Factors affecting the success of a large embryo transfer program in Holstein cattle in a commercial herd in the southeast region of the United States.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate factors affecting in vivo embryo production and pregnancy per embryo transfer (P/ET) in Holstein cattle in the southeast region of the United States. Data from a total of 516 embryo collections and 10,297 ETs performed from 2011 to 2014 were available. For embryo production, the effects of donor parity (nulliparous [N], primiparous [P], multiparous [M]), average temperature-humidity index (THI) at embryo collection, days in milk at embryo collection, occurrence of calving problems, and occurrence of metritis postpartum were evaluated. For P/ET, the effects of donor parity (N or parous), recipient parity (N, P, and M), embryo type (fresh, frozen, IVF, and IVF-frozen), embryo developmental stage (4-7), embryo quality (1-3), recipient estrous cycle day at ET (6-9), average THI at ET, days in milk at ET, milk yield at ET, occurrence of calving problems (abortion, dystocia, twins, fetal death, or retained placenta), and occurrence of metritis postpartum were evaluated. Pregnancy was diagnosed at 41 ± 3 days of gestation. Continuous and binary data were analyzed using the MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS, respectively. Parity affected embryo production; M had greater number and percentage of unfertilized embryos and lesser percentage of viable embryos than P and N. Recipient parity, embryo type, embryo stage, embryo quality, estrous cycle day at ET, and THI at ET affected P/ET. There was an interaction between recipient parity and THI at ET. P/ET was greater for N than P and greater for P than M, greater for fresh embryos than others, greater for stage 7 than others, greater for quality 1 than 2 and greater for quality 2 than 3, and greater for ET on estrous cycle Day 7 and 8 than 6. P/ET was decreased for THI ≥80 in N and THI ≥72 in P and M. Calving problems and metritis also affected P/ET in P and M and was lesser for cows that had calving problems and metritis. In conclusion, embryo production was affected by donor parity, and P/ET was affected by embryo type, embryo stage, embryo quality, recipient estrous cycle day at ET, THI, calving problems, and metritis.

Cervical cancer incidence in young women: a historical and geographic controlled UK regional population study.

BACKGROUND: The commencing age of cervical screening in England was raised from 20 to 25 years in 2004. Cervical cancer incidence in young women of England is increasing. It is not clear if this is due to either greater exposure to population risk factors or reduced cervical screening. METHODS: We measured if the relative risk of cervical cancer in younger women (20-29 years) of the north-east of England (NE) differed to that of women aged 30yrs and above since 2004. We also measured average annual percentage change (AAPC) in the 3 yr moving average incidence for all age-groups. Regional screening coverage rate and population risk factors were reviewed. Comparisons were made with Wales where screening continues to commence from the age of 20yrs. RESULTS: Cervical cancer incidence in women aged 20-29 increased annually by an average of 10.3% between 2000 and 2009. The rise in women aged 30-39 was less steep (3.5%/year) but no significant rise was observed in women aged 40-49. Socioeconomic factors remained stable or improved during the time period except for the incidence of chlamydia, herpes simplex and in particular, genital warts, which increased significantly in young women. Data from Wales show similar results. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cervical cancers in young women of the NE is increasing. The rise in incidence is unrelated to the change in screening policy in 2004. Close monitoring of incidence in young women and a greater attempt to reverse the current decline in screening coverage of women aged 25-29 years are recommended.

Glandular neoplasia and borderline endocervical reporting rates before and after conversion to the SurePath(TM) liquid-based cytology (LBC) system.

Reporting rates for glandular neoplasia in 464,754 cervical samples reported at six laboratories in 12-month periods before and after the implementation of Surepath™ LBC processing are compared. The introduction of LBC processing is seen to have resulted in a significant (P = 0.001) increase in the detection rate for endocervical glandular neoplasia (from 2.2 per 10,000 tests to 3.9 per 10,000) while maintaining high levels of reporting specificity. An observed fall in the number of samples reported as showing borderline glandular neoplasia falls short of statistical significance, and the reporting of possible endometrial and 'other' glandular abnormalities appears to be unaffected. The underlying reasons for the observed improvement in detection of endocervical glandular neoplasia are discussed.

Histological recurrence and depth of loop treatment of the cervix in women of reproductive age: incomplete excision versus adverse pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Recent meta-analyses have shown that loop treatment of the cervix of > 10 mm depth may be associated with adverse outcomes in future pregnancies. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of incomplete excision and recurrent disease in relation to depth of excision in women of reproductive age undergoing loop treatment. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Colposcopy Clinic, Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Gateshead, UK. POPULATION: In all, 1558 women undergoing loop treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HGCIN) between 1998 and 2003. METHODS: Women were followed up until 2008. Recurrence was analysed using Kaplan-Meier plots. OUTCOME MEASURES: Incomplete excision rates and recurrence rates. Recurrence was defined as post-treatment disease with high-grade histology. Any dyskaryotic cytology on follow-up was also documented. RESULTS: Recurrent high-grade disease on histology was found in 57/1558 (3.7%) women. In women ≤ 35 years old, despite a greater rate of incomplete excision at the endocervical margin at loop depths < 10 mm compared with ≥ 10 mm (24.4% versus 13.3%, P < 0.01), the recurrence rate was similar between the two groups (4.3% versus 3.4%, log-rank, P = 0.52). In contrast, a loop depth < 10 mm was associated with a higher disease recurrence rate (7.5% versus 3.0%, log-rank, P = 0.05) in women > 35 years. CONCLUSION: In women of reproductive age requiring treatment for HGCIN, colposcopists performing loop excision should aim for < 10 mm depth. This provides adequate treatment for HGCIN and minimises the potential risk of adverse outcomes in future pregnancies.

