Embryo blastulation and quality between days 5 and 6 of extended embryo culture.

PURPOSE: This study aims to know what proportion of culture day 5 pre-blastocyst-stage embryos develop into blastocysts by culture day 6 and what patient and cycle characteristics are associated with delayed blastocyst formation. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort analysis was performed including a total of 9886 embryos from 1008 IVF cycles in 835 patients, who underwent treatment between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. Autologous fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles at a single academic center were included in the analysis. Embryos were group-cultured using single-step culture media. Blastulation was defined as the presence of a new blastocyst. Usable blastulation was defined as the presence of a new good or excellent quality, expanded, hatching, or hatched blastocysts. RESULTS: The mean blastulation rate between days 5 and 6 of extended embryo culture was 30.9%. The mean percentage of embryos developing into usable blastocyst-stage embryos was 19.8%. The factors associated with blastulation on day 6 included the total number of embryos and the number of pre-blastocysts on day 5, as well as the use of ICSI. Age, the number of total embryos, those remained in culture and pre-blastocysts, as well as the blastulation rate on day 5 were associated with usable blastulation. CONCLUSION: It is important to know the usable blastocyst development rate between culture days 5 and 6 in order to adequately counsel patients debating whether to proceed with fresh ET on day 5 or forego ET with the expectation that embryos will be biopsied for PGT and/or cryopreserved on culture day 6. Our findings provide evidence to help guide patients in this difficult decision.

Impact of male age on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology cycles using donor oocytes.

This study assessed the influence of the age of the male partner on the outcome of oocyte donation cycles. A total of 408 couples participating in 519 consecutive anonymous oocyte donation cycles were examined. Main outcome measures were fertilization rate, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage and live birth rates, as well as the total reproductive potential, which estimates the outcome from fresh and cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfers. A total of 241 cycles resulted in clinical pregnancy (48.5% of transfers). The mean embryo score for transferred embryos (ESTE) was higher in cycles resulting in pregnancy (P=0.003). Semen volume (P<0.001), sperm motility (P<0.001) and fertilization rate (P=0.04) decreased significantly with advanced male age, which did not correlate with mean ESTE or implantation rate. Fertilization rate was the only predictor of ESTE (B=16.066, P=0.012), whereas inseminated/retrieved egg ratio was the only predictor of implantation rate (B=0.555, P=0.039). Pregnancy was only predicted by ESTE (Exp(B)=1.023, P<0.001), which also was the only predictor of live birth (Exp(B)=1.017, P=0.009). There was no predictor of miscarriage (47 cycles, 9.1%) identified. Although semen volume, sperm motility and fertilization rate decreased with advanced male age, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage and live birth rates were not affected.

Somatic cell apoptosis markers and pathways in human ejaculated sperm: potential utility as indicators of sperm quality.

In this study we extended earlier work to determine whether sperm respond to somatic cell apoptotic stimuli and whether apoptotic phenotypes are significant indicators of human sperm quality. We evaluated ejaculated sperm from fertile donors and subfertile patients following purification of fractions of high and low motility. In unstimulated conditions, caspase enzymatic activity was higher in motile fractions from subfertile patients than in donors, and was higher in low motility fractions from both groups. Staurosporine, but not a Fas ligand or H2O2, significantly increased caspase activity, but only in high motility fractions. Procaspase-3, -7 and -9 and low levels of active caspase-3, -7 and -9 were identified by immunoblot analysis. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was present in all samples but poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) was not detected. Phosphatidylserine translocation was significantly increased only with H2O2 treatment. In ejaculates of both subfertile and fertile men, we demonstrated the presence and activation of several proteins that are key constituents of apoptosis-related pathways in somatic cells, which may serve as markers for sperm quality.

Sperm DNA quality predicts intrauterine insemination outcome: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate whether sperm DNA quality may predict intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome. METHODS: The study was designed in a prospective cohort fashion, at a tertiary centre for reproductive medicine. A total of 119 patients underwent 154 cycles of IUI. Parameters related to demography, cycle management and semen sample used for IUI were evaluated. Conventional semen parameters, morphology (strict criteria), sperm DNA fragmentation and stability [evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and acridine orange staining under both acid and acid + heat denaturing conditions respectively] were measured. The main outcome measure was clinical pregnancy, defined as ultrasonographic visualization of intrauterine gestational sac(s). RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses were done on six sets of data, including all cycles combined, cycles with washed samples, first cycle of each couple, first cycle of each couple with washed samples, cycles stimulated with gonadotrophins and finally gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles with washed samples. The number of pre-ovulatory follicles on day of hCG, the age of the woman and the percentage of sperm with acid- + heat-resistant DNA were the parameters that predicted IUI outcome in most of these data subsets. For the gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles, age of the man appeared as a predictor as opposed to that of the woman; and for the cycles within this subgroup, where the semen sample was washed, sperm DNA fragmentation and age of the man were the only two parameters to predict IUI outcome. No samples with >12% of sperm having DNA fragmentation resulted in pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The number of follicles, age of the woman/man and sperm DNA quality may predict IUI outcome.

Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Clinical experience in a Turkish university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in predicting the presence of underlying squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) of the uterine cervix, and to determine the best follow-up method for these patients. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed 76 cases with cervical smears that had been labeled ASCUS over a 41-month period, 64 of which were also examined colposcopically. RESULTS: The 76 reported ASCUS cases represented 1.2% of all gynecologic cases diagnosed at our center during the same time period. Of the 64 patients who underwent colposcopy, 9 (14%) had low-grade SIL and 7 (11%) had high-grade SIL. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, ASCUS on a cervical smear is a good marker for detecting underlying SIL, and immediate colposcopy and directed biopsy are the most appropriate follow-up procedures.

