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We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether intralipid administration improved the outcomes of in vitro fertilization. Online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase) were searched until March 2020. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the role of intralipid administration during in vitro fertilization were considered. We analyzed the rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the rates of chemical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and missed abortion. We reviewed and assessed the eligibility of 180 studies. Five RCTs including 840 patients (3 RCTs: women with repeated implantation failure, 1 RCT: women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, 1 RCT: women who had experienced implantation failure more than once) met the selection criteria. When compared with the control group, intralipid administration significantly improved the clinical pregnancy rate (risk ratio [RR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.79), ongoing pregnancy rate (RR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.31-2.53), and live birth rate (RR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.44-2.38). However, intralipid administration had no beneficial effect on the miscarriage rate (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.48-1.17). A funnel plot analysis revealed no publication bias. Our findings suggest that intralipid administration may benefit women undergoing in vitro fertilization, especially those who have experienced repeated implantation failure or recurrent spontaneous abortion. However, larger, well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primordial follicle activation is a process in which individual primordial follicles leave their dormant state and enter a growth phase. While existing hormone stimulation strategies targeted the growing follicles, the remaining dormant primordial follicles were ruled out from clinical use. Recently, in vitro activation (IVA), which is a method for controlling primordial follicle activation, has provided an innovative technology for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients. IVA was developed based on Hippo signaling and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) signaling modulation. With this method, dormant primordial follicles are activated to enter growth phase and developed into competent oocytes. IVA has been successfully applied in POI patients who only have a few remaining remnant primordial follicles in the ovary, and healthy pregnancies and deliveries have been reported. IVA may also provide a promising option for fertility preservation in cancer patients and prepubertal girls whose fertility preservation choices are limited to tissue cryopreservation. Here, we review the basic mechanisms, translational studies, and current clinical results for IVA. Limitations and further study requirements that could potentially optimize IVA for future use will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate thickness of lead shielding for computerized tomography (CT) and mock estimate the transmission spectrum according to changes in lead thickness based on computational simulation of CT apparatus. Based on the technical manual of the CT equipment company, CT device configuration was simulated with Monte Carlo simulation code. As shielding material for CT, lead, the most used one, was selected. Lead thickness was simulated by setting it from 0 (absence of shielding material) to 1.25 mm. With increasing lead thickness, the probability of photon absorption was increased while transmittance was estimated to be reduced. In addition, photon permeability was estimated to be 50% or less with lead thickness of 0.05 mm. However, photon absorption probability was estimated to be 90% or more with lead thickness of 0.375 mm with 10%.In computational simulation transmittance experiment of computed tomography using Monte Carlo simulated code, the appropriate lead thickness of the shield was found to be 0.5 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of twinkling artifact (TA) ultrasonography in the evaluation of urinary stone measurement. We measured the different size of granite soil stones by various ultrasonic measuring methods. Then, the results were compared with the actual stone size for accuracy of the various measurement methods. TA is different from stone measurements depending on stone size (p< 0.001). When the stone size was less than 6 mm, the measured diameter of the posterior shadow was most similar to the actual stone size. In the method of measuring the TA diameter in the color Doppler mode, an overestimation of about 1.5 mm was observed when the stone size was smaller than 6 mm, and an overestimation of 0.4 mm was observed at the size larger than 9 mm. TA showed the most accuracy on stones> 9 mm than other ultrasonic measurement methods. TA may be used as a complementary method when the urinary stones size measurement is ambiguous in the B mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, by combining a unique purpose and additional aspects of ultrasonic transmission media, a development potential on a new ultrasonic transmission media was sought. The rheological characteristics and the manufacturing cost for each manufactured formulation were compared and analysed with ready-made. An ultrasonic transmission media is to have different functional characteristics according to the following formulation, it was the best in rheological value, low viscosity emulsion with the oil gel. Polymer hydro gel is can be manufactured at low cost compared to other formulations. Emulsion which shows a sharp viscosity difference according to the components of oil and water had a big difference in manufacturing cost. This study can be utilized as the fundamental data on the ultrasound transmission media equipped with expertise in various areas of ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that aims to evaluate the effects of Garcinia cambogia on the expression of multiple genes related to adipogenesis. It also analyzes its effects on other visceral associated with obesity biomarkers in a high-fat diet-induced obesity C57BL/6J mouse model. It highlights the molecular effects of Garcinia cambogia on MRNA expression on several aspects, including in adipocyte protein aP2, in the epididymal adipose tissue of a diet-induced obesity C57BL/6J mouse model.