Fetal mitochondrial DNA in maternal plasma in surrogate pregnancies: Detection and topology.

Objectives: Due to the maternally-inherited nature of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), there is a lack of information regarding fetal mtDNA in the plasma of pregnant women. We aim to explore the presence and topologic forms of circulating fetal and maternal mtDNA molecules in surrogate pregnancies.

Methods: Genotypic differences between fetal and surrogate maternal mtDNA were used to identify the fetal and maternal mtDNA molecules in plasma.

Mechanical zona pellucida removal of vitrified-warmed human blastocysts does not affect the clinical outcome.

Research Question: Does complete mechanical removal of the zona pellucida modify the outcome of transfer of vitrified-warmed human blastocysts?

Design: In a prospective randomized controlled study, 419 couples were allocated to either zona pellucida-free (n = 209) or zona intact (n = 210) vitrified-warmed embryo transfer. Main outcome measures included clinical pregnancy, implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates.

Results: Transfer of zona pellucida-free blastocysts resulted in clinical pregnancy, implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates (35,9%, 33,9% and 32,1%, respectively), similar to those achieved with zona intact control embryos (39%, 36,4% and 33,1%, respectively).

A multicenter, randomized, phase III study comparing the efficacy and safety of follitropin alpha biosimilar and the original follitropin alpha.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic equivalence between the follitropin alpha biosimilar and the reference medication in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Study Design: This multicenter, randomized (1:1), embryologist-blinded, parallel-group, comparative phase III study involved 110 women aged 20-35 years old with tubal and/or male factors of infertility. All of the subjects underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol.