[Assessing the impact of bladder ultrasound on catheter-associated urinary tract infections and health-care costs: an observational pre-post study]

. Assessing the impact of bladder ultrasound on catheter-associated urinary tract infections and health-care costs: an observational pre-post study.

INTRODUCTION

The placement of a urinary catheter is a standard procedure, but it can cause discomfort, increase the risk of infections and costs. Pelvic ultrasound is a non-invasive assessment of the bladder and bladder catheter placement that can be performed by nurses.

AIM

To assess the appropriateness of urinary catheter placement using bladder ultrasound, to monitor urinary catheter-associated urinary tract infections and costs associated with catheter use.

METHODS

A single-centre pre-post observational study was conducted from September 2021 to August 2022 in patients aged >18 years requiring urinary monitoring; the first 6 months patients were assessed without the use of bladder ultrasound (control group), while the last 6 months with bladder ultrasound.

RESULTS

189 patients were included in the pre-ultrasound group and 175 patients in the post-ultrasound group; the demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups were comparable. The rate of inappropriate catheterisation was 22.6% in the pre-group, whereas no inappropriate catheterisation was performed in the post-group. There was a 2.2% of absolute reduction in the rate of urinary tract infections (from 8.5% to 6.3%). Costs associated with the use of urinary catheters were reduced by 74.2% (from 173 to 44.8 euros).

CONCLUSIONS

Bladder ultrasound in clinical practice is feasible and reduced the inappropriate use of bladder catheters, reducing patient risks and healthcare costs.

Enumeration of Probiotic Bacilli Spores in Animal Feed: Interlaboratory Study

Fourteen out of 17 laboratories completed an interlaboratory study comparing 2 pretreatment protocols of feed samples containing authorized probiotic bacilli spores. Both methods used tryptone soy agar for enumeration. Pretreatment A involved preparation of a suspension of the feed sample in 50% ethanol. For pretreatment B, the sample was suspended in peptone salt solution and heated at 80°C for 10 min. Each laboratory analyzed 12 samples (6 per pretreatment), which represented duplicates of a high (109 colony-forming units [CFU]/g) and low (105 CFU/g) level of bacilli spores or a blank that contained vegetative probiotic bacteria only. For pretreatment A, the re-peatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) was 2.9% for the low level and 2.5% for the high. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) values were 7.8 and 5.9%, respectively. Pretreatment B revealed RSDr values of 1.1 and 1.0%, and RSDR values of 5.8 and 3.4%, respectively. The heat treatment (pretreatment B) of feed samples had better precision data, resulted in higher viable bacilli counts, and was more effective in deactivating vegetative background flora. It is therefore recommended for adoption for official control purposes and for CEN and ISO standards.

Enumeration of Probiotic Pediococci in Animal Feed: Interlaboratory Study

An enumeration method to be used as official control under Council Directive 70/524/EEC for probiotic pediococci used as feed additives was validated for consideration for adoption as Comitée Européen de Normalisation (CEN) and ISO standards. Seventeen laboratories in 11 European countries carried out an interlaboratory study. A spread plate method following BS ISO 15214:1998 using 4 different agars [MRS, acidified MRS, MRS with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC), and a newly developed pediococci selective medium (PSM)] was validated. Precision data in terms of repeatability (r) and reproducibility (R) of the method for each medium using different feeding stuffs with a high and a low inoculation level were determined. Pediococci were present in the samples in mixtures with other probiotics. The enumeration of pediococci on all agars showedan RSDr value of 0.4–3.1% and an RSDR of 1.3–4.8%. MRS agar was preferred, followed by acidified MRS and MRS + TTC agar. All 4 media gave similar counts. Depending on the presence and concentration of other probiotic, such as enterococci, lactobacilli, and yeast, acidified MRS or MRS + TTC agar are recommended. The PSM was selective for pediococci and can be used if this species is present at a concentration more than 10-fold lower than other species that can grow on the MRS agars. The methodology with all 4 media is not applicable to mineral feed.

Socio-economic differences in healthcare access from a welfare system perspective, Italy: 2007-2010

Inequalities between poorer and wealthier people in accessing healthcare services have been widely studied, but the mechanisms generating them are still to be fully understood. Among these, there is still a lack of evidence of relationships between health prevention/health promotion policies, welfare systems and social differences. We analysed 68 201 females from the PASSI Italian surveillance system for the years 2007-2010. The prevalence of women undergoing Pap testing was used as an example of access to preventive services. An odds ratio gradient was found with regard to different welfare system clusters: the probability of undergoing a screening test is higher for more advanced welfare systems. A strong association was found between having received a letter from the local health unit and having undergone the screening test. Significant differences still exist between high- and low-income women and their access to Italian preventive public services. As we expected, social determinants play an important role in health disparities, as these are also strongly influenced by typologies of welfare systems and by health policies.

