A low-cost culture- and DNA extraction-free method for the molecular detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva.

Molecular methods have improved the sensitivity of the detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva. However, they typically require sample culture enrichment and nucleic acid extraction prior to performing the detection assay and may limit scalability for extensive surveillance of pneumococcus, particularly in low-resource settings. We evaluated the performance of a DNA-extraction-free method for the detection of pneumococcus in saliva. We developed a streamlined qPCR-based protocol for the detection of pneumococcus, omitting culture enrichment and DNA extraction. Using saliva samples collected from children attending childcare centers (New Haven, CT, USA), we evaluated the detection of pneumococcus using saliva lysates as compared to purified DNA extracted from culture-enriched aliquots of the paired samples using qPCR targeting the pneumococcal piaB gene. Of the 759 saliva samples tested from 92 children [median age 3.65 years; IQR (2.46-4.78)], pneumococcus was detected in 358 (47.2%) saliva lysates prepared using the extraction-free protocol and in 369 (48.6%) DNA extracted from culture-enriched samples. We observed near-perfect agreement between the two protocols (Cohen's kappa: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90-0.95). Despite a high correlation between CT values generated by the two methods (r = 0.93, P < 0.0001), the CT values generated from saliva lysates were higher (lower concentration) than those from culture-enriched samples (ΔCT = 6.69, P < 0.00001). The cost of detecting pneumococcus using saliva lysates was at least fivefold lower (US$2.53) compared to the cost of the culture-enriched method (range: US$13.60-US$19.46). For pneumococcal carriage surveillance in children, our findings suggest that a DNA extraction-free approach may offer a cost-effective alternative to the resource-intensive culture-enrichment method.IMPORTANCESurveillance for carriage of pneumococcus is a key component of evaluating the performance of pneumococcal vaccines and informing new vaccination strategies. To improve the scalability of pneumococcal carriage surveillance, we show that molecular detection of pneumococcus in saliva from children can be performed without culture enrichment and DNA extraction. Our findings show that using the extraction-free method can improve surveillance efforts for pneumococcal carriage in children, overcoming the resource-intensive hurdle that comes with the use of molecular methods, particularly in low-resource settings.

Noncontact optical device for measuring blood glucose in aqueous humor: a pilot clinical study investigating correlation with blood glucose levels.

Significance: Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial for individuals with diabetes. Noninvasive methods for measuring serum glucose levels have been explored to aid in blood glucose control for diabetes management. Aim: We introduced a noncontact optical glucometer (NCGM) for measuring glucose levels in the aqueous humor of the human eye. We also investigated the correlation between glucose levels in the NCGM and the aqueous humor, blood samples, and self-monitoring blood glucose devices. Approach: The optical system used in this study measured both the near-infrared absorption and polarized rotatory distribution of glucose molecules in the human aqueous humor. This prospective study's outcomes were eye aqueous glucose level, preoperative blood glucose level, intraoperative blood glucose level, and NCGM reading of patients in a single center in Taiwan. Results: The NCGM's measurements showed a strong correlation with blood glucose levels (intra-class correlation [ICC]: 0.95 to 0.98) and aqueous humor glucose levels (ICC: 0.76), indicating its ability to noninvasively measure blood glucose levels in human subjects. Conclusions: This NCGM may offer a convenient, pain-free, and rapid tool for measuring blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. The device could represent a significant advancement in noncontact hybrid optical glucose measurement systems.

