The severity of meiotic aneuploidy is associated with altered morphokinetic variables of mouse oocyte maturation.

STUDY QUESTION: Is there an association between morphokinetic variables of meiotic maturation and the severity of aneuploidy following in vitro maturation (IVM) in the mouse? SUMMARY ANSWER: The severity of meiotic aneuploidy correlates with an extended time to first polar body extrusion (tPB1) and duration of meiosis I (dMI). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Morphokinetic variables measured using time-lapse technology allow for the non-invasive evaluation of preimplantation embryo development within clinical assisted reproductive technology (ART). We recently applied this technology to monitor meiotic progression during IVM of mouse gametes. Whether there is a relationship between morphokinetic variables of meiotic progression and aneuploidy in the resulting egg has not been systematically examined at the resolution of specific chromosomes. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a robust clinical tool for determining aneuploidy status and has been reverse-translated in mouse blastocysts and oocytes. Therefore, we harnessed the technologies of time-lapse imaging and NGS to determine the relationship between the morphokinetics of meiotic progression and egg aneuploidy. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from large antral follicles from hyperstimulated CD-1 mice. Cumulus cells were removed, and spontaneous IVM was performed in the absence or presence of two doses of Nocodazole (25 or 50 nM) to induce a spectrum of spindle abnormalities and chromosome segregation errors during oocyte meiosis. Comprehensive chromosome screening was then performed in the resulting eggs, and morphokinetic variables and ploidy status were compared across experimental groups (control, n = 11; 25 nM Nocodazole, n = 13; 50 nM Nocodazole, n = 23). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: We monitored IVM in mouse oocytes using time-lapse microscopy for 16 h, and time to germinal vesicle breakdown (tGVBD), tPB1, and dMI were analyzed. Following IVM, comprehensive chromosome screening was performed on the eggs and their matched first polar bodies via adaptation of an NGS-based preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) assay. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to align reads to the mouse genome and determine copy number-based predictions of aneuploidy. The concordance of each polar body-egg pair (reciprocal errors) was used to validate the results. Ploidy status was categorized as euploid, 1-3 chromosomal segregation errors, or ≥4 chromosomal segregation errors. Additionally, aneuploidy due to premature separation of sister chromatids (PSSC) versus non-disjunction (NDJ) was distinguished. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: We applied and validated state-of-the-art NGS technology to screen aneuploidy in individual mouse eggs and matched polar bodies at the chromosome-specific level. By performing IVM in the presence of different doses of Nocodazole, we induced a range of aneuploidy. No aneuploidy was observed in the absence of Nocodazole (0/11), whereas IVM in the presence of 25 and 50 nM Nocodazole resulted in an aneuploidy incidence of 7.69% (1/13) and 82.61% (19/23), respectively. Of the aneuploid eggs, 5% (1/20) was due to PSSC, 65% (13/20) to NDJ, and the remainder to a combination of both. There was no relationship between ploidy status and tGVBD, but tPB1 and the dMI were both significantly prolonged in eggs with reciprocal aneuploidy events compared to the euploid eggs, and this scaled with the severity of aneuploidy. Eggs with ≥4 aneuploid chromosomes had the longest tPB1 and dMI (P < 0.0001), whereas eggs with one to three aneuploid chromosomes exhibited intermediate lengths of time (P < 0.0001). LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: We used Nocodazole in this study to disrupt the meiotic spindle and induce aneuploidy in mouse oocytes. Whether the association between morphokinetic variables of meiotic progression and the severity of aneuploidy occurs with other compounds that induce chromosome segregation errors remain to be investigated. In addition, unlike mouse oocytes, human IVM requires the presence of cumulus cells, which precludes visualization of morphokinetic variables of meiotic progression. Thus, our study may have limited direct clinical translatability. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: We validated NGS in mouse eggs to detect aneuploidy at a chromosome-specific resolution which greatly improves the utility of the mouse model. With a tractable and validated model system for characterizing meiotic aneuploidy, investigations into the molecular mechanisms and factors which may influence aneuploidy can be further elaborated. Time-lapse analyses of morphokinetic variables of meiotic progression may be a useful non-invasive predictor of aneuploidy severity. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-003385). Under the grant conditions of the Foundation, a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic License has already been assigned to the Author Accepted Manuscript version that might arise from this submission. The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Use of platelet-rich plasma on in vitro maturation during bovine embryo production.