Modification of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A toxicokinetics in rats administered a yeast cell wall preparation

The cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can bind mycotoxins in vitro, but there is scarce information on whether this property decreases the absorption of mycotoxins in vivo. The effect of a yeast cell wall preparation (YCW) on toxicokinetics and balance excretion (urine and faeces) of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was tested in rats after oral administration of each toxin. The (3)H-labelled mycotoxins were used at low doses. Co-administration of YCW with AFB1 decreased the extent, but not the rate, of absorption. Concurrently, radioactivity excreted in faeces increased by up to 55% when compared with controls, whilst the excretion in urine decreased (p < 0.05). The effect of YCW on OTA was less marked, although it increased radioactivity excretion in faeces (up to 16%; p < 0.05) it did not result in changes in urine and toxicokinetic parameters. The in vivo effect is in agreement with the reported in vitro binding ability for these toxins (AFB1 > OTA). In conclusion, these results indicate that YCW could be used to protect monogastric animals against exposure to low dietary levels of selected mycotoxins.

Discrete spiral modes in disk galaxies: Some numerical examples based on density wave theory

Discrete growing spiral modes are calculated, on the basis of principles of stellar dynamics, according to the recently developed asymptotic theory of density waves for spiral structure in galaxies. From the growth rates obtained, it appears likely that several spiral modes coexist in a given disk galaxy. General properties of these modes are described for two galaxy models, and some of their important observational implications are discussed.

Metabolic and hematological profiles in mature horses supplemented with different selenium sources and doses

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary Se source and dose on metabolic and hematological profiles, and their relationships with oxidative status in horses. Twenty-five mature horses were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 5 dietary treatments: negative control (CTRL: 0.085 mg of Se/kg of DM), 3 different dietary concentrations of organic Se provided by Se yeast (SY02, SY03, and SY04 containing 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg of total Se/kg of DM, respectively), and 1 positive control provided by sodium selenite (SS03 containing 0.3 mg of total Se/kg of DM). Horses were fed the same basal diet (6 kg of grass hay and 3 kg of concentrate per horse daily) and received their respective treatments for a continuous period of 112 d. Jugular venous blood samples were collected before the morning feed on d 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112. Whole blood was analyzed for hematological profile, and plasma was analyzed for metabolites of energy, protein, and mineral metabolism; enzymatic activities and metabolites related to liver and muscle damage; and markers of inflammatory and oxidative status. Plasma metabolites related to energy, protein, and mineral metabolism, acute phase proteins, and enzyme activities related to hepatocellular, hepatobiliary, and muscle damage were not affected by Se source or dose. There were no differences among treatments in either reactive oxygen metabolites or thiol group concentrations in plasma. However, a linear decrease (P < 0. 01) in plasma total antioxidants was observed with increasing Se yeast supplementation. Furthermore, total antioxidant concentrations were less in SY03 than SS03 horses (P < 0.05), and were less in SY03 and SY04 than CTRL horses (P < 0.05). These results could be interpreted as an improvement in the preventive antioxidant systems of horses fed Se yeast. Total white blood cell count was not affected by treatment. There was a tendency for horses receiving greater concentrations of Se yeast to have greater lymphocyte counts (P = 0.09), with greater lymphocyte counts in blood of SY03 vs. SS03 horses (P < 0.05). Despite the lack of effect of Se source and dose on markers of inflammatory and liver status, the hematological profile seems to indicate an immunomodulatory action, as shown by mild changes in the white blood cell populations in response to Se yeast inclusion.

Dietary glucomannan improves the vaccinal response in pigs exposed to aflatoxin B1 or T-2 toxin

The aim of the study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with yeast-derived glucomannan protects pigs against the deleterious effects that exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or T-2 toxin has on the vaccinal immune response and drug-metabolising enzymes. Three doses of pure mycotoxin (AFB1 trial: 482, 968 and 1,912 µg/kg feed; T-2 toxin trial: 593, 1,155 and 2,067 µg/kg feed) with or without dietary glucomannan supplementation (2 g/ kg feed) were tested in weaned pigs for 28 days. At days 4 and 15 pigs were immunised with ovalbumin to study the humoral and cell-mediated antigen-specific immune responses. The effects of AFB1 and T-2 toxin intake alone in pigs have already been published. In all parameters investigated no differences were apparent between animals receiving the unsupplemented control diet or the control diet containing glucomannan. In the AFB1 trial glucomannan decreased the severity of liver lesions in animals exposed to 968 µg/kg feed. Exposure to both AFB1 and T-2 toxin were associated with impaired phase I liver enzyme activities, but glucomannan demonstrated a limited protective effect on these enzymes. With regard to the immune defence system, both toxins modulated the vaccinal immune response; AFB1 impaired specific cellular response and T-2 toxin the specific humoral response. Glucomannan supplementation restored the ovalbumin-specific lymphocyte proliferation that was delayed in pigs exposed to AFB1, regardless of dose. In the T-2 toxin trial glucomannan supplementation restored anti-ovalbumin immunoglobulin G production, which was significantly reduced in pigs exposed to both medium and high doses of the toxin. In conclusion, glucomannan dietary supplementation demonstrated no deleterious effects in control animals and protective effects against AFB1 and T-2 toxin immunotoxicity during a vaccinal protocol.

