Non-invasive Embryo Assessment: Altered Individual Protein Profile in Spent Culture Media from Embryos Transferred at Day 5.

In order to improve ART outcome, non-invasive embryo assessment is gaining more and more attention. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the consecutive implantation potential via the secretome between blastocysts with or without implantation and to analyse possible interactions between these differentially expressed proteins. In this prospective study, 69 spent culture media from blastocysts transferred at day 5 were collected from patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in a single IVF centre between April 2015 and November 2018 after informed consent and analysed individually.

Intraindividual Embryo Morphokinetics Are Not Affected by a Switch of the Ovarian Stimulation Protocol Between GnRH Agonist vs. Antagonist Regimens in Consecutive Cycles.

The impact of controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) during medically assisted reproduction (MAR) on human embryogenesis is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated if early embryonic development is affected by the type of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog used to prevent a premature LH surge. We compared embryo morphology and morphokinetics between GnRH agonist and antagonist cycles, both involving human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-trigger.

Serum levels of Pentraxin 3 differ significantly at the time of blastocyst transfer depending on implantation success: a pilot study.

Objective: Many approaches try to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms to detect new potential biomarkers for successful artificial reproductive therapies. One factor has been described as a possible regulator of inflammation during implantation: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), which seems to be essential for female fertility on one hand, but whose overexpression has been described in many obstetric complications based on abnormal placentation on the other hand. Therefore, we investigated if serum levels of PTX3 at the time of embryo transfer differ between women with an ongoing pregnancy compared to those without implantation.

Randomized, open trial comparing a modified double-lumen needle follicular flushing system with a single-lumen aspiration needle in IVF patients with poor ovarian response.

Study Question: Is a modified double-lumen aspiration needle system with follicular flushing able to increase the mean oocyte yield by at least one in poor response IVF patients as compared to single-lumen needle aspiration without flushing?

Summary Answer: Follicular flushing with the modified flushing system did not increase the number of oocytes, but increased the procedure duration.

What Is Known Already: Most studies on follicular flushing were performed with conventional double-lumen needles in patients who were normal responders. Overall, these studies indicated no benefit of follicular flushing.

Self-operated endovaginal telemonitoring: a prospective, clinical validation study.

Objective: To study the comparability of self-operated endovaginal telemonitoring (SOET) with conventional two-dimensional transvaginal sonography (2D-TVS) monitoring during assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.

Design: Single center, observational, single-blinded cohort study.

Setting: University-affiliated in vitro fertilization center.

Plants Release Precursors of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors to Suppress Growth of Competitors.

To secure their access to water, light, and nutrients, many plant species have developed allelopathic strategies to suppress competitors. To this end, they release into the rhizosphere phytotoxic substances that inhibit the germination and growth of neighbors. Despite the importance of allelopathy in shaping natural plant communities and for agricultural production, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown.