Evaluation of oro-phonatory development and articulatory diadochokinesis in a sample of Italian children using the protocol of Robbins & Klee.

Purpose: The Italian version (Granocchio et al., 2019) of the protocol proposed by Robbins and Klee (1987) allows the assessment of structure of the vocal tract, oromotor and oro-phonatory ability, and articulatory diadochokinesis in children. The aim of this study was to collect the first normative sample of Italian children.

'Two countries-two labs': the transnational gamete donation (TGD) programme to support egg donation.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of a transnational gamete donation (TGD) programme based on the shipping of vitrified donor oocytes.

Methods: A retro-prospective observational study was conducted in the Assisted Reproductive Technology Center of the University Hospital of Florence, Italy. The study population included 622 consecutive donor oocyte cycles.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositive Men in Serodiscordant Couples: Effects on the Assisted Reproductive Outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in men of serodiscordant couples on the reproductive outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 134 infertile couples were included in this retrospective single-center cohort study. Sixty-six couples had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-seropositive men and seronegative partners, while 68 couples were controls with both seronegative men and women.

Redox status assessment in infertile patients with non-obstructive azoospermia undergoing testicular sperm extraction: A prospective study.

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is one of the most prevalent causes of sperm damage, through the toxic effects of endogenously generated hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radicals. Peripheral leukocytes represent a feasible model for studying the pathophysiology of OS-mediated homeostasis, which can be responsible for cell dysfunction and cell injury.

Objective: To evaluate the redox status in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), establishing the potential role exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the genesis of testicular secretory injury.

Impact of advanced paternal age on the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in donor egg cycles.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of paternal age on the oocyte-donation outcomes in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

Methods: Two hundred and seventy-eight infertile couples were retrospectively involved. Inclusion criteria were: infertility from almost 1 year, normal or sub-fertile seminal parameters, overall oocyte survival rate greater than 85%.

Influence of male human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the reproductive outcomes in serodiscordant couples: a case-control study.

Background: Nowadays, serodiscordant couples (SDCs) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected men have the chance to conceive safely, giving birth with a minimum risk of cross-infection.

Objective: To assess the impact of male HIV and HCV infection on the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes in SDCs, with HIV or HCV seropositive men and negative partners.

Materials And Methods: Of 153 couples: 24 in Group 1 (HIV-seropositive men), 60 in Group 2 (HCV-seropositive men) and 69 in Group 3 (controls).

Successful pregnancy in double factor infertility: Sperm in vitro culture by modified testicular fine-needle aspiration.

Introduction: Infertility may depend up to 27% of couples on both partners. In patients with obstructive azoospermia, testicular fine-needle aspiration represents a good option to retrieve spermatozoa, in order to perform an assisted reproductive treatment. In vitro maturation of testicular spermatozoa could be the better choice of treatment in view of the increased motility, improving fertilization and pregnancy rates.

Male Inflammatory Parameters Are not Useful to Predict the Outcomes of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: The relationship between male systemic inflammation and fertility seems intriguing, but no data about its impact on the assisted reproductive technology outcomes has been reported. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of male systemic inflammatory parameters in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes prediction, in couples undergoing an ovum donation program.

Materials And Methods: From January 2016 to December 2017, one hundred-ten couples were considered for this cross-sectional study.

Testicular Fine-Needle Aspiration for Sperm Retrieval in Azoospermia: A Small Step toward the Technical Standardization.

Purpose: The aim was to describe our preliminary experience performing testicular fine-needle aspiration (TEFNA) with a larger needle in infertile patients with obstructive azoospermia, and to provide a systematic literature review of the different testicular sperm aspiration techniques, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement recommendations.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively collected data between March 2017 and June 2018. All men underwent bilateral TEFNA under analgo-sedation, using a larger disposable 18-gauge butterfly needle with 60 mL Luer-Lock syringe attached to it.

Novel method of histopathological analysis after testicular sperm extraction in patients with nonobstructive and obstructive azoospermia.

Objective: To assess whether the "testicular pool" could be used for histological analysis and whether it gave more accurate information than the standard testicular biopsy.

Methods: Between January 2017 and March 2018, this single-center prospective study included 60 azoospermic men undergoing conventional bilateral testicular sperm extraction. Six samples were excised from each testicle and transferred to an embryologist.

Relevance of testicular histopathology on prediction of sperm retrieval rates in case of non-obstructive and obstructive azoospermia.

Introduction: The aim of our research was to establish the relevance of testicular histopathology on sperm retrieval after testicular sperm extraction in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia and in patients with obstructive azoospermia, who already underwent a previous failure testicular fine needle aspiration.

Methods: We evaluated a total of 82 azoospermic men, underwent testicular sperm extraction, referring to the Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre of the University of Florence, Italy between January 2008 and March 2017. A general and genital physical examination, scrotal and trans-rectal ultrasound, semen analysis, hormone measurements, including follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and total testosterone, were collected.

Are hormone measurements and ultrasounds really predictors of sperm retrieval in testicular sperm extraction? A case report and literature review.

Azoospermia can be diagnosed in about 10%-15% of the infertile male population. To overcome the problem of failure to produce spermatozoa in the ejaculate in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), testicular sperm extraction (TESE) may be performed to find the focal area of spermatogenesis. A 47-year-old man with NOA presented for treatment of secondary couple infertility.

