Hyaluronic acid-enriched transfer medium for frozen embryo transfer: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

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.

Performance of ovarian response prediction index (ORPI) in predicting ovarian response and livebirth in the in-vitro fertilisation cycle using a standard stimulation with corifollitropin alpha in a GnRH antagonist protocol.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of ovarian response prediction index (ORPI) in predicting ovarian response and livebirth of women undergoing their first in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle. This is a retrospective analysis of 285 women from 2013 to 2016. The outcome measures were area (AUC) under the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves for prediction of excessive and poor response, livebirth in the fresh cycle and cumulative livebirth.

High-resolution mapping of reciprocal translocation breakpoints using long-read sequencing.

Long-read nanopore sequencing enables direct high-resolution breakpoint mapping on balanced carriers of reciprocal translocation. The mean sequencing depth on the translocated chromosomes to achieve accurate mapping of breakpoints ranged from 2.5-fold to 6.

Distinguishing between carrier and noncarrier embryos with the use of long-read sequencing in preimplantation genetic testing for reciprocal translocations.

Balanced reciprocal translocation carriers are usually phenotypically normal but are at an increased risk of infertility, recurrent miscarriage or having affected children. Preimplantation genetic testing on chromosomal structural rearrangement (PGT-SR) offers a way to screen against unbalanced embryos. Here, we demonstrated a new method to distinguish carrier from noncarrier embryos.

Evaluation of preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal structural rearrangement by a commonly used next generation sequencing workflow.

Objectives: To evaluate the applicability of a commonly used next generation sequencing workflow in detecting unbalanced meiotic segregation products for reciprocal translocation and inversion carriers.

Study Design: All preimplantation genetic testing treatment cycles performed for reciprocal translocation or inversion carriers from 2012 to April 2017 were included. Three hundreds and forty-two archived whole genome amplified DNA, which had previously analyzed by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), were retrospectively analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS).

Experience of more than 100 preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycles for monogenetic diseases using whole genome amplification and linkage analysis in a single centre.

Objective: To report the outcomes of more than 100 cycles of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for monogenetic diseases.

Design: Case series.

Setting: Tertiary assisted reproductive centre in Hong Kong, where patients needed to pay for the cost of preimplantation genetic diagnosis on top of standard in-vitro fertilisation charges.

Comparison between fluorescent in-situ hybridisation and array comparative genomic hybridisation in preimplantation genetic diagnosis in translocation carriers.

Objectives: To compare the pregnancy outcome of the fluorescent in-situ hybridisation and array comparative genomic hybridisation in preimplantation genetic diagnosis of translocation carriers.

Design: Historical cohort.

Setting: A teaching hospital in Hong Kong.

Ovarian response and cumulative live birth rate of women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation who had discordant anti-Mullerian hormone and antral follicle count measurements: a retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate ovarian response and cumulative live birth rate of women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment who had discordant baseline serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level and antral follicle count (AFC).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on 1,046 women undergoing the first IVF cycle in Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Subjects receiving standard IVF treatment with the GnRH agonist long protocol were classified according to their quartiles of baseline AMH and AFC measurements after GnRH agonist down-regulation and before commencing ovarian stimulation.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis using combined strategies on a breast cancer patient with a novel genomic deletion in BRCA2.

Purpose: To perform Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) on a paternal Brca2 unknown mutation carrier with early-onset breast cancer, whose paternal grandmother and mother had breast cancer at 60s.

Method: Elucidating the linkage via single sperm haplotyping on patient's carrier brother, and identifying the genomic deletion via BLAST followed by PCR screening. PGD was subsequently conducted.

Live birth following double-factor pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for both reciprocal translocation and alpha-thalassaemia.

We report a live birth from a couple with two genetic diseases, namely: reciprocal translocation carrier and alpha-thalassaemia trait, following pre-implantation genetic diagnostic tests. This is the first case in Hong Kong in which the technique of using one blastomere biopsy for two diseases was established, using array comparative genomic hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction.

Role of baseline antral follicle count and anti-Mullerian hormone in the index stimulation cycle of IVF treatment in predicting outcome of subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfers.

This retrospective cohort study aims at determining whether baseline antral follicle count (AFC) and serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level in the index stimulation cycle predict live-birth outcome in subsequent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. We studied 500 women undergoing the first IVF cycle who had embryo(s) cryopreserved. The main outcome measures were live-birth in the first FET cycle and cumulative live-birth in all the FETs combined after the same stimulation cycle.

