Xiaoting Shen

Relationship between antithyroid antibody and pregnancy outcome following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Objective: To investigate the impact of antithyroid antibody on pregnancy outcome following the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods: A total of 90 patients (156 cycles) positive for antithyroid antibody (ATA+ group) and 676 infertile women (1062 cycles) negative for antithyroid antibody (ATA- group) undergoing IVF/ICSI from August 2009 to August 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in the days of ovarian stimulation, total gonadotropin dose, serum E2 level of HCG day and number of oocytes retrieved between the two groups. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and pregnancy rate following IVF-ET were significantly lower in women with antithyroid antibody than in control group (64.3% vs 74.6%, 17.8% vs 27.1% and 33.3% vs 46.7%, respectively), but the abortion rate was significantly higher in patients with antithyroid antibody (26.9% vs 11.8%). Conclusion: Patients with antithyroid antibody showed significantly lower fertilization rate, implantation rate and pregnancy rate and higher risk for abortion following IVF-ET when compared with those without antithyroid antibody. Thus, the presence of antithyroid antibody is detrimental for the pregnancy outcome following IVF-ET.

Medium-based Noninvasive Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Human α-thalassemias-sea

AbstractTo develop a noninvasive medium-based preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) test for &agr;-thalassemias-SEA.The embryos of &agr;-thalassemia-SEA carriers undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were cultured. Single cells were biopsied from blastomeres and subjected to fluorescent gap polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis; the spent culture media that contained embryo genomic DNA and corresponding blastocysts as verification were subjected to quantitative-PCR (Q-PCR) detection of &agr;-thalassemia-SEA. The diagnosis efficiency and allele dropout (ADO) ratio were calculated, and the cell-free DNA concentration was quantitatively assessed in the culture medium.The diagnosis efficiency of medium-based &agr;-thalassemias–SEA detection significantly increased compared with that of biopsy-based fluorescent gap PCR analysis (88.6% vs 82.1%, P < 0.05). There is no significant difference regarding ADO ratio between them. The optimal time for medium-based &agr;-thalassemias–SEA detection is Day 5 (D5) following IVF.Medium-based &agr;-thalassemias–SEA detection could represent a novel, quick, and noninvasive approach for carriers to undergo IVF and PGD.

Antinuclear Antibodies Predicts a Poor IVF-ET Outcome: Impaired Egg and Embryo Development and Reduced Pregnancy Rate

To investigate the impact of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), 66 (96 cycles) infertile women positive for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA+ group), and 233(285 cycles) infertile women negative for ANAs (ANA− group) were enrolled. The clinical characteristics and IVF outcome were compared between the two groups. In the ANA+ group, the proportion of MII oocytes and two-pronuclear zygotes (2PN), cleavage rate, number of available embryos and proportion of available embryos, number of high-quality embryos and proportion of high-quality embryos were significantly lower than those in the ANA− group. In addition, the pregnancy rate and implantation rate in patients positive for ANA was markedly lower than the ANA− patients (28.1% vs 46.4%, 15% vs 25.7%, respectively). Thus, our findings suggest that the presence of ANAs significantly interfere with the oocyte and embryo development, as well as reduce implantation and pregnancy rate in patients undergoing IVF treatment.

Comparison of Endocrine Profile and In Vitro Fertilization Outcome in Patients with PCOS, Ovulatory PCO, or Normal Ovaries

Aim. To compare the basic endocrine profile and outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), ovulatory polycystic ovaries (PCO), or normal ovaries (NO). Methods. The basic clinical features and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer outcome in patients receiving IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were retrospectively analyzed. Results. The body mass index, basal luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels were significantly lower in patients with ovulatory PCO compared to those in patients with PCOS. The PCOS patients exhibited the shortest duration of ovarian stimulation and lowest dose of gonadotropin, followed by the ovulatory PCO and NO patients. The ovulatory PCO and PCOS patients showed similar levels of E2 on the human chorionic gonadotropin treatment day and numbers of oocytes, which were both significantly higher than those of the NO patients. The fertilization rate of the PCOS patients was significantly lower than the other two groups. Compared to NO patients, the cleavage rate was lower in both PCOS and ovulatory PCO patients, however, the number of available embryos was significantly more in these two groups. The incidence of the moderate to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was markedly higher in the PCOS and ovulatory PCO patients. Conclusion. Ovulatory PCO patients do not express similar endocrine abnormalities as PCOS patients. Although the fertilization rate and cleavage rate were relatively low in PCOS patients, ultimately, all the three groups showed similar transferred embryo numbers, clinical pregnancy rates, and implantation rates. Since the incidence of OHSS was much higher in the PCOS and ovulatory PCO patients, we should take more care of these patients and try to prevent severe OHSS.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for α-and β-double thalassemia

PurposeTo evaluate the use of multiple displacement amplification (MDA) for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of α- and β-double thalassemia.MethodWhole genome of a single cell was directly amplified using MDA and its products were used as templates in fluorescent gap polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of α-thalassemia and in PCR-reverse dot blot analysis ,singleplex fluorescent PCR of β-28 and CD17 mutation and HumTH01 for β-thalassemia.Results1) MDA from single cell could produce enough DNA templates for the detection of both α and β-thalassemia; 2) The established MDA-PGD protocol for α- and β-double thalassemia was successfully applied in PGD of six embryos, among which, three were transferred, but no pregnancy ensued.ConclusionsThe use of MDA as a universal step allows for the simultaneous diagnosis of two or more hereditary defects.

