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Nassir M, Levi M, Shaked NT. The Synergic Effect of Tubal Endometriosis and Women's Aging on Fallopian Tube Function: Insights from a 3D Mechanical Model. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:852. [PMID: 39199809 PMCID: PMC11351632 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11080852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The fallopian tubes are essential for human fertility, facilitating the movement of sperm and oocytes to the fertilization site and transporting fertilized oocytes to the uterus. Infertility can result from changes in the fallopian tubes due to tubal endometriosis and women's aging. In this study, we modeled human fallopian tubes with and without endometriosis for different women's age groups to evaluate the chances of normal sperm cells reaching the fertilization site and oocytes arriving at the uterine cavity. For this purpose, we employed a distinctive combination of simulation tools to develop a dynamic three-dimensional (3D) model of normal human sperm cells and oocytes swimming inside normal and endometriosis-affected human fallopian tubes for different women's group ages. We observed that in tubal endometriosis cases, fewer sperm cells reach the fertilization site and more oocytes become trapped in the tube walls compared to normal tubes. Additionally, aging decreases the number of sperm cells and oocytes reaching the fertilization site in normal and endometriosis-affected tubes. Our model evaluates the mechanisms of sperm and oocyte behaviors due to women's aging and fallopian tube issues caused by endometriosis, presenting new avenues for developing diagnostic and treatment tools for tubal endometriosis and age-related infertility issues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Natan T. Shaked
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; (M.N.); (M.L.)
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2
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Dawson M, Flores D, Zou L, Anandasenthil S, Mahesh R, Zavala-Romero O, Arora R. Imaging the dynamics of murine uterine contractions in early pregnancy†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1175-1190. [PMID: 38713674 PMCID: PMC11180618 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Uterine muscle contractility is essential for reproductive processes including sperm and embryo transport, and during the uterine cycle to remove menstrual effluent. Even still, uterine contractions have primarily been studied in the context of preterm labor. This is partly due to a lack of methods for studying the uterine muscle contractility in the intact organ. Here, we describe an imaging-based method to evaluate mouse uterine contractility of both the longitudinal and circular muscles in the cycling stages and in early pregnancy. By transforming the image-based data into three-dimensional spatiotemporal contractility maps, we calculate waveform characteristics of muscle contractions, including amplitude, frequency, wavelength, and velocity. We report that the native organ is highly contractile during the progesterone-dominant diestrus stage of the cycle when compared to the estrogen-dominant proestrus and estrus stages. We also observed that during the first phase of uterine embryo movement when clustered embryos move toward the middle of the uterine horn, contractions are dynamic and non-uniform between different segments of the uterine horn. In the second phase of embryo movement, contractions are more uniform and rhythmic throughout the uterine horn. Finally, in Lpar3-/- uteri, which display faster embryo movement, we observe global and regional increases in contractility. Our method provides a means to understand the wave characteristics of uterine smooth muscle in response to modulators and in genetic mutants. Better understanding uterine contractility in the early pregnancy stages is critical for the advancement of artificial reproductive technologies and a possibility of modulating embryo movement during clinical embryo transfers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Dawson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Diana Flores
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Lisa Zou
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Shivani Anandasenthil
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rohit Mahesh
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Olmo Zavala-Romero
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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Combs DJ, Moult EM, England SK, Cohen AE. Mapping uterine calcium dynamics during the ovulatory cycle in live mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.02.578395. [PMID: 38370720 PMCID: PMC10871303 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.02.578395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Uterine contraction patterns vary during the ovulatory cycle and throughout pregnancy but prior measurements have produced limited and conflicting information on these patterns. We combined a virally delivered genetically encoded calcium reporter (GCaMP8m) and ultra-widefield imaging in live nonpregnant mice to characterize uterine calcium dynamics at organ scale throughout the estrous cycle. Prior to ovulation (proestrus and estrus) uterine excitations primarily initiated in a region near the oviduct, but after ovulation (metestrus and diestrus), excitations initiated at loci homogeneously distributed throughout the organ. The frequency of excitation events was lowest in proestrus and estrus, higher in metestrus and highest in diestrus. These results establish a platform for mapping uterine activity, and show that the question of whether there is an anatomically localized trigger for uterine excitations depends on the estrous cycle phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Combs
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University
| | - Eric M. Moult
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University
| | - Sarah K. England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine
| | - Adam E. Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University
- Department of Physics, Harvard University
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Woodhams LG, Guo J, Schuftan D, Boyle JJ, Pryse KM, Elson EL, Huebsch N, Genin GM. Virtual blebbistatin: A robust and rapid software approach to motion artifact removal in optical mapping of cardiomyocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2212949120. [PMID: 37695908 PMCID: PMC10515162 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2212949120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent reporters of cardiac electrophysiology provide valuable information on heart cell and tissue function. However, motion artifacts caused by cardiac muscle contraction interfere with accurate measurement of fluorescence signals. Although drugs such as blebbistatin can be applied to stop cardiac tissue from contracting by uncoupling calcium-contraction, their usage prevents the study of excitation-contraction coupling and, as we show, impacts cellular structure. We therefore developed a robust method to remove motion computationally from images of contracting cardiac muscle and to map fluorescent reporters of cardiac electrophysiological activity onto images of undeformed tissue. When validated on cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in both monolayers and engineered tissues, the method enabled efficient and robust reduction of motion artifact. As with pharmacologic approaches using blebbistatin for motion removal, our algorithm improved the accuracy of optical mapping, as demonstrated by spatial maps of calcium transient decay. However, unlike pharmacologic motion removal, our computational approach allowed direct analysis of calcium-contraction coupling. Results revealed calcium-contraction coupling to be more uniform across cells within engineered tissues than across cells in monolayer culture. The algorithm shows promise as a robust and accurate tool for optical mapping studies of excitation-contraction coupling in heart tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis G Woodhams
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Jingxuan Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - David Schuftan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - John J Boyle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Kenneth M Pryse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Elliot L Elson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Nathaniel Huebsch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Guy M Genin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
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Wang R, Huang H, Tan Y, Xia G. Efficacy of atosiban for repeated embryo implantation failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1161707. [PMID: 37033236 PMCID: PMC10076890 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1161707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repeated embryo implantation failure (RIF) posed a significant challenge in assisted reproduction. Evidence of its therapeutic effectiveness including atosiban used around embryo transfer to improve pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) remained inconsistent. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of atosiban on pregnancy outcomes of patients with RIF who received IVF-ET. METHODS The research was designed using the PICOS format. A systematic search of four English databases, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and one Chinse database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was conducted. The time range was from inception to December 10, 2022. Then trials comparing the efficacy of atosiban and control group on pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients who receive IVF-ET were included. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed to reduce the influence of heterogeneity between included studies. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The main outcome measure was clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). For the analyses, StataMP 17.0 (Stata Corporation, USA) was used. RESULTS Two prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one prospective cohort study and four retrospective cohort studies were included. Our results showed that atosiban was associated with higher clinical pregnancy rate (RR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.365-1.735, P < 0.001, I2 = 0.0%). The results of subgroup analysis based on study types (prospective randomized controlled clinical trial, retrospective cohort study and prospective cohort study) showed that in all types of studies, CPR of atosiban group was significantly higher than controlled group. The results of subgroup analysis based upon the diagnostic criteria of number of previous embryo transfer failures showed that the intervention of atosiban improved the CPR whether in participants with 2 previous ET failures or in participants with 3 previous ET failures. Nevertheless, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and miscarriages were not significantly different between the case and control groups. CONCLUSION For women who are undergoing IVF-ET and have experienced repeated embryo implantation failure, atosiban may be an important factor in enhancing pregnancy outcomes. To confirm this conclusion, more thorough, prospective randomized controlled studies of sizable sample sizes with well design are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxin Wang
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haixia Huang
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Tan
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Guicheng Xia, ; Yong Tan,
| | - Guicheng Xia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Guicheng Xia, ; Yong Tan,
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Qu M, Lu P, Bellve K, Lifshitz LM, ZhuGe R. Mode Switch of Ca 2 + Oscillation-Mediated Uterine Peristalsis and Associated Embryo Implantation Impairments in Mouse Adenomyosis. Front Physiol 2021; 12:744745. [PMID: 34803733 PMCID: PMC8599363 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.744745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenomyosis is a debilitating gynecological disease of the uterus with no medicinal cure. The tissue injury and repair hypothesis for adenomyosis suggests that uterine hyperperistalsis or dysperistalsis plays a pivotal role in establishing adenomyotic lesions. However, specific impairments in uterine peristalsis and the underlying cellular signals for these changes in adenomyosis remain elusive. Here, we report a precision-cut uterine slice preparation that preserves in vivo uterine architecture and generates peristalsis similar to that seen in the whole uterus. We found that uterine peristalsis in neonatal mice at day 14 and adult mice at day 55 presents as bursts with multiple peaks