Blastocyst Transfer Ameliorates Live Birth Rate Compared with Cleavage-Stage Embryos Transfer in Fresh In Vitro Fertilization or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles: Reviews and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE: Blastocyst transfer has been recommended to raise the implantation rate without affecting the pregnancy rate. The objective of this meta-analysis is to systematically evaluate whether the live birth rate and other pregnancy outcomes can be improved by blastocyst transfer compared with cleavage-stage embryos transfer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EMBASE and MEDLINE databases were searched for papers published between March 2004 and March 2013. An extensive range of the electronic databases yielded initially 317 studies from which seven trials met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. Our outcome measures were the live birth rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, first trimester miscarriage rate and ectopic pregnancy rate. Fixed effects models were chosen to calculate the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Seven trials (n=1446 cases) were finally analyzed. Compared with cleavage-stage embryos transfer, the blastocyst transfer was statistically significantly associated with an increase in clinical pregnancy rate [OR 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-1.78], implantation rate (OR 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09-1.74) and ongoing pregnancy rate (OR 2.15; 95% CI, 1.57-2.94), and also a reduction in the probability of first trimester miscarriage rate (OR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30-0.87). The improvement in the live birth rate was also observed (OR 1.77; 95% CI, 1.32-2.37). Moreover, there was no evidence of difference in multiple pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION: The available evidences suggest that live birth and other pregnancy outcomes after fresh in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) are significantly improved following blastocyst transfer as compared to cleavage-stage embryo transfer.

Clinical outcomes of fresh versus cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in high-risk patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical outcomes of fresh embryo transfer and cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in high-risk patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 1784 high-risk OHSS patients undergoing IVF-ET, who were divided into groups A (n=939) and B (n=845). The former received fresh embryo transfer and the latter cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer. We compared gonadotropin (Gn) administration, body mass index (BMI), the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the number of oocytes retrieved, and the rates of clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation and OHSS incidnece between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 657 (69.97%) and 586 (69.35%) pregnancies were achieved in groups A and B, respectively, with 33 cases of moderate OHSS (3.5%) in the former and 30 (3.6%) in the latter. The prevalence of PCOS, the E2 level at hCG trigger, the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of mature oocytes, and the number of quality embryos were significantly lower in group A than in B (P <0.01). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in age, infertility duration, BMI, Gn administration, embryo implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, and OHSS incidence (P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In IVF-ET cycles, cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer does not influence the clinical outcome in high-risk OHSS patients and can avoid the incidence of severe OHSS.</p>

AntiEGFRnano inhibites proliferation and migration of estrogen-dependent Ishikawa cells of human endometrial cancer cell line / 药学学报

Nanobody is a kind of antibody from camel, which misses light chain. Nanobody has the same antigen binding specificity and affinity as mAb. Moreover, because of its small molecular weight, high stability and easy preparation, nanobody has great value of biomedical applications. In this study, we successfully prepared highly pure antiEGFR nanobody in E.coli using genetic engineering techniques. Cell proliferation assay (CCK-8 assay) and migration experiments (cell scratch test and Transwell assay) indicated that the recombinant antiEGFRnano can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of endometrial cancer cells. These results provide a new way of thinking and methods for EGFR-targeted therapy of endometrial cancer.

Incidence of polynuclear zygotes and pregnancy rate after short coincubation of gametes in in vitro fertilization / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship of the incidence of polynuclear zygotes with clinical pregnancy after short coincubation of gametes in in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 3 862 cases of short gamete coincubation IVF, which were divided into six groups according to the percentage of polynuclear zygotes: 0,1-10%, 11-20%, 21-30%, 31-50%, 41-50%, and > or = 51%. We compared the rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation and abortion among the six groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No statistically significant differences were found in the patients'age, dose of gonadotropin, peak E2, number of follicles at the hCG trigger, and number of oocytes retrieved among the six groups. The 1-10% group showed higher rates of pregnancy and implantation, while the > or = 51% group exhibited lower rates of pregnancy and implantation but a higher rate of abortion than the other groups, none with significant differences (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of polynuclear zygotes after short coincubation of gametes in IVF cannot serve as a prognostic indicator of the outcome of clinical pregnancy.</p>

