Clinical Outcome of Day-3 Cleavage Slow-Growing Embryos at Different Cleavage Rates after Overnight Culture: A Cohort Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: We explored the association between clinical outcomes and the cleavage rate of day-3 cleavage slow-growing embryos after overnight culture. METHODS: The data collected from 303 frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles with 606 4-cell or 5-cell embryos cultured overnight (18-22 h) after thawing were analyzed. Based on the growth rate after the overnight culture, the embryos were divided into three groups: no embryo reaching eight cells (Group I), either one of the two embryos reaching eight cells (Group II), and both two embryos reaching eight cells or more (Group III). A statistical analysis of the different clinical outcomes from the three groups was performed. RESULTS: Biochemical pregnancy rate (OR 3.22; p = 0.001), implantation rate (OR 2.44; p = 0.002), clinical pregnancy rate (OR 3.04; p = 0.001), ongoing pregnancy rate (OR 3.14; p = 0.001), and live birth rate (OR 2.78; p = 0.004) were significantly higher in Group III as compared to Group I. Group II had a significantly higher biochemical pregnancy rate (OR 2.02; p = 0.013) and implantation rate (OR 1.77; p = 0.019) than Group I. CONCLUSIONS: The capability of day-3 cleavage slow-growing embryos to reach eight cells, especially that of two embryos reaching eight cells by overnight culture, appear to result in a better pregnancy outcome.

The mutation features and geographical distributions of the surface glycoprotein (S gene) in SARS-CoV-2 strains: A comparative analysis of the early and current strains.

The surface glycoprotein (S protein) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was used to develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. However, SARS-CoV-2, especially the S protein, has undergone rapid evolution and mutation, which has remained to be determined. Here, we analyzed and compared the early (12 237) and the current (more than 10 million) SARS-CoV-2 strains to identify the mutation features and geographical distribution of the S gene and S protein. Results showed that in the early strains, most of the loci were with relative low mutation frequency except S: 23403 (4486 strains), while in the current strains, there was a surge in the mutation strains and frequency, with S: 23403 constantly being the highest one, but tremendously increased to approximately 1050 times. Furthermore, D614 (S: 23403) was one of the most highly frequent mutations in the S protein of Omicron as of March 2022, and most of the mutant strains were still from the United States, and the United Kingdom. Further analysis demonstrated that in the receptor-binding domain, most of the loci with low mutation frequency in the early strains, while S: 22995 was nowadays the most prevalent loci with 3 122 491 strains in the current strains. Overall, we compare the mutation features of the S region in SARS-CoV-2 strains between the early and the current stains, providing insight into further studies in concert with emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants for COVID-19 vaccines.

Ovarian Hyperresponse Following the Sole Administration of GnRH Agonist.

BACKGROUND: The gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) has gained widespread popularity in achieving pituitary suppression before ovarian stimulation with exogenous gonadotropins in assisted reproductive technology protocols. However, a very small part of patients may develop ovarian hyper response after the sole administration of GnRHa without gonadotropins. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old female diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome presented for her second IVF cycle in our reproductive center. Twenty-eight days after 3.75mg triptorelin was administrated on day 2 of her menstrual cycle, bilateral ovaries were significantly enlarged and presented multiple cystic masses. The hormone profile was as follows: E24870pg/ml, P 13.19ng/ml, FSH 14IU/L, and LH 10.77IU/L. The patient felt symptoms of mild ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. In the subsequent IVF treatment cycle, antagonist protocol was performed. It showed that follicles developed slowly and exogenous gonadotropins were used for 13 days. Finally, seven oocytes were obtained, and only one blastocyst graded 4BC formed. CONCLUSION: Ovarian hyperstimulation following the sole administration of GnRHa can occur, but the mechanism is still not yet clear. Antagonist protocol may be an alternative fertility strategy, but the risk of poor embryo quality and low pregnancy rate of transplantation should be warned.

Determination of Vanadium Isotope Compositions in Carbonates Using an Fe Coprecipitation Method and MC-ICP-MS.

