Zhang Ny

Withdrawal of GnRH agonist decreases oestradiol and VEGF concentrations in high responders

This study evaluated whether the withdrawal of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist before triggering ovulation reduces the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk infertility patients who were treated with gonadotrophins. GnRH agonist was withdrawn for 2 or 3 days when dominant follicles were ≥14 mm in diameter, according to the GnRH agonist long protocol. Non-withdrawal of GnRH agonist was used as control. The serum concentration of oestradiol on the ovulation trigger day was significantly decreased in the GnRH agonist withdrawal group compared with the control group (5750.78 ± 2344.77 pg/ml versus 8076.43 ± 1981.67 pg/ml); however, the number of retrieved oocytes and the fertilization rate were similar between the groups. In addition, the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor in plasma on day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration and follicular fluid on the oocyte retrieval day were decreased following GnRH agonist withdrawal. In fresh embryo transfer cycles, rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation and OHSS were not different between the groups. When GnRH agonist withdrawal was followed by total embryos cryopreserved, the rate of OHSS was decreased compared with the control group (0% versus 8.70%). Clinical pregnancy rates in cryopreserved embryo transfer cycles were comparable between the two groups.

The value of HCG serum concentrations after trigger in predicting pregnancy and live birth rates in IVF–ICSI

The aim of this study was to determine if an association existed between serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) level at 12 h after trigger and IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm (ICSI) treatment outcomes. Women undergoing initial IVF-ICSI and embryo transfer treatment using the long luteal phase gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist protocol between April 2012 and March 2013 for tubal factor were included (n = 699). In the clinical pregnancy group, HCG after trigger was significantly elevated (276.0 ± 5.1 versus 198.5 ± 6.1 mIU/mL; P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value proposed by the receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under curve = 0.730) for HCG was 201.2 mIU/ml. Compared with the lower HCG group, the clinical pregnancy rate in the higher HCG group was increased in obese and non-obese patients (77.8% versus 57.3%, P < 0.05; 85.6% versus 53.0%, P < 0.01, respectively). Adjusted for age and body mass index, an increase of HCG was associated with a better IVF-ICSI treatment outcome (OR 4.39, 95% CI 2.99 to 6.45). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher across increasing quartiles of HCG. An elevated level of serum HCG at 12 h after trigger was associated with a better IVF-ICSI outcome.

FSH modulates the expression of inhibin-alpha and the secretion of inhibins via orphan nuclear receptor NUR77 in ovarian granulosa cells

It has been previously reported that follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) regulates the expression of inhibin‐alpha in human granulosa cells, but the precise molecular pathway remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of the orphan nuclear receptor, NUR77, in both the transcriptional regulation of the inhibin α‐subunit gene and the secretion of inhibins. Our results showed that in a human granulosa cell tumor‐derived cell line (KGN) and in human granulosa‐lutein cells (hGL), FSH induced the expression of NUR77 and inhibin‐alpha, although inhibin‐alpha expression did not increased following FSH treatment if NUR77 was knocked down. Furthermore, simply overexpressing or reducing NUR77 levels affected inhibin‐alpha expression, while NUR77 overexpression improved the secretion of inhibin A and B from human granulosa cells. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation–PCR, avidin–biotin‐conjugated DNA precipitation, and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that NUR77 directly regulated the transcription of the inhibin‐alpha gene through the specific NGFI‐B response element located within its promoter. In the ovarian granulosa cells of the Nur77 knockout mice, the mRNA levels of inhibin‐alpha were decreased relative to wild‐type mice. These data indicate a role of NUR77 in the regulation of inhibin‐alpha in ovarian granulosa cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 734–743, 2013.

The effect of first trimester subchorionic hematoma on pregnancy outcomes in patients underwent IVF/ICSI treatment

Abstract Objective: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the effect of subchorionic hematoma (SCH) on pregnancy outcomes in IVF/ICSI patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1097 pregnancies achieved by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FETs) between January 2013 and June 2013 at the IVF center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The prevalence of SCH was 12.1% in this group (133/1097). We compared the pregnancy outcomes between the SCH group and non-SCH group, while the risk factors for SCH were also evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference between SCH group and non-SCH group with regard to patients’ age, spouse’s age, endometrial thickness, miscarriage rate (5.6% versus 6.2%, p > 0.05), second trimester fetus loss rate (5.6% versus 7.7%, p > 0.05) or live birth rate (89.5% versus 86.1%, p > 0.05). While the birth weight in singleton pregnancy in SCH group was significant lower (3207.8 ± 595.7 g versus 3349.2 ± 59.7 g, p = 0.03). SCH was more common in fresh embryo transfer patients than that in FET patients (16.6% versus 5.1%, p < 0.01), fresh embryo transfer was a high risk for SCH with OR 3.67, 95% CI: 2.28–5.90. Conclusion: We concluded that SCH was associated with lower birth weight in singleton pregnancy, but SCH did not increase pregnancy loss rate in IVF/ICSI patients, and fresh embryo transfer may contribute to SCH onset.

Pregnancy, Delivery, and Neonatal Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer in Patient with Previous Cesarean Scar

Background What role should previous cesarean section play in affecting clinical pregnancy outcomes and avoiding the complications of in vitro fertilization? In this article, we focus on elective single-embryo transfer (eSET) versus double-embryo transfer (DET) and assess the clinical efficacy and safety of eSET in patients who have a previous cesarean scar. Material/Methods The pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal outcomes of 130 patients who had a previous cesarean scar and received in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were retrospectively analyzed. The number of transferred embryos was chosen depending on patients’ desire after acknowledging all benefits and risks, including eSET (eSET group, n=56) and DET (DET group, n=74). A total of 101 patients with previous vaginal delivery receiving IVF-ET in the same period were included as a control group. Results The pregnancy rates, multiple birth rates, abortion rates, ectopic pregnancy rates, gestational age at delivery, preterm birth rates, neonatal birth weight, and take-home baby rates were similar between the previous cesarean section group and the previous vaginal delivery group. A previous cesarean section scar did not affect embryo implantation and pregnancy outcomes in IVF. In the eSET and DET groups of previous cesarean section patients, the embryo implantation rates, pregnancy rates, abortion rates, and take-home baby rates were similar. However, the rate of multiple pregnancies reached 50% in the DET group, which led to more preterm births and lower birth weight. Conclusions Elective single-embryo transfer is a well-accepted strategy to avoid multiple pregnancies and improve the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of singleton pregnancy in IVF patients with a previous cesarean section.