Physical activity and sperm quality: influence in sperm donors.

Purpose: To ascertain whether physical activity (PA) is associated with better sperm quality in sperm donors.

Methods: A prospective case-control study was designed in an IVF center setting. A total of 207 sperm donation candidates from a relatively small geographical area were included in the study with no intervention.

Perinatal outcomes in children born after fresh or frozen embryo transfer using donated oocytes.

Study Question: Do children born after vitrified-thawed embryo transfers (ETs) using donated oocytes have worse perinatal outcomes when compared with fresh ET?

Summary Answer: No significant difference in birthweight and prematurity rates between fresh or frozen embryo transfers (FETs) in newborns after oocyte donation was found.

What Is Known Already: Autologous singletons born after fresh ET have been previously associated with higher rates of preterm birth and low birthweight, while FETs seem to confer a higher risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and macrosomia. However, studies comparing these outcomes using autologous oocytes are unable to adequately disentangle the putative detrimental consequences of embryo vitrification from the possible effects that ovarian stimulation and endometrial preparation may have on endometrial receptivity prior to ET.

A Natural Xenogeneic Endometrial Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Toward Improving Current Human Models and Future Applications.

Decellularization techniques support the creation of biocompatible extracellular matrix hydrogels, providing tissue-specific environments for both cell culture and tissue regeneration. We obtained endometrium derived from porcine decellularized uteri to create endometrial extracellular matrix (EndoECM) hydrogels. After decellularization and detergent removal, we investigated the physicochemical features of the EndoECM, including gelation kinetics, ultrastructure, and proteomic profile.

The influence of oxygen concentration during embryo culture on obstetric and neonatal outcomes: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Study Question: Does oxygen concentration during 3-day embryo culture affect obstetric and neonatal outcomes?

Summary Answer: Oxygen concentration during 3-day embryo culture does not seem to affect the obstetric and neonatal outcomes measured.

What Is Known Already: Atmospheric oxygen appears to be harmful during extended embryo culture. Embryo culture conditions might therefore be a potential risk factor for subsequent fetal development and the health of future children.

Anti-Müllerian hormone is an independent marker for oocyte survival after vitrification.

Research Question: This study explored the relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and oocyte survival after vitrification. The association between AMH and blastocyst formation after oocyte vitrification was also assessed.

Design: A retrospective observational analysis was performed in a private IVF centre.

Anti-müllerian Hormone During Natural Cycle Presents Significant Intra and Intercycle Variations When Measured With Fully Automated Assay.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is an important ovarian reserve marker for baseline assessment and therapeutic strategy in fertility treatments, which is considered reliable when measured on any day of the cycle. Recent data have pointed toward significant fluctuations of AMH and questioned whether a single measurement is reliable for clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the AMH does have significant variations during a natural cycle when a fully automated assay is used for the sample analysis.

Automated brain tumor biopsy prediction using single-labeling cDNA microarrays-based gene expression profiling.

Aims: Gene signatures obtained from microarray experiments may be of use to improve the prediction of brain tumor diagnosis. Nevertheless, automated and objective prediction with accuracy comparable to or better than the gold standard should be convincingly demonstrated for possible clinician uptake of the new methodology. Herewith, we demonstrate that primary brain tumor types can be discriminated using microarray data in an automated and objective way.