How much have we learned from time-lapse in clinical IVF?

Can the time-lapse system (TLS) identify the best embryo for transfer? Although there are several studies that support this hypothesis, more research is required to improve the quality of the current evidence and also to assess live birth rate, miscarriage, stillbirth or clinical pregnancy in order to choose between a TLS or conventional incubation. In addition, although some authors report on effectiveness and safety in the use of TLS monitoring of embryo development in vitro, other authors that have not found relevant differences between the two systems for the culture and subsequence embryo selection. On the other hand, TLS has emerged as a novel technology and has been introduced into clinical practice in many laboratories to perform embryo morphology evaluation and study developmental kinetics in ART. However, most studies only assess blastocyst formation or implantation rate as the primary end-point and additional data are required, for example, about live birth, monozygotic twinning rates and health problems. Furthermore, the features of populations studies are varied; for example, female and male age, seminal characteristics and female factor. The embryo culture conditions and culture medium used also vary. For this review, a search of PubMed was conducted to retrieve relevant studies regarding use of TLS in embryo incubation and selection, and compare them with standard embryo culture and evaluation.

CuH-ZSM-5 as hydrocarbon trap under cold start conditions.

Cold start tests are carried out to evaluate the performance of copper-exchanged zeolites as hydrocarbon traps under simulated gasoline car exhaust gases, paying special attention to the role of copper in the performance of these zeolites. It is concluded that the partial substitution of the protons in the parent H-ZSM-5 zeolite is highly beneficial for hydrocarbon trapping due to the formation of selective adsorption sites with specific affinity for the different exhaust components. However, it is also observed that uncontrolled exchanging process conditions could lead to the presence of CuO nanoparticles in the zeolite surface, which seem to block the pore structure of the zeolite, decreasing the hydrocarbon trap efficiency. Among all the zeolites studied, the results point out that a CuH-ZSM-5 with a partial substitution of extra-framework protons by copper cations and without any detectable surface CuO nanoparticles is the zeolite that showed the best performance under simulated cold start conditions due to both the high stability and the hydrocarbon retaining capacity of this sample during the consecutive cycles.

Long-life vibration-free 4.5 K sorption cooler for space applications.

A breadboard 4.5 K helium sorption cooler for use in vibration-sensitive space missions was developed and successfully tested. This type of cooler has no moving parts and is, therefore, essentially vibration-free. The absence of moving parts also simplifies scaling down of the cooler to small sizes, and it contributes to achieving a very long lifetime. In addition, the cooler operates with limited dc's so that hardly any electromagnetic interference is generated. This cooler is a favorite option for future missions such as ESA's Darwin mission, a space interferometer in which the sensitive optics and detectors can hardly accept any vibration. The system design consists of a hydrogen stage cooling from 80 to 14.5 K and a helium stage establishing 5 mW at 4.5 K. Both stages use microporous activated carbon as the adsorption material. The two cooler stages need about 3.5 W of total input power and are heat sunk at two passive radiators at temperatures of about 50 and 80 K-radiators which are constructed at the cold side of the spacecraft. We developed, built, and tested a demonstrator of the helium cooler. This demonstrator has four sorption compressor cells in two compressor stages. Test experiments on this cooler showed that it performs within all specifications imposed by ESA. The cooler delivered 4.5 mW at 4.5 K with a long-term temperature stability of 1 mK and an input power of 1.96 W. So far, the cooler has operated continuously for a period of 2.5 months and has not shown any sign of performance degradation.

Comparative characterization study of microporous carbons by HRTEM image analysis and gas adsorption.

The present work presents a useful comparison of micropore size distributions (MPSDs) obtained from gas adsorption and image analysis of high-resolution transmission electron micrographs. It is shown that the MPSD obtained for a chemical activated carbon is concordant with that obtained from CO2 adsorption. In addition, this technique has allowed us to obtain the MPSD of a carbon molecular sieve (CMS) prepared in our laboratory by a copyrolysis process, which could only be characterized by CO2 adsorption at 273 K (not by N2 adsorption at 77 K due to diffusional problems). The MPSD obtained by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) for the CMS is wider than that obtained by CO2 adsorption, suggesting that HRTEM is detecting the closed porosity existing in this sample, which is not accessible to gas adsorption. The existence of closed porosity in the CMS is explained considering the preparation method used. Thus, HRTEM combined with image analysis seems to be useful for structural analysis of narrow micropores including closed porosity.

Laboratory vector competence of Culex (Melanoconion) cedecei for sympatric and allopatric Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis viruses.

