Intra-individual variation of sperm DNA fragmentation in the Human ejaculate.

This retrospective study assessed the biological intra-individual variability of the percentage of sperm with DNA damage (SDF) observed in subsequent ejaculates of the same individual. Variation in SDF was analyzed using the Mean Signed Difference (MSD) statistic based on 131 individuals, comprising 333 ejaculates. Either two, three or four ejaculates were collected from each individual.

Decreased Expression of Sam68 Is Associated with Insulin Resistance in Granulosa Cells from PCOS Patients.

Background And Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex metabolic disorder associated with ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, obesity, and insulin resistance, which leads to subfertility. PCOS is the most frequent metabolic disorder in women and the major cause of infertility. Susceptibility to developing PCOS is determined by a complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors.

GPX3 Overexpression in Cumulus Cells Entails a Poor Prognosis for Uterine Implantation of Morphotype A Embryos.

Morphological embryo quality is an accurate prognostic tool for the success of assisted reproduction implantation, although complete certainty cannot be guaranteed. The transcriptome of the cumulus cells could be monitored as a faithful reflex of the physiological state of the oocytes, given the molecular crosstalk between both types of cells. Here, we compare the expression of specific genes related to oocyte competence, such as hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2), cell division control protein 42 (CDC42), connexin 43 (CX43), and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3), in cumulus cells from implanted versus non-implanted embryos in 25 women, using RT-qPCR.

DNase activity in human seminal plasma and follicular fluid and its inhibition by follicular fluid chelating agents.

Research Question: What is the mechanism by which human follicular fluid inhibits seminal plasma DNase activity?

Design: Human genomic DNA was incubated with human follicular fluid and seminal plasma (reaction mixture) under different experimental conditions; increasing volumes of human follicular fluid; proteinase K digested or heat inactivated human follicular fluid; and the addition of Ca or Mg to the reaction mixture.

Results: Increasing volume of human follicular fluid resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of seminal plasma DNase activity. Inhibition was not caused by proteins in the human follicular fluid as digestion with proteinase K or heat inactivation of human follicular fluid failed to abolish its inhibitory effect.

Co-incubation of spermatozoa with human follicular fluid reduces sperm DNA fragmentation by mitigating DNase activity in the seminal plasma.

Purpose: To examine the effect of co-incubating spermatozoa with human follicular fluid (HFF) on the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation.

Methods: This prospective study used semen (n = 23) and HFF from oocyte donors (n = 23). Liquified semen was divided into four aliquots: (1) neat semen (NEAT), (2) seminal plasma removed and replaced with sperm media (HTF) containing 0% (FF0), (3) 20% (FF20), or (4) 50% (FF50) HFF.

Magnetic-activated cell sorting is not completely effective at reducing sperm DNA fragmentation.

Purpose: To determine whether there is a homogeneous reduction of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) in sperm samples recovered from the MACS procedure, compared to spermatozoa in the initial ejaculate (NEAT) and those retained in the column.

Methods: This study investigated the relative change in sperm DNA quality (SDF) of neat ejaculates (10 idiopathic infertile and 10 normozoospermic patients) to subpopulations of spermatozoa that had passed through the column (MACS-) and those retained (MACS+) by the annexin-V conjugated microbeads.

Results: While the MACS protocol was capable of reducing the mean proportion of SDF (59.

The Effect of Copper on Endometrial Receptivity and Induction of Apoptosis on Decidualized Human Endometrial Stromal Cells.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been widely used to prevent pregnancies with great efficacy during decades. It has been demonstrated that IUD alters the endometrial gene expression, but there is no scientific data about how copper, a metal commonly used in these devices, by itself, is able to influence the processes of endometrial receptivity and apoptosis in decidualized human endometrial stromal cells. Five endometrial samples were obtained from fertile women and processed by a standard protocol to obtain human endometrial stromal cells for in vitro studies.

Comparison of two different dosage of GnRH agonist as ovulation trigger in oocyte donors: a randomized controled trial.

Objective: To compare the results obtained with two different GnRH agonist dosages: 0.3mg versus 0.4mg to trigger ovulation in oocyte donor cycles.

Live birth after replacement of an embryo obtained from a spontaneously in vitro matured metaphase-I oocyte.

