Current and future methods for embryo selection: on a quest for reliable strategies to reduce time to pregnancy.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the usefulness of the principal embryological strategies to reduce time to pregnancy.

Evidence Acquisition: A systematic search of publications in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases from inception to present including "IVF," "blastocyst," "embryo colture," "competent embryo," "time to pregnancy," "aneuploid," "euploid," "vitrification," "preimplantation genetic," "IVF strategies" and "embryo selection" alone or in combinations has been done.

Evidence Synthesis: We have selected 230 articles and 9 of them have been included in this mini-review.

Semen cryopreservation in men undergoing cancer treatment: a ten-year study.

Background: The advancement of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the improvement in sperm freezing made male fertility preservation widely available. This study aims to evaluate the impact of cancer diseases on semen parameters before cryopreservation and the reproductive outcomes of patients who have thawed their semen samples.

Methods: An observational, cohort study was conducted on cancer patients submitted to fertility preservation in AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia between 2007 and 2018.

Heterogeneous hCG and hMG commercial preparations result in different intracellular signalling but induce a similar long-term progesterone response in vitro.

Study Question: Are four urinary hCG/menotropin (hMG) and one recombinant preparation characterized by different molecular features and do they mediate specific intracellular signaling and steroidogenesis?

Summary Answer: hCG and hMG preparations have heterogeneous compositions and mediate preparation-specific cell signaling and early steroidogenesis, although similar progesterone plateau levels are achieved in 24 h-treated human primary granulosa cells in vitro.

What Is Known Already: hCG is the pregnancy hormone marketed as a drug for ARTs to induce final oocyte maturation and ovulation, and to support FSH action. Several hCG formulations are commercially available, differing in source, purification methods and biochemical composition.

NADPH oxidase-4 and MATER expressions in granulosa cells: Relationships with ovarian aging.

Aims: Relevant roles in follicular development and ovulation are played by maternal antigen that embryos require (MATER), product of a maternal effect gene, and by reactive oxygen species (ROS), indispensable for the induction of ovulatory genes. At the moment, the relationship between these two biological systems and their involvement in the ovarian aging have not been still clarified. The aim of the current experimental study was to analyse the age-related changes of the MATER and NOX proteins.

Embryo quality before and after slow freezing: Viability, implantation and pregnancy rates in 627 single frozen-thawed embryo replacement cycles following failure of fresh transfer.

Frozen embryo transfer cycles are now common practice, however, various aspects regarding the potential of frozen embryos remain unclear. The main goal of the present study was to assess embryo quality before and after slow freezing procedure, and more specifically blastomere loss and embryo quality as indicator of viability. A single center retrospective analysis of single frozen-thawed embryo replacements (s-FER) was performed.

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the uterus: case report and review.

Background: Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the cervix is a very rare disease, with non-specific clinical presentation. Its prognosis depends on accurate and timely diagnosis and therapy. Moreover, the management of this tumour has never been standardized.

FSHR polymorphism p.N680S mediates different responses to FSH in vitro.

The single nucleotide polymorphism p.N680S of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor (FSHR) is a discrete marker of ovarian response but previous in vitro studies failed to demonstrate differences in the response to FSH between N and S carrier cells. Here we demonstrate that p.

Retrospective analysis on the efficacy of corticosteroid prophylaxis prior to elective caesarean section to reduce neonatal respiratory complications at term of pregnancy: review of literature.

Purpose: Our purpose was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine whether synthetic pharmaceutical glucocorticoids (betamethasone and dexamethasone) are safe as well as effective in reducing neonatal respiratory morbidity at term of pregnancy prior to elective caesarean section. The overall incidence of respiratory disorders is estimated at 2.8%, and the main risk factors are gestational age and mode of delivery.

Pronuclear morphology evaluation for fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles: a systematic review.

The current systematic review was aimed to assess the effectiveness of the zygote morphology evaluation in fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. All available studies reporting on zygote morphology and clinical and/or biological outcomes were analyzed. Forty studies were included in the final analysis.

Pronuclear morphology evaluation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) / intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles: a retrospective clinical review.

Background: The assessment of the embryo quality is crucial to maintain an high pregnancy rate and to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy. The evaluation of the pronuclear and nucleolar characteristics of human zygote have been proposed as an indicator of embryo development and chromosomal complement. The aim of the current study was to assess the role of pronuclear morphology evaluation in vitro fertilization (IVF) / intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

Detection of follicular fluid and serum antibodies by protein microarrays in women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

A protein microarray serological assay was used to assess the antibody profile of 102 women subjected to in vitro fertilization treatment. The studies were conducted on pairs of serum and follicular fluid samples, collected from each woman on the same day at the time of oocyte recovery. The samples, stored as frozen aliquotes, were assessed by both microarray and ELISA.

Analysis of pronuclear zygote configurations in 459 clinical pregnancies obtained with assisted reproductive technique procedures.

Background: Embryos selection is crucial to maintain high performance in terms of pregnancy rate, reducing the risk of multiple pregnancy during IVF. Pronuclear and nucleolar characteristics have been proposed as an indicator of embryo development and chromosomal complement in humans, providing information about embryo viability.

Methods: To correlate the zygote-score with the maternal age and the outcome of pregnancy, we analyzed the pronuclear and nucleolar morphology, the polar body alignment and the zygote configuration in 459 clinical pregnancies obtained by IVF and ICSI in our public clinic in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Impact of insemination technique, semen quality and oocyte cryopreservation on pronuclear morphology of zygotes derived from sibling oocytes.

Pronuclear morphology seems to be an important predictive value of zygote development and integrity. In this study we want to evaluate the effect of insemination technique, male factor and oocyte cryopreservation on pronuclear morphology of zygotes derived from sibling oocytes in our Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Nitric oxide as an early marker of human embryo metabolic cleavage in ART using fresh or thawed oocytes.

Objective: To study a possible role of nitric oxide (NO) as a marker of development in the early phases of human embryo cleavage during assisted reproduction.

Study Design: 179 women having ART were included. 123 women used fresh oocytes and 56 oocyte thawing cycles in the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arcispedale S.

The effect of the 2004 Italian legislation on perinatal outcomes following assisted reproduction technology.

Objective: To assess the perinatal outcomes of the first three years under the 2004 Italian reproductive legislation obligating transfer of all embryos resulting from insemination of < or =3 oocytes.

Study Design: We compared the perinatal results of clinical assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies during the three years following the new Italian legislation with the previous three years.

Results: There were 583 and 571 clinical pregnancies during the respective periods.

The effect of selecting oocytes for insemination and transferring all resultant embryos without selection on outcomes of assisted reproduction.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of selecting three best oocytes for insemination and transfer of all resultant embryos on outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Study Design: Comparative study.

Setting: The Center of Reproductive Medicine, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.