How to optimize culture media osmolality during Assisted Reproductive Technologies treatments.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to compare the osmolality in sequential and single step culture media, used for in vitro human embryo culture, covered with mineral oil and paraffin, in dry and humid incubators. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study. A total of 120 Petri dishes, with 960 droplets of culture media, were evaluated. Each dish was prepared with 4 droplets of single step medium and sequential medium. Sixty dishes were covered with mineral oil and 60 with paraffin oil. Half were incubated in a dry incubator and half in a humid. Osmolality was measured on days 1, 3, 5, 7. ANOVA test was performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Osmolality results for single step and sequential medium, that were covered with both mineral and paraffin oil and placed in the dry incubator, significantly increased throughout the study time (D7>D5>D3). In the humid incubator, the results were similar for all periods. Osmolality was significantly lower in humid incubator, in all periods, when droplets were covered with both oils. When both culture media were placed in the humid incubator, no variation was detected, using both oils. However, when single step medium was placed in the dry incubator, covered with mineral oil, we observed a higher osmolality than the covered with paraffin oil. CONCLUSIONS: TWe can conclude that humid incubator is better for maintaining osmolality and paraffin oil protect single step media from evaporation in dry incubator.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the semen of patients submitted to assisted reproductive technology treatment in a private clinic in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to identify the prevalence of HPV in the semen of men submitted to ART treatment and look into the possible impacts of the virus on sperm parameters. METHODS: Thirty-five patients treated for infertility from March to August 2016 were invited to join the study. Samples with a minimum concentration of 40x106 spermatozoa per milliliter were included in the study. After the evaluation of semen parameters, DNA extraction and PCR were performed to verify the presence of HPV by electrophoresis in 8% polyacrylamide gel. RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 27 to 68 years (mean 39.2 years). Semen analysis showed a mean volume of 2.5mL; mean concentration of 58.9x106; and mean motility of 51.8%. HPV DNA was identified in seven semen samples from 25 patients (28%). Ten samples with DNA concentrations below 10ng/µL were excluded from the study due to poor amplification quality. There was no statistical difference in sperm concentration when HPV-negative and HPV-positive samples were compared (65.9x106 vs. 62.3x106; p=0.70). However, sperm motility was significantly higher in HPV-positive semen (65% vs. 46.6%; p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: HPV prevalence was 28% in the semen of patients submitted to ART treatment. HPV-positive samples had statistically increased motility compared to negative samples (65% vs. 46.6%; p=0.02).

Avaliaçäo dos níveis séricos de leptina em mulheres portadoras da síndrome dos ovários policísticos / Leptin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objetivos: verificar os níveis de leptina em pacientes com síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) e suas relaçöes com a testosterona, o estradiol, o FSH e a insulina. Métodos: estudo transversal realizado com 40 pacientes portadoras de SOP, divididas em dois grupos, de acordo com o seu índice de massa corporal (IMC): Grupo I(n=20): pacientes obesas (IMC>28 kg/m²) e Grupo II (n=20): pacientes näo obesas (IMC<28kg/m²). Resultados: foi observada diferença significativa na relaçäo glicemia/insulina entre os dois grupos (p=0,043). Os níveis de leptina se mostraram fortemente correlacionados com o IMC (p<0,001). Verificou-se que, eliminado o efeito do IMC, por meio de análise de regressäo multivariada, a dosagem da insulina (p=0,194), do FISH (p=0,793), das testosteronas total (p=0,441) e livre (p=0,422), e a relaçäo glicemia/insulina (p=0,166) näo influenciaram a concentraçäo de leptina. Entretanto, observou-se uma correlaçäo entre as concentraçöes de leptina e de estradiol (p=0,043). Conclusäo: existe correlaçäo entre os níveis de leptina, o IMC e as concentraçöes de estradiol, em mulheres portadoras de SOP.