SPLIT-CLUTCH IVF: A TECHNIQUE TO EXAMINE INDIRECT FITNESS CONSEQUENCES OF MATE PREFERENCES IN STICKLEBACKS

Behaviour ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 137 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1129-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Arnott ◽  
Iain Barber
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Investment ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Mate Preferences ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Indirect Fitness ◽  
And Performance

AbstractAlthough laboratory mate choice experiments and field studies often reveal certain traits of male three-spined sticklebacks (as well as other model species) to be attractive to mate searching females, evidence that mating with males possessing such traits improves offspring survival and performance is scarce. In particular, there is a lack of unambiguous data linking preferred male traits with inherited genetic 'viability', which are essential for 'good genes' models of sexual selection. In this paper, we provide a protocol for performing half-sibling crosses in three-spined sticklebacks using a split-clutch in vitro fertilisation (SC-IVF) technique. This approach controls for variable maternal investment and standardises parental care — two confounding variables that frequently distort the relationship between sire trait and offspring performance — allowing the detection of offspring viability characteristics linked to specific sire traits such as sexual coloration, body size or condition.

scholarly journals A bespoke data linkage of an IVF clinical quality registry to population health datasets; methods and performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina M Chambers ◽  
Stephanie K.Y. Choi ◽  
Katie Irvine ◽  
Christos Venetis ◽  
Katie Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Linkage ◽  
Birth Outcome ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Clinical Quality ◽  
Quality Registry ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Administrative Datasets

IntroductionAssisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), have revolutionised the treatment of infertility, with an estimated 8 million babies born worldwide. However, the long-term health outcomes for women and their offspring remain an area of concern. Linking IVF treatment data to long-term health data is the most efficient method for assessing such outcomes. ObjectivesTo describe the creation and performance of a bespoke population-based data linkage of an ART clinical quality registry to state-based and national administrative datasets. MethodsThe linked dataset was created by deterministically and probabilistically linking the Australia and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD) to New South Wales (NSW) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) administrative datasets (performed by NSW Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL)) and to national claims datasets (performed by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)). The CHeReL's Master Linkage Key (MLK) was used as a bridge between ANZARD's partially identifiable patient data (statistical linkage key) and NSW and ACT administrative datasets. CHeReL then provided personal identifiers to the AIHW to obtain national content data. The results of the linkage were reported, and concordance between births recorded in ANZARD and perinatal data collections (PDCs) was evaluated. ResultsOf the 62,833 women who had ART treatment in NSW or ACT, 60,419 could be linked to the CHeReL MLK (linkage rate: 96.2%). A reconciliation of ANZARD-recorded births among NSW residents found that 94.2% (95% CI: 93.9--94.4%) of births were also recorded in state/territory-based PDCs. A high concordance was found in plurality status and birth outcome (≥99% agreement rate, Cohen's kappa ranged: 0.78--0.98) between ANZARD and PDCs. ConclusionThe data linkage resource demonstrates that high linkage rates can be achieved with partially identifiable data and that a population spine, such as the CHeReL's MLK, can be successfully used as a bridge between clinical registries and administrative datasets.

The Safety and Antimicrobial Properties of Stabilized Hypochlorous Acid in Acetic Acid Buffer for the Treatment of Acute Wounds—a Human Pilot Study and In Vitro Data

2021 ◽  
pp. 153473462110156
Author(s):  
Ewa A. Burian ◽  
Lubna Sabah ◽  
Klaus Kirketerp-Møller ◽  
Elin Ibstedt ◽  
Magnus M. Fazli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Hypochlorous Acid ◽  
Treatment Time ◽  
Donor Site ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Prolonged Treatment ◽  
Wound Irrigation ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Performance

Acute wounds may require cleansing to reduce the risk of infection. Stabilized hypochlorous acid in acetic buffer (HOCl + buffer) is a novel wound irrigation solution with antimicrobial properties. We performed a first-in-man, prospective, open-label pilot study to document preliminary safety and performance in the treatment of acute wounds. The study enrolled 12 subjects scheduled for a split-skin graft transplantation, where the donor site was used as a model of an acute wound. The treatment time was 75 s, given on 6 occasions. A total of 7 adverse events were regarded as related to the treatment; all registered as pain during the procedure for 2 subjects. One subject had a wound infection at the donor site. The mean colony-forming unit (CFU) decreased by 41% after the treatment, and the mean epithelialization was 96% on both days 14 (standard deviation [SD] 8%) and 21 (SD 10%). The study provides preliminary support for the safety, well-tolerance, and efficacy of HOCl + buffer for acute wounds. The pain was frequent although resolved quickly. Excellent wound healing and satisfying antimicrobial properties were observed. A subsequent in vitro biofilm study also indicated good antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a 96% mean reduction of CFU, when used for a treatment duration of 15 min ( P < .0001), and a 50% decrease for Staphylococcus aureus ( P = .1010). Future larger studies are needed to evaluate the safety and performance of HOCl + buffer in acute wounds, including the promising antimicrobial effect by prolonged treatment on bacterial biofilms.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document