Effect of parental and ART treatment characteristics on perinatal outcomes.

Study Question: Do parental characteristics and treatment with ART affect perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies?

Summary Answer: Both parental and ART treatment characteristics affect perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies.

What Is Known Already: Previous studies have shown that singleton pregnancies resulting from ART are at risk of preterm birth. ART children are lighter at birth after correction for duration of gestation and at increased risk of congenital abnormalities compared to naturally conceived children.

The preconception diet is associated with the chance of ongoing pregnancy in women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment.

Background: Subfertility and poor nutrition are increasing problems in Western countries. Moreover, nutrition affects fertility in both women and men. In this study, we investigate the association between adherence to general dietary recommendations in couples undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment and the chance of ongoing pregnancy.

Use rate and assisted reproduction technologies outcome of cryopreserved semen from 629 cancer patients.

Objective: To assess the use rate and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcome of the cryopreserved semen of cancer patients with an average follow-up of 7 years (range, 2-23 years).

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: University-affiliated andrology and reproduction center.

Oocytes in the empty follicle: a controversial syndrome.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and etiology of the empty follicle syndrome (EFS).

Design: Observational longitudinal study.

Setting: Tertiary fertility centers.

Human embryonic stem cells: towards therapies for cardiac disease. Derivation of a Dutch human embryonic stem cell line.

Cell transplantation is being discussed as a potential therapy for multiple disorders caused by loss or malfunction of single or at most a few cell types. These include diabetes, Parkinson's disease and myocardial infarction or cardiac failure. However, it is not yet clear whether cells from adult tissues ('adult stem cells') or embryos ('embryonic stem cells') will prove to be the most appropriate replacement cells; most likely, each disease will have its own preferred source.