Among seven testis-specific molecular markers, SPEM1 appears to have a significant clinical value for prediction of sperm retrieval in azoospermic men.

BACKGROUND: To achieve sperm retrieval in azoospermic men, predicting the success rate seems to be necessary. OBJECTIVES: In the present study we aimed to assess expression of seven molecular markers [ESX1, DAZ, DAZL (pre-meiotic markers), ZMYND15, PRM1, TNP1, and SPEM1 (post-meiotic markers)] to predict the success of sperm retrieval. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 63 azoospermic men [16 OA (obstructive azoospermia) and 47 NOA (nonobstructive azoospermia)] undergoing testicular tissue microdissection (micro-TESE) for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Expression levels of these target genes were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using the DDCt method, and efficacy of each gene was compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Expression of post-meiotic transcripts significantly decreases in NOA and its subgroups (SCOS: Sertoli cell only syndrome, MA: maturation arrest, and HS: hypospermatogenesis) with spermatogenic failure compared to normal spermatogenesis (OA), with an exception of ZMYND15 for the HS group. These findings suggest the differential expression of the post-meiotic ZMYND15 marker is in accordance with histological findings and can discriminate HS from SCOS and MA. Post-meiotic markers were significantly reduced in negative vs. positive sperm retrieval groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Among the seven markers, SPEM1 had the best positive prediction power (96%) and negative prediction power (85%) at a 0.086 cutoff with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 for receiver operating characteristic 4 (ROC) to predict the micro-TESE outcome.

Fndc5 knockdown significantly decreased neural differentiation rate of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 protein (Fndc5) or peroxisomal protein, is a type I membrane protein that has 209 amino acid residues. Previous studies by our group have shown an increase in its expression after retinoic acid treatment of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) during the process of neural differentiation, leading us to conclude that it might be involved in neurogenesis. In the present study, we have constructed an inducible short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vector that is expressed under induction by doxycycline. Next, we generated a stably transformed mESCs line that expressed shRNA against the Fndc5 gene. The knockdown of Fndc5 was performed in two stages of mESC neural differentiation during and post-neural progenitor (NP) formation. Our results indicated that in the process of NPs formation, decreased Fndc5 expression significantly reduced expression of NPs and mature neuronal markers which modulated neuronal differentiation. Decreased Fndc5 expression during the post-NPs formation stage also caused significant reduction in the levels of mature neuronal markers. Fndc5 knockdown during both stages significantly affected both neuronal and astrocytes maturation. We have concluded that Fndc5 expression is required for the appropriate neural differentiation of mESCs. These data confirm the importance of Fndc5 in the generation and development of the nervous system.

Selected physiologic measures and behavior during paternal skin contact with Colombian preterm infants.

A descriptive study of eleven healthy preterm infants was conducted in which cardiorespiratory (heart and respiratory rates, oxygen saturation), thermal (abdominal, toe and tympanic temperatures) and state behavior responses to two hours of paternal skin-to-skin contact within the first 17 hours of birth in Colombia, South America were evaluated. Infant physiologic and behavioral state measures were recorded each minute as was paternal skin temperature and behavior. Infant heart and respiratory rates increased during paternal contact as did abdominal and core temperatures. Fathers were able to keep their infants sufficiently warm, and five infants became hyperthermic (tympanic temperature greater than 37.5 degrees C) despite cooling measures while being held in this climate. Infants slept most of the time while being held and fathers seldom gazed at, spoke to, or touched their infants while holding them. When mothers are unavailable, fathers may be an alternate source of warmth and comfort to infants.