Developing a novel device, Eggcell, to improve temperature stability during oocyte collection for IVF.

Research Question: What temperature fluctuations are oocytes exposed to during oocyte retrieval? Can an alternative method of oocyte retrieval be designed to minimize these fluctuations?

Design: Mock oocyte retrieval procedures were performed to investigate the change in temperature when the follicular fluid is drained into collection tubes and when the fluid is subsequently poured into dishes to allow identification of the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). A new device, the Eggcell, has been designed that addresses the problem of these temperature fluctuations. To confirm its safety and demonstrate the clinical applicability of Eggcell, laboratory validation was performed prior to use with human participants (n = 15).

Erratum: Revisiting the Warnock rule.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/nbt.4015.

To freeze or not to freeze embryos: clarity, confusion and conflict.

Although embryo freezing is a routine clinical practice, there is little contemporary evidence on how couples make the decision to freeze their surplus embryos, or of their perceptions during that time. This article describes a qualitative study of 16 couples who have had in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. The study question was 'What are the personal and social factors that patients consider when deciding whether to freeze embryos?' We show that while the desire for a baby is the dominant drive, couples' views revealed more nuanced and complex considerations in the decision-making process.

Concise reviews: Assisted reproductive technologies to prevent transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease.

While the fertilized egg inherits its nuclear DNA from both parents, the mitochondrial DNA is strictly maternally inherited. Cells contain multiple copies of mtDNA, each of which encodes 37 genes, which are essential for energy production by oxidative phosphorylation. Mutations can be present in all, or only in some copies of mtDNA.

Therapeutic potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer for degenerative disease caused by mitochondrial DNA mutations.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold much promise in the quest for personalised cell therapies. However, the persistence of founder cell mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations limits the potential of iPSCs in the development of treatments for mtDNA disease. This problem may be overcome by using oocytes containing healthy mtDNA, to induce somatic cell nuclear reprogramming.

Production and validation of a good manufacturing practice grade human fibroblast line for supporting human embryonic stem cell derivation and culture.

Introduction: The development of reproducible methods for deriving human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines in compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) is essential for the development of hESC-based therapies. Although significant progress has been made toward the development of chemically defined conditions for the maintenance and differentiation of hESCs, efficient derivation of new hESCs requires the use of fibroblast feeder cells. However, GMP-grade feeder cell lines validated for hESC derivation are not readily available.

A novel isolator-based system promotes viability of human embryos during laboratory processing.

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and related technologies are arguably the most challenging of all cell culture applications. The starting material is a single cell from which one aims to produce an embryo capable of establishing a pregnancy eventually leading to a live birth. Laboratory processing during IVF treatment requires open manipulations of gametes and embryos, which typically involves exposure to ambient conditions.

Comparing the burden: what can we learn by comparing regulatory frameworks in abortion and fertility services?

In the UK, regulation of clinical services is being restructured. We consider two clinical procedures, abortion and IVF treatment, which have similar ethical and political sensitivities. We consider factors including the law, licensing, inspection, amount of paperwork and reporting requirements, the reception by practitioners and costs, to establish which field has the greater 'regulatory burden'.

Mitochondrial DNA disease: new options for prevention.

Very recently, two papers have presented intriguing data suggesting that prevention of transmission of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disease is possible. [Craven, L., Tuppen, H.

Ovulation induction with clomifene: a primary care perspective.

Infertility affects one in seven couples during their lifetime. Approximately one-quarter of these will have an ovulatory disorder contributing to their inability to conceive. Ovulatory disorders represent the simplest form of infertility to treat, and where this is not a result of ovarian failure or poor ovarian reserve most women require ovulation induction with clomifene citrate (CC).

The procurement of cells for the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines for therapeutic use: recommendations for good practice.

The donation of human embryos for the derivation of embryonic stem cell lines that may be used in the development of therapeutic products raises more complex ethical, practical and regulatory problems than the donation of embryos for non-clinical research. This review considers these issues and offers recommendations for good practice.

Human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC)--characterization and directed differentiation into osteocytes and melanocytes.

Here we describe the isolation, characterisation and ex-vivo expansion of human epidermal neural crest stem cells (hEPI-NCSC) and we provide protocols for their directed differentiation into osteocytes and melanocytes. hEPI-NCSC are neural crest-derived multipotent stem cells that persist into adulthood in the bulge of hair follicles. Multipotency and self-renewal were determined by in vitro clonal analyses.

Evaluation of epigenetic marks in human embryos derived from IVF and ICSI.

Background: It has long been appreciated that environmental cues may trigger adaptive responses. Many of these responses are a result of changes in the epigenetic landscape influencing transcriptional states and consequently altering phenotypes. In the context of human reproductive health, the procedures necessary for assisted reproduction may result in altered phenotypes by primarily influencing DNA methylation.

Pronuclear transfer in human embryos to prevent transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are a common cause of genetic disease. Pathogenic mutations in mtDNA are detected in approximately 1 in 250 live births and at least 1 in 10,000 adults in the UK are affected by mtDNA disease. Treatment options for patients with mtDNA disease are extremely limited and are predominantly supportive in nature.

Obesity and female fertility: a primary care perspective.

Infertility affects approximately one in six couples during their lifetime. Obesity affects approximately half of the general population and is thus a common problem among the fertile population. Obese women have a higher prevalence of infertility compared with their lean counterparts.

RETRACTION - In Vitro Derivation of Human Sperm from Embryonic Stem Cells.

This article, "In Vitro Derivation of Human Sperm from Embryonic Stem Cells," is being retracted from Stem Cells and Development. Further details will follow online, and in a subsequent issue of the Journal.

Surgeons and scientists: working together in embryo research.

Most surgeons in academic hospitals will have had a request from an enthusiastic research scientist to take samples of tissue during an operation. It seems reasonable and most patients will respond positively. But of course it is not quite that simple.