One of the crucial aspects to be considered for successful in vitro production (IVP) of embryos is the composition of the various media used throughout the stages of this reproductive biotechnology. The cell culture media employed should fulfill the metabolic requirements of both gametes during oocyte maturation and sperm development, as well as the embryo during its initial cell divisions. Most IVP protocols incorporate blood serum into the media composition as a source of hormones, proteins, growth factors, and nutrients. Numerous studies have suggested Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) as a substitute for fetal sera in cell culture, particularly for stem cells. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the potential use of PRP as a replacement for fetal bovine serum (FBS) during oocyte maturation for in vitro production of bovine embryos. During in vitro maturation (IVM), cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were allocated into the following experimental groups: Group G1 (IVM medium with 5% PRP); Group G2 (MIV medium with 5% PRP and 5% SFB); Group G3 (MIV medium with 5% SFB); and Group G4 (MIV medium without either PRP or SFB). Subsequently, the cumulus-oocyte complexes were fertilized with semen from a single bull, and the resulting zygotes were cultured for seven days. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates were assessed on days 2 and 7 of embryonic development, respectively. The quality of matured COCs was also evaluated by analyzing the gene expression of HSP70, an important protein associated with cellular stress. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences among the experimental groups in terms of embryo production rates, both in the initial cleavage stages and blastocyst formation (except for the G4 group, which exhibited a lower blastocyst formation rate on D7, as expected). This indicates that PRP could be a cost-effective alternative to SFB in the IVP of embryos.

Necrotizing Fasciitis Associated With Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressing bacterial infection that affects the deep fascia and subcutaneous tissues, often resulting in tissue necrosis and systemic toxicity. This case involves a male in his late forties who initially sought emergency care for a minor rash on his right lower extremity and symptoms of a viral illness. Despite an initial diagnosis of hematoma, his symptoms rapidly escalated within 24 hours, prompting his return to the emergency room. During this subsequent visit, signs of septic shock emerged, accompanied by a worsening rash and blister formation. Admitted to the intensive care unit, our patient received urgent treatment, including broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical debridement based on the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score for assessing necrotizing fasciitis severity. Further debridement and a fasciotomy were performed, leading to improved clinical conditions, stabilized vitals, and normalized laboratory results. This case underscores the critical importance of early clinical suspicion, prompt diagnosis, and a collaborative, team-based approach in successfully managing necrotizing fasciitis.

The Use of Methylene Blue in Conjunction With Hydroxocobalamin and Multiple Pressors to Treat Severe Vasoplegia in a Patient Due to Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity: A Case Report.

Vasoplegia, the demonstration of persistently low systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and resistant hypotension in the presence of a normal cardiac index despite aggressive resuscitation attempts, is a serious clinical diagnosis that requires prompt treatment to prevent patient morbidity and mortality. Currently, treatment of vasoplegia involves treatment with vasopressors such as vasopressin, norepinephrine, and hydroxocobalamin. However, some evidence suggests that in addition to this treatment regimen, the addition of methylene blue may result in a reduction in overall norepinephrine equivalent vasopressor requirements, increased mean arterial pressure, and an improved clinical course. Here, we report the case of a 64-year-old male patient who presented to the ED after being found unresponsive and covered in emesis at home. The patient's presentation was complicated by worsening dyspnea, hypotension, and hemodynamic instability, requiring intubation and admission to the ICU for management of undifferentiated shock of unclear etiology and acute respiratory failure. Urine studies were consistent with a diagnosis of vasoplegia due to dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker toxicity, which was confirmed by pill counting of his home medications in the setting of recent paranoia and depression. The patient was treated aggressively with vasopressors, including vasopressin, phenylephrine, and epinephrine, as well as a combination of hydroxocobalamin and methylene blue. He was also started on a calcium and insulin drip. Upon initiation of non-catecholamine agents for vasoplegia, his clinical course quickly improved, and he was weaned from all vasopressors. He regained hemodynamic stability, was successfully extubated, evaluated by psychiatry, and discharged from the hospital in a stable condition on day 15 with the continuation of outpatient psychiatric services.

High-resolution PGT-A results in incidental identification of patients with small pathogenic copy number variants.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate whether a high-throughput high-resolution PGT-A method can detect copy number variants (CNVs) that could have clinical implications for patients and their embryos. METHODS: A prospective analysis of PGT-A cases was conducted using a high-resolution SNP microarray platform with over 820,000 probes. Cases where multiple embryos possessed the same segmental imbalance were identified, and preliminary PGT-A reports were issued recommending either parental microarray or conventional karyotyping to identify CNVs or translocations. RESULTS: Analysis of 6080 sequential PGT-A cases led to identification of 41 cases in which incidental findings were observed (0.7%) and parental testing was recommended. All cases, in which parental studies were completed, confirmed the original PGT-A incidental findings. In 2 of the cases, parental studies indicated a pathogenic variant with clinical implications for the associated embryos. In one of these cases, the patient was identified as a carrier of a duplication in chromosome 15q11.2:q11.2 (SNRPN + +), which is associated with autism spectrum disorder. In the second case, the patient was heterozygous positive for an interstitial deletion of 3p26.1:p26.3, which is associated with 3p deletion syndrome and had clinical implications for the patient and associated embryos. In each case, parental studies were concordant with PGT-A findings and revealed the presence of an otherwise unknown CNV. CONCLUSION: High-throughput high-resolution SNP array-based PGT-A has the ability to detect previously unknown and clinically significant parental deletions, duplications, and translocations. The use of cost-effective SNP array-based PGT-A methods may improve the effectiveness of PGT by identifying and preventing previously unknown pathogenic CNVs in children born to patients seeking in vitro fertilization.

