The relationship between controlled ovarian stimulation protocol, meiotic spindle visibility, position of the meiotic spindle relative to the polar body in the human oocyte, and clinical outcomes following ICSI.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of different controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols, including the progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS), long, short, and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocols, on meiotic spindle visibility and position within the oocyte and clinical outcomes following ICSI.

Methods: Before ICSI, spindle position () just below the polar body (PB) was defined as 0° and categorized as follows:  = 0°, 0° <  ≤ 30°, 30° <  ≤ 60°, 60° <  ≤ 90°, 90° <  ≤ 180°, between the PB and the oolemma, and nonvisible. The clinical outcomes after ICSI were retrospectively analyzed.

A hyaluronic acid-containing reagent compatible with glass-bottom dishes and capable of sustained binding of human spermatozoa.

Objective: Commercial products currently available for sperm selection utilizing hyaluronic acid (HA) binding prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are widely used but have some disadvantages. To potentially circumvent these limitations, we compared ICSI using a self-made hyaluronic acid (smHA) reagent with ICSI using SpermSlow.

Methods: The binding of the reagents to spermatozoa on plastic- or glass-bottom dishes was quantitated using spermatozoa that were isolated by density-gradient centrifugation and swim-up procedures (N = 10/group).

The migration speed of nucleolar precursor bodies in pronuclei affects in vitro fertilization-derived human embryo ploidy status and live birth.

Purpose: To study the relationship between clinical outcomes after assisted reproduction and the migration speed of nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs) in male and female pronuclei (mPN; fPN).

Methods: NPB migration speed, embryo ploidy status, and live birth (LB) were retrospectively analyzed in IVF-derived zygotes. The central coordinates of the mPN, fPN, and NPBs were noted at multiple timepoints.

Outcome of in vitro fertilization cycles with automatic time-lapse instrumentation combined with the early embryo viability assessment score.

Aim: To evaluate whether embryo selection using the early embryo viability assessment (EEVA) score increases the ongoing pregnancy rate of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients.

Methods: One hundred eighty-one patients whose serum anti mullerian hormone (AMH) level was greater than 0.5 ng/μL were enrolled in the study.

Migration speed of nucleolus precursor bodies in human male pronuclei: a novel parameter for predicting live birth.

Purpose: To study the relationship between the migration speed of nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs) in male and female pronuclei (mPN; fPN) and human embryo development during assisted reproduction.

Methods: The migration speed of 263 NPBs from 47 zygotes was quantitated, and embryonic development was observed until the blastocyst stage. The central coordinates of mPN, fPN, and NPBs were noted at multiple timepoints.

The differential expression of miRNAs between ovarian endometrioma and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated to play a vital role in development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, which miRNAs are actually associated with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer remains controversial.

Methods: Serum and ascites samples were obtained from all patients.

Failure of complete hatching of ICSI-derived human blastocyst by cell herniation via small slit and insufficient expansion despite ongoing cell proliferation.

Purpose: To assess the effect of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on embryo hatching and visualise the effects of zona thinning (ZT) on the embryo using time-lapse monitoring.

Methods: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) (n = 178) and ICSI (n = 110)-derived cryopreserved blastocysts were donated by patients who previously had a baby. This study investigated the impacts of IVF, ICSI, laser-assisted hatching by ZT and formation of ICSI penetration trace on zona pellucida of IVF-derived blastocyst on blastcyst diameter, the estimated number of trophectoderm (TE) cells and completed hatching rate.

Association of follicular fluid volume with membrane stretchability of human metaphase II oocytes following the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol during intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Purpose: The authors previously revealed the association of the follicular fluid (FF) volume with oolemma stretchability following the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, the impact of the GnRH agonist protocol on oolemma stretchability remains unclear.

Methods: Data that were obtained from 74 ICSI cycles were reviewed retrospectively.

The association of follicular fluid volume with human oolemma stretchability during intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Objective: Oocyte degeneration often occurs after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and the risk factor is low-quality oocytes. The follicular fluid (FF) provides a crucial microenvironment for oocyte development. We investigated the relationships between the FF volume aspirated from individual follicles and oocyte retrieval, oocyte maturity, oolemma stretchability, fertilization, and development.

Comparison of the impact of laparoscopic endometriotic cystectomy and vaporization on postoperative serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of laparoscopic endometriotic cystectomy and vaporization on ovarian reserve.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed the serum level of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in 62 patients at four different time points- preoperatively and at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Among the 62 cases, a bilateral cystectomy was performed in 10, bilateral vaporization in 16, a unilateral cystectomy in 24, and unilateral vaporization in 12.

Lower FOXO3 mRNA expression in granulosa cells is involved in unexplained infertility.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether FOXO1 and FOXO3 mRNA expression in granulosa cells is the cause of unexplained infertility.

Methods: Thirty-one patients aged <40 years (13 with unexplained infertility and 18 with male partner infertility as a control group) whose serum anti-Müllerian hormone level was >0.5 ng/μL were enrolled in the study.