Fertilization and early embryonic development of in vitro matured metaphase I oocytes in patients with unexpected low oocyte maturity rate.

To determine the fertilization and embryonic potential of immature metaphase I (MI) oocytes in patients with low oocyte maturity rate in whom the percentage of mature oocytes obtained was less than 75% of the total retrieved ones. In vivo matured metaphase II (MII) oocytes (MII-ICSI, n = 244), and in vitro matured MI oocytes (MI-MII-ICSI, n = 202) underwent an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure. Maturation rate, fertilization rate and early embryonic development were compared in both groups. In total, 683 oocytes were collected from 117 ICSI cycles of 117 patients. Among them, 244 (35.7%) were mature MII and 259 (37.9%) were MI after the denudation process. Of those 259 MI oocytes, 202 (77.9%) progressed to MII oocytes after an incubation period of 18-24 h. The maturation rate was 77.9%. Fertilization rate was found to be significantly higher in the rescued in vitro matured MI oocyte group when compared with the in vivo matured MII oocyte group (41.6% vs 25.8%; P = 0.0006). However, no significant difference was observed in terms of cleavage rates on days 2 and 3 between the groups (P = 0.9126 and P = 0.5031, respectively). There may be unidentified in vivo factors on the oocyte maturation causing low developmental capacity in spite of high fertilization rates in the group of patients with low oocyte maturity rate. Furthermore, studies are needed to determine the appropriate culture characteristics as well as culture period and ICSI timing of these oocytes.

Prevalence and predictors of the usage of complementary alternative medicine among infertile patients.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and the most frequently used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods among infertile couples. A secondary aim was to assess predictors and patients' attitude to disclose the usage of CAM. METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey and conducted on patients admitted to infertility clinics of two hospitals. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CAM among 324 infertile participants (162 couples) was 25.6 % (n = 83). 48 % of the infertile couples had experience with at least one type of CAM method and the most commonly used CAM was herbal products (84 %). The frequency of CAM tended to be higher among females compared to males (33 % versus 17 %, respectively; p = 0.02). Patients who failed to conceive with previous medical therapies were more inclined to use CAM (p = 0.01). After logistic regression analyses, only gender and previous unsuccessful ART treatment were found to be associated independently with CAM use. CONCLUSION: CAM use is common among infertile population. CAM users were more likely to be women at any age who had failed to achieve a pregnancy with previous artificial reproductive treatment(s), mainly used herbal products and mostly reluctant to report the use of CAM.

Protective effect of calpain inhibitor N-acetyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-norleucinal on acute alcohol consumption related cardiomyopathy.

Excessive alcohol consumption and alcoholism cause medical problems with high mortality and morbidity rates. In this study we aimed to decrease the alcohol related tissue damage by inhibiting calpain activation which plays an important role in apoptosis and necrosis, in rats with cardiomyopathy induced by acute alcohol consumption. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four groups (control, vehicle, alcohol and alcohol + inhibitor) with 10 rats in each. Control group received isocaloric maltose while vehicle group received isocaloric maltose with DMSO, and alcohol group received 8 g/kg absolute ethanol by gavage. Inhibitor group received 20 mg/kg calpain inhibitor 1 intraperitonally prior to alcohol administration. Calpain activities, cathepsin L levels and cytochrome c release rates were significantly increased in alcohol group compared to control group (p < 0.05). Serum CK MB and BNP levels of alcohol group were excessively increased compared to control group (respectively p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). Serum BNP levels of alcohol + inhibitor group were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased compared to alcohol group. In addition to these, histological evaluation of light microscope images and the results of DNA fragmentation and immunohistochemical caspase-3 activity results showed significant improvement of these parameters in alcohol + inhibitor group compared to alcohol group. Results of our biochemical and histological evaluation results revealed that the calpain inhibitor N-acetyl-leu-leu-norleucinal may have an ameliorating effect on acute alcohol consumption related cardiac tissue damage due to its effects on cell death pathways.

The effects of combined application of autogenous fibroblast cell culture and full-tissue skin graft (FTSG) on wound healing and contraction in full-thickness tissue defects.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the effects of culture grown fibroblasts on contraction and dermal regeneration when used concurrently with full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) in full-thickness wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into two groups. In the first group, wound contraction was evaluated visually. Two full thickness tissue defects were produced on the back of the seven rats. The skin harvested from these areas was prepared as a full-thickness graft and sutured back to their original beds. Just before the last suture, autogenous fibroblast suspension was applied between the graft and the bed in area 1, and area 2 served as control. The surface area of grafts were calculated and compared with "Image J" program. In the second group, contraction and dermal regeneration were evaluated histologically. Three full-thickness tissue defects were produced on the back of seven rats. Area 1 and 2 were prepared as described above and area 3 was left to secondary healing. On the 14th and 30th days, punch biopsies were harvested from the center of the areas 1-3. Preparations were examined under light microscopy. RESULTS: Wound contraction was significantly less in area 1 on day 14 (p<0.01). Histologically neovascularization, fibroblast density and collagen synthesis were more evident in cultured fibroblast applied areas on day 14. However epithelialization did not show any difference between areas both on days 14 and 30. On day 30, area 1 still a higher degree of fibroblast intensity than the other areas but neovascularization and collagen synthesis were not different than the other areas. CONCLUSION: According to the data obtained from the study, cultured fibroblasts, particularly with a dermal support, do not regress when transplanted to a living tissue. They contribute to the wound healing process; reduce the contraction of the wound; and support collagen synthesis and neovascularization.