State of the Art and Future Perspectives of Atmospheric Chemical Sensing Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Bibliometric Analysis.

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been increasingly used to monitor and assess air quality. The interest in the application of UAVs in monitoring air pollutants and greenhouse gases is evidenced by the recent emergence of sensors with the most diverse specifications designed for UAVs or even UAVs designed with integrated sensors. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive review based on bibliometrics to identify dynamics and possible trends in scientific production on UAV-based sensors to monitor air quality. A bibliometric analysis was carried out in the VOSViewer software (version 1.6.17) from the Scopus and Web of Science reference databases in the period between 2012 and 2022. The main countries, journals, scientific organizations, researchers and co-citation networks with greater relevance for the study area were highlighted. The literature, in general, has grown rapidly and has attracted enormous attention in the last 5 years, as indicated by the increase in articles after 2017. It was possible to notice the rapid development of sensors, resulting in smaller and lighter devices, with greater sensitivity and capacity for remote work. Overall, this analysis summarizes the evolution of UAV-based sensors and their applications, providing valuable information to researchers and developers of UAV-based sensors to monitor air pollutants.

Hostigamiento laboral y síndrome de burnout en personal sanitario en un hospital de referencia

Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre la exposición a hostigamiento laboral y la presencia de síndrome de burnout en el personal sanitario de un hospital de referencia peruano. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal, analítico. Se incluyó a médicos internistas, cirujanos, enfermeras, residentes, internos de medicina y técnicos de enfermería de los departamentos de Medicina y Cirugía del Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue en Lima, Perú. Se usaron los cuestionarios Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) y Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) para la detección de burnout y hostigamiento, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, se evaluó la asociación con la edad, género, ocupación, estado civil, lugar de trabajo, conformidad con salario, carga familiar, actividad física, hábitos nocivos, vacaciones, afiliación religiosa, número de trabajos, remuneración mensual, tiempo de trabajo, horas laborales por semana, número de pacientes atendidos por día, guardias semanales y horas de descanso. El análisis multivariado se realizó mediante el uso de un modelo de regresión logística múltiple, para lo cual se utilizó como variable respuesta la presencia o no de burnout. Resultados: Se incluyeron a 206 participantes. De ellos, 22 (10,7 %) presentaron burnout y 27 (14 %), hostigamiento moderado a elevado. En el análisis bivariado, la edad (OR 0,94; IC 95 % 0,89-0,99; p = 0,02), el estado civil casados y convivientes (OR 2,85; IC 95 % 1,01-8,06; p = 0,04) y el hostigamiento (OR 5,20; IC 95 % 1,92-14,09; p = 0,009) se asociaron a la presencia de burnout. En el análisis multivariado, el único predictor significativo de burnout fue el hostigamiento laboral. La presencia de un hostigamiento moderado a elevado se asoció a un OR de 4,00 (IC 95 % 1,4-11,3; p = 0,009) comparado con bajos niveles de hostigamiento. Conclusiones: Es importante identificar a trabajadores de la salud con hostigamiento laboral por su fuerte asociación con el síndrome de burnout. Se considera indispensable la realización de una investigación complementaria que permita entender y abordar la problemática del hostigamiento laboral y su influencia en el desarrollo de burnout, así como estudios que permitan evaluar intervenciones destinadas a prevenir tanto el hostigamiento laboral como el burnout.

Objective: To determine the association between workplace harassment and burnout syndrome among healthcare personnel of a Peruvian referral hospital. Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study which included internists, surgeons, nurses, residents, interns and nursing technicians from the Medicine and Surgery departments of Hospital Nacional Hipólito Unanue in Lima, Peru. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) were used for the assessment of burnout and harassment, respectively. Additionally, the association with age, gender, occupation, marital status, workplace, salary satisfaction, family burden, physical activity, harmful habits, vacations, religious affiliation, number of jobs, monthly remuneration, job tenure, working hours per week, number of patients seen per day, weekly shifts and rest hours was evaluated. A multivariate analysis was conducted using a multiple logistic regression model and the presence or absence of burnout as an outcome variable. Results: The study consisted of 206 participants, out of whom 22 (10.7 %) suffered burnout and 27 (14 %) moderate to severe harassment. In the bivariate analysis, age (OR 0.94; 95 % CI 0.89-0.99; p = 0.02), marital status such as married and cohabiting (OR 2.85; 95 % CI 1.01-8.06; p = 0.04) and harassment (OR 5.20; 95 % CI 1.92-14.09; p = 0.009) were associated with burnout. In the multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor of burnout was workplace harassment. Moderate to severe harassment was associated with OR 4.00 (95 % CI 1.4-11.3; p = 0.009) compared to mild harassment. Conclusions: It is important to identify health workers suffering workplace harassment due to its strong association with burnout syndrome. It is essential to carry out further research to understand and address the problem of workplace harassment and its influence on the development of burnout, as well as studies to evaluate interventions aimed at preventing both workplace harassment and burnout.