A Biochemical Approach to Detect Oxidative Stress in Infertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in critical biological processes in human reproduction. However, a reliable and biologically accurate indicator of this condition does not yet exist. On these bases, the aim of this study was to assess and compare the blood and follicular fluid (FF) redox status of 45 infertile subjects (and 45 age-matched controls) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), and explore possible relationships between the assessed redox parameters and IVF outcomes.

High variability in results of semen analysis in andrology laboratories in Tuscany (Italy): the experience of an external quality control (EQC) programme.

We report the results of the first three trials of an external quality control (EQC) programme performed in 71 laboratories executing semen analysis in Tuscany Region (Italy). At the end of the second trial, participants were invited to attend a teaching course illustrating and inviting to adhere to procedures recommended by WHO (V edition). Results of the first three trials of the EQC documented a huge variability in the procedures and the results.

Biological meaning of ubiquitination and DNA fragmentation in human spermatozoa.

The ubiquitin-proteasome is an ubiquitous system mainly devoted to protein degradation. The presence of ubiquitinated proteins in male gametes suggests a role for this system also in reproduction. Available evidence indicate that ubiquitin in spermatozoa may have a role in semen quality control, as ubiquitinated defective spermatozoa in the epididymis are subsequently phagocytosed by epididymal epithelial cells.

Soluble HLA-G molecules in follicular fluid: a tool for oocyte selection in IVF?

Currently, different approaches are used to select oocytes for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, but they do not assure a significant association with the pregnancy outcome. Since several studies have proposed the expression of HLA-G antigens in early embryos to be a possible marker of elevated implantation rate, we have investigated the presence of soluble HLA-G molecules in 50 follicular fluids (FFs). The results have shown soluble HLA-G antigens (sHLA-G) in 19/50 (38%) FFs.

Evaluation of clinical efficacy of three different insemination techniques in couple infertility. A randomized study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the clinical results and efficiency of three insemination technique: intraperitoneal insemination (IPI), fallopian sperm perfusion (FSP) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Methods: The experimental design was a prospective, randomized trial. A total of 101 homologous insemination cycles were performed in 71 consecutive couples with unexplained or male subfertility.

Lack of Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen-G expression in early embryos is not related to germinal defects or impairment of interleukin-10 production by embryos.

The expression of Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G molecules is a mandatory prerequisite for the development of pregnancy but no hypotheses have yet been advanced regarding the lack of HLA-G modulation expression in a percentage of early embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF). One possible hypothetical model assumes that the absence of regulation of HLA-G or impaired interleukin (IL)-10 secretion could be related to germinal defects. We investigated the presence of soluble HLA-G antigens in supernatants of single embryo cultures from couples admitted to a second fertilization procedure; these couples showed a complete absence of HLA-G modulation in the first cycle's embryo supernatants (0/31).

Embryonic soluble HLA-G as a marker of developmental potential in embryos.

Background: In human reproduction, embryo implantation is complex and poorly understood. At present, no single markers are used in routine treatment to assay biochemical functions of the human embryo. Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) could be considered a possible marker of embryo developmental potential.

HLA-G expression in early embryos is a fundamental prerequisite for the obtainment of pregnancy.

Different mechanisms mediated by the expression of the HLA-class Ib HLA-G products are suggested to account for the induction of immune tolerance against the paternal antigens of the fetus during pregnancy. Soluble HLA-G antigens, mainly produced by cytotrophoblast cells at the materno-fetal interface and circulating in the body fluids, show a capacity analogous to that of membrane-boundstructures to inhibit NK cells. In the present report we have investigated, using specific ELISA, the presence of sHLA-G molecules in culture supernatants of early embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) before transfer.

Non-classic sHLA class I in human oocyte culture medium.

Soluble human leukocyte antigen (sHLA) class I molecules have been described in all human fluids. These molecules play a significant role in immune function. sHLA has been shown to produce tolerance and to induce apoptosis in cytotoxic alloreactive T cells.

Serum CA-125 values on the day of oocyte retrieval are not predictive of subsequent pregnancy with in-vitro fertilization.

In the clinical management of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients it would be very useful to know, before the embryo transfer, whether or not there is a significant chance of pregnancy in that cycle. If low, it would be better to freeze the embryos and postpone the embryo transfer to a subsequent cycle. For this reason, a retrospective study was carried out to investigate the correlations between the serum CA-125 values before embryo transfer and the clinical outcome of that IVF cycle.

Hormonal patterns, steroid receptors and morphological pictures of endometrium in hyperstimulated IVF cycles.

Objective: The purpose of this contribution is to investigate the pathophysiology of the abnormal endometrial development in hyperstimulated IVF cycles.

Study Design: In 12 IVF-patients who did not have embryo transfer because of failure of oocyte fertilization, serum values of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, total and free testosterone, and androstenedione were measured on the pick-up day and were evaluated with respect to the values normally expressed in the day of ovulation; in the endometrial specimens collected 2 days later, at the time of embryo replacement, estrogen and progesterone receptors were immunohistochemically determined and dating by the Noyes method was performed.

Results: 17 beta-Estradiol values are constantly higher, and progesterone levels are, only in four cases, higher than expected for the day of ovulation in a natural cycle.

A sperm survival test and in-vitro fertilization outcome in the presence of male factor infertility.

Several tests based on semen variables have been proposed to predict the fertilization rate in the presence of male factor infertility, but their significance remains unclear. We investigated the utility of a screening test based on sperm survival (SST) to predict the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in the presence of male factor infertility. The SST was considered normal when the percentage of motile spermatozoa 24 h after oocyte insemination was > or =50%.