•Vitrified / warmed blastocysts showed 4 different re-expansion patterns.•Blastocysts from all re-expansion types were able to result in live births showing considerable plasticity in ...morphodynamics.•Artificially collapsed blastocysts expanded more rapidly after warming than intact ones.•Artificial collapse of the blastocoel has no clear effect on the proportion of live births, but the study size was limited.
Vitrified human blastocysts show varied re-expansion capacity after warming. This prospective observational study compared behaviour of artificially collapsed blastocysts (study group patients, n = 69) to that of blastocysts that were vitrified without artificial collapse (control group patients, n = 72). Warmed blastocysts were monitored by time-lapse microscopy and blastocoel re-expansion speed and growth patterns compared between study and control groups. These parameters were also retrospectively compared between blastocysts that resulted in live birth and those that failed. Artificially collapsed blastocysts re-expanded on average 15.01 µm2/min faster than control blastocysts (P = 0.0013). Warmed blastocysts expressed four different patterns of blastocoel growth. The pattern showing contractions at the end of culture was observed to have a lower prevalence in control blastocysts, which coincided with the lower incidence of hatching in this group. Re-expansion speed and prevalence of growth patterns were comparable between blastocysts that did and did not result in a live birth. This was seen in the study and control groups. Despite faster re-expansion and different growth patterns of artificially collapsed blastocysts, live birth rate did not differ between groups. However, this result should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and high risk of bias.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Objective To determine the diagnostic value of the following sperm function tests in predicting the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and ...intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA), DNA fragmentation (Halosperm), and hyperactivity. Design Prospective study. Setting University medical center. Patient(s) 133 couples undergoing infertility treatment with IVF/ICSI. Intervention(s) Analysis of sperm DNA fragmentation, hyaluronan-binding ability, and hyperactivation on washed semen samples used for the insemination of oocytes. Main Outcome Measure(s) Correlation between the results of sperm function tests and the fertilization rate (FR) or embryo quality (EQ) after IVF and ICSI. Comparison of the sperm DNA fragmentation, hyperactivation, and hyaluronan binding ability between cycles with less than 50% (group 1) and more than 50% (group 2) of oocytes fertilized after IVF. Result(s) Both FR and EQ in IVF cycles negatively correlated with sperm DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between FR and hyaluronan-binding ability or induced hyperactivity. The semen samples from the IVF cycles with low FR (group 1) were characterized by statistically significantly higher sperm DNA fragmentation and lower hyaluronan-binding ability in comparison with semen samples from the group with high levels of fertilization (group 2). In ICSI cycles, no relationship was found between sperm function tests and FR or EQ. Conclusion(s) The Halosperm test, the HBA test, and induced hyperactivity are useful in predicting the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes in IVF and are helpful in distinguishing semen samples suitable for IVF or ICSI.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objective To assess whether the embryo cultivation at different oxygen tensions had any effect on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome. Design Prospective randomized trial. Setting ...University clinical center. Patient(s) Women undergoing ICSI (n = 647). Intervention(s) Culturing of embryos, either at 6% CO2 , 5% O2 , 89% N2 , or at 6% CO2 in air. Main Outcome Measure(s) The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy rates (PR). Secondary outcomes: cumulative PRs, implantation, and embryo quality, for both treatment groups and clinical outcomes for subgroups (optimal cycles, poor responders, older women). Result(s) Although low oxygen resulted in a higher proportion of good day 2 embryos (0.547 ± 0.021 vs. 0.39 ± 0.019) and optimal blastocysts (0.162 ± 0.199 vs. 0.083 ± 0.128), the ongoing PRs (31.6% vs. 27.1%) and implantation rates (28.8% vs. 25.2%) were similar in both oxygen groups. Low oxygen caused a higher cumulative PR (38% vs. 28.3%) in the main group and a higher PR in the poor responder subgroup (23% vs. 9.8%) with embryo transfers performed mostly on day 3. Conclusion(s) The use of reduced oxygen in IVF is reasonable, irrespective of the duration of embryo culture. It improves embryo development and cumulative PR and is also recommended in poor responding cycles.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objective
Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder associated with numerous health problems, including reproductive disorders. This study was performed to analyze the association between CD and ...the menstrual cycle in a group of patients with CD and compare these patients’ characteristics with those of healthy women.
Methods
The study included 145 patients with CD (age, 15–51 years) and 162 healthy women (age, 18–55 years). Age at menarche and characteristics of the menstrual cycle were obtained by an anonymous questionnaire developed for the study.
Results
The age at onset of menarche was 12 to 14 years in 72.9% of the patients with CD and 77.3% of the healthy controls. For most patients (74.2%), the length of the menstrual cycle was around 27 to 28 days with 4 to 5 days of bleeding. Furthermore, 8.4% of patients versus 5.9% of controls experienced bleeding between cycles.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that in Slovenia, the age at menarche in patients with CD is 12.7 years, which is comparable with that in healthy women. We conclude that CD (treated or untreated) may not be associated with late menarche.
Measurements of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among celiac disease patients using a validated questionnaire have been lacking in Slovenia. This study aims to measure HRQoL in celiac disease ...(CD) patients using EQ-5D internationally validated questionnaire and comparing it to the HRQoL of the general population.
