Many felid species are endangered because of destructive human activities. As a result, zoos are being tasked with sustaining genetically healthy populations in case of catastrophic extinctions. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few species, most felids do not reproduce well in captivity. The ability to track reproductive activity via ...

To evaluate the metabolic profile of pregnant and non-pregnant ewes with high or low degree of behavioral lateralization, we used 57 clinically healthy Sardinian ewes. They were divided into three groups: Group A (nonpregnant ewes), Group B (pregnant ewes with one fetus) and Group C (pregnant ewes with twin fetuses). ...

To elaborate the relationship between serum homocysteine (hcy) levels and vascular related pregnancy complications in pregnant women as well as to assess the homocysteine lowering effects of folate, vitamin 812 and 86. The secondary objectives were to establish a link between serum homocysteine levels and maternal age, parity, gestational age, ...

To determine the predictive factors for pregnancy after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)/intrauterine insemination (IUI). Prospective observational study. University-level tertiary care center. 366 patients undergoing 480 stimulated IUI cycles between November 2007 and December 2008. Ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophins was initiated and a single IUI was performed 36 h after triggering ...

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy among Indian women using classical methods and Item Response Modeling. The scale exhibited good internal consistency and internal structure, with overall scores correlating well with each item's response categories. Items performed similarly for pregnant and non-pregnant women, and ...

The objectives were to test the hypothesis that estrus and pregnancy are seasonal in free-ranging female dogs (>3 mo old) in Jodhpur, India, and to determine litter size, and the prevalence of fetal resorption in this population. The prevalence of estrus and pregnancy was determined in 5400 free-ranging bitches (trapped ...

Letrozole is a third-generation selective aromatase inhibitor. Animal data suggested that it might be useful in medical abortion. We performed two pilot studies to assess the feasibility of using letrozole in combination with either mifepristone or misoprostol for termination of pregnancy up to 63 days. We recruited 40 subjects who ...

The influence of short- and long-term (cohort) effects of climate and density on the life-histories of ungulates in temperate regions may vary with latitude, habitat, and management practices, but the life-histories of ungulates in the Mediterranean region are less well known. This study examined the short- and long-term effects of ...

This paper investigated gestation length and estrus cycle characteristics in three different Spanish donkey breeds (Andalusian, Zamorano-Leones, and Catalonian) kept on farm conditions in southern Spain, using data for ten consecutive breeding seasons. Gestation length was measured in 58 pregnancies. Ovarian ultrasonography was used to detect the ovulation, in order ...

To compare the pregnancy rate following transfer of frozen-thawed embryos with or without overnight culture after thawing. This is a retrospective analysis of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles performed between January 2006 and December 2008. Out of 518 thaw cycles, 504 resulted in embryo transfers (ETs). Of the total FET ...

The objective of the present study was to see the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) in Bangladeshi patients (35) with recurrent pregnancy loss. Thirty-seven women with normal pregnancy were included as control. Serum levels (mean +/- SD) of ACA (u/mL) was significantly higher, whereas ANA (Ab-index) and anti-dsDNA (Ab-index) were ...

Preterm and low birthweight (PTLBW) continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. In recent years, maternal periodontal disease has been implicated as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is conflicting evidence to support such an outcome as illustrated by descriptive, case control ...

The FMR1 gene partially appears to control ovarian reserve, with a specific ovarian sub-genotype statistically associated with a polycystic ovary (PCO)- like phenotype. Some forms of PCO have been associated with autoimmunity. We, therefore, investigated in multiple regression analyses associations of ovary-specific FMR1 genotypes with autoimmunity and pregnancy chances (with ...

A successful pregnancy outcome after calcium ionophore A23187 oocyte activation in an infertile couple with a repeated failure of achieving fertilization after ICSI is reported. The secondary infertility couple with oligozoospermia underwent ICSI two times. However, none of the oocytes were fertilized. In the third ICSI attempt, three oocytes after ...

To determine if fertilization and embryo development and pregnancy was possible following in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a couple with long-term unexplained infertility where the female partner had diminished egg reserve and where fertilization failure occurred despite conventional oocyte insemination and intracyoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In vitro fertilization was performed ...

Research on the causes of pregnancy failure in vertebrates has historically been mammal-focussed. However, live-birth (viviparity) has evolved multiple times, and is present in all other vertebrate taxa except Aves and Agnatha. Viviparous lizards (O. Squamata, excluding snakes and amphisbaenians) provide a valuable experimental group when studying major evolutionary events ...

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a hydro-soluble lactone (synthesized from glucose) essential to human body and available from diet. Despite its broad availability in fruits and vegetables, in many developing countries the incidence of clinical symptoms due to the vitamin deficiency is still very high. Also, pregnant women in ...