Effect of estradiol valerate on ovarian follicle dynamics and superovulatory response in progestin-treated cattle.

Three experiments evaluated the effects of estradiol valerate (EV) on ovarian follicular and CL dynamics, intervals to estrus and ovulation, and superovulatory response in cattle. Experiment 1 compared the efficacy of two norgestomet ear implants (Crestar and Syncro-Mate B; SMB) for 9 d (with PGF at implant removal), combined with either 5 mg estradiol-17beta and 100 mg progesterone (EP) or 5 mg EV and 3mg norgestomet (EN) im at the time of implant insertion on CL diameter and follicular wave dynamics. Ovaries were monitored by ultrasonography. There was no effect of norgestomet implant. Diameter of the CL decreased following EN treatment (P < 0.01). Mean (+/- S.D.) day of follicular wave emergence (FWE) was earlier (P < 0.0001) and less variable (P < 0.0001) in EP- (3.6 +/- 0.5 d) than in EN- (5.7 +/- 1.5 d) treated heifers. Intervals from implant removal to estrus (P < 0.001) and ovulation (P < 0.01) were shorter in EN- (45.7 +/- 11.7 and 74.3 +/- 12.6 h, respectively) than in EP- (56.4 +/- 14.1 and 83.3 +/- 17.0 h, respectively) treated heifers. Experiment 2 compared the efficacy of EP versus EN in synchronizing FWE for superovulation in SMB-implanted cows. At random stages of the estrous cycle, Holstein cows (n = 78) received two SMB implants (Day 0) and were randomly assigned to receive EN on Day 0 or EP on Day 1. Folltropin-V treatments were initiated on the evening of Day 5, with PGF in the morning and evening of Day 8, when SMB were removed. Cows were inseminated after the onset of estrus and embryos were recovered 7 d later. Non-lactating cows had more CL (16.7 +/- 11.3 versus 8.3 +/- 4.9) and total ova/embryos (14.7 +/- 9.5 versus 7.9 +/- 4.6) than lactating cows (P < 0.05). EP-treated cows tended (P = 0.09) to yield more transferable embryos (5.6 +/- 5.2) than EN-treated cows (4.0 +/- 3.7). Experiment 3 compared the effect of dose of EV on ovarian follicle and CL growth profiles and synchrony of estrus and ovulation in CIDR-treated beef cows (n = 43). At random stages of the estrous cycle (Day 0), cows received a CIDR and no further treatment (Control), or an injection of 1, 2, or 5 mg im of EV. On Day 7, CIDR were removed and cows received PGF. Follicular wave emergence occurred within 7 d in 7/10 Control cows and 31/32 EV-treated cows (P < 0.05). In responding cows, interval from treatment to FWE was longer (P < 0.05) in those treated with 5 mg EV (4.8 +/- 1.2 d) than in those treated with 1 mg (3.2 +/- 0.9 d) or 2 mg (3.4 +/- 0.8 d) EV, while Control cows were intermediate (3.8 +/- 2.0 d). Diameter of the dominant follicle was smaller (P < 0.05) at CIDR removal and tended (P = 0.08) to be smaller just prior to ovulation in the 5 mg EV group (8.5 +/- 2.2 and 13.2 +/- 0.6 mm, respectively) than in the Control (11.8 +/- 4.6 and 15.5 +/- 2.9 mm, respectively) or 1mg EV (11.7 +/- 2.5 and 15.1 +/- 2.2 mm, respectively) groups, with the 2mg EV group (10.7 +/- 1.5 and 14.3 +/- 1.7 mm, respectively) intermediate. Diameter of the dominant follicle at CIDR removal was less variable (P < 0.01) in the 2 and 5mg EV groups than in the Control group, and intermediate in the 1mg EV group. In summary, treatment with 5mg EV resulted in a longer and more variable interval to follicular wave emergence than treatment with 5mg estradiol-17beta, which affected preovulatory dominant follicle size following progestin removal, and may have also affected superstimulatory response in Holstein cows. Additionally, 5 mg EV appeared to induce luteolysis in heifers, reducing the interval to ovulation following norgestomet removal. Conversely, intervals to, and synchrony of, follicular wave emergence, estrus and ovulation following treatment with 1 or 2 mg EV suggested that reduced doses of EV may be more useful for the synchronization of follicular wave emergence in progestogen-treated cattle.

