Motivations and personality characteristics of candidate sperm and oocyte donors according to parenthood status: a national study from the French CECOS network.

STUDY QUESTION: In a non-commercial national gamete donation programme, do the motivations and personality characteristics of candidate sperm and oocyte donors differ according to their parenthood status? SUMMARY ANSWER: Moderate differences exist between non-parent and parent candidate donors in motivations for gamete donation and representations as well as in personality characteristics. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Several studies have analysed the motivations and experiences of oocyte or sperm donors, but mainly in countries where gamete donation is a commercial transaction, and very few studies have reported results of personality traits using personality inventory tests. No study has specifically investigated the motivations and personality characteristics of candidate gamete donors according to parenthood status. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: A prospective study was carried out including 1021 candidate donors from 21 centres (in university hospitals) of the national sperm and egg banking network in France between November 2016 and December 2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: In total, 1021 candidate gamete donors were included in the study. During their first visit, male (n = 488) and female candidate donors (n = 533) completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, their motivations for donation and their representations of donation, infertility and family. Secondly, a NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) exploring the Big Five personality traits was completed online. Results were compared between parent and non-parent candidate donors. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Altruistic values were the principal motive for donation irrespective of parenthood status. Reassurance about their fertility or preservation of sperm for future use was more often reported in non-parent than in parent candidate donors. With regard to representation of gamete donation or of the family, independently of their parenthood status, candidate donors more frequently selected social rather than biological representations. Mean personality characteristics were in the normal range. Non-parent candidate donors had higher scores on openness and depression than parents, while parent candidate donors appeared more social than non-parents. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: The personality characteristics inventory was not completed by all candidate donors included in the study. However, family status did not differ between the two groups (NEO-PI-R completed (n = 525) or not), while the group who completed the NEO-PI-R had a higher educational level. This national study was performed in a country where gamete donation is subject to strict legislation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: In a global context where reproductive medicine is commercialized and gamete donor resources are limited, this study found that altruism and social representations of gamete donation and family are the main motivations for gamete donation in a country which prohibits financial incentive. These findings are relevant for health policy and for gamete donation information campaigns. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Grant from the Agence de la Biomédecine, France. The authors have nothing to disclose related to this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Mechanistic Aspects of the Polymerization of Lactide Using a Highly Efficient Aluminum(III) Catalytic System.

We report here a unique example of an in situ generated aluminum initiator stabilized by a C2-symmetric salen ligand which shows a hitherto unknown high activity for the ROP of rac-lactide at room temperature. Using a simple and robust catalyst system, which is prepared from a salen complex and an onium salt, this convenient route employs readily available reagents that afford polylactide in good yields with narrow polydispersity indices, without the need for time-consuming and expensive processes that are typically required for catalyst preparation and purification. In line with the experimental evidence, DFT studies reveal that initiation and propagation proceed via an external alkoxide attack on the coordinated monomer.

Asymmetric Sequential Cu-Catalyzed 1,6/1,4-Conjugate Additions of Hard Nucleophiles to Cyclic Dienones: Determination of Absolute Configurations and Origins of Enantioselectivity.

The first stereocontrolled Cu-catalyzed sequential 1,6/1,4-asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of C-metalated hard nucleophiles to cyclic dienones is reported. The use of DiPPAM (diphenylphosphinoazomethinylate) followed by a phosphoramidite as the stereoinducing ligands facilitated both high ee values for the 1,6-ACA and high de values for the 1,4-ACA reaction components, which thus gave enantioenriched 1,3-dialkylated moieties. The absolute configurations were determined by using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectroscopy, in combination with DFT calculations and X-ray analysis. Interestingly, DFT calculations for the mechanism of enantioselective 1,6-addition by using an unprecedented Cu-Zn bimetallic catalytic system confirmed this attribution. Lastly, exploring intramolecular cyclization avenues for enantioenriched 1,3-dialkylated products provided access to the challenging drimane skeleton.

Latent ruthenium-indenylidene catalysts bearing a N-heterocyclic carbene and a bidentate picolinate ligand.

A silver-free methodology was developed for the synthesis of unprecedented N-heterocyclic carbene ruthenium indenylidene complexes bearing a bidentate picolinate ligand. The highly stable (SIPr)(picolinate)RuCl(indenylidene) complex 4a (SIPr = 1,3-bis(2-6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolidin-2-ylidene) demonstrated excellent latent behaviour in ring closing metathesis (RCM) reaction and could be activated in the presence of a Brønsted acid. The versatility of the catalyst 4a was subsequently demonstrated in RCM, cross-metathesis (CM) and enyne metathesis reactions.

Copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of organometallic reagents to extended Michael acceptors.

The copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of nucleophiles onto polyenic Michael acceptors represents an attractive and powerful methodology for the synthesis of relevant chiral molecules, as it enables in a straightforward manner the sequential generation of two or more stereogenic centers. In the last decade, various chiral copper-based catalysts were evaluated in combination with different nucleophiles and Michael acceptors, and have unambiguously demonstrated their usefulness in the control of the regio- and enantioselectivity of the addition. The aim of this review is to report recent breakthroughs achieved in this challenging field.

[Fertility preservation among patients with cancer: report of a French regional practical experience]. / Préservation de la fertilité en oncologie : bilan des pratiques en Région PACA-Corse.

