Implementation of sonopartogram: multicenter feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: Well-established clinical practice for assessing progress in labor involves routine abdominal palpation and vaginal examination (VE). However, VE is subjective, poorly reproducible and painful for most women. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of systematically integrating transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound assessment of fetal position, parasagittal angle of progression (psAOP), head-perineum distance (HPD) and sonographic cervical dilatation (SCD) to monitor the progress of labor in women undergoing induction of labor (IOL). We also aimed to determine if ultrasound can reduce women's pain during such examinations. METHODS: Women were recruited as they presented for IOL in three maternity units. Ultrasound assessments were performed in 100 women between 37 + 0 and 41 + 6 weeks' gestation. A baseline combined transabdominal and transperineal scan was performed, including assessment of fetal biometry, umbilical artery and fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler, amniotic fluid index, fetal spine and occiput positions, psAOP, HPD, SCD and cervical length. Intrapartum scans were performed instead of VE, unless there was a clinical indication to perform a VE, according to protocol. Participants were asked to indicate their level of pain by verbally giving a pain score between 0 and 10 (with 0 representing no pain) during assessment. Repeated measures data were analyzed using mixed-effect models to identify significant factors that affected the relationship between psAOP, HPD, SCD and mode of delivery. RESULTS: A total of 100 women were included in the study. Of these, 20% delivered by Cesarean section, 65% vaginally and 15% by instrumental delivery. There were no adverse fetal or maternal outcomes. A total of 223 intrapartum ultrasound scans were performed in 87 participants (13 women delivered before intrapartum ultrasound was performed), with a median of two scans per participant (interquartile range (IQR), 1-3). Of these, 76 women underwent a total of 151 VEs with a median of one VE per participant (IQR, 0-2), with no significant difference between vaginal- or Cesarean-delivery groups. After excluding those with epidural anesthesia during examination, the median pain score for intrapartum scans was 0 (IQR, 0-1) and for VE it was 3 (IQR, 0-6). Cesarean delivery was significantly associated with a slower rate of change in psAOP, HPD and SCD. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound assessment can be used to assess progress in labor and can reduce the level of pain experienced during examination. Ultrasound assessment may be able to replace some transabdominal and vaginal examinations during labor. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Expression of NELL2/NICOL-ROS1 lumicrine signaling-related molecules in the human male reproductive tract.

The maturation of spermatozoa is a regulated process, influenced by genes expressing essential secreted proteins in the proximal epididymis. Recent genetic studies in rodents have identified the non-sex steroidal molecular signals that regulate gene expression in the proximal epididymis. Germ cells in the testis secrete ligand proteins into the seminiferous tubule lumen The ligand proteins travel through the male reproductive tract lumen to the epididymis, where they bind to receptors, triggering the differentiation of the luminal epithelium for sperm maturation. It is, however, not fully unveiled if such a testis-epididymis trans-luminal signaling mechanism exists in other species, especially humans. In the present study, the rodent-type testis-epididymis trans-luminal signaling in the human male reproductive tract was evaluated in a step-by-step manner by analyzing testis and epididymis gene expression and signaling mediator protein function. There was a significant correlation between the epididymal expressions of mouse genes upregulated by the trans-luminal signaling and those of their human orthologs, as evaluated by the correlation coefficient of 0.604. The transcript expression of NELL2 and NICOL encoding putative ligand proteins was also observed in human testicular cells. In vitro experiments demonstrated that purified recombinant human NELL2 and NICOL formed a molecular complex with similar properties to rodent proteins, which was evaluated by a dissociation equilibrium constant of 110 nM. Recombinant human NELL2 also specifically bound to its putative receptor human ROS1 in vitro. Collectively, these findings suggest that the rodent-type testis-epididymis secreted signaling mechanism is also possible in the human male reproductive tract.

Hematite colour revisited: Particle size and electronic transitions.

