Molecular Clues to Understanding Causes of Human-Assisted Reproduction Treatment Failures and Possible Treatment Options

More than forty years after the first birth following in vitro fertilization (IVF), the success rates of IVF and of IVF-derived assisted reproduction techniques (ART) still remain relatively low. Interindividual differences between infertile couples and the nature of the problems underlying their infertility appear to be underestimated nowadays. Consequently, the molecular basis of each couple’s reproductive function and of its disturbances is needed to offer an individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to each couple, instead of applying a standard or minimally adapted protocols to everybody. Interindividual differences include sperm and oocyte function and health status, early (preimplantation) embryonic development, the optimal window of uterine receptivity for the implanting embryo, the function of the corpus luteum as the main source of progesterone production during the first days of pregnancy, the timing of the subsequent luteoplacental shift in progesterone production, and aberrant reactions of the uterine immune cells to the implanting and recently implanted embryos. In this article, the molecular basis that underlies each of these abnormalities is reviewed and discussed, with the aim to design specific treatment options to be used for each of them.     

活性炭纤维的氧化还原特性及其应用前景

六十年代以来，活性炭纤维由于其优异的吸附性能而引起了科学家们的重视。近年来，人们发现活性炭纤维不仅吸附性能优异，而且还原能力良好，因此，它能够吸附大量高电位的离子，并继之将其还原成为单质金属或低氧化态离子。这种吸附－还原性能在贵重金属的富集、回收和分离，以及有害气体或溶液的处理等领域有良好的应用前景     

"Differential involvement of the dorsal anterior cingulate and prelimbic-infralimbic areas of the rodent prefrontal cortex in spatial working memory": Correction to Ragozzino et al. (1998).

Reports an error in "Differential involvement of the dorsal anterior cingulate and prelimbic-infralimbic areas of the rodent prefrontal cortex in spatial working memory" by Michael E. Ragozzino, Spencer Adams and Raymond P. Kesner (Behavioral Neuroscience, 1998[Apr], Vol 112[2], 293-303). Figure 1 (page 295) and Figure 4 (page 299) were printed incorrectly. The corrected figure pages and corresponding captions are provided in the erratum. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1998-01023-003.) The present study examined the effects of quinolinic acid lesions of the dorsal anterior cingulate and prelimbic-infralimbic cortices on spatial working memory and spatial discrimination using go/no-go procedures. All testing occurred in a 12-arm radial maze. In a working memory task, rats were allowed to enter 12 arms for a cereal reward. Three or 4 arms were presented for a 2nd time in a session, which did not result in a reward. In a spatial discrimination task, rats had successive access to 2 different arms. One arm always contained a reward, and the other never contained a reward. Prelimbic-infralimbic lesions impaired spatial working memory but only produced a transient spatial discrimination deficit. Dorsal anterior cingulate lesions did not induce a deficit in either task. These findings suggest that the prelimbic-infralimbic cortices, but not the anterior cingulate cortex, are important in spatial working memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Eggs of a female Japanese quail are more likely to be fertilized by a male that she prefers.

Male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) that conspecific females preferred in a 10-min, forced-choice test of affiliative preference were more likely than were males not preferred in such a test to fertilize females' eggs when subsequently mated with them, although preferred and nonpreferred males mated equally often with females. Further, the probability that a nonpreferred male would fertilize a female's eggs was significantly increased if she watched while he courted and mated with another female. The results indicate that in Japanese quail (a) affiliative preference reliably predicts females' choices of fathers for their offspring and (b) females may have some degree of control over whether the males with whom they mate actually fertilize their eggs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The latent structure of posttraumatic stress disorder: A taxometric investigation of reactions to extreme stress.

Mental health professionals have debated whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be qualitatively distinguished from normal reactions to traumatic events. This debate has been fueled by indications that many trauma-exposed individuals evidence partial presentations of PTSD that are associated with significant impairment and help-seeking behavior. The authors examined the latent structure of PTSD in a large sample of male combat veterans. Three taxometric procedures--MAMBAC, MAXEIG, and L-Mode--were performed with 3 indicator sets drawn from a clinical interview and a self-report measure of PTSD. Results across procedures, consistency tests, and analysis of simulated comparison data all converged on a dimensional solution, suggesting that PTSD reflects the upper end of a stress-response continuum rather than a discrete clinical syndrome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Peptide Effects on Social Behavior: Effects of Vasotocin and Isotocin on Social Approach Behavior in Male Goldfish (Carassius auratus).