Association of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and the risk of retinal vascular occlusion: A real-world retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

AIMS: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are proposed to alleviate the development of inflammatory eye diseases. However, the association between SGLT2i and retinal vascular occlusion remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the effects of SGLT2i on the incidence of retinal vascular occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analysed electronic medical records data from the largest multi-institutional database in Taiwan. Individuals who initiated SGLT2is and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4is) between 2016 and 2019 were included in our analysis. To conduct a homogenous comparison, inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scoring was employed. The primary outcome was retinal vascular occlusion, and the secondary outcomes were retinal vascular occlusion-related complications (macular oedema, vitreous haemorrhage, and tractional retinal detachment) and conditions requiring vitreoretinal intervention (intravitreal injection, retinal laser therapy, and vitrectomy). RESULTS: In total, 12,074 SGLT2i users and 39,318 DPP4i users were included. The incidence rate of retinal vascular occlusion in the SGLT2i and DPP4i groups was 1.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-1.4) and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.3-1.8) events per 1000 person-years, respectively, which yielded a subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.55-0.99). Similar risk reductions were observed in the retinal vascular occlusion-related complications (SHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69-0.84) and conditions requiring vitreoretinal intervention (SHR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-institutional study in Taiwan, SGLT2i use was associated with a reduced risk of retinal vascular occlusion. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain this association.

Real-world effectiveness of intravitreal dexamethasone implants - Comparison between eyes eligible and ineligible for clinical trials and their associated outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Concerns about the generalizability of pivotal randomized controlled trials (pRCTs) findings have been raised. We aimed to compare intravitreal dexamethasone implants' (IDIs) effectiveness for diabetic macular edema (DME) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), between eyes eligible and ineligible for pRCTs. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed Taiwan's Chang Gung Research Database, including DME or CRVO eyes initiating IDIs during 2015-2020. We classified all treated eyes as eligible or ineligible for pRCTs following major selection criteria of the MEAD and GENEVA trials, and evaluated three-, six-, and twelve-month changes in central retinal thickness (CRT) and visual acuity (VA) after initiating IDIs. RESULTS: We included 177 IDI-treated eyes (DME: 72.3%; CRVO: 27.7%), of which 39.8% and 55.1% were ineligible for DME and CRVO pRCTs, respectively. LogMAR-VA and CRT changes at different times were comparable in DME eyes eligible (LogMAR-VA difference: 0.11 to 0.16; CRT difference: -32.7 to -96.9 µm) and ineligible (LogMAR-VA difference: -0.01 to 0.15; CRT difference: -54.5 to -109.3 µm) for the MEAD trial. By contrast, CRVO eyes ineligible for the GENEVA trial had greater LogMAR-VA changes (0.37 ~ 0.50) than those eligible (0.05 ~ 0.13), with comparable CRT reductions (eligible eyes: -72.3 to -106.4 µm; ineligible eyes: -61.8 to -110.7 µm) (all p-values <0.05 of the mean differences between eligible and ineligible CRVO eyes for all follow-ups). CONCLUSIONS: IDIs had similar VA and CRT outcomes among DME eyes, regardless of pRCT-eligibility. However, among CRVO eyes, those ineligible for pRCTs showed greater deterioration in VA than those eligible.

Clinical Characteristics and Genetic Variants in Taiwanese Patients With PROM1-Related Inherited Retinal Disorders.

Purpose: This study investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with PROM1-related inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Methods: Patients diagnosed with IRDs who had mutations in PROM1 were identified at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in Taiwan. Information on clinical characteristics and best-corrected visual acuity was recorded. Color fundus (CF) images, fundus autofluorescence photography (FAF), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and electroretinograms (ERGs) were analyzed to examine patient phenotypes. PROM1 variants were detected using whole exome sequencing and verified by Sanger sequencing. Results: Fourteen patients from nine families with PROM1-related IRDs were analyzed. Most patients exhibited chorioretinal atrophy in the macular area, with or without extramacular involvement on CF. Similarly, hypo-autofluorescence confined to the macular area, with or without extramacular involvement, was present for most patients on FAF. Furthermore, SD-OCT revealed outer retinal tubulations and focal or diffuse retinal thinning. ERGs showed variable findings, including maculopathy with normal ERG, subnormal cone response, and extinguished rod and cone responses. We detected five variants of the PROM1 gene, including c.139del, c.794del, c.1238T>A, c.2110C>T, and c.1117C>T. Conclusions: In this study, we evaluated 14 Taiwanese patients with five PROM1 variants. Additionally, incomplete penetrance of heterozygous PROM1 variants was observed. Furthermore, patients with autosomal dominant PROM1 variants had lesions in the macular area and the peripheral region of the retina. SD-OCT serves as a useful tool for early detection of PROM1-related IRDs, as it captures certain signs of such diseases.

