Modification of the Wang tube to improve in vitro semen manipulation.

The Wang tube was modified to improve in vitro semen manipulation, by adding another two racks to the anterior (posterior) wall of the low component of the Wang tube and supplying another four convex lenses symmetrical to those on the bottom wall. The former provides a slanted position leading to a complete real-time sperm separation image and benefiting low-quality sperm preparation when the modified Wang tube is turned on its side. The latter converses the microscope's light better and gives a clearer objective image.

Intrauterine devices Wang S.S Cu 380 as compared to ML Cu 375, Nova T, T Cu 300, 7 Cu 200, Lippes Loop and Ohta Ring: clinical / physiopathological parameters.

PIP: IUDs are rigid and heavy thus irritating the endometrium. Their design accounts for many side effects and encourages pelvic infections. IUDs may even facilitate transmission of HIV. Since some health professionals and patients consider some IUDs to be harmful or unacceptable, researchers have worked on developing a newly designed IUD which meets the criteria for and ideal IUD. Some criteria include soft and flexible in nature and inside the uterus, safe, no migration, and light in weight. Taiwanese researchers have developed such an IUD. The silicone skeleton of the Wang SS (soft and safe) Copper 380 and 300 IUDs is bow-shaped with each arm of the bow tapering off from the middle and ending with a small rounded knob. Copper wire (0.31 mm x 380 sq mm or 0.31 mm x 300 sq mm) coils around the holeless vertical stem (3 cm). The monofilament nylon string is fixed in the middle of the stem by an enlarged top. Researchers designed the Wang SS Cu 300 for nulliparous women and the Wang SS Cu 380 for multiparous women. If physicians use a Wang IUD from a sterilized package, they can insert it without wearing sterile gloves. They need to clean the cervix. They must use a single tooth tenaculum to stabilize the uterus and to straighten the uterine axis. After placing the Wang IUD in the inserter, adjusting the flange, and putting the plunger on the inserter, they need to safely introduce the inserter into the uterine cavity to the point where the inserter touches the fundus or the flange touches the cervix. They then must push the plunger to insert the IUD. Insertion should be done immediately after menstruation. Clinicians need to conduct clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of the Wang Ss Cu IUDs.^ieng

Techniques for selection of normal-chromatin sperm preparations.

Various sperm preparation techniques, swim-up and Percoll gradient, and the newly developed Wang's tube system, were evaluated for their ability to recover normal-chromatin sperm. Twenty human semen samples, collected by masturbation, were studied simultaneously with the three methods. Analysis by Acridine orange fluorescence test was performed on all samples. Pretreated semen contains 58 +/- 22% green sperm (fertile/normal). Treatment with Wang's tube system resulted in 99 +/- 1.0% green sperm; Percoll gradient, 78 +/- 11%; and swim-up technique, 72 +/- 15%. It would appear that Wang's tube system yields a high-quality sperm preparation with enough concentration, very active forward progression, and greatly improved sperm morphology, while containing normal-chromatin, double-stranded DNA.

Tripling of serum progesterone (P4) and embryonic morphological features in conception and nonconception cycles, after human in vitro fertilization.

A series of 26 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles was studied for changes of serum progesterone levels before and after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by a comparison of the number of follicles punctured, number of oocytes recovered, morphological features of oocytes, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and quality of embryos before their transfer. Subjects were further divided into three groups according to their pregnancy outcome. Five pregnancies were generated and reached the stage of clinical confirmation of live baby delivery or live fetus by ultrasound scanning of the uterine contents. Six patient cycles that had a prolonged luteal phase and beta-hCG levels greater than 40 MIU/ml were described as biochemical pregnancies. Fifteen patient cycles showed no sign of pregnancy. The significant finding of this study is related to the serum progesterone level increase from 20 to 34 hr after hCG injection. The nonpregnancy group yielded a 1.2-fold increase compared with the biochemical pregnancy and pregnancy groups, which had a 3-fold increase. The usage of this multiple effect of progesterone may aid in the prediction of the "high-quality embryo" that might result from a given treatment cycle, indicate the completion of luteinization, the proper timing of hCG to induce final oocyte maturation, and the necessary length of preincubation, and aid in the prediction as to whether or not a pregnancy is likely to result.

The first reported case of Down syndrome in the Southern California Fertility Institute's in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program.

The first case of a genetic abnormality in a 3-year in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program was diagnosed after routine amniocentesis of a 38-year-old patient. The G-banded karyotype analysis gave 47, XY, +21, which constitutes an abnormal chromosome pattern consistent with Down syndrome.