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Sci Rep 2019 Jan 18;9(1):210. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Osaka University, Graduate School of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Osaka, 560-0032, Japan.

Animal morphology and behavior often appear to evolve cooperatively. However, it is difficult to assess how strictly these two traits depend on each other. The genitalia morphologies and courtship behaviors in insects, which vary widely, may be a good model for addressing this issue. Read More

Reprod Med Biol 2019 Jan 1;18(1):40-50. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Igenomix Foundation Parque Tecnologico de Paterna Valencia Spain.

Background: The female reproductive tract contains an active microbiome comprising mainly bacteria from the genus, which is associated with a healthy microbiome state. However, spatio-temporal fluctuations of this microbiome that occur in response to internal and external factors may impact the physiology of the reproductive tract organs and even lead to pathological states.

Methods: Current literature covering the reproductive tract microbiome is summarized and contextualized in this review. Read More

Zootaxa 2018 Dec 3;4527(1):49-60. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación.Chile..

Two new species of the Plecoptera family Diamphipnoidae are described from Chile. Illustrations of the details of the male genitalia, female genitalia, and eggs are provided for these two new taxa. Diamphipnoa fresiae sp. Read More

Indian J Occup Environ Med 2018 Sep-Dec;22(3):128-137

Former Director, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, India.

Lead is a heavy metal. It is used in lead-acid battery, as a coloring agent, paints, and metal alloyed as shielding materials, smelters, printing press, and so on. It is a toxic metal affecting various organs, and developing fetus and young children are more vulnerable to toxicity of lead. Read More

Zootaxa 2018 Dec 13;4531(3):353-373. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva (DEBE), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), campus São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, Km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Arachnology Laboratory, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil 1500, CEP 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil..

Kiekie gen. nov. is newly proposed to accommodate 11 Neotropical Ctenidae species. Read More

Zootaxa 2018 Dec 16;4532(1):95-103. Epub 2018 Dec 16.

Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaengsaen, Kasetsart Univeristy, Kamphaengsaen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, 73140. Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, NRU-KU, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.

Kasetsartra, gen. nov., is described from Thailand based on the type species, Kasetsartra fasciaura, sp. Read More

Zootaxa 2019 Jan 4;4543(1):115-126. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Altai State University, Lenina Avenue, 61, RF-656049, Barnaul, Russia. Tomsk State University, Institute of Biology, Ecology, Soil Science, Agriculture and Forestry, Lenina Avenue, 36, RF-634050, Tomsk, Russia.

Four new species of the genus Lophilema, Lophilema mbulu Volynkin, sp. nov. (Tanzania, Mbulu Mts. Read More

Zootaxa 2019 Jan 7;4543(3):414-420. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academi-ro, Incheon 22012, South Korea Bio-Resource and Environmental Center, Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academi-ro, Incheon 22012, South Korea..

A new Lithosiini species, Eugoa leucomelaena n. sp. is described from Cambodia. Read More

Int J Reprod Biomed (Yazd) 2018 Sep;16(9):549-556

Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Background: Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological disease, with limited known etiology and more researches are required to identify its etiology. In this manner, there is no evidence for expression and function of 3´ genes in 4 clusters in the limb and pelvic organs such as the uterus and its disorders (Genes in the - clusters are subdivided into 13 paralogous groups).

Objective: This study designed to investigate the expression profile of 5 paralogous (1-5) in four clusters of genes (A, B, C, and D) in ectopic and eutopic tissues of women with endometriosis compared to the normal endometrium. Read More

Zookeys 2018 6(803):71-92. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Essig Museum of Entomology, 1101 Valley Life Sciences Bldg., University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA University of California Berkeley United States of America.

is described to include from Peru, Venezuela and French Guiana, and from Venezuela. The descriptions are accompanied by figures illustrating the male and female habitus of , the male habitus of , and male genitalia of both species. exhibits pronounced secondary sexual dimorphism which likewise may be a characteristic of the genus. Read More

Anim Reprod Sci 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Isparta Applied Sciences University, Egirdir Fisheries Faculty, Isparta, Turkey.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of turmeric powder dietary supplementation on the histology of visceral organs and reproductive performance of Pseudotropheus acei. The fish were fed dietary additions of 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% turmeric powder. Each treatment was replicated three times. Read More

J Ethol 2018 21;36(1):1-13. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

2Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501-2060 Costa Rica.

