Transcriptomic profiling of mare endometrium at different stages of endometrosis.

In the current study, transcriptome profiles of mare endometrium, classified into categories I, IIA, and IIB according to Kenney and Doig, were compared using RNA sequencing, analyzed, and functionally annotated using in silico analysis. In the mild stage (IIA) of endometrosis compared to category I endometrium, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were annotated to inflammation, abnormal metabolism, wound healing, and quantity of connective tissue. In the moderate stage (IIB) of endometrosis compared to category I endometrium, DEGs were annotated to inflammation, fibrosis, cellular homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and pregnancy disorders. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) identified cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and IL-17 as upstream regulators of DEGs associated with cellular homeostasis, metabolism, and fibrosis signaling pathways. In vitro studies showed the effect of these cytokines on DEGs such as ADAMTS1, -4, -5, -9, and HK2 in endometrial fibroblasts at different stages of endometrosis. The effect of cytokines on ADAMTS members' gene transcription in fibroblasts differs according to the severity of endometrosis. The identified transcriptomic changes associated with endometrosis suggest that inflammation and metabolic changes are features of mild and moderate stages of endometrosis. The changes of ADAMTS-1, -4, -5, -9, in fibrotic endometrium as well as in endometrial fibroblast in response to TGF-ß1, IL-4, IL-13, and IL-17 suggest the important role of these factors in the development of endometrosis.

The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 on the bovine corpus luteum depends on the stage of the estrous cycle and modulates prostaglandin F2α action.

The roles of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in the corpus luteum (CL) function and its modulatory effect on prostaglandin (PG) F2α during the bovine estrous cycle were studied using the following design of in vivo and in vitro experiments: (1) effects of FGF2 and FGF receptor 1 inhibitor (PD173074) on bovine CL function in the early (PGF2α-resistant) and mid (PGF2α-responsive) luteal stage in vivo, (2) the modulatory effect of FGF2 on PGF2α action during the luteal phase in vivo and (3) effects of FGF2 and PD173074 on bovine CL secretory function in vitro. Cows were treated by injection into the CL with: (1) saline (control), (2) FGF2, (3) PD173074, (4) FGF2 followed by intramuscular (i.m.) PGF2α, (5) PD173074 followed by i.m. PGF2α and (6) i.m. PGF2α as a positive control. For in vitro experiments, CL explants were treated with the aforementioned factors. Progesterone (P4) concentrations of blood samples or culture media were determined by radioimmunoassay. Relative mRNA expressions of the genes involved in angiogenesis and steroidogenesis were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Although FGF2 treatment on day 4 of the estrous cycle did not change the cycle length, FGF2 with PGF2α decreased the P4 concentrations observed during the estrous cycle compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Moreover, FGF2 treatment on day 10 prolonged CL function as indicated by a significantly greater concentration of P4 on day 21 compared to the control group. In the in vitro study, FGF2 decreased cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 (CYP11A1) and hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B1) mRNA expression (P < 0.01) and decreased P4 production in the early-stage CL (P < 0.001). However, FGF2 + PGF2α or PGF2α alone resulted in an elevation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and CYP11A1 mRNA expression and P4 secretion in the early-stage CL (P < 0.01). In the mid-luteal phase, FGF2 upregulated CYP11A1 and HSD3B1 mRNA expression (P < 0.01), while FGF2 + PGF2α increased only HSD3B1 mRNA expression (P < 0.001). In conclusion, FGF2 seems to play a modulatory role in CL development or luteolysis, differentially regulating steroidogenesis and angiogenic factors as well as PGF2α actions.

[Paraneoplastic subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus]. / Paraneoplastischer subakut kutaner Lupus erythematodes.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a subtype of cutaneous lupus erythematosus characterized by high photosensitivity, the occurrence of annular or papulosquamous skin lesions located in body regions exposed to UV light, the presence of anti-Ro/SS­A antibodies, and mild systemic involvement, such as arthralgia and myalgia. Similar to other subtypes of cutaneous lupus erythematosus, certain trigger factors exist for the development of SCLE, such as exposure to UV light, cigarette smoking and drugs. Rheumatic diseases, such as dermatomyositis, have been known as paraneoplastic syndromes for a long time. In recent years, there has been an accumulation of publications on the association of SCLE with malignant diseases. This article reports the case of a 78-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with the concomitant development of SCLE and gastric carcinoma. In all older patients with SCLE, patients with widespread skin affection outside the UV-exposed body areas or patients with B­symptoms, the presence of a paraneoplastic SCLE should be considered and appropriate diagnostic steps should be initiated to screen for an associated neoplastic disease.

