Mild obesity does not affect perinatal outcome in gestational carrier cycles.

STUDY QUESTION: Does BMI of gestational carriers (GCs) affect perinatal outcomes after embryo transfer? SUMMARY ANSWER: Overweight and class I obesity in GCs does not affect the rate of good perinatal outcomes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The use of GCs is increasing, but uniform guidance regarding optimal BMI for GCs is lacking. Women with obesity who conceive without fertility treatment or through autologous or donor in vitro fertilization are at higher risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, but data on obesity in GCs are very limited. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 1121 GC cycles from January 2015 to December 2020 at US Fertility, the largest national partnership of fertility practices in the USA. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, AND METHODS: All GC cycles performed at a large network of fertility practices were reviewed. Same-sex partners undergoing co-IVF were excluded. The primary outcome was good perinatal outcome from the first embryo transfer, defined as a singleton live birth at ≥37 weeks of gestation with birth weight between 2500 and 4000 g. Secondary outcome measures included frequencies of live birth, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, full-term birth, low birth weight, large for gestational age, and cesarean delivery. A generalized linear model (log-binomial) was used for each to compare outcomes across BMI groups using normal BMI (20-24.9 kg/m2) as the reference group. Risk ratios and 95% CIs were estimated for each category group relative to normal BMI. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: We identified 1121 cycles in which GCs underwent first embryo transfer, of which 263 (23.5%) were in GCs with BMI >30. Demographics and reproductive history for GCs did not differ by BMI groups. The age of intended parents, use of frozen eggs, and fresh embryo transfers were higher with increasing BMI group. There were no statistically significant associations between BMI and good perinatal outcomes, live birth, clinical pregnancy, biochemical, spontaneous abortion, or low birth weight. However, among live births, higher BMI was significantly associated with birth by cesarean (P = 0.015) and large for gestational age infants (P = 0.023). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This was a retrospective study, and there may be unmeasured confounders. The number of patients with BMI <20 or ≥35 was small, limiting the power for these groups. We were not able to assess all maternal and fetal outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: In this study, we did not identify any significant impact of BMI on the chances of having a good perinatal outcome. Prior research studies have been inconsistent and this is the largest study to date. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No external funding was received for this work. The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Expression of endothelin and ETB receptors in the megakaryoblastic MEG-01 cell line.

The presence of endothelin (ET) receptors and the nature of the subtype and expression of ET were investigated in the human megakaryoblastic cell line MEG-01. By the RT-PCR procedure, we have shown that both ETA and ETB receptor subtype mRNAs are expressed in the cells. However, binding experiments have shown that the selective ETB receptor antagonist BQ788, but not the selective ETA receptor antagonist BQ123, competes with the specific binding of [125I]ET-1. Using immunocytochemistry, RIA, and RT-PCR Southern blot, we have shown that MEG-01 cells express ET-1. In addition, ET (1-21)-like immunoreactivity was released from the cells into the culture medium, and this release was modulated by thrombin. These data suggest that an ET-1-mediated autocrine loop could occur in the human megakaryoblastic MEG-01 cell line.

Effects of oxygen-free radicals on proliferation kinetics of cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes.

It can be postulated that among the factors implicated in cartilaginous lesions, oxygen-derived free radicals seem to have a prominent part. To investigate this hypothesis, rabbit articular chondrocyte cultures have been exposed to oxygen-derived reactive species generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxydase system. We observed a dose-dependent decrease of cellular growth. In order to explain this result, cell cycle progression and binucleate cell fractions have been studied. A greater number of binucleate cells and an increase in cell volume were observed. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a perturbation in cell cycle progression leading to a significant increase in the proportion of cells in G2 phase and an important augmentation in cell protein content confirmed by biochemical assays. This model shows which type of alteration can be induced by oxygen-derived free radicals in vitro. In addition, we deem this model to be useful for studying degenerative processes and for screening drugs that can scavenge oxygen-free radicals.

Cytotoxicity of D-penicillamine in association with several heavy metals against cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes.

The potentiation or antagonistic effects of Cu, Hg, Pb and Cd salts in the presence of a long-acting anti-rheumatic drug, D-penicillamine (D.P.) were studied on cultured chondrocytes. CuSO(4) (10(-4)M), HgCl(2) (10(-5)M), Pb(CH(3)COO)(2) (10(-3)M) and D.P. (10(-3)M) when used alone caused a small decrease in cell proliferation. The addition of D.P. with Cu, Hg or Pb salts resulted in a marked increase in the extent of growth inhibition. In contrast, CdCl(2) (10(-5)M) produced an important growth inhibitory effect, and D.P. antagonized CdCl(2) action. The CuSO(4) D.P. toxicity was probably due to production of H(2)O(2) in situ. To verify this hypothesis, catalase, responsible for H(2)O(2) metabolism was used, and was found to partially reverse the inhibitory effect of CuSO(4)-D.P.

Hydroxyurea-induced mitotic synchronization in Allium sativum root meristems.

The synchronized divisions following a treatment with hydroxyurea (HU) - an inhibitor of DNA synthesis - were studied in root meristems of Allium sativum using two methods: autoradiography of median sections and morphological labeling with a cytokinesis inhibitor. It is shown that the second wave of mitoses is heterogeneous: it is composed mostly of cells which have been synchronized in the S phase by the HU treatment, of cells coming from the quiescent center stimulated to enter DNA synthesis and of cells which were not blocked by the 23 h HU treatment (slow cycling cells). It is also shown that the cell cycle following the first synchronized division is considerably shortened by the synchronization procedure.

[Cytotoxicity of cadmium : study on root meristems of Allium sativum L]. / Cytotoxicité du cadmium: étude sur les méristémes radicularies d'Allium sativum L

Cadmium nitrate, acetate and sulphate cause death of root meristems of Allium sativum at 5.10(-7) Mol/ml concentration for the two first ones and 10(-7) Mol/ml for the last one. Lower concentrations do not induce chromosomal aberrations. As to the cellular toxicity, cadmium salts are between phenyl-mercuric-hydroxid and lead nitrate, the first one being the most active.

[Cytotoxicity of aurintricarboxylic acid: inhibition of cell proliferation and of protein synthesis in Allium sativum L. root meristems]. / Sur la cytotoxicité de l'acide aurine-tricarboxylique: inhibition de la prolifération cellulaire et des synthèses protéiques dans les méristèmes radiculaires d'Allium sativum L

The inhibitory action of aurine-tricarboxylic acid (ATA) on protein synthesis, known in vitro, has been checked in vivo in Allium sativum L. root meristems. Parallel to this inhibition, ATA acts on cell proliferation, on the one hand by preventing the entering of cells into prophase and, on the other hand, by disturbing the process of mitosis.