Effects of selenium source and level of supplementation on the performance and meat quality of lambs

Objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, the quality and oxidative stability of meat, the total Se and specific selenoamino-acids content of muscle of lambs that were fed diets supplemented from different Se sources and at different levels. Forty-eight Apennine lambs 30day old (12.78±0.94kg) received, during a 63day period, a total mixed ration (TMR) which was either Se unsupplemented (Control group - background only- 0.13mg/kg Se) or supplemented with Na selenite (0.30mg/kg Se as sodium selenite) or selenium enriched yeast (0.30mg/kg and 0.45mg/kg Se as Se-yeast). Growth performance, feed to gain ratio, carcass and meat quality (pH, drip and cooking losses, colour, GSH-Px activity and chemical analysis) did not show any difference between the treatments. Meat colour and oxidative stability during 9 days of refrigerated storage were unaffected by dietary supplementation, suggesting that, at the levels of Se used in this experiment, dietary Se, even from an organic source, had limited potential for reducing lipid oxidation. Selenium supplementation raised the Se content in muscle (P<0.001) with the greatest increase when Se-yeast was fed. Although selenite increased total Se, it did not influence total or specific selenoamino-acids in this tissue. On the contrary, Se-yeast supplementation led to an increase in muscle Se-methionine content. We conclude that Se supplementation can increase significantly muscle Se levels and produce, particularly when Se-yeast is fed, a source of Se enriched meat as Se-methionine.

Effect of selenium source and dose on selenium status of mature horses

This study was conducted to determine the effects of either dietary Se source or dose on the Se status of horses. Twenty-five mature horses were blocked by BW and randomly allocated to 1 of 5 dietary treatments that comprised the same basal diet that differed only in Se source or dose. Treatments were as follows: negative control (0.085 mg of Se/kg of DM), 3 different dietary concentrations of supplemental organic Se (Se yeast; 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg of total Se/kg of DM), and positive control (0.3 mg of total Se/kg of DM) supplemented with Na selenite. Horses initially received the control diet (6 kg of grass hay and 3 kg of concentrate per horse daily) for 56 d to allow diet adaptation. After the period of diet adaptation, horses were offered their respective treatments for a continuous period of 112 d. Jugular venous blood samples were collected before the morning feed on d 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112. Whole blood and plasma were analyzed for total Se, glutathione peroxidase activity in whole blood (GPX-1) and plasma, and thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine) in plasma. The proportion of total Se as selenomethionine (SeMet) or selenocysteine in pooled whole blood and plasma samples was determined on d 0, 56, and 112. Data were analyzed as repeated measures. Total Se in blood and plasma and GPX-1 activity were greater in all supplemented horses (P < 0.001, except P < 0.01 for GPX-1 in horses supplemented with the least dose of Se yeast) with a linear dose effect of Se yeast for whole blood and plasma Se (P < 0.001) and a quadratic dose effect (P < 0.05) for whole blood GPX-1 activity. A plateau for total Se in plasma was achieved within 75 to 90 d, although this was not observed in blood total Se or GPX-1 activity. On d 84 and 112, horses supplemented with Se yeast showed greater total Se in blood (P < 0.05) compared with horses supplemented with Na selenite, and a source effect (P < 0.05) was observed in the relationship between total blood Se and GPX-1 activity. Selenocysteine (the predominant form of Se in whole blood and plasma) increased in all horses supplemented with Se. The SeMet content of whole blood and plasma increased in horses supplemented with Se yeast, but it was not observed in those supplemented with selenite. The rate of increase in SeMet over time was greater in whole blood (P < 0.05) and plasma (P = 0.10) with the Se yeast product. In conclusion, Se yeast was more effective than Na selenite in increasing total Se in blood, mainly as consequence of a greater increase of the proportion of Se comprised as SeMet, but it did not modify GPX-1 activity.

Effect of live yeast culture supplementation on apparent digestibility and rate of passage in horses fed a high-fiber or high-starch diet1

Eight crossbred male horses aged 12 +/- 5 yr and with BW of 305 +/- 18 kg were used in pairs in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 4 ground and pelleted diets. Each pair included a cecum and right ventral colon-fistulated animal and a cecal-fistulated animal. The 4 horse diets were a high-fiber diet (HF+0) based on dehydrated alfalfa, a high-starch diet based on barley and wheat bran (HS+0), and the HF or HS diets supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) CBS 493.94 (HF+SC and HS+SC). The probiotic preparation contained 4.5 x 10(9) cfu/g of live yeast mixed with the culture medium, and was top-dressed onto the feed pellets at a rate of 10 g/d, equally distributed between the 2 daily meals. All 4 diets were offered in the same quantities (18.0 g of pelleted feed DM + 3.5 g of long wheat straw/kg of BW per d). Each of the 4 experimental treatments was divided into a 21-d period of diet adaptation followed by a 10-d period of total fecal collection for digesta flow rate and apparent digestibility measurements. Three markers were used to measure mean retention time (MRT) of the feed particles: Yb bound to the pelleted feeds for MRT in the whole digestive tract (MRT(Yb)), Eu bound to the pelleted feeds, and Dy bound to the fecal particles for MRT in the hindgut (MRT(Eu) and MRT(Dy)). Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, and CP were greater (P < 0.001) in the HS than HF diet, independently of SC supplementation, whereas ADF digestibility was greatest in the HF diet (P = 0.035). Cellulolytic activity estimated through the in vitro disappearance rate of the dietary ADF fraction (IVAD(ADF)) was less (P < 0.001) in the HS than the HF diet. There was no dietary effect on NDF digestibility due to the longer MRT(Eu) of small particles in the hindgut (P = 0.036), which compensated for the lower fibrolytic activity expressed per unit of time in the HS compared with the HF diet. Supplementation with SC improved ADF digestibility (P = 0.038) and stimulated DM (P = 0.030) and NDF (P = 0.038) intakes, but had no effect on the MRT of solid digesta. The absence of any significant diet x SC interaction supports the strategy of using SC to stimulate cellulose digestion and improve the nutritional status of horses under both HF and HS diets.

Tolerance of ruminant animals to high dose in-feed administration of a selenium-enriched yeast1

The objective of the study was to determine if there were adverse effects on animal health and performance when a range of ruminant animal species were fed at least 10 times the maximum permitted European Union (EU) Se dietary inclusion rate (0.568 mg of Se/kg of DM) in the form of Se-enriched yeast (SY) derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CNCM I-3060. In a series of studies, dairy cows, beef cattle, calves, and lambs were offered a control diet that contained no Se supplement or a treatment diet that contained the same basal feed ingredients plus a SY supplement that increased total dietary Se from 0.15 to 6.25, 0.20 to 6.74, 0.15 to 5.86, and 0.14 to 6.63 mg of Se/kg of DM, respectively. The inclusion of the SY supplement increased (P < 0.001) whole-blood Se concentrations, reaching maximum mean values of 716, 1,505, 1,377, and 724 ng of Se/mL for dairy cattle, beef cattle, calves, and lambs, respectively. Seleno-methionine accounted for 10% of total whole-blood Se in control animals, whereas the proportion in SY animals ranged between 40 and 75%. Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) activity was greater (P < 0.05) in SY animals compared with controls. A range of other biochemical and hematological parameters were assessed, but few differences of biological significance were established between treatment groups. There were no differences between treatment groups within each species with regard to animal physical performance or overall animal health. It was concluded that there were no adverse effects on animal health, performance, and voluntary feed intake with the administration of at least 10 times the EU maximum, or approximately 20 times the US Food and Drug Administration permitted concentration of dietary Se in the form of SY derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060.

Cadmium: cellular effects, modifications of biomolecules, modulation of DNA repair and genotoxic consequences (a review)

Cadmium is an important toxic environmental heavy metal. Occupational and environmental pollution with cadmium results mainly from mining, metallurgy industry and manufactures of nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments and plastic stabilizers. Important sources of human intoxication are cigarette smoke as well as food, water and air contaminations. In humans, cadmium exposures have been associated with cancers of the prostate, lungs and testes. Acute exposures are responsible for damage to these organs. Chronic intoxication is associated with obstructive airway disease, emphysema, irreversible renal failure, bone disorders and immuno-suppression. At the cellular level, cadmium affects proliferation, differentiation and causes apoptosis. It has been classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). However, it is weakly genotoxic. Indirect effects of cadmium provoke generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage. Cadmium modulates also gene expression and signal transduction, reduces activities of proteins involved in antioxidant defenses. Several studies have shown that it interferes with DNA repair. The present review focuses on the effects of cadmium in mammalian cells with special emphasis on the induction of damage to DNA, membranes and proteins, the inhibition of different types of DNA repair and the induction of apoptosis. Current data and hypotheses on the mechanisms involved in cadmium genotoxicity and carcinogenesis are outlined.

Selenium Supplementation of Lactating Dairy Cows: Effect on Selenium Concentration in Blood, Milk, Urine, and Feces

The objectives were to determine effects of graded levels of selenized yeast derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I-3060) on animal performance and in selenium concentrations in the blood, milk, feces, and urine of dairy cows compared with sodium selenite; and to provide preliminary data on the proportion of selenium as selenomethionine in the milk and blood. Twenty Holstein cows were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design study in which all cows received the same total mixed rations, which varied only in source or concentration of dietary selenium. There were 5 experimental treatments. Total dietary selenium of treatment 1, which received no added selenium, was 0.15 mg/kg of dry matter, whereas values for treatments 2, 3, and 4, derived from selenized yeast, were 0.27, 0.33, and 0.40 mg/kg of dry matter, respectively. Treatment 5 contained 0.25 mg of selenium obtained from sodium selenite/kg of dry matter. There were no significant treatment effects on animal performance, and blood chemistry and hematology showed few treatment effects. Regression analysis noted significant positive linear effects of increasing dietary selenium derived from selenized yeast on selenium concentrations in the milk, blood, urine, and feces. In addition, milk selenium results indicated improved bioavailability of selenium from selenized yeast, compared with sodium selenite. Preliminary analyses showed that compared with sodium selenite, the use of selenized yeast increased the concentration of selenomethionine in the milk and blood. There was no indication of adverse effects on cow health associated with the use of selenized yeast.

