bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
#185 : Embryos Derived from Prepubertal Hyperglycemic Mice Show Differential Response to Oxygen Tension In Vitro
Authors: Predheepan Dhakshanya , Salian Sujith Raj , Daddangadi Akshatha , Uppangala Shubhashree , Kalthur Guruprasad , Kovacic Borut , Adiga Satish Kumar 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Response of preimplantation embryos to varying oxygen tensions, when cultured in vitro, has shown conflicting results. Though physiological or low oxygen culture is gaining popularity in IVF programs, how oxygen tension influences the behavior of embryos derived from pathological conditions is unknown. Since there has been an increasing trend in the incidence of diabetes in children and young adults, this study is aimed to look at the functional ability of embryos derived from experimentally induced hyperglycemic mice at the prepubertal phase of life to varying oxygen tension in vitro. Method: The experimentally induced hyperglycemic state was monitored in the prepubertal phase (3 to 6 weeks), followed by oocyte quality assessment, in vitro maturation potential, mitochondrial status, and spindle integrity analysis. Oocytes were then fertilized and cultured at high/atmospheric ([Formula: see text] 19%) and low/physiological ([Formula: see text]5%) oxygen tension until 96 h in vitro. Embryo quality and developmental progression, blastocyst rate, apoptosis, inner cell mass (ICM) outgrowth proliferation, and expression of Hif1[Formula: see text] were assessed. Results: Prepubertal hyperglycemia did not affect the ovarian reserve significantly; however, the maturation potential (P<0.001), mitochondrial integrity (P<0.01), and meiotic spindle assembly (P<0.05–0.001) in oocytes were altered significantly. Importantly, such oocytes showed better functional ability during the preimplantation phase of development when cultured at low oxygen tension. Hif1[Formula: see text] transcripts in ICM outgrowths were significantly higher (P<0.05) in low oxygen tension compared to atmospheric oxygen tension. Conclusion: Embryo culture in low oxygen tension appears beneficial for embryos derived from hyperglycemic mothers with respect to developmental competence and retaining genetic integrity. ART clinics need to customize their embryo culture strategies based on patient’s physiological and pathological conditions.
#239 : Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor Improve Embryo Development, Mitochondrial Function and Spindle Alignment in a Mouse Model of Advanced Maternal Age
Authors: Saini Anmol , McPherson Nicole , Smitz Johan , Nottle Mark 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: We have previously shown that GM-CSF can improve embryo development when added during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) as well as increase pregnancy and birth rates following embryo transfer in mice. The aim of the present study was to determine whether GM-CSF during IVM can improve embryo development in a mouse model of advanced maternal age (AMA) Method: 12–14-month-old CBAF1 female mice were injected with 5IU of PMSG and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated 46–48 h post-injection. Ten COCs were cultured per 50 [Formula: see text]L drop in bicarbonate-buffered [Formula: see text]-MEM containing 3 mg/ml BSA, 1 mg/ml Fetuin and 5 mIU/mL FSH plus 0 or 10 ng/ml of GM-CSF. Zygotes were cultured in Cleave Media and cleavage and blastocyst rates were determined. Blastocysts were differentially stained on Day 5 to determine cell numbers. To determine mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) COCs were incubated for 15 minutes in HEPES buffered alpha-MEM media with JC-1 dye for 15 minutes. To examine spindle formation and chromosomal alignment, MII oocytes were fixed and then incubated with FITC conjugated mouse anti-[Formula: see text]-tubulin for 40 minutes at 25°C and chromosomes stained using Hoechst. Fluorescence was visualised using Cell Voyager CV1000 Confocal Scanner and Z-stack images were analysed using Fiji Image J software. Data were analysed using a univariate general liner model in IBM SPSS. Results: GM-CSF during IVM increased Day 5 blastocyst rate by 21% (P<0.01) and the proportion of expanded blastocysts by 75% (P<0.05). Blastocyst inner cell mass was increased by 23% (P<0.05) and total cell number by 14% (P<0.05). MMP was increased across all fields by three-fold (P<0.05). GM-CSF did not affect spindle formation but tended to reduce chromosomal misalignment by 17% (P>0.05). Conclusion: We have shown that the addition of GM-CSF during IVM can improve embryo development and mitochondrial activity in a mouse of AMA.
