The use of time-dynamic patterns of temperature and flexible generalized models to clarify the relations between temperature and semen quality.

Background: Sperm quality has decreased over the last decades worldwide. It is affected, among others, by season and heat. This study aimed to address the association between ambient temperature and sperm quality by assessing its shape using flexible multivariate models and identifying distinct time-dynamic patterns of temperature change based on unsupervised analysis.

Orchiopexy: one procedure, two diagnoses - different male infertility outcomes.

Infertility, affecting one in six couples, is often related to the male partner's congenital and/or environmental conditions or complications postsurgery. This retrospective study examines the link between orchiopexy for undescended testicles (UDT) and testicular torsion (TT) in childhood and adult fertility as assessed through sperm analysis. The study involved the analysis of semen samples from 7743 patients collected at Soroka University Medical Center (Beer Sheva, Israel) between January 2009 and December 2017.

An artificial intelligence algorithm for automated blastocyst morphometric parameters demonstrates a positive association with implantation potential.

Blastocyst selection is primarily based on morphological scoring systems and morphokinetic data. These methods involve subjective grading and time-consuming techniques. Artificial intelligence allows for objective and quick blastocyst selection.

Delineating the heterogeneity of embryo preimplantation development using automated and accurate morphokinetic annotation.

Purpose: Our objective was to design an automated deep learning model that extracts the morphokinetic events of embryos that were recorded by time-lapse incubators. Using automated annotation, we set out to characterize the temporal heterogeneity of preimplantation development across a large number of embryos.

Methods: To perform a retrospective study, we used a dataset of video files of 67,707 embryos from four IVF clinics.

Is there a relationship between morphokinetic parameters and neonatal sex in fresh embryo transfers?

To investigate whether morphokinetic parameters differ between male and female embryos in IVF embryos resulting in live births, a retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Files of all live births resulting from a single embryo transfer (SET) cultured in time-lapse incubators between 2013 and 2019 in two tertiary care centres were reviewed. The study group consisted of 187 SETs resulted in 187 live births, of which 100 were females (53.

Embryo classification beyond pregnancy: early prediction of first trimester miscarriage using machine learning.

Purpose: First trimester miscarriage is a major concern in IVF-ET treatments, accounting for one out of nine clinical pregnancies and for up to one out of three recognized pregnancies. To develop a machine learning classifier for predicting the risk of cleavage-stage embryos to undergo first trimester miscarriage based on time-lapse images of preimplantation development.

Methods: Retrospective study of a 4-year multi-center cohort of 391 women undergoing intra-cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) and fresh single or double embryo transfers.

Human blastocyst spontaneous collapse is associated with worse morphological quality and higher degeneration and aneuploidy rates: a comprehensive analysis standardized through artificial intelligence.

Study Question: What are the factors associated with human blastocyst spontaneous collapse and the consequences of this event?

Summary Answer: Approximately 50% of blastocysts collapsed, especially when non-viable, morphologically poor and/or aneuploid.

What Is Known Already: Time-lapse microscopy (TLM) is a powerful tool to observe preimplantation development dynamics. Lately, artificial intelligence (AI) has been harnessed to automate and standardize such observations.

How slow is too slow? A comprehensive portrait of Day 7 blastocysts and their clinical value standardized through artificial intelligence.

Study Question: What is the clinical value of Day 7 blastocysts?

Summary Answer: Ending embryo culture at 144 hours post-insemination (h.p.i.

Prediction of embryo implantation rate using a sole parameter of timing of starting blastulation.

A time-lapse monitoring system provides a complete picture of the dynamic embryonic development process and simultaneously supplies extensive morphokinetic data. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the use of the morphokinetic parameter of time of starting blastulation (tSB) can improve the implantation rate of day-5 transferred blastocyst selected based on morphological parameters. In this retrospective study we analyzed the morphokinetics of 196 day-5 transferred blastocysts, selected solely based on morphological parameters.

High ovarian response to ovarian stimulation: effect on morphokinetic milestones and cycle outcomes.

Purpose: To assess the effect of high ovarian response on oocyte quality and ovarian stimulation cycle outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted at three IVF units. The high ovarian response (HOR) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with HOR (PCOS HOR) groups included 151 and 13 women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) resulting in more than 15 retrieved oocytes, for a total of 1863 and 116 cultured embryos, respectively.

Pathogenic variations in Germ Cell Nuclear Acidic Peptidase (GCNA) are associated with human male infertility.

Infertility affects one in six couples, half of which are caused by a male factor. Male infertility can be caused by both, qualitative and quantitative defects, leading to Oligo- astheno-terato-zoospermia (OAT; impairment in ejaculate sperm cell concentration, motility and morphology). Azoospermia defined as complete absence of sperm cells in the ejaculation.

Post-thaw culture has no beneficial effect on frozen embryos transfer outcomes comparing to same embryonal age non-cultured frozen-thawed embryos.

Purpose: To assess the impact of post-thawing embryo culture on frozen embryo transfer (FET) outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 678 consecutive FET cycles performed between the years 2004 and 2017 was conducted. Patients older than 45 years old were excluded.

Does quantity equal quality?-A morphokinetic assessment of embryos obtained from young women with decreased ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation.

Purpose: To assess oocyte quality in young patients with decreased ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation using time-lapse analysis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study conducted at five medical centers between 2013 and 2017. The "decreased ovarian response" (DOR) group consisted of 241 women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation with ≤ 5 retrieved oocytes and 519 cultured embryos.

Possible association between in vitro fertilization technologies and offspring neoplasm.