Vanadium isotope compositions (δ(51V)) in marine carbonates are a potential proxy to trace global redox states of ancient oceans. Although high-precision δ(51V) analyses are available for many geological materials, carbonate-hosted δ(51V) data have not been reported yet due to extremely high matrix elements and low V contents (generally below 10 µg g-1). In this study, we developed an Fe coprecipitation method combined with an Fe column to preconcentrate V from the major matrix elements and subsequent four-step chromatographic procedures to further purify V in carbonates. The δ(51V) values were measured using a sample-standard bracketing method by MC-ICP-MS. The robustness of this method was assessed by analyzing element-doped and matrix-spiked synthetic carbonate solutions containing an in-house δ(51V) standard, USTC-V. The mean δ(51V) value of the synthetic carbonate solutions (0.06 ± 0.08‰; 2SD, n = 33) is in good agreement with the recommended value of the USTC-V relative to the Oxford AA solution (0.07 ± 0.08‰; 2SD, n = 347). In addition, the consistency in the δ(51V) value of the igneous carbonatite standard, COQ-1, which was processed in parallel with the whole purification (-0.48 ± 0.04‰; 2SD, n = 3) and a four-step chromatographic procedure (-0.43 ± 0.08‰; 2SD, n = 3), further validates the robustness of our method. For the first time, we obtained δ(51V) values of four carbonate reference materials: JDo-1, -0.56 ± 0.09‰ (2SD, n = 27); JLs-1, -0.61 ± 0.14‰ (2SD, n = 33); GBW07217a, -0.79 ± 0.09‰ (2SD, n = 6); GBW07214a, -0.51 ± 0.13‰ (2SD, n = 48). The long-term external precision of carbonate-hosted δ(51V) analyses is better than ±0.14‰ (2SD). Our method can be applied to measure carbonate-hosted δ(51V) to trace the evolution in global marine redox states throughout the Earth's history.

The effect of salpingectomy on the ovarian reserve and ovarian response in ectopic pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Salpingectomy is routinely performed in ectopic pregnancy (EP). However, the effect of the surgery on the ovarian reserve and ovarian response in EP patients is still uncertain and has not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to provide a comparison of the ovarian reserve and ovarian response between the pre-salpingectomy and post-salpingectomy in EP patients. METHODS: Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for all relevant articles published up to December 2018. We retrieved the basic information and data of the included studies. The data was analyzed by Review Manager 5.3 software (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). RESULTS: A total of 243 articles were extracted from the databases, and 7 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The ovarian reserve including anti-Mullerian hormone (inverse variance [IV] -0.7 [95% confidence interval [CI] -0.63, 0.49]), antral follicle count (IV 1.7 [95% CI -2.02, 5.42]) and basal follicle stimulating hormone (IV 0.02 [95% CI -0.63, 0.68]) was comparable between the pre-salpingectomy group and the post-salpingectomy group. The amount of gonadotropin was significantly higher in the post-salpingectomy group when compared with that in the pre-salpingectomy group (IV -212.65 [95% CI -383.59, -41.71]). There was no significant difference in the left parameters of the ovarian response including the duration of gonadotropin stimulation (IV -0.32 [95% CI -0.76, 0.12]), the estrogen level on the human chorionic gonadotropin triggering day (IV -4.12 [95% CI -236.27, -228.04]) and the number of retrieved oocytes (IV 0.35 [95% CI -0.76, 1.46]) between 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that salpingectomy has no negative effect on the ovarian reserve and ovarian response.

A cohort study of both human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and recombinant luteinizing hormone addition at early follicular stage in in vitro fertilization outcome: A STROBE-compliant study.

At present, the precise role of human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and recombinant luteinizing hormone (rLH) supplementation at an early time of follicular phase on in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intra cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes remains uncertain.Here infertile women of normal ovarian function undergoing their first cycle of IVF/ICSI were studied and were randomly allocated into 3 groups. Group 1, ovarian stimulation with 150IU recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) alone. Group 2, patients received 75IU rFSH and 75IU HMG. Group 3 patients were given 150IU rFSH and 75IU rLH.There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics, ovarian response, the biochemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates among the 3 groups. No significant differences were found in biochemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates between the patients whose LH levels were lower than 0.75 mIU/ml and those above this threshold in group 1. Furthermore, there were also no significant differences in biochemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates among the 3 group patients whose LH level lower than 0.75 mIU/ml.The results showed that either the addition of HMG or rLH supplementation at an early time of follicular phase produce no significant benefit on IVF outcome in patients with normal ovarian function.