Despite the increasing interest in the use of intromittent male genitalia and coercive mating behaviour in poeciliids, detailed studies of the mating behaviour of most species in this family are lacking. We describe here the mating and aggressive behaviours of , and correlate them with the condition of the female's ovum and embryos (immature, mature and pregnant). performed a wide range of aggressive (sidle spread, tail beating, coordinate) and mating behaviours (approximation, touch, lateral display, touch-lateral display). Read More

Cell Mol Immunol 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

Efficient immune responses against invading pathogens often involve coordination between cells from both the innate and adaptive immune systems. For multiple decades, it has been believed that CD8 memory T cells and natural killer (NK) cells constantly and uniformly recirculate. Only recently was the existence of noncirculating memory T and NK cells that remain resident in the peripheral tissues, termed tissue-resident memory T (T) cells and tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells, observed in various organs owing to improved techniques. Read More

Health Phys 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226.

Our goal is to develop lisinopril as a mitigator of delayed effects of acute radiation exposure in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases program for radiation countermeasures. Published studies demonstrated mitigation of delayed effects of acute radiation exposure by lisinopril in adult rats. However, juvenile or old rats beyond their reproductive lifespans have never been tested. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2019 Jan 13;3(1):264-272. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.

Purpose: Little is known about the phenotypes, diagnoses, and sex of rearing of infants with atypical genital development in the United States. As part of a multicenter study of these infants, we have provided a baseline report from US difference/disorder of sex development clinics describing the diagnoses, anatomic features, and sex of rearing. We also determined whether consensus guidelines are followed for sex designation in the United States. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2019 Jan 8;162:1-10. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 2M2, Canada; Regroupement FRQNT Op+Lait, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 2M2, Canada. Electronic address:

The objectives of this retrospective study were: 1) to determine the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of leukocyte esterase test (LE), endometrial cytology (CYTO) and vaginal discharge score (VDS) for diagnosis of reproductive tract diseases in dairy cows at the moment of sampling; 2) to assess the impact of different thresholds on test accuracy and misclassification costs; and 3) to quantify herd prevalence of reproductive tract diseases in dairy farms from Québec, Canada. Data from 2092 cows (39 herds) enrolled in two randomized control trials were included. Cows were examined at 35 (± 7) days in milk using LE, CYTO, and VDS to determine their reproductive tract health status. Read More

Ginekol Pol 2018 ;89(12):711-715

The Chair and Clinic of Obstetrics, Gynaecologic Diseases and Oncological Gynaecology of the Second Faculty of Medicine of Warsaw Medical University, Poland.

Choriocarcinoma is one of rare neoplasms of female reproductive organs. In the last decade only a few cases of this disease have been registered in Poland. The paper presents the current principles of diagnosis and treatment options for this rare disease based on the authors' clinical experience (description of the case) and literature review. Read More

Curr Top Dev Biol 2019 21;131:337-371. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Multicellular organisms, such as plants, fungi, and animals, develop organs with specialized functions. Major challenges in developing such structures include establishment of polarity along three axes (apical-basal, medio-lateral, and dorso-ventral/abaxial-adaxial), specification of tissue types and their coordinated growth, and maintenance of communication between the organ and the entire organism. The gynoecium of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana embodies the female reproductive organ and has proven an excellent model system for studying organ establishment and development, given its division into different regions with distinct symmetries and highly diverse tissue types. Read More

Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Marine Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China. Electronic address:

In crustaceans, some of fundamental regulatory processes related to a range of physiological functions, including ovarian maturation, molting, glucose homeostasis, osmoregulation, etc., occur in the organs of the eyestalk. Additionally, reproduction is regulated by neuropeptide hormones and other proteins released from secretory sites (X-organ/sinus gland, XO/SG) within the eyestalk. Read More