Hematite has been used as a pigment since ancient times, due to its natural abundance and colour that ranges from vivid red to purple. Caput mortuum is a purple α-Fe2O3 whose colour has been ascribed as originating from particle size. In this work, submicrometric synthetic, natural and commercial hematites were investigated by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman microscopy aiming to clarify the origin of the purple colour. From the results it was concluded that the purple colour is associated with crystallinity, that promotes a significant decrease in absorption below 500 nm and, simultaneously, an increase in the 6A1(6S) → 4T1(4G) d-d transition at ca. 880 nm. The behaviour of the ca. 880 nm band can be explained by the more extensive magnetic interaction between adjacent Fe3+ ions in crystalline samples but cannot explain the spectral behaviour in the green-blue region considering only the d-d transitions. A plausible explanation is that in the distorted FeO6 octahedra, both the Fe-O distances and the Fe-O-Fe angles area are affected, thus interfering in the low energy oxygen-to-iron charge transfer transition, whose tail span the 400 nm - 500 nm region and is more intense than the d-d transitions in hematite nanoparticles, nanofilms and defective (red) Fe2O3 samples. The decrease in the intensity of the charge transfer band as a consequence of the FeO6 octahedral distortion is yet to be confirmed by further experiments, but the experimental results clearly show that the purple colour of hematite is due to a decrease in optical absorption below 500 nm.

Distribution characteristics of mitochondria-rich segments in the epididymis.

The epididymis is a highly specialized tissue that plays vital roles in sperm maturation and storage. The spatio-temporal repertoire of epididymal cells and their gene expression in the epididymis remain less characterized. With the help of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), Shi et al., reveal a spatio- and segment-specific distribution pattern of mitochondria that adds another layer of complexity to our understanding of the epididymis. They unexpectedly find a higher abundance of mitochondria and mitochondrial transcription in the corpus and cauda compared to the caput of epididymis, which are believed to be responsible for providing the energy necessary for sperm maturation and motility.

Transcriptome profiling of the initial segment and proximal caput of mouse epididymis.

Background: The proximal region of the mouse epididymis plays a pivotal role in sperm transport, sperm maturation, and male fertility. Several studies have focused on segment-dependent gene expression of the mouse epididymis through high-throughput sequencing without the precision of the microdissection. Methods and results: Herein, we isolated the initial segment (IS) and proximal caput (P-caput) by physical microdissection using an Lcn9-cre; Rosa26tdTomato mouse model. We defined the transcriptome changes of caput epididymis by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), which identified 1,961 genes that were abundantly expressed in the IS and 1,739 genes that were prominently expressed in the P-caput. In addition, we found that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly or uniquely expressed in the epididymis and region-specific genes were highly associated with transport, secretion, sperm motility, fertilization, and male fertility. Conclusion: Thus, this study provides an RNA-seq resource to identify region-specific genes in the caput epididymis. The epididymal-selective/specific genes are potential targets for male contraception and may provide new insights into understanding segment-specific epididymal microenvironment-mediated sperm transport, maturation, and male fertility.

Functional genomics of the human epididymis: Further characterization of efferent ducts and model systems by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis.

BACKGROUND: The human epididymis is poorly studied due to the lack of availability of tissue samples. Our understanding of its structure and function depends upon anatomical and histological observations of archived material. OBJECTIVES: Here we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies to elucidate the identity of cells within the human efferent ducts (EDs) and compared them to caput epididymis cells. We also compared the cellularity of primary tissues with those of 2D and 3D (organoid) culture models used for functional studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human epididymis tissue was dissected to separate different anatomical regions and digested to release single cells for processing on the 10X Genomics Chromium platform. Primary human epididymis epithelial (HEE) cells and HEE organoids were grown as described previously and subjected to scRNA-seq. scRNA-seq data were processed by standard bioinformatics pipelines and used for comparative analysis. RESULTS: We define the cell types in the EDs which include specialized epithelial cells, connective tissue stromal cells, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and immune cells, but lack basal cells that are seen in the caput epididymis. Furthermore, we identify a sub-population of epithelial cells which have marker genes found in the bladder and urothelium. Comparative genomics analysis of the 2D and 3D culture models shows cellular identities adapted to the culture environment while still maintaining similarity to the primary tissue. DISCUSSION: Our data suggest that EDs are lined with a transitional epithelium, which like the urothelium is able to stretch and contract depending on luminal volume. This is consistent with its primary role in seminal fluid resorption and sperm concentration. Moreover, we describe the cellularity of models to study the human epididymis epithelium in vitro. CONCLUSION: Single-cell RNA-seq data from the human epididymis make a valuable contribution to our understanding of this highly specialized organ.

Interventional radiology using endoscopy: Blood supply route-targeted endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with multiple ligations for giant esophagogastric varices.

