Nonprofessional phagocytosis in trophectoderm cells of human preimplantation blastocysts.

Unlabelled: Trophoblast phagocytosis has been considered important in pregnancy. However, whether human preimplantation blastocysts possess phagocytic activity is still unclear. In this study, we determined the phagocytosis potential in human trophectoderm cells of blastocysts prior to implantation.

[Effect of domestic highly purified urinary follicle stimulating hormone on outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in controlled ovarian stimulation].

Objective: To investigate the effect of domestic urine-derived high-purity follicle- stimulating hormone (HP-FSH, Lishenbao) on the outcome of in vitro fertilization(IVF) embryo transfer (ET) in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS).

Methods: From 1 September 2010 to 31 March 2011, total of 3178 infertility patients from 14 Reproductive Center with IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) indications who accepted first IVF or ICSI cycle were studied retrospectively. Their causes of infertility include all infertility factors except ovulatory dysfunction infertility and uterine factor infertility.

A highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for detecting human embryonic human chorionic gonadotropin in spent embryo culture media during IVF-ET cycle.

Purpose: To investigate the stability and repeatability of electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) for beta-hCG detection in embryo spent culture media. To evaluate the correlation between the viability of preimplantation embryo and beta-hCG profile by the new assay.

Methods: In a retrospective study, a total of 357 spent culture media from day1 to day5 were individually collected and quantified by ECLIA.

[Clinical analysis of 100 preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycles].

Objective: To investigate influence of chromosomal translocations on early embryo development and to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) techniques through clinical analysis on PGD cycles.

Methods: Embryo development, efficacy of PGD and clinical outcome of 100 cycles were studied retrospectively, including 23 cycles with Robertsonian translocations, 19 cycles with reciprocal translocations, and 58 cycles for α-Thalassaemia.

Results: Among 354 embryos biopsied by PGD for translocations, 321 (90.

Improved nude mouse models for green fluorescence human endometriosis.

Aim: To establish an improved noninvasive fluorescent animal model for endometriosis.

Material And Methods: Adenovirus encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (Ad-eGFP) was used to transfect primary culture endometrial glandular cells and stromal cells (purified cell transfection and mixed injection, Group 1) as well as endometrial fragments (tissues transfection and injection, Group 2). Transfection results were compared between the cells and tissues in vitro.

Imprinting and Promoter Usage of Insulin-Like Growth Factor II in Twin Discordant Placenta.

Case reports from infant twins suggest that abnormal genomic imprinting may be one of the important causes of twin discordance, but it is unknown whether abnormal genomic imprinting occurs in the placenta. Therefore, we sought to determine the relationship between the imprinting of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in placenta and twin discordance. We analyzed the imprinting and promoter usage of IGF-II in placenta of normal twins (T0 group), weight discordance (T1 group), and phenotype discordance (T2 group).

High follicle-stimulating hormone increases aneuploidy in human oocytes matured in vitro.

Objective: To study the effect of FSH on the aneuploidy risk of human oocytes matured in vitro.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF center.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for alpha-thalassaemia in China.

Purpose: To report the usage of PGD for alpha-thalassaemia with the - -(SEA) genotype.

Method: A PGD protocol using fluorescent gap PCR was performed for 51 cycles on 43 couples with the - -(SEA) genotype. Allele drop-out and amplification failure rates were retrospectively analyzed.

Mechanically expanding the zona pellucida of human frozen thawed embryos: a new method of assisted hatching.

Objective: To determine whether a new assisted hatching (AH) method increases the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates of frozen-thawed day-3 (D3) embryos.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: A university hospital in vitro fertilization (IVF) program.

RNA interference targeting of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 protects human granulosa cells from apoptosis.

Aim: Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) plays an essential role in initiating the female germ cell death signal. To evaluate whether RNA interference has potential as a new approach in germ cell protection, we tested the effect of SMPD1 knockdown on human granulosa cells in vitro.

Methods: We designed and synthesized three small interference RNA (siRNA) sequences targeted on SMPD1 and transfected them into human luteinizing granulosa cells (hGC) in vitro.

Expression of certain HLA-I types in cleavage-stage embryos.

This study examined the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G and HLA-I (which includes HLA-A, -B, -C, -E and -F, but is without HLA-G) in the cleavage embryo and its supernatant, and related the results to embryo development including growth rate and grade. In total, 136 day-3 cleavage embryos were used for detection of HLA-G and 24 embryos for HLA-I without HLA-G by immunohistochemistry. The expression of HLA-I was examined by western blot in the lysates of a further 63 day-3 cleavage embryos; soluble HLA-I in the culture supernatant of embryos with detectable HLA-I was also examined by western blot.

[Efficiency comparison between two preimplantation genetic diagnostic methods for chromosomal translocation carriers].

Objective: To compare the diagnostic efficiency between blastomere preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and polar body PGD for chromosomal translocation carriers.

Methods: Group A had 8 cycles using whole painting probes for the first polar body diagnosis, while group B had 29 cycles using two subtelomeric probes and one centromeric probe for the blastomere diagnosis.

Results: The fertilization rate of group A was significantly lower than group B [66.