Non-invasive early prenatal diagnosis using fluorescent in situ hybridization on transcervical cells: comparison of two different methods for retrieval.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the efficiencies of uterine and endocervical lavage to retrieve fetal cells from first trimester pregnancies for further analysis with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). STUDY DESIGN: Transcervical cell (TCC) samples were collected at 7-10 weeks of gestations by uterine lavage (13 women) and by endocervical lavage (12 women) who were scheduled for volunteer termination of pregnancy. A sample of placenta was also obtained for cytogenetic analysis to confirm the sex or genotype in the end of the procedure. FISH was performed using probes for the chromosomes 18, X and Y in a three color hybridization protocol. The statistical analysis included chi(2)-analysis, and t-test. RESULTS: Sufficient cells were obtained in 12 of the 13 (92.3%) in uterine lavage and 10 of the 12 (83.3%) in endocervical lavage group for FISH procedures for fetal sex prediction. The mean success rate of signal detection for FISH procedure was 91.7% (range 83-97%). Fetal sex was correctly predicted in 11 of 12 (91.6%) with uterine lavage and 8 of 10 (80.0%) in endocervical lavage and the difference was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that there are available cells of fetal origin in the lower part of the uterus and these cells may be collected successfully as early as 7 weeks of the gestation. In addition, our results show that endocervical lavage method is as effective as uterine lavage. FISH has been successfully used to detect status of aneuploidy and sex of the fetus from TCC.

Vaginectomy and laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy as adjunctive surgery for female-to-male transsexual reassignment: preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: Reassignment surgery of the female-to-male transsexual is a rarely performed surgical procedure that should involve a gynecologist's consultation and expertise. This study examines the experience with this type of surgery at Baskent University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from the gynecologists' point of view. STUDY DESIGN: Eight patients underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and total vaginectomy, followed by phallic construction. Patients were followed up for 9 to 30 months post-surgery. RESULTS: The average operative time for total vaginectomy and laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was 2 h and 20 min. The estimated average blood loss was 250 ml. Other than one bladder perforation, which was repaired immediately and healed uneventfully, we encountered no operative or postoperative complications linked to the gynecologic surgery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy seems to be useful in female-to-male transsexual surgery in allowing the preservation of structures vital for phallic construction, such as inferior epigastric vessels and the rectus abdominis muscle. The application of vaginectomy awaits justification through long-term follow-up studies of transsexuals who have undergone colpocleisis.

Desmoid tumor of the vulva. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Extraabdominal desmoid tumors are very rare; primary vulvar desmoid tumors are even rarer. CASE: A desmoid tumor involving the right labium majus, extending upward along the vaginal wall, was excised completely. CONCLUSION: These rare tumors, which may enlarge rapidly during pregnancy, are difficult to diagnose before surgery.

Malignant mixed mesodermal tumor arising in a benign cystic teratoma.

The occurrence of sarcoma in a benign cystic teratoma is very rare. We report the first poorly differentiated, malignant mixed mesodermal tumor with a component of rhabdomyosarcoma to arise in a benign cystic teratoma of the ovary. The tumor was staged as FIGO IC due to capsule invasion. Although combination chemotherapy of cisplatin, ifosfamide and mesna, was instituted, the disease took a rapidly progressive course. After an unusual metastasis to the scapula was detected, the patient deteriorated and died in the forth postoperative month.

Endometrial response to unopposed estrogens remains unaltered in patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis.

Most patients with chronic renal failure who are on maintenance hemodialysis are anovulatory and have menstrual abnormalities. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of organic causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in this group of patients exposed to unopposed estrogens. Eighteen patients with chronic renal failure and abnormal uterine bleeding underwent vacuum curettage. The histopathologic findings were compared with a group of 154 premenopausal women who had abnormal uterine bleeding without detectable organic causes. Excluding patients with secretory and atrophic endometrium, only 2 of 8 patients (25%) with chronic renal failure had endometrial lesions while 44 of 131 patients (33.6%) had either endometrial polyp, simple or atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial carcinoma (p > 0.05). The uremic environment caused by chronic renal failure does not alter the endometrial responsiveness to unopposed estrogens and may lead to the development of endometrial lesions.

A logistic regression model including DNA status and morphology of spermatozoa for prediction of fertilization in vitro.

To determine predictive values of routine semen analysis, sperm morphology evaluation using strict criteria and DNA status for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), 66 consecutive couples undergoing IVF in a university hospital IVF programme were prospectively investigated. Semen samples from 66 men were evaluated by routine semen analysis, morphology evaluation using strict criteria and acridine orange staining for determination of DNA status. A new technique is described for acridine orange scoring which consisted of evaluation of two smears per case, with and without heat treatment. Resistance to heat-provoked denaturation was determined by the difference between two evaluations. A logistic regression model was built and receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to determine the threshold values and to compare diagnostic properties. Morphology evaluation using strict criteria and concentration of progressively motile spermatozoa were found to be the principal parameters determining the sperm fertilizing capacity in vitro. The logistic regression model composed of morphology evaluation using strict criteria and acridine orange score had a powerful diagnostic capability for prediction of fertilization in vitro.

Extragenital malignant mixed mesodermal tumor: case report and review of the literature.

Malignant mixed mesodermal tumors rarely occur in extragenital sites. An 80-year-old patient presented with a malignant mixed mesodermal tumor, consisting of papillary serous adenocarcinoma and chondrosarcomatous components. The patient refused further treatment following surgery and died of disease 2.5 months later. Based on the present case and a review of the literature, primary extragenital malignant mixed mesodermal tumors prove to be rare but highly malignant neoplasms. Further data is yet to be gathered in order to determine the exact origin and behavior of these tumors.