Association between Dupilumab and Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Conjunctivitis is commonly reported in dupilumab users with atopic dermatitis (AD), and few studies have compared the risk of conjunctivitis among patients with different indications. This study aimed to investigate the association between dupilumab and conjunctivitis in various diseases. The protocol of this study was registered on PROSPERO (ID CRD42023396204). The electronic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted for the period from their inception to January 2023. Only placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The main outcome was the incidence of conjunctivitis during the study period. The subgroup analysis was performed for patients with AD and non-AD indications, which include asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and eosinophilic esophagitis. In total, 23 RCTs involving 9153 patients were included for meta-analysis. Dupilumab users exhibited significantly higher risk of conjunctivitis (risk ratio [RR], 1.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-2.67) than placebo users. Notably, significantly increased incidence of conjunctivitis was observed in the dupilumab group relative to the placebo group among patients with AD (RR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.84-3.12) but not among patients with non-AD indications (RR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.43-1.13). In conclusion, only dupilumab users with AD but not those with non-AD indications reported an elevated incidence of conjunctivitis.

Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy between Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists.

BACKGROUND: To compare risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) between patients taking sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and those taking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) in routine care. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study emulating a target trial included patient data from the multi-institutional Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan. Totally, 33,021 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using SGLT2is and GLP1-RAs between 2016 and 2019 were identified. 3,249 patients were excluded due to missing demographics, age <40 years, prior use of any study drug, a diagnosis of retinal disorders, a history of receiving vitreoretinal procedure, no baseline glycosylated hemoglobin, or no follow-up data. Baseline characteristics were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scores. DR diagnoses and vitreoretinal interventions served as the primary outcomes. Occurrence of proliferative DR and DR receiving vitreoretinal interventions were regarded as vision-threatening DR. RESULTS: There were 21,491 SGLT2i and 1,887 GLP1-RA users included for the analysis. Patients receiving SGLT2is and GLP-1 RAs exhibited comparable rate of any DR (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79 to 1.03), whereas the rate of proliferative DR (SHR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.68) was significantly lower in the SGLT2i group. Also, SGLT2i users showed significantly reduced risk of composite surgical outcome (SHR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.70). CONCLUSION: Compared to those taking GLP1-RAs, patients receiving SGLT2is had a lower risk of proliferative DR and vitreoretinal interventions, although the rate of any DR was comparable between the SGLT2i and GLP1-RA groups. Thus, SGLT2is may be associated with a lower risk of vision-threatening DR but not DR development.

The Association of Intravitreal Injections of Different Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor with Systemic Outcomes in Diabetic Patients.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the systemic effects of three commonly available anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections in patients with diabetes, using data taken from a multi-institutional database in Taiwan. Patient data were sourced from the multi-institutional Chang Gung Research Database. Participants were divided into groups based on treatment with bevacizumab, ranibizumab, or aflibercept. Baseline characteristics were matched among the groups by the inverse probability of treatment weighting. The incidence rate of outcome events was calculated as the number of events divided by 100 person-years of follow-up. The cumulative incidence function was used to estimate the incidence rate of the outcome events among groups. The incidence of ischemic stroke was higher in the ranibizumab group than the bevacizumab and aflibercept groups (1.65, 0.92, and 0.61 per 100 person-years, respectively). The incidence of major adverse lower-limb events was higher in the bevacizumab group (2.95), followed by ranibizumab (2.00) and aflibercept (0.74). Major bleeding was relatively higher in bevacizumab (12.1) compared to ranibizumab (4.3) and aflibercept (3.8). All-cause death was higher for both bevacizumab (3.26) and aflibercept (2.61) when compared to ranibizumab (0.55), and all-cause admission was found to be highest with bevacizumab (58.6), followed by aflibercept (30.2), and ranibizumab (27.6). The bevacizumab group demonstrated a greater decrease in glycated hemoglobin compared to the baseline level (-0.33%). However, a few differences in the clinical condition between the groups were still observed after matching. In conclusion, this study suggests that different anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents may be associated with various and differing systemic adverse events. The differences might also be attributed to differences in patient characteristics and clinical status.

