Higher estradiol levels are associated with lower neonatal birthweight after fresh and frozen embryo transfers. A cohort study of 3631 singleton IVF pregnancies.

Aim: To assess the birthweight of neonates conceived after fresh and frozen embryo transfers (FET) and, if different, to investigate whether estradiol levels during the late follicular phase were associated with the observed difference.

Methods: Singleton pregnancies from fresh and FET transfers between January 1990 and December 2013 were compared retrospectively. A total of 2885 singleton pregnancies after fresh embryo transfer and 746 after FET were analyzed.

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.

What is the best predictor of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in IVF? A cohort study.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to study what is the best predictor of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in IVF.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all consecutive IVF/intracytoplasmic injection cycles performed during a 5-year period (2009-2014) in a single university fertility centre. All fresh IVF cycles where ovarian stimulation was performed with gonadotrophins and GnRH agonists or antagonists and triggering of final oocyte maturation was induced with the administration of urinary or recombinant hCG were analyzed (2982 patients undergoing 5493 cycles).

Outcomes of immature oocytes collected from ovarian tissue for cryopreservation in adult and prepubertal patients.

The efficiency of oocyte in-vitro maturation (IVM) and vitrification procedures after ex-vivo collection from ovarian tissue were assessed according to patient age, number of retrieved oocytes and tissue transport conditions. The combined procedure was performed in 136 patients: 130 adults (mean 27.6 ± 5.

Live birth after autograft of ovarian tissue cryopreserved during childhood.

Ovarian insufficiency is a major long-term adverse event, following the administration of a myeloablative conditioning regimen, and occurring in >80% of children and adolescents receiving such treatment for malignant or non-malignant disease. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is currently offered to preserve the fertility of these young patients. At least 35 live births have been reported after transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in adult patients, but the procedure remains unproven for ovarian tissue harvested at a prepubertal or pubertal age.

A randomized controlled trial comparing two vitrification methods versus slow-freezing for cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos.

Purpose: To compare two different vitrification methods to slow freezing method for cryopreservation of human cleavage stage embryos.

Design: Prospective randomised trial.

Setting: University assisted reproduction centre.

A specific increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase B expression upon differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are of great hope for regenerative medicine due to their dual pluripotency and self-renewal properties. We report a comparison of inositol phosphate (InsP(s)) production in undifferentiated, differentiated hESCs and in two cancer cell lines, Ntera2 cells, a human embryonal carcinoma cell (hECC) line and HeLa cells. To evaluate the potential impact of InsP(s) in differentiation, hESCs were spontaneously differentiated in culture for two weeks.

Contribution of cryopreservation in a mandatory SET policy: analysis of 5 years of application of law in an academic IVF center.

Objective: To analyse treatment outcomes after SET law enforcement and to evaluate the contribution of cryopreservation in a SET policy.

Material: Embryo transfer cycles performed after the law enforcement (SET period) was retrospectively compared to the cycles performed before the law enforcement (DET period).

Results: Pregnancy and delivery rates after fresh transfer of SET and DET periods were comparable (31.

Nucleoside analog stavudine depletes mitochondrial DNA with no organelle loss in mouse oocytes.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the basis of antiretroviral treatment of HIV-positive patients. Several studies have shown decreased fertility and fecundity among HIV-positive women under antiretroviral treatment. Oocyte impaired competence has been hypothesized to be one of the main mechanisms underlying of this decreased fertility.

Impaired ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization in women who are seropositive for hepatitis C virus and seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus.

Objective: To analyze the impact of seropositivity with hepatitis C virus (HCV) on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.

Design: Retrospective, case-controlled study.

Setting: Fertility clinic of academic hospital.

Impact of the assessment of early cleavage in a single embryo transfer policy.

The policy of single embryo transfer (SET) adopted for women <36 years old since 1 July 2003, strongly calls for improvement of embryo selection. A total of 196 cycles in which SET was performed were randomly allocated to two groups. In the first group, early cleavage was assessed (ECA) 25 h after insemination.

Embryo-maternal interactive factors regulating the implantation process: implications in assisted reproductive.

The embryo-maternal dialogue that starts very early in the life of the embryo is crucial for its own implantation. A disturbance in this dialogue is the major reason for which 60% of all pregnancies are terminated at the end of the periimplantation period. Many studies have been performed to improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in this dialogue.

Similar delivery rates in a selected group of patients, for day 2 and day 5 embryos both cultured in sequential medium: a randomized study.

Background: The existence of a real benefit of blastocyst transfer is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to compare, in a prospective randomized trial, the outcome of day 2 and day 5 transfer of human embryos cultured in an 'in-house' sequential medium.

Methods: A total of 193 cycles from 171 patients with less than four previous IVF cycles, <39 years old and with four or more zygotes on day 1, were randomly allocated to day 2 (94 cycles) or day 5 (99 cycles) transfer.