Laser-assisted hatching improves pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles of cleavage-stage embryos: a large retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching

IntroductionLaser-assisted hatching (LAH) is a commonly used adjunct technique; however, its effectiveness has not been fully established.ObjectiveWe evaluated the effects of LAH on pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles of cleavage-stage embryos.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study involved 5779 FET cycles performed at the Reproductive and Genetic Center in the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2016 and December 2020. After propensity score matching, 3535 FET cycles were included, out of which 1238 were subjected to LAH while the remaining 2297 cycles were non-LAH (NLAH). The primary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) while secondary outcomes included implantation rate (IR), biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), ectopic pregnancy rate (EPR), pregnancy loss rate (PLR), multiple pregnancy rate (MPL), and monozygotic twinning rate (MTR). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for possible confounders. Subgroup analysis was also performed based on the endometrial preparation regimen.ResultsThe LAH group exhibited a higher LBR, compared to the NLAH group (34.9% vs. 31.4%, OR = 1.185, 95% CI = 1.023, 1.374, P = 0.024). Additionally, the LAH group showed a decreasing trend in PLR and EPR; however, differences were insignificant (P = 0.078, P = 0.063 respectively). Differences in IR (24.6% vs. 24.3%), BPR (41.8% vs. 40.4%), CPR (40.7% vs. 38.3%), MPR (14.1% vs. 17.3%), and MTR (1.4% vs. 1.1%) were insignificant. Subgroup analysis revealed that LAH may be more conducive for pregnancy outcomes in hormone replacement cycles.ConclusionsIn summary, LAH has an increased chance of achieving live births. However, further prospective studies should be performed to confirm our findings.     

经上皮准分子激光角膜切削术与准分子激光上皮瓣下角膜磨镶术治疗中高度近视的疗效比较

目的比较经上皮准分子激光角膜切削术(Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy,Trans-PRK)与准分子激光上皮瓣下角膜磨镶术(Laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis,LASEK)治疗中高度近视的临床效果。方法 2017年5月至2019年1月,中高度近视患者110例159只眼,根据手术方式不同分为对照组患者55例78只眼,采用LASEK手术治疗,波长193 nm,治疗功率8¹0 mW;观察组患者55例81只眼,采用Trans-PRK手术治疗,波长193 nm,治疗功率8¹0 mW。随访3个月,采用视觉模拟疼痛评分(visual analogue pain score,VAS)比较两组患者术后1、3和5 d的改变;观察术前和术后3个月最佳矫正视力、裸眼视力及角膜光密度,记录术后感染、角膜上皮下雾状浑浊、眼压升高、散光、角膜穿透等并发症发生情况。结果术后3个月,两组患者最佳矫正视力、裸眼视力及角膜光密度较术前均有改善(P<0. 05),且观察组最...     

What ecological factors can affect albumen corticosterone levels in the clutches of seabirds? Timing of breeding, disturbance and laying order in rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome)

Female birds deposit corticosterone into their eggs. Elevated concentrations of this hormone may interfere with the development of their offspring, and mothers should thus regulate corticosterone levels deposited into the eggs adaptively. However, if females are unable to regulate deposition, then the corticosterone concentration in eggs should reflect that in female plasma and should be influenced by stressors to the females. We measured corticosterone levels in the albumen of rockhopper penguins, and assessed their relationship with hatching order, human disturbance and laying date. Rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) lay two eggs, of which the second egg (B-egg) is larger and hatches faster than the first egg (A-egg). The chick hatching from the B-egg is also much more likely to survive than its sibling. Albumen corticosterone concentrations were lower in B-eggs. However, as B-eggs contained more albumen than A-eggs, the total corticosterone deposited in the albumen was not significantly different between the two eggs. Daily disturbance by human observers during albumen production did not influence albumen corticosterone levels. Laying date had an effect on total albumen corticosterone through a higher albumen mass. However, we observed a high individual component in the composition of eggs from the same clutch. Thus, more work is required to explore the hypotheses of passive versus active transfer to eggs and to understand the adaptive value of contrary effects on the amount and concentration of corticosterone.     

准分子激光上皮下角膜磨镶术治疗高度近视半年疗效观察

目的探讨准分子激光上皮下角膜磨镶术(LASEK)治疗高度近视术后半年疗效及其相关影响因素。方法对接受LASEK手术的109只术眼进行半年的跟踪观察,将术眼按术前屈光度分为三组,Ⅰ组(23眼):-6.00～-9.00D;Ⅱ组(56眼):-9.25～-12.00D;Ⅲ组(30眼):-12.00以上。对各组术后裸眼视力、HAZE、角膜曲率、回退率及眼压的变化进行了分析。结果1.术后视力各组均比术前有显著改善(<0.001);2.术后HAZE发生率随度数增加而上升,且程度加重,但术后各组6个月时角膜混浊比第一个月有明显改善(<0.01);3.术后各组回退率高,回退率随度数增加而上升;3.术后各组眼压与术前均有差异(<0.001),术后各组第6个月时眼压有显著降低(<0.01)。结论LASEK手术对高度近视及超高度近视均有明显治疗作用,但对超高度近视预测性较差,HAZE发生率较高且回退率高。     

Assisted hatching does not enhance IVF success in good-prognosis patients

Purpose: The role of assisted hatching in good-prognosis IVF patients was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study, which was followed by a retrospective observational series. Methods: After assisted hatching was proved successful in a mouse embryo study, 20 good-prognosis IVF patients were randomly assigned to either assisted hatching (13) or no assisted hatching (7; the controls). Following this series, 27 good-prognosis IVF patients were retrospectively evaluated to determine the outcome with assisted hatching. Results: In the prospective study, clinical pregnancies resulted from 3 (23%) of 13 patients in the hatching group, compared to 3 (43%) of 7 in the control group. Implantation rates were similar: 9.6% in the hatching group and 10.7% in the controls. In the retrospective series, the 11.1% implantation rate with assisted hatching was significantly less than the 42.9% implantation rate seen with traditional IVF. Conclusions: Implantation and pregnancy rates are high in young women undergoing traditional IVF. Assisted hatching is not beneficial in these patients. Presented in part at the 50th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Seattle, Washington, October 7–12, 1995.     

