BACKGROUND Inhibition of phrenic nerve activity (PNA) can be achieved when alveolar ventilation is adequate and when stretching of lung tissue stimulates mechanoreceptors to inhibit inspiratory activity. During mechanical ventilation under different lung conditions, inhibition of PNA can provide a physiological setting at which ventilatory parameters can be compared and related to arterial bloo...

We have studied the chromosome condensation activity of mouse oocytes that have been inseminated during meiotic maturation. These oocytes remain unactivated, and in those penetrated by up to three or four sperm, each sperm nucleus is transformed, without prior development of a pronucleus, into metaphase chromosomes. However, those penetrated by more than four sperm never transform any of the nu...

The birthrate following round spermatid injection (ROSI) remains low in current and evidence suggests that factors in the germinal vesicle (GV) cytoplasm and certain substances in the GV such as the nucleolus might be responsible for genomic reprogramming and embryonic development. However, little is known whether the reprogramming factors in GV oocyte cytoplasm and/or nucleolus in GV are benef...

Here, we report our analysis of a mutant of Volvox carteri, InvB, whose embryos fail to execute inversion, the process in which each Volvox embryo normally turns itself inside-out at the end of embryogenesis, thereby achieving the adult configuration. The invB gene encodes a nucleotide-sugar transporter that exhibits GDP-mannose transport activity when expressed in yeast. In wild-type embryos, ...

Gastroesophageal varices bleeding is a major complication in patients with cirrhosis. Gastric varices (GVs) occur in approximately 20% of patients with portal hypertension. However, GV bleeding develops in only 25% of patients with GV and requires more transfusion and has higher mortality than esophageal variceal (EV) bleeding. The best strategy for managing acute GV bleeding is similar to that...

The aim of this study was to evaluate mitochondrial alteration and ATP content of germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes isolated from fresh and vitrified ovaries. After superovulation, the ovaries from adult mice were collected and divided into control and vitrified groups. GV oocytes were isolated mechanically from each group. Half were cultured for 24 hours and their maturation was assessed. Metaphas...

BACKGROUND The use of hormones for controlled ovarian stimulation results in follicular heterogeneity, with oocytes at diverse stages of nuclear and cytoplasmic development. This study evaluated the impact of temporary nuclear arrest by a specific phosphodiesterase 3-inhibitor (PDE3-I), cilostamide, on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of cumulus-free germinal vesicle (GV) human oocytes from c...

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi--Glomus versiforme (Gv) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) on the growth, Cd uptake, antioxidant indices [glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate (ASA), glutathione (GSH) and malonaldehyde (MDA)] and phytochelatins (PCs) production of...

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections have been caused by gentian violet (GV) marking solutions that were contaminated with Mycobaterium chelonae. GV solution is also used in surgery to mark surgical sites. It is commercially available as a solution that may not have been prepared under sterile conditions. OBJECTIVE Our objective is to describe a skin marking method that is sterile, effective, ...