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STUDY QUESTION Is embryo culture in a closed time-lapse system associated with any differences in perinatal and maternal outcomes in comparison to conventional culture and spontaneous conception? SUMMARY ANSWER There were no significant differences between time-lapse and conventional embryo culture in preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks), low birth weight (LBW, >2500 g) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy for singleton deliveries, the primary outcomes of this study. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Evidence from prospective trials evaluating the safety of time-lapse incubation for clinical use show similar embryo development rates, implantation rates, and ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates when compared to conventional incubation. Few studies have investigated if uninterrupted culture can alter risks of adverse perinatal outcomes presently associated with IVF when compared to conventional culture and spontaneous conceptions. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This study is a Swedish population-based retrospective registry study, including 7379 singleton deliveries after fresh embryo transfer between 2013 and 2018 from selected IVF clinics. Perinatal outcomes of singletons born from time-lapse-cultured embryos were compared to singletons from embryos cultured in conventional incubators and 71 300 singletons from spontaneous conceptions. Main perinatal outcomes included PTB and LBW. Main maternal outcomes included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS From nine IVF clinics, 2683 singletons born after fresh embryo transfer in a time-lapse system were compared to 4696 singletons born after culture in a conventional incubator and 71 300 singletons born after spontaneous conception matched for year of birth, parity, and maternal age. Patient and treatment characteristics from IVF deliveries were cross-linked with the Swedish Medical Birth Register, Register of Birth Defects, National Patient Register and Statistics Sweden. Children born after sperm and oocyte donation cycles and after Preimplantation Genetic testing cycles were excluded. Odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR were calculated, adjusting for relevant confounders. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In the adjusted analyses, no significant differences were found for risk of PTB (adjusted OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.87–1.41) and LBW (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.66–1.14) or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; preeclampsia and hypertension (adjusted OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.67–1.45 and adjusted OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.62–1.53, respectively) between time-lapse and conventional incubation systems. A significantly increased risk of PTB (adjusted OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.08–1.60) and LBW (adjusted OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08–1.72) was found for singletons born after time-lapse incubation compared to singletons born after spontaneous conceptions. In addition, a lower risk for pregnancy hypertension (adjusted OR 0.72 95% CI 0.53–0.99) but no significant difference for preeclampsia (adjusted OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.68–1.12) was found compared to spontaneous conceptions. Subgroup analyses showed that some risks were related to the day of embryo transfer, with more adverse outcomes after blastocyst transfer in comparison to cleavage stage transfer. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is retrospective in design and different clinical strategies may have been used to select specific patient groups for time-lapse versus conventional incubation. The number of patients is limited and larger datasets are required to obtain more precise estimates and adjust for possible effect of additional embryo culture variables. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Embryo culture in time-lapse systems is not associated with major differences in perinatal and maternal outcomes, compared to conventional embryo culture, suggesting that this technology is an acceptable alternative for embryo incubation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study was financed by a research grant from Gedeon Richter. There are no conflicts of interest for all authors to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen–water reaction on Pd(100) has been studied by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and low energy electron diffraction. A precursor complex for hydroxyl formation was identified in the ν(O–H) loss region of the vibrational spectrum when water was adsorbed on the Pd(100) p(2×2)O surface. The observations indicate that the precursor complex contains several water molecules. The formation of the water–oxygen precursor complex and thus the reaction is inhibited by the presence of hydrogen on the surface. The reaction is demonstrated to start at the defects of the p(2×2)O structure. Water does not adsorb on the perfect p(2×2)O structure above 140 K, at low pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The findings of a previous multigene study indicated that the expression of a panel of seven specific genes had strong differential power regarding inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) versus non- IBD, as well as ulcerative colitis ( UC) versus Crohn's disease ( CD). This prospective confirmatory study based on an independent patient cohort from a national Danish IBD centre was conducted in an attempt to verify these earlier observations. Design, setting and participants A total of 119 patients were included in the study ( CD, UC and controls). Three mucosal biopsies were retrieved from the left side of the colon of each patient. RNA was extracted, and RT- PCR was performed to retain expression profiles from the seven selected genes. Expression data from the training set (18 CD, 20 UC and 20 controls) were used to build a classification model, using quadratic discriminant analysis, and data from the test set (20 CD, 21 UC and 20 controls) were used to test the validity of the model. Results The present investigation did not confirm the previous observation that a panel of seven specific genes is able to distinguish between patients with CD and UC, whereas the discriminative power for IBD versus control subjects was substantiated. Conclusion Our results fail to demonstrate that the previously identified seven-gene classification model is able to discriminate between CD and UC but suggest that the gene panel merely discriminates between inflamed and noninflamed colonic tissue. Thus, a reliable and simple diagnostic tool is still warranted for optimal diagnosis and treatment of patients with IBD, especially the subgroup with unclassified disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne encephalitis, TBE, has been observed in Aland Islands (population 26,500) for more than 60 years. Because of the small population, the relative incidence is high. Antibodies to TBE virus have been found in ca. 5% of healthy blood donors, indicating that subclinical infection must be common. This study is a review of the symptoms and signs of all the 301 serologically verified cases of TBE seen in Aland during 1959-2005. It also aims at analysing any possible changes in the symptoms and signs of TBE over time. The annual number of patients has been from 1 to 26, and has increased over time. The clinical picture has not undergone any conspicuous changes during these years. A few patients have had permanent neurological damage. There were no certain deaths from TBE. Simple practical measures may be taken to diminish, but not to eliminate, the risk of tick bites. Vaccination of exposed people is recommended, and general vaccination against TBE has commenced in Aland, beginning 2006. This is expected to reduce the incidence of TBE among the population to almost nil, provided that new inhabitants are vaccinated and that booster vaccinations are carried out as required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates whether the scarcity of zooxanthellate sponge in unshaded areas of shallower waters in the Red Sea is linked to the failure of photosymbionts to adapt to high irradiances. Patterns of rapid light curves during the adaptation time of sponges; Adaptability of photosymbionts to various irradiances; Relationship between the photosynthetic light responses of the zooxanthellae and the ambient light to which various hosts are naturally exposed.

