Recommended calorie intake for weight loss in dogs ranged from 0.73 to 1.47 x RER (median, 1.00 x RER) and for weight loss in cats ranged from 0.67 to 1.55 x RER (median, 1.00 x RER). Diets ranged from $0.04 to $1.11/100 kcal of diet (median, $0.15/100 kcal of diet).

Conclusions and Clinical

Relevance-Wide variation existed in recommended calorie intake, kilocalories, and cost for diets marketed for weight loss in pets. This variability could contribute to challenges of achieving this website successful weight loss in pets. (J Am Vet MedAssoc 2010-1236:74-77)”
“Understanding habits at a biological level requires a combination of behavioral observations and measures of ongoing neural activity. Theoretical frameworks as well as definitions of habitual behaviors emerging from classic behavioral research have been enriched by new approaches taking account of the identification of brain regions and circuits related to habitual behavior. Together, this

combination of experimental and theoretical work has provided key insights into how brain circuits underlying action-learning and action-selection are organized, and how a balance between behavioral flexibility and fixity is achieved. New methods to monitor and manipulate neural activity in real time are allowing us to have a first look “”under the hood”" of a habit as it is formed and expressed. Here we discuss ideas emerging from such approaches. We pay special attention to the unexpected findings that have arisen from our own experiments suggesting that habitual behaviors likely require the simultaneous activity of multiple selleck compound CT99021 distinct components, or operators, seen as responsible for the contrasting dynamics of neural activity in both cortico-limbic and sensorimotor circuits recorded concurrently during different

stages of habit learning. The neural dynamics identified thus far do not fully meet expectations derived from traditional models of the structure of habits, and the behavioral measures of habits that we have made also are not fully aligned with these models. We explore these new clues as opportunities to refine an understanding of habits.”
“This paper presents integrated microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology combining surface acoustic wave (SAW) and electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD). This combination has been designed to provide enhanced microfluidic functionality and the integrated devices have been fabricated using a single mask lithographic process. The integrated technology uses EWOD to guide and precisely position microdroplets which can then be actuated by SAW devices for particle concentration, acoustic streaming, mixing and ejection, as well as for sensing using a shear-horizontal wave SAW device. A SAW induced force has also been employed to enhance the EWOD droplet splitting function.

The effects of air pollution were more apparent in women than in men. Age, sex, educational level, smoking status, personal income, occupational exposure, BMI and exercise frequency influenced the relationship between outdoor PM10 and NO2 and mortality. For SO2, only smoking, little regular exercise and BMI above 18.5 influenced

the relationship with mortality. Conclusion: These data contribute to the scientific literature on the long-term effects of air pollution for the high-exposure settings LY294002 in vitro typical in developing countries. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Objectives: Deep neck abscesses are complex head & neck problems that can lead to significant complications including life threatening infections. It is understood that the pathology of these infections is primarily polymicrobial. Although broad spectrum antibiotics can be effective for small abscesses, larger GSI-IX supplier abscesses can be recalcitrant and difficult to treat with antibiotics. It has been demonstrated for several infectious diseases, including some of head & neck, that biofilm phenotypes present a unique model for recurrence and chronicity of infectious diseases. It

is suspected that biofilm phenotypes could play a crucial role in the recalcitrance of large deep neck abscesses. This study presents initial evidence indicating the presence of polymicrobial biofilms in deep neck space infections.

Methods: Fourteen samples obtained via biopsy of abscess walls from deep neck spaces of patients Ro 61-8048 clinical trial undergoing surgical drainage. Eight patients were male and 6 were female. All but one patient were pediatric with ages ranging from 18 months to 32 years. All samples were processed and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy.

Results: Electron micrographs of 12 out of 14 specimens

showed discrete biofilm architecture with individual bacteria, both rods and cocci, embedded within the matrix. ThiS was starkly different from tissue surfaces devoid of biofilms.

Conclusions: This initial evidence suggests that biofilm phenotypes could play a role in the pathogenesis and recalcitrance of deep neck infections, particularly in larger abscesses. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective-To evaluate effects of thrombophlebitis of I or both jugular veins on athletic performance of horses.