#39 : Identification of Pharmacologically Active Small Molecules that Induce Spheroid Attachment and Embryo Implantation In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Nguyen Truong Thai Ha , Huynh Bao G , Nguyen Duy L , Dao Thuy TH , Ho Tuong M 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Human endometrium is receptive to embryo implantation during the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The in vitro spheroid-endometrial epithelial cells co-culture model was used in this study. We hypothesized that the small molecules from thelibrary of pharmacologically active compounds (LOPAC) can effectively enhance embryo implantation. Method: We established a high-throughput in-vitro spheroid-endometrial epithelial (BeWo-Ishikawa) cells coculture model to screen 1280 LOPAC. The top 20 small molecules which increased spheroid attachment rate were further studied in the non-receptive cell lines (HEC-1B and AN3CA). Endometrial cells were either treated with 1% DMSO (vehicle control), AZA at 20 μM (positive control) or LOPAC at 10 μM for 48 h. The trophoblastic BeWo spheroids were generated by AggreWell and the number of attached spheroids after coculture were counted. The effect on mice was studied by trans-cervical injection of LOPAC on 1.5-day postcoital (dpc) and the number of implantation sites on 5.5 dpc were evaluated. Results: Screening of 1280 LOPAC identified 255 molecules increased, and 173 molecules significantly decreased the spheroid attachment rate. The top 20 potential molecules were further studied and three of them were found to significantly increase spheroid attachment in the HEC-1B cells. Another molecule J was found to suppress spheroid attachment in receptive Ishikawa and RL95-2 cells while increase spheroid attachment significantly in non-receptive HEC-1B and AN3CA cells. In mice, molecule J could significantly increase the number of implantation sites on the treated sides when compared with non-treated sides. Conclusion: Three molecules were found to increase spheroid attachment in receptive Ishikawa cells and non-receptive HEC-1B cells. Another molecule J can increase the spheroid attachment in non-receptive HEC-1B and AN3CA cells and increase embryo implantation in ICR mice. [This study is partially supported by the GRF grants 15162211 and 17120720 to KFL]
#197 : The Associations Between Modifiable Risk Factors and Spontaneous Abortion: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Feng Bo , Yang Hao 
Published: January 2024

Back and Aims: Early identification of modifiable risk factors is essentialfor the prevention of spontaneous abortion (SA). We aimed to systematically explore the relationships between genetically predicted modifiable risk factors and SA. Method: We obtained genetic variants associated with the modifiable risk factors at the genome-wide significance (p< 5× [Formula: see text]) level from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis was used to investigate the relationship between 42 modifiable risk factors and SA. Results: The studyfound that genetically predicted HLA DR++ monocyte %leukocyte, HLA DR on CD14+ monocyte, HLA DR on monocyte, and type of transport used were associated with an increased risk of SA (all with [OR]>1 and p< 0.05). Conversely, CD14+ CD16- monocyte absolute count, age first had sexual intercourse, never smoked, and education status were found to be negatively associated with SA (all with [OR]<1 and p< 0.05). Additionally, the study observed potential associations between genetically predicted CD25 on switched memory B cell, lymphocyte count, monocyte absolute count, CD8+ natural killer T %T cell, asthma, appendicular lean mass, rheumatoid arthritis, complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 1 (CTRP1), hand grip strength, waist-to-hip ratio, and usual walking pace with an increased risk of SA. Conversely, lymphocyte count was associated with a suggestive lower risk of SA in the results. Conclusion: Our analysis revealed that several modifiable risk factors were associated with SA. Specifically, genetically predicted a higher proportion of HLA DR++ monocytes in leukocytes, HLA DR on CD14+ monocyte, HLA DR on monocyte and often using cycle as transportation were associated an increased risk of SA, while evaluated CD14+ CD16- monocyte absolute count, first sexual intercourse at an older age, never smoked, and higher education were with a decreased risk of SA.