Live birth rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and obstetric outcomes of elective single and double embryo transfers: Hong Kong experience.

Objective: To compare the live birth rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and obstetric outcomes of elective single and double embryo transfers.

Design: Case series with internal comparisons.

Setting: University affiliated hospital, Hong Kong.

Cumulative live-birth rate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or isolated polycystic ovaries undergoing in-vitro fertilisation treatment.

Purpose: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the cumulative live birth rate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and isolated polycystic ovaries (PCO) undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Methods: We studied 104 women with PCOS, 184 with PCO and 576 age-matched controls undergoing the first IVF treatment cycle between 2002 and 2009. The main outcome measure was cumulative live birth in the fresh plus all the frozen embryo transfers combined after the same stimulation cycle.

Role of baseline antral follicle count and anti-Mullerian hormone in prediction of cumulative live birth in the first in vitro fertilisation cycle: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Objective: This retrospective study determined for the first time the role of baseline antral follicle count (AFC) and serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level in the first in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycle in predicting cumulative live birth from one stimulation cycle.

Methods: We studied 1,156 women (median age 35 years) undergoing the first IVF cycle. Baseline AFC and AMH level on the day before ovarian stimulation were analysed.

Evaluating the performance of serum antimullerian hormone concentration in predicting the live birth rate of controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination.

Objective: To evaluate the role of serum antimullerian hormone (AMH) concentration in predicting live birth outcome in controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Tertiary assisted reproduction unit.

Frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

Objective: To review the outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. DESIGN. Retrospective review.

Singleton birth after preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Huntington disease using whole genome amplification.

Objective: To report a successful case of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for Huntington disease using whole genome amplification.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University assisted reproduction unit.

A randomized double blind comparison of real and placebo acupuncture in IVF treatment.

Background: Acupuncture has been used during IVF treatment as it may improve outcome, however, there are concerns about the true efficacy of this approach. This randomized double blind study aimed to compare real acupuncture with placebo acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF treatment.

Methods: On the day of embryo transfer (ET), 370 patients were randomly allocated to either real or placebo acupuncture according to a computer-generated randomization list in sealed opaque envelopes.

Randomized double-blind comparison of laser zona pellucida thinning and breaching in frozen-thawed embryo transfer at the cleavage stage.

Objective: To compare the implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) using laser thinning with those of laser breaching of the zona pellucida (ZP).

Design: Double-blind randomized study.

Setting: A tertiary assisted reproduction unit.

Mitochondrial DNA deletion in granulosa and cumulus oophorus cells.

The incidence of the 4,977-bp deletion in mitochondrial DNA (DeltamtDNA4977) in 73 pairs of granulosa and cumulus oophorus cells was studied with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and was significantly higher in granulosa cells (GC) (67/73, 91%) than in cumulus oophorus cells (17/73, 23.3%), independent of the donors' age. In the cumulus oophorus cells, the oocyte morphology, the ooplasma diameter, and the proportion of oocytes fertilized normally were comparable between those with and without DeltamtDNA4977; whereas the oocyte diameter and the zona thickness were significantly higher in those with DeltamtDNA4977.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study to compare two doses of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin in inducing final oocyte maturity and the hormonal profile during the luteal phase.

Context: Different doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) have been used in various in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment protocols to achieve final oocyte maturation. There is as yet no agreement on the optimum dose required.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 250 and 500 microg recombinant hCG (r-hCG), which represented the lower and upper limits of the dose range, in inducing final oocyte maturation during IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

A randomized double-blind controlled study of the efficacy of laser-assisted hatching on implantation and pregnancy rates of frozen-thawed embryo transfer at the cleavage stage.

Background: Assisted hatching (AH) in fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles increases the implantation and pregnancy rates, especially in women with a poor prognosis, repeated implantation failures and in older women. Little information exists in the literature regarding the role of AH in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Methods: Embryos were cryopreserved at the cleavage stage.

Bioavailability of hCG after intramuscular or subcutaneous injection in obese and non-obese women.

Background: Obese women require higher gonadotrophin doses for ovarian stimulation and to trigger ovulation. The bioavailability of a drug is affected by its route of administration. Herein, the bioavailability of hCG was compared after intramuscular (i.