Design-Retrospective case series.

Animals-91 horses with jugular vein thrombophlebitis.

Procedures-Medical records of horses with jugular vein thrombophlebitis examined between 1988 and 2005 were reviewed for signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment. Performance was evaluated in 2 ways. A questionnaire was used to obtain a subjective assessment from the owner or trainer of the horse’s performance after thrombophlebitis, compared with the performance before thrombophlebitis. Racing records from before and after thrombophlebitis were also evaluated.

Additionally, drug development programs should be targeted not only to change short-term symptoms, but also to improve the postdischarge event rate. Vaduganathan, M. et al. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 10, 85-97 (2013); published online 8 January 2013; doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2012.181″
“Contents Inherited disorders of sexual development (DSD) cause sterility and infertility

in horses. Mutations causing such disorders have been identified in other mammals, but there is little PF-6463922 clinical trial information on the molecular causes in horses. While the equine genome sequence has made it possible to identify candidate genes, additional tools are needed to routinely screen them for causative mutations. In this study, we designed a screening panel of polymerase chain reaction primer pairs for 15 equine genes. These are the candidate genes for testicular or ovotesticular XX DSD and XY DSD, the latter of which includes gonadal dysgenesis, androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), persistent Mullerian duct syndrome and isolated cryptorchidism. Six horses with testicular or ovotesticular XX DSD and controls were screened. In addition, candidate genes for androgen insensitivity syndrome, persistent Mullerian duct syndrome and isolated cryptorchidism were screened in normal horses.

While no sequence variants were uniquely associated with XX DSD, the 38 sequence variants identified can serve https://www.selleckchem.com/products/gsk1120212-jtp-74057.html as intragenic markers in genome-wide association studies or linkage studies to hasten mutation identification in equine XX DSD and XY DSD.”
“Background and objective: Although there is controversy regarding the benefit of low-dose corticosteroid therapy in patients with septic shock, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign has advocated that low-dose intravenous hydrocortisone be used QNZ to treat adult septic shock patients. This study investigated

the effect of the duration of a stress dose of hydrocortisone on survival of septic shock patients with relative adrenal insufficiency.

Methods: One hundred and thirty consecutive patients who met the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine criteria for septic shock were included in the study. An additional inclusion criterion was vasopressor support after fluid resuscitation. The primary end-point was 28-day mortality, and the secondary end-points were shock reversal and mortality in the intensive care unit and hospital. All eligible patients were prospectively randomized to receive hydrocortisone treatment for 3 or 7 days. Hydrocortisone treatment was started at a dose of 50 mg every 6 h.

Results: Baseline data at recruitment did not differ between the two groups. After 28 days, mortality did not differ between the 3- and 7-day treatment groups (33.8% vs 36.9%, P = 0.629). Mortality rates in the intensive care unit and hospital did not differ significantly between the two groups. The median time to withdrawal of vasopressor therapy was 5.

“
“Phytochemical

study of the ethanol extract of the twigs of Eriosema robustum, a Cameroonian medicinal plant resulted to the isolation of two new flavones, 2′,3′,5′,5,7-pentahydroxy-3,4′-dimethoxyflavone this website (1) and 2′,3,5′,5,7-pentahydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone (2), along with five known compounds: 6-prenylpinocembrin (3), 1-O-heptatriacontanoyl glycerol (4), beta-sitosterol (5), stigmasterol (6) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside of sitosterol (7). The structure of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of their NMR, UV and MS data, and by comparison with those reported in the literature. The ethanol crude extract, fractions and some isolated compounds (1-4) were evaluated for their radical scavenging capacity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH). The crude extract, fraction II, the new compounds namely robusflavones A (1) and B (2) exhibited significant

