Ecofiltration (Sweden)

The present study compares two protocols for ovarian controlled stimulation in terms of number of cumulus-oocyte complexes and metaphase II oocytes. We employed a single injection of 150mcg of corifollitropin alfa after a 7-day oral contraceptive pill-free interval for TAIL group and a conventional administration of corifollitropin alfa after a 5-day OCP-free interval with additional rFSH from 8th of ovarian controlled stimulation. Prospective, randomized, comparative, non-inferiority, opened and controlled trial carried out in 180 oocyte donors 31 were excluded, 81 were randomized to the control group and 68 to the TAIL group. No differences were found in the number of follicles larger than 14 and 17 mm at triggering day. However, a lower number of cumulus-oocyte complexes and metaphase II oocytes were obtained in TAIL group compared to the control group, expressed as median (interquartile range): 10.5 (5.5–19) vs. 14 [11–21] and 9 (4–13) vs. 12 (9–17) respectively. Additionally, the incidence of failed retrieval or metaphase II oocytes = 0 was higher in TAIL group 7(10.3%) vs. 1(1.2%) p = 0.024. The use of a single injection of corifollitropin alfa after a 7-day oral contraceptive pill-free interval in oocyte donors resulted in a lower number of cumulus-oocyte complexes and metaphase II oocytes. No additional rFSH was administered in this group.Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2019-001343-44/results.

In recent years, international seed banks have found it increasingly difficult to add to their collections as many nations seek to control access to their genetic resources. Some observers fear that if breeders don9t have free access to the planet9s genetic diversity, they will be increasingly hampered in their efforts to develop crops that resist disease and pests, or that thrive under shifting climate. To head off that threat, a new international treaty, drafted but not yet signed, attempts to revive international seed exchanges with financial incentives.

ABSTRACTThe herpesviruses infections in horses are caused by five different serotypes of viruses, belonging to family Herpesviridae. In the last three years we performed a large number of serological and virological investigations on blood samples and internal organs of aborted fetuses from different categories of solipades (stallion, mare, donkey, young horses, mules). Employed were a Complement Fixation Test (CFT) and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies and antigens of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) and equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV4), virological methods for isolation and cultivation of the pathogens, direct electronmicroscopic methods. The results obtained showed that in some farms and horse riding clubs there were clinical manifestations—respiratory symptoms and abortions. A large number of seropositive reactions in all categories of animals were established. The highest percent (85.7%) of seropositivity was established in two farms, where were observed clinical symptoms—acute or chronic rhinopneumonitis. The data by ELISA test showed the presence of two serotypes of herpesviruses—EHV1 and EHV4. As a new for the country serological and epidemiological finding was the detection of EHV4 antibodies in horses, donkeys and mules in the investigated regions.

Individual isozymes of family four cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE-4s) were characterized and compared in order to advance our understanding of how PDE-4s regulate cAMP levels in cells. Full-length and shorter clones containing various functional domains were constructed and overexpressed using a recombinant baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cell system. One form each of PDE-4C and 4D was purified 125- and 534-fold, respectively, using anion-exchange and affi-gel blue chromatography. The purified material was unaltered in size on SDS-polyacrylamide gels during purification and nearly homogeneous (> 95%) as estimated by both staining and immunoblotting. Approximately 1 mg of PDE-4D (74.7 kDa) and 3.7 mg of PDE-4C (61.4 kDa) could be isolated from a 6-L culture of cells. The physical characteristics of Stokes' radius and sedimentation coefficient for PDE-4 enzymes cloned from each of the four isogenes were determined using size-exclusion chromatography and sedimentation in glycerol gradients. Calculations indicate that both long and short forms can form dimers, although evidence for monomers and higher-order subunit association was seen. Furthermore, the results clearly show that all long and short forms of PDE-4 are highly asymmetric molecules. This work has shown that large amounts of PDE-4 proteins can be purified and characterized physically and enzymatically to yield information that will enable a greater understanding of how PDE-4 enzymes function in cells.