bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
O-150 Identification and validation of RPL7 and RCCD1 as potential biomarkers associated with immune infiltration in patients with thin endometrium
Authors: Sun J , Ji M , Zhu Y , Bukulmez O , Yeung W S , Sun J , Teng X , Chen M 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
For patients with thin endometrium (TE), what potential genes could be utilized for exploring the underlying mechanisms and clinical therapy?

Summary answer
Ribosomal protein L7 (RPL7) and RCC1 domain containing 1 (RCCD1) were suggested as specific biomarkers for TE.

What is known already
TE is an important contributor to embryo implantation failure and female infertility. However, the pathogenesis and mechanism of TE are not clear, and consequently, there is a paucity of data on effective targeted treatments for patients with TE.

Study design, size, duration
Endometrial cells were collected from 18 women with TE and 18 normal controls for transcriptional sequencing. Experimental validation was based on other 10 endometrium samples, consisting of 6 TE samples and 4 controls.

Participants/materials, setting, methods
After performing transcriptional sequencing, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were extracted between the two groups via bioinformatic analysis. Based on DEGs, we applied functional enrichment and LASSO analysis to identify potential biomarkers, whose expressions were then validated by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. Immune infiltration as well as the correlation with immune cells was also explored in the study.

Main results and the role of chance
RPL7 and RCC1 were identified and validated to be potential biomarkers, which exhibited an overexpression in TE at both mRNA and protein levels. An abnormal immune environment was found in TE, and correlation analysis showed that the two candidate genes correlated with atypical regulation of immune cells.

Limitations, reasons for caution
It might not be adequate to evaluate TE by only considering the immunologic aspects. Moreover, prospective studies are required to determine whether RPL7 and RCC1 may be used for early clinical diagnosis and prediction of pregnancy outcomes.

Wider implications of the findings
Further understanding and better knowledge of the functions of RPL7 and RCCD1 can promote the development of targeted therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes of patients with TE.

Trial registration number
not applicable
O-173 Gastruloids: a pluripotent stem cell model of gastrulation and body plan engineering in development and disease
Authors: Martinez-Arias A 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Gastrulation is the process whereby the mass of cells that results from fertilization is shaped into the body plan of an organism. Understanding this process in humans is important as the origin of several syndromes and birth defects, map to this period. However, addressing this period experimentally is difficult due to technical, and more importantly, obvious ethical constrains. Over the last few years, alternatives to study gastrulation have emerged from the realization of the self-organizing abilities of Pluripotent Stem Cells and led to a number of cellular models of the early stages of mammalian development. I will discuss these models, with a special focus on gastruloids, highlighting their strengths as well as their limitations.
O-180 On being whole – fantasy and the unthought known
Authors: Ramu T 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Timo Ramu unexpectedly discovered, through a DNA test meant for a lighthearted exploration of ethnicity, that he was donor-conceived. From initially thinking he had no biological siblings, he found out he had 50 and counting. This revelation shocked his family and shattered his sense of identity. His parents, in trying to shield him, denied him knowledge of his true origin. He grapples with the implications of living in a "fantasy" crafted by others. The talk touches upon the importance of biological connections, the distinctions between biological and social relationships, and the profound impacts of withheld truths on trust and self-awareness.
O-191 Delayed fetal growth in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome using serial ultrasonographic biometry
Authors: Wang F , Fu L , Yun F , Wang T , Zhou Y , Qu F 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
To investigate the effect of maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on intrauterine growth and perinatal outcome of offspring.

Summary answer
Maternal PCOS might have an adverse impact on fetal growth, represented by serial biometric measurements, and consequently lower the birth weight.

What is known already
Women with PCOS often have low fertility and high risk of certain pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and preterm birth (PTB). In addition, the offspring of PCOS mothers are susceptible to short- and long-term health consequences, such as metabolic diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders. And the suboptimal intrauterine environment caused by maternal PCOS condition might be the origin of impaired long-term health of the offspring.

Study design, size, duration
A total of 1153 pregnant women with pregestational diagnosis of PCOS and 1383 non-PCOS controls were included in the retrospective case-control study for clinical record and ultrasonographic database at women’s hospital, school of medicine, Zhejiang university over a 6-year period.

Participants/materials, setting, methods
Maternal demographic data, fetal biometric measurements with ultrasound, obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were analyzed. A meta-analysis of birth weight in PCOS offspring in the literature was performed to assess the relationship between the maternal PCOS and neonatal growth.