antioxidant activity. (C) 2012 Phytochemical selleck products Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.”
“Ethanol extract obtained from dried leaves of Acmella oleracea afforded after a liquid/liquid partition procedure a larvicidal hexane fraction (LC50 = 145.6 ppm) and a non larvicidal dichloromethane one. From the inactive fraction, three amides were identified, two new structures, named deca-6,9-dihydroxy-(2E,7E)-dienoic acid isobutylamide (1), deca-8,9-dihydroxy-(2E, 6Z)-dienoic acid isobutylamide (2) and the known nona-2,3-dihydroxy-6,8-diynoic acid 2-phenylethylamide (3). Bioassay-guided chromatographic fractionation of the hexane partition led to the identification of an amide mixture, nona-(2Z)-en-6,8-diynoic acid 2-phenylethylamide (4) and deca-(2Z)-en-6,8-diynoic acid 2-phenylethlylamide (5). This mixture was active against

Aedes aegypti larvae at LC50 = 7.6 ppm. Low toxicity of crude extracts and PRT062607 derived fractions on Artemia salina nauplies showed the possibility of using them to control the A. aegypti mosquito larvae. This is the first report on larvicidal activity of acetylenic 2-phenylethylamides and their identification in A. oleracea leaves. (C) 2012 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.”
“The kidney maintains systemic acid-base homeostasis through proximal tubular reclamation of filtered bicarbonate, and excretion of the daily mineral acid load by collecting duct type A intercalated cells. Impairment of either process produces renal tubular acidosis (RTA). This article will provide an overview of familial forms of proximal and distal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA and dRTA). Recessive pRTA with ocular and central nervous system abnormalities is caused by loss-of-function mutations in basolateral membrane Na-HCO3- cotransporter NBCe1/SLC4A4.

16, p=0.04) and 10-year absolute risk for coronary heart disease (beta = -0.16, p=0.04) among female subjects. Longitudinal research is needed to establish whether risk factors for early cardiac autonomic

impairment differ among men and women with type 2 diabetes.”
“The objective of this study is to isolate and identify antibacterial compounds from Lithospermum erythrorhizon (L. erythrorhizon). Initially, the extracts of 44 different Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) were screened for their antimicrobial ATM/ATR activation sensitivity by using broth micro-dilution methods on 96-microwell plate towards four different species of oral bacteria, which includes Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Among the 44 TCMs, the extracts from L. erythrorhizon have proved to be most effective against these bacteria and were taken up for further study. Further, the purification of compounds from the selected L. erythrorhizon www.selleckchem.com/products/bromosporine.html was performed by silica gel column chromatography. The compounds

of L. erythrorhizon were evaluated for their efficacy by using antimicrobial sensitivity tests. Of all the extracts of L. erythrorhizon, 80% ethanol extract of it, has shown the best antibacterial effects. The elucidation of the structure of the isolated compounds was performed by NMR spectroscopy. Antibacterial effects of the compounds (Acetylshikonin, shikonin, deoxyshikonin, beta-sitosterol, and beta, beta-dimethylacrylshikonin) obtained from the extract, showed that acetylshikonin has the best antibacterial effects. Our study concludes that acetylshikonin of L. erythrorhizon could be a potential antimicrobial agent for the treatment of oral diseases.”
“Continence is maintained by the coordinated function of C59 the pelvic floor, rectum and anal sphincters. Evacuation

occurs through a relaxed pelvic floor. The rectum acts to either store or expel stool both of which require cortical sensory awareness acting in conjunction with intramural and spinal reflexes that ensure timely defecation. The anal sphincters act individually and in unison in response to rectal distension and the sensation of rectal filling. Reflex relaxation of the internal anal sphincter has an additional sensory function in allowing sampling of rectal contents in the upper anal canal. Voluntary control of the external anal sphincter is key in the voluntary deferring of evacuation until a socially opportune moment. This review describes the physiological roles of each of these continence organs in order to understand the complex process of defecation (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The Global Partnership for Effective Diabetes Management was established in 2004 to provide practical guidance to improving glycaemic control for people with type 2 diabetes. Those recommendations have been updated to take account of recent trials assessing the effects of intensive glucose control.