#211 : The Causal Effects of Circulating Biomarkers of Immunity and Inflammation on Endometriosis: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yaoyao 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease with a high prevalence among reproductive-aged women. Several studies have investigated the causal effect of different serum biomarkers of immunity and inflammation on the occurrence and progression of endometriosis. However, the results of these studies remained inconclusive and even controversial. Herein, this study aims to analyze the causal associations of genetically predicted levels of different circulating biomarkers of immunity and inflammation with the risk of endometriosis using a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of exposures which indicate the genetic variants were used as instrumental variables (IVs) and were all obtained from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of European ancestry from the IEU GWAS database. Besides, we performed bidirectional MR analysis to test the associations. The causal effects were estimated through the inverse-variance weighted method (IVW). The sensitivity examinations of each result after the MR analysis were performed to detect if any heterogeneity and pleiotropy existed. Results: Our results demonstrated that higher interleukin-9 (IL-9) level was associated with the occurrence of endometriosis, while macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF) level, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), sE-Selectin and basophil count showed the opposite. Genetically predicted endometriosis was related to higher immunoglobulin E (IgE) level and platelet count. No evidence of bidirectional association was detected on the other serum inflammatory biomarkers with endometriosis. Neither pleiotropy nor heterogeneity was found in our study. Conclusion: Our results suggested that some dysregulated circulating biomarkers of immunity and inflammation is causally associated with the occurrence of endometriosis, and at the same time endometriosis may lead to the abnormality of some of these factors. Our findings provided genetic insights on potential novel strategies in the primary prevention, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.
#240 : Diagnostic Accuracy of Hysterosalpingo-Foam Sonography (HyFoSy) for Fallopian Tube Patency Assessment in Infertile Women
Authors: Le Tieu My , Vo Binh , Pham Anh , Vu Anh , Pham Toan , Truong Tham , Ho Tuong , Dang Vinh 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Tubal patency assessment is an important part of routine infertility work-up. It has been suggested that hysterosalpingography should no longer be considered as a ‘first line’ diagnostic procedure. We aimto determine the accuracy of an alternative technique, hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy), in tubal patency assessment in infertile women. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at My Duc Hospital and was approved by the institutional ethics committee (25/2019/MD). Infertile women who were scheduled for undegoing laparoscopy during infertility investigation. A visual analogue scale (VAS) score for perception of pain during HyFoSy was used. Laparoscopywith dye chromotubation, was performed on the same day and used as a gold standard. Clinicians performing laparoscopy were blinded to HyFoSy results. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value (NPV, PPV)and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A sample size of 455 women was needed to demonstrate a non-exceeding 8% of fluctuation hypothesis of the two sensitivity and specificity (power 0.80, two-sided alpha 5%, loss to follow-up 5%). Results: Between 2019 and 2022, we recruited 455 women. Five women had inconclusive HyFoSy results, three women withdrew consents. Data analysis was performed on 447 women (868 tubes). The sensitivity and specificity of HyFoSy, as compared to laparoscopy, were 0.76 (95% CI 0.72–0.80) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.67–0.75), respectively. HyFoSy gave a PPV of 0.72 (95% CI 0.69–0.76) and a NPV of 0.75 (95% CI 0.72–0.78). 50% of women reported no pain. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: HyFoSy is a well-tolerated, safe, and reliable technique compared to laparoscopy for tubal patency assessment.
