Polyethylene microplastic exposure adversely affects oocyte quality in human and mouse.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants, resulting in unavoidable human exposure. This study identified MPs in follicular fluid and investigated the specific MPs and mechanisms that adversely affect oocytes. MPs in the follicular fluid of 44 infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology were measured using Raman microspectroscopy.

Preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements by genome-wide SNP genotyping and haplotype analysis: a prospective multicenter clinical study.

Background: Preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal structural rearrangements (PGT-SR) has been widely utilized to select euploid embryos in patients carrying balanced chromosomal rearrangements (BCRs) by chromosome copy number analysis. However, reliable and extensively validated PGT-SR methods for selecting embryos without BCRs in large-cohort studies are lacking.

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, cohort study, carriers with BCRs undergoing PGT-SR were recruited across 12 academic fertility centers within China.

Blastocysts originated from oocytes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates have a reduced euploidy rate: a retrospective cohort study.

Research Question: Does the presence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates (SERa) in oocytes adversely impact the euploidy rate of subsequent blastocysts?

Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study with 671 young patients (< 38 years) undergoing their first preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) between January 2019 and October 2022 at a reproductive medical center of university affiliated teaching hospitals in China. Cycles were categorized as either SERa(+) cycles (containing at least one SERa(+) oocyte) or SERa(-) cycles (all oocytes without SERa). In SERa(+) cycles, oocytes were further subdivided into the SERa(+) oocyte group and the sibling SERa(-) oocyte group, comprising oocytes with normal morphology.

Novel Loss-of-Function Variants in Infertile Males Upgrade the Gene-Disease Clinical Validity Classification for and Male Infertility to Strong.

Male infertility affects approximately 7% of the male population, and about 15% of these cases are predicted to have a genetic etiology. One gene implicated in autosomal dominant male infertility, , encodes a protein critical for the synapsis of homologous chromosomes during meiosis I, resulting in impaired spermatogenesis. However, the clinical validity of the gene-disease pair was previously categorized as on the border of limited and moderate due to few reported cases.

Aberrant splicing caused by a novel KMT2A variant in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome.

Introduction: Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder caused by KMT2A variants. The aim of this study was to characterize a novel KMT2A variant in a child with WSS and demonstrate integrated diagnostic approaches.

Methods: A 3-year-old female with developmental delay, distinctive facial features, and anal fistula underwent whole exome sequencing (WES).

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.

Detection and quantification of various microplastics in human endometrium based on laser direct infrared spectroscopy.

The pollution of microplastics (MPs) has received widespread attention with the increasing usage of plastics in recent years. MPs could enter the human body and exist in the circulatory system. Endometrium, with rich blood vessels, acts as an essential role in human health and female fertility.

Association between ambient temperature exposure and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: a retrospective cohort study.

Study Question: Does ambient temperature exposure affect outcomes including clinical pregnancy and live birth in women undergoing IVF?

Summary Answer: Both extreme cold and hot ambient temperatures were significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes of IVF cycles.

What Is Known Already: Heat exposure has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes worldwide. However, the effect of ambient temperature on infertile women undergoing IVF treatment is unclear.

Effect of hyaluronic acid-enriched transfer medium on frozen-thawed embryo transfer outcomes in RIF patients: a single-centre retrospective study.

Introduction: Many patients who undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART) suffer from recurrent implantation failure (RIF). The addition of hyaluronic acid (HA) to the transfer medium is one of several methods to improve pregnancy outcomes. We investigated whether HA could improve the live birth and clinical pregnancy rates of RIF patients.

Relationship of the levels of reactive oxygen species in the fertilization medium with the outcome of fertilization following brief incubation.

Embryo selection in fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) mostly relies on morphological assessment using a conventional microscope or the time-lapse monitoring system, which is not comprehensive. Inappropriate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the fertilization medium may cause damage to gametes, eventually leading to adverse IVF outcomes. The present study aimed to identify the optimal oxidation-reduction level in the fertilization medium for IVF outcomes by measuring the static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP) using a highly accurate and sensitive MiOXSYS system.

Clinical outcomes after fresh versus frozen embryo transfer in women with advanced reproductive age undergoing in vitro fertilization: a propensity score-matched cohort study.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare clinical outcomes following fresh or frozen embryo transfer (FET) in women with advanced reproductive age (ARA). Women aged 35-45 years who underwent their first autologous fresh or frozen cleavage stage embryo transfer cycle in the Centre for Assisted Reproduction of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were included. The primary outcome was live birth after the first embryo transfer of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.

A new perspective on semen quality of aged male: The characteristics of metabolomics and proteomics.

