Effects of Panax ginseng, zearalenol, and estradiol on sperm function.

Background: Estrogen signaling pathways are modulated by exogenous factors. Panax ginseng exerts multiple activities in biological systems and is classified as an adaptogen. Zearalenol is a potent mycoestrogen that may be present in herbs and crops arising from contamination or endophytic association.

Impact of kudzu and puerarin on sperm function.

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of kudzu (Pueraria mirifica) and the isoflavone puerarin in functional toxicological tests on spermatozoa and to assess the affinity of extracts and pure isoflavones for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and -beta (ERα, ERβ) in receptor binding assays. Capacitation, acrosome reaction and chromatin decondensation in spermatozoa were analyzed using microscopic analysis. Kudzu, but not puerarin, reduced motility of sperm.

Accu-Beads as a quality control measure for manual and automated methods of measuring sperm concentration-an observational study.

Purpose: To determine the precision and accuracy of Accu-Beads and their utility as a quality control product for manual and automated measurements of sperm concentration.

Methods: This observational study was performed at an Assisted Reproductive Technology laboratory in a tertiary-care, university hospital. To simulate sperm concentration, bead concentrations were measured with the use of a manual and an automated method.

Temperature variations within and between incubators-a prospective, observational study.

Purpose: To determine if there is a temperature variation within and between incubators.

Methods: This prospective, experimental trial with external controls was performed at an Assisted Reproductive Technology laboratory in a tertiary-care, university hospital. Temperature values were taken at various locations within and between incubators.

The heat is on: room temperature affects laboratory equipment--an observational study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ambient room temperature on equipment typically used in in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: We set the control temperature of the room to 20 °C (+/-0.3) and used CIMScan probes to record temperatures of the following equipment: six microscope heating stages, four incubators, five slide warmers and three heating blocks.

Changes in long luteal protocol affects the number of days of stimulation: evolution of an assisted reproductive technology practice.

Objective: To determine if the types of drugs used in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation influence the number of days of stimulation.

Study Design: This retrospective study of couples presenting at an assisted reproductive technology (ART) facility January 1997 through December 2007 included patients who were < 40 years of age, had a body mass index (BMI) of 20-35, used fresh sperm or oocytes, had > or = 3 embryos available on day 3, never had previous ART, and did not use a gestational carrier. Data analysis was limited to patients treated with long luteal stimulation.

The Implementation of Virtual Instruction in Relation to X-ray Anatomy and Positioning in a Chiropractic Degree Program: A Descriptive Paper.

This article provides information regarding the introduction of virtual education into classroom instruction, wherein a method of classroom instruction was developed with the use of a computer, digital camera, and various software programs. This approach simplified testing procedures, thus reducing institutional costs substantially by easing the demand for manpower, and seemed to improve average grade performance. Organized files with hundreds of digital pictures have created a range of instructor resources.

Blastocyst rate and live births from vitrification and slow-cooled two-cell mouse embryos.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a closed vitrification system, compare vitrification to a slow-cooled cryopreservation method, and compare the pup rate between both methods using two-cell mouse embryos.

Design: Randomized, prospective animal study.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF practice.

Effect of human granulosa cell co-culture using standard culture media on the maturation and fertilization potential of immature human oocytes.

Objective: To determine whether culture of immature human oocytes with and without autologous cumulus cells (CC) in standard culture medium would provide additional oocytes for use in IVF procedures.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF practice.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in the upstate: effectiveness of surgical sperm removal techniques in conjunction with ICSI to promote the success of pregnancy.

With aspiration of sperm directly from the epididymis (MESA) or extracted from the testis (TESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, it is possible to provide men who are incapable of producing viable sperm in an ejaculate the ability to overcome this severe sperm defect and produce a successful pregnancy. In our practice, 10 of 26 ART cycles have had successful pregnancies with a total of 17 children being delivered. Thus, MESA/TESE techniques coupled with ICSI provide this population of patients with a viable option for producing offspring.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of microorganisms in an assisted reproductive technology facility.