Bovine somatotropin increases embryonic development in superovulated cows and improves post-transfer pregnancy rates when given to lactating recipient cows.

Previous studies indicated that the use of bovine somatotropin (bST) in concurrence with a timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol increased pregnancy rates. However, the mechanisms for such a bST effect on fertility were not clear. Objectives of this study were to determine the effects of bST on fertilization and early embryonic development after cows received a superovulation treatment, test whether embryos recovered from bST-treated cows were more likely to survive after transfer to recipients, and evaluate whether treatment of recipient cows with bST affects pregnancy rates. Lactating (n = 8) and nonlactating (n = 4) Holstein donor cows were superovulated, inseminated at detected estrus and assigned to a nontreated control group or to a treatment group receiving a single injection of bST (500 mg, sc) at insemination. Embryos were nonsurgically flushed 7 days after AI and frozen in ethylene glycol for direct transfer. Embryos derived from bST-treated (bST-embryos) or control (control-embryos) donors were transferred to lactating Holstein recipient cows that received either bST treatment 1 day after estrus (500 mg, sc; bST-recipients) or were untreated controls (control-recipients). Thus, there were four treatment groups: control-embryos/control-recipients (n = 43), bST-embryos/control-recipients (n = 41), control-embryos/bST-recipients (n = 37), and bST-embryos/bST-recipients (n = 60). Pregnancy was determined by palpation per rectum 33-43 days after embryo transfer. Unfertilized ova per flush was less for bST than for control (1.0 +/- 0.9 < 3.7 +/- 0.9; P < 0.04). Percentage of transferable embryos was greater for bST than for control (77.2% > 56.4%; P < 0.01). Number of blastocysts per flush was greater for bST than for control (2.4 +/- 0.7 > 0.4 +/- 0.7; P < 0.04). Pregnancy rates following embryo transfer were 25.6% for control-recipient/control-embryo, 43.2% for bST-recipient/control-embryo, 56.1% for control-recipient/bST-embryo, and 43.3% for bST-recipient/bST-embryo. Transfer of bST-embryos increased pregnancy rates compared with transfer of control-embryos (P < 0.04). An interaction between embryo and recipient treatments (P < 0.05) indicated that treatment of recipient cows with bST increased pregnancy rates as compared to control-recipients that received a control-embryo. However, there was no additive effect when bST-recipients received a bST-embryo. Administration of bST at AI decreased the number of unfertilized ova, increased the percentage of transferable embryos, and stimulated embryonic development to the blastocyst stage. Moreover, bST affected both early embryonic development and recipient components to increase pregnancy rates following embryo transfer.

Production of viable bovine blastocysts in defined in vitro conditions.

Our purpose was to obtain viable blastocysts via in vitro maturation, fertilization, and culture (IVMFC) in serum- and BSA-free media (defined conditions) and to document viability by pregnancy initiation following embryo transfer (ET). Oocytes were matured in modified TCM 199 (mTCM 199) with 100 micrograms/ml ovine (o)LH, inseminated in TALP- or defined medium (DM)-based media, and cultured up to 9 days in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) prepared with 6 mg/ml polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) instead of BSA and buffered with 25 mM HEPES with experimental modifications. Modifications for embryo culture included supplementation with Minimum Essential Medium amino acids (MEM), Minimum Essential Medium nonessential amino acids (NEA), the combination of MEM and NEA, citrate (c; 0.5 mM), glutamine (1 mM), or combinations of these. Proportions of immature oocytes selected for IVM that cleaved (IVF) and that reached the blastocyst stage in SOF were 66.3% and 10.9%, respectively. Supplementation of SOF with citrate and nonessential amino acids (i.e., c-SOF + NEA) enabled 85.1% cleavage and 42.6% blastocyst development of oocytes selected for IVM. In conjunction with IVM in mTCM 199 plus 100 micrograms/ml oLH and IVC in c-SOF + NEA, efforts to eliminate protein from the fertilization medium revealed modified DM (mDM) prepared with PVA instead of BSA to be superior to TALP prepared with PVA; IVMFC data for blastocyst development were 27.4% vs. 18.2% (p < 0.05), respectively. The use of mDM for sperm preparation and IVF yielded comparable blastocyst development when either BSA or PVA was included.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Caregiving: The impact on emotional support for single women.

Even though filial caregivers are typically daughters rather than sons, examinations of caregiving have not adequately considered the impact of gender and marital status differences on the support systems that mediate the strain of caring. Because of competing demands on time and energy, caregivers make many changes in their personal activities while maintaining work and immediate family responsibilities. The friendships that provide emotional support for singles are perceived as less important than familial relationships. Therefore, the assumption is made that the single adult daughter has less to give up as compared to her married siblings. The parallel emotional support systems of the married and single caregivers go unrecognized. This study of never-married women over age 30 reveals that these caregivers essentially foreclosed social relationships in order to provide care.