Growth differentiation factor 9 and cumulus cell supplementation in in vitro maturation culture media enhances the viability of human blastocysts / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes can be useful for some infertile patients. In IVM programs, the rates of embryo formation and pregnancy are low. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the main factors involved in regulating oocyte maturation in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and cumulus cell (CC) supplementation in IVM medium on the rates of embryo formation and viability of human blastocysts.METHODS: A total of 80 germinal vesicle oocytes from stimulated cycles underwent an IVM program. The oocytes were divided into four groups, where group I consisted of IVM media only and served as the control, group II consisted of IVM+CCs, group III consisted of IVM+GDF9 (200 ng/mL), and group IV consisted of IVM+CCs+GDF9 (200 ng/mL). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on the IVM oocytes, and the cleavage embryos that were generated were vitrified. Following thawing, the embryos were cultured for 3 additional days, and the viability rates of the developed blastocysts were determined.RESULTS: The maturation rate of the oocytes did not differ significantly across the four groups. The fertilization rate in group II was significantly higher than that in the control group (76.5% vs. 46.2%). Embryo formation was significantly more frequent in all experimental groups than in the control group, while blastocyst formation did not show significant differences in the three experimental groups compared to the control. The mean viability rates in groups II, III, and IV were 58.16%, 55.91%, and 55.95%, respectively, versus 37.78% in the control group (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: Supplementation of IVM culture media with GDF9 and CCs enhanced the fertilization, embryo formation, and viability rates of blastocysts generated from vitrified cleavage embryos.

Live birth in a woman with recurrent implantation failure and adenomyosis following transfer of refrozen-warmed embryos / 대한생식의학회지

The aim was to report a healthy live birth using re-vitrified-warmed cleavage-stage embryos derived from supernumerary warmed embryos after frozen embryo transfer (ET) in a patient with recurrent implantation failure (RIF). The case was a 39-year-old female with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome and adenomyosis, along with RIF. After ovarian hyperstimulation, 33 cumulus-oocyte complexes were retrieved and fertilized with conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Because of the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, 16 grade B and C embryos were vitrified. After 3 and 6 months, 3 and 4 B–C warmed embryos were transferred to the uterus, respectively. However, implantation did not take place. Ten months later, four embryos were warmed, two grade B 8-cell embryos were transferred, and two embryos were re-vitrified. One year later, the two re-vitrified cleavage-stage embryos were warmed, which resulted in a successful live birth. This finding showed that following first warming, it is feasible to refreeze supernumerary warmed embryos for subsequent ET in patients with a history of RIF.

Comparison of charge-coupled devices and photostimulable phosphor storage plates for detection of vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth: An in vitro study

Objective: Vertical root fracture [VRF] is among the most common causes of endodontic treatment failures. This study aims to compare charge-coupled devices [CCD] and photostimulable phosphor plates [PSP] for detection of vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth

Methods: In this diagnostic in vitro study, 40 maxillary anterior teeth were selected and after preparation and root canal filling, their crowns were cut 2mm above the cementoenamel junction [CEJ]. The teeth were embedded in a piece of dried bone and radiographed using CCD and PSP with equal geometry at zero and 15[degree sign] horizontal angles. VRFs were then induced and the fractured fragments were reattached. The teeth were radiographed again. Three observers evaluated the radiographs for detection of fracture line. Data were analyzed using the Proportion test and Wilcoxon's Signed Ranks test

Results: No significant difference was found between the two sensors in detection of VRFs [p-value [complete]= 0.592, p-value [absolute]= 1]. The sensitivity of the two sensors for detection of buccolingual and mesiodistal fractures was not significantly different [p-value BL [absolute]= 0.109, p-value BL [complete] 0.180] [p-value MD [complete]=0.593, p-value MD [absolute]= 0.102]. The sensitivity of both sensors for detection of buccolingual fracture was higher than for mesiodistal fractures [p<0.001]

Conclusion: CCD and PSP had equal efficacy for detection of VRFs in endodontically treated teeth