In this cross sectional analysis all of the approximately 2000 members of the Slovenian Celiac Society were invited to take part. We used a 3 step approach for recruitment and data collection. HRQoL was evaluated through the EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L instrument (Slovenian version) and analysed using the ordinal logistic regression.
Out of 321 patients who gave their consent, 247 celiac patients were included in the study (77%). 68% of the participants were female and 53% of them lived in an urban setting. Most patients originated from North-East Slovenia, whereas approximately 30% of patients came from other Slovenian regions. The EQ-5D respondents' self-reported health status at the time of the study show that most patients have slight or no problems when living with CD. The duration of the gluten-free diet, academic education and rare (< 1 × year) doctor visits affect EQ-5D in a positive way. On the other hand, higher age and chronic rheumatic disease were negatively associated with EQ-5D also when compared to the general population.
This is the first Slovenian study to measure the HRQoL of Slovenian CD patients, using an internationally validated questionnaire. The results of our study show that HRQoL is slightly impaired among Slovenian patients with CD. Clinical characteristics are better determinants of their HRQoL than socio-demographic factors. Greater awareness of the impact of CD on patients' HRQoL would improve the holistic management of CD patients.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Obravnava žensk v obdobju predmenopavze, ob menopavzi in kasneje se je v novem tisočletju pomembno spremenila. Randomizirane klinične raziskave so bistveno omejile indikacije za uvedbo hormonskega ...zdravljenja (HZ) in s tem menopavzno medicino postavile pred velik izziv. Na srečo so najnovejša dognanja potrdila, da je ob pravilni uporabi in izbiri HZ korist še vedno bistveno večja od tveganja. Zato smo pripravili posodobljena stališča o menopavzni medicini, ki so v skladu z aktualnimi mednarodnimi priporočili in prilagojena posebnostim slovenskega prostora.
Objective To evaluate whether urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels in men adversely influence semen quality and embryo development after medically assisted reproduction. Design Prospective, cohort study. ...Setting University-based tertiary care center. Patient(s) A total of 149 couples undergoing their first or second IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Semen quality and embryo development parameters until the blastocyst stage after the IVF or ICSI procedure. Result(s) Bisphenol A was detected in 98% (n = 146) of the samples with 0.1 ng/mL limit of detection. The geometric mean BPA concentration was 1.55 ng/mL. After the adjustment for potential confounders using linear regression models, an increase of natural logarithm transformed urinary BPA concentration was associated with lower natural logarithm transformed sperm count (β = −0.241, 95% confidence interval CI −0.470 to −0.012), natural logarithm transformed sperm concentration (β = −0.219, 95% CI −0.436 to −0.003), and sperm vitality (β = −2.660, 95% CI −4.991 to −0.329). The embryo development parameters from oocyte fertilization to the blastocyst formation stage were not affected by BPA exposure. Conclusion(s) Urinary BPA concentrations in male partners of subfertile couples may influence semen quality parameters, but do not affect embryo development up to the blastocyst stage after medically assisted reproduction.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In a homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)-positive group of women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro maturation (IVM), the maturation rate of immature oocytes was ...significantly lower compared with a HOMA-IR negative group of women (47% vs. 59%). The results of our study showed that IR and hyperinsulinemia have an adverse effect on the developmental potential of immature oocytes retrieved in the IVM procedure.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Blastocyst collapsing is an invasive intervention and still not evidence based•This is the first matched case-control study analysing live births and neonatal outcome•Collapsing resulted in better ...survival and a non-significant 5% increase in live births•To confirm a 5% improvement, more than 2500 cases will be needed•No difference was found in neonatal outcomes
Does laser-induced artificial blastocoel collapse result in better blastocyst cryopreservation survival and a higher live birth rate (LBR) in comparison with intact counterparts?
Half of the supernumerary blastocysts from IVF cycles were randomly selected before vitrification for laser-induced artificial collapsing or vitrification in intact form. A matched case-control study of first transfers of single blastocysts artificially collapsed (case) or intact (control) before vitrification was conducted. Controls were matched to cases on a 1:1 ratio by female age, parity, fresh and vitrified cycle protocol, blastocyst age and quality, resulting in 309 case-control pairs.
The two groups were comparable in terms of their characteristics. Survival rates in the case and control groups (97.8% and 95.7%; P = 0.133) were comparable, but the optimal survival rate was higher in the case group (78.2% and 69.3%; P = 0.03). Clinical pregnancy rates (38.2% and 35.3%; P = 0.518), miscarriage rates (15.2% and 22%; P = 0.190), LBR per transfer (32.4% and 27.5%; P = 0.221) and LBR per warmed blastocyst (31.6% and 26.3%; P = 0.137) were not statistically different between the case and control groups. No significant difference in preterm births (11.1% versus 15.7%), birthweights (3333 ± 723 g versus 3304 ± 609 g) or sex ratio (49.3% versus 50.7% boys) was observed between the two groups. No major malformations were detected in the study population.
Compared with vitrification of intact blastocysts, collapsed blastocysts resulted in a significantly higher optimal survival rate, and although they resulted in a 5% higher LBR, this was not significant for the chosen sample size. Neonatal outcomes were comparable in the two groups.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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