Empowering nurses and midwives: the evidence-base for the Nurses and Midwives Certification Programme of ESHRE†.

Study Question: How were the logbook and curriculum for the Nurses and Midwives Certification Programme of ESHRE developed?

Summary Answer: The logbook and corresponding curriculum for the ESHRE Nurses and Midwives Certification Programme were based on an extensive literature review, an international expert panel, and a survey of Belgian and Dutch nurses and midwives (N&M) working in reproductive medicine (RM).

What Is Known Already: ESHRE has been running a certification programme for N&M working in RM since 2015. To the best of our knowledge, clinical practice guidelines for nursing/midwifery care within RM are lacking as is consensus on role descriptors of N&M working in RM.

Exploring Photoswitchable Binding Interactions with Small-Molecule- and Peptide-Based Inhibitors of Trypsin.

The ability to photochemically activate a drug, both when and where needed, requires optimisation of the difference in biological activity between each isomeric state. As a step to this goal, we report small-molecule- and peptide-based inhibitors of the same protease-trypsin-to better understand how photoswitchable drugs interact with their biological target. The best peptidic inhibitor displayed a more than fivefold difference in inhibitory activity between isomeric states, whereas the best small-molecule inhibitor only showed a 3.

Successful controlled ovarian stimulation and vitrification of oocytes in an adolescent diagnosed with myelodysplastic/pre-malignant clone with monosomy 7.

An improvement in long-term outcomes for malignancies and non-malignant conditions, together with a review of the NICE Guideline, has led to a need to provide clinical services to deal with the sequelae of disease, its treatment, and subsequent survival of young people diagnosed with cancer. In this article, we describe fertility preservation in an adolescent female diagnosed with Myelodysplastic/pre-malignant Clone with Monosomy 7 with pathophysiology like that of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) with known genetic markers in the tumour cells. We used random start controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) leading to oocyte collection and vitrification of metaphase II oocytes.

Cytotoxic Glycosylated Fatty Acid Amides from a Stelletta sp. Marine Sponge.

We have discovered new glycosylated fatty acid amides, stellettosides, from a Stelletta sp. marine sponge. They were detected through LC-MS analysis of the extract combined with the cytotoxicity assay of the prefractionated sample.

Qualitative website analysis of information on birth after caesarean section.

Background: The United Kingdom (UK) caesarean section (CS) rate is largely determined by reluctance to augment trial of labour and vaginal birth. Choice between repeat CS and attempting vaginal birth after CS (VBAC) in the next pregnancy is challenging, with neither offering clear safety advantages. Women may access online information during the decision-making process.

Counselling in the context of fertility and cancer: some sociological insights.

Guidelines issued by a number of bodies highlight the importance of providing information on fertility for young adults receiving a cancer diagnosis. However, previous research has established that provision is uneven and even when information is available, counselling may not be offered. This paper draws on interviews with 15 professionals and 30 younger adults (17-39 years) following a diagnosis of cancer at one tertiary referral centre.

Factors affecting decision making about fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study.

Objective: To increase our understanding of factors underlying the decision to store gametes after the diagnosis of cancer.

Design: Qualitative interview study.

Setting: Andrology, Haematology, and Oncology Departments of a Scottish teaching hospital, and patients' own homes.

Synthesis and conformation of fluorinated β-peptidic compounds.

Experimental and theoretical data indicate that, for α-fluoroamides, the F-C-C(O)-N(H) moiety adopts an antiperiplanar conformation. In addition, a gauche conformation is favoured between the vicinal C-F and C-N(CO) bonds in N-β-fluoroethylamides. This study details the synthesis of a series of fluorinated β-peptides (1-8) designed to use these stereoelectronic effects to control the conformation of β-peptide bonds.

Toward developing a training pathway for fertility nurses: report of the 2010 training and educational survey.

Fertility nursing and its role extension has increasingly been referred to as 'specialist' or 'advanced nursing practice'. Nevertheless, Government initiatives have prompted a review of 'Advanced Nursing Practice' and the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) has taken steps to address the disparity of roles, job titles, training and competence of nurse practitioners, concluding that advanced nursing practice should be subject to revalidation in the same way as professional registration. Fertility nurses form an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.

'Not taken in by media hype': how potential donors, recipients and members of the general public perceive stem cell research.

Background: Views of embryo donors, scientists and members of the general public on embryonic stem cell research (eSCR) have been widely reported. Less is known about views of potential beneficiaries of stem cell therapy and the influence of media 'hype' on perceptions of eSCR among different groups of stakeholders. This study aimed to examine the perceptions of members of the general public as well as two patient groups likely to benefit from eSCR and to explore the role of the media in shaping these views.

hESCCO: development of good practice models for hES cell derivation.

One response of the UK research community to the public sensitivity and logistical complexity of embryo donation to stem cell research has been the formation of a national network of 'human embryonic stem cell coordinators' (hESCCO). The aim of hESCCO is to contribute to the formation and implementation of national standards for hES cell derivation and banking, in particular the ethical protocols for patient information and informed consent. The hESCCO project is an innovative practical intervention within the broader attempt to establish greater transparency, consistency, efficiency and standardization of hES derivation in the UK.

Safety versus success in elective single embryo transfer: women's preferences for outcomes of in vitro fertilisation.

Objective: To assess whether women waiting to undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF) view adverse outcomes associated with twin pregnancy as more desirable than having no pregnancy at all.

Design: Women's preference values for five adverse birth outcomes associated with twin pregnancy were compared with their preference value for treatment failure (TF), i.e.

Debate: do upper age limits need to be imposed on women receiving assisted reproduction treatment?

The inability of local National Health Service trusts to uniformly provide assisted reproduction technology (ART) services has resulted in what has come to be known as a 'postcode lottery'. Older women and those with responsibility for children at home, often have to fund their own treatment. Recently, with the birth of babies to much older women, the mass media have debated whether those past menopausal age should be helped to achieve a pregnancy in this way.

Research as a therapeutic experience? An investigation of women's participation in research on ending IVF treatment.

Background: Women participate in research for many reasons, some of them therapeutic. This paper retrospectively analyses women's motivations for participating in a study on decision making at the end of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Methods: A mixed methods study conducted by a practising midwife had focused on women's experiences of stopping IVF treatment after one or more unsuccessful attempts, and raised awareness of women's motivations for participating.

Qualitative research in fertility and reproduction: Does it have any value?

Quantitative researchers may argue that a finding or result is more likely to be accepted as a fact if it is quantified (expressed in numbers), than if it is not (Black, 1994). 'There is little or no scientific evidence, for example to support the well-known "fact" that one couple in 10 is infertile, yet most of us are happy to accept uncritically such simplified, reductionist, and blatantly incorrect statements, so long as they contain at least one number' (Greenhalgh & Taylor, 1997, p. 740).

Ending in-vitro fertilization: women's perception's of decision making.

This study was undertaken to assess patient satisfaction with the decision making process as well as with the decision made at the end of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Couples who had decided to end treatment after unsuccessful IVF at a single hospital within the last 24 months were invited to complete a questionnaire. Valid questionnaires were returned by 71 (51%) out of a total of 139 couples.

A qualitative study of women's decision-making at the end of IVF treatment.

Background: The decision not to pursue further in vitro fertilization (IVF) after one or more unsuccessful attempts is an important and often difficult one for couples. Relatively little is known about the woman's perception of this decision-making process. The aim of this study was to examine patients' perspectives of decision-making, including circumstances influencing it and satisfaction with the decision-making process.