Influence of pH on complexing of model beta-d-glucans with zearalenone

Previous studies have shown that isolated beta-(1,3 and 1,6)-D-glucans and related alkali-extracted fractions from the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are able to complex with zearalenone in vitro (affinity up to 50%) and thus may reduce the bioavailability of toxins in the digestive tract. The complexation mechanisms involve cooperative interaction between the two chemical entities that can be computed by Hill's model. Various linear or branched soluble or insoluble beta-D-glucans were evaluated to elucidate their roles in the adsorption mechanisms under three pH conditions (3.0, 6.0, and 8.0) found in the digestive tract. A constant quantity of each beta-D-glucans (1 mg/ml) was mixed at 39 degrees C with increasing amounts of zearalenone (2 to 100 microg/ml), and the amount of bound toxin was measured. Acidic and neutral conditions gave the highest affinity rates (64 to 77%) by beta-(1,3)-D-glucans, whereas alkaline conditions decreased adsorption except when beta-(1,6)-D-glucan side chains were branched on beta-(1,3)-D-glucans. Alkaline conditions appear to impede the active three dimensional conformation of beta-D-glucans and favor single helix and/or random coil structures. Study of the equilibrium between beta-D-glucan-bound and free toxins revealed that two types of chemical interactions occur during toxin complexation with beta-D-glucans, identified as weak chemical linkages such as hydrogen and van der Waals bonds.

Adsorption of Zearalenone by beta-D-glucans in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall

Cell walls of yeasts and bacteria are able to complex with mycotoxins and limit their bioavailability in the digestive tract when these yeasts and bacteria are given as feed additives to animals. To identify the component(s) of the yeast cell wall and the chemical interaction(s) involved in complex formation with zearalenone, four strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae differing in their cell wall glucan and mannan content were tested. Laboratory strains wt292, fks1, and mnn9 were compared with industrial S. cerevisiae strain sc1026. The complex-forming capacity of the yeast cell walls was determined in vitro by modelling the plots of amount of toxin bound versus amount of toxin added using Hill's model. A cooperative relationship between toxin and adsorbent was shown, and a correlation between the amount of beta-D-glucans in cell walls and complex-forming efficacy was revealed (R2 = 0.889). Cell walls of strains wt292 and mnn9, which have higher levels of beta-D-glucans, were able to complex larger amounts of zearalenone, with higher association constants and higher affinity rates than those of the fks1 and sc1026 strains. The high chitin content in strains mnn9 and fks1 increased the alkali insolubility of beta-D-glucans from isolated cell walls and decreased the flexibility of these cell walls, which restricted access of zearalenone to the chemical sites of the beta-D-glucans involved in complex formation. The strains with high chitin content thus had a lower complex-forming capacity than expected based on their beta-D-glucans content. Cooperativity and the three-dimensional structure of beta-D-glucans indicate that weak noncovalent bonds are involved in the complex-forming mechanisms associated with zearalenone. The chemical interactions between beta-D-glucans and zearalenone are therefore more of an adsorption type than a binding type.

Large Variability of Trophoblast Gene Expression Within and Between Human Normal Term Placentae

Human placenta extracts are widely used in clinical and fundamental research, particularly to study the hormonal and exchange functions of the placenta. However, very little is known about the distribution of the main hormone mRNAs in the placenta as a whole. Total placenta extracts are heterogeneous in their cellular components, as they contain material of both fetal and maternal origin, and in their structure. Results vary greatly depending upon the location of the biopsy and the number of biopsies performed. We used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to determine whether transcripts corresponding to the main hormones secreted by the human placenta (e.g. hCG, HPL and PGH) are equally distributed within and between term placentae. We also measured cytokeratin 7 transcripts, which are specifically expressed in the trophoblast, and transcripts corresponding to nuclear receptors PPARgamma and RXRalpha. A comparison of the results obtained with 12 different samples from each of four normal term placentae revealed that the amounts of transcripts differ considerably within and between each placenta. This emphasizes the need to study large numbers of samples when looking for significant differences in gene expression.

Vitrification of human blastocysts with the Hemi-Straw carrier: application of assisted hatching after thawing

BACKGROUND

The present study was undertaken to examine the usefulness of both vitrification and assisted hatching (AH) on blastocysts that originate from embryos showing different qualities during their cleavage stage.

