Thermal conditions determine lizards' response to oil contamination in a desert habitat.

A unique, hyper-arid habitat in southern Israel was polluted by crude oil in 2014. Surveys following the event found that some species of local lizards avoid the oil, while other species were found more frequently in polluted plots. These results raised the question: why do species react differently to oil-polluted soil? We evaluated how soil type, thermal conditions, and food availability interacted to shape habitat preferences of three lizard species. Generally, thermal conditions determined habitat selection and preferences for contaminated or clean soils, while the effects of food availability were weak. The diurnal Acanthodactylus opheodurus avoided artificial heating sources, perhaps to avoid hot soil during warm hours. Both nocturnal Stenodactylus species showed a preference for higher temperature treatments. While crude oil is considered harmful, ectotherms may not recognize it as a danger and may be attracted to it due to its thermal properties, which may create an ecological trap.

The Association between Vitamin D and Anti-Müllerian Hormone: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Accumulating evidence from animal and human studies indicates a role for vitamin D in female reproductive physiology, and numerous clinical studies have suggested its potential benefit for various aspects of human reproduction. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is an ovarian biomarker that plays an important role in folliculogenesis. It is the most sensitive ovarian reserve marker and is widely used clinically in reproductive medicine. While initial studies have suggested that vitamin D may be associated with ovarian reserve markers, including AMH, evidence has been conflicting. Currently, there is considerable debate in the field whether vitamin D has the capacity to influence ovarian reserve, as indicated by the AMH level. The current systematic review aims to evaluate and summarize the available evidence regarding the relationship between vitamin D and AMH. In total, 18 observational studies and 6 interventional studies were included in this systematic review. Cross-sectional studies have reported largely discrepant findings regarding an association between serum vitamin D and AMH levels, which are likely due to the heterogeneity in study populations, as well as the apparently complex relationship that may exist between vitamin D and AMH. However, meta-analysis of interventional studies performed herein that examined the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum AMH levels indicates a cause-effect relationship between vitamin D and AMH, the direction of which appears to depend on a woman's ovulatory status. Serum AMH was significantly decreased following vitamin D supplementation in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.53, 95% CI -0.91 to -0.15, p < 0.007), while it was significantly increased following vitamin D supplementation in ovulatory women without PCOS (SMD 0.49, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.80, p = 0.003). In conclusion, the results of this systematic review demonstrate that the relationship between vitamin D and AMH is a complex one, and large, randomized trials of vitamin D supplementation focusing on different vitamin D status ranges are necessary to gain more insight into the nature of this relationship and the potential benefit of vitamin D to female reproduction in general.

High serum Antimullerian hormone levels are associated with lower live birth rates in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing assisted reproductive technology.

INTRODUCTION: Antimullerian hormone (AMH) strongly correlates with ovarian reserve and response to controlled ovarian stimulation. Emerging data suggests that serum AMH level may also predict ART outcomes. However, AMH is characteristically elevated in PCOS women and it is unknown whether it may predict live birth outcomes in this population. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 184 PCOS women (Rotterdam criteria) who underwent their first fresh IVF/ICSI cycle. Women were divided into 3 groups according to the <25th (low), 25 to 75th (average), or > 75th (high) percentile of serum AMH concentration. Cycle stimulation parameters and reproductive outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Women in the low serum AMH group were older than those in the average or high AMH (p < 0.05), and required greater gonadotropin dose for stimulation compared to the high AMH group (p < 0.05). Women with high AMH had greater testosterone level compared to women in the low or average AMH groups. No differences were noted between groups in terms of maximal E2, oocytes retrieved and fertilization rate. However, low serum AMH women had significantly greater live birth rates (p < 0.05) and showed a trend towards greater clinical pregnancy rates compared to women in the average and high AMH groups (p = 0.09). The significant association of AMH with live birth rate remained after adjusting for age, BMI, day of transfer and number of embryos transferred. CONCLUSIONS: In PCOS women, elevated AMH concentrations are associated with hyperandrogenism and lower live birth rates.

