Freeze/thaw stress induces organelle remodeling and membrane recycling in cryopreserved human mature oocytes

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the ultrastructure of human metaphase II oocytes subjected to slow freezing and fixed after thawing at different intervals during post-thaw rehydration. Methods: Samples were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Results: We found that vacuolization was present in all cryopreserved oocytes, reaching a maximum in the intermediate stage of rehydration. Mitochondria-smooth endoplasmic reticulum (M-SER) aggregates decreased following thawing, particularly in the first and intermediate stages of rehydration, whereas mitochondria-vesicle (MV) complexes augmented in the same stages. At the end of rehydration, vacuoles and MV complexes both diminished and M-SER aggregates increased again. Cortical granules (CGs) were scarce in all cryopreserved oocytes, gradually diminishing as rehydration progressed. Conclusions: This study also shows that such a membrane remodeling is mainly represented by a dynamic process of transition between M-SER aggregates and MV complexes, both able of transforming into each other. Vacuoles and CG membranes may take part in the membrane recycling mechanism

Retreating to nature : rethinking 'therapeutic landscapes'

There is a long history of removing oneself from ‘society’ in order to recuperate or repair. This paper considers a yoga and massage retreat in Southern Spain, and what opportunities this retreat experience might offer for recuperation and the creation of healthy bodies. The paper positions ‘nature’ as an active participant, and as ‘enrolled’ in the experiences of the retreat as a ‘therapeutic landscape’, and questions how and what particular aspects of yoga practice (in intimate relation with place) give rise to therapeutic experiences

First case of traumatic myiasis caused by Calliphora vicina in a crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L. in Italy

Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) it is a facultative ectoparasite responsible for traumatic myiasis in humans and warmblooded vertebrates in the world. In this work one case of traumatic myasis caused by C. vicina (Diptera Calliphoirdae) is reported for the first time in a vulnerable crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata Linnaeus, 1758). A total of 30 larvae located in the posterior-dorsal area of the animal were removed from inside the lesion and either preserved in ethanol or reared to the adult stage. This report shows the great ability of C. vicina to use many organic matter for the food source's offspring, including many live vertebrates

Valor nutritivo de pastagens de capim-elefante manejadas sob sistema convencional e agroecológico.

O capim-elefante é utilizado, na sua grande maioria, em sistemas convencionais de produção animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar o valor nutritivo do capimelefante em sistemas de manejo agroecológico e convencional, quanto a proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS). Foram usados quatro piquetes, com 0,12ha cada um. No sistema convencional, o capim-elefante foi estabelecido singularmente. No sistema agroecológico, o plantio foi feito em linhas afastadas de 3m. Nas entrelinhas, estabeleceu-se a aveia e o azevém no período hibernal, enquanto que no período estival permitiu-se o desenvolvimento de espécies espontâneas. A adubação foi feita com fertilizantes orgânicos (150kg ha-1 de N). No sistema agroecológico, foram conduzidos sete pastejos, de 24/04/2004 a 05/05/2005. Na pastagem convencional, usouse a mesma quantidade de N (uréia), sendo conduzidos quatro ciclos de pastejo, de 06/10/2004 a 05/05/2005. Para ambos os sistemas foram utilizadas vacas da raça Holandês, recebendo complementação alimentar de 3,5kg dia-1 de concentrado com 20% de proteína bruta, constituindo-se nos animais experimentais. Nas avaliações, considerou-se a massa de forragem inicial com base na matéria seca (MS), os componentes botânicos da pastagem e estruturais do capimelefante. As análises de qualidade foram feitas em amostras de pastejo simulado. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos, convencional e agroecológico, duas repetições (piquetes) e em parcelas incompletas subdivididas no tempo (pastejos). Houve interação (P<0,05) entre tratamentos e pastejos em todas as variáveis. Na pastagem agroecológica, o modelo que melhor se ajustou foi o cúbico para todas as variáveis, em função do tempo de pastejo. Na pastagem convencional, a PB e a DIVMS ajustaram-se melhor ao modelo linear, com taxa positiva de crescimento, sendo observado comportamento inverso para FDN, com o decorrer dos pastejos. Tanto na pastagem convencional quanto na agroecológica encontraram-se associações negativas entre lâmina foliar do capim-elefante com PB e DIVMS e positiva com FDN. Ambos os sistemas apresentaram teores qualitativos elevados das pastagens, considerando-se a adubação, o manejo e o tempo de utilização