Effectiveness of ICSI in patients with a high incidence of triploidy in a previous IVF cycle / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effectiveness of ICSI in overcoming the high incidence of tripronucleates zygotes resulting from insemination in a previous IVF cycle.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the matched-pair cycles in 37 patients with a > 35 % incidence of tripronucleate zygotes in an IVF cycle, with ICSI used in the subsequent cycle, evaluated the incidences of diploid (2PN) and triploid (3PN) zygotesand the number of normal embryos obtained, and compared the rates of clinical pregnancy and embryo implantation between the IVF and ICSI groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age of the ICSI group was significantly older than that of the IVF group, while the ampules of gonadotropin and peak E2 showed no remarkable difference between the two. The numbers of follicles at hCG trigger, retrieved oocytes and mature oocytes were markedly lower in the former than in the latter. The percentage of 2PN was significantly higher while that of 3PN significantly lower after ICSI than after IVF (74.24% vs 34.42%; 11.57% vs 51.04%, P < 0.01), and more normal diploid embryos were obtained with ICSI (3.83 +/- 2.08 vs 2.52 +/- 1.71, P < 0.01). Four singletons were achieved in 31 IVF embryo transfer cycles, in comparison with 11 singletons and 3 twins in 36 ICSI embryo transfer cycles. The ICSI group showed significantly higher rates of clinical pregnancy and embryo implantation than the IVF group (38.89% vs 12.90%; 28.33% vs 7.41%, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For women with a high incidence o triploidy in a previous IVF cycle, ICSI can effectively increase the number of normal diploid zygotes.</p>

Appropriate prolongation of GnRH-a down-regulation improves the synchronism of follicular development / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the relatively appropriate actuation time for ovarian super-stimulation of IVF-ET by comparing the influences of different down-regulation days of chorionic gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) upon the follicular diameter, endometrial thickness and the levels of follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) , luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We adopted the long protocol of GnRH-a down-regulation in the midluteal phase for 42 patients undergoing IVF-ET. According to the time of GnRH-a down-regulation, we divided the patients into a 10 d, a 15 d and an 18 d group, measured their follicular diameters and endometrial thickness by B-mode ultrasonography, detected the levels of FSH, LH and E2 in the blood, and analyzed the influences of different days of GnRH-a down-regulation on the follicular diameter, endometrial thickness and sexual hormone levels. At 1, 7, 10 and 14 d of down-regulation, we compared the levels of FSH and LH in the blood before the injection of GnRH-a with those 2 and 3 h after it.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 10, 15 and 18 d after down-regulation, the ovarian follicles with the diameter of 3-4 mm accounted for 16.8, 7.09 and 10.38% (P < 0.05, 10 d vs 15 d and 18 d), those with the diameter of 4.5-7.0 mm made up 80.24, 89.55 and 84.62% (P < 0.05, 15 d vs 10 d and 18 d), and those with the diameter of 7.5-10 mm constituted 2.96, 3.36 and 5%, respectively. Endometrial thickness was (7.73 +/- 2.48) mm in the 10 d group, significantly thicker than (5.41 +/- 0.79) mm and (5.24 +/- 0.85) mm in the 15 d and 18 d groups (P < 0.05). The FSH levels in the 10 d, 15 d and 18 d groups were (3.70 +/- 1.10), (3.51 +/- 0.72) and (3.47 +/- 0.61) mIU/ml, the LH levels were (1.23 +/- 1.00), (1.09 +/- 0.47) and (1.22 +/- 0.72) mIU/ml, and the E2 levels were 41.84 +/- 36.81, 32.84 +/- 14.32 and 9.50 +/- 8.23, respectively, with no significant differences among the three groups. At 1, 7, 10 and 14 d of down-regulation, both FSH and LH levels in the blood were increased at 2 and 3 h after GnRH-a injection, most significantly at 1 d (1.87 +/- 1.49 vs 13.33 +/- 7.81 for FSH, 1.06 +/- 1.13 vs 47.40 +/- 29.97 for LH, (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In the long protocol of ovarian super-stimulation of IVF-ET, endometrial thickness and the levels of FSH, LH and E2 tended to be stable at 10 d of GnRH-a down-regulation. The percentage of the follicles with the diameter of 4.5-7.0 mm was higher at 15 d than at 10 d, but rose no more at 18 d except for an increased number of smaller follicles 3-4 mm in diameter. Therefore, appropriate prolongation of GnRH-a down-regulation can improve the synchronism of follicular development.</p>

