Effect of hydrated C60 fullerene on lipid, vitamin and amino acid composition in frozen-thawed ram semen.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different doses of hydrated C60 fullerene (C60HyFn) on freeze-thawing process-induced changes in lipid, vitamin and amino acid composition and also in motility, kinematic, sperm quality and oxidative stress parameters in ram semen. Semen was collected from seven rams twice a week for 3 weeks, so six repetitions were performed. The semen collected in each repetition was pooled. Each pooled sample was diluted with tris + egg yolk extender with (200 nM, 400 nM, 800 nM, 1 µM and 5 µM) and without (control) C60HyFn and they were frozen in mini straws. The doses of 800 nM, 1 µM and 5 µM had higher total, progressive motility, sperm membrane functionality rates, glutathione-peroxidase and catalase activities. All doses of C60HyFn significantly reduced dead and total abnormal sperm rates and malondialdehyde levels. Significant increases in vitamin A (400 and 800 nM doses), vitamin K1 (400 nM, 800 nM and 1 µM doses), total amino acid (all doses) levels, but significant decreases in vitamin D2 (800 nM, 1 and 5 µM doses), vitamin D3 (1 and 5 µM doses) and vitamin E (200 nM, 1 and 5 µM) levels were observed compared to control. In conclusion, the addition of C60HyFn to ram semen at 200 nM - 5 µM range, especially at a dose of 800 nM, provides a positive contribution to the protection of motility, vitamins A, K and total amino acid levels, and oxidant/antioxidant balance after freeze-thawing.

Non-immune hydrops fetalis in the first trimester: a review of 30 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the etiology and outcome of non-immune hydrops fetalis diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: 30 cases with fetal hydrops diagnosed between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy at the prenatal diagnosis unit of Istanbul Medical Faculty were reviewed. Sonographic findings, fetal chromosome profiles, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: NIHF was found to be associated with structural abnormalities in 25 (83.3%) cases, and chromosomal abnormalities in nine (47.3%) of the 19 analyzed cases. Nuchal translucency measurements were greater than 3 mm in 28 of the cases (93.3%), and cystic hygroma was the most common detected abnormality (n: 22; 73.3%). All pregnancies with nonimmune hydrops resulted in abortion, intrauterine fetal death, or termination of the pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Fetal hydrops diagnosed in the first trimester of gestation is associated with a higher incidence of aneuploidy, and it has a high mortality, even in fetuses with normal chromosomes.