Main results and the role of chance
After adjustment for potential confounding variables, we found that biparietal diameter (BPD) and femur length (FL) were notably smaller in fetuses of women with PCOS than controls across the entire gestation. This effect still existed after excluding three major pregnancy complications of PCOS, including GDM, HDP and PTB. Although other fetal biometry including estimated fetal weight and birth weight in PCOS offspring were comparable with controls in our study, the meta-analysis of 22 studies showed that the birth weight in offspring of women with PCOS was lower than controls (WMD -37.813, 95%CL [-69.713, -5.913]), especially for offspring in South America (WMD -84.69, 95%CL [-166.69, -2.68]).

Limitations, reasons for caution
First, data of other fetal parameters like abdominal and head circumference was scanty. Second, neonatal anthropometric parameters apart from the birth weight were not included. Lastly, we did not have the long-term follow-up results of the offspring to explore the potential effect of delayed fetal biometry in their later life.

Wider implications of the findings
More attention needs to be paid to the smaller-than-average fetuses in PCOS mothers, and proper management may be needed during and after pregnancy. Further studies are needed to confirm the intrauterine growth pattern of the PCOS offspring and its clinical significance in the neonatal period and beyond.

Trial registration number
N/A
O-241 ESHRE guidance on embryo transfer: when to do DET?
Authors: Veleva Z , Alteri A , Arroyo G , Baccino G , Craciunas L , De Geyter C , Santos-Ribeiro S , Ebner T , Kordic K , Mertes H , Pavicic Baldani D , Rodriguez-Wallberg K , Rugescu I , Tilleman K , Woodward B 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
More than four decades have passed since the birth of the first infant conceived through the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART). During this time, ART has increased the chance for millions of people who have trouble conceiving to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth. In the early years of IVF/ICSI, clinicians may have transferred all available embryos into the uterus because of the low overall treatment success at the time. However, with medical and technical improvements in ART, the transfer of multiple embryos led to a greater number of multiple pregnancies, compared to spontaneous pregnancies. Multiple pregnancies are associated with a wide range of maternal and neonatal complications. This is why at present, the transfer of one embryo is considered the preferable route towards the key objective of ART and at present this is recommended by several international and national professional organisations such as ESHRE and ASRM.
However, these recommendations are not followed in many countries, as can be observed in annual reviews. Double embryo transfer (DET) remains a viable alternative to elective single embryo transfer (eSET) in many clinics.
The aim of the presentation is to highlight the place of double embryo transfer in the current practice of ART while taking into account best evidence from clinical studies. The presentation will present results from ESHRE’s guideline on the number of embryos to transfer in IVF/ICSI as well as some results from the surveys of the guideline development group (GDG), the most important of which is the survey to European infertility patients performed together with Fertility Europe, Europe’s patient organisation.
O-244 AMH levels in infertile women in APAC region - prospective study in multiple countries, ethnicities and centres
Authors: Tzeng C  R 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Secretary General, Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproductive (ASPIRE)
President, Taiwan Endometriosis Society
Founder & CEO, Taipei Fertility Center
AMH is produced by granulosa cells of small growing follicles in the ovary and serum AMH levels strongly correlate with the number of growing follicles, AMH has been used clinically as a marker for ovarian reserve. Despite being of similar ages, with similar AMH levels, durations of ovarian stimulation, and gonadotropin doses, Asian women have been documented as having decreased AFCs and lower yields of total and mature oocytes after ovarian stimulation compared to their Caucasian counter- parts. These earlier data suggested that the effect of ethnicity was as an independent marker of ovarian reserve and potentially subsequent reproductive outcomes.
We conducted the first multi-nation, multi-centre, and multi-ethnicity prospective cohort study from January 2020 to May 2021 to investigate serum AMH profiles among infertile Asian women. A total of 4613 women who visited fertility clinics at 12 IVF centres in 11 regions throughout Asia were recruited from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia (2 centres), Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. The inclusion criteria were female partners aged 20–43years and naive to any ovarian stimulation cycle. The AMH measurement was performed using an AMH automated assay on a clinically validated platform.
Among the 12 centres that joined the study, most demonstrated racial homogeneity except for Singapore and Malaysia which presented a highly diverse ethnic profile, while others were supposedly monoethnic communities. Unexplained or male infertility is the most common infertility cause in most countries, except for China with a notably high incidence of tubal disease. Age, ethnicity, obesity, and PCOS are significantly associated with ovarian reserve. The highest rates of PCOS were found in Indians (18.6%), Malays (18.9%), and Vietnamese (17.7%), yet remarkably lean with lower obesity rate was found in Vietnamese. Serum AMH levels are not affected by smoking or GnRHa and OCPs pretreatment but are affected by endometrioma surgery. Moreover, the assay can be conveniently conducted on any day of the menstrual cycle and is not influenced by the use of fresh or frozen samples. The rate of decline in ovarian reserve increases with age in Asian women, at 0.13ng/ml/year at 25–33years old and 0.31ng/ ml/year at 33–43 years old. We also found that a cut-off at 4.0 ng/ml could be considered for PCOS diagnosis in the Asian region. Despite limitations, the results can help guide clinicians for personalized infertility treatment, and call for further investigation into the effects of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors on ovarian reserve.
P-021 Development of recombinant Phospholipase C Zeta protein as a therapeutic intervention to overcome certain types of male infertility
Authors: Saleh A , Nomikos M 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
Developing recombinant Phospholipase C Zeta (PLCζ) protein using a bacterial expression system to be utilized for potential future replacement of Ca2+ ionophores during IVF treatments.

