[Thoughts on Evaluation of Culture Medium for Human Assisted Reproduction Technology].

As the direct microenvironment of assisted reproductive technology, the evaluation of culture medium for human assisted reproduction technology is particularly important. This paper discussed the classification management, technical review points, clinical evaluation and review thinking, focusing on the basic requirements, raw material control, biological evaluation, sterilization process of culture medium for human assisted reproduction technology, combined with some material limit, new added material and quality system control to thoroughly assess management risk of the whole life cycle of culture medium for human assisted reproduction technology.

How to optimize culture media osmolality during Assisted Reproductive Technologies treatments.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to compare the osmolality in sequential and single step culture media, used for in vitro human embryo culture, covered with mineral oil and paraffin, in dry and humid incubators. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study. A total of 120 Petri dishes, with 960 droplets of culture media, were evaluated. Each dish was prepared with 4 droplets of single step medium and sequential medium. Sixty dishes were covered with mineral oil and 60 with paraffin oil. Half were incubated in a dry incubator and half in a humid. Osmolality was measured on days 1, 3, 5, 7. ANOVA test was performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Osmolality results for single step and sequential medium, that were covered with both mineral and paraffin oil and placed in the dry incubator, significantly increased throughout the study time (D7>D5>D3). In the humid incubator, the results were similar for all periods. Osmolality was significantly lower in humid incubator, in all periods, when droplets were covered with both oils. When both culture media were placed in the humid incubator, no variation was detected, using both oils. However, when single step medium was placed in the dry incubator, covered with mineral oil, we observed a higher osmolality than the covered with paraffin oil. CONCLUSIONS: TWe can conclude that humid incubator is better for maintaining osmolality and paraffin oil protect single step media from evaporation in dry incubator.

Regulación legal de la fecundación asistida post mortem en España / Legal regulation of assisted post-mortem fertilisation in Spain

El avance en las técnicas de reproducción humana asistida ha hecho posible que el fallecimiento de una persona ya no necesariamente derive en el fracaso de su proyecto parental. La regulación de la fecundación post mortem en España es poco profusa, deja vacíos legales y posibilita interpretaciones diversas. Pese a ello, resulta posible establecer la filiación paterna a favor del hijo póstumo con los efectos legales que lleva aparejada la filiación. (AU)

Advances in assisted human reproduction techniques have made it possible that thedeath of a person no longer necessarily results in the failure of his parental project. The regulation of post-mortem fertilisation in Spain is not very profuse, leaves legal gaps and allows for different interpretations. Despite this, it is possible to establish paternal filiation in favour of the posthumous child with the legal effects that filiation entails. (AU)

Control of Maternal-to-Zygotic Transition in Human Embryos and Other Animal Species (Especially Mouse): Similarities and Differences.

Maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) of the control of early post-fertilization development is a key-event conditioning the fate of the future embryo, fetus and newborn. Because of the relative paucity of data concerning human embryos, due to ethical concerns and the poor availability of human embryos donated for research, most data have to be derived from animal models, among which those obtained using mouse embryos are most prevalent. However, data obtained by studies performed in non-mammalian specie can also provide useful information. For this reason, this review focuses on similarities and differences of MZT control mechanisms in humans and other species, with particular attention to the mouse. A number of molecular pathways controlling MZT in mice and humans are compared, pointing out those that could be at the origin of further focused experimental studies and the development of new diagnostic tools based on the translational medicine principles. Data concerning possible candidate molecules to be included in these studies are identified.

[Quality Control and Safety Evaluation of Culture Medium for Human Assisted Reproduction].

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, the key points of quality control and safety evaluation of human assisted reproductive medium were summarized to provide reference for the establishment of relevant standards and quality control in the future. METHODS: Through literature research, the key factors of quality control and risk control of human assisted reproductive medium were summarized, and the problems in clinical transformation were discussed. RESULTS: It is very important for the development of human assisted reproduction technology to study the active ingredients and their harmful degradation products and drugs in the culture medium of assisted reproduction. CONCLUSIONS: At present, the biggest challenge is to effectively control the quality of the culture medium for human assisted reproduction, establish corresponding inspection methods and quality standards for the key components, ensure the safety and effectiveness during the product shelf life, and thus improve the success rate of human assisted reproduction technology.