METHODS

A total of 281 blastocysts were vitrified (93 vitrification-warming cycles) in a mixture of ethylene glycol-dimethylsulphoxide-Ficoll and sucrose using the Hemi-Straw (HS) carrier system. After warming, AH using the partial dissection technique was performed in 36 cycles.

RESULTS

After warming and culture for 24 h, a total of 168 blastocysts (60%) was suitable for embryo transfers and a total of 25 ongoing pregnancies (27%) was obtained. Forty-nine transfers of 96 no-AH blastocysts and 36 transfers of 72 AH blastocysts resulted in an implantation rate of 13 and 22% respectively (P < 0.05). The percentage of transfers with at least one hatching blastocyst was significantly higher after application of AH (69 versus 33%) (P < 0.001). In all, 73 and 38% of blastocysts showing respectively optimal and non-optimal embryo development during the early stage were available for transfer (P < 0.001). Consequently, implantation rates of 19 and 6% were obtained after transfers of blastocysts showing respectively optimal and poor embryo development.

CONCLUSIONS

Artificial opening of the zona pellucida after warming of vitrified blastocysts significantly improved the rate of transfers with hatched blastocysts and the implantation and pregnancy rates. The percentage of blastocysts that survived the HS vitrification procedure and were available for embryo transfer is related to their previous developmental quality.

Expression of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) during human villous trophoblast differentiation in vitro

Pregnancy-associated placental protein-A (PAPP-A), first isolated from maternal serum, has been identified as a metalloprotease cleaving insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4). The source of PAPP-A during pregnancy is unclear. We therefore investigated PAPP-A expression during in vitro human villous cytotrophoblast cell (CT) differentiation into syncytiotrophoblast (ST). CT were isolated from normal first trimester, second trimester and term placentae (n=10) and cultured to form ST. PAPP-A mRNA was quantified by real-time PCR, and PAPP-A protein expression was studied by immunocytochemistry and TRACE technology with specific monoclonal antibodies. PAPP-A mRNA expression in total placental extracts increased during the course of pregnancy. PAPP-A protein was detected in the cytoplasm of both CT and ST. ST formation in vitro was associated with a 19-fold increase in PAPP-A mRNA expression and an 8-fold increase in PAPP-A secretion into the culture medium. No significant difference in PAPP-A production was observed between cultured cells isolated from early and term placentae. In conclusion, PAPP-A production in vitro, is associated to the differentiation of villous cytotrophoblast cells into syncytiotrophoblast, independently of the age of gestation.

Enumeration of probiotic bacilli spores in animal feed: interlaboratory study

Fourteen out of 17 laboratories completed an interlaboratory study comparing 2 pretreatment protocols of feed samples containing authorized probiotic bacilli spores. Both methods used tryptone soy agar for enumeration. Pretreatment A involved preparation of a suspension of the feed sample in 50% ethanol. For pretreatment B, the sample was suspended in peptone salt solution and heated at 80 degrees C for 10 min. Each laboratory analyzed 12 samples (6 per pretreatment), which represented duplicates of a high (10(9) colony-forming units [CFU]/g) and low (10(5) CFU/g) level of bacilli spores or a blank that contained vegetative probiotic bacteria only. For pretreatment A, the repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD(r)) was 2.9% for the low level and 2.5% for the high. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) values were 7.8 and 5.9%, respectively. Pretreatment B revealed RSD(r) values of 1.1 and 1.0%, and RSDR values of 5.8 and 3.4%, respectively. The heat treatment (pretreatment B) of feed samples had better precision data, resulted in higher viable bacilli counts, and was more effective in deactivating vegetative background flora. It is therefore recommended for adoption for official control purposes and for CEN and ISO standards.

Births after vitrification at morula and blastocyst stages: effect of artificial reduction of the blastocoelic cavity before vitrification

BACKGROUND

In 1996, with the introduction of sequential media, we set up a programme of cryopreservation of supernumerary morulae (day 4) and blastocysts (day 5) using a vitrification procedure. Our results showed that the efficiency of the vitrification method was dependent on the stage of embryo development and was negatively correlated with the expansion of the blastocoele. We postulated that a large blastocoele might disturb cryopreservative potential due to ice crystal formation during the cooling step. We analysed therefore the effectiveness of reducing before vitrification the volume of the blastocoelic cavity.

METHOD

Day 4 and day 5 embryos were vitrified in 40% ethylene glycol-18% Ficoll and 0.3 mol/l sucrose before plunging the straws directly into liquid nitrogen. Artificial shrinkage of the blastocyst was achieved after pushing a needle into the blastocoele cavity until it contracted.

