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Journal of Anatomy Apr 2022In 2016, two adult male sperm whales beached off of Yangkou Port in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China. The local government planned to preserve them as specimens,...
In 2016, two adult male sperm whales beached off of Yangkou Port in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China. The local government planned to preserve them as specimens, one was entrusted to Dalian Hoffen Biological Co., Ltd., and thus became the first sperm whale to be preserved by plastination. The other sperm whale was preserved in Nantong by the traditional stripping method (The skin was preserved, and then the prosthesis was filled into the skin to preserve the specimens. The material of the prosthesis was polyurethane. The outline of the animal was sculpted by suturing the skin like a bag and filling it with polyurethane). Plastination of such a large marine mammal allowed us to view the mutual adaptations of its internal structure to its specific living environment and daily habits. This sperm whale is the largest specimen in the world and this is the first time a sperm whale has been preserved using the plastination method. The plastination process also provides a method for studying the anatomy of large marine mammals for humans to understand deep-sea organisms at close contact and visual level. The plastination of this sperm whale promises to be a world class resource holding tremendous scientific, educational, and artistic value.
Topics: Animals; China; Male; Plastination; Polyurethanes; Sperm Whale
PubMed: 34761390
DOI: 10.1111/joa.13581 -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Jan 2022Preservation of female fertility is a relatively new field in medicine that has grown very rapidly in recent decades. At the beginning, embryo freezing remained the most... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Preservation of female fertility is a relatively new field in medicine that has grown very rapidly in recent decades. At the beginning, embryo freezing remained the most effective technique. Thereafter, cryopreservation of oocytes and ovarian tissue was considered a secure tool in human fertility preservation. Storage of cortical ovarian tissue is moreover relevant for children, prepubertal girls, and adult patients who cannot benefit from cryopreservation of oocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze and review recent and relevant scientific literature on medical and social reasons for preservation of fertility.
METHODS
The review was conducted based on articles identified from PubMed databases using keywords.
MAIN RESULTS
Oocyte vitrification allows women to preserve their fertility without the need for fertilization. Nowadays, thousands of healthy children have been born from this procedure. Occurrence of pregnancy depends on two main factors: the number of mature oocytes in storage and the age of the patient at the time of vitrification. Numerous adaptations have been developed to suit the ovarian stimulation regiments to patients with cancer. In young prepubertal girls, freezing of ovarian tissue remains the best and only option.
CONCLUSION
Oocyte vitrification therefore appears to be the gold standard technique of preserving fertility in young women.
Topics: Cryopreservation; Female; Fertility Preservation; Humans; Oocyte Retrieval; Oocytes; Pregnancy; Vitrification
PubMed: 33829509
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13698 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Aug 2020Collections of micro-organisms are a crucial element of life science research infrastructure but are vulnerable to loss and damage caused by natural or man-made... (Review)
Review
Collections of micro-organisms are a crucial element of life science research infrastructure but are vulnerable to loss and damage caused by natural or man-made disasters, the untimely death or retirement of personnel, or the loss of research funding. Preservation of biological collections has risen in priority due to a new appreciation for discoveries linked to preserved specimens, emerging hurdles to international collecting and decreased funding for new collecting. While many historic collections have been lost, several have been preserved, some with dramatic rescue stories. Rescued microbes have been used for discoveries in areas of health, biotechnology and basic life science. Suggestions for long-term planning for microbial stocks are listed, as well as inducements for long-term preservation.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Biotechnology; Environmental Microbiology; Humans; Preservation, Biological; United States
PubMed: 31758754
DOI: 10.1111/jam.14525 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2023One emerging problem for onco-gynecologists is the incidence of premenopausal patients under 40 years of age diagnosed with stage I Endometrial Cancer (EC) who want to... (Review)
Review
One emerging problem for onco-gynecologists is the incidence of premenopausal patients under 40 years of age diagnosed with stage I Endometrial Cancer (EC) who want to preserve their fertility. Our review aims to define a primary risk assessment that can help fertility experts and onco-gynecologists tailor personalized treatment and fertility-preserving strategies for fertile patients wishing to have children. We confirm that risk factors such as myometrial invasion and The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging should be integrated into the novel molecular classification provided by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We also corroborate the influence of classical risk factors such as obesity, Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and diabetes mellitus to assess fertility outcomes. The fertility preservation options are inadequately discussed with women with a diagnosis of gynecological cancer. A multidisciplinary team of gynecologists, oncologists, and fertility specialists could increase patient satisfaction and improve fertility outcomes. The incidence and death rates of endometrial cancer are rising globally. International guidelines recommend radical hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy as the standard of care for this cancer; however, fertility-sparing alternatives should be tailored to motivated women of reproductive age, establishing an appropriate cost-benefit balance between childbearing desire and cancer risk. New molecular classifications such as that of TCGA provide a robust supplementary risk assessment tool that can tailor the treatment options to the patient's needs, curtail over- and under-treatment, and contribute to the spread of fertility-preserving strategies.