[Diffuse hyperkeratotic papules of the lower abdomen and genital region in a 38-year old male patient]. / Diffuse hyperkeratotische Papeln am unteren Abdomen und im Genitalbereich bei einem 38­jährigen Patienten.

A patient with diffuse angiokeratomas of the lower abdomen and genital region was diagnosed with Fabry disease on the basis of genetic testing. Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease that can affect several organ systems including the heart or kidneys, resulting in reduced median survival. Pathogenetically, Fabry disease leads to a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme α­galactosidase A (α-GAL A). Treatment options include lifelong enzyme replacement therapy or chaperone therapy.

Real-time spectral interferometry probes the internal dynamics of femtosecond soliton molecules.

Solitons, particle-like excitations ubiquitous in many fields of physics, have been shown to exhibit bound states akin to molecules. The formation of such temporal soliton bound states and their internal dynamics have escaped direct experimental observation. By means of an emerging time-stretch technique, we resolve the evolution of femtosecond soliton molecules in the cavity of a few-cycle mode-locked laser. We track two- and three-soliton bound states over hundreds of thousands of consecutive cavity roundtrips, identifying fixed points and periodic and aperiodic molecular orbits. A class of trajectories acquires a path-dependent geometrical phase, implying that its dynamics may be topologically protected. These findings highlight the importance of real-time detection in resolving interactions in complex nonlinear systems, including the dynamics of soliton bound states, breathers, and rogue waves.

Zygote arrest 1, nucleoplasmin 2, and developmentally associated protein 3 mRNA profiles throughout porcine embryo development in vitro.

Maternal effect genes (MEGs) are expressed in oocytes and embryos and play an important role in activation of the embryonic genome. An abnormality in the expression of these genes may lead to arrest of embryonic cleavage or to altered transcription of factors responsible for further embryonic development. In vitro-produced porcine embryos have a lower developmental potential than embryos produced in vivo. We hypothesized that in vitro embryo culture conditions have an effect on the expression of MEGs at various developmental stages, which may affect their developmental potential. Here, using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we examined mRNA profiles of the MEGs, zygote arrest 1 (ZAR-1), nucleoplasmin 2 (NPM2), and developmentally associated pluripotency protein 3 (DPPA3), in porcine oocytes and embryos produced in vitro and in vivo. Further, we evaluated the effect of the combined addition of EGF, interleukin 1ß, and leukemia inhibitory factor to the porcine in vitro embryo production system on mRNA profiles of selected MEGs. Finally, we studied localization of the MEG protein products in in vitro-obtained oocytes and embryos using confocal microscopy. We found that the ZAR-1 mRNA profile differed throughout in vitro and in vivo embryo development. In the embryos produced in vitro, the decrease in ZAR-1 mRNA levels was observed at the 2-cell stage, whereas in in vivo embryos, ZAR-1 mRNA levels declined significantly starting at the 4-cell stage (P < 0.05). In vitro culture conditions affected transiently also DPPA3 mRNA levels at the 4-cell stage (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the NPM2 mRNA profile during in vitro and in vivo embryo development. The ZAR-1 and DPPA3 proteins were localized in the cytoplasm of the oocytes and embryos, whereas the NPM2 protein was found both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. All proteins were expressed until blastocyst stage. The addition of EGF and cytokines to the culture medium decreased DPPA3 mRNA levels in 8-cell embryos (P < 0.05). This study indicated that IVC conditions affect ZAR-1 mRNA levels before the 4-cell stage, which may disturb the activation of the embryonic genome in pigs. The expression of the proteins after the 4-cell to 8-cell transition indicates that these factors play a role beyond activation of the embryonic genome. Supplementation of the culture media with EGF and cytokines affects DPPA3 mRNA levels after maternal to embryonic transition.

Hybrid dispersion laser scanner.

Laser scanning technology is one of the most integral parts of today's scientific research, manufacturing, defense, and biomedicine. In many applications, high-speed scanning capability is essential for scanning a large area in a short time and multi-dimensional sensing of moving objects and dynamical processes with fine temporal resolution. Unfortunately, conventional laser scanners are often too slow, resulting in limited precision and utility. Here we present a new type of laser scanner that offers ∼1,000 times higher scan rates than conventional state-of-the-art scanners. This method employs spatial dispersion of temporally stretched broadband optical pulses onto the target, enabling inertia-free laser scans at unprecedented scan rates of nearly 100 MHz at 800 nm. To show our scanner's broad utility, we use it to demonstrate unique and previously difficult-to-achieve capabilities in imaging, surface vibrometry, and flow cytometry at a record 2D raster scan rate of more than 100 kHz with 27,000 resolvable points.