RESULTS

The survival rate post-thawing of day 4 and intact day 5 embryos was correlated with the volume of the blastocoele. In the control group only 20.3% blastocysts or expanded blastocysts survived as compared with 54.5 and 58.5% with morulae and early blastocyst respectively. After puncturing the blastocoelic cavity, an increase in the survival rate of up to 70.6% was noted. The pregnancy rates were improved after the artificial shrinkage procedure (20.5%) compared with the control intact blastocyst group (4.5%) (not significant). After reduction of the blastocoelic cavity, a significant increase in the implantation rate per vitrified blastocyst was observed (12.0 versus 1.4% P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that survival rates in cryopreserved expanded blastocysts could be improved by reducing the fluid content. This was presumably because mechanical damage caused by ice crystal formation was avoided. These observations should be considered when establishing a strategy and a protocol for cryopreservation of day 5 embryos.

Fast formation of magnetic islands in a plasma in the presence of counterstreaming electrons

With the help of 2D-3V (two dimensional in space and three dimensional in velocity) Vlasov simulations we show that the magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic current filamentation instability develops magnetic islands due to the onset of a fast reconnection process that occurs on the electron dynamical time scale. This process is relevant to magnetic channel coalescence in relativistic laser plasma interactions.

Oocyte insemination with spermatozoa precursors

Since the use of testicular spermatozoa in programs of assisted fertilization proved very successful, attention was focussed on the use of spermatids also carrying 23 chromosomes. Several difficulties became obvious; the first one concerned the recognition of round spermatids. This is a problem which does not concern elongating and elongated cells. The intra-cytoplasmic injection of elongated spermatids resulted in several pregnancies but this is not so for the round ones. Although, in the group of patients in whom only round spermatids are found at the time of the attempt, is to be divided into two categories; patients in whom previous research allowed to find spermatozoa, however few, and patients who never produced spermatozoa at all. This last group is no longer an indication for intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure unless in the future new culture media allow a maturation into elongated forms.

Is there a future for spermatid injections?

Microinjection of spermatids into oocytes has proven to be a successful assisted reproduction procedure in the animal model. In the human, low fertilization and cleavage to the 4-cell stage were reported after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with round spermatids. In comparison with a conventional ICSI-testicular sperm extraction (TESE) programme, the implantation rate after round spermatid injection is dramatically low. Different problems have been encountered during the development of the spermatid injection technique and they could be partially responsible for the lower outcome when using round spermatids. Compared with the round spermatid cells, spermatids in the elongation phase are easy to isolate and identify from other round cells present in a wet preparation. The morphological identification does not reveal anything about the viability or the genetic normality of the round spermatids. Severe testicular dysfunction may have consequences on the quality of the few spermatogenic cells present. Others factors, such as the pathology of the patient, play an important role in the successful treatment. Even if the results are extremely low, spermatid injection seems more favourable for men who have already proven their capacity to produce some spermatozoa. A spermatogenic block at the round spermatid level has led to early abortions, increasing the suspicion of the role of a genetic factor. In order for this technique to be safe for use in clinics, more intensive work is needed to improve the selection and handling of cells and to ascertain the genomic imprinting and gene expression necessary for embryonic development. Hence, when using immature cells for conception, the screening of the patient and the follow-up of the pregnancies and babies should be mandatory.

The effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae on the digestion of the cell wall fraction of a mixed diet in defaunated and refaunated sheep rumen

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two probiotics, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) and Aspergillus oryzae (AO), without their culture medium, on the digestion of plant cell wall components in sheep that had been successively defaunated and refaunated. Six sheep fitted with large rumen cannulae were used to study 1) defaunated sheep with no probiotic, 2) defaunated sheep with SC or AO, 3) refaunated sheep with no probiotic, 4) refaunated sheep with SC or AO. The apparent digestibility of the plant cell walls was not altered (P > 0.05) by the probiotics in defaunated sheep but was increased (P < 0.05) with SC (+16%) in refaunated sheep. Simultaneously, SC stimulated the growth of the protozoal population in the rumen. As noted in most previous experiments, the positive effect of the presence of protozoa on plant cell wall digestion (P < 0.001) was confirmed here. The effect (P > 0.05) of SC or AO on in situ ADF digestion was either not significant or negative in defaunated rumens, whereas it became positive in refaunated rumen after a residence time of 12 h. The improvement of in situ ADF digestion due to the presence of protozoa was significant (P < 0.05 for NDF; P < 0.001 for ADF). However, we could not determine whether this was a direct effect of protozoa or an indirect effect operating via bacteria. The limits of the nylon bag technique for evaluating the microbial activity are discussed in relation to the ability of protozoa to enter and grow in the bags, and the pH regulation inside the bags. The pH values below 5.5 noted inside the bags can significantly alter the bacterial and protozoal populations and limit the validity of the technique. SC increased (P < 0.05) the specific activity of CMCase and xylanase of the solid-adherent bacteria (SAB) isolated from the rumen digesta of refaunated sheep. Stimulation of both the bacterial activity and protozoa numbers could explain the positive effect of SC on cell wall digestion in the rumen since the modelling of marker excretion in faeces showed that the ruminal mean retention time of hay measured from the model of Danhoa et al. was not modified (P > 0.05) by either refaunation or the presence of probiotics. AO increased (P < 0.05) the total retention time of the solid particles in the whole digestive tract and increased the ruminal liquid volume in the refaunated animals but it had no effect on the protozoa population or on the polysaccharidase activity of the SAB, which could explain the absence of effect of AO on the total digestibility of plant cell walls. Both probiotics decreased the liquid turnover in defaunated rumens (P < 0.05) but neither had any effect (P > 0.05) on this parameter after refaunation. The improvement of plant cell wall degradation in the whole digestive tract is probably due to a stimulation of digestion at the rumen level as indicated by the higher activity of the SAB in rumen digesta and the growth of protozoa.