Topics: Pregnancy; Child; Female; Humans; Endometrial Neoplasms; Fertility Preservation; Hysterectomy; Preservation, Biological; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37298731
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119780 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2020Symbiotic bacteria affect competence for pathogen transmission in insect vectors, including mosquitoes. However, knowledge on mosquito-microbiome-pathogen interactions...
Symbiotic bacteria affect competence for pathogen transmission in insect vectors, including mosquitoes. However, knowledge on mosquito-microbiome-pathogen interactions remains limited, largely due to methodological reasons. The current, cost-effective practice of sample pooling used in mosquito surveillance and epidemiology prevents correlation of individual traits (i.e., microbiome profile) and infection status. Moreover, many mosquito studies employ laboratory-reared colonies that do not necessarily reflect the natural microbiome composition and variation in wild populations. As a consequence, epidemiological and microbiome studies in mosquitoes are to some extent uncoupled, and the interactions among pathogens, microbiomes, and natural mosquito populations remain poorly understood. This study focuses on the effect the pooling practice poses on mosquito microbiome profiles, and tests different approaches to find an optimized low-cost methodology for extensive sampling while allowing for accurate, individual-level microbiome studies. We tested the effect of pooling by comparing wild-caught, individually processed mosquitoes with pooled samples. With individual mosquitoes, we also tested two methodological aspects that directly affect the cost and feasibility of broad-scale molecular studies: sample preservation and tissue dissection. Pooling affected both alpha- and beta-diversity measures of the microbiome, highlighting the importance of using individual samples when possible. Both RNA and DNA yields were higher when using inexpensive reagents such as NAP (nucleic acid preservation) buffer or absolute ethanol, without freezing for short-term storage. Microbiome alpha- and beta-diversity did not show overall significant differences between the tested treatments compared to the controls (freshly extracted samples or dissected guts). However, the use of standardized protocols is highly recommended to avoid methodological bias in the data.
Topics: Aedes; Animals; Bacteria; Culex; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Microbiological Techniques; Microbiota; Mosquito Vectors; Preservation, Biological
PubMed: 32257962
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00086 -
Fertility and Sterility Feb 2016It is now well established that many benign or malignant diseases may by themselves or as result of treatment, impair male fertility. Therefore, preserving the potential...
It is now well established that many benign or malignant diseases may by themselves or as result of treatment, impair male fertility. Therefore, preserving the potential of becoming a genetic father represents a major issue. Besides sperm cryopreservation, which is the most reliable method for male fertility preservation, other strategies have more recently emerged, especially in prepubertal boys. Prepubertal germ cell storage from testicular sperm extraction and derivation of male gametes from stem cells may represent a future hope, although raising many ethical issues.
Topics: Age Factors; Cryopreservation; Fertility; Fertility Preservation; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Puberty; Risk Factors; Semen Preservation; Spermatogenesis
PubMed: 26746134
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.12.012 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Fertility preservation biobanking of testicular tissue retrieved from testicular biopsies is now generally recommended for boys who need to undergo gonadotoxic... (Review)
Review
Fertility preservation biobanking of testicular tissue retrieved from testicular biopsies is now generally recommended for boys who need to undergo gonadotoxic treatment prior to the onset of puberty, as a source of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs have the potential of forming spermatids and may be used for therapeutic fertility approaches later in life. Although in the past 30 years many milestones have been reached to work towards SSC-based fertility restoration therapies, including transplantation of SSCs, grafting of testicular tissue and various and spermatogenesis approaches, unfortunately, all these fertility therapies are still in a preclinical phase and not yet available for patients who have become infertile because of their treatment during childhood. Therefore, it is now time to take the preclinical research towards SSC-based therapy to the next level to resolve major issues that impede clinical implementation. This review gives an outline of the state of the art of the effectiveness and safety of fertility preservation and SSC-based therapies and addresses the hurdles that need to be taken for optimal progression towards actual clinical implementation of safe and effective SSC-based fertility treatments in the near future.
Topics: Biological Specimen Banks; Cryopreservation; Fertility Preservation; Humans; Male; Stem Cells; Testis
PubMed: 35444616
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.850219 -
Journal of Animal Science Apr 2022Sperm are susceptible to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Spermine and spermidine are secreted in large amounts by the prostate and potent natural free radical...
Sperm are susceptible to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Spermine and spermidine are secreted in large amounts by the prostate and potent natural free radical scavengers and protect cells against redox disorder. Thus, we used boar sperm as a model to study the polyamines uptake and elucidate whether polyamines protected sperm from ROS stress. Seven mature and fertile Duroc boars (aged 15 to 30 mo) were used in this study. In experiment 1, spermine and spermidine (3.6 ± 0.3 and 3.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L, respectively) were abundant in seminal plasma, and the content of polyamine decreased (P < 0.05) after preservation at 17 °C for 7 d or incubation at 37 °C for 6 h. In experiment 2, using labeling of spermine or spermidine by conjugation with fluorescein isothiocyanate and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, we found that the accumulation of spermine or spermidine in sperm was inhibited by quinidine and dl-tetrahydropalmatine (THP, organic cation transporters [OCT] inhibitors, P < 0.05), but not mildronate and l-carnitine (organic cation/carnitine transporter [OCTN] inhibitors, P > 0.05). In experiment 3, the addition of spermine or spermidine (0.5 mmol/L) in the extender resulted in higher motility, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, and lower ROS level after preservation in vitro at 17 °C for 7 d (P < 0.05). In experiment 4, in the condition of oxidative stress (treatment with H2O2 at 37 °C for 2 h), the addition of spermine (1 mmol/L) or spermidine (0.5 mmol/L) in extender increased activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase; reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione ratio (P < 0.05); and alleviate oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) decline, adenosine triphosphate depletion, and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) overload (P < 0.05), thereby improving boar sperm motility, the integrity of plasma membrane and acrosome (P < 0.05) in vitro. These data suggest that spermine and spermidine alleviate oxidative stress via the antioxidant capacity, thereby improving the efficacy of boar semen preservation.
Topics: Animals; Hydrogen Peroxide; Male; Oxidative Stress; Polyamines; Semen Preservation; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Swine
PubMed: 35247050
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac069 -
Asian Journal of Andrology 2022In the 1960s, sperm cryopreservation was developed as a method to preserve fertility. Currently, techniques for the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa have been... (Review)
Review
In the 1960s, sperm cryopreservation was developed as a method to preserve fertility. Currently, techniques for the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa have been widely used in assisted reproduction. However, although sperm cryobiology has made notable achievements, the optimal method for the recovery of viable spermatozoa after cryopreservation remains elusive. Postthawing sperm quality can be affected by cryoprotectants, ice formation, storage conditions, and osmotic stress during the freezing process. This review discusses recent advances in different cryopreservation techniques, cryoprotectants, and freezing and thawing methods during cryopreservation and new indications for the use of cryopreserved spermatozoa.
Topics: Humans; Male; Semen Preservation; Sperm Motility; Semen; Cryopreservation; Spermatozoa; Cryoprotective Agents
PubMed: 35381695
DOI: 10.4103/aja20229 -
Blood Transfusion = Trasfusione Del... Mar 2016Platelet concentrates account for near 10% of all labile blood components but are responsible for more than 25% of the reported adverse events. Besides factors related... (Review)
Review
Platelet concentrates account for near 10% of all labile blood components but are responsible for more than 25% of the reported adverse events. Besides factors related to patients themselves, who may be particularly at risk of side effects because of their underlying illness, there are aspects of platelet collection and storage that predispose to adverse events. Platelets for transfusion are strongly activated by collection through disposal equipment, which can stress the cells, and by preservation at 22 °C with rotation or rocking, which likewise leads to platelet activation, perhaps more so than storage at 4 °C. Lastly, platelets constitutively possess a very large number of bioactive components that may elicit pro-inflammatory reactions when infused into a patient. This review aims to describe approaches that may be crucial to minimising side effects while optimising safety and quality. We suggest that platelet transfusion is complex, in part because of the complexity of the "material" itself: platelets are highly versatile cells and the transfusion process adds a myriad of variables that present many challenges for preserving basal platelet function and preventing dysfunctional activation of the platelets. The review also presents information showing--after years of exhaustive haemovigilance--that whole blood buffy coat pooled platelet components are extremely safe compared to the gold standard (i.e. apheresis platelet components), both in terms of acquired infections and of immunological/inflammatory hazards.
Topics: Blood Preservation; Blood Safety; Humans; Platelet Transfusion
PubMed: 26674828
DOI: 10.2450/2015.0042-15