The need for regulation in the practice of human assisted reproduction in Mexico. An overview of the regulations in the rest of the world.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in humans has been an important tool for the treatment of infertility. The number of treatments performed in Latin America has been increasing, and Mexico is the third country with the most assisted reproduction cycles performed in the region. However, Mexico lacks a national regulation for assisted reproduction. Therefore, it is necessary to implement regulations that allow for a safe clinical practice based on ethics which can be available to any social group. MAIN BODY: The aim of this review was to examine the existing legislation that regulates human assisted reproduction practices in Mexico, but also to examine the legal analysis of the policies, laws, and regulations in effect in some countries in Latin America, North America, and Europe. For this, seven databases were consulted, and 34 articles from 2004 to 2021 referring to the practice of ART within the legal framework and the anthropological analysis that this entails were analyzed. Eight documents were also consulted such as the Mexican General Health Law of the Official Journal of the Federation (February 7, 1984) with its last published reform (DOF 01-06-2021). And three official agency websites were also consulted. No specific legislation was found for human assisted reproduction practices in Mexico; however, assisted reproduction clinics are ruled under some agreements implemented by national organizations such as the Mexican Association of Reproductive Medicine and, at the Latin America level, the Latin America Network of Assisted Reproduction (abbreviated REDLARA in Spanish); in addition, the practice of ART is considered, although not explicitly, in the General Health Law. CONCLUSION: In Mexico, there is no legal regulation in charge of assisted reproduction practices, which is why there is an urgent need to establish human assisted reproduction laws without incurring discriminatory and unconstitutional acts, and at the same time, be in accordance with scientific advances. This will allow a considerable reduction in the violation of human rights.

The impact of the female genital tract microbiome in women health and reproduction: a review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this review is to gather the available research focusing on female genital tract (FGT) microbiome. Research question focuses in decipher which is the role of FGT microbiota in eubiosis, assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs), and gynaecological disorders, and how microbiome could be utilised to improve reproduction outcomes and to treat fertility issues. METHODS: PubMed was searched for articles in English from January 2004 to April 2021 for "genital tract microbiota and reproduction", "endometrial microbiome", "microbiome and reproduction" and "microbiota and infertility". Manual search of the references within the resulting articles was performed. RESULTS: Current knowledge confirms predominance of Lactobacillus species, both in vagina and endometrium, whereas higher variability of species is both found in fallopian tubes and ovaries. Microbial signature linked to different disorders such endometriosis, bacterial vaginosis, and gynaecological cancers are described. Broadly, low variability of species and Lactobacillus abundance within the FGT is associated with better reproductive and ART outcomes. CONCLUSION: Further research regarding FGT microbiome configuration needs to be done in order to establish a more precise link between microbiota and eubiosis or dysbiosis. Detection of bacterial species related with poor reproductive outcomes, infertility or gynaecological diseases could shape new tools for their diagnosis and treatment, as well as resources to assess the pregnancy prognosis based on endometrial microbiota. Data available suggest future research protocols should be standardised, and it needs to include the interplay among microbiome, virome and mycobiome, and the effect of antibiotics or probiotics on the microbiome shifts.

Quality Control and Safety Evaluation of Culture Medium for Human Assisted Reproduction / 中国医疗器械杂志

OBJECTIVE@#In this paper, the key points of quality control and safety evaluation of human assisted reproductive medium were summarized to provide reference for the establishment of relevant standards and quality control in the future.@*METHODS@#Through literature research, the key factors of quality control and risk control of human assisted reproductive medium were summarized, and the problems in clinical transformation were discussed.@*RESULTS@#It is very important for the development of human assisted reproduction technology to study the active ingredients and their harmful degradation products and drugs in the culture medium of assisted reproduction.@*CONCLUSIONS@#At present, the biggest challenge is to effectively control the quality of the culture medium for human assisted reproduction, establish corresponding inspection methods and quality standards for the key components, ensure the safety and effectiveness during the product shelf life, and thus improve the success rate of human assisted reproduction technology.

Comparison of clinical outcome between 2 and 3 embryos transfer for elderly women / 解剖学报

Objective To explore the relationship between clinical outcomes and embryo transfer number, and to provide some proposals for transfer selection of elderly patients. Methods Data from 80 fresh transfer cycles with cleavage-stage embryos were analyzed. Cycles were divided into several groups according to transfer number. Clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, multiple pregnancy rate and live birth rate were compared. Results To women no younger than 38 years old, when available embryo number was larger than two, similar clinical outcomes could be achieved by transferring two and three embryos. This trend was independent of the number of transferred 8-cell embryos. Conclusion The number of fresh cleavage-stage embryos transfer should not exceed two in elderly women.