Variation in the sex ratio of Rhabdochona fortunatowi (Spirurida: Rhabdochonidae) in Capoeta capoeta gracilis (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), relative to levels of infection, host size and temperature.

In the present study, 81 specimens of Capoeta capoeta gracilis (Keyserling, 1861) were collected from the Shiroud River, the Caspian drainage basin, Iran in June and October 2007. The fish were examined for infection with the nematode Rhabdochona fortunatowi (Dinnik, 1933). Nematodes were counted and sexed, then the sex ratio and intestinal site preference of the R. fortunatowi individuals and the intersexual interactions of the parasites were investigated. Significant differences were observed in the prevalence and intensity of infection in relation to host size and sampling season, but not host sex. Parasite burden (mean intensity) was higher in October than in June and the results revealed a decrease in female-to-male sex ratio (FMR) in the fish in October compared to the ones in June. In other words, as the mean intensity of infection of R. fortunatowi increases, the proportion of male worms increases, too. The female-biased sex ratio in June was replaced by a male-biased one in October. Nematode distribution rose to a significant peak in the mid-region of the fish intestine relative to the anterior and posterior parts. Some changes in the distribution of male and female worms in different parts of the host intestine were also observed during June and October. Density-dependent selection and intersexual competition seem to be the main factors driving such a shift in the sex ratio and its variation in different parts of the host intestine.

Mechanisms for the establishment of pregnancy in the pig.

Establishment of pregnancy in pigs requires continuous function of corpora lutea and endometrial preparation for embryo implantation. Progesterone regulates expression of many proteins necessary for endometrial remodelling and embryo-maternal communications. Attaining the uterine receptivity involves progesterone priming and loss of progesterone receptors in the uterine epithelium before days 10-12 after oestrus. Spermatozoa and oocytes in oviduct alter secretion of specific proteins that exert beneficial effect on gametes and embryos. Moreover, an appropriate leucocyte activation and maintenance of delicate cytokine balance within the oviduct and uterus are important for early pregnancy. This early local immune response is rather mediated by seminal plasma components. These components also influence prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in the oviduct that is important for gamete and embryo transport. Pregnancy establishment requires the biphasic pattern of oestrogen secretion by conceptuses on days 11-12 and 15-30. Conceptus affects lipid signalling system consisting of prostaglandins and lysophosphatic acid. PG synthesis is changed by conceptus signals in favour of luteoprotective PGE(2) . Additionally, existence of PGE(2) positive feedback loop in the endometrium contributes to increased PGE(2) /PGF(2α) ratio during the peri-implantation period. PGE(2) through endometrial PGE(2) receptor (PTGER2) elevates the expression of enzymes involved in PGE(2) synthesis. Higher PGE(2) secretion in uterine lumen coincides with the elevated expression of HOXA10 transcription factor critical for implantation. A stable adhesion between conceptus and endometrium requires reduction in mucin-1 on the apical surface of epithelium and integrin activation by extracellular matrix proteins. Furthermore, growth factors, cytokines and its receptors are involved in embryo-maternal interactions.

Silica-clad crystalline germanium core optical fibers.

Silica-clad optical fibers comprising a core of crystalline germanium were drawn using a molten core technique. With respect to previous fibers drawn using a borosilicate cladding, the present fibers exhibit negligible oxygen despite being fabricated at more than twice the melting point of the germanium. The counterintuitive result of less oxygen when the fiber is drawn at a higher temperatures is discussed. The measured propagation loss for the fiber was 0.7 dB/cm at 3.39 µm, which is the lowest loss reported to date.

Seeded supercontinuum generation with optical parametric down-conversion.

The transition between modulation instability gain and induced soliton fission in nonlinear fiber is experimentally investigated by coherent seeding with the two-color output of an optical parametric oscillator. This approach produces supercontinuum spectra displaying persistent, fine modulation from seeding-induced noise reduction. Numerical simulations support the findings.

Serial time-encoded amplified imaging for real-time observation of fast dynamic phenomena.

