Letrozole-associated controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in breast cancer patients versus conventional controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in infertile patients: assessment of oocyte quality related biomarkers.

Background: Fertility preservation (FP) protocols in case of breast cancer (BC) include mature oocyte cryopreservation following letrozole associated controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (Let-COH). To date, the impact of Let-COH on the follicular microenvironment has been poorly investigated, although a high androgen/estrogen ratio was previously associated with low oocyte quality.

Methods: In this prospective study, follicular fluid (FF) steroid levels (estradiol, testosterone, progesterone) and cumulus cell (CC) gene expression related to oocyte quality (HAS2, PTGS2, GREM1) were compared between 23 BC patients undergoing Let-COH for FP and 24 infertile patients undergoing conventional COH without letrozole.

Human cystic fibrosis embryonic stem cell lines derived on placental mesenchymal stromal cells.

This study describes the production of two new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines affected by cystic fibrosis. These cell lines are heterozygous compounds, each a carrier of the DF508 mutations associated either with E585X or with 3849+10 kb C-->T. The derivation process was performed on irradiated human placental mesenchymal stromal cells and designed to minimize contact with xeno-components.

[Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD): the Erasme Hospital experience].

The clinical activity of the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) at Erasme Hospital was carried out since September 1999 for a 47,XYY patient. Up to 31 December 2007, 79 PGD cycles were carried out (45 couples) for either chromosomal structural abnormalities (robertsonian and reciprocal translocations, pericentric inversion, deletion) (n = 41), chromosomal numerical abnormalities (47,XXY, 47,XYY, 45,X/46,XX) (n = 10), aneuploidy screening for recurrent miscarriages or multiple in vitro fertilization failures (n = 10), autosomal recessive diseases (cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anaemia) (n = 12) or X-linked disorders (n = 6). A total of 475 embryos were biopsied for genetic analysis.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis in an HIV-serodiscordant couple carrier for sickle cell disease: lessons from a case report.

Since 1999, the Erasme Hospital Fertility Clinic has carried a special programme for patients with HIV seropositivity. The philosophy of the programme is to give access to these patients in a secure environment to the same technological facilities available to any other patients. Many of these patients being native from sub-Saharan countries, they are often sickle cell disease (SCD) carriers, a common autosomal recessive disorder in these regions, and a severe affection in homozygotes.

Aneuploidy study in sperm and preimplantation embryos from nonmosaic 47,XYY men.

Objective: To determine gonosomal and autosomal aneuploidy rate in sperm and preimplantation embryos from nonmosaic 47,XYY males.

Design: Sperm and blastomere analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Setting: Fertility clinic, academic hospital.