Publications by authors named "Miguel Angel Checa"

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive value of serum AMH for clinical pregnancy in non-infertile population undergoing intrauterine insemination with donor sperm (ds-IUI).

Methods: This multicenter prospective study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06263192) recruited all non-infertile women undergoing ds-IUI from June 2020 to December 2022 in three different fertility clinics in Spain and Chile.

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The transmission of DNA through extracellular vesicles (EVs) represents a novel genetic material transfer mechanism that may impact genome evolution and tumorigenesis. We aimed to investigate the potential for vertical DNA transmission within maternal endometrial EVs to the pre-implantation embryo and describe any effect on embryo bioenergetics. We discovered that the human endometrium secretes all three general subtypes of EV - apoptotic bodies (ABs), microvesicles (MVs), and exosomes (EXOs) - into the human endometrial fluid (EF) within the uterine cavity.

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Article Synopsis
  • Endometrial receptivity is a key area of research in assisted reproduction, focusing on how to optimize the timing of embryo transfers.
  • Fertility clinics use tests that analyze gene expression to determine each woman's unique 'window of implantation' for personalized treatment.
  • Despite the growing interest, there’s still no clear consensus on the necessity of these tests for infertile couples or those with repeated implantation failures.
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Thrombophilia is a group of inherited or acquired coagulation disorders that have been associated with reproductive failure. However, there are still no clear recommendations on whether its inclusion in the initial study of the infertile couple or patients with recurrent implantation failure is necessary. In this discussion paper, based on a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, the different aspects of the repercussions of thrombophilia screening and treatment in reproduction are evaluated.

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Objective: Unexplained infertility is a relevant indication for controlled ovarian stimulation associated to intrauterine insemination. The "step-up" and "step-down" gonadotropin-based protocols were designed to reduce multiple pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome patients, but there is no related evidence in normoovulatory women undergoing intrauterine insemination. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and safety of both protocols with intrauterine insemination in unexplained infertility patients.

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Background: There is evidence to suggest that long term exposure to air pollution could be associated with decreased levels of fertility, although there is controversy as to how short term exposure may compromise fertility in IVF patients and what windows of exposure during the IVF process patients could be most vulnerable.

Methods: This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of acute exposure that air pollution have on reproductive outcomes in different moments of the IVF process. Women undergoing IVF living in Barcelona were recruited.

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This systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of observational studies reports on perinatal outcomes after frozen embryo transfer (FET). The aim was to determine whether natural cycle frozen embryo transfer (NC-FET) in singleton pregnancies conceived after IVF decreased the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared with artificial cycle frozen embryo transfer (AC-FET). Thirteen cohort studies, including 93,201 cycles, met the inclusion criteria.

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Second-generation preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A 2.0) in patients with an unfavourable reproductive and IVF prognosis is becoming common practice, with the aim of improving reproductive outcomes. However, there is still no clear evidence on the possible advantages and drawbacks with regard to this procedure.

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: Controversial results exist on mid-term effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy on hypertension remission. The aim of the present systematic review was to study 5-year hypertension remission after both procedures. One-year hypertension remission and SBP and DBP pressure change at 1 and 5 years after both surgical techniques were also evaluated.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the results of ART treatment in patients with and without endometriosis in a large cohort of patients from different centers over an extented period of time.

Methods: This retrospective study is using data from patients undergoing 27,294 cycles of IVF/ICSI treatment between 1995 and 2011 that were registered in the database of the Latin American Registry maintained by the Latin America Network of Assisted Reproduction.

Results: The mean number of retrieved oocytes was higher in the control group, but the mean number of metaphase II oocytes was similar.

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Background: Endometriosis has been described to impair fertility through various mechanisms. However, studies evaluating the reproductive outcomes of women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies show controversial results. The aim of this study is to assess whether the reproductive outcome is impaired among women with endometriosis-associated infertility undergoing IVF.

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Unlabelled: Exposure to air pollution has been clearly associated with a range of adverse health effects, including reproductive toxicity, but its effects on male semen quality are still unclear. We performed a systematic review (up to June 2016) to assess the impact of air pollutants on sperm quality. We included 17 semi-ecological, panel, and cohort studies, assessing outdoor air pollutants, such as PM2.

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Purpose: To establish a ratio of the P level to the number of follicles (P/F ratio) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and to evaluate whether this ratio is associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome.

Methods: This study was conducted between January 2012 and June 2013. A total of 337 patients with cleavage-stage day-3 fresh embryo transfer with P levels ≤1.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate whether women who conceive with donor sperm have an increased risk of preeclampsia compared with those who use their partner's sperm. Studies that compared women who were impregnated by donor and partner sperm were included. The main outcomes assessed were preeclampsia and gestational hypertension rates.

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The aim of our study is to determine whether alcohol consumption affects the results of in vitro fertilization. A review of the literature was performed to find prospective cohort studies of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization in which alcohol intake was recorded. A primary search returned 389 studies, 2 of which were finally considered eligible.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to compare histologic findings and clinical outcomes of women up to 25 years with a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) compared to women older than 25 years.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-three women up to 25 years and 245 women older than 25 years with HSIL, diagnosed from June 1991 to September 2008, were examined and treated following the official Spanish guidelines. Colposcopic and histologic findings and needs for treatment were recorded, and patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months.

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Objective: To compare the DNA fragmentation of semen samples established by terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) after incubation in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) for different time periods.

Design: Comparative prospective study.

Setting: Center for reproductive medicine.

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Purpose: To determine whether the use of Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) as a sperm selection technique improves ART success rates in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective randomized trials. Two reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction independently.

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Objective: To examine the available evidence to assess if cryopreservation of all embryos and subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET) results in better outcomes compared with fresh transfer.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Centers for reproductive care.

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Unlabelled: Study Type - Aetiology (case series).

Level Of Evidence: 4. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Oxidative stress seems to be one of the biochemical causes of defective sperm function.

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In this observational, case-control study in infertile women, we observed elevated serum oxidative stress that was significantly correlated with an increase in serum paraoxonase-1 activity and without any evidence of a proinflammatory reaction. These results suggest a protective role of paraoxonase-1 against inflammation in this clinical setting.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most frequent endocrine diseases, affects approximately 5%-10% of women of childbearing age and constitutes the most common cause of female sterility regardless of the need or not for treatment, a change in lifestyle is essential for the treatment to work and ovulation to be restored. Obesity is the principal reason for modifying lifestyle since its reduction improves ovulation and the capacity for pregnancy and lowers the risk of miscarriage and later complications that may occur during pregnancy (gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, etc). When lifestyle modification is not sufficient, the first step in ovulation induction is clomiphene citrate.

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