The aim of this study was to evaluate the sperm head morphometry and chromatin condensation at different regions of the reproductive tract in bulls. Sperm smears of seminiferous tubules (ST), epididymis head (EH), body (EB), and tail (ET), and ductus deferens (DD) were stained with toluidine blue. Afterwards, the sperm head morphometry and chromatin alteration types were evaluated by a computational image analysis. Overall, spermatozoa of ST had lower (P less then 0.05) area (A), perimeter (P), width (W), length (L), ellipticity (E), and Fourier harmonics (F0, F1, and F2). The chromatin decondensation (CD) and heterogeneity (CH) were higher (P less then 0.05) in the ST region and decreased (P less then 0.0001) during the migration along the reproductive tract (ST - DD direction). Considering the factors extracted (Factors 1 and 2) by the principal component analysis, the parameters A, P, W, L, and F0 were responsible for ∼36% of the Factor 1, while the E, F0, F1, and anterior-posterior symmetry (APS) contributed ∼27% to Factor 2. Both, CD and CH were associated with Factor 1 in the EH and ET regions and Factor 2 in the ST. Also, a well-defined difference between sperm heads collected from the ST and DD regions was observed by canonical analysis. The distribution of each chromatin alteration type was recorded. The proportion of normal sperm was lower (P less then 0.05) in ST compared to other regions. Moreover, the chromatin influenced the morphometry and sperm heads with whole chromatin alteration type showed a smaller (P less then 0.05) A, P, W, L, and E. In summary, the epididymal maturation is important for chromatin compaction and final morphometry of the sperm head. Also, the identification and quantification of the sperm chromatin condensation in different regions of reproductive tract can be used as potential biomarkers to predict the fertility in bulls.Our objective was to determine whether feeding yearling bulls with the higher recommended Canadian limit of ergot alkaloids (∼3 mg/kg dry matter intake, DMI) would affect sperm characteristics and plasma prolactin concentrations. Aberdeen Angus bulls (12-13 mo old, n = 7/group) allocated by blocking for sperm concentration and body weight, were fed placebo or ergot alkaloids in gelatin capsules (60 μg/kg body weight daily, 3.4 mg/kg of DMI) for 9 wk. Semen samples were collected weekly by electroejaculation and examined with a computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA) and flow cytometry, for the intervals 5 wk before (Pre-exposure period), 9 wk during (Exposure period) and 9 wk after (Post-exposure period) treatment. Weekly plasma samples were analyzed for prolactin by radioimmunoassay. Plasma prolactin concentrations decreased markedly (mean ± SEM, 16.74 ± 3.70 in Exposure and 33.42 ± 3.08 ng/mL in Post-Exposure periods; P less then 0.01) compared to Control (67.54 ± 21.47 and 42.59 ± 15.06 ng/mL). Treatmentn plasma prolactin concentrations. Semen end points were not significantly affected, although there were subtle effects on progressive motility, midpiece defects and mitochondrial membrane potential. Clinical relevance of observed changes requires further evaluation. Results supported our hypothesis that prolonged low-level ergot will adversely affect plasma prolactin. However, semen parameters were partially affected, supporting similar work on fescue toxicosis. A recent randomized controlled trial has reconsidered the use of laparoscopy for treating patients with early-stage cervical cancer with radical hysterectomy (RH). We aimed to evaluate if surgical approach had an impact on surgical and oncological outcomes in these patients in a French setting. Data of 1706 patients with cervical cancer treated between 1996 and 2017 were extracted from maintained databases of 9 French University hospitals. Patients, with FIGO stage IA2 to IIB tumors, treated by radical hysterectomy were selected for further analysis. A propensity score matching was used with a ratio of 21 in favor of laparoscopic approach was used. The Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate the survival distribution. 34 patients treated with laparotomy were matched with 61 patients treated by minimally invasive surgery (MIS). There was no difference regarding overall survival (91 % vs 81 %, p > 0.05) or disease-free survival (82 % vs 78 %, p > 0.05). There was no difference regarding surgical outcomes with no excess of postoperative complication in patients with MIS. Hospital stay was significantly longer in patients operated on laparotomy. In our study, there was no evidence of a difference in survival between minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy in patients treated with radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.In our study, there was no evidence of a difference in survival between minimally invasive surgery and laparotomy in patients treated with radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer. Early pregnancy through the first year of life represents an important period for family health promotion and obesity prevention. Overall, preventive interventions in pregnancy and infancy have insufficiently engaged fathers. We describe the rationale and design of First Heroes, an intervention to improve perinatal and obesity-related outcomes among mother-father-infant triads beginning in pregnancy. First Heroes is a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized trial of mother-father-infant triads recruited in the second trimester of pregnancy from a large Obstetric practice in eastern Massachusetts and continuing through 12months of infant age. Triads are randomized to the intervention arm or to an enhanced safety education control group. Tyrphostin B42 chemical structure Triads randomized to the intervention arm receive three virtual visits with a health educator, in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, at 3-4weeks, and 3-4months postpartum, and receive continuous multimedia education through text messaging, print material, and vidindings from this work will inform future obesity prevention efforts, especially those focused on whole family inclusion.To address the undesirably low porosity of phenolic resin, a new material termed magnetic mesoporous metal-phenolic coordination spheres (Fe3O4@Co-TA) was synthesized by chelating tannic acid (TA) with metal ions. Fe3O4@Co-TA was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, hysteresis loop (B-H) analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption. The results indicated that the new material comprises mesopores (2 nm and 3 nm) and exhibits a good magnetic response (44 emu/g). Combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a novel method for the detection of crystal violet (CV) and leucocrystal violet (LCV) by magnetic solid-phase extraction was established. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the linear ranges of CV and LCV detection were 0.2‒60 μg/L and 0.04‒40 μg/L, the detection limits were 0.04 μg/L and 0.008 μg/L, and the enrichment factors were 435 and 460, respectively. Fe3O4@Co-TA was reused ten times without significant reduction of the extraction ability.