Assisted reproductive technologies do not increase risk of abnormal methylation of PEG1/MEST in human early pregnancy loss.

Objective: To evaluate the epigenetic risk linked to assisted reproductive technology (ART) by analyzing the methylation patterns of imprinted PEG1 gene in aborted human chorionic villus.

Design: Experimental research study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

[In vitro fertilization versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection for primary and secondary infertility using sibling oocytes: clinical analysis of the outcomes].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sibling oocytes for treatment of primary and secondary infertility.

Methods: A total of 149 cycles of IVF and ICSI were conducted between January, 2003 and December, 2008 in our center, including 98 cycles in patients with primary infertility and 51 in those with secondary infertility. According to the embryos derived from ICSI, IVF and their combination, the clinical pregnancy rate, delivery rate and birth defect of the 3 groups were analyzed.

[Clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection using sperms of different origins and parameters].

Objective: To explore the quality of the embryos, clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment using sperms of different origins and parameters.

Methods: A total of 980 ICSI-ET (embryo-transfer) cycles were divided into 4 groups, namely normal sperm or mild oligozoospermia group (group A), severe oligozoospermia group (group B), epididymal aspirates group (group C) and testicular biopsies group (group D). The cleavage rate, embryo quality, fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and rates of birth defects were compared between the groups.

Combined analysis of endometrial thickness and pattern in predicting outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the combined effect of endometrial thickness and pattern on clinical outcome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET).

Methods: Cycles of IVF/ICSI-ET conducted between January 2003 and December 2008 at a university-based reproductive center were reviewed retrospectively. Endometrial ultrasonographic characteristics were recorded on the day of hCG administration.

Aberrant DNA methylation of imprinted H19 gene in human preimplantation embryos.

DNA methylation patterns of the H19 differentially methylated region were successfully determined in 32 of 50 human day 3 embryos produced and discarded after assisted reproductive technology procedures. We found methylation patterns similar to those of somatic cells in 81.3% of embryos and demethylation or hypomethylation patterns in 18.

[Association of the clinical characteristics and the IVF-ET outcome in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome of different subtypes].

Objective: To investigate the association of the clinical characteristics and the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) of different subtypes.

Methods: A total of 189 infertile women with PCOS undergoing IVF-ET were enrolled in this study. According to Rotterdam PCOS diagnosis criteria, the patients were classified into 3 PCOS subtypes, namely type I with PCO ultrasonography and oligo-ovulation/anovulation and hyperandrogenism (54 women, for whom 58 fresh IVF-ET cycles were performed); type II with PCO ultrasonography and oligo-ovulation/anovulation (117 women with 126 cycles); type III with PCO ultrasonography and hyperandrogenism (18 women with 18 cycles).