[Birth weight and frozen embryo transfer: State of the art]. / Poids de naissance et transfert d'embryon congelé : état de l'art.

The aim of this study was to update our acknowledgment if there is a link between assisted embryo cryopreservation and epigenetics in human? Animal studies have demonstrated epigenetics consequence and especially imprinting disorders due to in vitro culture. In human, it is important to note that after frozen embryo transfer birth weight is significantly increased by 81 to 250g. But these studies cannot identify the reasons of such difference. This review strongly suggests that embryo cryopreservation is responsible for birth weight variations but mechanisms not yet elucidated. Epigenetics is probably one of these but to date, none study is able to prove it. We have to be attentive on a possible link between assisted reproductive technology (ART) and epigenetics reprogrammation.

[Oncofertility program at the Montpellier university hospital 2 years after]. / Programme de préservation de la fertilité féminine au CHRU de Montpellier 2ans après.

OBJECTIVE: Female fertility preservation in the context of cancer management is crucial for patient's health care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncofertility practice at our university hospital of Montpellier since 2011. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The evaluation of management of young patients referred to Montpellier University Hospital from September 2011 to September 2013 for oncofertility counselling before cancer treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were referred to a specialized oncofertility center. Forty-two patients (59.1%) were included in the oncofertility program. Twenty-two patients (31%) were proposed for oocyte vitrification after COS protocol, eight patients (11.3%) for ovarian tissue cryoconservation, seven patients (9.9%) for GnRH injections, three patients (4.2%) ovarian transposition and two patients (2.8%) for embryo cryopreservation. Among the 42 indications of fertility preservation, only 18 will have finally taken place. CONCLUSION: Oncofertility counselling for young patients should now be part of the cancer management. It involves multidisciplinary teams. Further information of both oncologists and patients is needed to improve this new approach in the field of cancer treatments.

[Effects of artificial shrinkage prior to vitrification in a closed system: a randomized controlled trial]. / Effets de la réduction artificielle du blastocèle avant vitrification en système fermé : étude contrôlée randomisée.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of induced blastocoele shrinkage before vitrification in a closed carrier device. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prior to vitrification, blastocyst cavity was artificially shrinked by laser pulse or not treated according to a 2:1 randomized procedure. A total of 185 warming cycles from April 2011 to March 2013 have been analyzed. Clinical pregnancy rate and survival rate were compared between the two groups. The mean (±SD) women age was 33.5±5.7 years for both groups. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate in the group with artificial reduction of the cavity was higher ([32/67] 47.7%) than in the control group but not significantly ([43/113] 38%). The survival rate in the artificial shrinkage group was significantly higher compared with the control group : 99% (102/103) and 91.8% (168/183) respectively (P=0.01). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study reveals that artificial shrinkage of blastocoelic cavity by laser pulse before vitrification in a closed carrier device improves survival rate after warming.

[Does embryo morphology constitute a reliable criterion for embryo selection?]. / La morphologie embryonnaire a-t-elle encore un intérêt à l'heure actuelle ?

Embryo selection based exclusively on embryo morphological criteria does not allow currently to obtain satisfactory implantation rates. So, new time-lapse systems have been proposed to improve the rates of in vitro fertilization success. However, the profit/investment ratio of time-lapse systems and the interest of embryo morphokinetics evaluation remain clearly to be established by clinical, robust, prospective, and randomized trials. Consequently, morphological and morphokinetic approaches showed their limitations and justify the development of new non-invasive "omics" approaches. These approaches are very promising and have for main aim to identify new non-invasive biomarkers, in oocyte microenvironment and/or in embryo culture medium, predictive of oocyte and/or embryo quality as well as pregnancy rates. These approaches thus open the way to develop new diagnostic and/or prognostic tests for embryo viability based on the expression and/or the quantification of biomarkers of interest in assisted reproductive technology.