Sensorimotor, cognitive and affective behavior according to perceived level of disability in patients with chronic low back pain: an observational cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate the influence of the level of disability on sensorimotor and psychological variables in nonspecific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was performed with 90 participants, divided into one group with NCLBP (60 participants) and one asymptomatic group (30 participants). Symptomatic participants were divided into a "major" or "minor" disability group using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire score, resulting in two groups of 30 participants. All participants completed a series of self-administered questionnaires and performed sensorimotor tests. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the sensorimotor variables except in pain intensity, which was greater in the NCLBP group with high lumbar disability. There were statistically significant differences between the symptomatic groups in the degree of self-efficacy, pain catastrophism and kinesiophobia. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NCLBP and high levels of disability present greater pain intensity and significantly poorer results in psychological variables compared with those with NCLBP and low levels of disability. In contrast, there were no differences for sensorimotor variables between the patients with NCLBP and high levels of disability and those with low levels of disability.

Accurate detection and frequency of abnormal ploidy in the human blastocyst.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the detection of abnormal ploidy in preimplantation embryos and evaluate its frequency in transferrable blastocysts. DESIGN: A high-throughput genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism microarray-based preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) platform was validated using multiple positive controls, including cell lines of known haploid and triploid karyotypes and rebiopsies of embryos with initial abnormal ploidy results. This platform was then tested on all trophectoderm biopsies in a single PGT laboratory to calculate the frequency of abnormal ploidy and the parental and cell division origins of error. SETTING: Preimplantation genetic testing laboratory. PATIENT(S): The embryos from in vitro fertilization patients who elected for PGT were evaluated. Any patients who provided saliva samples were further analyzed for the parental and cell division origins of abnormal ploidy. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Evaluable positive controls showed 100% concordance with original karyotypes. The overall frequency of abnormal ploidy within a single PGT laboratory cohort was 1.43%. RESULT(S): All cell lines showed 100% concordance with the expected karyotype. Additionally, all evaluable rebiopsies showed 100% concordance with the original abnormal ploidy karyotype. The frequency of abnormal ploidy was 1.43%, with 29% of those being haploid or uniparental isodiploid, 2.5% uniparental heterodiploid, 68% triploid, and 0.4% tetraploid. Twelve haploid embryos contained maternal deoxyribonucleic acid, and 3 contained paternal deoxyribonucleic acid. Thirty-four triploid embryos were of maternal origin, and 2 were of paternal origin. Thirty-five triploid embryos had a meiotic origin of error, and 1 was of mitotic error. Of those 35 embryos, 5 originated from meiosis I, 22 originated from meiosis II, and 8 were deemed inconclusive. On the basis of specific abnormal ploidy karyotypes, 41.2% of embryos would be falsely classified as euploid, and 22.7% would be false-positive mosaics with the use of the conventional next-generation sequencing-based PGT methods. CONCLUSION(S): This study demonstrates the validity of a high-throughput genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism microarray-based PGT platform to accurately detect abnormal ploidy karyotypes and predict the parental and cell division origins of error of evaluable embryos. This unique method improves the sensitivity of detection for abnormal karyotypes, which can reduce the chances of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Identifying parental and cell-division origins of aneuploidy in the human blastocyst.

Preimplantation genetic testing commonly employs simplistic copy-number analyses to screen for aneuploidy in blastocyst trophectoderm biopsies. Interpreting intermediate copy number alone as evidence of mosaicism has led to suboptimal estimation of its prevalence. Because mosaicism originates from mitotic nondisjunction, utilizing SNP microarray technology to identify the cell-division origins of aneuploidy might provide a more accurate estimation of its prevalence. The present study develops and validates a method of determining the cell-division origin of aneuploidy in the human blastocyst by using both genotyping and copy-number data in parallel. The concordance of predicted origins with expected results was demonstrated in a series of truth models (99%-100%). This included determination of X chromosome origins from a subset of normal male embryos, determination of the origins of translocation chromosome-related imbalances via embryos from couples with structural rearrangements, and prediction of either mitotic or meiotic origins via multiple rebiopsies of embryos with aneuploidy. In a cohort of blastocysts with parental DNA (n = 2,277), 71% were euploid, 27% were meiotic aneuploid, and 2% were mitotic aneuploid, indicating a low frequency of bona fide mosaicism in the human blastocyst (mean maternal age: 34.4). Chromosome-specific trisomies in the blastocyst were also consistent with observations previously established in products of conception. The ability to accurately identify mitotic-origin aneuploidy in the blastocyst could benefit and better inform individuals whose IVF cycle results in all aneuploid embryos. Clinical trials with this methodology might also help provide a definitive answer regarding the reproductive potential of bona fide mosaic embryos.

Visual Behaviours of Expert Padel Athletes When Playing on Court: An In Situ Approach with a Portable Eye Tracker.

