Disentangling the relative importance of spatio-temporal parameters and host specificity in shaping arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus communities in a temperate forest.

Many woody and herbaceous plants in temperate forests cannot establish and survive in the absence of mycorrhizal associations. Most temperate forests are dominated by ectomycorrhizal woody plant species, which implies that the carrying capacity of the habitat for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is relatively low and AMF could in some cases experience a limitation of propagules. Here we address how the AMF community composition varied in a small temperate forest site in Germany in relation to time, space, two plant host species, and also with regard to the degree to which plots were covered with AMF-associating woody species.

Ten simple rules for increased lab resilience.

When running a lab we do not think about calamities, since they are rare events for which we cannot plan while we are busy with the day-to-day management and intellectual challenges of a research lab. No lab team can be prepared for something like a pandemic such as COVID-19, which has led to shuttered labs around the globe. But many other types of crises can also arise that labs may have to weather during their lifetime.

Myristate and the ecology of AM fungi: significance, opportunities, applications and challenges.

A recent study by Sugiura and coworkers reported the non-symbiotic growth and spore production of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, when the fungus received an external supply of certain fatty acids, myristates (C:14). This discovery follows the insight that AM fungi receive fatty acids from their hosts when in symbiosis. If this result holds up and can be repeated under nonsterile conditions and with a broader range of fungi, it has numerous consequences for our understanding of AM fungal ecology, from the level of the fungus, at the plant community level, and to functional consequences in ecosystems.

Endometrial preparation before the transfer of single, vitrified-warmed, euploid blastocysts: does the duration of estradiol treatment influence clinical outcome?

Objective: To investigate whether the duration of estrogen administration before euploid embryo transfer affects clinical outcome.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Private, academic fertility center.

Reproductive outcome is optimized by genomic embryo screening, vitrification, and subsequent transfer into a prepared synchronous endometrium.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare implantation and live birth rates (LBR) between fresh euploid embryo transfers versus cryo-all cycles with a subsequent embryo transfer into a prepared endometrium.

Material And Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent an IVF cycle with PGS with trophectoderm biopsy from January 2011 to July 2015 were included.

Maximum basal FSH predicts reproductive outcome better than cycle-specific basal FSH levels: waiting for a "better" month conveys limited retrieval benefits.

Background: Elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is associated with poor vaginal oocyte retrieval (VOR) outcomes and cycle cancellations but intercycle variability in basal FSH reportedly does not predict ovarian response.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of basal FSH (n = 15573 cycles) in couples (n = 9132) who initiated IVF cycle(s) with basal estradiol (E2) <100 pg/mL between 2002 and 2014 to reevaluate this hypothesis. The most recent (current) FSH, maximum FSH (Max FSH) and prior cycle maximum basal FSH (PMax FSH) were computed for each cycle.

Endometrial pattern, but not endometrial thickness, affects implantation rates in euploid embryo transfers.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of endometrial thickness (EnT) and endometrial pattern (EnP) to euploid embryo transfer (ET) outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Private academic clinic.

In-vitro maturation of germinal vesicle and metaphase I eggs prior to cryopreservation optimizes reproductive potential in patients undergoing fertility preservation.

Purpose Of Review: To evaluate current and previous findings related to a timely implementation of in-vitro maturation (IVM) of germinal vesicle, metaphase I and metaphase II oocytes with an optimal cryopreservation to determine whether IVM should be attempted prior to (fresh IVM) or IVM after cryopreservation (postthaw IVM). Mitochondrion, chromatin and spindle formation in both groups were interpreted from referenced studies to establish best management of all oocytes.

Recent Findings: The postthaw survival of germinal vesicle, metaphase I, fresh IVM-metaphase II and control metaphase II oocytes did not differ significantly [83.

Should ICSI be recommended routinely in patients with four or fewer oocytes retrieved?

Purpose: To determine if patients with a low response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during IVF benefit from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 350 IVF cycles in which four or fewer oocytes were retrieved. Severe male factor cases were excluded from analysis. Conventional insemination (CI) and ICSI were compared, with primary outcome measures of fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer, and pregnancy loss rate.

Parental karyotype may reveal the source of a pregnancy loss even in the presence of a reportedly euploid fetal karyotype.

Objective: To present a case of a fetal loss in which a normal fetal karyotype was obtained by banding studies. Identification of an abnormal maternal karyotype prompted subsequent reanalysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Design: Case report.

Paternal age and assisted reproductive technology outcome in ovum recipients.

This study suggests that paternal age may be inversely associated with reproductive outcome, as demonstrated by a decline in fertilization, blastocyst formation, implantation and cryopreservation rates with advancing age.

Redefining in vitro fertilization success: should triplets be considered failures?

Objective: To evaluate how the ranking of IVF programs changes if high-order multiple pregnancies (HOMPs) are considered negative outcomes.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: The 2004 Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System.

Moderately elevated levels of basal follicle-stimulating hormone in young patients predict low ovarian response, but should not be used to disqualify patients from attempting in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To evaluate and compare IVF outcomes of patients within different age categories who had a normal basal FSH level with outcomes of patients with an elevated day 3 FSH level.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Large, private IVF center.

Blastocyst embryo transfer is associated with a sex-ratio imbalance in favor of male offspring.

Objective: To evaluate the sex ratio of offspring born after blastocyst transfers.

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: A large assisted reproductive technology center.

Report of four donor-recipient oocyte cryopreservation cycles resulting in high pregnancy and implantation rates.

Objective: To determine the clinical potential of donor-oocyte cryopreservation and thaw techniques for recipient patients.

Design: Institutional review board-approved prospective study of donor oocyte cryopreservation.

Setting: A large, private infertility center.

Trisomy 1 in a clinically recognized IVF pregnancy.

Most chromosomal trisomies lead to spontaneous abortion. To date, trisomies of all human chromosomes have been observed. Chromosome 1 has been the most elusive, as trisomy 1 was the last aberration to be identified.

The effect of a propofol-based sedation technique on cumulative embryo scores, clinical pregnancy rates, and implantation rates in patients undergoing embryo transfers with donor oocytes.

Study Objective: To determine the effect, if any, of a propofol-based sedation technique on the reproductive outcomes of patients undergoing embryo transfers with donor oocytes. These ova recipients form a unique subgroup, whose clinical outcomes are unrelated to direct anesthetic effects on their reproductive tracts.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Perinatal outcome after embryo transfer in ovum recipients. A comparison with standard in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To compare perinatal outcome after embryo transfer vs. standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) in ovum recipients.

Study Design: We reviewed 22 consecutive ovum donor pregnancies delivered at Mount Sinai Hospital between July 1989 and November 1992 and matched them for age, parity and order of gestation to a control group who underwent standard IVF-embryo transfer (ET) during that period.

An elevated day three follicle-stimulating hormone:luteinizing hormone ratio (FSH:LH) in the presence of a normal day 3 FSH predicts a poor response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Objective: To determine if an elevated FSH:LH ratio predicts response in infertile patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for IVF-ET.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: The Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York.

The uterus and endometrium.

Transvaginal sonography is useful for the identification of physiologic and pathologic changes within the myometrium and endometrium. Endometrial ultrasonography is simple to learn because of the reliable identification of the uterus. It is useful for monitoring fertility treatment, evaluation of abnormal bleeding and monitoring patients in the menopause.

Early first-trimester ultrasound provides a window through which the chorionicity of twins can be diagnosed in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) population.

Purpose: Early and accurate diagnosis of placentation alerts the obstetrician to potential clinical sequelae. The reproductive endocrinologist has a unique opportunity to sonographically evaluate the very early intrauterine pregnancy. We undertook this study to determine whether chorionicity could accurately be predicted using early first-trimester transvaginal ultrasound.