Follicular microenvironment: Oxidative stress and adiponectin correlated with steroids hormones in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Research has been focused on determining the follicular microenviroment produced by the theca and granulosa cells since the molecular characterisation of this body fluid could lead to the understanding of several fertility problems. Oxidative stress may be one of the factors involved in female infertility since it plays a key role in the modulation of oocyte maturation and finally pregnancy. An increase in oxidative stress is correlated with inflammation and intense research was developed to understand the interaction between inflammation and adiponectin, based on the fact that many adipokines are inflammation related proteins linked to reactive oxygen species production. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between total adiponectin levels and oxidative stress amount in the serum and follicular fluid (FF) of women who undergone in vitro fertilization. Moreover we verified the expression of adiponectin in granulosa and cumulus cells. To clarify the predictive value of steroid hormones in human assisted reproduction, twelve steroid hormones in FF and serum, were quantified in a single run liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, by using a multiple reaction monitoring mode and we related the serum and follicular fluids adiponectin levels with the concentration of the investigated steroid hormones.

Comparison of two closed carriers for vitrification of human blastocysts in a donor program.

The survival of human blastocysts to vitrification with two different carriers is compared. Both vitrification carriers used in this study are in the category of closed carriers, as they completely isolate the samples from direct contact with liquid nitrogen or its vapours during cooling and storage, until warming. This characteristic is appealing because it reduces or eliminates the theoretical risk of cross-contamination during that period of time. The two closed vitrification systems used present very different design and features: in the High Security Vitrification device, the carrier straw containing the embryos is encapsulated inside an external straw before plunging in liquid nitrogen, resulting in thermal insulation during cooling. On the other hand, in the SafeSpeed carrier embryos are loaded in a thin-walled, narrow capillary designed to maximize the thermal transference. Both closed carriers achieved comparable outcomes in terms of survival of blastocysts to the vitrification process, with 97.5% vs. 96.1% survival with HSV and SafeSpeed, respectively. In conclusion, the cooling and warming rates at which these carriers operate, in combination with the cytosolic solute concentration in the cells of the cryopreserved blastocysts attained after a cryoprotectant-loading protocol, result in successful vitrification of human blastocysts for human assisted reproduction.

Monoparentalidade programada e reprodução assistida: da “produção independente” à utilização de sêmen póst mortem / Orogrammed “Single” Parenthood and Human Assisted Reproduction: from the“Independent Production” to the Utilization of Post Mortem Semen

A utilização das técnicas de reprodução assistida vem possibilitando, nas últimas décadas, a realização da vontade de exercer a parentalidade em diferentes contextos e situações, muito além da infertilidade. Aqui são elaboradas reflexões associadas à monoparentalidade buscada, não acidental, considerando contingências específicas, tais como a utilização de sêmen post mortem e a denominada produção independente, seja em indivíduos hétero ou homossexuais. Tais reflexões são eliciadas em virtude da prática clínica à luz da revisão de literatura e debruçam-se sobre as condições que favorecem essa busca, muitas vezes de caráter narcísico e que necessitam de uma escuta e uma interlocução privilegiada no atendimento clínico. (AU)

In the last decades, the use of assisted reproduction techniques has favored the fulfillment of parenthood desires indifferent contexts and situations, beyond infertility it self. This paper discusses issues related to programmed single parenthood eagerly sought in specific situations, such as the use of post mortem semen and the so-called “independentproduction” among hetero and homosexual individuals. This reflexion is brought by the authors’ clinical experienceand addresses the conditions that favor this perhaps narcissistic search, which needs a specialized hearing and exchangewithin the clinical context. (AU)

Monoparentalidade programada e reprodução assistida: da “produção independente” à utilização de sêmen póst mortem / Orogrammed “Single” Parenthood and Human Assisted Reproduction: from the“Independent Production” to the Utilization of Post Mortem Semen

A utilização das técnicas de reprodução assistida vem possibilitando, nas últimas décadas, a realização da vontade de exercer a parentalidade em diferentes contextos e situações, muito além da infertilidade. Aqui são elaboradas reflexões associadas à monoparentalidade buscada, não acidental, considerando contingências específicas, tais como a utilização de sêmen post mortem e a denominada produção independente, seja em indivíduos hétero ou homossexuais. Tais reflexões são eliciadas em virtude da prática clínica à luz da revisão de literatura e debruçam-se sobre as condições que favorecem essa busca, muitas vezes de caráter narcísico e que necessitam de uma escuta e uma interlocução privilegiada no atendimento clínico...

In the last decades, the use of assisted reproduction techniques has favored the fulfillment of parenthood desires indifferent contexts and situations, beyond infertility it self. This paper discusses issues related to programmed single parenthood eagerly sought in specific situations, such as the use of post mortem semen and the so-called “independentproduction” among hetero and homosexual individuals. This reflexion is brought by the authors’ clinical experienceand addresses the conditions that favor this perhaps narcissistic search, which needs a specialized hearing and exchangewithin the clinical context...