Altered gene expression profile in cumulus cells of mature MII oocytes from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

STUDY QUESTION: Oocyte developmental competence is altered in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); is gene expression in cumulus cells (CCs) from mature metaphase II oocytes of patients with PCOS altered as well? SUMMARY ANSWER: Compared with CCs from non-PCOS patients, the gene expression profile of CCs isolated from mature oocytes of patients with PCOS present alterations that could explain the abnormal folliculogenesis and reduced oocyte competence in such patients. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Abnormal mRNA expression of several members of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family in CCs from PCOS patients was previously reported. Moreover, the whole transcriptome has been investigated in cultured CCs from PCOS patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION: This retrospective study included six PCOS patients diagnosed following the Rotterdam Criteria and six non-PCOS patients who all underwent ICSI for male infertility in the assisted reproduction technique (ART) Department of Montpellier University Hospital, between 2009 and 2011. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING AND METHODS: CCs from PCOS and non-PCOS patients who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) were isolated mechanically before ICSI. Gene expression profiles were analysed using the microarray technology and the Significance Analysis of Microarray was applied to compare the expression profiles of CCs from PCOS and non-PCOS patients. MAIN RESULTS: The gene expression profile of CCs from patients with PCOS was significantly different from that of CCs from non-PCOS patients. Specifically, CCs from women with PCOS were characterized by abnormal expression of many growth factors, including members of the epidermal growth factor-like (EGFR, EREG and AREG) and IGF-like families (IGF1R, IGF2R, IGF2BP2 and IGFBP2), that are known to play a role in oocyte competence. In addition, mRNA transcripts of factors involved in steroid metabolism, such as CYP11A1, CYP1B1, CYP19A1 and CYP2B7P1, were deregulated in PCOS CCs, and this could explain the abnormal steroidogenesis observed in these women. Functional annotation of the differentially expressed genes suggests that defects in the transforming growth factor ß and estrogen receptors signalling cascades may contribute to the reduced oocyte developmental competence in patients with PCOS. LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION: Owing to the strict selection criteria (similar age, weight and reasons for ART), this study included a small sample size (six cases and six controls), and thus, further investigations using a large cohort of patients are needed to confirm these results. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study opens a new perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of PCOS. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was partially supported by a grant from the Ferring Pharmaceutical. The authors of the study have no competing interests to report. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable.

[Recurrent adnexal torsion with normal ovarian, in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy]. / Torsion d'annexe récidivante, sur ovaire sain, aux deuxième et troisième trimestre de grossesse.

We report the only case of recurrent bilateral adnexal torsion during pregnancy with normal ovaries. This rare situation raises diagnostic as well as therapeutic management difficulties.

[Management of pregnant women with advanced cervical cancer]. / Prise en charge des volumineux cancers invasifs du col de l'utérus pendant la grossesse.

The purpose of this study is to update the management of pregnant women with advanced cervical cancer, thanks to a literature review indexed in Medline((R)) (from 1980 till 2006 using those keywords: advanced cervix cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pregnancy), ScienceDirect (from 1990 till 2006) and the French Encyclopédie Médico-Chirurgicale. It occurs that pregnancy is a privileged period to diagnose cervical cancer, particularly in early stages. We ought to beware of symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, which could be underestimated during pregnancy. Colposcopically selected biopsies are reference techniques to confirm the diagnostic. The assessment of extension includes an abdominal and pelvic MRI and echography and a radiography of the chest for locally advanced stages. The decision to interrupt pregnancy should be based on a collegial evaluation and depends on state and histology of disease, patient's desire for pregnancy, as well as gestational age and disease evolution. Cesarean is preferred to natural delivery even though survival rates are the same. The cesarean section prevents from short-term complications and recurrence on the episiotomy, but the hysterotomy type is controversial throughout literature. The prognosis of cervical cancer does not seem to be influenced by pregnancy. Management is the same, even though we have to adapt the treatment from the pregnancy state. No study could show the benefit and the safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy during pregnancy, due to few cases, but it could be a solution with patients suffering from an advanced cancer and not willing to stop pregnancy. To conclude, the detection by cervical smears should be systematic during pregnancy. When cancer is diagnosed, cesarean section is the favourite way to deliver. Pregnancy does not modify disease's prognosis and the therapeutic choice depends on the stage of the disease.

[Early diagnosis of staphylococcic infection in epidural space : radiologic contribution (author's transl)]. / Diagnostic précoce d'une épidurite staphylococcique. Apport de la radiologie.

Infection of the épidural space was demonstrated on clinic (cauda equina compression) and radiology. Three investigations are considered and compared : Dimer X radiculography, lumbar phlebography, duroliopaque myelography. The transfemoral arcending lumbar catheterization of the epidural veins precise the compression by staphylococcic external pachymeningitis. No liquid is introduced in cerebro spinal fluid : there is not risk of infectious arachnoiditis. Myelography with positive contrast (duroliopaque: ethyl monoiodostearate) is much attractive but it is a procedure not easy to perform, even badly tolerated by the patient. For these reasons the lumbar phlebography, easily performed, can be realised in first intention.