Our daily helplessness: its presence and experience in the outpatient operation room of the Assisted Reproduction Clinic.

Objective: To identify the feeling of helplessness in assisted reproduction patients, along with the experience in the out patient surgical center of an assisted reproduction clinic.

Methods: A prospective study of care and psychological interventions performed in the outpatient surgical center (OSC) of the assisted reproduction clinic from January 2019 to December 2022. Patients are first seen by the nursing staff.

Vitamin D levels in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment: lack of association with embryo quality or pregnancy rates.

Objective: To investigate the potential impact of vitamin D (VD) serum levels on couples going through in vitro fertilization treatment in terms of embryo quality and pregnancy rates.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A private human reproduction center.

Vaginal micronized progesterone on preventing luteinizing hormone untimely surge in ART cycles: A prospective proof-of-concept study.

Objective: A new approach to evaluate whether Progestin-Primed Ovarian Stimulation with micronized vaginal progesterone was as effective as using dydrogesterone in suppress LH pulse surge in young women under stimulation in an oocyte donor programme.

Methods: This prospective study included 21 patients aged 19 to 32 years-old stimulated with Elonva® 150, associated or not with Menopur® or Merional® (75 or 150IU) since the beginning of the cycle, plus HMG 150-225IU after the 8th day or just HMG 150-300IU per day. Patients were placed in a PPOS protocol with micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) 200 mg (Gynpro® Exeltis or Junno Farmoquimica) every 12 hours or dydrogesterone (Duphaston® Abbott) 10 mg every 8 hours from the start of stimulation until the day after the GnRH trigger with Triptorelin 0.

Vitamin D and follicular recruitment in the in vitro fertilization cycle.

Objective: Vitamin D (VD) is a fat-soluble steroid hormone, synthesized by the skin, most known for its role in bone mineral balance. Vitamin D receptors (VDR) are also found in the female reproductive system, but their role remains unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the number of oocytes retrieved after ovarian stimulation.

Metabolomic analysis of follicular fluid from women with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease characterized by hypothyroidism and a high level of anti-thyroid autoantibodies. It has shown to negatively impact female fertility; however, the mechanisms are unclear. Ovarian follicular fluid appears to be the key to understanding how Hashimoto thyroiditis affecst fertility.

Pasteurized milk quality in Brazil: a cross-sectional study over five years.

This research communication delineates the quality of pasteurized cow milk sold in Brazil from 2015 to 2020. A cross-sectional study was performed gathering 1749 samples, which were evaluated for microbiological and physicochemical parameters, including spp., total and thermotolerant coliforms, freezing point, alkaline phosphatase and lactoperoxidase.

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Reduces the Severity of COVID-19 in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: HIV-positive patients on tenofovir hydroxyl fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine have a lower risk of COVID-19 and hospitalization than those given other treatments. Our aim was to analyze the severity of COVID-19 in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on TDF or entecavir (ETV).

Methods: Spanish hospital databases (n = 28) including information regarding adult CHB patients on TDF or ETV for the period February 1st to November 30th 2020 were searched for COVID-19, defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction, and for severe COVID-19.

Efficient Cross-Correlation Filtering of One- and Two-Color Single Molecule Localization Microscopy Data.

Single molecule localization microscopy has become a prominent technique to quantitatively study biological processes below the optical diffraction limit. By fitting the intensity profile of single sparsely activated fluorophores, which are often attached to a specific biomolecule within a cell, the locations of all imaged fluorophores are obtained with ∼20 nm resolution in the form of a coordinate table. While rendered super-resolution images reveal structural features of intracellular structures below the optical diffraction limit, the ability to further analyze the molecular coordinates presents opportunities to gain additional quantitative insights into the spatial distribution of a biomolecule of interest.

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk in hepatitis C stage-3 fibrosis after sustained virological response with direct-acting antivirals.

Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C and stage 3 fibrosis are thought to remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virological response. We investigated this risk in a large cohort of patients with well-defined stage 3 fibrosis.

Methods: We performed a multicentre, ambispective, observational study of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response after treatment with direct-acting antivirals started between January and December 2015.

Evaluation of follicular flushing with double lumen needle in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatments.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible impact of follicular flushing on the number of oocytes retrieved and oocytes in metaphase II in patients with poor ovarian response (POR) compared to direct aspiration.

Methods: This prospective, comparative, randomized single center study included 208 punctures of patients with POR, submitted to assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatments. Two groups were compared; one in which double lumen needles were used (Wallace DNS1733) for follicular flushing (n=105), and one in which single lumen needles were used (Wallace ONS1733) for direct aspiration (n=103), upon the observation of ≤ 5 follicles between 15-17 mm, ≤ 4 follicles with sizes greater than 18 mm on hCG day, and ≤ 7 recovered oocytes.