Early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection: safe for complete IVF failure / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety of early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for complete failure of in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted early rescue ICSI for 105 conventional IVF cycles and follow-up evaluation of the clinical outcomes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 64 neonates were born, and no significant differences were found in the sex ratio, birth weight and birth defects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early rescue ICSI can significantly improve the clinical outcome in patients with complete IVF failure, but does not increase the clinical risk.</p>

Pregnancy outcomes of repeated cycles of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the pregnancy outcomes of repeated IVF-ET cycles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 702 repeated IVF-ET cycles (503 cases) performed in our center from 2006 to 2008, among which 191 cycles (Group A) had failed previously in other hospitals and 511 (Group B) in ours, focusing on the relationship of pregnancy outcomes with the number of repeated IVF-ET cycles and the age of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Group A, there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates among the patients with 1, 2 or > 2 previously failed cycles (56.56% vs 66.67% vs 61.54%), while the numbers of oocytes obtained were significantly decreased (8.51 +/- 4.60 vs 8.48 +/- 3.32 vs 4.86 +/- 2.96) and the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) remarkably increased ([7.31 +/- 3.66] mIU/mL vs [6.83 +/- 2.35] mIU/mL vs [11.58 +/- 11.40] mIU/mL) in those with > 2 previous failures. In Group B, the results of the first IVF-ET cycle in our center showed that the number of oocytes obtained and the E2 level on the day of hCG injection were markedly decreased in the patients with 2 previously failed cycles (6.66 +/- 4.58 vs 9.59 +/- 4.30 and 2 396.87 +/- 1 602.02 vs 4 061.17 +/- 2 255.63), and so were the pregnancy rate, oocyte number, intimal thickness and essential FSH level in those with > 2 previous failures, but no significant differences were found in the rate of pregnancy, number of oocytes obtained, number of embryos transplanted and rate of abortions in those with 1 previous failure. The pregnancy and implantation rates of the repeated IVF-ET cycles were significantly reduced in the female patients aged < 38 years and with > 3 previously failed cycles, as well as in those aged > 38 years and with 1 - 4 previous failures, but not in those aged < 38 years and with < 3 previous failures in Group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pregnancy outcome of repeated IVF-ET cycles was not correlated with the number of the cycles, but maybe directly with different protocols in different reproductive centers. The rate of pregnancy was obviously decreased in patients that underwent over 4 repeated IVF-ET cycles, but had no obvious correlation with the number of cycles in those that received 1 - 3 cycles in the same reproductive center. The age of the patient influences the results of repeated IVF-ET cycles, and both pregnancy and implantation rates may decrease in those aged > 38 years.</p>

Efficient treatment of severe teratozoospermia by ICSI with testicular spermatozoa: a report of 5 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of treating severe teratozoospermia (the abnormity rate of ejaculated or epididymal sperm > or = 99%) by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with testicular sperm so as to improve the outcome of assisted reproductive technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 5 patients with severe teratozoospermia (epididymal: n=4; ejaculated: n=1) treated by ICSI with sperm from different sources, and compared the rates of fertilization, cleavage, quality embryos, pregnancy and implantation between the testicular and non-testicular sperm groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four ongoing clinical pregnancies were achieved by ICSI with testicular sperm, but none with ejaculated (or epididymal) sperm. The rates of pregnancy and implantation were significantly higher in the testicular than in the non-testicular sperm group (P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences in the rates of fertilization, cleavage and quality embryos between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ICSI with testicular sperm could efficiently improve the therapeutic outcome for men with severe teratozoospermia.</p>

