Optimising vitrification of human oocytes using multiple cryoprotectants and morphological and functional assessment

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 918 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Y. K. Seet ◽  
S. Al-Samerria ◽  
J. Wong ◽  
J. Stanger ◽  
J. L. Yovich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Human Oocyte ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Oocyte Vitrification ◽  
Morphological Appearance ◽  
Functional Quality ◽  
Important Approach ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Freezing Injuries

Oocyte vitrification is a clinical practice that allows preservation of fertility potential in women. Vitrification involves quick cooling using high concentrations of cryoprotectants to minimise freezing injuries. However, high concentrations of cryoprotectants have detrimental effects on oocyte quality and eventually the offspring. In addition, current assessment of oocyte quality after vitrification is commonly based only on the morphological appearance of the oocyte, raising concerns regarding its efficiency. Using both morphological and functional assessments, the present study investigated whether combinations of cryoprotectants at lower individual concentrations result in better cryosurvival rates than single cryoprotectants at higher concentrations. Surplus oocytes from IVF patients were vitrified within 24 h after retrieval using the Cryotop method with several cryoprotectants, either individually or in combination. The morphological and functional quality of the vitrified oocytes was investigated using light microscopy and computer-based quantification of mitochondrial integrity, respectively. Oocyte quality was significantly higher using a combination of cryoprotectants than vitrification with individual cryoprotectants. In addition, the quality of vitrified oocyte varied depending on the cryoprotectants and type of combination used. The results of the present study indicate that observations based purely on the morphological appearance of the oocyte to assess the cryosurvival rate are insufficient and sometimes misleading. The outcome will have a significant implication in the area of human oocyte cryopreservation as an important approach for fertility preservation.

Methods for the Determination of the Purity of Exosomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (42) ◽  
pp. 4464-4485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kluszczyńska ◽  
Liliana Czernek ◽  
Wojciech Cypryk ◽  
Łukasz Pęczek ◽  
Markus Düchler
Keyword(s):  
Drug Transport ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Drug Carriers ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Isolation And Purification ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Targeted Release

Background: Exosomes open exciting new opportunities for advanced drug transport and targeted release. Furthermore, exosomes may be used for vaccination, immunosuppression or wound healing. To fully utilize their potential as drug carriers or immune-modulatory agents, the optimal purity of exosome preparations is of crucial importance. Methods: Articles describing the isolation and purification of exosomes were retrieved from the PubMed database. Results: Exosomes are often separated from biological fluids containing high concentrations of proteins, lipids and other molecules that keep vesicle purification challenging. A great number of purification protocols have been published, however, their outcome is difficult to compare because the assessment of purity has not been standardized. In this review, we first give an overview of the generation and composition of exosomes, as well as their multifaceted biological functions that stimulated various medical applications. Finally, we describe various methods that have been used to purify small vesicles and to assess the purity of exosome preparations and critically compare the quality of these evaluation protocols. Conclusion: Combinations of various techniques have to be applied to reach the required purity and quality control of exosome preparations.

A Framework for Non-Nominal Visualization and Perceived Quality Evaluation

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola Wagersten ◽  
Karin Forslund ◽  
Casper Wickman ◽  
Rikard So¨derberg
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Process ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Functional Quality ◽  
Quality Aspects ◽  
System Solution ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
Variation Simulation ◽  
Support Evaluation

Perceived Quality clusters different aspects that influence the customer’s perception of non-functional quality on a product that are perceive through senses. All together those aspects and the harmony between them reflect the producer’s ability to control product parameters and thereby also mirror the functional quality of the product. High Perceived Quality cannot be added to the product at the end of the developing process. Project prerequisites, system solution, factory capability etc. are criterion to succeed. Therefore, it is important to be able to evaluate Perceived Quality early in the process when product system solutions and architecture are defined, although data maturity is low. This paper presents a comprehensive framework to manage and support evaluation of Perceived Quality aspects in a product development process. The framework is based on an industrial process in combination with recent research within the field. The framework focuses on activities that can be performed at different stages in the developing process based on maturity of the CAD or styling data. For example, if the styling data is divided into different components by split-lines it has reached higher level of maturity then styling data that not has been divided. Consequently, the choice of applied method is based on data maturity, regardless phase in the developing process. The framework contains methods based on several different simulation and analysis techniques. Design methods, Computer-Aided Tolerancing and FEA based non-rigid variation simulation are represented in the framework.