Innovative vaccination protocol against vibriosis in Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) juveniles: Improvement of immune parameters and protection to challenge

The effect of vaccination on immune parameters of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is not fully established, as well as surveyed throughout rearing till the commercial size. Furthermore, available information on the possible role of booster treatments is scarce.     

生物靶向冲击昆虫卵孵化率的实验研究

目的:通过实验研究在生物靶向磁爆冲击干扰下昆虫卵的孵化率。方法:采用桑蚕[秋丰B]3、4、6品系为试验标本组成干扰组和对照组,进行生物靶向磁爆冲击干扰试验,观察分析虫卵动态孵化过程。结果:实验结果表明,在虫卵自然孵化过程中对其进行靶向磁场冲击干扰,不同序列的生物靶标干扰参数,对孵化率有这不同的影响。结论:研究探讨生物电磁干扰参数B/F/N为"窗口"值,受干扰的虫卵胚胎在自然孵化过程中出现非正常发育甚至死亡,B/F/N值越精确,对其孵化率的影响越大。在电磁场频谱中B/F/N"窗口"值的确定和其生物效应的作用机理仍有待进一步研究。     

Flow quantification of the non-occlusive excimer laser-assisted EC-IC bypass

Summary  Background. For six years, we used the Excimer laser-assisted nonocclusive anastomosis technique for high-flow revascularization of the brain in patients with either nonclippable and noncoilable giant aneurysms of the internal carotid or basilar artery or progressive stroke associated with occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery. The aim of this study is to assess the blood flow capacity of this type of Extra-Intracranial bypass and its haemodynamic behaviour over time.  Methods. Twenty-six patients with a giant aneurysms and 8 patients with occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery were treated with the nonocclusive Excimer laser assisted EC-IC bypass. intra-operatively, direct measurements of flow in the EC-IC bypass were performed in all patients (Transonic Systems, Inc., Ithaca, NY). Postoperatively, follow up measurements of flow were performed with MR angiography in 14 patients with a giant aneurysm after occluding the internal carotid artery, and 7 patients with occlusive carotid disease.  Results. The mean flow in the laser assisted bypasses in the group of patients with a giant aneurysm was 158 ml/min after ligation or balloon oclusion of the ICA. The mean flow of the laser assisted bypass in the group of patients with ICA occlusive disease was 130 ml/min. A comparison with data on flow capacity of conventional EC IC bypasses is made. A demonstrated increase of flow in the bypass during follow up is discussed from a haemodynamic point of view.  Conclusions. The results of this study demonstrate that the flow capacity of the nonoccluding excimer laser assisted bypass is much higher than the capacity of the conventional, more peripherally located conventional EC IC bypass, and should therefore be denoted as High-Flow EC IC bypass. Consequently, this type of bypass can be a powerful and safe tool in new revascularization strategies.     

A prospective, randomized study: day 3 versus hatching blastocyst stage

BACKGROUND: Recently, advances in human IVF-embryo transfer (ET) have been reported using sequential media and blastocyst stage ET. In our previous report, using a prospective, randomized study, no advantage was found using the blastocyst stage ET compared with day 3 ET. This study was performed in order to evaluate implantation and pregnancy rates of hatching blastocyst stage ET compared with conventional day 3 ET. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 480 patient cycles were evaluated using a prospective, randomized study. The pregnancy rate and implantation rate were compared between the day 3 ET (n = 240) and hatching blastocyst stage ET (Hat ET; n = 240). The Hat ET group had a pregnancy rate of 29.3% (55 out of 188) and an implantation rate of 21.4% (67 out of 313). The day 3 ET group had a pregnancy rate of 29.2% (70 out of 240) and an implantation rate of 19.1% (93 out of 488). In the Hat ET group, the pregnancy rate, implantation rate and ongoing pregnancy rate of day 5 ET and day 6 ET were all higher than the respective rates in the day 7-9 ET group. CONCLUSION: We found that the pregnancy rate and implantation rate of ET with hatching stage blastocysts had no advantage compared with the conventional day 3 ET.     

准分子激光上皮瓣下角膜磨镶术矫治高度近视

目的评价准分子激光上皮瓣下角膜磨镶术(LASEK)矫治高度近视的疗效。方法选取高度近视患者27例(54眼),术前近视等效球镜为-6.00~-14.00 D,平均(-8.75±1.27)D。观察术后角膜上皮修复时间、术后视力、角膜上皮下雾状混浊(Haze)、角膜地形图及屈光度数,随访时间为6个月。结果所有术眼术中及术后均无严重并发症发生。术后角膜上皮修复时间平均为(3.71±0.26)d。术后3 d,裸眼视力≥0.5者48眼(88.9%),≥0.8者19眼(35.2%),术后7 d,裸眼视力≥0.5者54眼(100.0%),≥0.8者47眼(87.0%),术后6个月,裸眼视力均达到或超过术前最佳矫正视力。术后1、3、6个月等效球镜均在-0.50~ 0.50 D之间,术后1、3、6个月角膜Haze发生率分别为13眼(24.1%)、7眼(13.0%)、2眼(3.7%),但均小于2级,不影响视力恢复。结论LASEK治疗高度近视视力恢复好且稳定,无明显角膜上皮下雾状混浊及屈光回退。