We have shown that blastomere volume is directly proportional to the number of mtDNA copies. Therefore, larger cytoplasmic volume, with earlier cleavage speed, implies more mtDNA copies. Evaluation of mtDNA quantification and the measurement of ooplasmic and blastomere volume may be useful for selection of high quality embryo and pregnancy outcome.

ObjectiveTo investigate pregnancy outcomes in women after abdominal radical trachelectomy (RT) for early-stage cervical cancer.MethodsThe patients’ background, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes were reviewed in a total of 61 pregnancies in 48 of 172 women who underwent abdominal RT at Keio University Hospital between September 2002 and December 2013.ResultsThere were 5 women with stage IA1, 2 with stage IA2, and 41 with stage IB1. Histological types were as follows: squamous cell carcinoma (n = 36), adenocarcinoma (n = 10), and adenosquamous cell carcinoma (n = 2). The pregnancy rate of women attempting to conceive after abdominal RT was 44% (48/109). The mean ± SD duration from abdominal RT to conception was 3.1 ± 1.9 years. Of 61 pregnancies, 42 pregnancies were achieved by fertility treatment (in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer, 39; intrauterine insemination, 3). After excluding one pregnancy without detailed clinical information, there were 42 live births (5 in 22–27 weeks, 11 in 28–33weeks, 20 in 34–36 weeks, and 6 in 37–38 weeks), 13 miscarriages, and 5 ongoing pregnancies. While there were 10 first trimester miscarriages, 3 pregnancies ended in the second trimester owing to chorioamnionitis. The mean gestational age at birth was 33 weeks of pregnancy. Thirty-seven neonates were appropriate-for-date, and one was small-for-date. Six pregnancies exhibited massive bleeding from the residual cervix in the late pregnancy. Preterm birth less than 34 weeks of pregnancy was related to premature rupture of the membrane (P < 0.05). Chorioamnionitis was evident in 9 of 11 pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of the membrane followed by birth at less than 34 weeks of pregnancy. No parturients exhibited lochiometra and endometritis postpartum.ConclusionsAbdominal RT provided favorable pregnancy outcomes, and fertility treatment could be advantageous to conception. Massive bleeding from the residual cervix as well as ascending infection might be characteristic features during pregnancy after abdominal RT.

Scheme 1. Allylic substitution reactions catalyzed by group 9m etals.

This is the first observation of ZEB1 expression in epithelial cells of benign disease. The preferential expression of ZEB1 in epithelial cells of endometriotic lesions suggests that these cells may have, at least in part, a higher level of mesenchymal features possibly via ZEB1-driven epithelial-mesenchymal transition than normal endometria and that ZEB1 can be a potential indicator of invasiveness or severity of endometriosis.

Cells of Clostridium botulinum type A strain 190 harvested at logarithmic growth phase rapidly autolysed in phosphate buffer and most of the cells were converted autolytically into spheroplasts in 0.5 M sucrose-phosphate buffer within 2-3 hr at 37 C. Electron microscope observations on the process of autolysis and spheroplast formation revealed that lysis of the cell wall commenced at one end of the cell and the cytoplasmic contents were released through such lesion. The rod cell was thusly transformed into a fragile spherical form in the hypertonic sucrose-buffer. The lysis of the cell wall proceeded centripetally and finally morphological integrity of the cell wall was completely lost. From these findings it is suggested that the autolysis of the organism is preceded by autodigestion of the cell wall at one end of the cell. A crude cell wall fraction isolated from log-phase cultures by sonication and fractionation rapidly autolysed in phosphate buffer. Reducing sugars and amino sugars of the wall were released from the autolysing wall fraction. Electron microscopy of the residues obtained from wallau tolysates demonstrated that the rigid structure of the wall completely disappeared and only fragile membranous or amorphous fragments remained after autolysis of the crude wall fraction. Heated wall preparations digested with trypsin and nagarse were dissolved by a soluble wall-autolysate, but not by a soluble cytoplasmic fraction. It seems likely that autolytic enzyme(s) may exist at or near the cell wall.