Vcy Lee

A double‐blind randomised controlled trial on the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on ovarian reserve markers, ovarian response and number of oocytes in anticipated normal ovarian responders

To assess the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian response to a standard low dose of gonadotrophin stimulation and number of oocytes in anticipated normal responders undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Effect of letrozole on uterine artery Doppler flow indices prior to first‐trimester termination of pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

We previously demonstrated that a sequential regimen of letrozole and misoprostol resulted in a marked reduction in the serum estradiol concentration and in a higher efficacy of first‐trimester termination of pregnancy than misoprostol alone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of letrozole on uterine artery Doppler flow indices during early pregnancy.

Screening for dysglycaemia by oral glucose tolerance test should be recommended in all women with polycystic ovary syndrome

STUDY QUESTION Should fasting glucose (FG) or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) be used to screen for dysglycaemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? SUMMARY ANSWER A full OGTT should be recommended as the screening method for dysglycaemia in women with PCOS, regardless of BMI or family history of diabetes mellitus (DM). STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A cross-sectional study on 467 Chinese women diagnosed with PCOS by the Rotterdam criteria between January 2010 to December 2013. PARTICIPANTS, SETTING, METHODS The study was done at a university hospital in Hong Kong. All subjects underwent a 75 g OGTT after overnight fasting. We evaluated the performance of FG alone, when compared with the full OGTT, in identifying subjects with dysglycaemia (prediabetes or DM, according to the 2010 diagnostic criteria of the American Diabetes Association). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the 467 subjects, 58 (12.4%) had dysglycaemia, among which 46 (9.8%) had prediabetes and 12 (2.6%) had DM, including 4 with known DM. Of the 46 subjects with prediabetes, 25 (54.3%) had normal FG and of the 8 subjects with screened DM in this study, 1 (12.5%) had normal FG. The sensitivity of FG alone in screening for prediabetes, DM and overall dysglycaemia were 45.7, 87.5 and 48.1%, respectively, i.e. missing 54.3% of prediabetes and 12.5% of DM cases as defined by the OGTT. Among the 54 subjects with screened dysglycaemia, 20 (37.0%) had BMI < 25 kg/m(2) and 35 (64.8%) had no family history of DM. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We only reported on the biochemical diagnosis of DM based on a single time point. In clinical practice, confirmatory results at another time point is required for definitive diagnosis in asymptomatic subjects. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS There is an ongoing debate as to whether FG or an OGTT should be used as a screening method for dysglycaemia in women with PCOS. Some guidelines also recommend glucose screening only in those who are overweight and/or having family history of diabetes (DM). There have been scarce data on this issue in the Chinese population, which the current study aims at addressing. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS The study was supported by a research grant from the Hong Kong Obstetrical and Gynaecological Trust Fund, as well as internal research funding of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong. All authors have no competing interests.

Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of topical lidocaine gel and intrauterine lidocaine infusion for pain relief during saline contrast sonohysterography.

To evaluate the efficacy of topical lidocaine gel and intrauterine lidocaine infusion administered prior to saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH) in reducing pain level during the procedure.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for hereditary cancer syndrome: local experience.

A 33-year-old woman was referred for consideration of PGD because she was a BRCA2 gene mutation carrier. She had cancer of the right breast at the age of 24 years and underwent modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection and immediate latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was given and she was prescribed tamoxifen for 5 years after the operation. Her paternal grandmother had breast cancer diagnosed at the age of 60 years. Genetic screening was performed and confirmed the patient to be a BRCA2 mutation carrier. Her elder brother and her father underwent the spot test and were found to carry a BRCA2 mutation but her younger sister was not affected. Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy was performed for a hyperechoic cyst noted over the right ovary, which was confirmed to be an endometriotic cyst. After a multidisciplinary meeting of clinical geneticists, breast surgeons, oncologists, gynaecologists, psychologists, nurses, and academics in the ethics department, followed by psychological assessment and also counselling, she was offered in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and PGD. Her IVF and PGD cycle was performed in 2011, using an antagonist protocol with letrozole co-treatment. Fifteen oocytes were retrieved and 12 were fertilised following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Blastomere biopsy was performed on eight goodquality cleaving embryos and five were confirmed to be free of the BRCA2 mutation. Two unaffected blastocysts were transferred, resulting in a singleton pregnancy and one unaffected blastocyst was cryopreserved. She delivered a baby boy at term by caesarean section. Postnatal cord blood confirmed Hong Kong Med J 2016;22:289–91 DOI: 10.12809/hkmj144499

Experience of more than 100 preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycles for monogenetic diseases using whole genome amplification and linkage analysis in a single centre.

OBJECTIVE To report the outcomes of more than 100 cycles of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for monogenetic diseases. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Tertiary assisted reproductive centre in Hong Kong, where patients needed to pay for the cost of preimplantation genetic diagnosis on top of standard in-vitro fertilisation charges. PATIENTS Patients undergoing preimplantation genetic diagnosis for monogenetic diseases at the Centre of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, Queen Mary Hospital-The University of Hong Kong between 1 August 2007 and 30 April 2014 were included. INTERVENTIONS In-vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Ongoing pregnancy rate and implantation rate. RESULTS Overall, 124 cycles of preimplantation genetic diagnosis were initiated in 76 patients, 101 cycles proceeded to preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and 92 cycles had embryo transfer. The ongoing pregnancy rate was 28.2% per initiated cycle and 38.0% per embryo transfer, giving an implantation rate of 35.2%. There were 16 frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles in which, following preimplantation genetic diagnosis, cryopreserved embryos were replaced resulting in an ongoing pregnancy rate of 37.5% and implantation rate of 30.0%. The cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate was 33.1%. The most frequent indication for preimplantation genetic diagnosis was thalassaemia, followed by neurodegenerative disorder and cancer predisposition. There was no misdiagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is a reliable method to prevent couples conceiving fetuses severely affected by known genetic disorders, with ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates similar to those for in-vitro fertilisation for routine infertility treatment.