Postprandial lipemia causes oxidative stress in dogs.

Oxidative stress (OS) has been strongly associated with postprandial lipemia (PPL) in humans, and still requires further investigation in dogs. However, since lipemia interferes with spectrophotometric determinations such as those used to assess OS, the present study investigated the effect of PPL on OS parameters of healthy dogs. Twenty dogs had lipemic postprandial samples compared to the average of two non-lipemic moments.

Estradiol and Progesterone Levels are Related to Redox Status in the Follicular Fluid During Fertilization.

Studies have reported a possible association between the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in follicular fluid (FF) and infertility treatment outcomes. FF analysis can provide important information about oocyte quality. This study aimed to evaluate the possible correlation between oxidative stress biomarker and intrafollicular hormone levels and clinical and laboratory parameters in women during controlled ovarian stimulation.

Psychological Intervention in the Oocyte Pick-up Room and Recovery Room in Assisted Reproduction: new listening accounts.

Objective: This study seeks to identify the role and possible participation of a psychologist/psychoanalyst inside an Oocyte Pick-up Room and Recovery Room (OPR-RR) in an Assisted Reproduction clinic and its implications on patients and team.

Methods: Prospective study of psychological support during the procedures from September 2014 to December 2018. Most visits took place during oocyte retrievals, for either IVF/ICSI or gamete freezing.

Precisely calibrated and spatially informed illumination for conventional fluorescence and improved PALM imaging applications.

Spatial light modulation using cost efficient digital micromirror devices (DMD) is finding broad applications in fluorescence microscopy due to the reduction of phototoxicity and bleaching and the ability to manipulate proteins in optogenetic experiments. However, precise illumination by DMDs and their application to single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) remained a challenge because of non-linear distortions between the DMD and camera coordinate systems caused by optical components in the excitation and emission path. Here we develop a fast and easy to implement calibration procedure that determines these distortions and matches the DMD and camera coordinate system with a precision below the optical diffraction limit.

Bladder hematoma: a complication from an oocyte retrieval procedure.

Introduction: More than one million fertilization cycles are performed every year. The incidence of serious complications associated with transvaginal oocyte pick-up is low, but the procedure is not risk-free. Risks are inherent to procedures in which thin needles and sharp instruments are introduced into the vaginal wall and ovarian capsule to access the ovaries.

Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphism Is Associated With Reduced Follicle Number in Women Utilizing Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

Purpose: Calcitriol, or 1,25-hydroxycholecalciferol, is the active form of vitamin D. It binds and activates vitamin D receptor (VDR). Infertility and defective folliculogenesis have been observed in female knockout mice; however, whether polymorphisms affect human ovarian responses to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) remains unclear.

Incidence and risk factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance failure.

Background And Aim: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) intends to detect tumors at an early stage to improve survival. The study aims were to assess the frequency and risk factors associated with HCC surveillance failure.

Methods: The study analyzed data from 188 consecutive patients diagnosed with HCC within a surveillance program conducted among 1,242 cirrhotic patients and based on ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing every 3 or 6 months.

Lower follicular fluid vitamin D concentration is related to a higher number of large ovarian follicles.

Vitamin D receptor-knockout mice fail to produce mature oocytes, indicating vitamin D is crucial for folliculogenesis in mice. However, the actions of vitamin D during folliculogenesis remain unknown. This prospective study aimed to assess whether follicular fluid (FF) vitamin D (25OHD3) concentrations are related to specific responses to ovarian stimulation.

Vaginismus in Assisted Reproductive Technology Centers: an invisible population in need of care.

Objective: Genital and sexual pain is still neglected. Consequences may be dramatic, since infertility and sexual dysfunction may be reciprocally linked. This is the first study to focus on the identification of cases of vaginismus in the ART scenario and on the introduction of intra-cycle interventions as part of a comprehensive, integrated and patient-centered perspective.

High Progesterone levels in the beginning of ICSI antagonist cycles and clinical pregnancy: still a concern?

Objective: In controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using antagonist cycles, an incomplete luteolysis could happen after an inefficient previous luteolysis. Since antagonist cycles are frequent today, this study aims to access the impact of serum progesterone in the beginning and at the end of stimulation, and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: single-center cohort study, 461 fresh embryo transfers in ICSI antagonist cycles.

Prediction of metaphase II oocytes according to different serum Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in antagonist ICSI cycles.

Objective: This paper aims to assess a qualitative aspect of ovarian response in terms of metaphase II oocytes according to different serum Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in antagonist ICSI cycles. A prediction index might contribute to the individualization of care.

Methods: This observational study looked into 287 antagonist ICSI cycles carried out with patients treated in a single center between January of 2012 and January of 2016.