Ultrafast real-time optical imaging is an indispensable tool for studying dynamical events such as shock waves, chemical dynamics in living cells, neural activity, laser surgery and microfluidics. However, conventional CCDs (charge-coupled devices) and their complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) counterparts are incapable of capturing fast dynamical processes with high sensitivity and resolution. This is due in part to a technological limitation-it takes time to read out the data from sensor arrays. Also, there is the fundamental compromise between sensitivity and frame rate; at high frame rates, fewer photons are collected during each frame-a problem that affects nearly all optical imaging systems. Here we report an imaging method that overcomes these limitations and offers frame rates that are at least 1,000 times faster than those of conventional CCDs. Our technique maps a two-dimensional (2D) image into a serial time-domain data stream and simultaneously amplifies the image in the optical domain. We capture an entire 2D image using a single-pixel photodetector and achieve a net image amplification of 25 dB (a factor of 316). This overcomes the compromise between sensitivity and frame rate without resorting to cooling and high-intensity illumination. As a proof of concept, we perform continuous real-time imaging at a frame speed of 163 ns (a frame rate of 6.1 MHz) and a shutter speed of 440 ps. We also demonstrate real-time imaging of microfluidic flow and phase-explosion effects that occur during laser ablation.

Glass-clad single-crystal germanium optical fiber.

Long lengths (250 meters) of a flexible 150 microm diameter glass-clad optical fiber containing a 15 microm diameter crystalline and phase-pure germanium core was fabricated using conventional optical fiber draw techniques. X-ray diffraction and spontaneous Raman scattering measurements showed the core to be very highly crystalline germanium with no observed secondary phases. Elemental analysis confirmed a very well-defined core-clad interface with a step-profile in composition and nominally 4 weight-percent oxygen having diffused into the germanium core from the glass cladding. For this proof-of-concept fiber, polycrystalline n-type germanium of unknown dopant concentration was used. The measured infrared transparency of the starting material was poor and, as a likely outcome, the attenuation of the resultant fiber was too high to be measured. However, the larger Raman cross-section, infrared and terahertz transparency of germanium over silicon should make these fibers of significant value for fiber-based mid- to long-wave infrared and terahertz waveguides and Raman-shifted infrared light sources once high-purity, high-resistivity germanium is employed.

Active control of rogue waves for stimulated supercontinuum generation.

We demonstrate that rogue waves provide a powerful tool to actively control a nonlinear system with minimal effort. Specifically, optical rogue waves--rare, bright flashes of broadband light arising in subthreshold supercontinuum generation--are initiated by an exceedingly weak stimulus. Using this effect, we produce an optically switchable, ultrastable, and bright supercontinuum with greatly enhanced coherence.

Optical rogue waves.

Recent observations show that the probability of encountering an extremely large rogue wave in the open ocean is much larger than expected from ordinary wave-amplitude statistics. Although considerable effort has been directed towards understanding the physics behind these mysterious and potentially destructive events, the complete picture remains uncertain. Furthermore, rogue waves have not yet been observed in other physical systems. Here, we introduce the concept of optical rogue waves, a counterpart of the infamous rare water waves. Using a new real-time detection technique, we study a system that exposes extremely steep, large waves as rare outcomes from an almost identically prepared initial population of waves. Specifically, we report the observation of rogue waves in an optical system, based on a microstructured optical fibre, near the threshold of soliton-fission supercontinuum generation--a noise-sensitive nonlinear process in which extremely broadband radiation is generated from a narrowband input. We model the generation of these rogue waves using the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation and demonstrate that they arise infrequently from initially smooth pulses owing to power transfer seeded by a small noise perturbation.

Noise figure and photon statistics in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering.

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) is a well-known Raman scattering process that occurs when Stokes, anti-Stokes and pump waves are properly phase-matched. Using a quantum-field approach with Langevin noise sources, we calculate the noise figure for wavelength conversion between the Stokes and anti-Stokes waves in CARS and show its dependence on phase mismatch. Under phase matched conditions, the minimum noise figure is approximately 3 dB, with a correction that depends on the pump frequency, Stokes shift, refractive indices, and nonlinear susceptibilities. We calculate the photon statistics of CARS and show that the photon number distribution is non-Gaussian. Our findings may be significant for currently pursued applications of CARS including wavelength conversion in data transmission and spectroscopic detection of dilute biochemical species.

Phase-matching and Nonlinear Optical Processes in Silicon Waveguides.

The efficiency of four-wave-mixing arising from Raman and non-resonant nonlinear susceptibilities in silicon waveguides is studied in the 1.3 - 1.8microm regime. The wavelength conversion efficiency is dominated by the Raman contribution to the nonlinear susceptibility, and high conversion efficiencies can be achieved under the phase-matching condition. In this context, dispersion in silicon waveguides is analyzed and it is shown that phase-matching is achieved in properly engineered waveguides where birefringence compensates for material dispersion. Finally the sensitivity of the phase mismatch to fabrication-induced errors in waveguide dimensions is quantified.