Treatment of endothelial cells with rHuEPO resulted in activation of eNOS as indicated by increased eNOS phosphorylation and NO production.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that eNOS plays an important role in mediating the

beneficial effect of rHuEPO on microcirculation learn more in this septic mouse model.”
“Background The Paediatric Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (PFA-QL) was the first tool to be developed for assessing health-related quality of life (QoL) in children with food allergy. It has been used in a number of published studies, but has not been validated. Objective The aim of the current study was to validate child (PFA-QL) and parentproxy (PFA-QL-PF) versions of the scale in a specialist allergy clinic and in parents of children with food allergy. Methods For the clinic sample, a generic QoL scale (PedsQL) and the PFA-QL were completed by 103 children (age 616yrs) with peanut or tree nut allergy; testretest reliability of the PFA-QL was tested in 50 stable patients. For the non-clinical sample, 756 parents of food allergic children completed the PFA-QL-PF, the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50), Food Allergy Quality of Life Parental Burden Scale (FAQL-PB) and a Food Allergy Impact Measure. Results The PFA-QL and PFA-QL-PF had good

MK-4827 inhibitor internal consistency (‘s of 0.770.82), and there was moderate-to-good agreement between the generic- and disease-specific questionnaires. The PFA-QL was stable over time in the clinic sample, and in both samples, girls were reported to have poorer QoL than boys. Conclusions The PFA-QL and PFA-QL-PF are reliable and valid scales for use in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Unlike other available tools, they were developed and validated in the UK and thus provide a culture-specific choice for research, clinical trials and clinical practice in the UK. Validation in other countries is now needed.”
“Objective: To determine the effectiveness

of targeted pharmacologic interventions to reverse documented pathophysiologic abnormalities in prediabetes.

Methods: Patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were treated Vorinostat chemical structure with insulin sensitizers (pioglitazone + metformin) or insulin sensitizers + exenatide on the basis of oral glucose tolerance testing derived indices of-insulin resistance and impaired beta-cell function. Patients who declined pharmacologic therapy received lifestyle modification only.

Results: One hundred five patients with IGT and/or IFG were treated with insulin sensitizers (pioglitazone + metformin) (n = 40), insulin sensitizers + exenatide (n = 47), or lifestyle modification only (n = 18). After a mean follow-up period of 8.9 months, the lifestyle modification group demonstrated no significant changes in fasting plasma glucose, plasma glucose area under the curve during oral glucose tolerance testing, insulin sensitivity, or (beta-cell function.

Results: After one-year of intervention, treatment boys showed a drop in homeostasis model assessment of insulin-resistance (HOMA-IR) (-0.58 vs +0.17; p = 0.003), fasting glucose (G(f), mg/dL) (mean change: -2.9 vs +0.4; p = 0.126) and fasting insulin (I(f), mu U/mL) (-2.2 vs +0.7; p = 0.009) compared to control boys, after accounting for baseline differences and pubertal stage of the child. Treatment girls had similar changes to the control girls in HOMA-IR

(-0.02 vs -0.17; p = 0.66), G(f) (-0.3 vs +1.4; p = 0.29) and I(f) (+0.03 vs +0.17; p = 0.57).

Conclusion: After one year, this community-based intervention program effectively improved insulin resistance and thus reduced risk for Selleck Selonsertib type 2 diabetes mellitus in overweight AA boys but did not change the risk in girls compared to control children.”
“As increasingly shown in neuropathological and predementia clinical studies, cognitive decline with altered intracranial dynamics can fulfill current clinical criteria of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT)

and there is a marked pathogenic complexity PD0325901 purchase of this epidemic syndrome. Whereas structural studies only suggest the unexpected frequency of cerebrovascular changes in late life DAT, flow quantification MR sequences now offer a great opportunity of in vivo accurate analysis of cerebrovascular function.