Fertil Steril 2019 Jan;111(1):7-12

Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular/LIM42, Hospital das Clínicas, Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Women with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) can suffer from impaired fertility rates as a result of increased androgen secretion or impaired sex steroid production. In virilizing CAH forms, such as 21-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, the low reported pregnancy rate is mainly secondary to a diminished desire to conceive. Optimal glucocorticoid and/or mineralocorticoid replacement, sufficient to normalize androgen and P levels in the follicular phase, allows natural conception in most cases. Read More

EMBO J 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara, Japan

Plant life cycles alternate between haploid gametophytes and diploid sporophytes. While regulatory factors determining male and female sexual morphologies have been identified for sporophytic reproductive organs, such as stamens and pistils of angiosperms, those regulating sex-specific traits in the haploid gametophytes that produce male and female gametes and hence are central to plant sexual reproduction are poorly understood. Here, we identified a MYB-type transcription factor, MpFGMYB, as a key regulator of female sexual differentiation in the haploid-dominant dioicous liverwort, MpFGMYB is specifically expressed in females and its loss resulted in female-to-male sex conversion. Read More

Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2018 Dec 31;23(4):220-225. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a rare genetic disease caused by various abnormalities in the androgen receptor (AR). The AR is an essential steroid hormone receptor that plays a critical role in male sexual differentiation and development and preservation of the male phenotype. Mutations in the AR gene on the X chromosome cause malfunction of the AR so that a 46,XY karyotype male has some physical characteristics of a woman or a full female phenotype. Read More

J Interpers Violence 2018 Dec 29:886260518820815. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

1 Lancaster University, UK.

This article reports findings from the first empirical study in the United Kingdom on forced-to-penetrate cases, where a man is forced to penetrate a woman either orally, vaginally, or anally with his penis and without his consent. Using an online survey, data were collected in relation to the physical and emotional impacts experienced by 154 men following their most recent forced-to-penetrate experience. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the use of closed and open-ended survey questions, where participants were asked about the context and circumstances of their most recent experience and whether they had suffered any physical injuries. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2019 Jan 12;122:5-7. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is markedly more common in women than men, and its occurrence and risk for poorer prognosis are associated with pregnancy. Further, it is known that there is a high frequency of co-occurrence of DTC and breast cancer. Although the underlying mechanisms that contribute to these phenomena are not entirely clear, 2 hypotheses are proposed here. Read More

Vet Microbiol 2019 Jan 12;228:7-11. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Wildlife Ecology & Health Group - Servei d' Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; UAB, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.

Mycoplasma conjunctivae is an obligate microparasite that causes Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) in Caprinae species. IKC is a long-recognised disease, but little attention has been paid to the mechanisms of transmission of the mycoplasma and its occurrence in locations other than the eyes. In this study, the presence of M. Read More

Vet Microbiol 2019 Jan 28;228:129-133. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

ANSES, Dozulé Laboratory for Equine Diseases, Bacteriology Unit, Dozulé, France. Electronic address:

The present study reports the isolation of A. hippocoleae from genital swabs of 15 apparently healthy mares (at least one had an abortion one month earlier) and describes the genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of these strains. The mares were of eight different breeds with a thoroughbred dominance and came from 11 breeding farms located in the French region of Brittany. Read More

Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 2018 Nov;47(6):974-978

School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.

Objective: To investigate the effects of flutamide on the reproductive organs development and oxidative stress response of male offspring after exposure to pregnant mice, and to provide further evidence for the application of the model and mechanism research.

Methods: Choose 7-week-old ICR mice, female mice were randomly divided into experimental group and control group after pregnancy, thenflutamide was orally administered to pregnant mice with dose 300 mg/( kg·d) during gestation days 12-18, while the control group was treated with equal volume of soybean oil. More than 7 weeks after birth, 40 male mice were randomly chosen to observe the urethral development and test the anogenital distance( AGD), testicular volume and penile length, and then some of these mice's reproductive organs were took for histopathological examination. Read More

J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Medical Education, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, New York.