Systemic Outcomes of Intravitreal Injections of Dexamethasone and Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

INTRODUCTION: Intravitreal dexamethasone and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications have revolutionized ocular disease management and favorable ocular safety profiles, but few studies have compared their systemic adverse events (SAEs). This study investigated the SAEs of intravitreal dexamethasone and anti-VEGFs by using real-world data. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study sourced medical records from the largest multi-institutional database in Taiwan. Patients who received intravitreal dexamethasone (n = 137) or anti-VEGFs (n = 10,345) between 2014 and 2019 were enrolled. Propensity score matching was performed to achieve homogeneity between the two groups. Subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the Fine-Gray model. Systemic as well as ocular clinical events and systemic biomarkers after 1-year follow-up were compared. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated comparable risks of major cardiac adverse events (SHR 1.57, 95% CI 0.29-8.55), heart failure (SHR 0.62, 95% CI 0.07-5.33), major bleeding (SHR 0.23, 95% CI 0.03-1.77), all-cause admission (SHR 0.73, 95% CI 0.41-1.30), and all-cause death (SHR 2.11, 95% CI 0.35-12.71). There were no significant differences in longitudinal changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein, estimated glomerular filtration rate, or alanine aminotransferase between the groups. Both groups had a similar incidence of cataract surgery. Although the dexamethasone group exhibited a relatively high prevalence of antiglaucomatous medication use, there was not a significantly higher incidence of glaucoma surgery. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal dexamethasone and anti-VEGF medications had comparable systemic safety profiles in our study. Both drugs represent efficacious and safe therapies for ocular diseases.

Cross-protective humoral immunity to coronaviruses from SARS coronavirus 2-naïve sera of children with Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVES: SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children indicates that viruses can trigger a Kawasaki disease (KD)-like hyperinflammation. A plausible hypothesis was that coronavirus-specific 'holes' in humoral immunity could cause both diseases. METHODS: To determine whether SARS-CoV-2-naïve patients with KD have inferior humoral immunity for the novel coronavirus, sera of children with KD and control children from year 2015 to 2021 were subjected to ELISA, microwestern, and neutralization assays to evaluate the capabilities in recognizing the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, spotting spike proteins of three respiratory syndromic coronaviruses, and blocking SARS-CoV-2 from binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in vitro, respectively. RESULTS: 29 patients with KD before 2019, 74 patients with KD in 2019 or 2020, 54 non-febrile controls, and 24 febrile controls were included in the study. SARS-CoV-2 was recognized on ELISA for both patients with KD in 2016 and those with KD in 2020. Microwestern demonstrated cross-reactive IgG in an all-or-none manner towards three spike proteins of syndromic coronaviruses regardless of sample year or KD status. The ratio between the sera that recognized all spike proteins and those that recognized none (51 vs. 47) was significantly higher from patients with KD than from non-febrile controls (17 vs. 32; p 0.047) but not from febrile controls (13 vs. 11; p 0.85). Most positive sera (12 of 17 controls, 5 of 8 patients with KD before 2019, and 28 of 33 patients with KD in 2019 or 2020) offered protection comparable to low-titre sera from the WHO reference panel. DISCUSSION: Humoral immunity of SARS-CoV-2-naïve children with KD was not inferior to that of controls in offering cross-protection against the novel coronavirus.

Combinatorial Analysis of Circulating Biomarkers and Maternal Characteristics for Preeclampsia Prediction in the First and Third Trimesters in Asia.