Background: Semen quality is negatively correlated with male age and is mainly quantified by a routine semen analysis, which is descriptive and inconclusive. Sperm proteins or semen metabolites are used as the intermediate or end-products, reflecting changes in semen quality, and hold much promise as a new biomarker to predict fertility in advanced-aged males.

Objectives: In this study, we sought to assess whether the semen metabolome and proteome of aged males can affect semen quality and serve as biomarkers for predicting semen quality.

The alterations of circulating mucosal-associated invariant T cells in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting reproductive age females and an important cause of infertility. Although the etiology is complex and its pathogenesis remains unclear, the pathological process of PCOS is tightly related with the immune dysfunction and gut microbial dysbiosis. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of innate-like T cells which can regulate inflammation through the production of cytokines and play a role in regulating the gut microbiota.

The efficacy of anastrozole in subfertile men with and without abnormal testosterone to estradiol ratios.

Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), such as anastrozole, have shown effectiveness in treating oligoasthenozoospermia due to abnormal testosterone to estradiol (T/E) ratio (T/E <10). However, its efficacy in subfertile men without abnormal T/E ratio (T/E >10) remained unevaluated. This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether patients with T/E ratio >10 could also benefit from anastrozole treatment.

Decreased intracellular IL-33 impairs endometrial receptivity in women with adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis is a common benign uterine lesion that is associated with female infertility, reduced clinical pregnancy rate and high miscarriage risk. While it has been known that the impaired endometrial receptivity is implicated in infertility in patients with adenomyosis, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we showed that intracellular protein level of IL-33 was downregulated in the endometrium of patients with adenomyosis, and IL-33 expression status was shown to be positively correlated with that of HOXA10, an endometrial receptivity marker.

Discovery of immune-related diagnostic biomarkers and construction of diagnostic model in varies polycystic ovary syndrome.

Aims: The various diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) raised problem for PCOS research worldwide. PCOS has been demonstrated to be significantly associated with immune response. We aimed to identify several immune-related biomarkers and construct a nomogram model for diagnosis in PCOS.

Predicting the probability of a live birth after a freeze-all based in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment strategy.

Background: The predictors for live birth rate (LBR) following one episode of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle for patients using a "freeze-all" strategy are not entirely clear.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study utilizing a prediction model was developed to assess the relationship to the LBR. Women undergoing IVF with a freeze-all strategy were screened.

Non-invasive embryo selection strategy for clinical IVF to avoid wastage of potentially competent embryos.

Research Question: Can a non-invasive embryo transfer strategy provide a reference for embryo selection to be established?

Design: Chromosome sequencing of 345 paired blastocyst culture medium and whole blastocyst samples was carried out and a non-invasive embryo grading system was developed based on the random forest machine learning algorithm to predict blastocyst ploidy. The system was validated in 266 patients, and a blinded prospective observational study was conducted to investigate clinical outcomes between machine learning-guided and traditional non-invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) analyses. Embryos were graded as A, B or C according to their euploidy probability levels predicted by non-invasive chromosomal screening (NICS).

Aberrant H3K4me3 modification of epiblast genes of extraembryonic tissue causes placental defects and implantation failure in mouse IVF embryos.

Assisted reproductive technology has been widely applied in the treatment of human infertility. However, accumulating evidence indicates that in vitro fertilization (IVF) is associated with a low pregnancy rate, placental defects, and metabolic diseases in offspring. Here, we find that IVF manipulation notably disrupts extraembryonic tissue-specific gene expression, and 334 epiblast (Epi)-specific genes and 24 Epi-specific transcription factors are abnormally expressed in extraembryonic ectoderm (ExE) of IVF embryos at embryonic day 7.

The Key Role of Peroxisomes in Follicular Growth, Oocyte Maturation, Ovulation, and Steroid Biosynthesis.

The absence of peroxisomes can cause disease in the human reproductive system, including the ovaries. The available peroxisomal gene-knockout female mouse models, which exhibit pathological changes in the ovary and reduced fertility, are listed in this review. Our review article provides the first systematic presentation of peroxisomal regulation and its possible functions in the ovary.

Raman Spectrum of Follicular Fluid: A Potential Biomarker for Oocyte Developmental Competence in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in reproductive women where abnormal folliculogenesis is considered as a common characteristic. Our aim is to evaluate the potential of follicular fluid (FF) Raman spectra to predict embryo development and pregnancy outcome, so as to prioritize the best promising embryo for implantation, reducing both physiological and economical burdens of PCOS patients. In addition, the altered metabolic profiles will be identified to explore the aetiology and pathobiology of PCOS.