Are testicular sperms superior to ejaculated sperms in couples with previous ART failure due to high rate of fragmented embryos? A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The aim was to clarify whether using testicular sperm reduces embryo fragmentation and improves cycle outcomes.

Methods: Fragmented embryo was defined as an embryo in which fragments account for more than one third of the embryonic surface area. High rate of fragmented embryos was defined by a proportion of fragmented embryos higher than 50%.

A novel solution for freezing individual spermatozoa using a right angular cryopiece embedded in a grooved petri dish.

Herein, we introduced a novel individual sperm freezing device named SpermCD, which consists of a right angular cryopiece (RA-Cryopiece, or "C") and a grooved petri dish ("D"). SpermCD allows embryologists to transfer sperm and perform ICSI on the same focal plane. Thirty-five patients underwent single sperm cryopreservation using SpermCD, including four patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), 14 patients with virtual azoospermia and 17 patients with cryptozoospermia.

Slow freezing should not be totally substituted by vitrification when applied to day 3 embryo cryopreservation: an analysis of 5613 frozen cycles.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare slow freezing (SF) and vitrification (VT) techniques for day 3 embryo cryopreservation in infertile couples.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 5613 infertile patients, with 7862 frozen-thawed day 3 embryos and 3845 vitrified-warmed day 3 embryos, from 2010 to 2014, at a single center. The rates of embryo survival, pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, live birth, and live birth weight were compared between the two groups.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Fertilization Rate Does Not Depend on the Proportion of Round-headed Sperm, Small-acrosomal Sperm, or Morphologically Normal Sperm in Patients with Partial Globozoospermia.

Background: Generally, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be the preferable method to treat partial globozoospermia, but whether there exist some correlations between ICSI fertilization rate and the proportion of round-headed sperm or morphologically normal sperm remains open. This study was to explore the correlation between ICSI fertilization rate and the sperm morphology in patients with partial globozoospermia.

Methods: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with partial globozoospermia accepted the following assisted fertilization treatments - 2 cases accepted in-vitro fertilization (IVF) alone, 26 cases accepted ICSI alone, and 6 accepted split IVF/ICSI.

Expression and Distribution of Calcium-Binding Protein S100P in Human Placenta during Pregnancy.

Background: S100P is a member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, and it participates in pathophysiological events, such as tumor growth and invasion. Based on the striking similarities between trophoblast cells and tumor cells with regard to proliferative and invasive properties, we raised the question of whether and how S100P expresses in trophoblast cells during development. This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern of S100P in the human placenta during pregnancy development.

Characteristics of nonylphenol and bisphenol A accumulation by fish and implications for ecological and human health.

Fish populations constitute an important part of aquatic ecosystems. Thus, their accumulation of nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) may pose risks to ecosystems and human health. This study analyzed the concentrations of NP and BPA in four types of fishes (i.

Fertility-preserving treatment and pregnancy outcomes in the early stage of endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: This study aimed to review the available literature on fertility-preserving treatment and pregnancy outcomes in patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma who desired to preserve their fertility.

Data Sources: The PubMed database (1992-2012) was searched for the words "conservative "OR" fertility sparing "OR" fertility preserving" AND "endometrial neoplasms" (MeSH). All relevant articles in English and the relevant references were collected.

The potential role of water quality parameters on occurrence of nonylphenol and bisphenol A and identification of their discharge sources in the river ecosystems.

Nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) have attracted great attention due to their estrongenic activities and occurrence in different environments. This study investigated concentrations of NP and BPA in water and sediments of 16 major rivers in Taiwan to determine their association with water quality parameters on their distribution. The sources of NP and BPA discharged into river environments were also identified.

Outcome of conservative treatment and subsequent assisted reproductive technology for patients with early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and poor fertility potential.

Conservative treatment with high doses of progestin is an alternative to standard hysterectomy for young patients with early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma who desire to preserve their fertility. Here we report a patient with well-differentiated early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and poor fertility potential who failed to become pregnant in two in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles and suffered a relapse after conservative treatment. This case illustrates that assessment of fertility potential is critical at the time of initial evaluation and conservative treatment planning for patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Three-dimensional cultures of human endometrial cells on Matrigel mimic in vivo morphology.

Background: The regulation of endometrial physiology and morphogenesis by the paracrine effectors has been well established using in vivo studies. A more complete understanding of the endometrial function has been delayed due, in part, to a lack of appropriate culture models. In this study, we aimed to simulate the in vivo three-dimensional (3-D) growth pattern of endometrial cells using a 3-D in vitro culture system.

[Risk factors associated with twin pregnancy in double embryo transfer].

Objective: To explore the risk factors associated with twin pregnancy in double embryo transfer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 2970 double embryo transfer cycles, including 1984 cycles of fresh embryo transfer and 986 cycles of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). Multiple factor Logistic regression was used.

[Analysis of low-quality embryo transfer strategy in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycle].

Objective: To investigate the transfer strategy of low-quality embryo in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 621 IVF-ET cycles under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, including 574 fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles (Group T1) and 47 frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) as the first ET cycles (Group C1). Logistic regression was used to model the probability of clinical pregnancy rate based on the cycle-specific factors.

Maintenance of early pregnancy without early hormone support after frozen-thawed embryo transfer in hormone replacement treatment cycles.

Objective: To report two successful pregnancies after frozen-thawed ET in discontinued hormone replacement treatment cycles.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University hospital.

[Fertilizing ability, cleavage potential and inheritance risk of globozoospermia].

Objective: To explore the fertilizing ability, cleavage potential and inheritance risks of globozoospermia.

Methods: A globozoospermic patient was diagnosed by sperm morphological staining and transmission electron microscope. From his wife the investigators obtained 26 oocytes in which 6 oocytes were donated and the other 19 (in 20) MII oocytes injected into 19 round-headed sperms.

CFTR is essential for sperm fertilizing capacity and is correlated with sperm quality in humans.

Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is important for capacitation and male fertility in mouse and guinea pig spermatozoa. However, the exact function of CFTR on human sperm fertilizing capacity, and correlation with sperm quality has not been established. The present study may shed light on some unexplained male infertility, and on a possible new method for diagnosis of male infertility and strategy for male contraception.

[Comparison between the results of ICSI with fresh and with frozen-thawed sperm obtained by PESA to treat azoospermia].

Objective: Retrospective study of the results of ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm insemination) with frozen sperm obtained by PESA (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration) was performed in 27 patients.

Methods: With conventional freezing method, sperm from diagnosing PESA and the remaining motile sperm after treating cycle were frozen. After frozen-thawed and ICSI process, fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate were compared and other outcomes including pregnant combinations and parameters of newborns of experimental group (which used frozen-thawed sperm) and control group (which used fresh PESA sperm) were analyzed respectively.