NOTCH1- and CD117-Positive Stem Cells in Human Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Lesions.

Adenomyosis and endometriosis are distinct gynecological disorders characterized by ectopic growth of endometrial tissue. Their etiology remains unclear, but stem cells have been implicated in both. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the quantity of NOTCH1+ and CD117+ stem cells in endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions.

Cumulus matrix selection leads to isolation of spermatozoa with better motility, morphology, and lower DNA fragmentation.

The objective of this study was to compare the motility, morphology, and levels of DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa subjected to conventional swim-up or cumulus matrix (CM) sperm selection. Semen samples were collected from 60 normozoospermic men at a private hospital between December 2021 and March 2022. After liquefaction, semen samples were separated into two portions - one part was subjected to conventional swim-up preparation and the remaining spermatozoa were subjected to CM selection.

Sperm selection by zona adhesion improves assisted reproductive treatment outcomes.

Background: Zona pellucida is one of the main selective barriers for the spermatozoa before reaching the oocyte. Using native zona in the sperm selection prior to Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) has been proven effective but inconvenient approach in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) laboratory. The application of autologous solubilised zonae pellucidae in the sperm selection prior to ICSI has not been studied yet.

Pathomorphological Diagnostic Criteria for Focal Cortical Dysplasias and Other Common Epileptogenic Lesions-Review of the Literature.

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) represents a heterogeneous group of morphological changes in the brain tissue that can predispose the development of pharmacoresistant epilepsy (recurring, unprovoked seizures which cannot be managed with medications). This group of neurological disorders affects not only the cerebral cortex but also the subjacent white matter. This work reviews the literature describing the morphological substrate of pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

NOTCH1- and CD117-positive stem cells in human endometrium and their implications for successful implantation.

Objective: To investigate the quantity of 2 stem cell types in the endometrial stroma of women undergoing in vitro fertilization and their association with steroid hormone signaling and implantation success after embryo transfer.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Private hospital.

Endometrial immune cell ratios and implantation success in patients with recurrent implantation failure.

The objective of this study was to compare the endometrial immune cells quantities and ratios during the mid-luteal phase between women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) with successful and unsuccessful embryo implantation. For this purpose, endometrial biopsies from 116 women aged between 29 and 46 with history of RIF undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) without endometrial pathologies were immunohistochemically stained for CD3 + T-cells, CD4 + T-helpers, CD8 + T-killers, CD14 + monocytes, CD68 + macrophages, CD56 + NK cells and CD79α+ B-cells. Endometrial immune cells quantities and ratios were compared based on the embryo implantation outcome in the subsequent embryo transfer cycle.

Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Miscarriage in the Second Trimester: Report of an Immunohistochemically Proven Case.

It is an acknowledged fact that SARS-CoV-2 exhibits tropism for the human placenta. A possible mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells is via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, which are expressed in trophoblasts, endothelial cells, and macrophages. The present study describes a case of spontaneous miscarriage in the 20th gestational week after maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation after zona pellucida selection.

Unlabelled: Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and sperm morphological defects can negatively affect ART outcomes. Consequently, there is a need for additional semen processing technique that accounts for sperm DNA status and morphology prior to ICSI. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of an additional zona pellucida adhesion-based sperm selection for obtaining sperm populations with a high percentage of normal morphology and DNA integrity as compared to native semen and routine swim-up preparation.

Decreased number of p16-positive senescent cells in human endometrium as a marker of miscarriage.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the number of p16-positive cells in the functional layer of the endometrium could be a useful biomarker to identify women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) at risk of miscarriage.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed in 311 endometrial biopsies taken during mid-luteal phase using antibody against p16. The percentage of p16-positive cells was determined in luminal, glandular and stromal endometrial cells.

Hysteroscopy and female infertility: a fresh look to a busy corner.

Hysteroscopy has evolved from the traditional art of examining the uterine cavity for diagnostic purposes to an invaluable modality to concomitantly diagnose and (see and) treat a multitude of intrauterine pathologies, especially in the field and clinics specialising in female reproduction. This article reviews the literature on the most common cervical, endometrial, uterine and tubal pathologies such as chronic endometritis, endometrial polyps, adenomyosis, endometriosis, endometrial atrophy, adhesions, endometrial hyperplasia, cancer, and uterine malformations. The aim is to determine the efficiency of hysteroscopy compared with other available techniques as a diagnostic and treatment tool and its association with the success of in vitro fertilisation procedures.

Unbalanced human embryos secrete more hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG-H) than balanced ones.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of hyperglycosylated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-H) secreted from balanced and unbalanced human embryos.

Methods: Single-step culture media samples from 155 good quality embryos, derived from 90 good prognosis patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), were collected on the fifth day of embryo cultivation. All embryos were tested by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique.

Impact of sperm characteristics on time-lapse embryo morphokinetic parameters and clinical outcome of conventional in vitro fertilization.

Background: Sperm abnormalities may negatively affect embryo development.

Objectives: To determine the influence of sperm abnormalities (morphology, motility, DNA fragmentation) on embryo morphokinetic variables and clinical outcome of conventional IVF.

Materials And Methods: Participants were 86 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Superhydrophobic Soot Coated Quartz Crystal Microbalances: A Novel Platform for Human Spermatozoa Quality Assessment.

The functionality of human spermatozoa is a key factor for the success rate of natural human reproduction, but unfortunately the infertility progressively increases due to multifarious environmental factors. Such disquieting statistics requires the employment of sophisticated computer-assisted methods for semen quality analysis, whose precision, however, is unreliable in cases of patients with low sperm concentrations. In this study, we report a novel quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) based biosensor for in-situ quality assessment of male gametes, comprising a superhydrophobic soot coating as an interface sensing material.