Summary answer
Our findings support the use of MBP-PLCζ recombinant protein as a therapeutic tool for treating certain types of male factor infertility associated with fertilization failure

What is known already
The long-term safety of calcium ionophores, which are exclusively used for treating cases of fertilization failure, is still questionable. PLCζ is an endogenous agent that may represent a better replacement for treating male infertility cases related to fertilization failure

Study design, size, duration
Maltose binding protein (MBP)-tagged PLCζ was produced by cloning wild-type PLCζ into a pET41MM vector and purified using affinity chromatography techniques. Circular dichroism (CD) was employed to evaluate the secondary structure and the thermal denaturation of PLCζ protein. Moreover, the PIP2 hydrolysis assay was used to test the enzymatic activity of PLCζ protein over time and under different storage conditions. Furthermore, the embryonic toxicity of the protein was tested using a chick embryo model.

Participants/materials, setting, methods
Several methods were used in this study including Molecular cloning, circular dichroism, and chick embryo model to investigate the embryonic viability.

Main results and the role of chance
Our findings demonstrated that PLCζ recombinant protein displayed a properly folded secondary structure mainly composed of alpha-helices. Moreover, the protein was effective in maintaining the enzymatic activity and Ca2+ sensitivity for 90 days when stored at -80oC. Moreover, exposing chicken eggs to MBP-PLCζ did not alter the embryonic viability when compared to the control group. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the rate of survival did not differ between the treatment, control and sham groups until the endpoint of the study.

Limitations, reasons for caution
The toxicology assays used are not sufficient to confirm the safety of the protein. Further in vivo studies are required to investigate the effect of MBP-PLCζ protein on early embryonic development before being used as a replacement for calcium ionophores in cases of oocyte activation failure.

Wider implications of the findings
These findings can help develop a new therapeutic tool for treating cases of male infertility associated with oocyte activation failure.

Trial registration number
not applicable
P-109 Non-invasive Genetic Testing (niPGTA) and Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH) may improve pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates in patients of advanced maternal age
Authors: Banti M , Van Zyl E , Kafetzis D 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
Does niPGTA and LAH improve pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates in patients of advanced maternal age?

Summary answer
niPGTA increases pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates in patients aged ≥38 years compared to those without tested embryos, while LAH may further improve pregnancy outcomes.

What is known already
Embryos release cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) in the IVF culture media, which can be analyzed for chromosomal constitution. The benefit that niPGTA holds over PGT-A is that it is a non-invasive test and could potentially produce comparable results. Therefore, the time to pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage could be reduced in comparison to an IVF treatment with non-tested embryos. Previous studies have shown high concordance with trophectoderm biopsies in PGT-A patients and improved outcomes with LAH in frozen-thawed cycles. However, there is a lack of studies investigating clinical pregnancy rates with niPGTA.

Study design, size, duration
Retrospective cohort study including 74 patients aged ≥38 years, who underwent Single Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) from May 2021 to February 2023. Patients who had Endometrial Receptivity Assay (ERA) were excluded.

Participants/materials, setting, methods
32 couples had niPGTA; Spent Blastocyst Media (SBM) for each blastocyst were collected on Day 6 and analyzed using the EMBRACE test. Embryos were vitrified. 42 couples had their blastocysts vitrified on Day 5/6 without testing. LAH was introduced to all patients in October 2021. Before that, no LAH was performed. Embryos were transferred to patients 2 hours post-warming after LAH. Pregnancy test was performed 10 days after FET and clinical pregnancy was established.

Main results and the role of chance
There was a statistical significant increase of pregnancy rate (p = 0.017, Pearson’s Chi-Squared test) and a trend towards higher clinical pregnancy rate for niPGTA patients versus those who had a transfer of not tested embryos. Regarding LAH, there was a trend towards higher pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates in both niPGTA and not tested group. Results for pregnancies and clinical pregnancies are presented in Table 1.

