How Does Background Music Affect Dining Duration, Tips and Bill Amounts in Restaurants? A Field Experiment.

Influences from external factors can affect decision-makers, preventing them from making decisions in a fully rational manner. Music may serve as one such influential factor in this context. Music is part of our daily lives, and we are exposed to music in numerous places.

Outcomes of BRCA pre-implantation genetic testing according to the parental mutation origin: a cohort study.

Background: The process of gamete formation and early embryonic development involves rapid DNA replication, chromosome segregation and cell division. These processes may be affected by mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate BRCA mutation inheritance and its effect on early embryonic development according to the parental origin of the mutation.

Fertility preservation for women with ovarian endometriosis: results from a retrospective cohort study.

Research Question: What is the outcome of fertility-preservation treatments in women with endometrioma, especially those with endometrioma larger than 4 cm?

Design: Retrospective cohort study. Women with definitive diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis (by histology or ultrasound), who underwent fertility-preservation treatment in two IVF units between 2016 and 2021, were included. As some women cryopreserved oocytes and other embryos, the primary outcome was the number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes retrieved.

Clinical pregnancy rates among anovulatory and oligoovulatory women after letrozole versus hormone replacement therapy in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

This cohort study investigated whether letrozole versus hormone replacement therapy (HRT) results in higher live birth rate among anovulatory and oligoovulatory women in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. It was conducted from 1st February 2018 to 31st January 2019 and included 261 anovulatory and oligoovulatory women. Since letrozole has become an effective alternative to HRT cycles, 121 patients received letrozole in 121 cycles from 1st February 2018 to 31st January 2019 and were compared to 140 HRT FET cycles among 140 women from 1st February 2017 to 31st January 2018.

You are not in the army now! A field study on the impact of a Preparation for Civilian Life program on young soldiers.

Recent years have seen the implementation of educational programs aimed at developing future orientation and better employability skills, mostly for people new to or returning to the job market. In a field study, we investigated the impact of a 5-day program on reintegration to civilian life on young Israeli combat soldiers' time preferences, gratitude, patriotism, and perceptions of their combat experience. Questionnaires administered before and after the program revealed a positive effect on future orientation but a negative effect on gratitude and perceptions of the combat experience.

The effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the subjective well-being of the Israeli population-monitored phase by phase.

The paper examined the effect of the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 on the cognitive and affective components of subjective well-being (SWB) over time in Israel. Just before the first verified patient, we ran a survey of the general population that included questions concerning both components of SWB, self-rated health, income satisfaction, and other socio-demographic aspects. The same survey among different respondents from the same population during the lockdown period when no exit strategy had been conveyed, and for the third time when the exit strategy was publicized and began to be implemented.

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist triggering for maturation cycles.

The objective was to evaluate the outcomes of maturation (IVM) cycles using gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-ag) triggering. A retrospective cohort of IVM cycles from January 2015 to December 2019 in a single university-affiliated centre was examined. Main outcome measures were: (i) IVM maturation rate; and (ii) IVM maturation result.

Does fresh single embryo transfer outcome predict the result of a subsequent vitrified-warmed blastocyst of the same cohort?

Reflecting the current trends, the utilization of frozen-thawed transfer cycles has been steadily increasing worldwide; outcome predictors of these cycles are therefore a major research goal. Our aim was to investigate whether the outcome of a fresh single blastocyst transfer (SBT) can serve as a prognostic factor for the subsequent vitrified-warmed SBT originating from the same cohort. A retrospective cohort study was performed at a single unit.

Repeated GnRH agonist doses for luteal support: a proof of concept.

Research Question: What are the safety and feasibility of repeated subcutaneous doses of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist for luteal support in IVF cycles triggered by a GnRH agonist?

Design: In this prospective trial, patients exhibiting oestradiol concentrations of over 2500 pg/ml after use of a GnRH agonist for triggering ovulation were initially randomized to GnRH agonist luteal support (0.1 mg subcutaneously every other day, starting on day 3 after embryo transfer) or to a control group supported by 80 µg of recombinant human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) on day 3 after embryo transfer. All patients underwent a day 5 blastocyst transfer.

Does stress affect IVF outcomes? A prospective study of physiological and psychological stress in women undergoing IVF.

Research Question: What are the effects of physiological and psychological stress on fertility outcomes for women undergoing IVF?

Design: A prospective cohort study of 72 patients undergoing IVF in 2017 and 2018. Physiological stress was assessed by salivary cortisol measurements: (i) pretreatment, when the patient received the IVF protocol; (ii) before oocyte retrieval (follicular cortisol was also measured); and (iii) before embryo transfer. Emotional stress was evaluated at each assessment with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a 1-10 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, referred to as the 'Stress Scale'.

Fresh transfer of Day 5 slow-growing embryos versus deferred transfer of vitrified, fully expanded Day 6 blastocysts: which is the optimal approach?

Study Question: In IVF cycles in which the entire embryo cohort is slow growing, is it optimal to perform fresh transfer in Day 5 or to extend the culture and transfer in subsequent vitrified-warmed cycles?