Objective: To perform a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the environmental microorganisms associated with two assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories.

Design: Prospective descriptive study.

Setting: Two ART laboratories at Greenville Hospital System (GHS) University Medical Center in Greenville, South Carolina.

Incubator management in an assisted reproductive technology laboratory.

Objective: To study the effect of incubator management on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes.

Design: Series of retrospective and controlled, randomized studies.

Setting: Tertiary care infertility practice.

Economics of flexible vs. rigid catheters for intrauterine insemination.

A decision tree model was created to investigate pregnancy rates, as well as cost factors associated with rigid vs. flexible catheters. Although the flexible catheter costs more than the rigid catheter, it is associated with a higher pregnancy rate, which decreases costs of IUI treatment because fewer cycles are needed.

Comparison of pregnancy rates for two embryo-transfer catheters.

Objective: To compare two flexible catheters and determine whether pregnancy rates (PRs) differed.

Design: Prospective, randomized pilot study.

Setting: Tertiary-care infertility practice.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the upstate: reducing the risks of multiple births.

Multiple pregnancies from ART procedures are all too common. Efforts to reduce high-order multiple pregnancies will require both social and medical reforms. In lieu of a legislative agenda to reduce multiple pregnancies in the United States, efforts must come from the personnel within the individual ART clinics.

Factors affecting assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancy rates: a multivariate analysis.

Purpose: To determine factors instrumental in achieving a clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART) patients.

Methods: This study included 205 women undergoing their first ART cycle. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for patient demographics, in vitro production data, and factors associated with embryo transfer.

Defining the typical work environment for assisted reproductive technology laboratories in the United States.

Objective: To determine time and staffing requirements as they relate to laboratory personnel in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Design: Descriptive study.

Setting: Assisted reproductive technology clinics in the United States.

Developing techniques for determining sperm morphology in today's andrology laboratory.

Purpose: To investigate three areas: the staining of spermatozoa; the Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA); and the variability of technicians.

Methods: Staining experiment: sperm from 15 beef bulls were randomized to one of three staining protocols. CASA experiment: slides were evaluated using the Integrated Visual Optical System and compared to technician results.

Flexible versus rigid intrauterine insemination catheters: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Objective: To prospectively compare pregnancy rates for couples undergoing IUI by a single healthcare provider with random assignment to either rigid (Tomcat; Kendall Sovereign, Mansfield, MA) or flexible (Soft Pass; Cook, Spencer, IN) catheters.

Design: Randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary care infertility practice.

Changes in the freezing protocol for human zygotes alter embryonic development and pregnancy rates.

Objective: To determine the effect of various freezing protocols on postthaw development and pregnancy rates resulting from transfer of human zygotes.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Expectations for oocyte fertilization and embryo cleavage after whole sperm versus sperm head intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Objective: To compare oocyte fertilization and embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with a whole sperm vs. a sperm head.

Design: Retrospective study.

Does seasonality alter intrauterine insemination outcomes: a 5-year study.

Purpose: To determine if seasonal changes alter pregnancy rate in intrauterine insemination (IUI) patients.

Methods: One-thousand and eighty semen analyses prepared for IUI were evaluated in this retrospective cohort study of 496 patients.

Results: Volume, pH, sperm concentration, and pregnancy rates were not altered by season.

Conclusions about the effects on fertilization of time from aspiration to incubation and blood in the aspirate depend on the use of appropriate statistical techniques.

Objective: To examine the effects of exposure to blood and time from aspiration to incubation on oocyte fertilization.

Design: Retrospective, cohort study.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF practice.

Longevity of donor serum.

Purpose: To determine the viability of long-term, stored serum, which is used in human in vitro production as a source of energy substrates, amino acids, vitamins, growth factors, and other nutrients.

Method: Two-cell mouse embryos were used in this prospective, cohort study. Serum stored for 1-, 5-, 10-, and 12-year intervals was subjected to four replications of mouse-embryo testing.