Laboratory vector competence of Culex (Melanoconion) cedecei was examined for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) viruses. Colonized adult female mosquitoes originating from a southern Florida population were given bloodmeals from viremic hamsters circulating various titers of 3 hemagglutination inhibition (HI) subtypes of VEE viruses. Following extrinsic incubation of about 3 weeks, mosquitoes were allowed to refeed on uninfected hamsters for transmission trials. Cx. cedecei was highly efficient in becoming infected with and transmitting its sympatric, HI subtype II "Everglades" virus. With bloodmeal titers of 10(0.9) chick embryo cell culture (CEC) plaque forming units (PFU), the infection rate was 9% and transmission occurred following extrinsic incubation. Infection rates were greater than or equal to 80% with oral doses of greater than or equal to 10(1.8), and all infected mosquitoes were capable of transmission following incubation. Cx. cedecei was also highly sensitive to infection with allopatric HI subtype IE Middle American VEE virus isolates. Infection rates were greater than or equal to 50% with bloodmeal titers undetectable by CEC assay. Rates were 100% with oral doses of greater than or equal to 10(0.8) CECPFU. Transmission rates were 100% in all experiments. Similar results were obtained with HI subtype IAB "epizootic" VEE virus isolates from the 1969 Middle American outbreak. Infection rates were 100% with oral doses of greater than or equal to 10(1.2), and transmission rates were 100% after extrinsic incubation. Comparisons with laboratory vector competence of the Middle American enzootic VEE virus vector, Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus, are discussed.

Barriers to dissemination of Venezuelan encephalitis viruses in the Middle American enzootic vector mosquito, Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus.

Barriers to dissemination of Middle American epizootic hemagglutination inhibition subtype I-AB, and enzootic, subtype IE, Venezuelan encephalitis (VE) viruses were examined in a colony of the enzootic vector mosquito, Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus. This species is highly susceptible to oral infection with enzootic, but not epizootic, virus strains. Adult female mosquitoes were intrathoracically inoculated with epizootic virus suspensions to ascertain whether a mesenteron infection barrier exists to these subtype I-AB strains. All inoculated mosquitoes became infected, including those receiving only 10 chick embryo cell culture plaque-forming units (CEC pfu). This confirmed that a mesenteron infection barrier exists to epizootic, but not enzootic Middle American VE strains. Mosquitoes were also given high titer hamster bloodmeals of epizootic viruses and dissected at 2-day intervals to determine the location of virus in the few infected individuals. With mean bloodmeal titers of up to 10(5.3) CEC pfu, only 20% or less of the mosquitoes became infected, and virus replication was confined to the mesenteron. This indicated that a mesenteron escape barrier to epizootic VE viruses exists in this mosquito. Mosquitoes were also given large and small oral doses of enzootic virus strains to compare viral replication patterns. With high titer bloodmeals, virus disseminated from the mesenteron within 4 days of infection, and titers in mosquitoes peaked 7-9 days after infection. All mosquitoes that ingested large doses became infected. Mosquitoes receiving small oral doses of enzootic viruses showed a different pattern of virus replication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilation in an infant with central hypoventilation syndrome.

A 4-month-old baby girl, after a period of apparent good health, began to have aphonia, dyspnea, difficulties with swallowing, cyanosis, apnea, and hypopnea during sleep that resulted in admission to an intensive care unit for intubation and mechanical ventilation. At the age of 9 months she was admitted to our hospital with a possible diagnosis of central hypoventilation syndrome. A polysomnographic study showed apnea and hypopnea (apnea + hypopnea index = 47.1), hypercapnia (mean end-tidal PCO2 89 +/- 15.0 mmHg), and arterial desaturation (mean SaO2 91 +/- 1.7%; lowest SaO2 < 50%; 68% of total sleep time at SaO2 below 93%); the study also showed an absent ventilatory response to CO2, absent cardiac responses to apnea during sleep, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Nocturnal nasal bi-level positive airway pressure (BIPAP), applied initially at 6 cmH2O and gradually increased to 16 cmH2O, caused the sleep-related abnormal respiratory events to disappear. End-tidal PCO2 decreased to 39 mmHg, and SaO2 increased to 94%. After 6 months of nocturnal BiPAP ventricular right hypertrophy reversed and arrested growth and hypotonia normalized. The child has tolerated and has remained on BiPAP support up to her current age of 3 years and continues to use this form of ventilatory assistance without difficulties.

Prophylactic treatment of childhood asthma.

The prophylaxis of childhood asthma is discussed under the headings of prevention by the pregnant mother in avoiding hypersensitizing foods and the adherence to breast feeding, immunotherapy of the child and chemoprophylaxis by sodium cromoglycate or ketotifen fumarate. The results of a multicentre study of the latter drug are described. Ketotifen caused a reduction of symptoms and acute asthmatic episodes, and has the advantage of a twice daily oral dosage.

Duration of oral procaterol protection from methacholine-induced bronchial obstruction.

The duration of action of procaterol, a beta-2-adrenoceptor agonist with an entirely new chemical structure, was assessed, in comparison to that of salbutamol, by inhalation of 43 inhalation units of methacholine at time intervals of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 hours after intake of the drugs. Procaterol and salbutamol were given in a double-blind random fashion, on different days, to 12 asthmatic children; pulmonary function tests (FVC, FEV1, MEF50, MEF25), skeletal muscle tremor, and vital signs (heart rate and blood pressure) were measured. Although there was no statistical significant difference between procaterol and salbutamol, protection of large and medium airways lasted for about five hours, while normal small airway patency was still present at seven hours. It is concluded that procaterol can be a good alternative beta-2-adrenoceptor agonist when the oral route is needed.

