Publications by authors named "Ernest Hung-Yu Ng"
Article Synopsis
- Levonorgestrel (LNG) is primarily used as an emergency contraceptive by delaying ovulation, and this study aimed to explore its effects on the human Fallopian tube's ciliary movement and muscle contractions.
- In an experimental setup using tissue samples from women, the researchers tested LNG at various concentrations to see any changes in ciliary beat frequency and muscular contractions.
- Results showed that while LNG did not significantly affect ciliary movement or muscle tone, the highest concentration (100 ng/ml) did reduce muscular contractions, indicating that the Fallopian tube is not likely a target for LNG's contraceptive effects at typical emergency contraception doses.
Comparison of the multiples of the median of serum anti-müllerian hormone and pregnancy outcomes in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease: A case-control study.
Cancer Med
April 2024
Article Synopsis
- Chemotherapy is important for treating gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), but its effects on fertility are not fully understood, leading to a study comparing GTN patients and those with molar pregnancies (MP).
- The study involved 57 GTN patients and analyzed serum AMH levels before and after treatment with single-agent or combination chemotherapy, revealing that combination therapy resulted in lower levels, particularly noticeable at 12 months.
- Despite the differences in hormone levels, pregnancy success rates were similar between the two groups, with longer times to first pregnancy for those on combination therapy, highlighting the need for careful patient counseling regarding fertility post-treatment.
Objective: To compare the live birth rate of the first frozen embryo transfer (FET) after ovarian stimulation by the progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol vs. the antagonist protocol in women with an anticipated high ovarian response who were undergoing in vitro fertilization.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
A construct of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells-laden collagen scaffold for fertility restoration by inhibiting fibrosis in a rat model of endometrial injury.
Regen Biomater
September 2023
Severe endometrium damage causes pathological conditions such as thin endometrium and intrauterine adhesion, resulting in uterine factor infertility. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising strategy in endometrial repair; yet, exogenous MSCs still raise concerns for safety and ethical issues. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) residing in adipose tissue have high translational potentials due to their autologous origin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the impact of embryo banking on the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) and the time to live birth (TTLB) in poor ovarian responders (POR) according to the Bologna criteria.
Methods: A total of 276 infertile women undergoing IVF with POR were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into two groups with ( = 121) or without ( = 155) embryo banking at the discretion of the attending physicians.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to determine if adding piroxicam, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, to levonorgestrel (a common emergency contraception) would enhance its effectiveness after ovulation.
- - Conducted in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 860 women, the results showed that the combination of levonorgestrel and piroxicam significantly reduced the pregnancy rate compared to levonorgestrel alone (94.7% vs. 63.4% effectiveness).
- - The addition of piroxicam did not lead to significant differences in menstrual cycle changes or adverse effects, suggesting it is a safe and effective enhancement to emergency contraception.
Advanced glycation end-products and its soluble receptor are not independent predictors of incident dysglycaemia or metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective observational study.
Reprod Biol Endocrinol
May 2023
Background: To evaluate the association of serum advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and its soluble receptor of AGE (sRAGE) levels with dysglycaemia and metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: This was an analysis of a cohort of women with PCOS who were prospectively recruited for a longitudinal observational study on their endocrine and metabolic profile between January 2010 and December 2013. The association of serum AGEs and sRAGE levels with dysglycaemia and metabolic syndrome at the second-year visit (the index visit) and the sixth-year visit (the outcome visit) were determined.
Article Synopsis
- There is a need for better non-invasive biomarkers to select embryos with high potential in IVF, and small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) are being explored as a solution.
- A systematic review identified 18 studies showing dysregulation of various sncRNAs in follicular fluid and embryo culture medium, suggesting their role in predicting embryo quality.
- The meta-analysis indicated that sncRNAs have promising predictive performance (AUC of 0.81) as non-invasive biomarkers, but significant variability among studies calls for future multicenter research to improve methods and sample sizes.
Attachment of a trophoblastic spheroid onto endometrial epithelial cells predicts cumulative live birth in women aged 35 and older.
Fertil Steril
August 2023
Article Synopsis
- A study aimed to assess how well the attachment of human embryonic stem cell-derived trophoblastic spheroids to endometrial cells can predict live birth rates for women undergoing IVF.
- Conducted at a university hospital, the research involved 240 infertile women and measured the attachment rate prior to their IVF cycles.
- Results showed that the attachment rate had a modest predictive value, especially highlighting that women aged 35 and older demonstrated higher attachment rates if they achieved live births compared to those who did not.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored changes in sexual function and quality of life among 66 infertile couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) at three different time points: after counseling, one day before IUI, and two weeks after IUI.
- Results indicated that a notable percentage of women and men experienced sexual dysfunction across these time points, with specific improvements observed in women’s orgasm scores and FertiQoL scores between T1 and T3.
- Men reported consistently higher quality of life scores compared to women, emphasizing the need for support strategies tailored to both partners during the IUI process.
Article Synopsis
- Reducing maternal mortality is crucial globally, but Hong Kong has low reporting on maternal deaths, raising concerns about underreporting of these incidents.
- A study conducted across all public maternity hospitals from 2000 to 2019 identified 173 maternal deaths, revealing that conditions like suicide, stroke, and cancer were significant causes, with a notable number occurring in the postpartum period.
- The findings indicate a maternal mortality ratio range of 1.63 to 16.78 deaths per 100,000 live births, highlighting the need for improved data collection and understanding of maternal health issues in Hong Kong.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain.