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is poorly understood and recent evidence suggests that the incidence varies depending upon the season. AIM: This study was carried out to determine whether there is a seasonal variation in the presentation of preeclamptics undergoing cesarean delivery in a tropical rainforest belt. SETTING: A university ...

We have shown recently that maternal undernutrition (UN) advanced female pubertal onset in a manner that is dependent upon the timing of UN. The long-term consequence of this accelerated puberty on ovarian function is unknown. Recent findings suggest that oxidative stress may be one mechanism whereby early life events impact ...

Mast cells (MCs) have long been suspected as important players for implantation based on the fact that their degranulation causes the release of pivotal factors, e.g., histamine, MMPs, tryptase and VEGF, which are known to be involved in the attachment and posterior invasion of the embryo into the uterus. Moreover, ...

We compared vaginal proinflammatory cytokine and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) concentrations among pregnant and nonpregnant women according to bacterial vaginosis (BV) status. One-hundred and twenty-two women at 12-20 weeks' gestation and 133 nonpregnant controls had vaginal concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and SLPI measured by enzyme immunoassay. Multivariable ...

The contractile effects of PGF2alpha (3 x 10(-6) to 10(-4) M) and PGE2 (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) were examined on isolated branches of ovarian artery (OA) and extramyometrial branches of uterine artery (UA) collected from pigs in the luteal (day 10-12) and follicular phase (day 17-20) of the estrous cycle, ...

To evaluate the proportional changes of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy and labor at term and preterm. Peripheral blood was collected from 20 non-pregnant controls and 139 pregnant women (60 at different gestational ages, 48 at term with or without labor, and 31 in ...

To better understand intraspecific variation in basal metabolic rate (BMR), we examined environmental, physiological, and/or cellular bases for residual variation in BMR in big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus. We measured BMR and plasma levels of thyroid hormone (T(3)) and leptin in bats captured in maternity colonies in eastern Massachusetts (MA; ...

BACKGROUND: A strength of time-series analyses is the inherent control of individual-level risk factors that do not vary temporally. However, in studies of adverse pregnancy outcomes, risk factors considered time-invariant at the individual level may vary seasonally when aggregated into a pregnancy risk set. To illustrate, we describe the seasonal ...

Background: Both preeclampsia and preterm delivery are important complications in pregnancy and are still diseases of unknown causes, despite considerable research in recent times. These complications constitute obstetric emergencies that require expert knowledge and management skills. Objectives: This article reviews the emerging role of aminopeptidases in the monitoring and development ...

Life history theory predicts that early pregnancy presents a relatively low cost, uncontested opportunity for a woman to terminate investment in a current reproductive opportunity if a conceptus is of poor quality and/or maternal status or environmental conditions are not propitious for a successful birth. We tested this hypothesis in ...

This study examines whether maternal vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for infantile autism disease (IAD). We used epidemiologic data seasonal variation of birth rates and prevalence of IAD for cohorts born before 1985. For seven studies reporting spring-to-summer excess birth rates for IAD, the season progressed from broad ...

The steroid hormone progesterone (P(4)) plays a key role in the reproductive events associated with pregnancy establishment and maintenance. High concentrations of circulating P(4) in the immediate post-conception period have been associated with an advancement of conceptus elongation, an associated increase in interferon-tau production and higher pregnancy rates in cattle. ...

Maintenance of the rodent corpus luteum (CL) during pregnancy requires prolactin receptor (PRLR) signal transduction via STAT5. At the end of pregnancy, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF(2alpha)) induces luteal regression through many mechanisms, including downregulation of PRLR signaling. We have previously shown that a PGF(2alpha) analog upregulates suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) ...

Reduced farrowing rates due to late pregnancy loss (LPL) is a manifestation of seasonal infertility in pigs. This study was undertaken to determine sow- and gilt-specific risk factors leading to LPL during the seasonal infertility period (January to April) in Australia. Age at first service was considered to be a ...

As the primary source for regulatory developmental toxicity information, prenatal studies characterize maternal effects and fetal endpoints including malformations, resorptions, and fetal weight reduction. Results from 383 rat and 368 rabbit prenatal studies on 387 chemicals, mostly pesticides, were entered into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxicity Reference Database ...

Neurotrophic factors are a group of proteins that act as paracrine and autocrine growth factors. They are involved in the regulation of morphogenesis and development of several tissues. The present study aims to evaluate, for the first time, the expression of Neurotrophin-3 in the human placenta during normal pregnancy and ...

Barnacle cypris larvae respond to many cues when selecting a settlement site. The settlement of over a million larvae on tiles of different textures, orientations and densities of incumbent settlers was measured on the rocky intertidal at Great Cumbrae, Scotland. Half of the tiles were replaced every tide whereas the ...