scholarly journals Potential of Beetroot and Blackcurrant Compounds to Improve Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 338
Author(s):  
Cameron Haswell ◽  
Ajmol Ali ◽  
Rachel Page ◽  
Roger Hurst ◽  
Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Metabolic Abnormalities ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Concentrations

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities, which together lead to increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as reduced quality of life. Dietary nitrate, betalains and anthocyanins may improve risk factors for MetS and reduce the risk of development of CHD and T2DM. Beetroot is a rich source of dietary nitrate, and anthocyanins are present in high concentrations in blackcurrants. This narrative review considers the efficacy of beetroot and blackcurrant compounds as potential agents to improve MetS risk factors, which could lead to decreased risk of CHD and T2DM. Further research is needed to establish the mechanisms through which these outcomes may occur, and chronic supplementation studies in humans may corroborate promising findings from animal models and acute human trials.

scholarly journals Financial losses for Dutch stakeholders during the 2013 aflatoxin incident in Maize in Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Focker ◽  
H. J. van der Fels-Klerx ◽  
A. G. J. M. Oude Lansink
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Uncertain Data ◽  
Feed Industry ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Bulk Milk ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Aflatoxin B ◽  
Financial Losses

AbstractEarly 2013, high concentrations of aflatoxin M1 were found in the bulk milk of a few dairy farms in the Netherlands. These high concentrations were caused by aflatoxin B1 contaminated maize from Eastern Europe that was processed into compound feed, which was fed to dairy cows. Since the contamination was discovered in the downstream stages of the supply chain, multiple countries and parties were involved and recalls of the feed were necessary, resulting into financial losses. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct short-term financial losses related to the 2013 aflatoxin incident for the maize traders, the feed industry, and the dairy sector in the Netherlands. First, the sequence of events of the incident was retrieved. Then, a Monte Carlo simulation model was built to combine the scarce and uncertain data to estimate the direct financial losses for each stakeholder. The estimated total direct financial losses of this incident were estimated to be between 12 and 25 million euros. The largest share, about 60%, of the total losses was endured by the maize traders. About 39% of the total losses were for the feed industry, and less than 1% of the total losses were for the dairy sector. The financial losses estimated in this study should be interpreted cautiously due to limitations associated with the quality of the data used. Furthermore, this incident led to indirect long-term financial effects, identified but not estimated in this study.

scholarly journals Effects of Macronutrients in the Physiological Quality of Soybean Seeds

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Geliandro Anhaia Rigo ◽  
Luis Osmar Braga Schuch ◽  
Willian Silva Barros ◽  
Rodrigo Lamaison de Vargas ◽  
Vinícius Jardel Szareski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Program ◽  
Plant Tissues ◽  
Soybean Seeds ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Physiological Quality ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

The aim of this work was to correlate macronutrient content of soybean seeds to physiological quality of different cultivars. The work was developed in the Federal University of Pelotas, in the facilities of the Seed Science and Technology Graduate Program. The experimental design was randomized blocks in arranged in four replicates. The following soybean cultivars were used: BMX Apolo RR (12 lots), BMX Ativa RR (13 lots), BMX Energia RR (26 lots), BMX Força RR (24 lots), BMX Impacto RR (35 lots), BMX Magna RR (16 lots), BMX Turbo RR (44 lots), BMX Potência RR (82 lots) and NA 5909 RR (28 lots), with seeds produced in northwest Rio Grande do Sul. The determination of nutritional contents found in plant tissues of soybean seeds, were measured: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Sulfur (S). The macronutrient contents of the seeds vary according to genetic characteristics of the cultivars, with higher oscillations of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur contents present in soybean seeds. Potassium and calcium are defined as the most stable nutrients for the cultivars and seed lots analyzed. High concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium are determinants for the physiological quality of soybean seeds.