Summary Answer: The outcomes depend on the degree of embryo development on Day 5.

What Is Known Already: Slow-growing blastocysts have lower implantation potential when transferred in fresh cycles. It has been suggested that embryo-endometrial asynchrony could explain this finding.

Oocyte Donation From Donor Older Than 35 Years. Is It Worth Trying?

Introduction: Due to several reasons, in some countries commercial oocyte donation is not possible. Accordingly, patients should find their own donors who may be over 35 years. The aim of this study was to compare the results of oocyte donation from donors <35 years (young donors) and donors ≥35 years old (older donors).

Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio and platelets to lymphocytes ratio in pregnancy: A population study.

Background: Neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR) are both inflammatory ratios that can be easily calculated from a simple blood count. They are frequently reported and tested as prognostic factors in several medical disciplines. Pregnancy involves special reference values for laboratory assays.

Cumulative live birth rate following elective single blastocyst transfer compared with double blastocyst transfer in women aged 40 years and over.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify predictive factors for live birth following blastocyst transfer in women aged 40-43, and to compare the cumulative live birth rate (LBR) following elective single blastocyst (eSBT) and double blastocyst (DBT) transfer. The study included 411 women who had fresh blastocyst transfers on day 5. In stepwise logistic regression, independent predictive factors for live birth were: transferring fully expanded blastocysts (Gardner stage ≥3) (odds ratio [OR] 3.

Predictive value of serum HCG concentrations in pregnancies achieved after single fresh or vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer.

Possible differences between serum HCG levels in pregnancies achieved after transfer of a single fresh or a vitrified-warmed blastocyst were evaluated. Out of 1130 single blastocyst transfers resulting in positive HCG results, 789 were single fresh blastocyst transfers and 341 single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfers. The initial serum HCG levels of 869 clinical intrauterine pregnancies were evaluated, 638 after the transfer of a single fresh blastocysts and 231 after the transfer of a single vitrified-warmed blastocysts.

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies conceived after preimplantation genetic diagnosis: cohort study and meta-analysis.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) may pose risks to pregnancy outcome owing to the invasiveness of the biopsy procedure. This study compares outcome of singleton and twin clinical pregnancies conceived after fresh embryo transfers of PGD (n = 89) and matched intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancies (n = 166). The study was carried out in a single university affiliated centre.

What we learned from extended culture of 'rejected' day-3 cleavage stage embryos: a prospective cohort study.

Background: To test whether poor quality day-3 embryos can undergo successful blastulation and implantation.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Whether or not a good quality embryo was transferred on day-3, poor quality (rejected) embryos were further cultured and followed.

Reproductive outcomes after a single dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist compared with human chorionic gonadotropin for the induction of final oocyte maturation in hyper-responder women aged 35-40 years.

Objective: To investigate the reproductive outcomes after the use of GnRH agonist (GnRHa) compared with hCG for the induction of final oocyte maturation in GnRH antagonist cycles performed in hyper-responder women aged 35-40 years.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Academic fertility center.

Vitrified-warmed single-embryo transfers may be associated with increased maternal complications compared with fresh single-embryo transfers.

Cryopreservation of embryos allows single-embryo transfer and storage of supernumerary embryos, maximizing cumulative pregnancy rates. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to compare pregnancy outcome in singletons born after fresh or vitrified-warmed single blastocyst transfer (SBT). Singleton live births resulting from SBT of fresh or vitrified-warmed embryos were compared.

Can we alter pregnancy outcome by adjusting progesterone treatment at mid-luteal phase: a randomized controlled trial.

Our study aimed to determine whether mid-luteal serum P concentrations can serve as a predictive factor for in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes and whether increasing P dosage for patients with low levels at mid-luteal phase may improve pregnancy rates. It was a prospective, randomized controlled study. A total of 146 patients undergoing IVF treatment were prospectively enrolled and received routine luteal phase support (LPS) regimen of Endometrin® (progesterone) 200 mg/day.

The role of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in non-male factor infertility in advanced maternal age.

Study Question: Does ICSI improve reproductive outcomes compared with conventional IVF when used for non-male factor infertility in women aged 40 years and over?

Summary Answer: There is no advantage of ICSI over conventional IVF in women aged 40 years and over when used for non-male factor infertility.

What Is Known Already: The use of ICSI has increased dramatically in recent years and is being applied for indications other than male factor infertility. Currently, ICSI is used in 65% of IVF cycles in Europe and in 76% of cycles in the USA.

Reproductive outcomes of familial oocyte donation.

Objective: Oocyte donation (OD) from a family member may be more available to patients. Our objective was to compare reproductive outcomes of familial OD with those of unrelated OD.

Design: Retrospective cohort study in a single university-affiliated center.

A comparison between r-LH and urinary supplements containing LH activity in patients undergoing the microdose GnRH agonist flare protocol for in-vitro fertilization: a pilot study.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare pregnancy rates and stimulation parameters in patients with diminished ovarian reserve, who were treated with recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-LH) or menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), as part of a microdose flare protocol.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Comparisons between the group that was stimulated with r-LH plus follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to those treated with hMG and FSH, were performed.