Ultrastructural characterization of whole hydrosalpinx from infertile Chinese women

Hydrosalpinx (HSP) has been shown to be detrimental to the outcome of assisted reproduction, but little is known of its pathology. This prospective study examined and detailed ultrastructural characterization of HSP of infertile women presenting for assisted reproductive treatments. Both light and electron microscopies were used to characterize HSP. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of HSP showed areas without epithelial cell lining or with abnormalities such as flattening of the epithelial layer and exfoliation of epithelial cells with occasional normal columnar epithelial lining. HSP muscle fibers were atrophic and occasionally replaced by fibrous tissues, or separated by areas of severe edema. Inflammatory cells could be found in hydrosalpinx fluid (HF) in the lumen in areas with flattened to no epithelial cells, without epithelial lining, as well as in dilated blood vessels and/or lymph vessels. Scanning electron microscopy of the epithelial surface revealed epithelial denudation-severe loss of both cilia and microvilli and stomata exuding globular bodies on eroded ampulla surfaces. Severe chronic inflammation and damage to the epithelial lining and musculature of Fallopian tubes and the presence of inflammatory cells provides an explanation for HF formation, and thus for the detrimental effects of HF on reproductive processes and IVF outcome.     

Structure-activity relationships of dimeric PPAR agonists

A series of dimeric PPAR agonists were designed and tested for PPAR activity in vitro. The SAR showed that dimeric ligands with a common group or full dimeric ligands had retained or even increased PPARgamma potency. The dimeric agonist concept can be used to fine tune the subtype selectivity of PPAR agonists. The PPARgamma potency could, at least partly, be explained using molecular modeling.     

Experimental design as a tool when evaluating stationary phases for the capillary electrochromatographic separation of basic peptides

Two different capillary electrochromatography (CEC) stationary phases, Hypersil phenyl and Hypersil C(18), have been characterised with respect to their ability to separate the four basic peptides H-Tyr-(D)Ala-Phe-Phe-NH(2) (TAPP), H-Tyr-(D)Ala-Phe-NH(2) (TAP), H-Phe-Phe-NH(2) (PP) and H-Phe-NH(2) (P). Optimal separation conditions were first established separately for the two phases by applying experimental design in a stepwise procedure. The first step comprised a study to acquire basic knowledge about the variables, their influence on the response and their respective experimental domains for each of the two stationary phases. The second step was screening the significant variables and the third step was an optimisation with response surface modelling (RSM) to locate the optimum separation conditions for each stationary phase. The experimental procedure was identical for both stationary phases, but their respective experimental domains were different. The response functions were peak resolution and peak efficiency. This procedure enables specific optimal experimental conditions to be identified for each of the two stationary phases. The optimal conditions identified for the separation on the phenyl stationary phase were to use 50% ACN, 20% 50 mM Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) pH 7.5, 30% H(2)O as BGE, operating at 20 degrees C and 20 kV high voltage. For the C(18) stationary phase optimal separation was achieved using a BGE with 80% ACN, 20% 30 mM TRIS pH 8.5, again operating at 20 degrees C and 20 kV high voltage. Results show that the phenyl stationary phase is better suited for the separation of basic, hydrophilic peptides.     

The serum proteome of Equus caballus

We constructed a reference two-dimensional protein map for horse (Equus caballus) serum. The serum proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE); 29 different gene products were identified. Proteins represented by 25 spots/spot groups were identified by tandem nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry (MS), four by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (TOF) MS and one was sequenced by TOF-TOF technology. The identities of four proteins were deduced by similarity to the human plasma protein database. In selected cases, i.e. the immunoglobulins, immunoblotting with specific antibodies provided additional information about the respective proteins. Albumin was detected as the full-length protein and as fragments of various sizes. Spots representing products of different mass and charge were also detected for alpha1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin and transthyretin. Thus, despite the fact that the Equus caballus genome is incompletely characterized, we were able to identify almost all moderate to high abundance proteins stained in the serum 2-DE pattern.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel thiazolocarbazoles and evaluation as potential anticancer agents. Part III

Novel 6-substituted thiazolocarbazole derivatives have been synthesized under microwave irradiation via the corresponding imino-1,2,3-dithiazoles. In vitro antitumor potential of these polyheterocyclic compounds was evaluated. Among all the tested thiazolocarbazoles, compound 10 is the most effective in inhibiting cell growth.     

Sperm binding to epithelial oviduct explants in bulls with different nonreturn rates investigated with a new in vitro model

A new in vitro method was developed for analyzing the capacity of sperm to bind to oviductal epithelium to determine whether this binding capacity could be used to predict nonreturn rates (NRR). Sperm binding was evaluated by counting 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolyl-carbocyanine iodide (JC-1)-labeled spermatozoa attached to oviductal epithelium and by measuring the surface area of the oviduct explants by means of an image analysis program. Hepes + Tyrode albumin lactate pyruvate (TALP) was a more useful medium than in vitro fertilization (IVF)-TALP, TCM-199 medium + 10% fetal calf serum, and TCM-199 medium alone for the investigation of sperm binding to oviductal explants. Oviduct explants with a surface area of < 20 000 micro m(2) provided more consistent results than did explants with a surface area of >100 000 micro m(2). A positive association was found between the log(e) transformed number of spermatozoa bound to 0.1 mm(2) oviductal epithelium and the NRR of the respective sires after 24 h of coincubation, provided that the membrane integrity of the sperm sample was >60%. Determination of the capacity of sperm to bind to oviductal explants could become a reliable in vitro method for predicting the NRR of a given sire.     

Sesquiterpenes and flavonoid aglycones from a Hungarian taxon of the Achillea millefolium group

The investigation of a dichloromethane extract of flower heads of a Hungarian taxon of the Achillea millefolium group led to the isolation of three flavonoid aglycones, one triterpene, one germacranolide and five guaianolides. Their structures were elucidated by UV-VIS, EI- and CI-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic methods as well as by 2D-NMR studies and by selective 1D-NOE experiments. Besides apigenin, luteolin and centaureidin, beta-sitosterol, 3beta-hydroxy-11alpha,13-dihydro-costunolide, desacetylmatricarin, leucodin, achillin, 8alpha-angeloxy-leucodin and 8alpha-angeloxy-achillin were isolated. Both latter substances are reported here for the first time. Their NMR data were compared with those of the other guaianolides. The stereochemistry of 3beta-hydroxy-11alpha,13-dihydro-costunolide was discussed and compared with data of the literature.     

Diatoms in Lowland Ponds of Koshi Tappu,Eastern Nepal – Relationships with Chemical and Habitat Characteristics

Epiphytic and epipelic diatom assemblages were studied in relation to water chemistry and habitat character in lowland ponds of Koshi Tappu, Nepal. Epiphytic assemblages from different microhabitats, such as morphologically different plants, roots, stems, filamentous algae and decomposing leaves, within the same ponds were similar. Assemblage composition of epiphytic diatoms reflected gradients in water chemistry and habitat character of the pond with respect to pond vegetation and substratum type, bank profile and land use in the catchment. Epiphytic and epipelic assemblages responded to chemical gradients in the surface water, particularly concentrations of Ca, Mg and Na, but epipelic diatoms also indicated differences in SO₄. Epipelic diatoms were also sensitive to interstitial water chemistry variations in PO₄, Si, Ca and Mg. There were no relationships between species richness, diversity or evenness and gradients in water chemistry and habitat character. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)