Search results for "OBS"
showing 10 items of 6542 documents
Human Breast Milk NMR Metabolomic Profile across Specific Geographical Locations and Its Association with the Milk Microbiota
2018
The composition of human breast milk is highly variable, and it can be influenced by genetics, diet, lifestyle, and other environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate the impact of geographical location and mode of delivery on the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) metabolic profile of breast milk and its relationship with the milk microbiome. Human milk metabolic and microbiota profiles were determined using NMR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively, in 79 healthy women from Finland, Spain, South Africa, and China. Up to 68 metabolites, including amino acids, oligosaccharides, and fatty acid-associated metabolites, were identified in the milk NMR spectra. The meta…
Identification and Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles and Its DNA Cargo Secreted During Murine Embryo Development
2020
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to transport DNA, but their implications in embryonic implantation are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate EVs production and secretion by preimplantation embryos and assess their DNA cargo. Murine oocytes and embryos were obtained from six- to eight-week-old females, cultured until E4.5 and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy to examine EVs production. EVs were isolated from E4.5-day conditioned media and quantified by nanoparticle tracking analysis, characterized by immunogold, and their DNA cargo sequenced. Multivesicular bodies were observed in murine oocytes and preimplantation embryos together with the secretion of EVs t…
Improved Models of Human Endometrial Organoids Based on Hydrogels from Decellularized Endometrium
2021
Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tissue models that mimic their corresponding in vivo tissue. Successful efforts have derived organoids from primary tissues such as intestine, liver, and pancreas. For human uterine endometrium, the recent generation of 3D structures from primary endometrial cells is inspiring new studies of this important tissue using precise preclinical models. To improve on these 3D models, we decellularized pig endometrium containing tissue-specific extracellular matrix and generated a hydrogel (EndoECM). Next, we derived three lines of human endometrial organoids and cultured them in optimal and suboptimal culture expansion media with or without EndoEC…
Moral assessment of frozen human embryo adoption in the light of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
2017
As the number of frozen human embryos continues to rise daily, with numbers not expected to fall, an answer must be found to this dilemma. Four possible solutions have been suggested: a) thaw the embryos and allow them to perish; b) thaw them and donate them for biomedical research; c) thaw them and donate them in adoption; and d) leave them frozen indefinitely. This paper will evaluate the morality of these four possible solutions, particularly frozen human embryo adoption in the light of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, which in its Instruction Dignitas Personae, appears to have opted to consider this practice as illicit. We also review the various stances of expert moralists in fa…
Knowledge, Awareness And Perceptions Of Females On Clandestine Abortion In Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana
2016
Clandestine Abortion will continue to be an integral part of human society as long as people continue to accept and engage in sexual activities without being prepared to give birth. Despite the risks (death and other health complication) involved in clandestine abortion, people continue to engage in the act. The central inquiry is; why do people continue to do clandestine abortions despite its associated risk? Do people have knowledge on abortion concerning its legalities and associated risks? This paper thus seeks to clarify the above questions by examining the knowledge, awareness and perceptions of females on abortion, with focus on clandestine abortion in the Kintampo North Municipality…
The Impact of Estrogen Decline on Other Noncommunicable Diseases
2017
Estrogens have specific receptors spread out in various systems of the organism. The drastic hormonal fall after menopause may be followed by a series of effects, which may be more or less relevant in the different areas of the organism. The bone constitutes a field that clearly reflects that impact, and postmenopausal osteoporosis has received attention in one ad hoc chapter. The present chapter reviews the impact on functions of the central nervous system, particularly cognition and mood, the skeletal system, specifically osteoarthritis, and the cardiovascular system. The obvious interest of the chapter derives from the importance of the selected systems, which may house highly prevalent …
Return to Sports and Recreational Activity After Single-Stage Bilateral Short-Stem Total Hip Arthroplasty: 5-Year Results of a Prospective Observatio…
2019
Background:Single-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) is an alternative to staged unilateral THA in patients suffering from bilateral hip arthritis; however, there is still broad concern regarding the safety and reliability of this procedure. Short-stem THA has emerged in recent years. To date, no data are available on sports and recreational activity levels after single-stage bilateral short-stem THA in the general patient population.Hypothesis:Patients who have undergone single-stage bilateral short-stem THA return to a satisfying level of sports and recreational activity at midterm follow-up.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A total of 54 consecutive patient…
Cell Proliferation High-Content Screening on Adherent Cell Cultures
2019
Pulse-chase experiments using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), or the more recent EdU (5-etynil-2'-deoxyuridine), enable the identification of cells going through S phase. This chapter describes a high-content proliferation assay pipeline for adherent cell cultures. High-throughput imaging is followed by high-content data analysis using a non-supervised ImageJ macroinstruction that segments the individual nuclei, determines the nucleoside analogue absence/presence, and measures the signal of up to two additional nuclear markers. Based upon the specific combination with proliferation-specific protein immunostaining, the percentage of cells undergoing different phases of the cell cycle (G0, G1…
Diet and environmental factors affecting reproduction
2021
Abstract Diet and exposure to certain chemical compounds related to industrial development could be responsible for the increase in the incidence of human reproductive diseases and the consequent decrease in reproductive function worldwide. The role of diet and environment in fertility has received more attention in recent years because nutrition and exposure to contaminants can affect fecundity in women of reproductive age. Here, we review how diet could affect reproduction. Furthermore, we will review how the most ubiquitous contaminants could disrupt endometrial receptivity and implantation, focusing also on clinical studies performed in the last years.
Influence of fetal glutathione S-transferase copy number variants on adverse reproductive outcomes
2012
A nested case-control association study was designed to investigate the influence of maternal and fetal copy number variants (CNVs) on reproductive outcomes. Genotypes of ten CNVs encompassing GST and CYP genes were assessed. Significant associations were only found for child CNV genotypes. In particular, the child GSTM1 insertion allele was associated with prematurity protection (odds ratio, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.51-0.89; P < 0.01), whereas the child GSTT2B insertion allele was associated with an increased risk of being small for gestational age (odds ratio, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.07-1.67; P = 0.01). The study highlights the role of the fetal genome in prenatal development and also the need to analyse …