Comparison of 3 techniques for artificial shrinkage of blastocoelic cavity before vitrification of expanded mouse blastocysts / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an effective pretreatment method for the vitrification of expanded mouse blastocysts by comparing 3 techniques for the artificial shrinkage of the blastocoelic cavity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The blastocoelic cavity was artificially shrunk by micro-needle aspiration, pipetting or laser drilling prior to the vitrification of the expanded blastocysts. The rates of survival and hatching achieved with the three techniques were compared with those of the non-shrinkage group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of survival were 72.9, 72.0 and 94.0%, and those of hatching were 64.6, 32.0 and 62.0% in the three shrinkage groups, obviously higher than in the nonshrinkage group (40.0 and 16.0%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Artificial shrinkage of the blastocoelic cavity was an effective pretreatment technique for the vitrification of expanded mouse blastocysts, especially by micro-needle aspiration and laser drilling.</p>

Establishment of a method for quantifying tuberous sclerosis complex 2 mRNA in mouse single oocyte and preimplantation embryo / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method for quantifying gene expressions in the mouse single oocyte and preimplantation embryo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We quantified the message RNA (mRNA) expression of the TSC2 gene in the single oocyte and preimplantation embryo by capillary electrophoresis using the exogenic mutation TSC2 gene as the reference and amplification by competition polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We successfully established the method for quantifying the mRNA expression of the TSC2 gene, with good linear relations between the mRNA level of the TSC2 gene and the dilution degree of the reference gene (r = -0.987).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of the mouse TSC2 gene expression can be effectively quantified by competition PCR and capillary electrophoresis, which has provided a molecular base for evaluating the quality of human oocytes and preimplantation embryos.</p>

Combination of short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation and early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection after total failure of in vitro fertilization / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the outcome of the combination of short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation with early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) after complete failure of in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation and overnight fertilization for the oocytes obtained from 10 IVF-ET cycles, and compared the fertilization results and embryo quality. We conducted polar body observation following short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation for 105 conventional IVF cycles, and evaluated the clinical outcome of early rescue ICSI for total fertilization failure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were noted in fertilization outcome and embryo quality between the 3 h short-period and overnight fertilizations (P > 0.05). The combined strategy achieved a clinical pregnancy rate of 53.3%, an implantation rate of 38.0%, with 64 babies born, of whom 44.8% were taken home.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination of short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation with early rescue ICSI can significantly improve the clinical outcome in patients who have experienced complete failure of in vitro fertilization.</p>

Effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analyzed the blastocyst formation of the surplus embryos from 2 135 patients, who were divided according to fertilization methods into an IVF (n=1803) and an ICSI group (n=332), the former again allocated to a normal fertilization (n=1642) and a rescue fertilization group (n=161), and the latter, according to sperm sources, to an ejaculated (n=248), an epididymal (n=70) and a testicular sperm group (n=14). The rates of blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocysts were compared between different fertilization methods and sperm sources.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1884 blastocysts (28.87%) formed from 6525 surplus embryos of the patients after sequential culture, of which 974 (51.70%) were good-quality ones. The blastocyst formation rate of surplus embryos was significantly higher in the IVF (30.14%) than in the ICSI group (21.40%, P < 0.05), the rate of good-quality blastocysts was also higher in the former (52.44%) than in the latter (45.54%), but with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The rates of blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocysts were significantly higher in the normal (31.04% and 53.28%) than in the rescue fertilization IVF group (20.38% and 38.54%, P < 0.05), and in the testicular sperm ICSI group (30.23% and 53.85%) than in either the epididymal (18.36% and 42.11%) or the ejaculated sperm ICSI group (21.76% and 45.70%) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The development potential of surplus embryos was higher in IVF than in ICSI, in the normal than in the rescue fertilization IVF group, and in the testicular than in the epididymal and ejaculated sperm ICSI groups.</p>

