Evaluation of in vitro fertilization parameters and estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms for women with unexplained infertility.

PURPOSE: Association of ESR1 gene PvuII, XbaI and (TA)n microsatellite polymorphisms and woman infertility was evaluated. METHODS: Infertile(n = 104) and fertile(n = 107) women were included in this study. We performed polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis for detecting ESR1 polymorphisms. RESULT(S): PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms confered risk for infertility in a simple dominant manner in which a significant relationship was observed between infertile and control women. Infertile women had fewer(<18) short repeat alleles in promotor region. ESR1 genotypes were compared concerning maturation, fertilization, pregnancy rates and embryo quality. Although no difference was found in terms of pregnancy rates, maturation and fertilization rates were significantly smaller in pp and xx genotypes. Also, pp genotypes had significantly lower number of good quality embryos. Long TA repeat in promotor was found to be associated with low fertilization rate. CONCLUSION(S): Polymorphisms at the ESR1 gene are associated with infertility in this Turkish infertile women population.

Mandibuloacral dysplasia and LMNA A529V mutation in Turkish patients with severe skeletal changes and absent breast development.

Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by acroosteolysis (resorption of terminal phalanges), skin changes (hyperpigmentation), clavicular hypoplasia, craniofascial anomalies, a hook nose and prominent eyes, delayed closures of the cranial sutures, lipodystrophy, alopecia, and skeletal anomalies. MAD patients are classified according to lipodystrophy patterns: type A and type B. The vast majority of MAD cases are caused by LMNA gene mutations. MAD patients with type A lipodystrophy (MADA) have been reported to have LMNA R527H, A529V, or A529T mutations. In this report, we describe two MADA patients with progressive skeletal changes, absent breast development, and cataract in addition to the classical MAD phenotype. Both patients were found to be homozygous for the Ala529Val mutation of the LMNA gene. Our female patient is the oldest MADA patient (59 years old) who has ever been reported with the LMNA mutation and also the LMNA Ala529Val mutation. This study is the second report on MADA patients with a homozygous Ala529Val mutation.

The effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection combined with piezoelectric stimulation in infertile couples with total fertilization failure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with piezoelectric stimulation in infertile couples with a history of total fertilization failure (TFF). DESIGN: Prospective controlled trial. SETTING: Clinical IVF laboratory. PATIENT(S): Seventy-one couples undergoing ICSI on sibling oocytes having at least one previous ICSI attempt with TFF. INTERVENTION(S): ICSI or ICSI with piezoelectric activation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fertilization rate. RESULT(S): The patients were allocated to two groups: group I included 21 patients with only one previous TFF and group II included 50 patients with more than one previous TFF. Collectively, a total of 823 metaphase II (MII) oocytes were retrieved in 78 oocyte retrievals. In Group I, combined ICSI with piezoelectric stimulation was applied to 123/211 (58.2%) of MII oocytes (group IA), whereas standard ICSI procedure was applied to 88/211 (41.8%) of MII oocytes (group IB). The fertilization rate was 62% and 12% in group IA and group IB respectively. In group II, piezoelectric activation was applied in all 612 MII oocytes, of which 296 (48.3%) were fertilized. The rates for implantation and pregnancy/embryo transfer were obtained as 30.6% and 44.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): Piezoelectric activation seems to improve IVF outcome in patients with previous TFF history.