The adverse effects of vitrification on mouse embryo development and metabolic phenotype in offspring.

Embryo vitrification is a standard procedure in assisted reproductive technology. Previous studies have shown that frozen embryo transfer is associated with an elevated risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to explore the effects of mouse blastocyst vitrification on the phenotype of vitrified-warmed blastocysts, their intrauterine and postnatal development, and the long-term metabolic health of the derived offspring.

Combined Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex class of endocrine disorders with insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia, and obesity. However, the pathogenesis and therapies of PCOS have not been fully elucidated. Exosomal miRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers and therapies for a wide range of medical conditions.

Overexpression of Lin28a induces a primary ovarian insufficiency phenotype via facilitation of primordial follicle activation in mice.

Lin28a is an RNA binding protein and increasing evidence has indicated its role in regulating female fertility. Lin28a has been reported to be involved in ovarian follicle activation. However, its role and mechanisms in regulating primordial follicle activation have not yet been explored.

A pilot study of pre-operative misoprostol in reducing operative blood loss during hysterectomy.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a single pre-operative dose of sublingual misoprostol on reducing blood loss in abdominal hysterectomies performed for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas.

Study Design: A cohort of 64 women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of sublingual 400 mcg misoprostol (n=32) or placebo containing 20mg vitamin B(6) (n=32) 30 min before the operation. The primary outcome was the operative blood loss.

[Effect of human oviductal embryotrophic factors on gene expression of mouse preimplantation embryos].

Objective: To investigate the effect of embryotrophic factors (ETF) from human oviductal cells on gene expression of mouse early developmental embryos and discuss the role of fallopian tube in early development of embryos.

Methods: ETF was isolated from conditioned medium of human oviductal cell line by sequential liquid chromatographic systems. Mouse embryos were treated by ETF in vitro.

Effect of pituitary downregulation on antral follicle count, ovarian volume and stromal blood flow measured by three-dimensional ultrasound with power Doppler prior to ovarian stimulation.

Background: Despite the extensive use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists (GnRH ag) for pituitary downregulation, the literature regarding their effect on ultrasound parameters for predicting ovarian responses are few and conflicting. The aim of this prospective study was to compare antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume and ovarian stromal blood flow measured by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound before and after pituitary downregulation.

Methods: All patients received a long protocol of intranasal Buserelin from the mid-luteal phase of the cycle.

A rapid decline in serum oestradiol concentrations around the mid-luteal phase had no adverse effect on outcome in 763 assisted reproduction cycles.

Progesterone is essential in the luteal phase whereas luteal oestradiol may play only a permissive role on the endometrium. However, a rapid decline in oestradiol concentrations around the mid-luteal period may compromise the endometrial integrity leading to poor IVF outcomes. A retrospective analysis of 763 women aged <40 years undergoing their first IVF cycle and having < or =3 embryos replaced was undertaken.