Design: A multicenter, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Institutions: Four tertiary hospitals in Jiangxi and Hainan Provinces.
In Brief: Implantation failure can occur even after the transfer of good-quality embryos. This study showed that the migration of human endometrial stromal cells towards embryonic trophoblasts is higher in women with live births in the first in vitro fertilization cycle than those with repeated implantation failure, suggesting that the chemotactic response of stroma cells is associated with successful pregnancy.
Abstract: The success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains limited in some women despite transfers of good-quality embryos in repeated attempts.
Trend and causes of maternal death, stillbirth and neonatal death over seven decades in Hong Kong.
Lancet Reg Health West Pac
September 2022
Background: Reducing maternal and perinatal mortality is a global objective. Hong Kong is a city with low maternal and perinatal mortality but little is known about the trend and causes of these deaths in this high-income city. We analyzed the maternal death, stillbirth and neonatal death since 1946 in Hong Kong.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Current contraceptive methods primarily work by interfering with egg development, fertilization, and embryo implantation using hormonal or physical means, but hormonal pills are less effective at preventing implantation.
- Researchers developed a high-throughput assay to screen for non-hormonal compounds that could suppress embryo implantation, identifying 174 effective compounds, with Nemadipine-A (P11B5) being the most promising due to its low toxicity.
- In mouse studies, treatment with Nemadipine-A significantly reduced embryo implantation by downregulating endometrial receptivity markers, suggesting it could be a novel option for non-hormonal contraception.
Introduction: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is an effective infertility treatment but the live birth rate remains unsatisfactory. Ovarian stimulation by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is routinely used in IVF and the resulting high serum estradiol levels may impair oocyte/embryo quality and endometrial receptivity. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, can reduce serum estradiol levels following ovarian stimulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the impact of the absence of continuous companion support during labor on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong.
- Data were collected from 446 women with support in 2019 and 340 women without support in 2020, revealing key differences in labor experiences and infant health.
- Results showed that women without support had higher rates of labor augmentation, increased likelihood of lower Apgar scores for infants, and lower rates of immediate breastfeeding compared to those with companion support.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing pain during surgical termination of first trimester pregnancy compared to standard analgesia methods.
- 60 women were divided into three groups: one receiving only medication, one receiving only acupuncture, and another receiving both acupuncture and medication to measure pain levels.
- Results showed that both the acupuncture and combined groups reported lower pain levels than the control group, suggesting acupuncture adds significant pain relief during the procedure.
Increasing evidence shows that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients are particularly vulnerable to anxiety/depression-like behaviors. This study sought to determine the prevalence of anxiety/depression-like behaviors among women with PCOS and to identify factors associated with these behaviors. This study was a secondary analysis of three studies performed on Chinese women who were aged 18 to 40 and diagnosed with PCOS according to the modified Rotterdam criteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study examined the acceptability of various contraceptive mechanisms among women in Hong Kong who attended different reproductive health services.
- Out of 1448 women surveyed, methods preventing fertilisation received the highest acceptability (78%), while those affecting implantation and dislodging embryos were less accepted (30%).
- A notable finding was that women with a history of termination of pregnancy were more accepting of all contraceptive methods, but there was a low correlation between stated acceptability and actual use of those methods.
Randomized double-blind trial comparing low dose and conventional dose of a modified traditional herbal formula Guizhi Fuling Wan in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids.
J Ethnopharmacol
January 2022
Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The herbal formula Guizhi Fuling Wan is one common remedy for treating uterine fibroids (UFs) and the relevant symptoms in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Previous systematic reviews showed that Guizhi Fuling Formula appeared to have additional benefit based on mifepristone treatment in reducing volume of fibroids.
Aim Of Study: To study the efficacy and safety of the conventional dose of a modified herbal formula Guizhi Fuling Wan in patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids in comparison with a sub-effective dose control.
Article Synopsis
- Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) are infertility disorders in males and females, respectively, and are influenced by genetic factors.
- A study involving whole-exome sequencing identified a pathogenic variant in the DMC1 gene, which is linked to both NOA in a son and DOR in two daughters of a non-consanguineous family.
- The research revealed differences in how DMC1 functions between mice and humans, indicating it is essential for sperm production but not for egg development, marking the first discovery of a specific mutation causing both conditions.
Lack of awareness regarding the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the interventions available during pregnancy among the pregnant carriers may influence their willingness and adherence to the management. This study assessed the knowledge, perception and expectation of HBV infection among pregnant HBV carriers in Hong Kong. A prospective multicentre cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out between August 2019 and April 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Question: Is there any difference in the ongoing pregnancy rate after immediate versus delayed frozen embryo transfer (FET) following a stimulated IVF cycle?
Summary Answer: Immediate FET following a stimulated IVF cycle produced significantly higher ongoing pregnancy and live birth rate than did delayed FET.
What Is Known Already: Embryo cryopreservation is an increasingly important part of IVF, but there is still no good evidence to advise when to perform FET following a stimulated IVF cycle. All published studies are retrospective, and the findings are contradictory.
Hyaluronic acid-enriched transfer medium for frozen embryo transfer: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
Fertil Steril
October 2021
Objective: To compare the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA)-enriched transfer medium versus standard medium on live birth rate after frozen embryo transfer (FET).
Design: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
Setting: Two tertiary fertility centers.