We aim to establish a prediction model for pregnancy outcomes through a combinatorial analysis of circulating biomarkers and maternal characteristics to effectively identify pregnant women with higher risks of preeclampsia in the first and third trimesters within the Asian population. A total of two hundred and twelve pregnant women were screened for preeclampsia through a multicenter study conducted in four recruiting centers in Taiwan from 2017 to 2020. In addition, serum levels of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, miR-181a, miR-210 and miR-223 were measured and transformed into multiples of the median. We thus further developed statistically validated algorithmic models by designing combinations of different maternal characteristics and biomarker levels. Through the performance of the training cohort (0.848 AUC, 0.73−0.96 95% CI, 80% sensitivity, 85% specificity, p < 0.001) and the validation cohort (0.852 AUC, 0.74−0.98 95% CI, 75% sensitivity, 87% specificity, p < 0.001) from one hundred and fifty-two women with a combination of miR-210, miR-181a and BMI, we established a preeclampsia prediction model for the first trimester. We successfully identified pregnant women with higher risks of preeclampsia in the first and third trimesters in the Asian population using the established prediction models that utilized combinatorial analysis of circulating biomarkers and maternal characteristics.

The Exploration of miRNAs From Porcine Fallopian Tube Stem Cells on Porcine Oocytes.

Fallopian tube is essential to fertilization and embryonic development. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from Fallopian tube containing biological regulatory factors, such as lipids, proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as the key role. At present, studies on oocytes from porcine oviduct and components from EVs remain limited. We aim to explore the effect of EVs secreted by porcine fallopian tube stem cells (PFTSCs) on oocyte. When the fifth-generation PFTSCs reached 80-90% of confluency, the pig in vitro maturation medium was utilized, and the conditioned medium collected for oocyte incubations. To realize the functions of EVs, several proteins were used to determine whether extracted EVs were cell-free. Field emission scanning electron microscope and nanoparticle tracking analyzer were used to observe the morphology. By next generation sequencing, 267 miRNAs were identified, and those with higher expression were selected to analyze the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment maps. The selected miR-152-3p, miR-148a-3p, miR-320a-3p, let-7f-5p, and miR-22-3p, were predicted to target Cepb1 gene affecting MAPK pathway. Of the five miRNAs, miR-320a-3p showed significant difference in maturation rate in vitro maturation. The blastocyst rate of pig embryos was also significantly enhanced by adding 50 nM miR-320a-3p. In vitro culture with miR-320a-3p, the blastocyst rate was significantly higher, but the cleavage rate and cell numbers were not. The CM of PFTSCs effectively improves porcine oocyte development. The miRNAs in EVs are sequenced and identified. miR-320a-3p not only helps the maturation, but also increases the blastocyst rates.

Maternal outcome of selective feticide due to fetal anomaly in late trimester: A retrospective 10 years' experience in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Feticide was suggested to avoid delivering children with abnormalities. Recently, twin pregnancies have increased. Selective feticide was proposed to achieve a good outcome of pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of feticide in twin pregnancy with fetal anomaly. METHODS: This was a retrospective study enrolled from 2009 to 2018. A total of 68 pregnancies with fetal anomalies received feticide. Potassium chloride was injected into the left ventricle to induce fetal asystole. Maternal and fetal characteristics of 16 dichorionic twins were documented to compare before and after 24th gestational week. RESULTS: All pregnant women received feticide without any maternal or fetal complication. The reasons for choosing feticide were divided into four groups, including morphologic defect (61.8%), genetic-chromosomal abnormality (30.9%), obstetrical complication (5.9%), and maternal request (1.5%). Mean gestational age at delivery was significantly higher in dichorionic twins who underwent selective feticide before than after 24th gestational week (36.7 vs 33.4, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Intracardiac injection of potassium chloride was effective for feticide and safe for mothers and fetuses. Selective feticide served as an alternative approach for twin pregnancy with fetal anomaly after sufficient discussion.

