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The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to conduct a thorough assessment of post-operative anti-mullerian hormone levels, a marker of ovarian reserve, after laparoscopic cystectomy for endometriomas. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis that assessed pre and post-operative anti-mullerian hormone levels after ovarian cystectomy for endometriomas. Anti-Mullerian hormone levels were reported up to 18 months after surgery categorized as short term (up to six weeks), medium term (seven weeks to six months) and long term (six months to 18 months). The setting included all countries where a laparoscopic cystectomy was performed in a hospital operating room. A total of 30 studies and 1,315 participants were included. Inclusion criteria included reproductive aged patients with known endometriomas, anti-mullerian hormone levels assessed within one month prior to surgery, and levels reported up to 18 months after surgery. Interventions included laparoscopic cystectomy, unilateral or bilateral, for endometriomas. Serum Anti-mullerian hormone levels were assessed at various time points post operatively as described above using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Primary outcomes showed a statistically significant (P < 0.001) decrease in anti-mullerian hormone in the postoperative short-term period [-1.39 ng/mL, 95% CI, -2.01- (-0.76)], medium term period [-1.13 ng/mL (95% CI, -1.4- (-0.87)], and long term period [-2.12 ng/mL (95% CI, -2.61- (-1.63)]. There was no significant difference when comparing anti-mullerian hormone levels in the short term versus long term period across all groups. There was no significant difference when comparing long term unilateral and bilateral cystectomies on anti-mullerian hormone levels post operatively. This systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the decline in serum anti-mullerian hormone levels following laparoscopic cystectomy for endometriomas, suggesting a potential adverse impact on ovarian reserve. This outcome emphasizes the need to incorporate discussions about the implications of surgery on fertility into preoperative counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red-eared slider turtle, Trachemy scripta, has a Male/Female (MF) pattern of temperature-dependent sex determination in which cooler incubation temperatures produce males and warmer temperatures produce females. The pivotal temperature (temperature producing a 1:1 sex ratio) has been suggested to be near 29.4 [degrees] C. In the current study, 20 clutches of eggs were incubated at 29.4 [degrees] C. All of the clutches were laid during the same 24 hour period and average clutch size was approximately 8 eggs. Individual clutches were kept separate throughout incubation and were rotated within incubators. Of the 20 clutches, 19 produced viable hatchlings. The sex of hatchlings was assessed by examining the structure of the gonads. Overall, an approximate 1:1 sex ratio was produced (79 males:78 females). However, the results reveal significant interclutch variation in sex ratios. Clutch sex ratios varied from 100% male to 100% female. The results support the hypothesis that pivotal temperatures may vary due to clutch-specific factors.

The red eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta, possess temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Previous studies with T. scripta have suggested that steroids, in particular estrogens, may play key roles in the sex determination cascade. Therefore, steroidogenic enzymes involved in the synthesis of estrogens are of particular interest. Previously in our laboratory the cDNA for one such steroidogenic enzyme, aromatase, has been cloned and sequenced from T. scripta. Using this sequence data, a PCR-based strategy was employed in the construction of an RNA competitor molecule for aromatase. The synthesis of this RNA competitor facilitated the development of a quantitative competitive RT-PCR (QC RT-PCR) for aromatase. In the current study, we have validated and begun utilizing this QC RT-PCR. Preliminary results have shown that: (1) When competitor RNA was added to total RNA extracted from tissues, both co-amplified. (2) Varying the amount of competitor while leaving the amount of total RNA added to each tube constant results in varying intensity in the competitor bands, while the intensity of the endogenous target band remains constant. (3) By varying the amount of competitor added to each sample tube, a standard curve of intensity can be generated, by which aromatase expression during TSD can be quantified. We are now using this QC RT-PCR to examine the expression of aromatase during TSD. QC RT-PCRs are currently being performed on total RNA isolated from adrenal-kidney-gonadal complexes taken from embryos incubated at both male and female-producing temperatures (26 [degrees] C and 31 [degrees] C respectively) at stages 15, 17, 19, and 21 of embryonic development. The results will provide a chronology of aromatase expression during TSD.

Manipulation of sex determination by steroid hormones has been shown to enhance the aquaculture of a commercially important fish, the tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Steroidogenic factor-1 (i.e. SF-1) could play a pivotal role in sex determination, since it is a global regulator of steroidogenesis. Therefore, the current study was undertaken in an attempt to clone the cDNA for SF-1 in O. niloticus. An 810 base pair fragment of the cDNA was successfully cloned (representing approximately 40% of the predicted total length of the cDNA). The nucleotide sequence of this fragment shows high homology (79%) to the zebrafish. We are currently in the process of cloning the remainder of the cDNA. The sequence data provides the means of investigating the possible role of SF-1 in the sex determination of O. niloticus by methods such as RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. This work was made possible by funding from the U.S.D.A.

Many reptiles exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in which the incubation temperature of the egg determines the sex of the embryo. The physiology of TSD is not well understood. However, estrogen has been hypothesized to play a key role. It has been suggested that estrogen in the yolk can affect the sex ratios by altering the pivotal temperature (i.e., the temperature producing a 1:1 sex ratio) and by causing increases in the numbers of females toward the end of the nesting season. This study analyzed sex ratios of Trachemys scripta, a turtle with TSD, by incubating eggs at the pivotal temperature. For each of three nesting seasons (2000, 2001, 2003), sex ratios were examined in forty to fifty-five clutches throughout the nesting season. The results indicate that the pivotal temperature in 77. scripta varies between clutches. Data from the 2003 season supported the hypothesis that the pivotal temperature may vary toward the end of the season, resulting in the production of more females. However, data from the 2000 and 2001 season did not support this hypothesis.

Falls are of particular concern in psychiatric hospitals where many patients are taking psychotropic medication that may produce postural hypotension. The research considered falls in a private psychiatric hospital before and after the introduction of a hospital policy to measure blood pressure, both lying and standing, after a patient had fallen. Falls, and the injuries associated with them, occurred predominantly among elderly patients. The results of the study showed that the introduction of the policy resulted in more frequent measurement of blood pressure and was associated with fewer repeat falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]