Eye-tracking research has allowed the characterisation of gaze behaviours in some racket sports (e.g., tennis, badminton), both in controlled laboratory settings and in real-world scenarios. However, there are no studies about visual patterns displayed by athletes in padel. METHOD: The aim of this exploratory case study was to address the visual behaviours of eight young expert padel athletes when playing match games on a padel court. Specifically, their gaze behaviours were examined with an in situ approach while returned trays/smashes, serves, and volleys were performed by their counterparts. Gaze patterns were registered with an SMI Eye Tracking Glasses 2 Wireless. RESULTS: The participants' gaze was mainly focused on the ball-flight trajectory and on the upper body of the opponents because they were the two visual locations with a larger number of fixations and longer fixation time. No differences were found in these variables for each type of visual location when the three return situations were compared, or independently of them. CONCLUSIONS: Padel players displayed a similar gaze behaviour during different representative return situations. This visual pattern was characterised by fixating at the ball and some opponents' upper kinematics (head, shoulders, trunk, and the region of arm-hand-racket) to perform real interceptive actions while playing against them on a padel court.

Cost-Effectiveness of the Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Program-Care in Informal Caregivers of People with Alzheimer's Disease.

People with Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis who get informal care remain at home longer, reducing the demand for healthcare resources but increasing the stress of caregiving. Research on the effectiveness of physical training, psychoeducational, cognitive-behavioural, and health education programs in reducing the caregiver load and enhancing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) exist, but none exist about an integrated interdisciplinary program. The goals of this project are (1) to assess the Integral-CARE Interdisciplinary Program (IP) applicability, safety, effects on HRQoL, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for AD caregivers; (2) to evaluate the IP applicability and cost-effectiveness to enhance the physical, psychoemotional, cognitive-behavioural dimensions, and the health education status of informal caregivers, and (3) to study the transference of the results to the public and private sectors. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with an experimental (IP) and a control group (no intervention). The PI will be conducted over nine months using face-to-face sessions (twice a week) and virtual sessions on an online platform (once a week). There will be an initial, interim (every three months), and final assessment. Focus groups with social and health agents will be organized to determine the most important information to convey to the public and private sectors in Extremadura (Spain). Applicability, safety, HRQoL, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and HRQoL will be the main outcome measures, while secondary measures will include sociodemographic data; physical, psychoemotional, health education, and cognitive-behavioural domains; program adherence; and patient health status. Data will be examined per procedure and intention to treat. A cost-effectiveness study will also be performed from the viewpoints of private and public healthcare resources.

Robotic Partial Nephrectomy with En Bloc Removal of a Renal Vein Thrombus for Multiple cT3a Renal Cell Carcinoma Lesions.

Partial nephrectomy (PN) may be recommended for selected patients with advanced-stage (>cT2) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with the aim of avoiding dialysis and chronic kidney disease-related comorbidities. The spread of robotic surgery has led to expansion of PN indications to more challenging scenarios and even frontier surgeries, including advanced-stage RCC. Here we describe the management of a patient with a solitary kidney diagnosed with multiple cT3a (renal vein thrombus) RCC who was treated using a conservative robotic approach. The most crucial surgical considerations for this procedure were: (1) tailored planning of the surgical approach using three-dimensional reconstruction software; (2) accurate boundary delineation for the tumors and thrombus; (3) avoiding unnecessary warm ischemia time; (4) performing an anatomical excision to follow eventual tumor bulging; and (5) en bloc removal of the main lesion and its thrombus. No perioperative complications were recorded. Histopathology revealed clear cell RCC for all four lesions with nucleolar grade 3 and negative surgical margins. At 12-mo follow-up the patient was disease-free. When performed by an experienced surgeon, PN plus venous thrombus excision for imperative cases with cT3 RCC may represent a valid treatment option with valuable oncological and functional outcomes. Patient summary: We describe the case of patient who had a single kidney with multiple kidney tumors and tumor extension into a blood vessel. The patient was treated with robot-assisted removal of the tumors, sparing as much kidney tissue as possible. This technique was found to be safe and effective, with no complications and good intermediate-term results.

Gonadotropin receptor polymorphisms (FSHR N680S and LHCGR N312S) are not predictive of clinical outcome and live birth in assisted reproductive technology.