The authors measured the effects of centrally infused peptides on social approach behaviors in goldfish (Carassius auratus), a social teleost. Vasotocin (VT) inhibited approach responses toward the visual stimuli of conspecifics in the absence of aggressive or sexual olfactory contextual cues in males, and a V1 receptor antagonist stimulated such responses, at least in males that were not highly social in baseline conditions, as did isotocin (IT). In the absence of social stimuli, VT did not affect activity, therefore indicating that the inhibition was not the result of nonspecific effects on arousal or motor functioning. These experiments indicate that VT and IT induce opposite effects on social approach responses in male goldfish and that endogenous VT, at least, is associated with levels of sociality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hemispheric Specialization in the Primary Auditory Area of Awake and Anesthetized Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).

Although evidence exists for a lateralization of song production, few studies have focused on the perceptual aspect of lateralization in songbirds. In the present study, the authors recorded neuronal responses to a variety of species-specific and artificial, nonspecific stimuli in both hemispheres of awake and anesthetized male starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Recordings were made in the primary auditory area of the songbird brain, the Field L complex. The right hemisphere exhibited significantly more responsive units than the left hemisphere in awake birds, and this difference was significantly reduced in anesthetized birds. Furthermore, clear hemispheric specialization toward categories of behaviorally relevant stimuli and precise parameters of these stimuli were found. The main auditory area of the starling's brain thus appears to show some degree of lateralization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Agonistic Onset Marks Emotional Changes and Dispersal Propensity in Wild House Mouse Males (Mus domesticus).

The authors investigated implications of agonistic onset for anxiety and dispersive motivation in maturing wild house mouse males (Mus domesticus). Laboratory-kept fraternal pairs either developed agonistic dominance or stayed amicable during their first 2 months of life, when the authors assessed open-field behavior and dispersal propensity. State anxiety was lower in amicable than agonistic males and higher in subordinate than dominant ones. During subsequent dispersal trials, 1 dominant and 1 amicable male from 2 fraternal pairs were concomitantly introduced into seminatural enclosures containing 3 females. One male invariably became territorial. The defeated males, if previously dominant, dispersed at significantly higher rates than if previously amicable. The authors conclude that agonistic onset during development represents an adaptive behavioral switch from a submissive-philopatric to agonistic-dispersive coping strategy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comments on "need states and acivity": A critique.

A note on the paper by Baumeister, Hawkins, and Cromwell (1964) to point out the risk inherent in relying on secondary sources. These reviewers stated that copulation by the male rat does not result in decreased activity levels and cited Morgan and Stellar (1950) as support for this statement. The relevant paragraph in Morgan and Stellar refers to an experiment by Stone and Barker (1934) which does not support the reviewers' statement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Changes in Leadership Appraisal as a Function of the Stress of a Simulated Panic Situation". Erratum to Klein.

Reports an error in the original article by Klein (Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, Vol 34(6) Dec 1976, 1143-1154). On page 1152, there is an error in the first two sentences of the first full paragraph in the right-hand column of the page. The corrected sentences are provided here. In addition, Table 3 on p. 1152 is corrected. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1978-31666-001.) Research by A. Mintz (see record 1951-08008-001) and by H. H. Kelley et al (see record 1965-06787-001) left unresolved the question of what level of personal threat leads to group incoordination of "panic behavior." The present study set out to resolve this issue and to explore the additional relationship between leadership and behavior in the panic situation. The dependent variables were Likert-type questionnaire items designed to investigate the level of responsibility attributed to a leader by members of a group as a function of 4 variables: (a) 2 levels of stress (threat of shock or of small monetary loss), (b) 2 levels of leadership authority (elected or appointed), (c) 2 conditions of leadership ("me-last" or "me-first"), and (d) group success or failure. 14 male college students were run in this 2-4 factorial design with a nonfactorial control group. The task setting, which required Ss to retrieve their wooden cones through the same hole, was analogous to the situation that would occur in a theater fire where only one narrow exit existed. Results support the contention of Kelley that group incoordination (panic) increases under personal threat. Additional results show that (a) leaders facilitated achieving the goal of safe exit; (b) elected leaders were given more responsibility and were seen as more competent than appointed leaders, but only when the stress was comparatively low; and (c) success or failure seemed to have had little effect on the leader's evaluation by the group. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)