Reproductive and obstetric outcomes after radical abdominal trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer in a series of 31 pregnancies.

Study Question: What are the reproductive and obstetric outcomes in patients undergoing radical abdominal trachelectomy (RAT) for early-stage cervical cancer?

Summary Answer: When RAT was performed before a pregnancy achieved with fertility treatments, pregnancy rate of 36.2% was obtained and 71.4% of these women gave birth at ≥ 32 weeks of gestation.

The restorative effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on damaged ovarian function.

The clinical application of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as treatment for intractable diseases or traumatic tissue damage has attracted attention. To address the ability of reactivating injured ovaries, we prepared a rat model with damaged ovaries by using an anticancer agent, cyclophosphamide (CTX). We then investigated the restorative effects on ovarian function and the safety of adipose-derived MSCs (A-MSCs).

Oophorectomy for fertility preservation via reduced-port laparoscopic surgery.

Background: For fertility preservation of women patients scheduled to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, unilateral oophorectomy was performed, and the ovary was cryopreserved.

Methods: Two-port surgery was conducted in 3 patients, and single-port surgery using a single-incision laparoscopic surgery port in 3. An 18-G Cathelin needle equipped with a syringe was directly inserted transabdominally to reach the small follicle on the ovarian surface; then, follicular fluid was recovered by aspiration through the syringe as with in vitro fertilization procedures, and immature oocytes were collected from the resulting culture medium under microscopy and cryopreserved.

Uterine autotransplantation in cynomolgus macaques: the first case of pregnancy and delivery.

Background: For women with congenital uterine infertility, or for those who have undergone hysterectomy, uterine transplantation is one of the potential treatments to regain fertility. In this study, we utilized a primate model of uterine transplantation, and evaluated the patency of our microsurgical anastomoses, and the perfusion of the transplanted uterus.

Methods: Two female cynomolgus monkeys underwent surgery.

Minimal ovarian stimulation combined with elective single embryo transfer policy: age-specific results of a large, single-centre, Japanese cohort.

Background: The two main complications associated with the use of assisted reproduction techniques, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancies, could be eliminated by milder ovarian stimulation protocols and the increased use of a single embryo transfer (SET) policy. A retrospective, cohort study was performed in private infertility centre to evaluate the embryological and clinical results of a large exclusively SET program according to patient age (lower or equal 29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and equal or higher 45 years).

Materials: A total of 7,244 infertile patients have undergone 20,244 cycles with a clomiphene-based minimal stimulation or natural cycle IVF protocol during 2008.

Molecular signatures to define spermatogenic cells in common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Germ cell development is a fundamental process required to produce offspring. The developmental program of spermatogenesis has been assumed to be similar among mammals. However, recent studies have revealed differences in the molecular properties of primate germ cells compared with the well-characterized mouse germ cells.

Short-term, low-dose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug application diminishes premature ovulation in natural-cycle IVF.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a private infertility centre to evaluate the use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) in natural-cycle IVF (nIVF) treatment. A total of 1865 first-rank nIVF cycles performed during 2009–2010 were evaluated. Low-dose, post-trigger NSAID was administered in a non-randomized way in cycles at higher ovulation risk where an imminent LH surge was detected on triggering day.

Neonatal outcome and birth defects in 6623 singletons born following minimal ovarian stimulation and vitrified versus fresh single embryo transfer.

Objective: To compare neonatal outcome between children born after vitrified versus fresh single-embryo transfer (SET).

Study Design: Retrospective, single-centre cohort study of 6623 delivered singletons following 29,944 single-embryo transfers. Patients underwent minimal ovarian stimulation/natural cycle IVF followed by SET of fresh or vitrified-warmed (using Cryotop, Kitazato) cleavage-stage embryos or blastocysts.

Prevention of mitochondrial disease inheritance by assisted reproductive technologies: prospects and challenges.

Background: Mitochondrial diseases are caused by the mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the treatment options for patients who have mitochondrial disease are rather limited. Mitochondrial DNA is transmitted maternally and does not follow a Mendelian pattern of inheritance. Since reliable and predictable detection of mitochondrial disorders in embryos and oocytes is unattainable at present, an alternative approach to this problem has emerged as partial or complete replacement of mutated mtDNA with the wild-type mtDNA through embryo manipulations.

Current opinion on use of luteinizing hormone supplementation in assisted reproduction therapy: an Asian perspective.

LH and FSH have complementary functions in ensuring optimal oocyte maturation and ovulation. In women undergoing assisted reproduction technology protocols with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues, LH and FSH concentrations are reduced. While FSH use in assisted reproduction technology is well established, there is no published consensus on the need for exogenous LH in Asian patients.

Blastocyst culture is associated with an elevated incidence of monozygotic twinning after single embryo transfer.

In a 7-year (2002-2008) retrospective study of a large IVF program based on minimal ovarian stimulation and single ET (47,841 single ETs), monozygotic twinning occurred in 1.01% of 14,956 clinical pregnancies. Blastocyst culture was associated with a significantly increased monozygotic twinning risk (adjusted odds ratio, 2.

Natural IVF cycles may be desirable for women with repeated failures by stimulated IVF cycles.

Purpose: Although many reports support stimulated in vitro fertilization, several patients do not respond to it well. Furthermore, stimulated treatment could be associated with reduced ovarian response. We describe three successful cases involving patients of advanced age from whom dominant follicles were retrieved during the natural cycle.

Bone marrow derived cells are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload.

Background: Bone marrow (BM) cells possess broad differentiation potential and can form various cell lineages in response to pathophysiological cues. The present study investigated whether BM-derived cells contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy, as well as the possible cellular mechanisms involved in such a role.

Methods And Results: Lethally irradiated wild-type mice were transplanted with BM cells from enhanced green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice.

The efficacy and safety of managing ectopic pregnancies with transvaginal ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol.

Purpose: To describe the efficacy and safety of managing ectopic pregnancies (EP) with ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol (AE).

Methods: 69 cases of EP following IVF performed in our clinic were treated with a local injection of 0.3 ml AE with a 23-gauge needle under transvaginal ultrasonic guidance.