Is copeptin a new potential biomarker of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome?

Unlabelled: O: BJECTIVES: Copeptin has been reported to play an important role in metabolic response in women with PCOS. However, the optimal cut-off value for detecting subjects with insulin resistance (IR) remains undetermined. We investigated whether copeptin can serve as an indicator of IR and tried to determine the optimal cut-off value of plasma copeptin concentration in detecting subjects with PCOS and IR.

The effect of human sperm chromatin maturity on ICSI outcomes.

Because sperm chromatin may play a key role in reproductive success, we verify the associations between sperm chromatin abnormalities, embryo development and the ability to achieve pregnancy. The evaluation of sperm chromatin maturity using aniline blue (AB), chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and toluidine blue (TB) staining were carried out in group of males from infertile couples that underwent ICSI. Low levels of sperm chromatin abnormalities (< 16%) were found in most subjects (> 50%).

Reproductive outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in good-prognosis patients who electively decided to limit the number of oocytes used for microinjection: a two-center comparative study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection/embryo transfer (ICSI/ET) between two IVF centers with similar pregnancy rates and embryo transfer policy but with two different approaches to good-prognosis patients who intentionally chose to limit the number of oocytes used for ICSI.

Material And Methods: It was a retrospective two-center comparative study A total of 218 patients after successful retrieval of >10 mature oocytes following ovarian hyperstimulation were included in the study The number of fertilized oocytes used during ICSI/ET was limited to 6 and 10 in 108 and 110 patients of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine KRIOBANK and VitroLive Fertility Clinic, respectively

Results: No significant differences in the implantation rate (29.93% vs.

TGFβ3 (TGFB3) polymorphism is associated with male infertility.

Factors affecting the blood-testis barrier function may be involved in testicular damage and male infertility. Two cytokines play an important role in the barrier regulation, namely transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between TGF-β3 (TGFB3) and TNF-α (TNF) gene polymorphisms and male infertility.

Organic cation/carnitine transporter OCTN2 (SLC22A5) -207C>G (rs2631367) polymorphism is not associated with male infertility.

Carnitine is an important factor in the initiation of progressive sperm motility and end stage of sperm maturation. The compound is transported by an organic cation/carnitine transporter (OCTN2), which is expressed in the male reproductive system. OCTN2 is encoded by SLC22A5 gene with proven -207C>G functional polymorphism.

Association study of folate-related enzymes (MTHFR, MTR, MTRR) genetic variants with non-obstructive male infertility in a Polish population.

Spermatogenesis is a process where an important contribution of genes involved in folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is observed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between male infertility and the MTHFR (677C > T; 1298A > C), MTR (2756A > G) and MTRR (66A > G) polymorphisms in a Polish population. No significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies were detected between the groups of 284 infertile men and of 352 fertile controls.

Arachidonic and linoleic acid derivatives impact oocyte ICSI fertilization--a prospective analysis of follicular fluid and a matched oocyte in a 'one follicle--one retrieved oocyte--one resulting embryo' investigational setting.

Objective: To evaluate human oocyte ability to undergo fertilization and subsequent preimplantation embryonic development in relation to a wide panel of follicular fluid (FF) arachidonic acid derivatives (AAD) and linoleic acid derivatives (LAD) of prospectively selected patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methodology: Study was designed as a two center (a university clinic and a private clinic) prospective study. 54 women of 181 consecutive couples undergoing ICSI were prospectively found to be eligible for analysis.

Novel morphological findings of human sperm removal by leukocytes in in vivo and in vitro conditions: preliminary study.

Problem: Biological significance of increased number of leukocytes in ejaculate remains a subject of controversy. The aim of this research was to describe the morphological characteristics of the sperm elimination by leukocytes in in vivo and in vitro conditions using natural stimulator of the immune system--uropathogenic Escherichia coli, O75:HNT, isolated from semen.

Method Of Study: The study was performed on ejaculated spermatozoa from normozoospermic men with leukocytospermia (n=10, in vivo experiment) or without leukocytospermia (n=15, in vitro experiment).