Comparison of the follicular output rate after controlled ovarian stimulation with daily recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone versus corifollitropin alfa.

Objective: To compare the Follicular Output Rate (FORT) between corifollitropin alfa (CFA) and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS).

Study Design: This retrospective analysis compared FORT between women treated with CFA or rFSH from three clinical trials: ENGAGE (N = 1476; ages 18-36, >60 kg), ENSURE (N = 395; ages 18-36, ≤60 kg), and PURSUE (N = 1388; ages 35-42, ≥50 kg). Women underwent COS in a GnRH antagonist protocol followed by hCG trigger prior to IVF.

Pembrolizumab in patients with programmed death ligand 1-positive advanced ovarian cancer: Analysis of KEYNOTE-028.

Objective: To evaluate safety, tolerability, and antitumor activity of pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-expressing advanced ovarian cancer enrolled in the multicohort, phase Ib KEYNOTE-028 trial.

Methods: Key inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years; advanced ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma; failure of previous therapy; and tumor PD-L1 positivity. Patients received pembrolizumab (10 mg/kg every 2 weeks) for ≤24 months or until disease progression/intolerable toxicity.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: A Review of Form and Function in the Treatment of Infertility.

The use of gonadotropin therapy, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), represents an indispensable part of fertility treatment. There are a number of FSH preparations commercially available or in development, including both urinary-derived products (urinary-derived FSH [uFSH]) and FSH produced through recombinant techniques (recombinant FSH [rFSH]). Differences in the glycosylation patterns of FSH give rise to a number of naturally occurring isoforms that may differ functionally.

Assessing ovarian response: antral follicle count versus anti-Müllerian hormone.

Oocyte number and quality decline with age; however, fertility varies significantly even among women of the same age. Various measures have been developed to predict response to ovarian stimulation and reproductive potential. Evaluation of ovarian reserve can identify patients who may experience poor response or hyper-response to exogenous gonadotrophins and can aid in the personalization of treatment to achieve good response and minimize risks.

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.

The role of peripheral gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors in female reproduction.

Objective: To review the physiologic functions and clinical significance of peripheral GnRH receptors.

Design: Literature review. All peer-reviewed journal articles published before 2010 on peripheral GnRH receptors were searched for in the Pubmed database, and relevant findings were summarized.

A novel mutation of HOXA13 in a family with hand-foot-genital syndrome and the role of polyalanine expansions in the spectrum of Müllerian fusion anomalies.

Objective: To report a novel mutation found in a family with hand-foot-genital syndrome (HFGS). To characterize the genetic basis of true HFGS versus presence of non-HFGS-related uterovaginal septa.

Design: Case-control study.

Natural cycle cryo-thaw transfer may improve pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To compare natural vs. hormone replacement treatment (HRT) for cryo-thaw embryo transfer cycles in patients with frozen embryos from previous ART.

Design And Settings: Retrospective chart review of 164 patients (242 cycles) who underwent natural or HRT cryo-thaw embryo transfer between January 2002 and April 2005.

Effects of long-acting recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone analogs containing N-linked glycosylation on murine folliculogenesis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of two novel long-acting rhFSH analogs, rhFSH-N2 and rhFSH-N4, in stimulating murine folliculogenesis.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Academic research environment.

Severe hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis following hormone replacement prior to cryothaw transfer.

Purpose: A case of acute pancreatitis with severe hypertriglyceridemia occurred following use of intramuscular estradiol valerate during endometrial preparation for cryopreserved embryos.

Methods: A 30-year-old woman with primary infertility and a past history of well-controlled hypothyroidism, underwent endometrial development with intramuscular estradiol valerate in preparation for the transfer of cryopreservred embryos.

Results: Initial hospitalization, discontinuation of all estrogens, aggressive intravenous fluid hydration, and initiation of low-fat diet with additional gemfibrozil treatment resulted in complete resolution of all symptoms related to the pancreatitis including the hyperlipidemia.