Sperm DNA damage and assisted reproductive technology / 中华男科学杂志

With the introduction of assisted reproductive technology (ART), sperm assessment has developed progressively, from conventional semen routine tests to novel cellular and molecular measures. Sperm DNA damage is a new marker of male fertility, whose genetic mechanism involves abnormal package and segregation of chromatin, oxidative stress, abnormal cell apoptosis, etc. Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) is one of the common techniques to measure sperm DNA damage. Sperm DNA damage might be associated with the pregnancy outcome of ART, recurrent spontaneous abortion and potential genetic risk of ICSI offspring. Some treatment strategies might reduce the percentage of sperm DNA damage and increase the success rate of ART, including oral administration of antioxygen drugs, ICSI with testis sperm, sperm freezing and preservation, removing of etiological factors, traditional Chinese medicine, and so on. This review focuses on the mechanism and detection of sperm DNA damage, its association with reproductive outcomes, and relevant treatment strategies in assisted reproductive technology.

Application of GnRH-antagonist to IVF-ET for patients with poor ovarian response / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the outcomes achieved by GnRH-antagonist and GnRH-agonist in IVF-ET for patients with poor ovarian responses, and to find out a better protocol for ovulation stimulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) Patients with poor ovarian responses were assigned to an experimental (n = 63) and a control group (n = 58), treated respectively with GnRH-Ant and oral contraceptive plus micro-dose GnRH-a (OC + GnRH-a), and comparisons were made of the medication doses, laboratory results and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. (2) Twenty of the patients were treated first with GnRH-Ant and then with OC + GnRH-a, and the same comparisons were made between the two protocols.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Between the experimental and the control groups, there were no significant differences in the dose of Gn and number of retrieved oocytes and transplanted embryos (P > 0.05), nor in the pregnancy rate of transplantation cycles (37.29% vs 35.29%). The cycle cancellation rate was lower in the experimental than in the control group (6.35% vs 12.07%), with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The cycle duration was significantly different between the two groups ([9.65 +/- 1.60] d vs [19.05 +/- 3.94] d) (P < 0.05). As for the comparison of GnRH-Ant with GnRH-a, no significant differences were observed in the dose of Gn and the numbers of retrieved oocytes and transplanted embryos (P > 0.05). GnRH-Ant achieved a higher pregnancy rate of transplantation cycles but a significantly lower cancellation rate than GnRH-a (38.09% vs 17.64% and 0% vs 15%) (P > 0.05 and P < 0.01), respectively. The cycle duration of the former was statistically shorter than that of the latter ([9.91 +/- 2.49] d vs [27.74 +/- 25.39] d) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with micro-dose GnRH-a, GnRH-Ant can shorten the cycle duration and reduce the cancellation rate in IVF-ET for patients with poor response. And for those who have failed to respond to GnRH-a, GnRH-Ant may be tried in another attempt at IVF-ET.</p>

Establishment of human embryonic stem cell line NJGLLhES1 / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report the derivation and characterization of a new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line NJGLLhES1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From the inner cell mass of frozen-thawed human embryos and with ICR mouse embryonic fibroblasts as the feeder layer, we established a new human embryonic stem cell line, which was named NJGLLhES1. We detected the karyotype of the cell line, determined the expressions of alkaline phosphatase, the specific cell surface antigens SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 and the marker gene Oct-4, and examined the formation of embryoids and teratomas.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NJGLLhES1 was maintained for over 1 year in vitro, with the morphological characteristics of hESC, a normal karyotype, positive expressions of alkaline phosphatase and specific cell marker genes, and the potential of forming embryoids and teratomas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A new human embryonic stem cell line NJGLLhES1 was successfully established, which remains karyotypically and phenotypically stable, undifferentiated and capable of self-renewal and pluripotential differentiation.</p>