OBJECTIVE: To study the consequences of specific genotype profiles of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and luteinizing hormone choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) on assisted reproductive technology outcomes when preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy is used for controlling the embryo ploidy status. The most common reported single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the amino acid position for the FSHR (N680S; N: asparagine, S: serine; [rs6166]) and the LHCGR (N312S variant; N: asparagine, S: serine [rs2293275]) were chosen for this study. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Private Fertility Clinic. PATIENT(S): All women aged 18-40 years undergoing their first assisted reproductive technology cycle with aneuploidy screening between 2006 and 2017 with body mass index of >18 and <40 kg/m2 were included. INTERVENTION(S): All patients received both recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone and human menopausal gonadotropin or low dose human chorionic gonadotropin. Genomic DNA was isolated from patients' blood. Genotyping of the FSHR and LHCGR polymorphisms was performed using TaqMan genotyping assays. Associations between both receptor genotypes and clinical outcomes were assessed using generalized regression and ANOVA. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE(S): Live birth rate was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included oocyte yield, mature oocytes, blastulation rate, usable blastocyst rate, and implantation rate. RESULT(S): A total of 1,183 patients met the inclusion criteria and generated reliable genotype results. The overall genotype frequencies in the study population for the FSHR gene were as follows: 21.7% homozygous for S in codon 680, 29.2% homozygous for N680, and 48.1% heterozygous (N680S). As for the LHCGR, 15.6% were homozygous for N312, 38.5% homozygous for S312 and 45.9% heterozygous (N312S). Our study population consisted of 53.8% non-Hispanic white; 6.1% Hispanic white; 4.1% Afro-American; 15.4% Asian; and 20.6% other or unknown. No significant association was found with any of the studied variables (oocyte yield, usable blastocyst rate, implantation rate, live birth) when genotypes were analyzed per receptor or in combination with one another. There was a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant difference in the rate of mature oocytes across different variant combinations. CONCLUSION(S): Our findings suggest that the presence of gonadotropin receptor polymorphisms in both FSHR N680S and LHCGR N312S are not associated with assisted reproductive technology outcomes; therefore, these variants should not be considered reproductive predictors.

Efecto del tinnitus sobre la calidad de vida y sus factores asociados en pacientes adultos / Effects of Tinnitus on the Quality of Life and its Associated Factors in Adult Patients

Introducción: El tinnitus es una condición de alta prevalencia que puede afectar la calidad de vida. Objetivos: Evaluar la calidad de vida y sus factores asociados en pacientes adultos con tinnitus. Métodos: Estudio analítico transversal. La población incluida fueron pacientes adultos con síntoma de tinnitus, atendidos en el servicio de otorrinolaringología en un hospital de referencia en Lima, Perú. El efecto del tinnitus sobre la calidad de vida fue medida mediante el cuestionario Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Resultados: Se incluyeron 151 pacientes con tinnitus; 31,2 por ciento fueron varones y la media de edad fue 66 años, 17,2 por ciento y 23,1 por ciento de pacientes con tinnitus tuvieron antecedentes de trastornos depresivos y desórdenes de ansiedad, respectivamente; 85,4 por ciento y 62,2 por ciento de pacientes con tinnitus presentaron hipoacusia y cefalea, respectivamente. El Tinnitus Handicap Inventory tuvo una mediana de 26 (rango intercuartil: 8-50), un valor mínimo de 0 y un valor máximo de 100. De los pacientes, 101 (66,8 por ciento) tuvieron una discapacidad leve a moderada debido al tinnitus y 50 (33 por ciento) discapacidad moderada a severa. En el análisis multivariado se encontró que la ansiedad (OR = 2,59; IC 95 por ciento 1,14-5,9; p = 0,02), hipoacusia (OR = 12,9; IC 95 por ciento 1,65-102,1; p= 0,01) y cefalea (OR = 2,61; IC 95 por ciento 1,18-5,8; p = 0,01) se asociaron con discapacidad moderada a severa debido al tinnitus. Conclusiones: Los pacientes adultos con tinnitus frecuentemente tuvieron una afectación moderada a severa de su calidad de vida. Los factores asociados a discapacidad moderada a severa debido a tinnitus fueron la ansiedad, cefalea e hipoacusia(AU)

Introduction: Tinnitus is a highly prevalent condition that can affect the quality of life of patients. Objective: To assess the quality of life and its associated factors in adult patients with tinnitus. Methods: Cross-sectional and analytical study carried out with a population that included adult patients with tinnitus symptoms attended in the otorhinolaryngology service of a reference hospital in Lima, Peru. The effect of tinnitus on quality of life was measured using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Results: The study included 151 patients with tinnitus: 31.2 percent were male and the mean age was 66 years, while 17.2 percent and 23.1 percent of patients with tinnitus had a history of depressive disorders and anxiety disorders, respectively. Of tinnitus patients, 85.4 percent and 62.2 percent had hearing loss and headache, respectively. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory showed a median value of 26 (interquartile: 8-50), a minimum value of 0, and a maximum value of 100. Of the patients, 101 (66.8 percent) had mild to moderate disability due to tinnitus, while 50 (33 percent) had moderate to severe disability. In multivariate analysis, anxiety (OR=2.59; 95 percent CI: 1.14-5.9; P= 0.02), hearing loss (OR= 12.9; 95 percent CI: 1.65-102.1; P= 0.01) and headache (OR= 2.61; 95 percent CI 1.18-5.8; p= 0.01) were found to be associated with moderate to severe disability due to tinnitus. Conclusions: Adult patients with tinnitus frequently had moderate to severe impairment of their quality of life. Factors associated with moderate to severe disability due to tinnitus were anxiety, headache, and hearing loss(AU)

Effect of the presence and location of corpus luteum on competence of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes.

