scholarly journals ‘Focusing and Unfocusing’—Cognitive, Evaluative, and Emotional Dynamics in the Relationship with Human Embryos among ART Beneficiaries

Societies ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Luís Gouveia ◽  
Catarina Delaunay
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Technology ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Biological Entity ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Emotional Dimensions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Detailed Record

This article uses data gathered from a study conducted in Portugal to examine the (plural and composite) conceptions that doctors, embryologists, and beneficiaries of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) have of the in vitro human embryo. Taking the sociology of engagements, developed by Thévenot, as its theoretical lens, the article draws on a total of 69 interviews with ART patients to analyse the plurality of fluid meanings produced about this biological entity, whose status is neither static nor universal. ART beneficiaries are likely to produce plural conceptions of the lab-generated embryo within the framework of different regimes of engagement, understood as cognitive and evaluative formats. These various pragmatic regimes, in turn, entail distinct emotional investments. When speaking about their relationship with embryos, beneficiaries therefore express plural emotional experiences, which are articulated using terms such as affection, love, detachment, loss, frustration, hope, mourning, and anguish. Using the theoretical framework of the sociology of engagements, we propose an approach that enables us to produce a detailed record of the connections between the cognitive, evaluative, and emotional dimensions in beneficiaries’ relationship with—and decision-making processes about—the embryos, accounting for the plasticity of emotional states linked to the (re)configuration of attributed meanings.

scholarly journals Hypothalamic orexins/hypocretins as regulators of breathing

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhîannan H. Williams ◽  
Denis Burdakov
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Hypothalamic Area ◽  
Respiratory Disorders ◽  
Orexin Receptors ◽  
Regulation Of Breathing ◽  
Electrical Impulses ◽  
The Relationship

It was suggested half a century ago that electrical impulses from the lateral hypothalamic area stimulate breathing. It is now emerging that these effects may be mediated, at least in part, by neurons containing orexin neuropeptides (also known as hypocretins). These cells promote wakefulness and consciousness, and their loss results in narcolepsy. Recent data also show that orexin neurons directly project to respiratory centres in the brainstem, which express orexin receptors, and where injection of orexin stimulates breathing. Because orexin neurons receive inputs that signal metabolic, sleep/wake and emotional states, it is tempting to speculate that they may regulate breathing according to these parameters. Knockout of the orexin gene in mice reduces CO2-induced increases in breathing by ∼50% and increases the frequency of spontaneous sleep apneas. The relationship between orexins and breathing may be bidirectional: the rate of breathing controls acid and CO2 levels, and these signals alter the electrical activity of orexin neurons in vitro. Overall, these findings suggest that orexins are important for the regulation of breathing and may potentially play a role in the pathophysiology and medical treatment of respiratory disorders.

The role of animal studies in supporting human assisted reproductive technology

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Bavister
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Reproductive Technology ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Animal Art

Although average success rates of human IVF have increased progressively during the past two decades, the efficiency of this technique, based on each embryo produced or transferred, is still low. High success rates are usually achieved by transferring several embryos to the patient, which is often associated with multiple pregnancies. The quality of in vitro produced embryos is a major area that needs attention. Because there is no in vivo database for human embryos, the properties of normal embryos are not known, and so it is difficult to know how to improve quality and viability. In addition, selection of the most viable embryos for transfer is a rather subjective process. The origins of human assisted reproductive technology (ART) are based on animal ART; however, the two areas of research (animal and human ART) appear to have become disconnected. Re-examination of progress in animal ART could help improve human embryo quality and thereby assist efforts to sustain high pregnancy rates with only one or two embryos transferred. Some key areas in which animal ART can help guide progress in human ART are discussed.

scholarly journals Alterations of miR-16, miR-let-7a and their target genes expression in human blastocysts following vitrification and re-vitrification

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Daneshvar ◽  
Mansoureh Movahedin ◽  
Mohammad Salehi ◽  
Mehrdad Noruzinia
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Reproductive Technology ◽  
Blastocyst Stage ◽  
Embryo Cryopreservation ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Apoptotic Gene ◽  
Genes Expression ◽  
Family Balancing

