Efficiency of human oocyte slow freezing: results from five assisted reproduction centres.

It has been demonstrated previously that freezing oocytes within 2 h of retrieval increases the efficiency of cryopreservation via a slow-freezing/rapid-thawing protocol with 0.3 mol/l sucrose (SF/RT 0.3). The aim of this multicentre survey was to verify this observation on a larger scale. This was a retrospective study on the clinical outcome of 510 SF/RT 0.3 cycles divided into two groups: group A, freezing oocytes within 2 h of retrieval; group B, freezing oocytes more than 2 h after retrieval. The rate of best-quality embryos was significantly higher (33.24%) in group A than in group B (16.20%, P < 0.001). Pregnancy and implantation rates were 30.07% and 15.08% in group A versus 8.97% and 4.57% in group B (P < 0.001). Clinical pregnancy rates per thawed and per injected oocyte in group A were 5.53% and 10.41%, versus 1.46% and 2.77% in group B (P < 0.001). The overall yield from oocytes cryopreserved within 2 h of retrieval (group A) was 6.49 implantations per 100 oocytes thawed versus 1.74 for group B (P < 0.001). Embryo quality, pregnancy and implantation rates, and clinical efficiency of thawing cycles were all significantly improved when cryopreservation was carried out within 2 h of oocyte retrieval.

CA-125 serum level in the diagnosis of pelvic masses: comparison with other methods.

The Authors have evaluated the diagnostic contribution offered by the serum dosage of the antigen CA-125 in the diagnostics of pelvic masses. This method has been compared with the objective and echographic evaluation, as a noninvasive method of enquiry in the diagnosis of malignant neoplasias of the ovary. The Authors endorse the increase in diagnostic sensitivity brought about by the evaluation of this marker, above all if it is inserted into an integrated diagnosis.

What are the most suitable fetoplacental tests in the monitoring of the third trimester of pregnancy?

The case-series of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were examined to evaluate the suitability of urinary estriol, total plasma estriol, unconjugated plasma estriol, unconjugated plasma estetrol, plasma placental lactogen, plasma S.P.-1 glycoprotein, plasma alphafetoprotein and biparietal diameter in correctly forecasting the perinatal risk, when performed after the 25th week of pregnancy. In high-risk pregnancies, according to our results, S.P.-1 glycoprotein and urinary estriol are the most sensitive tests, while S.P.-1 glycoprotein, placental lactogen and biparietal diameter are found to have the highest predictive value. The repetition of the considered tests increases their sensitivity, but not their predictive value. In pregnancy mass screening the most suitable tests, on the basis of the "relative risk" are S.P.-1 glycoprotein (or even placental lactogen), estriol and biparietal diameter. For the last one a single measurement seems to be enough during the third trimester.