Is there a relationship between time-lapse parameters and embryo sex?

OBJECTIVE: To study if it is possible to identify embryo sex from embryo cleavage timings. DESIGN: Retrospective and observational study. SETTING: University-affiliated private fertility center. PATIENT(S): Women undergoing preimplantion genetic diagnosis. INTERVENTION[S): All biopsied embryos were cultured in an Embryoscope incubator with time-lapse technology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cleavage timing from insemination to day 3 and all kinetic parameters that have been described in previous studies by our group. RESULT(S): The study included 421 embryos from our Compressive Chromosome Screening program, conducted from January 2012 to December 2012. Embryos were grouped according to their sex: male (176 embryos) and female (161 embryos). Chromosomal abnormal rate was similar for the two groups (male 62.5%, female 58.4%). When morphokinetic parameters were separated in different quartiles and grouped, we found statistical differences between male or female embryos. By logistic regression analysis we found that two specific kinetic variables were relevant: second synchrony (>2 hours) and timing of morula formation (80.8-90.9 hours). With the use of these parameters, we propose an algorithm with four different categories reflecting the range from 71% to 42% in the likelihood of an embryo being female. CONCLUSION(S): Embryo development was affected by embryo sex, and the sex ratio could be affected by the embryo selection method for transfer based on kinetic parameters.

[Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a clinic for sexually transmitted disease: evaluation of cervical, urethral and rectal swab samples by polymerase chain reaction]. / Diagnóstico de la infección por Chlamydia trachomatis en un centro de diagnóstico y prevención de infecciones de transmisión sexual: evaluación de los exudados cervicales, uretrales y rectales mediante técnica de PCR.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients attended in a clinic for sexually transmitted disease in Seville (Spain). Microbiological diagnosis was performed in various types of samples. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 3854 patients (50.8% women and 49.2% men, mean age 30.1 years) seen from 2002 to 2004. Among the total, 50% belonged to groups engaging in high risk sexual practices: female commercial sex workers (CSWs) (47%), men who maintain sexual relationships with other men (MSM) (45%), users of prostitution (4%), promiscuous heterosexual men (4%), those with a risk partner (2.7%) and injection drug users (IDU) (2.2%). We analyzed a total of 5978 samples (2384 cervical exudates, 2645 urethral exudates and 949 rectal exudates), for the detection of C. trachomatis by PCR technique with the COBAS Amplicor CT System. RESULTS: Prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 6% (4.3% in women and 7.8% in men). Among the total in women, 51.2% of positive samples were from women with high-risk sex factors and 73.8% of the women were asymptomatic. In men, the proportions were 70.5% and 36.9%, respectively. Cervical, urethral and rectal exudates yielded positive results in 4%, 4.9% and 4.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic sampling for C. trachomatis detection is necessary in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients practicing high-risk sex; periodic follow-up studies are also needed for early detection of sexually transmitted infection. Rectal sample collection is important for detecting this infection in MSM and in patients whose sexual habits make it advisable.

[Study of resistance using the TRUGENE HIV-1 genotyping system and analysis of agreement between rule-based algorithms and virtual phenotyping]. / Estudio de resistencia mediante el sistema de genotipificación TRUGENE HIV-1 y análisis de concordancia entre algoritmos basados en reglas y el fenotipo virtual.

INTRODUCTION: This study attempts to describe the results obtained in the HIV resistance study performed with clinical samples obtained from patients receiving "HAART" therapy and to compare the results using different interpretation algorithms. METHODS: 397 samples have been analysed (TRUGENE HIV-1 GENOTYPING kit). The results were interpreted with the algorithms Visible Genetics and Retrogram. The concordance interalgorithm was done for 105 of these samples, including the virtual phenotype interpretation. RESULTS: The samples corresponded to multi regimen failure (39%), first and second failure (30.7% and 27.1% respectively). A 27.6% of the samples were wild type. The more frequent mutations to the ITIAN were T215Y/F (37.2%) and M184V (32.9%) following by other NAMS. The 69 insertion and Q151M complex had low representativity. For the ITINN K103N (25.8%), Y181C (11.2%) and G190A (10.9%). For the IP: key mutations L90M (26.1%), M46I (18.1%) and V82AFTS (12.9%); and accessory mutations L63P (50.5%), A71V (27.2%), L10I (25.2%) and M36I (19.2%). Low correlation was observed between interpretation systems, mainly for ITIAN and IP, being the virtual phenotype more flexible in the assignation of resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The requests for HIV resistance testing were similar for the three groups of patients. Many of the failures were the consequence of a poor adherence to the therapy. The mutation pattern found corresponded with the "TARGA" therapy. The low correlation found between interpretation systems, makes necessary the elaboration of a consensus algorithm.