The value of repeat testicular sperm retrieval in azoospermic men.

To determine the predictive value of a previous testicular biopsy to the chance of sperm retrieval in the next testicular sperm extraction (TESE) procedure, we retrospectively analyzed the outcome of past sperm collection procedures and histopathology diagnoses of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. Repeated TESE ensured a high recovery rate (96%) when the first recovery procedure had been successful and when hypospermatogenesis was diagnosed (77%); when no spermatozoa were found on the first attempt, a repeat TESE procedure was successful in one-third of the patients.

Technical modification of testicular sperm extraction expedites testicular sperm retrieval.

Objective: To determine the predictive value and the quality of supernatant sperm (SS) achieved by a simple laboratory technical modification after testicular sperm extraction (TESE).

Design: A retrospective analysis.

Setting: An IVF unit in a university medical center.

The use of ICSI with fresh and cryopreserved electroejaculates from psychogenic anejaculatory men.

Background: Electroejaculation has become an accepted form of semen procurement in men suffering from anejaculation. However, sperm in these ejaculates often exhibit low motility. In such cases, ICSI is offered to improve the possibility of successful pregnancy.

Monopaternal superfecundation of quintuplets after transfer of two embryos in an in vitro fertilization cycle.

Objective: To present the first genetically proven identity of quintuplets in an IVF treatment cycle after transferring only two embryos.

Design: Case report.

Setting: IVF unit and obstetrics department of university-affiliated general hospital.

Successful pregnancy following replacement of embryos previously refrozen at blastocyst stage: case report.

We present the first reported clinical pregnancy following transfer of embryos that had been subjected to two freeze-thaw cycles: the first at day 3 after insemination, and the second after culturing to the blastocyst stage. A 25-year-old woman undergoing IVF treatment for male factor infertility opted for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ICSI treatment resulted in the successful production of 19 early cleavage embryos, all of which were frozen.

A flexible protocol for artificial preparation of the endometrium without prior gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist suppression in women with functioning ovaries undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.

Objective: To present our experience with a flexible and convenient protocol for artificial endometrial preparation without prior GnRH agonist suppression in patients with functioning ovaries undergoing frozen ET.

Design: Case series.

Setting: An IVF unit in a university hospital.

Transfer of frozen-thawed embryos in artificially prepared cycles with and without prior gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist suppression: a prospective randomized study.

Transfer of frozen-thawed embryos is usually carried out in a natural cycle or in a programmed cycle in which the endometrium is exogenously stimulated following down-regulation of the hypophysis. To analyse the possibility that the programmed cycle for embryo transfer can still be hormonally manipulated without the use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) we have conducted a prospective randomized study that compared the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles using micronized 17beta-oestradiol and micronized progesterone preparations with and without the concomitant use of GnRHa. One hundred and six patients were randomly divided into two groups.

Comparison of cryopreservation outcome following intracytoplasmic sperm injection and conventional in vitro fertilization.

Purpose: Our purpose was to compare the success rate of transferring frozen-thawed embryos generated from either intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: A retrospective review of all frozen-thawed embryo transfer (ET) cycles between January 1995 and April 1997 was performed. There were 83 and 204 transfer cycles of frozen-thawed multicellular embryos generated from conventional IVF (group A) and ICSI (group B), respectively.

Management of rhesus isoimmunization by preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

A genetic assay by single blastomere analysis was developed for rhesus (RhD) blood group typing of early cleavage stage embryos. The method, which is based on the simultaneous amplification of an RhD-specific sequence and an internal control in single cells, was applied for the selective transfer of RhD-negative embryos in a family of an RhD sensitized woman and a heterozygote partner. The RhD status of two out of three biopsied embryos was determined.

Enhancing in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes by partial zona pellucida digestion.

This work was undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of partial zona digestion on fertilization in vitro of mouse oocytes and assess zona surface changes induced by the procedure. Three hundred forty-six oocytes allocated for treatment were exposed to Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with 0.5% Pronase for either 3 min (188 oocytes) or 5 min (158 oocytes); 324 oocytes served as controls.

Involvement of infants, children, and adults in a rotavirus gastroenteritis outbreak in a kibbutz in southern Israel.

An outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in a kibbutz in southern Israel, characterized by diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain, involved 32 kibbutz members of all ages. Nineteen percent of the children and 3.5% of the adults were ill.

Detection of rotavirus-specific IgG antibodies by immunoperoxidase assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An indirect immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) has been developed for determination of IgG antibodies to rotavirus. The technique employed as antigen, SA-11 infected MA 104 cells, which were air-dried on glass slides and acetone-fixed. In parallel, rota-specific IgG antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).