#293 : Trends of Statistical Significance Reporting in Abstracts of Reproductive Medicine Studies from 1990 to 2022
Authors: Feng Qian , Li Wentao , Mol Ben 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Despite efforts to minimize publication reporting bias in medical research, it remains unclear whether the magnitude and patterns of the bias have changed over time. We aim to assess the frequency in which the statistical information is presented in forms other than P-values and evaluate how statistical significance was reported in the abstracts of reproductive medicine studies. Method: We studied reproductive medicine studies published in 23 Q1 journals in reproductive medicine, and five top medical journals, including JAMA, Lancet, BMJ, NEJM, and PLOS Medicine. We text-mined abstracts from 1990 to 2022 to extract P-value, confidence interval (CI), and text description in statistical significance; the presence of effect size metrics and Bayes factors were searched. One thousand abstracts were randomly selected and manually checked. The extracted statistical significance information was then analysed for temporal trends and distribution. Results: We identified 24,550 reproductive medicine abstracts. The proportion of abstracts reporting isolated P-values was 13.9% in 1990 and 18.8% in 2021 (Figure 1); reporting isolated P-values was 3.0% (95% CI, 0.5%-11.3%) in meta-analyses, 20.8% (95% CI, 11.3%-34.5%) in randomized controlled trials, and 33.3% (95% CI, 23.8%-44.3%) in basic research in 2021. By contrast, the proportion of abstracts in reporting effect measures without P-value surged from 4.1% to 23.3% from 1990 to 2021. The reported P-values (n = 18,132) mainly clustered at 0.001 (20.0%) and 0.05 (16.2%). Of the 14,689 abstracts containing at least one statement describing statistical significance, 74.9% of abstracts made at least one statistically significant statement; this proportion had merely changed over time (Figure 2). Conclusion: Despite the increasing adoption of effect measures to convey statistical significance, reporting isolated P-values remains common. Publication reporting bias is pervasive and persisting in reproductive medicine abstracts; the inflated treatment could mislead all types of patient care and policy decisions.
#31 : Outcome of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Laparoscopic Procedures in Sub Fertility in Farooq Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Farooq Fariha 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Sub-fertility is a global issue, and its prevalence worldwide is around 10% to 15%. The aim of this study was to find out the cause of subfertility and outcome in terms of positive pregnancy followingdiagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy. Methods: A Non-randomized control trial was carried out in 110 patients presenting with subfertility in a tertiary care hospital of Lahore, from January 2022 to Dec 2022. A sample of 110 patients was collected through Non-Probability, Consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected by using a structured questionnaire. Those patients whose husbands had abnormal semen analysis were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Chi square test was applied used to find out associations between laparoscopic procedures and age, type of infertility, marital years and outcome in terms of becoming pregnant. P value was fixed as [Formula: see text]0.05 as significant. Results: Out of 110 females with subfertility, 54 (49.1%) were in the age group 26-30 years. Most common presentation was subfertility in 76 (69.1%). Ultrasound findings were normal in (n=73, 66.4%) patients whereas intra-operatively (n=46, 41.8%) had normal findings. Main Causes identified were blocked tubes (n=12, 11%), Polycystic ovary (n=10, 9.1%) and Pelvic tuberculosis (n=4, 3.6%). Bi variate analysis of laparoscopic procedures with Sociodemographic profile showed significant results such as Age (p=0.002), marital years (p=0.000) and conception after laparoscopic procedures (p=0.022. Binary logistic regression showed significant results with positive pregnancy outcome with p value of 0.024 with (95% CI of 1.139-6.241). Conclusion: In Pakistan TB is a neglected cause of subfertility diagnosed through laparoscopic procedures only. Strong association was observed with positive pregnancy outcome and therapeutic laparoscopy in 16(47.1%) of the patients.
#49 : Does Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA)-Sperm Attribute as the Game Changer in High-Risk Male Factor Fertility for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?