Epidemiological studies on premodern and modern Western societies indicate that birth season may influence female reproduction. Nothing is known, however, about this effect in developing economies. Many of the latter are characterised by tropical climates with a rainy season associated with lower food availability and a greater prevalence of infectious ...

Macroparasites potentially play a significant but often ignored role in the ecology and dynamics of wild ruminant populations. In the Arctic, parasites may impact on host populations by exacerbating the effects of seasonal and limited forage availability on the condition, fecundity and survival of individuals. We studied the effects of ...

The nuclear localization of blue-staining flavanols was investigated histochemically throughout microsporogenesis in yellow cypress (Callitropsis nootkatensis (D. Don) Oerst., formerly Cupressus nootkatensis), juniper (Juniperus communis L.) and yew (Taxus baccata L.). During meiotic development, both the cytoplasm and nuclei of microspores of all species contained varying amounts of flavanols; however, ...

OBJECTIVE: Blood pressure (BP) increases both in winter and in the last trimester of pregnancy. Some interaction seems to exist between season and gestational age. The present study observed home BP values during pregnancy with adjustment for seasonal variation and gestational age. METHODS: We observed 10353 home BP measurements from ...

This is the first report of amphibian chytridiomycosis in Asia. We discovered a lethal outbreak in Japan, among 45 exotic frogs from 18 species kept for breeding by a private owner. Of these 45 frogs, 16 died and another 7 were found to be infected by chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ...

Among monogeneans that display direct life cycles, plastic developmental strategies may have been selected to counter the lack of transmission opportunities. Within amphibian polystomatids, some species of the genus Polystoma develop into two different phenotypes depending on the host physiological stage to which free swimming larvae attach. When oncomiracidia infest ...

Recent studies have emphasized the role of positive interactions in ecological communities, but few have addressed how positive interactions are mediated by abiotic stress and biotic interactions. Here, I investigate the effect of a facilitator species on the abundance of macroalgae over a gradient of herbivory. Grazing by sea urchins ...

Toxoglossate marine gastropods, traditionally assigned to the families Conidae, Terebridae, and Turridae, are one of the most populous animal groups that use venom to capture their prey. These marine animals are generally characterized by a venom apparatus that consists of a muscular venom bulb and a tubular venom gland. The ...

The Carnivora include the superfamilies Canoidea and Feloidea. In species of Canoidea other than Canidae, the milk contains only traces of lactose and much larger concentrations of oligosaccharides. In this study, the following oligosaccharides were characterized in the milk of a spotted hyena, which is a species of Feloidea species: ...

We studied the factors which regulate the reproduction of ectoparasites of temperate-zone cave-dwelling bats, using the Schreiber's bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) and its ectoparasites as a model. For this, we searched 969 bats during 2003 and 2004 at important stages of the bat yearly cycle and found four ectoparasite species regularly ...

This study examined the influence of distance to the forest edge, forest type, and time on Cl-, SO4(2-), NO3(-), and NH4+ throughfall deposition in forest edges. The forests were dominated by pedunculate oak, silver birch, or Corsican/Austrian pine, and were situated in two regions of Flanders (Belgium). Along transects, throughfall ...

Poleward declines in species diversity [latitudinal diversity gradients (LDG)] remain among the oldest and most widespread of macroecological patterns. However, their contemporary dynamics remain largely unexplored even though changing ecological conditions, including global change, may modify LDG and their respective ecosystems. Here, we examine temporal variation within a temperate Northwest ...

West Nile virus (WNV) has been present in the Yucatán State, México, since 2002. Culex quinquefasciatus, one of the main vectors of WNV transmission in the United States, is also common in Mexico and may be a key vector of WNV transmission t o humans in t he Yucatán. The ...

Acoel worms in the genus Convolutriloba are remarkable in that closely related, morphologically very similar species reproduce asexually by dramatically different processes. Transverse fission, longitudinal fission, and reversed-polarity budding all occur within this genus, indicating an unparalleled ability to alter the A-P axis. Convolutriloba thus offers an exceptional opportunity to ...

The type IV allantoplacenta has been described for the New World tropical scincids lizards of the genus Mabuya; it possesses the greatest morphological complexity known among viviparous squamates. Although a common morphological pattern has been observed in the few species of this lineage in which the allantoplacental morphology has been ...

Clonal plants that are physiologically integrated might perceive and interact with their environment at a coarser resolution than smaller, non-clonal competitors. We develop models to explore the implications of such scale asymmetries when species compete for multiple depletable resources that are heterogeneously distributed in space across two patches. Species are ...