Their first applications have allowed development find more of a modern concept of the intracranial dynamics; a complex windkessel system allows two processes that are crucial to insure brain oxygenation and nutrition, a periodic systolic marked expansion of the intracranial blood compartment within the rigid cranial cavity on the one hand, a marked dampening of the arterial pulse wave before it reaches capillary level on the other hand. This modern concept

has allowed better understanding of two archetypes of windkessel failure or so-called pulse wave encephalopathy, normal pressure hydrocephalus and subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy.

Dynamic MRI may now help to detect and classify distinct patterns of cerebrovascular dysfunction in DAT. This dynamic approach helps to understand the major association between aging and DAT as well as the increasingly recognized overlap between Alzheimer’s pathology, normal pressure hydrocephalus and arteriosclerotic neurodegeneration. Evidence of such a great variety of disturbances in intracranial dynamics behind a single clinical syndrome of DAT can greatly impact therapeutic research on this devastating disorder.”
“Objective The objective of this study was to examine cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impacts of testing for germline mutations in breast/ovarian cancer-associated genes (BRCA1/BRCA2) among men who undergo genetic testing. Methods A cross-sectional study compared 51 mutation carriers with 30 men who tested negative for the mutations in both genes.

Methods and materials: The process of our technique is divided into three stages. In the first surgical stage, a 50 cm(3) and 80 cm(3) kidney-shaped expander is implanted under the fatty layer in mastoid region. Overlay the big expander on the small one. After the first surgery stage they are inflated alternately. In the second surgical stage, we remove two skin soft-tissue expanders and fix the Medpor ear framework to the fascial

tissue which is covered by the expanded skin flap wholly without application of fascial flap. In the third stage, we perform the transposition of the auricular lobule to the designated position, construction of the tragus and refinement the new reconstructed ear. From January 2009 to December 2010, 27 patients were treated by this method of total ear reconstruction.

Results: 27 patients acquired symmetrical, subtle contour, prominent reconstructed Emricasan clinical trial auricles. The new reconstructed ear had a good contour and its skin color and texture were nearly the same as the normal surrounding skin. The postauricular sulcus was stable and satisfactory. The postoperative follow-up time ranged from 1 to 3 years. The expanded skin flap took well without necrosis. Exposure of the skin expander occurred in 2 patients (7.4%). The Medpor ear framework was extrused

in one patient (3.7%). In addition, the hematoma was Curaxin 137 HCl observed in 3 patients (11.1%). No other severe complications happened.

Conclusion: Overlying implantation of two skin-soft skin expanders solves the problem of insufficient amount of the skin flap, avoids postauricular skin grafting, PI3K inhibitor simplifies the surgical procedure and shortens the operation time significantly. (C) 2012 Elsevier

Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) with annexin V microbeads recognizes externalized phosphatidylserine (PS) residues on the surface of apoptotic spermatozoa. The successful use of this novel technique applied to a highly apoptotic semen sample before performing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is reported here. The use of annexin V microbeads for selecting non-apoptotic spermatozoa seems to reduce the percentage of altered cells, improving the chance of pregnancy after ICSI. (C) 2009, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Aims and objectives: Due to the close relationship between the cochlea and the peripheral vestibular system, the function of the vestibular system may be impaired in children with sensorineural hearing loss. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of impairments of motor performance and dynamic visual acuity, and the nature and extent of interaction between these in children with sensorineural hearing loss between the ages of 4 and 14 years.

Methods: This research utilized a correlational, cross-sectional, descriptive design.

UV-vis, transmission electron microscope, and laser scattering analyses were used to characterize the bimetallic alloy DENs. The regioselective synthesis of multifunctional hybrid poly(methylhydro)siloxane was achieved by the RuRh and RuPt alloy nanoparticle catalysts. The experimental results showed that the RuRh and RuPt bimetallic DENs presented higher catalytic activity than physical mixtures of their monometallic DENs, respectively. This should be due to synergistic electronic effect of RuRh and RuPt alloy catalysts. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 334-341, 2011″
“The FePt films were deposited with [Fe/Pt](n)

multilayer structure on preheated Corning 1737F glass substrate using pure Fe and Pt target in a CMS-18 sputtering system. The dependence of FePt’s texture and magnetic AZD1480 manufacturer properties on the multilayer

