Reactive oxygen species-mediated unfolded protein response pathways in preimplantation embryos

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated responses are critical to embryonic development in the challenging in vitro environment. ROS production increases during early embryonic development with the increase in protein requirements for cell survival and growth. The ER is a multifunctional cellular organelle responsible for protein folding, modification, and cellular homeostasis. ER stress is activated by a variety of factors including ROS. Such stress leads to activation of the adaptive unfolded protein response (UPR), which restores homeostasis. However, chronic stress can exceed the toleration level of the ER, resulting in cellular apoptosis. In this review, we briefly describe the generation and impact of ROS in preimplantation embryo development, the ROS-mediated activation mechanism of the UPR via the ER, and the subsequent activation of signaling pathways following ER stress in preimplantation embryos.

Analysis of primary intrathoracic extrapulmonary hydatid cysts a rare clinical entity

To evaluate the anatomic location of cysts, operative characteristics of intrathoracic extrapulmonary hydatid cyst and to determine the outcome of aggressive surgical interventions.Case series. Thoracic Surgery Unit Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from 1[st] July 2008 to 30[th] June 2011. All patients admitted to Thoracic unit from July 2008 to June 2011 with intra thoracic hydatid cysts were evaluated prospectively as to age, sex, symptoms, diagnostic procedures, anatomic location of cysts, surgical procedures, complications, and outcomes. Chest radiography, computed tomography, and thoracic and abdominal ultrasonography had been performed preoperatively in all of them. Bronchoscopy and spirometry was also performed in all patients for assessment and operability.Echocardiography had been used in 2 patients to determine the contiguity of the cyst to the pericardium. Cystectomy and wide resection were the chief operative procedures. Most of the patients were having cysts in the pulmonary parenchyma only 10 patients had intrathoracic cysts in extrapulmonary locations. This group of patients was included in the study. We excluded patients who had a parenchymal cyst that had perforated to the pleura, myocardial hydatid and patients who had Total of 149 patients were operated for hydatid cystectomy, out of these 139 patients had pulmonary hydatid and 10 patients had intrathoracic extrapulmonary hydatid cysts. These 10 patients constitute our study group; out of these 7 were men and 3 women whose mean age was 39.14 +/- 16.8 years range, [16-69 years]. Eight [80%] of these were symptomatic, most commonly with chest pain, two patients were asymptomatic. There were 2 [20%] mediastinal hydatid, 2 [20%] diaphragmatic, 2 [20%] pericardial, 2 [20%] oblique fissure, and 1 [10%] each in chest wall and pleural hydatid in our study. Albendazole [10 mg/kg] was prescribed to all patients for as long as 3 months postoperatively. No complication, recurrence, or death occurred during the follow up period of 13 +/- 15.4 months [range, 2-36 months].The extrapulmonary location of Hydatid cysts within the thorax is very rare. This rarity may cause difficulties in diagnosis. To avoid recurrence, it is necessary to resect the affected tissues completely and an anthelmintic medical regimen post operatively