A case of high-risk giant esophagogastric varices was treated by blood supply route-targeted endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with multiple ligations (EISML). An endoscope was inserted in the left lower semi-lateral position under general anesthesia in the digital subtraction angiography room. The C-arm was rotated to obtain a frontal view for fluoroscopy. Before puncturing the esophageal varices, the balloon attached to the tip of the endoscope was inflated to block the variceal blood flow. At puncture, an intravascular injection was confirmed fluoroscopically, and a total of 18 m of 5% ethanolamine oleate with iopamidol was injected retrogradely at 5-minute intervals from the esophagogastric varices to the root of the left gastric vein, maintaining stagnation for 25 minutes. The variceal site of the injection was ligated immediately after the removal of the needle to prevent variceal bleeding. Multiple variceal ligations were added to stop the variceal blood flow. Contrast-enhanced CT 3 days after EISML showed the thrombus formation in esophagogastric varices and the left gastric vein. The blood supply route-targeted EISML can be a feasible procedure for giant esophagogastric varices.

CpG DNA methylation changes during epididymal sperm maturation in bulls.

BACKGROUND: During epididymal transit spermatozoa acquire specific morphological features which enhance their ability to swim in a progressive manner and interact with the oocytes. At the same time, sperm cells undergo specific molecular rearrangements essential for the fertilizing sperm to drive a correct embryo development. To assess epigenetic sperm changes during epididymal maturation, the caput, corpus and cauda epididymis sperm tracts were isolated from eight bulls and characterized for different sperm quality parameters and for CpG DNA methylation using Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS) able to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in higher CpG density regions. RESULTS: Caput sperm showed significant variation in motility and sperm kinetics variables, whereas spermatozoa collected from the corpus presented morphology variation and significant alterations in variables related to acrosome integrity. A total of 57,583 methylated regions were identified across the eight bulls, showing a significantly diverse distribution for sperm collected in the three epididymal regions. Differential methylation was observed between caput vs corpus (n = 11,434), corpus vs cauda (n = 12,372) and caput vs cauda (n = 2790). During epididymal transit a high proportion of the epigenome was remodeled, showing several regions in which methylation decreases from caput to corpus and increases from corpus to cauda. CONCLUSIONS: Specific CpG DNA methylation changes in sperm isolated from the caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis tracts are likely to refine the sperm epigenome during sperm maturation, potentially impacting sperm fertilization ability and spatial organization of the genome during early embryo development.

Emergency transileocolic vein obliteration for life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices.

We report a case of life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, which was treated by emergency transileocolic vein obliteration (TIO). A 46-year-old male with a massive hematemesis was transported to our hospital by ambulance. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated large gastric varices. Temporary hemostasis using balloon tamponade was attempted, however, bleeding could not be controlled, and his vital signs were unstable despite massive blood transfusions. First, endoscopic treatment was attempted, but the visual field could not be secured due to massive bleeding. Therefore, emergency TIO under general anesthesia was attempted. After laparotomy, 5 Fr. sheath was inserted into the ileocolic vein. Posterior and left gastric veins, which were the blood supply routes of gastric varices, were identified and embolized using microcoils and a 50% glucose solution. Hemostasis was achieved and vital signs recovered. Three days after TIO, transjugular retrograde obliteration was attempted successfully to embolize the residual gastric varices. After the procedures, his condition improved. We conclude that emergency TIO is a useful rescue option for life-threatening bleeding from gastric varices if endoscopic treatment or balloon tamponade is ineffective.

Percutaneous transhepatic obliteration for life-threatening bleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation in a patient with severe esophagogastric varices.

We report a case of life-threatening bleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in a patient with severe esophagogastric varices that was treated by percutaneous transhepatic obliteration (PTO). 3D-CT reconstruction image demonstrated giant esophagogastric varices and gastrorenal shunt. The spleen volume was 813 mL, and the liver volume was 716 mL; giving a spleen/liver volume ratio of 1.1. A strategy of stepwise partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) was employed to control portal venous pressure based on the concept of splanchnic caput Medusae. The S/L ratio improved to 0.3 by stepwise PSE. Subsequently, EVL was performed for esophageal varices, but bleeding occurred afterward, and hemostasis using a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was attempted. Subsequently, PTO was performed the following day for embolization of the left gastric vein. Gastric varices and gastrorenal shunt were intentionally reserved to avoid portal venous pressure increase. After the procedure, his condition improved. We conclude, in patients with severe esophagogastric varices, prudent management of the splenomegaly and the collateral tracts is necessary.