structure was investigated. The XRD patterns indicate that (111) texture is dominant for all [Fe/Pt] n (n 8, 16, 20, 32) multilayer films. However, the measured M-H loops show that the perpendicular anisotropy is greatly enhanced in samples with n 16, 20, and 32. The origin of the increased perpendicular anisotropy of [Fe/Pt] n multilayer ACY-241 solubility dmso films is related to the contributions of the interfaces, which will be analyzed using the micromagnetic models, with careful discussions of the crystalline and interface anisotropies. Finally, it is confirmed that the Fe/Pt

interfaces favor the perpendicular orientation in the multilayer structure. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3564952]“
“The incidence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer has seen a worldwide increase in the last three decades. Whether this is due to a ‘true increase’ in incidence or simply increased detection of otherwise subclinical disease remains Poziotinib order unclear. The treatment of thyroid cancer revolves around appropriate surgical intervention, minimising complications and the use of adjuvant therapy in select circumstances. Prognostic features and risk stratification are crucial in determining the appropriate treatment. There continues to be considerable debate in several aspects of management in these patients. Level 1 evidence is lacking, and there are limited prospective data to direct therapy, hence limiting decision-making to retrospective analyses, treatment guidelines based on expert opinion and personal philosophies. This overview focuses on the major issues associated with the investigation of thyroid nodules and the extent of surgery. As overall survival in well-differentiated thyroid cancer exceeds 95%, it is important to reduce over-treating the large majority of patients, and focus limited resources on high-risk patients who require aggressive treatment and closer attention.

Following IVM, the number of total mature oocytes increased to 399 (45% increase in mature oocyte yield, P < 0.0001). Fertilization rate after IVM was statistically significantly higher than the fertilization of already mature oocytes at retrieval (86% versus 73%, respectively, P < 0.05). The total number of oocytes and embryos frozen before IVM was 207 (45% of all oocytes retrieved). This number increased to 320 (69% of all oocytes retrieved) following IVM (P < 0.0001). IVM is a useful strategy to improve the mature oocyte yield of fertility preservation cycles. Immature oocytes retrieved during oocyte/embryo cryopreservation cycles should not be discarded to improve the future potential

of fertility. (C) 2010, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published FK228 ic50 by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: We sought to evaluate the distribution of scavenger receptor for hemoglobin positive (CD163(+)) cells in the placenta and fetal membranes from pregnancies complicated by preterm prelabor rupture of membranes with respect to the presence and absence of histological

chorioamnionitis. Methods: Sixty-two women with singleton pregnancies with a gestational age between 24+0 and 36+6 weeks were included in a prospective cohort study. CD163 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in the placenta and fetal membranes. The number of CD163(+) cells and neutrophils was counted in the following locations: fetal membranes’ GSK3326595 research buy amnion,

chorion, and decidua, as well as the placenta’s amnion, chorionic plate, subchorionic fibrin, stem villi, terminal villi, and decidua. Results: CD163(+) cells were found in all compartments of the placenta and the fetal membranes regardless of the inflammatory status. A positive correlation between the number of CD163(+) cells and neutrophils in the subchorionic fibrin and the chorionic plate was found. The number of CD163(+) cells was higher in the placental subchorionic fibrin and chorionic plate when histological chorioamnionitis was present. Conclusion: The presence of histological chorioamnionitis affected the number of CD163(+) cells in the placental chorionic plate and in the subchorionic Crenigacestat in vivo fibrin but not in the fetal membranes.”
“In-vitro maturation can have deleterious effects on spindle formation and proper chromosome alignment in human oocytes and can be profoundly affected by culture conditions. This study compared the spindle presence and location with the maturation rate of germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes cultured in two different media: G1.2 and G1.2 supplemented with follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin and 17 beta-oestradiol. A total of 304 oocytes were retrieved from 101 women undergoing IVF treatment with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Spindle presence was recorded using the Polscope. Spindle morphology was evaluated with immunocytological staining for a-tubulin and chromatin.