Minerva

Time lapse microscopy has illuminated the process of human embryonic development. Researchers filmed embryos created by in vitro fertilisation for several days and sought visual cues that might predict whether a two day old embryo would develop into a day six blastocyst (Nature Biotechnology 2010, published online 3 October, doi:10.1038/nbt.1686). They identified three criteria: a first cytokinesis lasting up to 33 minutes, an interval of 7.8-14.3 hours between the first and second mitoses, and an interval of up to 5.8 hours between the second and third mitoses. Use of these observations could lead to an improved pregnancy rate with in vitro fertilisation.

An austerity measure introduced by orthopaedic surgeons was successful at saving money for the NHS and was also a hit with patients (Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2010;92:615-18, doi:10.1308/003588410X12699663904358). Instead of admitting patients with ankle fractures …