, OXT- and PGF2α-induced contractions, KATP channels seem to play an essential role in murine myometrial motility via activation of SUR2B and Kir6.2.