Female genital cutting (FGC), also called female genital mutilation, is defined as "all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious, or other nontherapeutic reasons." FGC can have significant health consequences, including multiple physical and psychological complications, throughout the life course. Despite violating numerous human rights and existing legal prohibitions, the practice continues. Read More

Anticancer Res 2019 Jan;39(1):381-386

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Background/aim: Cervical cancer is associated with poorer diagnosis among the elderly and pap-smear screening has a lower sensitivity. Self-sampling for detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) may be an alternative screening method. The aim of this study was to analyze the response rate to vaginal HPV self-sampling and the HPV mRNA prevalence among women 69-70 years. Read More

Niger Postgrad Med J 2018 Oct-Dec;25(4):257-263

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Urogynaecology Unit, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Background: Female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) is performed in other to restore or enhance the female genitalia.

Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study assessing the knowledge and attitude of 310 women attending gynaecology clinic towards FGCS at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were analysed using SPSS 20. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 Dec 27;11(1):668. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

National Research Council, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Monterotondo (Roma), Italy.

Background: Novel anti-schistosomal multi-stage drugs are needed because only a single drug, praziquantel, is available for the treatment of schistosomiasis and is poorly effective on larval and juvenile stages of the parasite. Schistosomes have a complex life-cycle and multiple developmental stages in the intermediate and definitive hosts. Acetylation and deacetylation of histones play pivotal roles in chromatin structure and in the regulation of transcription in eukaryotic cells. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2018 Dec 26;25(4):669-671. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland.

The Dermacentor reticulatus tick is a main vector of Babesia canis in Europe. The risk of canine babesiosis is unpredictable, due to significant differences in the prevalence of B. canis between ticks originating from closely situated regions. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 Dec 24;11(Suppl 2):652. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Department of Biochemistry, Engel Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.

Background: The Asian malaria mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, is a major urban malaria vector in the Middle East and on the Indian subcontinent. Early zygotic transcription, which marks the maternal-to-zygotic transition, has not been systematically studied in An. stephensi or any other Anopheles mosquitoes. Read More

J Urol 2019 01;201(1):17

N Engl J Med 2018 12;379(23):2246-2254

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki (J.P.); and the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (R.C.B.).

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(51):e13672

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu.

Rationale: Sirenomelia is a very rare congenital malformation and characterized by fused lower extremities, oligohydramnios, renal agenesis, absent urinary tract and external genitalia, single umbilical artery, and imperforate anus. Ultrasonography is an optimal method for prenatal screening and diagnosis of sirenomelia. The incidence of sirenomelia in the twin pregnancy is extremely low. Read More

Health Hum Rights 2018 Dec;20(2):223-233

Senior advisor to the Global Alliance Against Female Genital Mutilation, Geneva, Switzerland, and an adjunct professor and PhD student at Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Female genital mutilation/cutting is a form of violence against women and girls. It includes all procedures that involve the partial or total removal of external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is estimated that over 200 million girls and women worldwide have suffered the effects of this practice and that approximately 3. Read More

Hum Reprod 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Study Question: Is it possible to establish a mouse model of deep endometriosis (DE)?

Summary Answer: A mouse DE model that is macroscopically and microscopically similar to nodular lesions in humans can be constructed in as short as 3 weeks by intraperitoneal injection of uterine fragments along with the infusion of substance P (SP) and/or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).

What Is Known Already: Although a baboon DE model was reported 5 years ago, its prohibitive cost and demand for facilities and expertise associated with the use of non-human primates put its use out of reach for most laboratories.

Study Design, Size, Duration: A total of 48 female Balb/C mice were used for this study. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(50):e13670

Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University.

Rationale: Vaginal cuff dehiscence and evisceration constitute a rare but potentially life-threatening event that usually occurs in postmenopausal patients who have undergone hysterectomy. This is a valuable case of spontaneous transvaginal evisceration without pelvic surgery history.

Patient Concerns: A 74-year-old postmenopausal woman with an obstetric history of 7 full term vaginal deliveries, experienced sudden evisceration when she attempted to defecate. Read More

Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University (WMU), Wakayama, Japan.

