0000000000124997
AUTHOR
María José De Los Santos
Value of the sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation level, as measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion test, in the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
To determine the prognostic value of sperm DNA fragmentation levels, as measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, in predicting IVF and ICSI outcome.Double-blind prospective study.University-affiliated private IVF setting.A total of 85 couples undergoing infertility treatment with IVF/ICSI.Analysis of DNA fragmentation by the SCD test in 170 aliquots obtained from the ejaculate and from the processed semen used for assisted reproductive technologies (ART).Percentage of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA was statistically correlated with embryo quality and reproductive success.Fertilization rate was inversely correlated with DNA fragmentation (r = -0.245 P = .045). Higher DNA fragm…
A time to look back: analysis of morphokinetic characteristics of human embryo development.
Objective To describe the times associated with the morphological changes that occur in the embryo during preimplantation development based on the largest sample size described with time lapse. Design Cohort study. Setting University-affiliated private center. Patient(s) A total of 9,530 embryos from 1,806 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Using a time-lapse system, embryo images were acquired for at least 68 hours, in some cases reaching 120–130 hours. Embryo cleavage time points up to 8-cell-stage (t2–t8) as well as morulae (tM) and blastocyst formation (tB) were registered in hours after ICSI. Additionally, duration of the cell …
Morphokinetic analysis and embryonic prediction for blastocyst formation through an integrated time-lapse system.
Objective To describe the events associated with the blastocyst formation and implantation that occur in embryos during preimplantation development based on the largest sample size ever described with time-lapse monitoring. Design Observational, retrospective, single-center clinical study. Setting University-affiliated private IVF center. Patient(s) A total of 7,483 zygotes from 990 first treatments of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; 627 of oocyte donor vs. 363 autologous oocyte cycles), of which 832 blastocysts were transferred. Intervention(s) No patient intervention. Embryos were cultured in a time-lapse monitoring system, and the embryos were transferred on day 5 after ICSI. Emb…
Effect of sperm glutathione peroxidases 1 and 4 on embryo asymmetry and blastocyst quality in oocyte donation cycles
Objective To prospectively determine the impact of concrete components of the sperm oxidative glutathione stress system in terms of enzymatic activity and mitochondrial RNA (mRNA) expression on embryo quality and reproductive outcome. Human spermatozoa use the glutathione system to inactivate reactive oxygen metabolites, and there is a close correlation between some components of the glutathione system and male fertility. However, very few data are published regarding this system in sperm cells and its effect on fertilization ability and embryo development in human beings. Design An oocyte-donation model, used to homogenize the female factor. Setting University-affiliated private IVF settin…
Mitochondrial DNA content decreases during in vitro human embryo development: insights into mitochondrial DNA variation in preimplantation embryos donated for research.
Objective To assess the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) load and variation in human oocytes and during preimplantation embryo development using specimens donated for research. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Patients A total of 50 in vitro fertilization patients and 11 oocyte donors whose specimens were obtained between July 2017 and July 2018. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures All specimens were separately collected. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed with SurePlex DNA Amplification System (Illumina). Primers for the adenosine triphosphate 8 mitochondrial gene and the β-actin were used. Data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance wi…
Day-3 embryo metabolomics in the spent culture media is altered in obese women undergoing in vitro fertilization
Objective To determine whether the global metabolomic profile of the spent culture media (SCM) of day-3 embryos is different in obese and normoweight women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Design Prospective cohort analysis. Setting IVF clinic. Patient(s) Twenty-eight young, nonsmoking women with normoweight, nonsmoking male partners with mild/normal sperm factors undergoing a first IVF attempt for idiopathic infertility, tubal factor infertility, or failed ovulation induction: obese ovulatory women (n = 12); obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS; n=4); normoweight ovulatory women (n = 12). Intervention(s) Fifty μl of SCM collected from two day-3 embryos of each cohort. M…
Gene polymorphisms and HLA-G expression in spontaneous abortions
Abstract Introduction HLA-G and HLA-E are claimed to play a role in establishing maternal–fetal immune tolerance and in maintaining pregnancy. The presence of polymorphism in the HLA-G gene could cause a deficient or excessive expression of the HLA-G and HLA-E molecules. These anomalies could eventually cause pregnancy losses. Materials and methods Clinical study. A total of 90 patients were included in this study. These patients suffered spontaneous abortions between weeks 6 and 11 of pregnancy. We have analysed the most important polymorphisms of the HLA-G gene through different genetic studies and HLA-G and HLA-E expression through immunostaining in human cytotrophoblast cells from first…
The influence of oxygen concentration during embryo culture on obstetric and neonatal outcomes: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
Abstract STUDY QUESTION Does oxygen concentration during 3-day embryo culture affect obstetric and neonatal outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER Oxygen concentration during 3-day embryo culture does not seem to affect the obstetric and neonatal outcomes measured. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Atmospheric oxygen appears to be harmful during extended embryo culture. Embryo culture conditions might therefore be a potential risk factor for subsequent fetal development and the health of future children. No data are available concerning the obstetrics and neonatal outcomes after Day 3 transfer of embryos cultured under reduced and atmospheric oxygen tensions. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A secondary analysis of a pr…
Storage of human oocytes in the vapor phase of nitrogen
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of long-term vapor-phase nitrogen storage of vitrified human oocytes as a strategy for preventing the risk of cross-contamination due to direct contact with the liquid nitrogen (LN). Design Prospective randomized study. Setting Private infertility center, IVI, Valencia. Patient(s) Oocyte donors (n = 44) and recipients (n = 46). Intervention(s) Vitrification by the Cryotop method. Storage of vitrified oocytes in a vapor-phase nitrogen storage freezer and a traditional LN storage tank. Donation of the surviving oocytes and evaluation of fertilization, embryo development, and clinical results. Main Outcome Measure(s) Survival, fertilization, and cleavage…
Hormonal and molecular characterization of follicular fluid, cumulus cells and oocytes from pre-ovulatory follicles in stimulated and unstimulated cycles
background: The use of ovarian stimulation, to stimulate a multi-follicular response for assisted reproduction treatments, may force the production of oocytes from follicles that do not reach optimal maturation, possibly yielding oocytes that are not fully competent. The present study aimed to define the follicular environment and oocyte competence of unstimulated pre-ovulatory follicles, to compare it with that of similar-sized stimulated follicles. For this purpose, we analyzed the follicular hormonal milieu, the oocyte meiotic spindle, the embryo development and the cumulus cells gene expression (GE) profiles. methods and results: The study population was divided in two groups: (i) 42 oo…
Number needed to freeze: cumulative live birth rate after fertility preservation in women with endometriosis
Research question: How does the number of oocytes used affect the cumulative live birth rate in endometriosis patients who had their oocytes vitrified for fertility preservation (FP)? Design: Retrospective observational study including data from 485 women with endometriosis who underwent FP from January 2007 to July 2018. Survival curves and Kaplan-Meier plots were used to analyse the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) according to the number of vitrified oocytes used. Data were stratified according to age, stage of the disease and ovarian surgery prior to FP (operated vs. non-operated). Endometriosis curves were compared to plots developed using elective fertility preservation (EFP) patient…