AbstractEmbryo cryopreservation is a widely used technique in infertility management and today is an essential part of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In some cases, re-vitrification can be applied to good quality supernumerary warmed embryos that have not been transferred in the present cycle. However, there is no study about re-vitrification impact on microRNA and gene expression in human embryos. The purpose of this study is to evaluate miR-16, miR-let7a and target genes expression in in vitro produced human blastocysts following re-vitrification.Day3 embryos obtained from ICSI cycles of fertile couples referring for family balancing program were biopsied and cultured individually. On the fourth day (post-ICSI) male ones (choices of their parents) were transferred and the females (good quality embryos) were donated for research. Donated embryos were cultured to blastocyst stage and assigned to three groups: fresh, vitrified and re-vitrification. Embryos were vitrified on Cryotech carriers. Then blastocysts of three groups were individually assessed for expression of miR-16, miR-let7a and target genes.The results showed that re-vitrification of human blastocysts did not affect the ability to re-expand in culture. In addition, significant decrease was observed in miR-16 and miR-let7a expression in re-vitrified group compared to fresh (p < 0.05). A significant upregulation of the target genes ITGβ3 and BCL-2 in re-vitrified and vitrified embryos was observed compared to the fresh group (p < 0.05). The expression of BAX as a pro-apoptotic gene showed a significant decrease in re-vitrification group comparing with the fresh one (P < 0.05).The results of this research indicated that re-vitrification of embryos changes the expression of miR-16, miR-let-7a and their target genes. These alterations include increased expression of BCl-2 and ITGβ3 genes which play important roles in embryo survival and implantation, respectively. Clinical proof of these effects requires further research.

Ultrastructural Correlations between Clonal Human Tumor Colonies and in Vivo Neoplasms

1982 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 210-211
Author(s):  
M.J. Murphy ◽  
R.R. Price ◽  
J.C. Sloman
Keyword(s):  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Human Tumor ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Tumor Mass ◽  
Initial Cell ◽  
Cloning Assay ◽  
Human Tumor Cloning ◽  
The Relationship

The in vitro human tumor cloning assay originally described by Salmon and Hamburger has been applied recently to the investigation of differential anti-tumor drug sensitivities over a broad range of human neoplasms. A major problem in the acceptance of this technique has been the question of the relationship between the cultured cells and the original patient tumor, i.e., whether the colonies that develop derive from the neoplasm or from some other cell type within the initial cell population. A study of the ultrastructural morphology of the cultured cells vs. patient tumor has therefore been undertaken to resolve this question. Direct correlation was assured by division of a common tumor mass at surgical resection, one biopsy being fixed for TEM studies, the second being rapidly transported to the laboratory for culture.

Emotional Experiences of Students in the Classroom

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wondimu Ahmed ◽  
Greetje van der Werf ◽  
Alexander Minnaert
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Emotional Response ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Physiological Reactivity ◽  
Emotional Experiences ◽  
Heart Rate Monitoring ◽  
Coding Scheme ◽  
Stimulated Recall ◽  
Response Systems ◽  
The Relationship

In this article, we report on a multimethod qualitative study designed to explore the emotional experiences of students in the classroom setting. The purpose of the study was threefold: (1) to explore the correspondence among nonverbal expressions, subjective feelings, and physiological reactivity (heart rate changes) of students’ emotions in the classroom; (2) to examine the relationship between students’ emotions and their competence and value appraisals; and (3) to determine whether task difficulty matters in emotional experiences. We used multiple methods (nonverbal coding scheme, video stimulated recall interview, and heart rate monitoring) to acquire data on emotional experiences of six grade 7 students. Concurrent correspondence analyses of the emotional indices revealed that coherence between emotional response systems, although apparent, is not conclusive. The relationship between appraisals and emotions was evident, but the effect of task difficulty appears to be minimal.

Plasminogen Depletion during Streptokinase Treatment or Two-Chain Urokinase Incubation Correlates with Decreased Clot Lysability Ex Vivo and In Vitro

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (06) ◽  
pp. 0998-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Páll T Önundarson ◽  
H Magnús Haraldsson ◽  
Lena Bergmann ◽  
Charles W Francis ◽  
Victor J Marder
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Thrombolytic Treatment ◽  
Direct Proportion ◽  
Plasmin Activity ◽  
Plasma Exposure ◽  
The Relationship

SummaryThe relationship between lytic state variables and ex vivo clot lysability was investigated in blood drawn from patients during streptokinase administration for acute myocardial infarction. A lytic state was already evident after 5 min of treatment and after 20 min the plasminogen concentration had decreased to 24%, antiplasmin to 7% and fibrinogen 0.2 g/1. Lysis of radiolabeled retracted clots in the patient plasmas decreased from 37 ± 8% after 5 min to 21 ± 8% at 10 min and was significantly lower (8 ± 9%, p <0.005) in samples drawn at 20, 40 and 80 min. Clot lysability correlated positively with the plasminogen concentration (r = 0.78, p = 0.003), but not with plasmin activity. Suspension of radiolabeled clots in normal plasma pre-exposed to 250 U/ml two-chain urokinase for varying time to induce an in vitro lytic state was also associated with decreasing clot lysability in direct proportion with the duration of prior plasma exposure to urokinase. The decreased lysability correlated with the time-dependent reduction in plasminogen concentration (r = 0.88, p <0.0005). Thus, clot lysability decreases in conjunction with the development of the lytic state and the associated plasminogen depletion. The lytic state may therefore limit reperfusion during thrombolytic treatment.