Development of external genitalia and perineum is the subject of developmental biology as well as toxicology and teratology researches. Cloaca forms in the lower (caudal) end of endoderm. Such endodermal epithelia and surrounding mesenchyme interact with various signals to form the external genitalia. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 12 14;9(1):5319. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, 3052, VIC, Australia.

Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are conditions affecting development of the gonads or genitalia. Variants in two key genes, SRY and its target SOX9, are an established cause of 46,XY DSD, but the genetic basis of many DSDs remains unknown. SRY-mediated SOX9 upregulation in the early gonad is crucial for testis development, yet the regulatory elements underlying this have not been identified in humans. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13470

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In the recent 20 years, primary vaginal adenosis is extremely rare and the data of clinical presentations, management, and outcome have not been studied systematically.In this retrospective study, women with vaginal adenosis between January 1997 and June 2017 were identified from the hospital's medical records. Data on patient age, history, symptoms, mass location, size, diagnosis, complications, treatment, and recurrence were analyzed by SPSS 20. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13375

Department of Obstetrics, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, China.

This study is to investigate the role of cervical morphology evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting invasive placenta previa (IPP).Totally 105 cases of pregnant women underwent prenatal placental MRI at 32 to 36 weeks of gestation for suspected IPP were included in this study. Cervical morphology (cervical length and placental protrusion) was evaluated independently by 2 radiologists. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 22;9:675. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Centre Val de Loire, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR85, Nouzilly, France.

Initially produced in Europe in 1958, metformin is still one of the most widely prescribed drugs to treat type II diabetes and other comorbidities associated with insulin resistance. Metformin has been shown to improve fertility outcomes in females with insulin resistance associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in obese males with reduced fertility. Metformin treatment reinstates menstrual cyclicity, decreases the incidence of cesareans, and limits the number of premature births. Read More

Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018 Dec 6;16(1):123. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.

Background: The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of embryologic and clinical outcomes following open versus closed vitrification of human oocytes and embryos.

Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted in main electronic databases up to June 30, 2018 using the following key terms: 'oocyte', 'embryo', 'blastocyst', 'vitrification', 'cryopreservation', 'device', 'survival rate', 'pregnancy rate', etc. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effect model to estimate the value of risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Read More

Physiol Rev 2019 01;99(1):739-780

Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche , Ancona , Italy ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena , Siena , Italy ; and Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florence, Careggi University Hospital , Florence , Italy.

Activins are dimeric glycoproteins belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily and resulting from the assembly of two beta subunits, which may also be combined with alpha subunits to form inhibins. Activins were discovered in 1986 following the isolation of inhibins from porcine follicular fluid, and were characterized as ovarian hormones that stimulate follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) release by the pituitary gland. In particular, activin A was shown to be the isoform of greater physiological importance in humans. Read More

Aesthet Surg J 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bartin State Hospital, Bartin, Turkey.

Background: Influencing factors to decide for labiaplasty are evolving and show diversity among different settings and countries. Updated underlying motivators may assist in the clinical decision-making and assessing outcomes from the patients' perspective.

Objective: Herein, the main motivators of women undergoing labiaplasty and sociodemographic features are discussed. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 8;2018:5076271. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Dept. of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.

Modern technologies relying on wireless communication systems have brought increasing levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. This increased research interest in the effects of these radiations on human health. There is compelling evidence that EMFs affect cell physiology by altering redox-related processes. Read More

Zookeys 2018 29(800):1-278. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark Copenhagen Denmark.

The taxonomy of the Palearctic genus Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) is revised, based on external morphology, genitalia and DNA barcodes. An integrative taxonomic approach supports the existence of 85 species which are arranged in 24 species groups (disputed taxa from other faunal regions are discussed). Morphology of all species is described and figured in detail. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 12 7;9(1):5245. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.

Sodium-dependent glucose transporters (SGLTs) exploit sodium gradients to transport sugars across the plasma membrane. Due to their role in renal sugar reabsorption, SGLTs are targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Current therapeutics are phlorizin derivatives that contain a sugar moiety bound to an aromatic aglycon tail. Read More