Aqueduct-100, an innovative device and method for controlling cervical dilation / Aqueduct-100, innovador dispositivo y un método para la dilatación cervical controlable

Every intrauterine procedure begins with dilation of the cervix to enable insertion of surgical tools into the uterus. The 2 most common methods for this procedure (mechanical dilators and hygroscopic materials) are time-consuming or require anesthesia for the painful process of inserting metal or plastic rods of increasing diameter. Both methods expose the patient to increased risk of infection. Aqueduct-100 combines the advantages of both methods and provides safe and painless radial dilation of the cervix within minutes. The results of the study suggest that the Aqueduct-100 device should be used as an alternative to mechanical dilators to prevent injuries to the cervix and uterus during cervical dilations

Cada procedimiento intrauterino comienza con la dilatación del cuello del útero para la inserción de los instrumentos quirúrgicos en el útero. Los dos métodos más comunes para este procedimiento (dilatadores mecánicos y materiales higroscópicos) o bien toman mucho tiempo o requieren anestesia para un proceso doloroso que implica la inserción de varillas de metal o de plástico de diámetro creciente. Ambos métodos exponen al paciente a un mayor riesgo de infección. Aqueduct-100 combina las ventajas de los dos métodos y proporciona dilatación radial segura y sin dolor del cuello uterino, en cuestión de minutos. Los resultados del estudio sugieren que el dispositivo Aqueduct-100 se debe utilizar como una alternativa de los dilatadores mecánicos para prevenir lesiones uterinas y cervicales durante dilataciones cervicales

The effect of slow release insemination on pregnancy rates: report of two randomized controlled pilot studies and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: A modified application technique of intrauterine insemination (IUI) is slow release insemination (SRI), first described by Muharib et al. (Hum Reprod 7(2):227-229, 1992), who postulated higher pregnancy rates with a slow release of spermatozoa for 3 h. METHODS: To investigate this approach, two randomized controlled, cross-over pilot studies were performed from 2004 to 2006 in Israel and Germany to compare SRI with the standard bolus IUI. We aimed to present the results and perform a meta-analysis on available data for SRI. Univariate comparisons of pregnancy rates were performed using one-tailed z tests for method superiority. For meta-analysis, a fixed-effect Mantel-Haentzel weighted average of relative risk was performed. RESULTS: Fifty treatment cycles (IUI: n = 25, SRI: n = 25) were performed in Germany, achieving four pregnancies (IUI: 4%, SRI: 12%, p > 0.05). Thirty-nine treatment cycles (IUI: n = 19, SRI: n = 20) were performed in Israel achieving six pregnancies (IUI: 10.5%, SRI: 20%; p > 0.05). Meta-analysis of all eligible studies for SRI (n = 3) revealed a combined relative risk for pregnancy after SRI of 2.64 (95% CI 1.04-6.74), p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, these results lend support to the hypothesis that the pregnancy rate might be improved by SRI compared to the standard bolus technique.

Improved development of very-poor-quality human preembryos by coculture with human fallopian ampullary cells.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a confluent culture of fallopian ampullary epithelial cells, taken from women at the end of their reproductive life, is capable of rescuing very-poor-quality preembryos from cleavage arrest and/or degeneration. METHODS: Human preembryos. rejected for transfer or freezing because of very poor quality, and arrested within 24 h of cleavage, were cultured for 5 days in medium alone or over a confluent culture of fallopian ampullary epithelia] cells. Morphological criteria were utilized to assess preembryo degeneration and stage of development. RESULTS: The described coculture rescued preembryos from degeneration, enhancing development to the blastocyst stage 2.2-fold, compared with cultures in medium alone. Furthermore, fully expanded and hatching blastocysts were observed only under coculture conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Very-poor-quality human preembryos may be rescued from degeneration, and their growth and development dramatically improved, when cocultured with a confluent culture of fallopian ampullary epithelial cells.