Fate of Levucell SC I-1077 yeast additive during digestive transit in lambs

The fate of a live yeast strain, which was used as a feed additive for ruminants (Levucell SC I-1077), was studied during digestive transit in two gnotoxenic lambs reared in a sterile isolator. The number of live yeast cells were counted in the rumen and in faeces after a single administration or a daily feeding of 100 mg of Levucell SC. If the supplement was not renewed, the live yeast cells persisted in the rumen for approximately 30 h at a level close to the initial value. They were then gradually cleared. They began to be excreted with the faeces approximately 8 h after their consumption and were no longer detected after 102 h. Yeast additives did not colonize the rumen. As 17 to 34% of yeast cells remained alive during their transit through the digestive tract, their effect might extend beyond the rumen the post-ruminal compartments.

[Medically assisted reproduction with immature spermatozoa. Clinical examination and surgical technics]

The authors report their experience with the use of spermatids in TESE programs where mature spermatozoa could not be isolated from testicular biopsies. The details of the indications for spermatid insemination, the technicity of the procedure and the results are exposed.

Intracytoplasmic injection of spermatids retrieved from testicular tissue: influence of testicular pathology, type of selected spermatids and oocyte activation

Spermatid microinjection into oocytes has proven to be a successful assisted reproduction procedure in the animal model and in the human species, since in the latter a few full-term pregnancies were actually obtained. Patients entering our spermatid injection study included those with a total absence of spermatozoa in the testicular tissue notwithstanding previous positive biopsies (n = 29): an obstructive problem (n = 3), secretory azoospermia (n = 26), and those with total arrest at the spermatogenesis level in previous explorative biopsies (n = 15). In the latter group, absence of spermatids was recorded in four cases. Mature, elongated, elongating and round spermatids (ROS) were injected in respectively 3, 2, 3, and 32 attempts. A total of 260 metaphase II oocytes were injected with ROS, 36 oocytes with spermatids at other stages of maturity. The rates of oocytes showing two pronuclei (2PN) and two polar bodies reached 22% and 64% respectively after injection of round or elongated-mature spermatids. The fertilization rate after ROS injection was influenced by the percentage of spermatozoa observed in a previous biopsy. Patients with a positive preliminary biopsy had significantly more 2PN (33%) when compared to those with a severe spermatogenic dysfunction and in whom no spermatozoa were found (only 11%) (P < 0.05). Incubation of oocytes in calcium ionophore after ROS injection had a positive effect on the rate of 2PN formation (36 versus 16%). Ninety per cent of all the normally fertilized oocytes cleaved. The percentage of grade A and B embryos depended on the type of injected cells: 12% after ROS and 30% with the other types of haploid cells. A total of 39 transfers resulted in five pregnancies: three full term with healthy babies delivered (one after ROS injection, and two after injection of an elongating and a mature spermatid), one 4 months ongoing (after elongating spermatid injection) and one miscarriage at 4 weeks (after elongated cell injection). Compared to our conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection-testicular sperm extraction (ICSI-TESE) programme, the implantation rate after ROS injection was very low (5.5 versus 10.5%).

Effects of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Levucell SC1), a microbial additive for ruminants, on lactate metabolism in vitro

The effect of Levucell SC, a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae marked as a feed additive for ruminants, was investigated in vitro on lactate metabolism by the ruminal bacteria Streptococcus bovis and Megasphaera elsdenii. The coculture between 10(7) live cells x mL(-1) of SC and a Streptococcus bovis strain in the presence of glucose reduced lactate production by the bacterial strain. Live yeast cells were able to compete with Streptococcus bovis for glucose utilization in strictly anaerobic conditions, so less glucose was available for the bacterium. SC also stimulated L-lactate utilization by a strain of M. elsdenii. The effect depended on the concentration of yeast cells added. Bacterial growth and fermentation end-product concentrations were also increased in the presence of SC. Some amino acids and vitamins, but not dicarboxylic acids, stimulated the bacterial specific activity of L-lactate uptake. SC was able to provide amino acids to M. elsdenii. In a coculture of Streptococcus bovis and M. elsdenii on glucose, the reduction of lactate concentration was improved by SC, the same trend being observed when maltose or soluble starch were used as carbon and energy source. These results indicate that SC can be a very useful tool to reduce lactate accumulation in vitro during fermentation of soluble sugars.