In a randomized double-blind study we evaluated the effects on cervical ripening and labor induction of 0.5 mg PGE in gel given intracervically and 2.0 mg PGE given as a vaginal suppository. All patients were at term with unfavorable cervical scores. The indications for induction were toxemia, diabetes mellitus, Rh-immunization, or intrauterine growth retardation. Significantly better results for both cervical priming and labor induction were obtained after intracervical PGE-gel application than after treatment with placebo or vaginal suppositories. Eleven out of 19 patients (58%) were delivered within 24 h after intracervical PGE-gel compared to two out of 19 patients given placebo ( p < 0.01). In patients not delivered 24 h after the start of treatment, the mean cervical score had changed from 3.7 to 6.0 ( p < 0.05) after PGE-gel application compared to a change from 3.9 to 4.3 after placebo treatment (n.s.). The outcome after treatment with PGE suppositories did not differ significantly from that with placebo treatment. In a subsequent study 25 patients were given 0.5 mg PGE-gel intracervically. The results were consistent with those obtained in patients receiving PGE-gel intracervically in the double-blind study. Few side effects were noted. No patient complained of gastro-intestinal discomfort but increased myometrial activity was observed in two patients; one after placebo and the other after active intracervical PGE-gel treatment. The hyperactivity was readily countered with the β-agonist, terbutaline. All infants were born in good condition with Apgar scores of 7 or more within 5 min. At pediatric examinations at 1 week and at 6 months of age all children seemed healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MCM5 is a protein involved in DNA replication, facilitating cell proliferation. In normal epithelium MCM5 expression is restricted to the cells in the basal proliferative compartments, however in the presence of a tumour MCM5 positive cells are present at the surface epithelium and are shed into bodily fluids. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of MCM5 as a biomarker for the detection of endometrial and ovarian cancer.Methods: Patients with known ovarian or endometrial cancers, or known benign gynaecological conditions, were enrolled. Informed consent was obtained prior to the collection of full void urine, and either a vaginal tampon (worn for 6-8 h), or a vaginal swab. Vaginal secretions were extracted from the tampon or swab, centrifuged and lysed. Urine samples were centrifuged and lysed. MCM5 levels were determined by MCM5-ELISA (Arquer Diagnostics Ltd).Results: 125 patients completed the study protocol, 41 patients had endometrial cancer, 26 ovarian cancer, and 58 benign controls. All patients provided a urine sample and either a tampon or vaginal swab sample. Urine MCM5 levels were higher in cancer patients than controls (p < 0.0001), there was no significant difference in levels between tampon samples or vaginal swab samples in cancer patients when compared to controls. Performance of MCM5 to discriminate cancer from benign disease was high with an area under the ROC curve of 0.83 for endometrial cancer and 0.68 for ovarian cancer. Using a cut off of 12 pg/mL, overall sensitivity for endometrial cancer was 87.8, and 61.5% for ovarian cancer with a specificity of 75.9%.Conclusions: MCM5 is a novel sensitive and specific biomarker for the detection of ovarian and endometrial tumours in urine samples, which is likely to have clinical utility as a diagnostic aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel superlinear graded index separate confinement laser diode structure is proposed. Single stripe diode lasers with 210 μm emitting aperture generate 3.2 W cw, and 6.3 W quasi-cw of light-output power in a phase-locked operation. The catastrophic optical density (30 W/mm) obtained for these lasers is better than that reported for devices with nonabsorbing mirrors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]