Optimized small-molecule pull-downs define MLBP1 as an acyl-lipid-binding protein.

Abscisic acid (ABA) receptors belong to the START domain superfamily, which encompasses ligand-binding proteins present in all kingdoms of life. START domain proteins contain a central binding pocket that, depending on the protein, can couple ligand binding to catalytic, transport or signaling functions. In Arabidopsis, the best characterized START domain proteins are the 14 PYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptors, while the other members of the superfamily do not have assigned ligands. To address this, we used affinity purification of biotinylated proteins expressed transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana coupled to untargeted LC-MS to identify candidate binding ligands. We optimized this method using ABA-PYL interactions and show that ABA co-purifies with wild-type PYL5 but not a binding site mutant. The Kd of PYL5 for ABA is 1.1 µm, which suggests that the method has sufficient sensitivity for many ligand-protein interactions. Using this method, we surveyed a set of 37 START domain-related proteins, which resulted in the identification of ligands that co-purified with MLBP1 (At4G01883) or MLP165 (At1G35260). Metabolite identification and the use of authentic standards revealed that MLBP1 binds to monolinolenin, which we confirmed using recombinant MLBP1. Monolinolenin also co-purified with MLBP1 purified from transgenic Arabidopsis, demonstrating that the interaction occurs in a native context. Thus, deployment of this relatively simple method allowed us to define a protein-metabolite interaction and better understand protein-ligand interactions in plants.

Vitamin D Supplementation Decreases TGF-ß1 Bioavailability in PCOS: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

CONTEXT: There is an abnormal increase in TGF-ß1 bioavailability in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which might play a role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Vitamin D (VD) supplementation improves various clinical manifestations of PCOS and decreases TGF-ß1 levels in several diseases including myelofibrosis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of VD supplementation on TGF-ß1 bioavailability in VD-deficient women with PCOS and assess whether changes in TGF-ß1/soluble endoglin (sENG) levels correlate with an improvement in PCOS clinical manifestations. DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: The study was conducted at an academic-affiliated medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight VD-deficient women with PCOS who were not pregnant or taking any exogenous hormones were recruited between October 2013 and January 2015. INTERVENTIONS: Forty-five women received 50 000 IU of oral vitamin D3 and 23 women received oral placebo once weekly for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Serum TGF-ß1, sENG, lipid profile, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and insulin resistance were measured. The clinical parameters were evaluated before and 2 months after treatment. RESULTS: The VD level significantly increased and normalized after VD supplementation (16.3 ± 0.9 [SEM] to 43.2 ± 2.4 ng/mL; P < .01), whereas it did not significantly change after placebo. After the VD supplementation, there was a significant decrease in the following: the interval between menstrual periods (80 ± 9 to 60 ± 6 d; P = .04), Ferriman-Gallwey score (9.8 ± 1.5 to 8.1 ± 1.5; P < .01), triglycerides (138 ± 22 to 117 ± 20 mg/dL; P = .03), and TGF-ß1 to sENG ratio (6.7 ± 0.4 to 5.9 ± 0.4; P = .04). In addition, the ΔTGF-ß1 to sENG ratio was positively correlated with Δtriglycerides (r = 0.59; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: VD supplementation in VD-deficient women with PCOS significantly decreases the bioavailability of TGF-ß1, which correlates with an improvement in some abnormal clinical parameters associated with PCOS. This is a novel mechanism that could explain the beneficial effects of VD supplementation in women with PCOS. These findings may support new treatment modalities for PCOS, such as the development of anti-TGF-ß drugs.

