Impact of follicular G-CSF quantification on subsequent embryo transfer decisions: a proof of concept study.

BACKGROUND: Previous experiments have shown that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), quantified in the follicular fluid (FF) of individual oocytes, correlates with the potential for an ongoing pregnancy of the corresponding fertilized oocytes among selected transferred embryos. Here we present a proof of concept study aimed at evaluating the impact of including FF G-CSF quantification in the embryo transfer decisions. METHODS: FF G-CSF was quantified with the Luminex XMap technology in 523 individual FF samples corresponding to 116 fresh transferred embryos, 275 frozen embryos and 131 destroyed embryos from 78 patients undergoing ICSI. RESULTS: Follicular G-CSF was highly predictive of subsequent implantation. The receiving operator characteristics curve methodology showed its higher discriminatory power to predict ongoing pregnancy in multivariate logistic regression analysis for FF G-CSF compared with embryo morphology [0.77 (0.69-0.83), P < 0.001 versus 0.66 (0.58-0.73), P = 0.01)]. Embryos were classified by their FF G-CSF concentration: Class I over 30 pg/ml (a highest positive predictive value for implantation), Class II from 30 to 18.4 pg/ml and Class III <18.4 pg/ml (a highest negative predictive value). Embryos derived from Class I follicles had a significantly higher implantation rate (IR) than those from Class II and III follicles (36 versus 16.6 and 6%, P < 0.001). Embryos derived from Class I follicles with an optimal morphology reached an IR of 54%. Frozen-thawed embryos transfer derived from Class I follicles had an IR of 37% significantly higher than those from Class II and III follicles, respectively, of 8 and 5% (P < 0.001). Thirty-five per cent of the frozen embryos but also 10% of the destroyed embryos were derived from G-CSF Class I follicles. Non-optimal embryos appear to have been transferred in 28% (22/78) of the women, and their pregnancy rate was significantly lower than that of women who received at least one optimal embryo (18 versus 36%, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring FF G-CSF for the selection of embryos with a better potential for pregnancy might improve the effectiveness of IVF by reducing the time and cost required for obtaining a pregnancy.

[Retrospective study--pregnancy after assisted medical reproduction from 2001 to 2009 at the Central Hospital of Luxembourg (first section)]. / Etude retrospective--suivis de grossesses après Procréation Médicalement Assistée (PMA) de 2001 à 2009 au Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (1re partie).

Retrospective study on a nine year ART practice focusing on pregnancy outcomes and multiple pregnancies, their complications, the gestational duration, delivery options, the new born weights and health statements til the age of two. Post ART pregnancies seem to have an increased complication rate; multiple births are more frequent than with spontaneous conception. The first chapter deals with the entire group. The second chapter analyses several sub-groups according to the ART method employed. The results are compared to publications in PubMed and Medline.

Twin pregnancy obtained with frozen-thawed embryos after in vitro maturation in a patient with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

PURPOSE: A twin pregnancy was obtained in a patient with polycystic ovary syndrome after the transfer of three in vitro maturation-derived day 3 embryos that has been frozen and thawed. METHODS: The patient had received mild hMG stimulation followed by hCG injection. After culture for 24-48 h, mature oocytes were fertilized by ICSI. Embryos were cultured until day 3; supernumerary embryos were cryopreserved using a slow protocol. RESULTS: Among 15 nonatretic oocytes, 9 matured, 8 were fertilized. Four embryos were transferred but they did not implant. The subsequent transfer of three frozen-thawed embryos resulted in the delivery of two healthy girls. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a pregnancy could be obtained with in vitro maturation-derived day-3 frozen-thawed embryos.

[Successful PMA. Review of the activities of the Center for Medically Assisted Procreation of University of Liege, 1985-1997]. / La PMA qui réussit Bilan d'activité du Centre de Procréation Médicalement assistée de l'ULg, 1985-1997.

Assisted reproductive treatments (ART) hold an increasing place in the field of female infertility but also of male infertility with the development of new micromanipulative technologies. From January 1985 to December 1997, more than 3,000 ovarian punctures were achieved at the CPMA of the University of Liege and more than 40,000 oocytes were recovered. Global results show a take home baby rate of 23% per ovum pick-up and 27% per embryo transfer. Embryo cryopreservation offers an efficient solution to the problem of supernumerary embryos and opens the way for IVF-derived procedures such as oocyte or embryo donation, surrogate mother. The transfer of frozen-thawed embryos increases the total ongoing pregnancy rate per cycle of 31%. One of the aims of our Centre in the near future is the development of new technologies such as control of chromosomal abnormalities or genetic defect in preimplantation embryos and clinical applications of oocyte or ovarian tissue freezing.

[Cloning using nuclear transfer in bovine species: initial results]. / Le clonage par transfert de noyau dans l'espèce bovine: premiers résultats.

In 1987, Prather et al. have performed the first embryo cloning by nuclear transfer in the bovine species. Since, many researchers try to develop and to apply the technique. While the enucleation of the recipient oocyte, the injection of the donor blastomere and the fusion procedure are now well controlled, on the other hand, maturation and activation as the development and freezing of the cloned embryos need to be more investigated. The cloned embryo is more fragile. An increase in embryonic mortality is observed after transfer in a recipient cow.