Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens: the impact of spermatogenesis quality on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in 108 men.

In azoospermic men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), it is not known whether the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) depend on the quality of testicular spermatogenesis (as determined histopathologically). We retrospectively studied the impact of spermatogenesis quality on ICSI outcomes in 108 azoospermic men with CBAVD consulting in a university hospital's department of andrology and reproductive biology. As part of an ICSI program, sperm samples were obtained from the epididymis [by microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA); n = 47] or the testis [by testicular sperm extraction (TESE); n = 14] or both (MESA + TESE, n = 47). In the TESE group (i.e., TESE-only and MESA + TESE), spermatogenesis was normal in 21 of the 108 men (19.4%) and hypospermatogenesis occurred in 33 (30.5%). The fertilization rate was significantly lower in the hypospermatogenic group than in the normospermatogenesis group (65.6 and 72.9%, respectively; p = 0.02); this was also true for the embryo cleavage rate (88.6 and 92.1%, respectively; p = 0.007), and the proportion of embryos with fewer than 30% of enucleate fragments (79.5 and 86.9%, respectively; p = 0.02). Our study results showed that impaired spermatogenesis had a negative impact on certain early-stage biological outcomes of ICSI. In CBAVD, male factors are likely to exert a harmful effect on the early stages of embryo development.

Polycystic Ovary-Like Abnormalities (PCO-L) in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

CONTEXT: In the general population, about 30% of asymptomatic women have polycystic ovary-like abnormalities (PCO-L), i.e. polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) at ultrasound and/or increased anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum level. PCOM has also been reported in 30-50% of women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify whether both PCOM and excessive AMH level indicate PCO-L in FHA and to elucidate its significance. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective analysis using a database and comparison with a control population. SETTING: Subjects received ambulatory care in an academic hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-eight patients with FHA were compared to 217 control women with nonendocrine infertility and body mass index of less than 25 kg/m(2). INTERVENTIONS: There were no interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured serum testosterone, androstenedione, FSH, LH, AMH, and ovarian area values. The antral follicle count (AFC) was used as a binary variable (i.e. negative or positive) because of the evolution of its sensitivity over the time of this study. The ability of these variables (except AFC) to detect PCO-L in both populations was tested by cluster analysis. RESULTS: One cluster (cluster 2) suggesting PCO-L was detected in the control population (n = 52; 24%), whereas two such clusters were observed in the FHA population (n = 22 and n = 6; 38 and 10%; clusters 2 and 3, respectively). Cluster 2 in FHA had similar features of PCO-L as cluster 2 in controls, with higher prevalence of positive AFC (70%) and PCOM (70%), higher values of ovarian area and higher serum AMH (P < 0.0001 for all), and testosterone levels (P < 0.01) than in cluster 1. Cluster 3 in FHA was peculiar, with frankly elevated AMH levels. In the whole population (controls + FHA), PCO-L was significantly associated with lower FSH values (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: PCO-L in FHA is a frequent and usually incidental finding of unclear significance, as in controls. The association of PCO-L with hypothalamic amenorrhea should not lead to a mistaken diagnosis of PCOS.

Polycystic ovaries at ultrasound: normal variant or silent polycystic ovary syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: It is not known whether polycystic ovaries (PCO) are an ovarian appearance without pathological meaning or whether they share with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) the same ovarian follicle abnormality. There are few studies including strictly selected women with PCO but without other criteria of PCOS. In order to address these issues, we compared hormonal, metabolic and ultrasound parameters obtained from patients with PCO only, patients with PCOS and controls. METHODS: This was a comparative analysis including three age-matched groups of 95 patients, who were included consecutively in a database: controls, patients with sonographic PCO but no symptoms (PCO group) and patients with PCOS. A clinical examination, fasting serum sampling and pelvic ultrasound examination were performed between cycle days 2 and 5 and results were compared between groups. RESULTS: The median serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level in the PCO group was intermediate between that in controls and that in the PCOS group (33.6 pmol/L, 19.8 pmol/L and 63.3 pmol/L, respectively), the differences being significant after adjustment for follicle number (P < 0.05), while the mean androgen serum level in the PCO group was similar to that in the control group and significantly lower than that in the PCOS group (P < 0.05) (median serum testosterone levels: 0.90 nmol/L, 0.79 nmol/L and 1.39 nmol/L; median androstenedione levels: 5.25 nmol/L, 4.37 nmol/L and 6.09 nmol/L, respectively). Body mass index, waist circumference and insulin levels had no effect on these differences. CONCLUSION: PCO is an abnormal condition, affected women showing no evidence of hyperandrogenism but having higher AMH serum levels compared with controls, suggesting a granulosa cell abnormality in PCO similar to that observed in PCOS. The absence of hyperandrogenism in PCO does not seem linked to the metabolic status.

[Intrauterine growth retardation associated with a mosaic trisomy 20 limited to the placenta. A case report]. / Retard de croissance intra-utérin associé à une trisomie 20 en mosaïque limitée au placenta. A propos d'un cas.

When an amniocentesis was performed to determine fetal age, the karyotype was found to be a trisomy-20 mosaic, which could not be confirmed at birth on peripheral blood but which was confirmed at the cytogenetic examination of the placenta. Fetal growth impairment occurred. Mosaic trisomy in the placenta alone is known to affect fetal development. Normally, lethal, mosaic trisomy found during antenatal diagnosis in a viable fetus with no detectable malformation suggests an extra-embryo anomaly. The risk of spontaneous abortion and fetal growth retardation is however increased making strict echographic surveillance essential in these pregnancies.

[The ovaries, the immune system, cytokines: physiology]. / Ovaries, système immunitaire, cytokines: physiologie.

Sevellar cellular types are involved together in the cyclical functioning of the ovary. Regulating this co-operation between cells are intercellular systems of communication both autocrine and paracrine. The immune system that is present in the ovary seems to have an important role among the regulatory factors. Cytokines are the vectors of intercellular communication. The authors after studying the recent literature show how the immune system elements undergo cyclical variations corresponding to the ovulatory cycle. Reciprocal co-operation between the different cells is brought in to play at all stages of growth and of atrophy of the follicle. The knowledge of these networks for regulation make it possible to understand what is going on better and to work out a more appropriate treatment for certain pathologies such as premature menopause and unforeseen responses to certain forms of stimulation of ovulation.

[Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis. Prenatal diagnosis of a case]. / La sclérose tubéreuse de Bourneville. Diagnositc prénatal à propos d'un cas.

The discovery of a tumour of the heart on fetal ultrasound is a rare event. 60% of heart tumours in the fetus are rhabdomyomas. 50% of rhabdomyomas are associated with Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis. The inherited element of the effect of the gene is variable but often severe (75% of patients die before the age of 25 and 60-80% are disabled). Tuberous sclerosis Bourneville is a multifocal pathological condition of which only the presence of rhabdomyomata in the heart make it possible to diagnose the condition antenatally. Monitoring the fetus consists of looking carefully for the complications that can occur and of planning the health care of the newborn including the need to consider surgical intervention at birth.