First custom next-generation sequencing infertility panel in Latin America: design and first results.

Objective: To present the development of the first custom gene panel for the diagnosis of male and female infertility in Latin America.

Methods: We developed a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel that assesses genes associated with infertility. The panel targeted exons and their flanking regions.

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging of uterus and fallopian tubes in female infertility.

Noninvasive imaging techniques play an important role in the female infertility diagnostic algorithm. In this review article, a description of the diagnostic performance and potential clinical value of both computerized tomographic virtual hysterosalpingography (CT-VHGS) and magnetic-resonance virtual hysterosalpingography (MR-VHSG) is made, describing for both techniques, to guarantee the best possible diagnostic outcome, patient preparation and normal and principal pathologic findings. Both noninvasive diagnostic imaging modalities improve the diagnostic confidence in identification of the specific cause of female infertility.

Correlation between Cytoplamic Oocyte Maturation and Chromosomal Aneuploidies - Impact on fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy.

Objective: To establish the relationship between oocyte cytoplasmic maturation and its chromosomal status and determine the effect of this feature over the reproductive outcome in patients with sub-optimal fertilization in ART.

Methods: Fifty couples who underwent ART were selected. From nineteen patients, 22 metaphase II-MII and 18 failed-fertilized oocytes after ICSI were studied.

Vitrification versus slow freezing for women undergoing oocyte cryopreservation.

Background: Oocyte cryopreservation is a technique with considerable potential in reproductive medicine, including  fertility preservation, as a way of delaying childbearing and as part of oocyte donation programs. Although the technique was relatively ineffective at first more recently numerous modifications have led to higher success rates.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and safety of vitrification and slow freezing as oocyte cryopreservation techniques for fertility outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Changes in DNA fragmentation during sperm preparation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection over time.

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.

Virtual hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of bicornuate versus septate uterus.

Objective: To study the value of virtual hysterosalpingography (VHSG) in the diagnosis of bicornuate vs. septate uterus.

Design: Retrospective study of all cases with bicornuate or septate uterus that had VHSG during the last 3 years at our center.

A shared egg donor program: which is the minimum number of oocytes to be allocated?

Purpose: To evaluate which is the minimum number of oocytes to be allocated to each recipient in a shared egg donor program.

Methods: We analyzed 953 recipients that received at least 4 metaphase II (MII) oocytes in the period 2006-2008. We retrospectively divided the recipients according to the number of MII oocytes actually received.

Healthy baby born after reduction of sperm DNA fragmentation using cell sorting before ICSI.

Magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) with annexin V microbeads recognizes externalized phosphatidylserine (PS) residues on the surface of apoptotic spermatozoa. The successful use of this novel technique applied to a highly apoptotic semen sample before performing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is reported here. The use of annexin V microbeads for selecting non-apoptotic spermatozoa seems to reduce the percentage of altered cells, improving the chance of pregnancy after ICSI.

64-Row multidetector CT virtual hysterosalpingography.

Objective: To illustrate the large variety of pathologies found on 64-row computed tomographic (CT) virtual hysterosalpingography (CT-VHSG) in the evaluation of the female reproductive tract in infertile patients.

Material And Methods: We prospectively evaluated CT datasets from 209 patients with diagnosis of infertility. CT-VHSG was performed with a 64-row CT scanner using 64 x 0.

Clinical use of 64-row multislice computed tomography hysterosalpingography in the evaluation of female factor infertility.

Objective: To evaluate the potential clinical value of 64-row multislice computed tomography hysterosalpingography (MSCT-H) in the evaluation of female patients with a diagnosis of infertility and compare it with the use of standard X-ray hysterosalpingography (HSG).

Design: Comparative prospective study.

Setting: Outpatient Imaging Diagnostic Centre, Diagnóstico Maipú, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a university-affiliated fertility institute (Centro de Estudios en Ginecología y Reproducción, Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Multidetector computed tomography virtual hysterosalpingography in the investigation of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of multidetector CT virtual hysterosalpingography (MDCT-VH) with conventional X-ray hysterosalpingography (HSG) in the evaluation of patients with diagnosis of infertility.

Methods: Sixty patients with diagnosis of infertility scheduled to perform a HSG, were evaluated with 16-row (n=50) and 64-row (n=10) MDCT-VH. In 35 patients the examination was performed without a tenaculum.

Virtual hysteroscopy by multidetector computed tomography.

Currently accepted techniques that evaluate the uterus and female reproductive system in the infertility workup algorithm include hysterosonography, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography. Based on high speed multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) which can acquire high-quality volumetric data of the pelvic region in a single brief scan, MDCT virtual hysteroscopy is proposed as a developing, non-invasive alternative diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of uterine pathology and other gynecologic disorders. Findings of the technique are illustrated.

Preliminary experience with a low-cost stimulation protocol that includes letrozole and human menopausal gonadotropins in normal responders for assisted reproductive technologies.

A low-cost stimulation protocol that includes letrozole and hMG in normal responders for assisted reproductive technologies resulted in a satisfactory ongoing pregnancy rate.