Objective: To study the association among fertility treatments, treatment protocol, and offspring neoplasm risk up to the age of 18 years.

Design: A population-based retrospective cohort.

Setting: Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC), the single tertiary medical center and in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit in southern Israel.

Does methylphenidate use affect sperm parameters in patients undergoing infertility investigation? A retrospective analysis of 9769 semen samples.

Objectives: Methylphenidate (MPH) is the most widely prescribed therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Animal studies have shown a potential adverse effect of MPH exposure on male fertility. We examined the impact of MPH on human male sperm parameters.

Does sperm origin-Ejaculated or testicular-Affect embryo morphokinetic parameters?

Background: It is unclear whether sperm origin, either ejaculated or testicular, in couples diagnosed with male factor infertility, affects the timing of the embryo's developmental events evaluated by time-lapse monitoring and implantation rates.

Objective: To examine the effect of sperm origin on embryo morphokinetics in couples diagnosed with male factor infertility.

Materials And Methods: This study included a retrospective analysis of morphokinetic parameters performed by time-lapse monitoring between 2013 and 2017.

Are morphokinetic parameters of embryo development associated with adverse perinatal outcomes following fresh blastocyst transfer?

Research Question: Are obstetric and perinatal complications associated with morphokinetic parameters of embryo development?

Design: This proof-of-concept pilot study included a retrospective analysis of embryo morphokinetic parameters of 85 live births following day 5 single blastocyst transfer. Kinetic variables included time interval (hours) from time of pronuclei fading (tPNf) to: time of 2 cells (tPNf-t2), 9 cells (tPNf-t9), morula (tPNf-tM), start of blastulation (tPNf-tSB), full blastocyst (tPNf-tB) and expanded blastocyst (tPNf-tEB). Multivariable logistic models were used to calculate the risk of perinatal complications after adjustment for confounders.

Zona pellucida shear modulus, a possible novel non-invasive method to assist in embryo selection during in-vitro fertilization treatment.

The present study investigated the association between oocyte zona pellucida shear modulus (ZPSM) and implantation rate (IR). Ninety-three oocytes collected from 38 in-vitro fertilization patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection were included in this case-control study. The ZP was modeled as an isotropic compressible hyperelastic material with parameter [Formula: see text], which represents the ZPSM.

Absence of SCAPER causes male infertility in humans and by modulating microtubule dynamics during meiosis.

Background: Mutation () have been found across ethnicities and have been shown to cause variable penetrance of an array of pathological traits, including intellectual disability, retinitis pigmentosa and ciliopathies.

Methods: Human clinical phenotyping, surgical testicular sperm extraction and testicular tissue staining. Generation and analysis of () ( orthologue) CAS9-knockout lines.

Mutation in (C2orf62) causes oligoteratoasthenozoospermia by affecting actin dynamics.

Background: Oligoteratoasthenozoospermia (OTA) combines deteriorated quantity, morphology and motility of the sperm, resulting in male factor infertility.

Methods: We used whole genome genotyping and exome sequencing to identify the mutation causing OTA in four men in a consanguineous Bedouin family. We expressed the normal and mutated proteins tagged with c-Myc at the carboxy termini by transfection with pCDNA3.

Novel mutation in USP26 associated with azoospermia in a Sertoli cell-only syndrome patient.

Background: Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 26 (USP26), located on the X chromosome, encodes a deubiquitinating enzyme expressed mainly in testis, where it regulates protein turnover during spermatogenesis and modulates the ubiquitination levels of the Androgen Receptor (AR), and as a consequence, affects AR signaling.

Methods: The patient was thoroughly characterized clinically. He was genetically tested by chromosome analysis and whole exome sequencing (WES).

Pregnancy outcomes of fresh IVF conceived pregnancies after embryo transfer at different stages of early embryonic development.

Objective: To compare pregnancy outcomes between pregnancies following day 2, day 3, and days 5/6 fresh embryo transfer (ET).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study including all pregnancies following fresh IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ET cycles performed between January 2014 and December 2015 at Fertility and Fertilization (IVF) Unit of the tertiary Soroka University Medical Center. The study groups consisted of 48, 72, 120, and 144 hours embryos.

Recurrent implantation failure: which patients benefit from endometrial scratching prior to IVF?

Purpose: Endometrial scratching (ES) using a biopsy catheter prior to the IVF cycle in the repeated implantation failure (RIF) population has been suggested, but no convincing evidence of its benefit has been presented until now.

Methods: A retrospective mono-center study among 300 consecutive IVF-RIF cycles following evaluation of the ovarian reserve, hysterosalpingography or hysteroscopy, pelvic ultrasound, thrombophilia evaluation, karyotyping and assessment of male sperm parametrs. The findings within normal limits.

Increasing telomerase enhanced steroidogenic genes expression and steroid hormones production in rat and human granulosa cells and in mouse ovary.

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein responsible for telomere re-elongation, is important for male and female fertility. Several factors, including the steroid hormone estrogen, regulate the expression of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT), which one of its non-canonical functions is gene expression regulation. The steroidogenesis process is regulated principally by transcription of genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes, but it is not clear if TERT non-canonical functions affect the expression of steroidogenic genes.

Twin pregnancies and perinatal outcomes: a comparison between fresh and frozen embryo transfer: a two-centre study.

Research Question: To assess the perinatal and obstetric outcomes of twin pregnancies resulting from IVF frozen embryo transfer (FET) in comparison with fresh embryo transfer.

Design: A retrospective cohort study of 773 twin pregnancies conceived via IVF treatment. Data were collected from the records of two outpatient fertility IVF clinics of cycles conducted between 2006 and 2016.