'Trifecta' after radical prostatectomy: is there a standard definition?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of variability in the definitions of the 'trifecta' after radical prostatectomy (undetectable PSA, urinary continence and potency) to be found in the literature. To establish a consensus definition of the trifecta in an effort to standardize criteria and reporting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of published articles found in the PubMed database for the period from January 2003 to March 2012 was performed. The search queries included the keywords 'radical prostatectomy,' 'prostatectomy outcome,' and 'trifecta'. RESULTS: A total of 86 publications were identified of which 14 were used for analysis. Eight different definitions of biochemical recurrence were reported, the most common definition being PSA ≥0.2 ng/mL. The definition of potency was the most variable. Ten different definitions of potency were found, with the most common being 'having erections sufficient for intercourse with or without a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor'. Nine different definitions of continence were found. The most common definition of continence was 'wearing no pads'. Only six of the 14 articles used validated questionnaires in their outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The definitions of trifecta reported in the literature are highly variable. We propose the following consensus definition based on our analysis: (1) PSA >0.2 ng/mL with confirmatory value; (2) attainment of erections sufficient for intercourse with or without oral pharmacological agents; (3) wearing zero pads. This consensus definition should be considered when designing studies and reporting outcomes of radical prostatectomy.

Findings of routine apical margin biopsy during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Intraoperative biopsy of the apical margin during radical prostatectomy has been recommended as a way to reduce the positive margin rate at this location. However, the enhanced visibility of the apex during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) may obviate this need, allowing for the preservation of maximal urethral length. We assessed pathologic findings of routine apical margin biopsy intraoperative frozen section (IFS) during RARP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Columbia University Robotic Database was retrospectively reviewed to identify men who underwent RARP with biopsy of the apical soft tissue (urethroprostatic junction). Both IFS and permanent section samples were analyzed. The clinical characteristics associated with IFS and permanent section histological findings were assessed. RESULTS: In total, 335 men underwent RARP with apical biopsy from December 2007 to August 2011. Of these, 329 had IFS available for analysis. Median age and prostate-specific antigen level were 60 years (range, 42-78 years) and 5.2 ng/mL (interquartile range, 4.1-6.9 ng/mL), respectively. Of the 329 apical IFS cases, cancer was detected in 9 patients (2.7%), benign prostatic glands in 135 (41%), and nonprostatic tissue in 185 (56.3%). On permanent section, cancer was seen in 9 patients (2.7%), benign prostatic glands in 125 (38%), and nonprostatic tissue in 195 (59.3%). False-positive and false-negative rates of detecting cancer on IFS were 33% (3/9) and 1% (3/320), respectively. The overall positive surgical margin rate was 11%. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer is rarely detected by IFS analysis of routine biopsy of the apical margin during RARP. Although routine IFS may not be beneficial for all patients, selective utilization of IFS may be useful in directing apical dissection in men with apical tumors, allowing for the preservation of maximal urethral length.

Pilot study evaluation of standard laparoscopic suturing and a novel parenchymal apposition mechanism for minimally invasive renal reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The most technically demanding portion of a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is the renorrhaphy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a parenchymal apposition mechanism (PAM) device would be as effective as standard laparoscopic technique (SLT) with respect to efficiency, capability, and safety of renal defect closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this pilot study, participants were recruited to perform surgical reconstruction of a standardized renal parenchymal defect with both SLT and the PAM. The PAM prototype was engineered using two salmon egg hooks connected by absorbable suture and placed within a V-shaped foam delivery mechanism. After hook placement, tensioning of the connecting suture using a Weck clip apposed the defect edges. Each participant performed a single closure with SLT and with the PAM device of a standardized defect in ex vivo porcine kidneys. Closure time, tissue trauma/damage during closure, and the intraparenchymal pressure were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 13 subjects, 7 medical students, 3 residents, 2 fellows, and 1 attending were enrolled. There was no statistical difference between the two methods of closure in average time for closure. In a subgroup analysis of subjects who had performed laparoscopic reconstructive procedures as the primary surgeon, SLT was significantly faster than PAM (P=.036). Mean pressures achieved in attempted closure using SLT and PAM were not significantly different (0.38 N for both groups; P=.99). The mean parenchymal trauma rating was not significantly different between the groups; however, the upper limit of the range of trauma ratings was greater in the standard closures. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of PAM use in an ex vivo porcine kidney model. Additional testing and continued design modifications are necessary to explore its use in laparoscopic reconstruction of the kidney and other organs.