Dynamics of IGF Signaling During the Ovulatory Peak in Women Undergoing Ovarian Stimulation.

Context: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling is known to affect human ovarian follicular function during growth and development. However, the role of the IGF system is unknown during the ovulatory peak, which is characterized by profound changes in granulosa cell (GCs) mitosis and function.

Objective: How is the IGF system expressed and regulated during the midcycle surge in women?

Methods: Follicular fluid (FF) and GCs were collected during the ovulatory peak from 2 specific time points.

[Not Available].

This review describes the current evidence regarding the putative indications of letrozole (LTZ) in fertility treatment. Prior to intrauterine insemination, LTZ is recommended in women with normogonadotrophic oligo-anovulation. In ovulatory women, LTZ is equal to clomiphene and may be used instead of exogenous gonadotrophin.

Midkine characterization in human ovaries: potential new variants in follicles.

Objective: To characterize the growth factor midkine (MDK) in the human ovary to determine whether MDK is produced locally within the ovary, examine whether different ovarian cell types are more likely to produce MDK, and determine whether there are any stage-specific variations during follicle growth. Previous studies have revealed that MDK potentially affects human follicle growth and oocyte maturation. Proteomic analyses in follicular fluid (FF) have identified MDK to functionally cluster together and follow a similar expression profile to that of well-known proteins involved in ovarian follicle development.

Future potential of in vitro maturation including fertility preservation.

In several mammalian species, oocytes from small antral follicles after in vitro maturation (IVM) are successfully used for procreation. Humans are the exception, mainly because of limited access to immature oocytes and because oocyte maturation is uniquely regulated in women. With the introduction of cryopreservation of the ovarian cortex for fertility preservation, immature oocytes from small antral follicles in the medulla are now available for developing IVM on the basis of actual human studies.

Proteome of fluid from human ovarian small antral follicles reveals insights in folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation.

Study Question: Is it possible to identify by mass spectrometry a wider range of proteins and key proteins involved in folliculogenesis and oocyte growth and development by studying follicular fluid (FF) from human small antral follicles (hSAF)?

Summary Answer: The largest number of proteins currently reported in human FF was identified in this study analysing hSAF where several proteins showed a strong relationship with follicular developmental processes.

What Is Known Already: Protein composition of human ovarian FF constitutes the microenvironment for oocyte development. Previous proteomics studies have analysed fluids from pre-ovulatory follicles, where large numbers of plasma constituents are transferred through the follicular basal membrane.

Ovarian stimulation and assisted reproductive technology outcomes in women transplanted with cryopreserved ovarian tissue: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review reproductive outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in women transplanted with frozen-thawed ovarian tissue.

Design: Systematic review in accordance with guidelines from Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA).

Setting: Not applicable.

Progressive changes in human follicular fluid composition over the course of ovulation: quantitative proteomic analyses.

Follicular fluid (FF) acts as a vehicle for paracrine signalling between somatic cells of the follicle and the oocyte. To investigate changes in the protein composition of FF during ovulation, we conducted a prospective cohort study including 25 women undergoing fertility treatment. Follicular fluid was aspirated either before or 12, 17, 32 or 36 h after induction of ovulation (five patients per time point).

Human granulosa cells function as innate immune cells executing an inflammatory reaction during ovulation: a microarray analysis.

Ovulation has been compared to a local inflammatory reaction. We performed an in silico study on a unique, PCR validated, transcriptome microarray study to evaluate if known inflammatory mechanisms operate during ovulation. The granulosa cells were obtained in paired samples at two different time points during ovulation (just before and 36 hours after ovulation induction) from nine women receiving fertility treatment.

Time from referral to ovarian tissue cryopreservation in a cohort of Danish women.

Introduction: Young women with a cancer diagnosis often have very little time to decide whether or not to commence fertility-preserving strategies before initiating potentially sterilizing cancer treatment. Minimizing the interval from opting for fertility preservation to completion of the procedure will reduce the potential risk of delaying cancer treatment. In the current study, we have evaluated the period of time from referral to ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) to actual freezing of the tissue in a cohort of Danish women.

Establishment of ultrasound as a diagnostic aid in the referral of patients with abdominal pain in an emergency department - a pilot study.

Purpose: Ultrasonography is a noninvasive, cheap, and fast way of assessing abdominal pain in an emergency department. Many physicians working in emergency departments do not have pre-existing ultrasound experience. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of first-year internship doctors to perform a reliable ultrasound examination on patients with abdominal pain in an emergency setting.