[Variance of serum prolactin in controlled ovarian stimulation].

Objective: To investigate the variance of peripheral blood prolactin (PRL) in controlled ovarian stimulation.

Methods: Seventy-two patients, with totally 106 cycles receiving a long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist combined with gonadotropin (Gn) were randomly enrolled in this retrospective study. During controlled ovarian stimulation, peripheral blood hormones were measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Duchenne muscular dystrophy by multiple displacement amplification.

Objective: To evaluate the use of multiple displacement amplification (MDA) in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for female carriers with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Design: MDA was used to amplify a whole genome of single cells. Following the setup on single cells, the test was applied in two clinical cases of PGD.

In vitro-matured rat oocytes have low mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid and adenosine triphosphate contents and have abnormal mitochondrial redistribution.

Objective: To study the development and function of mitochondria in in vitro-matured rat oocytes derived from follicles of different sizes.

Design: Experimental animal study.

Setting: Department of Anatomy at the University of Hong Kong.

Effects of cilostamide and forskolin on the meiotic resumption and embryonic development of immature human oocytes.

Background: In an attempt to allow for acquisition of oocyte cytoplasmic maturation, PDE3 specific inhibitor, cilostamide and adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin were used to extend pre-maturation culture of immature human oocytes.

Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes retrieved from unstimulated ovaries were continuously cultured under 20 microM cilostamide or 50 microM forskolin, alone or in combination for 6, 12, 24 or 48 h, respectively. Levels of intercellular gap junction communication (GJC) and maturational status were examined at these designated time points.

[Analysis of chromosome mosaicism in preimplantation embryos by using 2 sequential rounds of fluorescence in situ hybridization].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism and factors affecting mosaicism in human preimplantation embryos by using 2 sequential rounds of fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).

Methods: Totally 51 normal fertilized embryos, which were not suitable for embryo transfer and cryopreservation, were analyzed on day 3 after fertilization by using two sequential rounds of FISH. Chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y were analyzed.

Visualization of meiotic spindle and subsequent embryonic development in in vitro and in vivo matured human oocytes.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between spindle location and embryonic development of in vivo and in vitro matured human oocytes.

Methods: The spindles of 134 in vivo matured, 105 in vitro matured oocytes were examined by Polscope at the time of ICSI.

Results: The spindles were visualized in 83.

[Meiotic spindle location and embryo development of in vivo and in vitro matured human oocytes].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between meiotic spindle location and embryo developmental potential of in vivo and in vitro matured human oocytes.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-four in vivo matured oocytes and 45 in vitro matured oocytes were observed with polscope at the time of intracytoplasm sperm injection (ICSI).

Results: Meiotic spindle was detected in 83.

Low mitochondrial DNA and ATP contents contribute to the absence of birefringent spindle imaged with PolScope in in vitro matured human oocytes.

Background: Birefrigent meiotic spindle in live human oocytes can be visualized by the PolScope. This study investigated the relationship between birefrigent meiotic spindle and cytoplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and ATP contents in in vitro matured human oocytes.

Methods: Oocytes at germinal vesicle stage were collected and cultured for 24-48 h with or without the metabolic inhibitor, carbonyl cyanide p-(tri-fluromethoxy) phenyl-hydrazone (FCCP).

[The clinical application of whole chromosome painting probes in preimplantation genetic diagnosis for translocation carriers].

Objective: To make preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for female translocation carriers by analyzing first polar bodies (1PBs) with whole chromosome painting probe (WCP).

Methods: WCP was used in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of 1PBs for four female Robertsonian carriers presented for PGD with 45 XX, der(13;14)(q10;q10) karyotype. All the patients underwent ovarian stimulation and during 6 h after oocyte retrieval 1PBs were biopsied and WCP were used in FISH.

[Study of altered expression of annexin IV and human endometrial receptivity].

Objective: To explore the association of altered expression of annexin IV in human endometrium during the implantation window and endometrial receptivity.

Methods: A comparative proteomic strategy, in a combination of two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), was adopted to search for proteome alternations of pre-receptive (day LH + 2) versus receptive (LH + 7) endometria. The location and abundance of the identified differentially expressed protein- annexin IV were analyzed by immunostaining and western blot.

[Influence of the depth of embryo transfer on pregnancy outcome in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer].

Objective: To detect whether the depth of embryo transfer has influence on pregnancy outcome in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods: The distance between the high echogenic transfer dot and the fundal endometrium was measured under guidance of transabdominal ultrasound. The average distance 0.

[Characteristics of IGF-II gene imprinting in twin placentas].

Objective: To compare insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) gene imprinting in twin placentas with singleton ones and to determine whether imprinting was influenced by assisted reproductive technology, zygosity and fetal sex.

Methods: One hundred and sixty cases of twin placentas and 42 cases of singleton ones were recruited. Allele-specific IGF-II expression was determined by reverse transcription-PCR combined with analysis of an Apa I-sensitive restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Successful preimplantation genetic diagnosis for alpha- and beta-thalassemia in China.

Methods & Results: In southern China, the average carrier rates of alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia in the population are as high as 10.3% and 2.8%, respectively.