[Penile frenulum lengthening for premature ejaculation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of penile frenulum lengthening in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). METHODS: Thirty-four males with PE were enrolled in this study, of whom 8 had received circumcision six months before and 4 had redundant prepuce, all with short frenulum. Those with a history of circumcision underwent reconstruction and lengthening of the frenulum, and those without received frenulum lengthening only. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) was significantly increased at 1 month after operation ([1.35 ± 0.49] vs [5.71 ± 2.69] min, t = -9.42, P <0.01), (1.42 ± 0.5) vs (5.31 ± 2.74) min in the patients without circumcision (t = -7.41, P <0.01), (1.12 ± 0.35) vs (7.00 ± 2.20) min in those with circumcision (t = -7.24, P <0.01), and (1.50 ± 0.58) vs (4.75 ± 1.71) min in those with redundant prepuce (t = -3.81, P <0.05). Totally, 94% of the patients were satisfied with their sexual intercourse postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Penile frenulum plays an important role in penile erection. Reconstruction and/or lengthening of the frenulum can prolong penile erection and IELT in PE patients.

[Relationship between body mass index and outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycle in patients with endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) cycles in patients with endometriosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of infertile women with endometriosis undergoing 244 IVF/ICSI-ET cycles between January, 2011 and August, 2012. The patients, categorized into 3 groups with mild endometriosis, moderate to severe endometriosis, and no endometriosis (control), underwent a long protocol, and the relationship of the general conditions, dose of gonadotropin, days of stimulation, BMI, number of oocytes retrieved and embryos transferred with the outcome of IVF were analyzed. RESULTS: There was significant difference between moderate to severe endometriosis group and the control group in the number of ampules, oocytes retrieved and embryos transferred. The patients with moderate or severe endometriosis had significantly lower BMI and clinical pregnancy rate than those with mild or no endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis is inversely correlated with BMI, and BMI of the patients with endometriosis may affect the pregnancy rate of IVF cycles.

[Study on microRNA expression in endometrium of luteal phase and its relationship with infertility of endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the different expression of microRNA(miRNA) including mir-29c, mir-200a, mir-145 in the mid-secretary endometrium and its relationship with infertility of endometriosis. METHODS: From August 2011 to February 2013, 36 infertile cases with endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy and pathology and excluded the other infertile factors in Department of Reproductive Medicine in Peking University Shenzhen Hospital were enrolled in this study, which were divided into 17 cases with stage I-II, 19 cases with stage III-IV according to the revised classification American Fertility Society. Forty-four healthy women with male factor infertility were chosen as control group. The relative expression levels of mir-29c, mir-200a, mir-145 in the endometrium of women in two groups were detected by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Those women were followed up for pregnancy outcome of endometriosis group after assisted reproductive techniques (pregnancy and non-pregnancy group respectively). RESULTS: (1) The expression of miRNA between endometriosis and control groups:the average expression level of mir-29c, mir-200a, mir-145 in the endometrium of endometriosis group was 2.46 ± 1.98, 3.20 ± 2.45, 6.378 ± 3.275, which were significantly higher than 1.36 ± 1.05, 2.04 ± 1.16, 4.548 ± 1.885 in control group (P = 0.026, 0.027, 0.041, respectively). (2) The expression of miRNA between I-II stage and III-IV: the average expression level of mir-29c, mir-200a, mir-145 in the endometrium was 0.53 ± 0.51, 0.33 ± 0.26, 0.048 ± 0.021 in patients with of stage I-II, while 0.26 ± 0.18, 0.28 ± 0.12, 0.045 ± 0.016 in stage III-IV respectively, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.191,0.661,0.753, respectively) . (3) The expression of miRNA between pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups:the average expression level of mir-29c, mir-200a, mir-145 in the endometrium were 0.60 ± 0.30, 1.23 ± 0.48, 0.886 ± 0.238 in pregnancy group, while 2.64 ± 1.73, 4.39 ± 2.58, 7.199 ± 3.945 in non pregnancy group, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.030,0.039,0.028, respectively). CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of mir-29c, mir-200a, mir-145 in the endometrial tissue might play a role in endometriosis associated infertility.