Asynclitism and Its Ultrasonographic Rediscovery in Labor Room to Date: A Systematic Review.

Asynclitism, the most feared malposition of the fetal head during labor, still represents to date an unresolved field of interest, remaining one of the most common causes of prolonged or obstructed labor, dystocia, assisted delivery, and cesarean section. Traditionally asynclitism is diagnosed by vaginal examination, which is, however, burdened by a high grade of bias. On the contrary, the recent scientific evidence highly suggests the use of intrapartum ultrasonography, which would be more accurate and reliable when compared to the vaginal examination for malposition assessment. The early detection and characterization of asynclitism by intrapartum ultrasound would become a valid tool for intrapartum evaluation. In this way, it will be possible for physicians to opt for the safest way of delivery according to an accurate definition of the fetal head position and station, avoiding unnecessary operative procedures and medication while improving fetal and maternal outcomes. This review re-evaluated the literature of the last 30 years on asynclitism, focusing on the progressive imposition of ultrasound as an intrapartum diagnostic tool. All the evidence emerging from the literature is presented and evaluated from our point of view, describing the most employed technique and considering the future implication of the progressive worldwide consolidation of asynclitism and ultrasound.

[The state of the bone structures of the temporomandibular joint in dental patients with unilateral terminal defects of the dentition]. / Sostoyanie kostnykh struktur visochno-nizhnechelyustnogo sustava u patsientov s odnostoronnimi kontsevymi defektami zubnykh ryadov.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate morphological changes in the bone structures of the elements of the temporomandibular joint in patients with unilateral terminal defects of the dentition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 90 patients aged 18 to 44 years, who underwent: clinical examination of the maxillofacial region, cone-beam computed tomography with digital processing of computed tomograms in the Avantis 3D system, statistical processing of the results obtained. In the course of the study, two main samples were determined: depending on the side of the defect and on the duration of the appearance of the defect of the dentition. RESULTS: During the study of 90 computed tomograms of patients with unilateral terminal defects of the dentition and their further computer processing, the structural features of the bone elements of the temporomandibular joint were studied, the main morphometric changes of the mandibular heads were established, a comparative characteristic of morphometric parameters in the study groups was carried out. CONCLUSION: The identified structural changes in the heads of the lower jaw in patients with unilateral end defects of the dentition appear as a result of the presence of an untreated defect of the dentition for a long period of time.

Verification of thrombus formation just after endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with ligation for esophagogastric varices by venous phase of left gastric arteriography.

Management of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is important in the treatment of portal hypertension. We report a case that was treated by a hybrid procedure combining endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with ligation (EISL), left gastric artery embolization (LGE), and partial splenic artery embolization (PSE) based on a new concept ``splanchnic caput Medusae.'' The venous phase of left gastric arteriography just after EISL demonstrated thrombus formation in the gastric varices and the cardiac branch of the left gastric vein. The para-esophageal vein and lesser curvature branch of the left gastric vein were not affected. HVPG decreased from 14 to 11 mmHg immediately after LGE and PSE. 3D-CT reconstruction portal image revealed that the portal system reversed to almost normal form. This is the first case report in which thrombus formation in gastric varices and cardiac branch just after EISL could be demonstrated by the venous phase of left gastric arteriography.

Infratentorial developmental venous anomaly concurrent with a cavernoma and dural arteriovenous fistula.

OBJECTIVES: While developmental venous anomaly (DVA) may be associated with cavernous malformation, mixed vascular malformation associated with dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) has not been previously reported. We observed a case with rare association of infratentorial DVA, cavernous malformation, and dAVF that presented with cerebellar ataxia. We report our endovascular treatment for this complex cerebrovascular condition. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old woman with ataxia had an infratentorial DVA associated with a cavernoma and dAVF. The dAVF had two shunting points. The dAVF was fed by the posterior meningeal arteries and drained through the sigmoid sinus into the transverse sinus. The dAVF was also fed by the occipital artery and retrogradely drained through the left jugular bulb into the dilated collecting vein of the DVA. Endovascular embolization was performed for the dAVF and dilated collecting vein of the DVA. Postoperative complications did not occur after embolization with no recurrence for three years. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of infratentorial DVA associated with a cavernoma and dAVF. Endovascular treatment was effective in treating this symptomatic complex cerebrovascular disorder.

miR-542-3p reduces antioxidant capacity in goat caput epididymal epithelial cells by targeting glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPx5).