OBJECTIVE: Improvement in cancer treatments has led to reconsider the importance of quality of life after cancer, especially concerning maintening the potential of fertility since it is often altered after healing. Our objective was to estimate the knowledge and practices of the physicians in the field of Oncology in a French Region (Provence Alpes- Côte d'Azur). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective survey, conducted between January and April 2012, amongst oncologists working in Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region, through questionnaires distributed during multidisciplinary meetings in oncology. RESULTS: Among 225 replies, 54% of the physicians had sent no patient to any oncofertility consultation during the previous six months (n=120). Besides, 33% of the oncologists (n=68) declared they had difficulties in addressing their patients to oncofertility consultation, and 58% of them (n=39) considered they lacked information on techniques and indications of fertility preservation. CONCLUSION: This study provides an estimation of the current practices in PACA region concerning oncofertility and underlines the physicians' need of information. In this context, the regional oncology network has set up a regional network « cancer and fertility ¼ in order to facilitate the access to fertility preservation prior to any potentially sterilizing treatment for all patients.

Mixed phosphine/N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic use in aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura reactions.

A series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/PR3 palladium(II) and palladium(0) complexes has been synthesized and fully characterized. X-ray crystallographic data have allowed comparison of ligand steric properties. The NHC ligand was found to vary its steric properties as a function of the phosphine co-ligand. These complexes display interesting catalytic properties in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction performed in aqueous media. The pre-catalyst [PdCl2(IPr)(XPhos)] (IPr = N,N'-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; XPhos = 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2',4',6'-triisopropylbiphenyl) was found to be the most efficient system, promoting the coupling of a wide range of aryl chlorides with boronic acids in aqueous media with a typical catalyst loading of 0.03 mol%.

[Pd(NHC)(PR3)] (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) catalysed alcohol oxidation using molecular oxygen.

A series of [Pd(NHC)(PR(3))] complexes quantitatively form [Pd(η(2)-O(2))(NHC)(PR(3))] products when submitted to an dioxygen atmosphere. Synthetic details and structural features of these Pd-peroxo complexes are described. The palladium compounds were found to be efficient catalysts in the oxidation of alcohols into corresponding carbonyl compounds using O(2) or air as oxidant. Reactions proceed at low catalyst loadings with a wide range of alcohols.

Phosphites as ligands in ruthenium-benzylidene catalysts for olefin metathesis.

The use of phosphites in second generation, ruthenium-based olefin metathesis pre-catalysts leads to an improvement in catalyst stability and activity at low catalyst loadings.

Mixed N-heterocyclic carbene/phosphite ruthenium complexes: towards a new generation of olefin metathesis catalysts.

The synthesis, characterisation and catalytic behaviour of ruthenium indenylidene complexes bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene and triisopropylphosphite are described.

A nationwide study of granulosa cell tumors in pre- and postpubertal girls: missed diagnosis of endocrine manifestations worsens prognosis.

BACKGROUND: There are very few data on the natural history of ovarian granulosa cell tumors (OGCT) in children. The aim of this study was to determine whether early recognition and diagnosis of the initial endocrine signs could improve the outcome of these tumors. METHODS: In a nationwide study from 1990 to 2004, we analyzed the clinical, biological and pathologic data from 40 pre- and postpubertal girls presenting an OGCT. RESULTS: 1. Among the prepubertal girls (n = 29), 17 OGCTs were diagnosed on the basis of precocious pseudopuberty. None of the 17 girls had a peritoneal spread of the tumor (100% FIGO stage Ia). Diagnosis based on a tumoral or acute abdomen (12 cases) was associated with frequent intraperitoneal ruptures of the tumor (50%) and a risk of relapse (2 cases). Of the eight girls who had had a misdiagnosed precocious pseudopuberty, five had a pre- or perioperative tumoral rupture. 2. Among the postpubertal girls (n = 11), endocrine manifestations such as secondary amenorrhea or virilization had been underevaluated in three of them and the diagnosis was established from a tumoral abdomen. This clinical presentation was associated with frequent ruptures of the mass in the peritoneum (80%) and a higher risk of recurrence (30%). 3. A delayed diagnosis of OGCT despite previous endocrine signs (11 cases; 8 pre- and 3 postpubertal) was associated with a high risk of pre- or peri-operative peritoneal tumor spreading (70% FIGO stage Ic or IIc, p <0.05). The mean delay for diagnosis ranged from 3 to 11 months. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the critical role of early diagnosis of OGCT in pre- and postpubertal girls, particularly at the first seemingly banal signs of endocrine disorder. Peritoneal spread of the tumor may thereby be prevented, which improves the prognosis.

Histology and histomorphometry of the tibia growth in two turkey strains.

Qualitative and quantitative histological methods on decalcified and undecalcified specimens were used for comparing the linear and radial growth of the tibia in two turkey strains: a light strain, Betina, without leg problems and a heavy strain, Maxiboul, with leg problems. Groups of 10 clinically healthy male turkeys of each strain were studied at 2, 6, 8, 16, and 20 weeks of age. Three histomorphometric parameters of longitudinal growth were quantitated in the proximal growth plate and metaphysis. These were: height of the proliferative zone, density of ossification buds (metaphyseal sprouts), and volume of metaphyseal trabecular bone. Four histomorphometric parameters of radial growth were quantitated in the diaphysis. These were cortical thickness, active zone/total surface, density of maturing osteons in the active zone, and bone apposition rate at the maturing primary osteons level. The results showed some evidence for factors predisposing to leg problems in the Maxiboul strain. At 8 weeks, the Maxiboul strain had a lower ossification bud density (13.1/mm2 vs. 20.7/mm2; P less than .05) and a lower metaphyseal trabecular bone volume (16.4% vs. 22.0%; P less than .05) when compared to the Betina strain. No difference was detected in the cortical thickness of the diaphysis in the two strains except at 2 weeks of age (799 microns vs. 387 microns; P less than .001), despite the heavier weight of the Maxiboul strain.