Effect of preserving condition of porcine ovaries on the development of in vitro matured oocytes.

The effect of preservation condition of ovaries on the in vitro maturation of the porcine oocytes was studied. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained from the ovaries preserved in Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution at various temperatures for different time intervals, and cultured in M199 maturation medium. Matured oocytes were obtained from the ovaries preserved in PBS for 8 h and electrically activated. The activated oocytes were then cultured in NCSU23 embryo culture medium for 16 h to observe activation or 144 h to observe embryo development. It was found that the preservation temperature affected the maturation of porcine oocytes greatly. The effect was described as a compromise of the suppressions of autolysis at physiological temperature and frostbite because of low temperature. A preservation temperature of approximately 25°C showed the maximum maturation rate for a preservation time of 8 h. Preservation temperature also affected the activation and embryo development of porcine oocytes greatly, following a trend similar to the effect of preservation temperature on the maturation. Based on maturation rate, activation rate and cleavage rate, a preservation temperature of approximately 25°C would be optimum for a preservation time of 8 h.

Pegylated interferon alpha-2a versus standard interferon alpha-2a for treatment-naive dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C: a randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in dialysis patients, and standard interferon monotherapy is the current standard of care for such patients. AIM: To investigate whether pegylated interferon has a better therapeutic efficacy and safety profile than standard interferon in dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: 50 such patients were randomly assigned to receive either pegylated interferon alpha-2a 135 microg subcutaneously once per week or standard interferon alpha-2a 3 million units subcutaneously thrice per week for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy and safety end points were sustained virological response (SVR) by intention-to-treat analysis and treatment-related withdrawal rate during the study. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a tended to have a higher sustained virological response (SVR) than those receiving standard interferon alpha-2a (48% vs 20%, p = 0.07). By using multivariate analysis, treatment with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (p = 0.02) and pretreatment HCV RNA level <800 000 IU/ml (p = 0.007) were independently predictive of an SVR. All patients failing to achieve a rapid virological response (RVR) could not achieve an SVR. In addition, patients receiving pegylated interferon alpha-2a had a significantly lower treatment-related withdrawal rate than those receiving standard interferon alpha-2a (0% vs 20%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Pegylated interferon alpha-2a once weekly provides more effective and safer therapy than standard interferon alpha-2a thrice weekly for treatment-naive dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C.