Limitations, reasons for caution
More patients are required to confirm clinical significance of pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates of niPGTA over not tested embryos and if LAH can improve the outcomes. A review of patients who had previous implantation failures and miscarriages in addition to ERA could yield clearer conclusions.

Wider implications of the findings
The results of this study are encouraging for niPGTA combined with LAH for patients aged ≥38 years. Further studies on niPGTA and modifications of the protocol for increased concordance rates and shorter time in embryo culture should be explored.

Trial registration number
Not applicable
P-113 Comparison of mitochondrial function between expanded and hatching human blastocysts
Authors: Bayat H , Akbari M , Adib S , Movaghar B 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
Is there a difference in mitochondrial function between expanded and hatching fresh and vitrified blastocysts?

Summary answer
Freezing and thawing may lead to mitochondrial dysfunction.

What is known already
Mitochondria, as crucial cellular organelles, play role in energy production through the electron transport chain, cell motility and organelle movement. They also have a significant impact on embryonic development. Furthermore, during the process of embryonic hatching, the energy generated by these organelles can affect ion pump activity, blastocyst expansion, and collapse. Therefore, factors that stress embryonic mitochondria may contribute to embryogenesis and hatching. Cooling and warming, as stress factors, maybe result in organelle damage, protein denaturation, membrane disruption, and DNA fragmentation. Additionally, they can cause changes in mitochondrial function, leading to decreased ATP levels and increased ROS levels.

Study design, size, duration
In this study, vitrified and fresh human 8-cell embryos were collected from April 18, 2021, to July 19, 2023. The embryos were cultured until the blastocyst stage, and then four samples were assessed in four groups. These groups included vitrified expanded blastocysts, vitrified hatching blastocysts, fresh expanded blastocysts, and fresh hatching blastocysts.

Participants/materials, setting, methods
Vitrified embryos were sourced from the embryo bank of the Royan Institute, while fresh embryos were obtained from good-quality 3PN embryos or excess embryos from couples who did not wish to freeze them. A stock solution containing lipophilic cationic JC-1 dye in dimethyl sulfoxide was prepared. Blastocysts were then exposed to a concentration of 1 μg/ml of JC-1 diluted in HamsF10-HSA. After washing with HF-HSA, imaging was performed using a 2-photon confocal microscope.

Main results and the role of chance
Our results showed that mitochondrial membrane potential in expanded blastocysts of both fresh and vitrified eight-cell embryos was significantly higher than in hatching blastocysts of fresh and vitrified embryos (P &lt; 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in mitochondrial function between the vitrified and fresh groups, neither in expanded nor hatching blastocysts.

Limitations, reasons for caution
Due to the human origin of the samples, the minimum necessary replicates were considered for each experimental group.

Wider implications of the findings
In this study, it appears that plump zona breakers can be detected in hatching blastocysts using confocal microscopy. Previous studies, such as the one conducted by Sathananthan, identified these cells using a TEM microscope.

Trial registration number
-
P-298 The use of propensity score matching to assess the effectiveness of the endometrial receptivity analysis in patients with recurrent implantation failure
Authors: Yu S , Zhang Y , Li N , Su Z , Li W , Lou H , Guan Y 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Study question
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ERA on pregnancy outcomes in patients with RIF.

Summary answer
The results of the study showed no significant difference in pregnancy outcomes in patients who received ERA compared to those who did not.

What is known already
One potential cause of implantation failure is abnormal endometrial receptivity, and how to objectively evaluate endometrial receptivity has been a matter of great concern. Endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA), a microarray-based test that assesses endometrial gene expression, may be valuable in predicting endometrial receptivity, but whether ERA improves pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is currently controversial.

Study design, size, duration
We performed a retrospective cohort study analysis for a population of patients with RIF undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles in the reproductive center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to December 2022(n = 1598).

Participants/materials, setting, methods
FET cycles with personalized embryo transfer (PET) under ERA guidance were included in the ERA group (n = 43); after using propensity score matching (PSM), a total of 120 FET cycles were included as a control group. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups. Further, the relationship between the number of previous implant failures and the rate of implant window displacement was discussed. The factors affecting the window of implantation (WOI) displacement were also assessed.

Main results and the role of chance
There was no statistically significant difference in embryo implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, spontaneous abortion rate, and live birth rate between the ERA group and the matched control patients (P &gt; 0.05).

Limitations, reasons for caution
Our study is a non-large sample size retrospective study, because ERA is not a routine test in assisted reproductive technology clinics.

Wider implications of the findings
In our study, PET did not significantly improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with RIF, no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes were found between patients with moderate and severe RIF after PET, and no underlying etiology affecting WOI displacement was identified.

Trial registration number
not applicable