Significant reduction in left testicular volume shown by ultrasonography in infertile patients with left-side grade 2-3 varicocele as compared to less than grade 2: An evidence for indication of varicocelectomy.

Purpose: Testicular volume (TV) is known to be one of the main parameters for testicular function (TF). This study was conducted to re-evaluate the indications of a varicocelectomy based on a survey of preoperative TV results in left-side varicocele patients considered to reflect the detrimental effects of a varicocele on TF.

Methods: TV results of infertile patients determined using ultrasonography by a single expert physician were retrospectively evaluated.

Application of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) for detecting sperm-immobilizing antibody.

Problem: Since the 1970s, anti-sperm antibodies have been studied as a pathogenic factor contributing to infertility. The complement-dependent sperm-immobilization test (SIT) and quantitative SIT have been used as effective tools for detecting anti-sperm antibodies in clinical settings. These tests have been carried out traditionally by manually counting the number of motile sperm through eye estimation.

Dual Positive Regulation of Embryo Implantation by Endocrine and Immune Systems--Step-by-Step Maternal Recognition of the Developing Embryo.

In humans, HCG secreted from the implanting embryo stimulates progesterone production of the corpus luteum to maintain embryo implantation. Along with this endocrine system, current evidence suggests that the maternal immune system positively contributes to the embryo implantation. In mice, immune cells that have been sensitized with seminal fluid and then the developing embryo induce endometrial differentiation and promote embryo implantation.

Mitochondrial DNA copy number in cumulus cells is a strong predictor of obtaining good-quality embryos after IVF.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish a simple tool to predict good-quality embryos in in vitro fertilization (IVF) by using cumulus cells (CCs) or peripheral blood cells (PBCs).

Methods: Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from CCs and PBCs in patients undergoing IVF. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, mtDNA copy number in a single cell was calculated.

Birth of healthy neonates after intracytoplasmic injection of ejaculated or testicular spermatozoa from men with nonmosaic Klinefelter's syndrome: a report of 2 cases.

Background: Klinefelter's syndrome is one of the major causes of azoospermia, cryptozoospermia and severe oligozoospermia with either a nonmosaic (47,XXY) or mosaic (47,XXY/46,XY) ICSI treatment with cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa failed, but after the third attempt, 6 of 8 oocytes injected with cryopreserved sperm were fertilized and karyotype. Men with Klinefelter's syndrome generally have difficulty having children.

Cases: Patient 1 had motile spermatozoa in the ejaculate, which were injected into 3 oocytes, resulting in fertilization and cleavage.

A digital method of sperm immobilization test: comparison to the conventional method.

Antisperm antibodies have been found in infertile patients and those causing immobilization of sperm are considered to be closely related to unexplained infertility. These antibodies are usually identified by a sperm immobilization test which involves counting motile sperm under microscope. This test is subjective as it relies on the judgement of the examiner with respect to sperm motility.

Infertile women without sensitization to an appropriate amount of sperm do not produce sperm-immobilizing antibodies in their sera.

The factors that affect sperm immobilizing antibody production in some women are not fully understood. This study was performed to investigate if production of sperm immobilizing antibodies in women is associated with their husbands' sperm count. The sperm immobilization test (SIT) was performed on 221 infertile women whose husbands had normal semen characteristics according to the criteria by WHO; 160 patients were treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) because of poor semen characteristics, and 1013 virgin female children acted as the controls.

Prevention of multiple pregnancies by restricting the number of transferred embryos: randomized control study.

Introduction: The high incidence of multiple pregnancies is a major concern in the treatment of infertility by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Risks and costs are associated with multiple pregnancies and it is important to find a way to decrease multiple pregnancies. The standard protocol for IVF includes the transfer of two or three embryos.

Diagnostic laparoscopy in infertility: a retrospective study.

Study Objective: To evaluate the role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and therapy of infertility.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Academically affiliated reproductive endocrinology practice.

Contraceptive potential of synthetic peptides of zona pellucida protein (ZPA).

Previously, we produced a fertilization-blocking monoclonal antibody (MAb-5H4) to find a candidate peptide for a contraceptive vaccine. MAb-5H4 recognized a linear amino acid sequence of ZPA (No. 50-67) in pigs, humans and rabbits.