Application of acupuncture compound anesthesia in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe analgesic effect and safety of acupuncture compound anesthesia in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and sixteen cases undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly allocated to an acupuncture compound anesthesia group (n = 146) and a simple Pethidine group (n = 170). They received respectively electroacupuncture combined with intramuscular injection of Pethidine and simple intramuscular injection of Pethidine 30 min before oocyte retrieval.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The acupuncture compound anesthesia group was significantly better than the simple Pethidine group in the pain rating and pain score (P < 0.01); the incidence rate of abdominal pain at 1 h and 2-5 h after oocyte retrieval in the acupuncture compound anesthesia group was lower than that in the simple Pethidine group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval, acupuncture compound anesthesia has the advances of safety, high effectiveness, rapid recovery after oocyte retrieval, and few side effects.</p>

Laser-assisted immobilization causes no direct damage to sperm DNA / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether laser-assisted immobilization of sperm damages sperm DNA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three semen samples were selected from an IVF program. Then normal spermatozoa were obtained by swimming-up method and immobilized with the tail by 0.45 ms pulse laser. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) were used to detect sperm DNA damage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference either before and after laser treatment in the percentage of TUNEL-positive spermatozoa ([1.32 +/- 0.61]% vs [1.41 +/- 0.51]%, P > 0.05) or in SCGE ([1.59 +/- 0.70]% vs [1.83 +/- 0.68]%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Laser-assisted sperm immobilization may cause no direct damage to the sperm DNA.</p>

Establishment of autologous endometrial coculture and sequential system for human early embryo culture / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a coculture and a sequential system for human early embryo culture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The endometrial tissue was digested enzymatically and cultured to achieve generated and cryo-thawed endometrial monolayer cells. The generated and cryo-thawed monolayer cells were cocultured with human 2PN embryos and transferred to sequential medium every 48 hours.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Human endometrial cells had viability in vitro culture. The autologously generated and cryo-thawed monolayer cells were successfully obtained, and 74.04% of the cryo-thawed cells were successfully used in coculturing human early embryos. The embryos developed well, with the clinical pregnancy rate of 68.83% and the implantation rate of 44.23%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The autologous endometrial cell coculture and sequential culture system for human early embryo development provides a feasible method for studying human embryo development and implantation so as to improve embryo quality.</p>

Influence of two different vitrification cryopreservation methods on spindles of mouse oocytes / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of two different vitrification cryopreservation methods on the spindles of mouse M II oocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three groups were included in the experiment, Group A, Group B and the control ( fresh oocytes). Mouse oocytes were vitrified by using cryoloop, with ethylene glycol( EG) in Group A and with EG + dimethyl sulphoxide ( DMSO) in Group B as cryoprotectants, and then the oocytes were placed directly into liquid nitrogen. Three hours after the frozen oocytes were thawed they were fixed, and the microtubule and chromosome were stained by indirect immunofluorescent method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival rates of the oocytes after treated by the two vitrification cryopreservation methods had no difference ( 80. 3% vs 87. 5% , P > 0. 05) . The rate of the intact spindles in Group A was much lower than that of the control and Group B ( 15. 2% vs 78.7% , 15. 2% vs 77. 5% , P < 0. 05). But there was no difference between the latter two groups (78. 7% vs 77. 5% , P >0. 05). The oocytes with normal chromosome in Group A were much less than in the control and Group B (17.4% vs 76. 6% , 17. 4% vs 72. 5% , P <0. 05) , with no difference between the latter two groups(76. 6% vs 72. 5% , P >0. 05) ; The oocytes with abnormal chromosome were more in Group A than in the control and Group B (82. 6% vs 19. 1% , 82. 6% vs 27. 5% , P <0. 05) , with no difference between the latter two groups (19.1% vs 27.5% , P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The changed vitrification cryopreservation method helps conserve the intact spindle configuration of mouse oocytes.</p>