A Further Exploration of the Impact of Antinuclear Antibodies on In Vitro Fertilization–Embryo Transfer Outcome

To determine the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in follicular fluid (FF) and embryos as to their potential impact on IVF outcome.

A retrospective study on IVF outcome in patients with anticardiolipin antibody: effects of methylprednisolone plus low-dose aspirin adjuvant treatment

Patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer have a high prevalence of anticardiolipin antibody (ACA). However, the relationship between ACA and IVF outcome is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of anticardiolipin antibody on IVF outcome and determine the role of adjuvant treatment in these ACA positive patients. The study included a total of 116 infertile women (116 IVF-ET cycles) positive for ACA, including 56 women pretreated with methylprednisolone plus low-dose aspirin before IVF (treated ACA+ group) and 60 patients without treatment (untreated ACA+ group). In addition, 518 infertile women (518 IVF-ET cycles) negative for ACA were enroled as controls (ACA- group). The results show that ACA+ patients who did not receive any adjuvant treatment showed a significantly lower fertilization rate, less high-quality embryos, as well as a markedly lower pregnancy rate and implantation rate than controls. Moreover, ACA+ patients who received methylprednisolone plus aspirin achieved significantly higher fertilization, pregnancy and implantation rates than untreated ACA+ patients (FR 69.0%, PR 46.4% and IR 25.4% vs. FR 60.0%, PR 33.3% and IR 17.9%, respectively). The overall IVF results in the treated ACA+ group were comparable to patients negative for ACA (PR 53.9% and IR 32.3%). Thus, while the presence of ACA exerts a detrimental effect on IVF outcome, ACA+ patients have a better outcome if given methylprednisolone for immunosuppression and low-dose aspirin as an anti-thrombotic agent.

Embryo Genome Profiling by Single-Cell Sequencing for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis in a β-Thalassemia Family

BACKGROUND The embryonic genome, including genotypes and haplotypes, contains all the information for preimplantation genetic diagnosis, representing great potential for mendelian disorder carriers to conceive healthy babies. METHODS We developed a strategy to obtain the full embryonic genome for a β-thalassemia-carrier couple to have a healthy second baby. We carried out sequencing for single blastomere cells and the family trio and further developed the analysis pipeline, including recovery of the missing alleles, removal of the majority of errors, and phasing of the embryonic genome. RESULTS The final accuracy for homozygous and heterozygous single-nucleotide polymorphisms reached 99.62% and 98.39%, respectively. The aneuploidies of embryos were detected as well. Based on the comprehensive embryonic genome, we effectively performed whole-genome mendelian disorder diagnosis and human leukocyte antigen matching tests. CONCLUSIONS This retrospective study in a β-thalassemia family demonstrates a method for embryo genome recovery through single-cell sequencing, which permits detection of genetic variations in preimplantation genetic diagnosis. It shows the potential of single-cell sequencing technology in preimplantation genetic diagnosis clinical practices.

Effect of surgical intervention on the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor and L‑selectin ligand in the endometrium of hydrosalpinx patients during the implantation window

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of surgical intervention on the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium of patients with hydrosalpinx during the implantation window. A total of 60 patients with hydrosalpinx and 30 patients with tubal obstruction were recruited, and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of LIF and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium of hydrosalpinx patients before and after surgery and in the endometrium of patients with tubal obstruction. The expression of LIF and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium of hydrosalpinx patients before surgery was markedly lower than that of patients with tubal obstruction (P<0.05). Following surgery, the expression of LIF and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium of hydrosalpinx patients was comparable to that of patients with tubal obstruction (P>0.05). In addition, there was a pronounced difference in the expression of LIF and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium before and after surgery in patients with hydrosalpinx (P<0.05). Hydrosalpinx reduces the expression of LIF and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium during the implantation window. LIF and L-selectin ligand may be important factors influencing the endometrial receptivity of hydrosalpinx patients, and surgery is capable of improving the expression of LIF and L-selectin ligand in the endometrium during the implantation window.

The efficacy of conversion from IUI to IVF-ET in infertility patients with hyper-response to ovulation induction: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in patients with hyper-response to ovulation induction for intrauterine insemination (IUI). METHODS Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who were initially treated with IUI in our centre between Jan 2007 and Oct 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) found in 50 patients was then treated with IVF-ET following informed consent. RESULTS The fresh transfer had 42 cycles and a total of 87 embryos were transferred. Urine pregnancy tests were positive in 15 patients and fetal heart beat was detected in 12 patients by transvaginal ultrasound, from which 3 patients had two fetuses, 2 patients had three fetuses, and 7 patients had a single fetus. The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 28.5% (12/42) for the fresh embryo transfer. A total of 21 cycles of frozen embryo transfer with up to 55 embryos were conducted for patients who were not pregnant at the end of fresh embryo transfer cycles or who did not receive fresh embryo transfer in the first place. Urine pregnancy tests were positive in 10 patients and fetal heart beat was detected in 8 patients. The clinical pregnancy rate was 38.1% (8/21) for frozen embryo transfer. CONCLUSION We conclude that IVF-ET is an effective method for patients with hyper-response to ovulation induction in IUI.