Monitoring Anticoagulant Therapy by Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time: Hirudin Assessment

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (05) ◽  
pp. 685-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T Nurmohamed ◽  
René J Berckmans ◽  
Willy M Morriën-Salomons ◽  
Fenny Berends ◽  
Daan W Hommes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Heparin Therapy ◽  
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽  
Recombinant Hirudin ◽  
Interindividual Differences ◽  
The Relationship

SummaryBackground. Recombinant hirudin (RH) is a new anticoagulant for prophylaxis and treatment of venous and arterial thrombosis. To which extent the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) is suitable for monitoring of RH has not been properly evaluated. Recently, a capillary whole blood device was developed for bed-side monitoring of the APTT and it was demonstrated that this device was suitable to monitor heparin therapy. However, monitoring of RH was not evaluated.Study Objectives. To evaluate in vitro and ex vivo the responsiveness and reproducibility for hirudin monitoring of the whole blood monitor and of plasma APTT assays, which were performed with several reagents and two conventional coagulometers.Results. Large interindividual differences in hirudin responsiveness were noted in both the in vitro and the ex vivo experiments. The relationship between the APTT, expressed as clotting time or ratio of initial and prolonged APTT, and the hirudin concentration was nonlinear. A 1.5-fold increase of the clotting times was obtained at 150-200 ng/ml plasma. However, only a 2-fold increase was obtained at hirudin levels varying from 300 ng to more than 750 ng RH/ml plasma regardless of the assays. The relationship linearized upon logarithmic conversion of the ratio and the hirudin concentration. Disregarding the interindividual differences, and presuming full linearity of the relationship, all combinations were equally responsive to hirudin.Conclusions. All assays were equally responsive to hirudin. Levels up to 300 ng/ml plasma can be reliably estimated with each assay. The manual device may be preferable in situations where rapid availability of test results is necessary.

The emotional component of teaching. A reflective training experience with teachers

2020 ◽  
pp. 254-267
Author(s):  
Alessandra Priore
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
School Life ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Emotional Component ◽  
Emotional Dimensions ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Monitoring Phase

The system of relationships and emotions that develop in the teaching-learning process define the complexity of teachers' education and pose the challenge of bringing out the emotional and affective culture that guides school life. Several studies on teaching practices highlight the tendency to refer to technical aspectsas a key dimension of professionalism, rather than on relational and emotional dimensions that can promote the relationship with student. The creative and unprecedented reconfiguration of professional practice is configured as the outcome of a reflexive process of subjective construction and de-construction of the profession and its development.The paper proposes a reflective training experience, which involved 76 teachers, focused on emotional and relational dimensions on teaching and based on the use of the narrative-autobiographical instruments (diary, narrative, metaphor). The results achieved in the monitoring phase show that the training offered an opportunity to reflect on oneself and one's personal and professional experience, starting from the use of alternative perspectives and interpretations than those that are already in use

Follicular fluid and assisted reproductive technology programs outcomes (literature review)

GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 36-40
Author(s):  
Anna G. Burduli ◽  
Natalia A. Kitsilovskaya ◽  
Yuliya V. Sukhova ◽  
Irina A. Vedikhina ◽  
Tatiana Y. Ivanets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Reproductive Technology ◽  
Art Programs ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Established Fact

The review presents data on metabolites in the follicular fluid (FF) from the perspective of reproductive medicine and their use in order to predict outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. It considers various components of this biological medium (hormones, lipids, melatonin, etc.) with an assessment of their predictive value in prognosis of the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. The data on experimental directions in this field and the prospects for their use in clinical practice are presented. The article emphasizes that the growing clinical need and the unsolved problem of increasing the effectiveness of ART programs determine the need for further studies of the FF composition. Materials and methods. The review includes data related to this topic from foreign and Russian articles found in PubMed which were published in recent years. Results. Given the established fact of a direct effect of FF composition on growth and maturation of oocytes, and further, on the fertilization process, various FF metabolites are actively investigated as non-invasive markers of quality of oocytes/embryos. The article provides data on the experimental directions in this field and the prospects for their use in clinical practice. However, clinical studies of a relation between various FF metabolites levels and outcomes of IVF programs are contradictory. Conclusion. Owing large economic cost for treatment of infertility with IVF, there is need for expansion and intensification of studies to identify and use reliable predictors in prognosis of ART programs outcomes.

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