3D Photogrammetry of Bat Skulls: Perspectives for Macro-evolutionary Analyses

Photogrammetry (PH) is relatively cheap, easy to use, flexible and portable but its power and limitations have not been fully explored for studies of small animals. Here we assessed the accuracy of PH for the reconstruction of 3D digital models of bat skulls by evaluating its potential for evolutionary morphology studies at interspecific (19 species) level. Its reliability was assessed against the performance of micro CT scan (µCT) and laser scan techniques (LS). We used 3D geometric morphometrics and comparative methods to quantify the amount of size and shape variation due to the scanning technique and assess the strength of the biological signal in relation to both the technique error and phylogenetic uncertainty. We found only minor variation among techniques. Levels of random error (repeatability and procrustes variance) were similar in all techniques and no systematic error was observed (as evidenced from principal component analysis). Similar levels of phylogenetic signal, allometries and correlations with ecological variables (frequency of maximum energy and bite force) were detected among techniques. Phylogenetic uncertainty interacted with technique error but without affecting the biological conclusions driven by the evolutionary analyses. Our study confirms the accuracy of PH for the reconstruction of challenging specimens. These results encourage the use of PH as a reliable and highly accessible tool for the study of macro evolutionary processes of small mammals

Contribution of cryopreservation to the cumulative live birth rate: a large multicentric cycle-based data analysis from the Italian National Registry

Purpose: To estimate the contribution of cryopreservation to the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) after law modification in Italy in the era of vitrification and freeze-all. Methods: The Italian National Registry performed a cycle-based data collection. Nine Italian IVF clinics were involved incorporating a total of 10,260 fresh cycles performed between January 2015 and April 2016 resulting in 9273 oocyte retrievals and 3266 subsequent warming cycles from the same oocyte retrievals performed up to December 2016. Mean female age was 37 \ub1 4.3\ua0years. Primary outcome measure was CLBR per oocyte retrieval. Confounding factors were tested in multivariate regression analysis, and the relative impact of cryopreservation to the CLBR in different patient categories was calculated. Results: CLBR per oocyte retrieval was 32.6%, 26.5%, 18.7%, 13.0%, and 5.5% for women younger than 36, aged 36\u201339, 40\u201341, and older than 41\ua0years, respectively. The total relative contribution of oocyte/embryo cryopreservation was 40.6% (95% CI 38.41\u201342.75). An association between maternal age, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, cryopreservation, and cumulative live birth was shown. When adjusted for confounders, a 2.3-fold increase was observed in the chance of live birth when cryopreservation was performed (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.99\u20132.56). In high responder patients (> 15 oocytes retrieved) where freeze-all was applied in 67.6% of cycles to avoid the risk of hyper stimulation syndrome, the relative contribution of vitrification to the CLBR was 80.6%. Conclusions: Cryopreservation is essential in IVF and should always be available to patients to optimize success rates. Multicentric, cycle-based data analyses are crucial to provide infertile couples, clinicians, and regulatory bodies with accurate information on IVF effectiveness including fresh and cryopreserved cycles

Conservation status of Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra in Italy

The southern Italian otter population is considered an ESU, as it is completely isolated from other European populations. The two former disjointed nuclei of this core population are now a unique metapopulationb. Expansion at the edge of this range is proceeding inconstantly with presence/absence varying year by year, especially in Abruzzo and Apulian rivers (Foro, Pescara, Alto Sangro, Candelaro) (Fig. 1). However, despite not all grid cells were resampled over time and sampling designs were not homogeneous and consistent along time and space, all trends are positive (Fig. 2). As to northern Italy, the otter expansion in Austria and Slovenia promoted the return of the species on the eastern Alpine chain since 2011, where its rapid expansion is giving hope for the establishment of a viable population in the short-medium term. Also, a new nucleus on the western part of the Alps was detected in 2020 on the Roya catchmenti across the French border. The Italian Alpine range is also hosting a isolated B-line population in the Ticino river, a population derived from reintroduction of individuals crossbred with L. l. barang. However, a recent study revealed this population is likely unviable and no otter signs have been recorded in the area since 2018 (Fig. 1)

Is "option B+" also being adopted in pregnant women in high-income countries? Temporal trends from a national study in Italy

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