induced by intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. Using a mouse model of adenomyosis induced by tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, we discovered that uterine peristalsis and Ca2+ oscillations from adenomyotic uteri on days 14 and 55 become spikes (single peaks) with smaller amplitudes. The peak frequency of Ca2+ oscillations or peristalsis does not show a difference between control and adenomyotic mice. However, both the estimated force generated by uterine peristalsis and the total Ca2+ raised by Ca2+ oscillations are smaller in uteri from adenomyotic mice. Uteri from adenomyotic mice on day 14, but not on day 55, exhibit hyperresponsiveness to oxytocin. Embryo implantations are decreased in adenomyotic adult mice. Our results reveal a mode switch from bursts to spikes (rather than an increased peak frequency) of uterine Ca2+ oscillations and peristalsis and concurrent hyperresponsiveness to oxytocin in the neonatal stage are two characteristics of adenomyosis. These characteristics may contribute to embryo implantation impairments and decreased fertility in adenomyosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzi Qu
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ping Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Karl Bellve
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Lawrence M Lifshitz
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ronghua ZhuGe
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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Elad D, Jaffa AJ, Grisaru D. Biomechanics of Early Life in the Female Reproductive Tract. Physiology (Bethesda) 2021; 35:134-143. [PMID: 32027564 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00028.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Early human life that starts at the onset of fertilization and ends with implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall is the foundation for a successful pregnancy. The different stages during this period require biomechanical mechanisms, which are mostly unknown due to difficulties to conduct in vivo studies in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Elad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ariel J Jaffa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dan Grisaru
- Gynecological Oncology Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Genna CW, Saperstein Y, Siegel SA, Laine AF, Elad D. Quantitative imaging of tongue kinematics during infant feeding and adult swallowing reveals highly conserved patterns. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e14685. [PMID: 33547883 PMCID: PMC7866619 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tongue motility is an essential physiological component of human feeding from infancy through adulthood. At present, it is a challenge to distinguish among the many pathologies of swallowing due to the absence of quantitative tools. We objectively quantified tongue kinematics from ultrasound imaging during infant and adult feeding. The functional advantage of this method is presented in several subjects with swallowing difficulties. We demonstrated for the first time the differences in tongue kinematics during breast- and bottle-feeding, showing the arrhythmic sucking pattern during bottle-feeding as compared with breastfeeding in the same infant with torticollis. The method clearly displayed the improvement of tongue motility after frenotomy in infants with either tongue-tie or restrictive labial frenulum. The analysis also revealed the absence of posterior tongue peristalsis required for safe swallowing in an infant with dysphagia. We also analyzed for the first time the tongue kinematics in an adult during water bolus swallowing demonstrating tongue peristaltic-like movements in both anterior and posterior segments. First, the anterior segment undulates to close off the oral cavity and the posterior segment held the bolus, and then, the posterior tongue propelled the bolus to the pharynx. The present methodology of quantitative imaging revealed highly conserved patterns of tongue kinematics that can differentiate between swallowing pathologies and evaluate treatment interventions. The method is novel and objective and has the potential to advance knowledge about the normal swallowing and management of feeding disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yiela Saperstein
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Scott A. Siegel
- School of Medicine/School of Dental MedicineStony Brook UniversitySuffolk CountyNYUSA
| | - Andrew F. Laine
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - David Elad
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTel‐Aviv UniversityTel‐AvivIsrael
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Abstract
This theme issue of
Interface Focus
is the first of two sets of articles on the topic of bioengineering in women's health. Although there is a long history of collaboration between engineers and medical professionals in orthopaedics and cardiovascular medicine, there has been growing interest in the last decade for interdisciplinary collaborations in other areas of medical science. This growth is particularly true in the case of women's health, a traditionally underserved area of research in the scientific community where fundamental knowledge of female physiology is still needed. Women's health is a broad category encompassing reproduction, fertility, maternal health, normal and abnormal pregnancy and the sequelae associated with a difficult childbirth. Women's health also includes sex-associated pathology associated with cancer, pain, cardiac disease, osteoporosis and other diseases. This list is not exhaustive with new scientific frontiers developing based on the evolving discourse of medicine for all. This first issue in the series focuses on bioengineering advances in the study of the non-pregnant woman, and the articles highlight important developments in pelvic floor disorders, biomedical devices, fertility, breast implant failure and breast cancer. The second issue in the series focuses on pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin S. Miller
- Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, 500 Lindy Boggs Center, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Kristin Myers
- Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USA
| | - Michelle Oyen
- Department of Engineering, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
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