Authors: Gupta Shyam Nandan , Srinivas B V , Pandey Deepak 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: The surgically retrieved sperms either from PESA, TESA and microTESA are considered to contribute satisfactory outcome in ICSI cycles in male factor infertility especially in Azospermia. Although the different sources of sperm for ICSI don’t affect the fertilisation rates in ICSI cycles, but the sperm obtained from fresh PESA may become game changer with higher implantation rates, resulting in better clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes. Method: This comparative study was based at single reproductive center and evaluated 344 PESA-ICSI patients with high-risk male factors from July 2021 to Dec 2022 henceforth were compared with ejaculated-ICSI. The following high-risk male infertility patients were included - 1. No blastocyst formation in two stimulation cycles with ejaculated sperm, 2. If >2 IVF failure (with/o > 4 blastocyst transfer), 3. Severe OAT/azoospermia, 4. Sperm morphology <2% (and/or DFI >25%) even after 6 week of lifestyle n antioxidant therapy and 5. Miscellaneous factor like morbid obesity BMI>40, age >45 with/o history of chronic smoking and alcoholic. The embryo quality was assessed from good blastocyst rate and pregnancy outcome was recorded as implantation and clinical pregnancy rate. Results: As per the inclusion criteria 344 high-risk infertile male (21%) underwent PESA-ICSI and compared with 1346 ejaculated-ICSI patients. The average no of M2 oocytes were takes for ICSI purpose is similar in both group (9.2 and 9.4 per oocyte retrieval). The blastocyst rate in PESA-ICSI group was 51% as compare 48% in ejaculated-ICSI but there was outstanding good-blastocyst rate (34% compared to 24%, P<0.01). Both the group showed nearly equal implantation rate (83% compare to 80.4%) but ongoing pregnancy up to 12 weeks was significantly high as compare to ejaculated-ICSI group (77% vs 62% P <0.01) Conclusion: The high-risk male infertility must be addressed with timely evaluation and decision. PESA offers safe, simple, daycare and promising results in terms of sperm yield and pregnancy outcome, must be offered as first line approach.
#164 : In-Vitro Vitamin D Treatment on Human Sperm Improves Capacitation, Acrosome Reaction, and Protein Expression of Sperm-Oocyte Activation Factors (SOAF)
Authors: Ang Wan Yi , Hamdan Mukhri , Nelli Giribabu 
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: Although many studies have been done to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D and male infertility, the effect of in-vitro vitamin D treatment on sperm remains unclear, particularly the effect on sperm capacitation, hyperpolarisation, sperm-oocyte fusion and oocyte activation. This study aims to examine whether in-vitro vitamin D treatment on sperm can improve the condition of sperm parameters and further increase fertilisation and pregnancy rate. Method: Fifty men (N=50, fertile n=26; infertile men n=24, were recruited during their visit to fertility clinics for semen analysis. Each washed semen sample was aliquoted and divided into control and in-vitro vitamin D treatment groups. For in-vitro vitamin D treatment, semen samples were treated with 1nM in-vitro for 1 hour at 37°C. Intracellular calcium released, capacitation status and mitochondria membrane potential were measured after incubation in both the control and in-vitro vitamin D treatment groups. Furthermore, immunofluorescence of sperm-origin SOAF, Phospholipase C Zeta (PLC[Formula: see text]), was done to investigate fluorescence intensity. Results: Compared to the control, higher intracellular calcium release was noted following in-vitro vitamin D treatment, represented by higher Fluo-4AM staining (MD=25043, P=0.02). In the treatment group, sperm capacitation rate and CTCF were higher when Chlortetracyclin (CTC) (MD=4.7%, P=0.01) and immunofluorescence of phosphotyrosine (MD=0.03, P=0.01) were examined. More hyperpolarised mitochondria membranes in the treatment group showed by JC-1 staining (P=0.01) compared to the control group. The red-to-green, fluorescent ratio is 1.62 in the control group and 2.24 in the treatment group. Moreover, immunofluorescence of PLC[Formula: see text] shows that the treatment improves this protein’s expression (MD=8.013×10[Formula: see text], P=0.02). Thus, in-vitro vitamin D enhances the functionality of sperm by increasing intracellular calcium ions, sperm capacitation, hyperpolarisation and protein expression. Conclusion: Adding vitamin D in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in media culture is beneficial as capacitation, sperm membrane polarisation and SOAF protein expression were increased and therefore contributed to successful IVF.