This study aimed to determine the effect of presence of the corpus luteum (CL) and its influence on cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) obtained from the ipsilateral or contralateral ovary in bovine on the recovery and capacity of the oocytes to sustain mono-spermic fertilization, undergo preimplantation development, and develop to the blastocyst stage. Ovaries were collected at a local slaughterhouse and kept in pairs corresponding to the same animal. In the first experiment the variables evaluated were compared between cows with (CCL+) and without (CCL-) CL, and for the second experiment, comparisons were made between ovaries with an ipsilateral (CL+), contralateral (CL-), and no (NCL). The recovery rate of COCs was higher in ovaries from CCL- cows, and a higher proportion of grade 1 COCs were recovered from this group. A higher proportion of metaphase I oocytes at 7 h of maturation, and a higher rate of cleavage were observed in the CCL+ group; however, a higher proportion of embryos were obtained from the CCL- group. Besides, COCs from the CL+ group had a lower proportion of grades 1 and 2 morphological qualities, lower rate of metaphase II oocytes at 22 h of maturation, and lower rate of formation of two pronuclei, whereas a higher proportion of unfertilized oocytes after in vitro fertilization. On the other hand, the COCs from the CL- group displayed a lower proportion of oocytes with more than two pronuclei, higher cleavage rate, and higher final blastocyst production were obtained when compared to CL+. Thus, the effects of CL on the competence of bovine COCs are different depending on the anatomical proximity of their location in the animal, negatively affecting the quality of COCs located in the same ovary, but not having negative effects on the competence of COCs in the ovaries contralateral to their location.

Spatial variability of soil physical properties in longitudinal profiles.

The spatial variability of physical properties, such as bulk density, penetration resistance and gravimetric moisture, obtained by applying geostatistics in precision agriculture, can effectively indicate the physical behavior of agricultural soils in longitudinal profiles. In this way, the spatial dependence of physical properties in streets of coffee plantations with different lengths was evaluated in the southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. For this purpose, five longitudinal profiles were measured in streets, each one with depths ranging from 0 to 0.60 m, in six layers of 0.10 m, being the database composed of 432 property, 144 by property, submitted to the ordinary kriging geostatistical method in order to obtain spatial variability maps using the R software. They were evaluated by the lower mean cross-validation error of theoretical models fitted by ordinary least squares (OLS), being detected in higher superficial layers, from 0 to 0.30 m, lower bulk density and lower penetration resistance, with variable gravimetric moisture in the length direction of some streets of coffee plantations, being that these properties presented different structures of spatial dependence for each street.

Clinical and epidemiological characterization in the follow-up of newborns with COVID-19: a descriptive study. / Caracterización clínica y epidemiológica en el seguimiento de recién nacidos con COVID-19: estudio descriptivo.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 disease affects newborns, but its middle and long-term effects are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and follow-up of newborns infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: An observational and descriptive study. We included newborns with SARS-CoV-2 positive RT-PCR born from SARS-CoV-2 seropositive mothers. Delivery and newborn care were provided at the 'Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal' from Peru between June 1 and September 30, 2020. Perinatal information was collected from medical records. Remote follow-up and face-to-face evaluations gathered epidemiological and clinical information, in addition to serological and RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 4733 neonates were born at the institution. We found that 1488 (31.4%) were born from seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 mothers. Finally, we included the 34 (2.3%) newborns with positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Regarding the included newborns, 29.4% were delivered by cesarean section, 26.5% had low birth weight, 11.8% were preterm, 26.5% were hospitalized, and one died. Twenty-eight had a remote follow-up, and 18 also had a face-to-face follow-up. A total of 64.3% were exclusively breastfed, 28.6% were mixed breastfed, and 7.1% used a substitute formula. The face-to-face evaluation was performed between one and four months of chronological age. We found that 100% had negative control RT-PCR test for COVID-19, 38.9% had a negative serological test (IgM, IgG), and 61.1% positive IgG. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection is rare, and most infected infants are asymptomatic. Vaginal delivery, breastfeeding, and joint isolation did not related with complications during hospital care. Infants under remote and in-person follow-up showed favorable clinical evolution during the study period.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad por COVID-19 ha sido reportada en recién nacidos; sin embargo, aún no son claros sus efectos en el seguimiento de neonatos. OBJETIVO: Describir las características clínicas, epidemiológicas y el seguimiento de recién nacidos infectados con SARS-CoV-2. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional y descriptivo. Participaron recién nacidos que tuvieron PCR-TR positivo a SARS-CoV-2, hijos de madres seropositivas a SARS-CoV-2. La atención del parto y del recién nacido fueron en el Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal de Perú, entre el 1 de junio y el 30 de septiembre de 2020. Se recogió información perinatal de registros médicos. Se realizó seguimiento remoto y evaluación presencial para descripción epidemiológica, clínica y resultados de pruebas serológicas y PCR-TR para SARS-CoV-2. En el análisis se usó estadística descriptiva. RESULTADOS: Durante el período de estudio nacieron 4733 recién nacidos. De estos niños, 1488 (31,4%) procedieron de gestantes seropositivas a SARS-CoV-2 y de ellos 34 (2,3%) tuvieron PCR-TR positivo a SARS-CoV-2. De los 34 recién nacidos 29,4% nació por cesárea, 26,5% tuvo bajo peso, 11,8% fue prematuro 26,5% tuvo indicación de hospitalización por patología y un neonato falleció. De los 34 neonatos, 28 tuvieron seguimiento remoto y de ellos 18 tuvieron además seguimiento presencial post alta. El 64,3% recibía lactancia materna exclusiva, 28,6% lactancia mixta y 7,1% usaba un sucedáneo. La evaluación presencial se realizó entre uno a cuatro meses de edad cronológica. El 100% tuvo prueba de PCR-TR de control para coronavirus negativa y 38,9% tuvo prueba serológica (IgM, IgG) negativa y 61,1% IgG positiva. CONCLUSIONES: La infección neonatal por SARS-CoV-2 es poco frecuente, la mayoría de infectados fueron asintomáticos. El parto vaginal, la lactancia materna y aislamiento conjunto no reportaron complicaciones en la evolución durante la atención hospitalaria. Los infantes en seguimiento remoto y presencial mostraron evolución clínica favorable durante el período de estudio.