Evaluating methods of mouse euthanasia on the oocyte quality: cervical dislocation versus isoflurane inhalation

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey Roustan ◽  
Jeanne Perrin ◽  
Anaïs Berthelot-Ricou ◽  
Erica Lopez ◽  
Alain Botta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Isoflurane Group ◽  
Cervical Dislocation ◽  
Evaluating Methods ◽  
Dislocation Group ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Sacrifice ◽  
Metaphase Ii Oocytes

Cervical dislocation is a commonly used method of mouse euthanasia. Euthanasia by isoflurane inhalation is an alternative method which allows the sacrifice of several mice at the same time with an anaesthesia, in the aim to decrease pain and animal distress. The objective of our study was to assess the impact of these two methods of euthanasia on the quality of mouse oocytes. By administering gonadotropins, we induced a superovulation in CD1 female mice. Mice were randomly assigned to euthanasia with cervical dislocation and isoflurane inhalation. Oviducts were collected and excised to retrieve metaphase II oocytes. After microscopic examination, oocytes were classified into three groups: intact, fragmented/cleaved and atretic. Intact metaphase II oocytes were employed for biomedical research. A total of 1442 oocytes in the cervical dislocation group were compared with 1230 oocytes in the isoflurane group. In the cervical dislocation group, 93.1% of the oocytes were intact, versus 65.8% in the isoflurane group ( P ≤ 0.001). In light of these results, we conclude that cervical dislocation is the best method of mouse euthanasia for obtaining intact oocytes for biomedical research.

scholarly journals The Functional Quality of Soluble Recombinant Polypeptides Produced in Escherichia coli Is Defined by a Wide Conformational Spectrum

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (23) ◽  
pp. 7431-7433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Martínez-Alonso ◽  
Nuria González-Montalbán ◽  
Elena García-Fruitós ◽  
Antonio Villaverde
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Recombinant Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Native Structure ◽  
Functional Quality ◽  
Soluble Aggregates ◽  
Recombinant Polypeptides ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACT We have observed that a soluble recombinant green fluorescent protein produced in Escherichia coli occurs in a wide conformational spectrum. This results in differently fluorescent protein fractions in which morphologically diverse soluble aggregates abound. Therefore, the functional quality of soluble versions of aggregation-prone recombinant proteins is defined statistically rather than by the prevalence of a canonical native structure.

scholarly journals Biostimulation as a Means for Optimizing Fruit Phytochemical Content and Functional Quality of Tomato Landraces of the San Marzano Area

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 926
Author(s):  
Youssef Rouphael ◽  
Giandomenico Corrado ◽  
Giuseppe Colla ◽  
Stefania De Pascale ◽  
Emilia Dell’Aversana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Mineral Nutrient ◽  
Phytochemical Content ◽  
Primary And Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Tropical Plant ◽  
Protected Designation Of Origin ◽  
Functional Quality ◽  
Nutrient Use

The effect of plant biostimulation on fruits of traditional tomato germplasm is largely unknown. We examined how a tropical plant-derived biostimulant impacts the nutritional, functional, and compositional characteristics of tomato fruits from four landraces, collected in the San Marzano (SM) tomato Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) region, by profiling primary and secondary metabolites. Biostimulation was not able to completely reshuffle the morpho-physiological and nutritional profile of the four landraces. Their distinct phytochemical profile indicated a genotype-specific tuning of the analyzed traits, which also included an improved yield and fruit quality. Biostimulation of SM1 and SM3 increased photosynthetic accumulation of carbohydrate reserves, improved mineral nutrient use efficiency and consequently, yield (+21% and 34%, respectively). Moreover, biostimulation augmented the nutraceutical properties of the SM2 landrace. Interestingly, the plant-derived product increased in all genotypes lycopene, but not polyphenol accumulation in fruits. Our results show the potential of biostimulatory applications towards optimizing the fruit quality of the acclaimed SM landraces, which is suitable to satisfy both the rising consumer demand for premium traditional tomatoes and the technological needs of the food industry.

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