The mammalian epididymis provides an optimal and antioxidative fluid microenvironment for post-testicular sperm maturation by secretion of antioxidant scavengers and removal of excessive ROS. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are expressed in the epididymis and involved in the regulation of epididymis physiology and functions. However, whether miRNAs are involved in regulating the antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage in the epididymis is not well understood. This study was designed to investigate the role of miR-542-3p in the regulation of antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage in the epididymis of goats. Firstly, we determined the expression of miR-542-3p and glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPx5) in the epididymis of young and adult goats using RT-qPCR assay, and found that miR-542-3p and GPx5 exhibited inverse expression levels. Our results showed that the expression level of miR-542-3p in epididymis was upregulated (P < 0.05) in young goats compared to adult goats, whereas the expression level of GPx5 in epididymis was downregulated (P < 0.01) in young goats compared to adult goats. Next, we further investigated the roles and potential mechanisms of miR-542-3p in epididymis using goat caput epididymal epithelial cells (GCEECs) isolated from Tai-hang goats (9-month-old). Our results showed that the overexpression of miR-542-3p in GCEECs transfected with miR-542-3p mimics resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Similarly, the overexpression of miR-542-3p in GCEECs resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) glutathione (GSH) content and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC). In addition, the overexpression of miR-542-3p in GCEECs resulted in increased (P < 0.05) malonaldehyde (MDA) content. The inverse results of SOD, CAT, GSH, TAOC and MDA were observed in the down-expression of miR-542-3p in GCEECs transfected with miR-542-3p inhibitors (P < 0.05). Furthermore, GPx5 was confirmed to be a validated target of miR-542-3p in GCEECs using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, and transfection of miR-542-3p mimics decreased (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression and protein level of GPx5. In conclusion, our results indicated that miR-542-3p reduced antioxidant capacity and increased oxidative damage in GCEECs by targeting GPx5. The present study further understands the regulation of antioxidant capacity and epididymal-specific GPx5 secretion in caput epididymidis.

Correlation between femoral version and severity of hip dysplasia in patients with advanced osteoarthritis prior to total hip arthroplasty. / Correlación entre versión femoral y gravedad de displasia del desarrollo de cadera en pacientes con artrosis avanzada.

INTRODUCTION: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition which comprises a number of joint abnormalities, including modifications in femoral version and neck-shaft angle (CCD), as well as a probable progression to osteoarthritis in certain cases. The main objective of this research was to find a correlation between femoral version and severity of DDH in patients with advanced osteoarthritis prior to joint replacement, which has not been previously reported. A secondary aim was to describe the modification of CCD as the severity of DDH increases. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Patients over the age of 15 with dysplastic hips and severe osteoarthritis prior to total hip arthroplasty were assessed between March 2018 and February 2019. Cases with any previous hip surgery were excluded. Anteroposterior pelvis X rays and femoral computed tomography (CT) were performed; femoral version was measured in CT and CCD was evaluated both in X rays (2 observers: A and B) and CT (one observer: musculoskeletal radiologist). Severity of DDH was defined by observers A and B according to Crowe classification in X rays. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS v.21. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to confirm a normal data distribution. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) determined the level of agreement between observers A and B. Pearson test assessed the correlation between femoral version and Crowe classification (positive if >0.5). Student's t test evaluated the statistical significance, which was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS: One-year assessment; 42 patients (54 hips), 76% women. Mean age 52.7 years. 45 hips completed the imaging set, 9 hips were assessed only with X rays. 48%, 16%, 7% and 28% were classified as Crowe I, II, III and IV (100% interobserver agreement). Crowe classes were grouped as I, II/III and IV due to a low number of cases classified as II and III. Mean femoral version was 21.73°, 26.8° and 43.58°, respectively. ICC between observers A and B for CCD measured in X rays was 0.96. Mean CCD measured in X rays for each group (I, II/III and IV) was 148.11°, 147.7° and 147°, and in CT was 131.21°, 127.9° and 122.14°, respectively. A significant difference was found in femoral version between groups I and IV (P=0.0002) and II/III and IV (P=0.042). Pearson correlation between femoral version and severity of DDH was positive (r=0.52; P=0.0002). A significant difference between CCD measured in CT was found between groups I and IV (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in femoral version related to severity of DDH and a positive correlation between these 2features were found. Furthermore, a significant decrease in CCD between groups I and IV measured in CT was revealed. These findings would be helpful for preoperative planning of total hip replacement in osteoarthritis secondary to DDH, because once the surgeon has assessed the severity of DDH on X rays or CT, an increased femoral version could be expected. Therefore, availability of specific implants such as conic, modular or cemented stems is critical, in order to modify the femoral anteversion to normal values in the most severe cases.