Utilidad diagnóstica de la colonoscopia y evaluación histológica en el estudio de pacientes con diarrea crónica / Diagnostic utility of colonoscopy and histological evaluation in the study of patients with chronic diarrhea

RESUMEN Introducción: Los pacientes con diarrea crónica con frecuencia se someten a la evaluación con colonoscopia, sin embargo, la realización de biopsias o ileoscopia permanece controversial. Objetivo: Evaluar la utilidad de la colonoscopia más biopsias en el estudio de pacientes con diarrea crónica. Materiales y métodos: Retrospectivamente revisamos pacientes con diarrea crónica que fueron llevados a colonoscopia entre 2015 a 2019. Se excluyeron pacientes con datos incompletos, infección por VIH, hallazgos endoscópicos anormales, colonoscopia sin valoración del ciego, estar en tratamiento empírico para la diarrea y mala preparación. Se realizó análisis descriptivo de las características de los pacientes, hallazgos histopatológicos y comparación de signos y síntomas según hallazgo histopatológico. Resultados: Se evaluaron 535 pacientes con diarrea crónica, de estos, a 283 (52,8%) se les realizó biopsias. En el 55,1% (n=156) de las biopsias se obtuvo algún diagnóstico histopatológico final. Los diagnósticos histopatológicos correspondieron a colitis ulcerativa (n=3), enfermedad de Crohn (n=5), colitis linfocítica (n=6), colitis colágena (n=12), colitis eosinofílica (n=13), colitis infecciosa (n=13), Melanosis coli (n=15), colitis inespecífica (n=57) y otros cambios histológicos (n=32). La enfermedad de Crohn solo se documentó en biopsias de íleon (p<0,001), la colitis ulcerativa solo se diagnosticó en biopsias del recto sigmoide (p=0,007), la colitis infecciosa en su mayor proporción (30,7%) se documentó en biopsias del colon derecho (p=0,028). Conclusión: La colonoscopia y las biopsias son útiles en la investigación de pacientes con diarrea crónica, obteniendo un diagnóstico histológico en el 55% de los pacientes. La ileoscopia complementó los hallazgos de la colonoscopia en menor proporción.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Patients with chronic diarrhea often undergo colonoscopy evaluation, however, the performance of biopsies or ileoscopy remains controversial. Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of colonoscopy plus biopsies in the study of patients with chronic diarrhea. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with chronic diarrhea who underwent colonoscopy between 2015 and 2019. Patients with incomplete data, HIV infection, abnormal endoscopic findings, colonoscopy without blind assessment, being on empiric treatment for diarrhea, and poor diagnosis were excluded. preparation. A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the patients, histopathological findings and comparison of signs and symptoms according to histopathological finding was performed. Results: 535 patients with chronic diarrhea were evaluated, of these, 283 (52.8%) underwent biopsies. In 55.1% (n=156) of the biopsies some final histopathological diagnosis was obtained. Histopathological diagnoses corresponded to ulcerative colitis (n=3), Crohn's disease (n=5), lymphocytic colitis (n=6), collagenous colitis (n=12), eosinophilic colitis (n=13), infectious colitis (n=13), Melanosis coli (n=15), nonspecific colitis (n=57) and other histological changes (n=32). Crohn's disease was only documented in biopsies of the ileum (p<0.001), ulcerative colitis was only diagnosed in biopsies of the sigmoid rectum (p=0.007), infectious colitis in its highest proportion (30.7%) was documented in biopsies of the right colon (p=0.028). Conclusion: Colonoscopy and biopsies are useful in the investigation of patients with chronic diarrhea, obtaining a histological diagnosis in 55% of patients. Ileoscopy complemented colonoscopy findings to a lesser extent.