[Current problems of tuberculosis during the developmental age]. / Problemi attuali della tubercolosi nell'età evolutiva.

Surely the tuberculosis manifestation now prevailing in pediatric subjects is minimal disease, according to several papers. Also in this field, tuberculin test is very important, mostly when we can observe its positive change, in spite of BCG vaccinated subjects. Then Author examines the so-called "latent" tuberculosis, in which only a lateral projection radiograph or a tomography can show radiological pictures of hilar adenopathy or of minimal parenchymal involvement in lower pulmonary fields. Author considers the dosages of antitubercular drugs in children and at last he invites all sanitary operators to carefully survey the subjects working in nurseries.

Serum group I pepsinogens level in cystic fibrosis.

Fasting serum pepsinogen 1 level was determined by radioimmunoassay in 30 patients with cystic fibrosis and in on equal number of age-matched healthy children. Serum pepsinogen 1 basal levels were significantly higher (49 +/- 18 ng/ml; p less than 0.01) in cystic fibrosis patients than in controls (38 +/- 12 ng/ml). The increased pepsinogen 1 level did not correlate with the levels of Po2 and Pco2 tensions, fat balance or basal and maximum acid outputs. It is concluded that the mechanisms which lead to a rise of serum pepsinogen 1 in cystic fibrosis are unknown. However these findings could provide useful information with regard to the biology of a disease whose physiopathology is still unknown.

[New findings in the field of pediatric tuberculosis]. / Novità in campo di tubercolosi infantile.

The Authors explain the news about pediatric tuberculosis; they underline the problems related to microepidemics, to immigration and AIDS increase, and to atypical mycobacteria infections. They also indicate the new diagnostic possibilities in Tb.

[Respiratory physio-kinesitherapy in cystic fibrosis: the parents' viewpoint]. / La fisiochinesiterapia respiratoria nella fibrosi cistica vista dai genitori.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the problems found in performing chest physiotherapy (PKT) by patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and by their families. The research has been based upon processing 389 questionnaires (46 items) that were compiled by the families. Thirteen CF centers all over the nation have participated in this study. Patients' mean age was 7.4 years (range 2 months to 14 years). Data about the socio-economic status and illness severity were available for every patient. Many graphs (line connects points with a line = n. 8; bar charts = n. 17; pie charts = n. 13) show the results and their statistical processing. Our purpose was to solve the following problems: 1) What is the extent of the compliance? 2) Who perform, or should perform, PKT in the family environment? 3) What is the kind and extent of the help request? 4) What are the mistakes made in executing PKT? 5) What is the usefulness of precursors and aerosol therapy? 6) What is the link between physical activity and PKT? 7) What are the main difficulties in performing PKT? 8) How effective is PKT? 9) What is the extent of the parents' faith in their capabilities? 10) Are there any prejudices against PKT? Three major findings emerge from this study: 1) the compliance appeared good; 2) the average family understood the meaning of PKT correctly and 3) PKT is usually executed properly. As for negative results are concerned, it is to be noted that the burden of performing PKT is usually up to the mother. This finding is linked both to the socio-economics status of the family and to the severity of the illness. On the other hand, a home PKT service is only asked in very extreme situations such as sudden worsening of the patient's illness. The difficulties met in performing PKT range from the patient's refusal to logistical and organization problems, which are correlated with the socio-economic status of the family. The relationship between PKT and sport is understood well and there is a high percentage of patients doing regular physical activity, even if it is often hindered by the severity of the disease. In conclusion, although there are many problems, there are also many methods to use in order to improve the acceptance and the effectiveness of the PKT.

Optimizing the performance of catalytic traps for hydrocarbon abatement during the cold-start of a gasoline engine.

A key target to reduce current hydrocarbon emissions from vehicular exhaust is to improve their abatement under cold-start conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the potential of factorial analysis to design a highly efficient catalytic trap. The impact of the synthesis conditions on the preparation of copper-loaded ZSM-5 is clearly revealed by XRD, N2 sorption, FTIR, NH3-TPD, SEM and TEM. A high concentration of copper nitrate precursor in the synthesis improves the removal of hydrocarbons, providing both strong adsorption sites for hydrocarbon retention at low temperature and copper oxide nanoparticles for full hydrocarbon catalytic combustion at high temperature. The use of copper acetate precursor leads to a more homogeneous dispersion of copper oxide nanoparticles also providing enough catalytic sites for the total oxidation of hydrocarbons released from the adsorption sites, although lower copper loadings are achieved. Thus, synthesis conditions leading to high copper loadings jointly with highly dispersed copper oxide nanoparticles would result in an exceptional catalytic trap able to reach superior hydrocarbon abatement under highly demanding operational conditions.

Molecular simulation design of a multisite solid for the abatement of cold start emissions.

A highly effective hydrocarbon (HC) trap for the abatement of cold start HC emissions with specific adsorption sites for the different molecules present in the exhaust gases has been designed by means of molecular simulation tools, and later synthesized.