Effect of supplementation of cryoprotectant solution with hydroxypropyl cellulose for vitrification of bovine oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Successful cryopreservation of bovine oocytes is very important for research and commercial applications. However, the survival and development rate of vitrified-thawed (VT) oocytes are lower than those of non-vitrified-thawed (non-VT) oocytes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of adding hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) to the vitrification solution for bovine oocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For vitrification, bovine metaphase II oocytes were pretreated with a solution containing 10% ethylene glycol supplemented with 0, 10, 50, or 100 ug/mL HPC for 5 min, exposed to a solution containing 30% ethylene glycol supplemented with 0, 10, 50, or 100 ug/mL HPC for 30 s, and then directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. RESULTS: The survival rate of oocytes was significantly higher in the 50 HPC group than in the 0, 10, and 100 HPC groups. The reactive oxygen species level was lower in the non-VT and 50 HPC groups than in the other groups. The mRNA levels of proapoptotic genes (Bax) were lower in the non-VT, 0, and 50 HPC groups than in the other groups. The mRNA levels of antiapoptotic genes (BCl2) were higher in the non-VT than in the other groups. The development rates of embryos (day 8) obtained via parthenogenetic activation (PA) were determined in the non-VT, 0 HPC, and 50 HPC groups. The cleavage rate was significantly higher in the non-VT group. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of vitrification solution with HPC improves the survival of VT bovine oocytes and the development capacity of embryos derived from these oocytes via PA. doi.org/10.54680/fr23110110212.

Stability, continence and breathing: the role of fascia following pregnancy and delivery.

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PRPGP) has a prevalence of approximately 45% during pregnancy and 20-25% in the early postpartum period. Most women become pain free in the first 12 weeks after delivery, however, 5-7% do not. In a large postpartum study of prevalence for urinary incontinence (UI) [Wilson, P.D., Herbison, P., Glazener, C., McGee, M., MacArthur, C., 2002. Obstetric practice and urinary incontinence 5-7 years after delivery. ICS Proceedings of the Neurourology and Urodynamics, vol. 21(4), pp. 284-300] found that 45% of women experienced UI at 7 years postpartum and that 27% who were initially incontinent in the early postpartum period regained continence, while 31% who were continent became incontinent. It is apparent that for some women, something happens during pregnancy and delivery that impacts the function of the abdominal canister either immediately, or over time. Current evidence suggests that the muscles and fascia of the lumbopelvic region play a significant role in musculoskeletal function as well as continence and respiration. The combined prevalence of lumbopelvic pain, incontinence and breathing disorders is slowly being understood. It is also clear that synergistic function of all trunk muscles is required for loads to be transferred effectively through the lumbopelvic region during multiple tasks of varying load, predictability and perceived threat. Optimal strategies for transferring loads will balance control of movement while maintaining optimal joint axes, maintain sufficient intra-abdominal pressure without compromising the organs (preserve continence, prevent prolapse or herniation) and support efficient respiration. Non-optimal strategies for posture, movement and/or breathing create failed load transfer which can lead to pain, incontinence and/or breathing disorders. Individual or combined impairments in multiple systems including the articular, neural, myofascial and/or visceral can lead to non-optimal strategies during single or multiple tasks. Biomechanical aspects of the myofascial piece of the clinical puzzle as it pertains to the abdominal canister during pregnancy and delivery, in particular trauma to the linea alba and endopelvic fascia and/or the consequence of postpartum non-optimal strategies for load transfer, is the focus of the first two parts of this paper. A possible physiological explanation for fascial changes secondary to altered breathing behaviour during pregnancy is presented in the third part. A case study will be presented at the end of this paper to illustrate the clinical reasoning necessary to discern whether conservative treatment or surgery is necessary for restoration of function of the abdominal canister in a woman with postpartum diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA).

Effect of Jindangwon on streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The inhibitory effects of the traditional herbal medicine Jindangwon (JDW) on streptozotocin (ST)-induced diabetic mellitus were studied using the ST-treated diabetic model. Glucokinase activity of pancreatic islets was severely impaired by ST treatment. However, when ST-treated islets were treated with 1 mg/ml of JDW, the enzyme activities of glucokinase and hexokinase were protected, glucose-6-phosphatase was not. When the effects of JDW on ST-induced ATP/ADP ratio of islets were assayed, JDW was effective in restoring of ATP/ADP ratio. In addition, ST decreased the enzyme activities of PDH, while JDW had a protective effect on the enzyme. ST-induced cGMP accumulation was significantly inhibited by JDW treatment. Furthermore, ST-induced nitrite formation was significantly inhibited by JDW treatment. JDW also showed the suppressed nitrite production in ST-treated pancreatic islet cells. When the islets (200/condition) were treated with ST (5 mM for 30 min), and then JDW was added to the ST-treated cells, 1.0 mg/ml of JDW showed the activated and recovered aconitase activity in pancreatic islet cells. When the effect of ST on the gene expression of pancreatic GLUT2 and glucokinase were examined, the level of GLUT2 and glucokinase mRNA in pancreatic islets was significantly decreased. However, JDW protected and improved the expression of protein and genes, indicating that JDW is effective on ST-induced inhibition of gene expression of GLUT2, glucokinase and proinsulin in islets. These results suggested that JDW is effective in this model to treat ST-induced diabetes.