An emergency hybrid procedure that combines endoscopic treatment with partial splenic embolization for bleeding esophagogastric varices.

Management of splenomegaly is important in the treatment of portal hypertension. We report 2 cases who were treated by an emergency hybrid procedure combining endoscopic treatment and partial splenic embolization (PSE) based on a new concept "splanchnic caput Medusae". Case 1 with refractory esophageal variceal bleeding due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis was treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) with ligation and PSE at the same time. Case 2 with gastric variceal bleeding due to polycystic liver disease was treated by EIS using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and PSE at the same time. Six days after the hybrid procedure, transjugular retrograde obliteration was added. In both cases, post-treatment 3D-CT reconstruction images revealed that the spleen-portal system reversed to almost normal form. We conclude that an emergency hybrid procedure combining endoscopic treatment and PSE is effective for patients with bleeding esophagogastric varices.

Identification of Circular RNAs of Testis and Caput Epididymis and Prediction of Their Potential Functional Roles in Donkeys.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs with a covalently closed loop. Studies have demonstrated that circRNA can function as microRNA (miRNA) sponges or competing endogenous RNAs. Although circRNA has been explored in some species and tissues, the genetic basis of testis development and spermatogenesis in donkeys remain unknown. We performed RNA-seq to detect circRNA expression profiles of adult donkey testes. Length distribution and other characteristics were shown a total of 1971 circRNAs were differentially expressed and 12,648 and 6261 circRNAs were detected from the testis and caput epididymis, respectively. Among these circRNAs, 1472 circRNAs were downregulated and 499 circRNAs were upregulated in the testis. Moreover, KEGG pathway analyses and Gene Ontology were performed for host genes of circRNAs. A total of 39 upregulated circRNA host genes were annotated in spermatogenesis terms, including PIWIL2, CATSPERD, CATSPERB, SPATA6, and SYCP1. Other host genes were annotated in the focal adhesion, Rap1 signaling pathway. Downregulated expressed circRNA host genes participated in the TGF-ß signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. Our discoveries provide a solid foundation for identifying and characterizing critical circRNAs involved in testis development or spermatogenesis.

Drought and Competition Mediate Mycorrhizal Colonization, Growth Rate, and Nutrient Uptake in Three Artemisia Species.

The genus Artemisia includes several keystone shrub species that dominate the North American sagebrush steppe. Their growth, survival, and establishment are negatively affected by exotic invasive grasses such as Taeniatherum caput-medusae. While the outcomes of symbiotic relationships between Artemisia spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ambiguous, the benefits of ameliorated nutrient and drought stress may be cryptic and better revealed under competition. We evaluated the effects of a commercial AMF inoculum on ameliorating biotic (competition with T. caput-medusae) and abiotic (drought) stress of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Artemisia arbuscula, and Artemisia nova when grown in sterile and microbially active field soil. Stress amelioration was measured as an increase in biomass production and nutrient acquisition. Mycorrhizal colonization of roots was lower in Artemisia plants grown in competition, while T. caput-medusae colonization was higher in plants with greater moisture. Both types of stress negatively affected plant biomass. Commercial AMF inoculation did not increase biomass. Colonization from field soil increased average phosphorous concentration under drought for A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis by 36% and A. nova by 125%. While commercial inoculum and live soil led to AMF colonization of T. caput-medusae, only the commercial inoculum increased average phosphorus uptake by 71%.

Traumatic Birth Injury in a Term Neonate.

Cephalohematoma is among the most common forms of birth trauma. It is described as a benign collection of blood above the skull and is associated with prolonged or difficult deliveries. We present the case of a term male born at 39 weeks of gestation with a large cephalohematoma and additional features of caput succedaneum. The patient's condition was successfully treated with minimal intervention and close observation. This case report is aimed at illustrating an atypical presentation of cephalohematoma and discussing the potential sequelae of extracranial birth trauma.