Quick-FISH: a rapid fluorescence in situ hybridization technique for molecular cytogenetic analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pregnancy results of an ovarian hyperstimulation protocol for IVF-ET that combines GnRH agonist down-regulation, cessation of GnRH agonist therapy with the onset of menstruation, and high-dose gonadotropin administration in low responders. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. SETTING: Academic IVF program. PATIENT(S): One hundred eighty-two low responders undergoing 224 IVF-ET cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Down-regulation was obtained with the administration of leuprolide acetate beginning in the midluteal phase and ending with the onset of menses. Daily administration of 6 ampules of FSH alone or in combination with hMG was initiated on cycle day 3. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Stimulation characteristics and pregnancy rates (PRs) were compared between fresh cycles in which pure FSH alone was used and 35 cycles in which a combination of FSH and hMG was administered. RESULT(S): The clinical PR per transfer, the ongoing PR per transfer, and the implantation rate were 32%, 24%, and 9%, respectively. No differences were noted between cycles in which pure FSH alone was used in comparison with cycles in which a combination of FSH and hMG was administered. CONCLUSION(S): Short-term ovarian suppression begun in the luteal phase and discontinued with the onset of menses followed by high-dose stimulation with gonadotropins yields favorable pregnancy results in low responders.     

Growth of thin epitaxial films

A new theoretical model for prediction of the mechanism of growth of thin epitaxial films is developed. The model is not based on the classical nucleation theory as this is the case of the approach of Bauer to the problem. The thermodynamic conditions for occurrence of island growth, layer-by-layer growth, multilayer growth and Stranski—Krastanov mechanism consisting of layer-by-layer growth followed by islands are found. The influence of the lattice misfit and the surface alloying on the mode of growth is discussed. The effect of the crystallographic orientation of the substrate is also studied. The theoretical results are applied to the case of electrocrystallization of metals on single crystal metal substrates. A comparison with experimental data is carried out whenever possible.