This case report describes a live birth after the fresh replacement of an embryo obtained from a spontaneously in vitro matured oocyte. The patient was subjected to controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment, obtaining two oocytes. One was found to be immature at the time of denudation, at metaphase-I.

Magnetic cell sorting of semen containing spermatozoa with high DNA fragmentation in ICSI cycles decreases miscarriage rate.

This retrospective cohort study investigated whether reproductive outcome could be improved in couples presenting with a high level of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) by treating the ejaculate with the magnetic cell sorting (MACS) sperm selection procedure in combination with prior density gradient centrifugation (DGC). Only men presenting with ≥30% sperm DNA in the ejaculate were included because these patients can be potentially treated with MACS to reduce the proportion of sperm presenting DNA damage. In total, 305 couples were included in this study, and from these, 216 women underwent autologous ICSI (AUTO-ICSI), whereas the remaining 89 participated in oocyte donor ICSI (DONOR-ICSI).

Hydroxypropyl cellulose supplementation in vitrification solutions: a prospective study with donor oocytes.

Purpose: Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a polysaccharide that forms a viscous gel under low temperatures, is a promising substitute of the blood-derived macromolecules traditionally used in cryopreservation solutions. The performance of a protein-free, fully synthetic set of vitrification and warming solutions was assessed in a matched pair analysis with donor oocytes.

Methods: A prospective study including 219 donor MII oocytes was carried out, comparing the laboratory outcomes of oocytes vitrified with HPC-based solutions and their fresh counterparts.

Thermal and clinical performance of a closed device designed for human oocyte vitrification based on the optimization of the warming rate.

Although it was qualitatively pointed out by Fahy et al. (1984), the key role of the warming rates in non-equillibrium vitrification has only recently been quantitatively established for murine oocytes by Mazur and Seki (2011). In this work we study the performance of a closed vitrification device designed under the new paradigm, for the vitrification of human oocytes.

Comparison of reproductive outcome in oligozoospermic men with high sperm DNA fragmentation undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection with ejaculated and testicular sperm.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using testicular sperm as a strategy to overcome infertility in men with high sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).

Design: Prospective, observational, cohort study.

Setting: Private IVF centers.

[Nurses as a support to improve the quality of life during assisted reproduction].

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure how infertility and assisted reproduction treatments (including artificial insemination) could affect the quality of life, and to evaluate how nurses could be helpful in this process, by alleviating anxiety and increasing the quality of life.

Method: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 48 patients (26 cycles) in an Assisted Reproduction Unit from 2nd December 2013 to 30th April 2014. Socio-demographic data were obtained, with the quality of life being assessed using the FertiQoL questionnaire before and after the treatment, and the consultations with a nurse by telephone or e-mail of these patients were also analyzed.

The influence of placental perfusion on birthweight in women with gestational diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of both uterine and umbilical arteries Doppler pulsatility indexes (PI) and metabolic control on birthweight in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods: One hundred sixty-nine women with gestational diabetes were evaluated. Doppler measurements of umbilical artery and mean uterine arteries PI were recorded and the corresponding Z-score values by gestational age calculated.

Increased pregnancy after reduced male abstinence.

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that continuous epididymal sperm depletion after recurrent ejaculations (REC) in contrast to a period of abstinence (ABS) results in a decreased level of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and a consequent increased rate of pregnancy. Forty couples undergoing intra-cytoplasmic injection (ICSI) were asked to abstain from ejaculation for a period of 4 days and then ejaculate once per day for a period of 4 days, followed by a period of abstinence for 12 hours; sperm samples obtained after ABS and REC were assessed for volume, concentration, motility, and SDF and compared in 25 of the patients. Additionally, and in a different experiment, the pregnancy rate of this experimental group (40 couples) was compared to a control group of 150 couples in which the males had abstained from ejaculation for 4 days prior to ejaculation.

Shorter abstinence decreases sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation in ejaculate.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between duration of sexual abstinence and sperm selection on sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).

Design: Prospective study based on normozoospermic individuals.

Setting: Fertility and IVF unit and university unit for research.

Two sets of monozygotic twins after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and transfer of two embryos on day 2.

Objective: To report a case of quadruple gestation (two sets of monozygotic twins) after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and transfer of two embryos.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Tertiary clinical and academic medical center.