Taiwanese Clinical Experience with Noninvasive Prenatal Testing for DiGeorge Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is associated with microdeletions of chromosome 22q11. It is the second most common cause of congenital heart disease and is an important consideration whenever a conotruncal cardiac anomaly is identified. The availability of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is altering the practice of prenatal genetics and maternal-fetal medicine, resulting in a decline in invasive testing. Antenatal ultrasound and other biomarkers have their own limitation. NIPT was proposed to screen DGS with cell-free DNA in Taiwan. Here, we present our experience of prenatal diagnosis of DGS in our center. METHODS: This was a retrospective study between November 1, 2019, and August 31, 2020, in Taiwan. Data were collected from 7,826 pregnant women self-referred for DGS screening with massive parallel shotgun sequencing-based NIPT. High-risk cases subsequently received amniocentesis for array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to confirm the diagnosis. Characteristics of pregnancies were documented when participants received the test. Report of NIPT was completed 2 weeks after the test. Follow-up on high-risk cases was completed by telephone interview on January 30, 2021. RESULTS: Thirteen cases showed high risk by NIPT, and 7 cases were confirmed by aCGH. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64.57-100.00%) and 99.92% (95% CI 99.83-99.96%). The prevalence of DGS was 1 in 1,118 pregnancies. The positive predictive rate was 53.85% (95% CI 29.14-76.79%). One true positive (TP) showed US anomaly, and 5 TPs selected termination. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: NIPT demonstrated good performance in DGS screening. Detection of 22q11.2 deletion could be combined with routine screening to facilitate proper intervention.

Fallopian tube stem cell medium of porcine and bovine: In vitro regenerative effect on maturation and parthenogenesis of porcine oocytes.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been widely developed over the decades. This advanced technology has shown efficacy in the conception and breeding of an animal. However, several issues such as polyspermy, low maturation rate, and low development rate in vitro remain unresolved. Fallopian tube derived cells are proposed to promote the maturation and development of oocyte. This study aims to characterize porcine (PFTSC) and bovine fallopian tube stem cell (BFTSC) while comparing allogeneic and xenogeneic paracrine effects on porcine oocyte. FTSC of Taiwan yellow cattle (B. indicus) and porcine (Landrace x Yorkshire dam x Duroc) were isolated and identified. Conditioned media (Medium 199 or PZM-3) from porcine and bovine was collected and added to porcine cells during in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro culture (IVC). Both PFTSC and BFTSC expressed little CD44, CD105, and CD4. Both cells were induced to transform into chondrocytes, very few cells gave rise to osteocytes and adipocytes. IVM test showed a significant elevation of maturation rate in both groups (Porcine: 66.5 ± 3.5% > 55.9 ± 1.7%, p < .05; Bovine: 68.9 ± 2.3% > 55.9 ± 1.7%, p < .05). IVC test demonstrated markedly reduction of blastocyst in both groups. In a diluted conditioned medium with different concentration, 25% and 50% PFTSC showed a decrease in blastocyst rate which is significantly different, but BFTSC demonstrated no significant difference. PFTSC and BFTSC possessed properties of stem cells. Conditioned media from both PFTSC and BFTSC could improve maturation rate but not blastocyst rate in vitro.

From non-invasive to invasive fetal therapy: A comprehensive review and current update.

"Fetus as patient" indicates fundamental concept of fetal therapy. With advance in maternal serum analysis and fetal imaging, prenatal screening has become standard of care. Accurate diagnosis in early gestation allows intervention to reverse pathophysiology and delay progression immediately. Non-invasive, minimally invasive and invasive therapies demonstrate their therapeutic potential in certain diseases. Recently, stem cell and gene therapies have been developed to avoid irreversible impairment. To elevate efficacy of treatment modality, extensive studies should be conducted according to regulatory authority. Striking a balance between scientific and ethical integrity is essential, so long-term follow up should be arranged for protecting mother and fetus.