Preimplantation and prenatal diagnosis, wrongful birth and wrongful life: a global view of bioethical and legal controversies
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>Prenatal diagnosis based on different technologies is increasingly used in developed countries and has become a common strategy in obstetric practice. The tests are crucial in enabling mothers to make informed decisions about the possibility of terminating pregnancy. They have generated numerous bioethical and legal controversies in the field of ‘wrongful life’ claims (action brought by or on behalf of a child against the mother or other people, claiming that he or she has to endure a n...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - February 9, 2017 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Long-term adjustment to unmet parenthood goals following ART: a systematic review and meta-analysis
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>Fertility treatment is not guaranteed to succeed and around 30% of patients do not achieve parenthood. Failed treatment represents the loss of parenthood and often triggers intense and prolonged grief reactions. There is an increasing awareness of the need to support patients in the aftermath of failed treatment; however, there are no effective interventions for the effect. This need for support is expected to increase as the number of people delaying parenthood increases and therefore so d...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - February 6, 2017 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Biological basis for human capacitation —revisited
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>A little more than a decade ago a review entitled ‘Biological basis for human capacitation’ was published. A primary conclusion of the review was that with all the technological advances that have been made since the first experiments demonstrated the<span style="font-style:italic;">in vivo</span> requirement of capacitation for fertilization, very little progress had since been made, most significantly for human.<div class="boxTitle">OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE</div>...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - January 23, 2017 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
What is the optimal means of preparing the endometrium in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles? A systematic review and meta-analysis
(Source: Human Reproduction Update)
Source: Human Reproduction Update - January 6, 2017 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
New stimulation regimens: endogenous and exogenous progesterone use to block the LH surge during ovarian stimulation for IVF
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>The advent of embryo and oocyte vitrification today gives reproductive specialists an opportunity to consider new strategies for improving the practice and results of IVF attempts. As the freezing of entire cohorts does not compromise, and may even improve, the results of IVF attempts, it is possible to break away from the standard sequence of stimulation–retrieval–transfer. The constraints associated with ovarian stimulation in relation to the potential harmful effects of the hormonal ...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - January 5, 2017 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Assessment of the uterus with three-dimensional ultrasound in women undergoing ART
The objective of this review is to dissect which aspects of the 3D US assessment of the uterus are supported by a strong level of evidence to date, and should therefore be incorporated into current routine clinical practice.<div class="boxTitle">SEARCH METHODS</div>We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed database up to May 2016, using a combination of text words and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) pertaining to the 3D US assessment of the uterus. All articles published in the English language were screened to ascertain relevance to women of reproductive age; further citations were retrieved through manua...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 21, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Implications of telomeres and telomerase in endometrial pathology
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>Eukaryotic chromosomal ends are linear and are protected by nucleoprotein complexes known as telomeres. The complex structural anatomy and the diverse functions of telomeres as well as the unique reverse transcriptase enzyme, telomerase that maintains telomeres are under intensive scientific scrutiny. Both are involved in many human diseases including cancer, but also in ageing and chronic disease such as diabetes. Their intricate involvement in many cellular processes and pathways is being...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 14, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Oocyte–somatic cell interactions in the human ovary—novel role of bone morphogenetic proteins and growth differentiation factors
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>Initially identified for their capability to induce heterotopic bone formation, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are multifunctional growth factors that belong to the transforming growth factor β superfamily. Using cellular and molecular genetic approaches, recent studies have implicated intra-ovarian BMPs as potent regulators of ovarian follicular function. The bi-directional communication of oocytes and the surrounding somatic cells is mandatory for normal follicle development and oocyte maturation. This review summarizes the curren...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 14, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Stem cell insights into human trophoblast lineage differentiation
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>The human placenta is vital for fetal development, yet little is understood about how it forms successfully to ensure a healthy pregnancy or why this process is inadequate in 1 in 10 pregnancies, leading to miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction or preeclampsia. Trophoblasts are placenta-specific epithelial cells that maximize nutrient exchange. All trophoblast lineages are thought to arise from a population of trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). However, whilst the isolation of murine TSC has led to an explosion in understanding murine...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Endogenous, very small embryonic-like stem cells: critical review, therapeutic potential and a look ahead
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>Both pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells were reported in 2006. In 2012, a Nobel Prize was awarded for iPS technology whereas even today the very existence of VSELs is not well accepted. The underlying reason is that VSELs exist in low numbers, remain dormant under homeostatic conditions, are very small in size and do not pellet down at 250–280<span style="font-style:italic;">g</span>. The VSELs maintain life-long tissue homeostasis, serve as a backup pool for a...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Long non-coding RNAs in human early embryonic development and their potential in ART
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>Human long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an emerging category of transcripts with increasingly documented functional roles during development. LncRNAs and roles during human early embryo development have recently begun to be unravelled.<div class="boxTitle">OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE</div>This review summarizes the most recent knowledge on lncRNAs and focuses on their expression patterns and role during early human embryo development and in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Public mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) data were used to illust...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Reproductive factors, menopausal hormone therapies and primary liver cancer risk: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of observational studies
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>A striking gender disparity in the incidence and outcome of primary liver cancer (PLC) has been well recognized. Mounting evidence from basic research suggests that hormonal factors may be involved in the gender disparity of PLC. Whether hormonal exposures in human subjects are associated with PLC risk is largely unknown.<div class="boxTitle">OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE</div>Whether reproductive factors and use of menopausal hormone therapies (MHTs) in women are associated with PLC risk remains controversial. We conducted this st...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
The epidemiologic evidence linking prenatal and postnatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals with male reproductive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">BACKGROUND</div>More than 20 years ago, it was hypothesized that exposure to prenatal and early postnatal environmental xenobiotics with the potential to disrupt endogenous hormone signaling might be on the causal path to cryptorchidism, hypospadias, low sperm count and testicular cancer. Several consensus statements and narrative reviews in recent years have divided the scientific community and have elicited a call for systematic transparent reviews. We aimed to fill this gap in knowledge in the field of male reproductive disorders.<div class="boxTi...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research
Reproductive factors, menopausal hormone therapies and primary liver cancer risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies
BACKGROUND
A striking gender disparity in the incidence and outcome of primary liver cancer (PLC) has been well recognized. Mounting evidence from basic research suggests that hormonal factors may be involved in the gender disparity of PLC. Whether hormonal exposures in human subjects are associated with PLC risk is largely unknown.
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE
Whether reproductive factors and use of menopausal hormone therapies (MHTs) in women are associated with PLC risk remains controversial. We conducted this study to clarify this issue.
SEARCH METHODS
PubMed and EMBASE were searched to July, 2016 for studies published in...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Authors: Zhong, G.-C., Liu, Y., Chen, N., Hao, F.-B., Wang, K., Cheng, J.-H., Gong, J.-P., Ding, X. Tags: Review Source Type: research
The epidemiologic evidence linking prenatal and postnatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals with male reproductive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND
More than 20 years ago, it was hypothesized that exposure to prenatal and early postnatal environmental xenobiotics with the potential to disrupt endogenous hormone signaling might be on the causal path to cryptorchidism, hypospadias, low sperm count and testicular cancer. Several consensus statements and narrative reviews in recent years have divided the scientific community and have elicited a call for systematic transparent reviews. We aimed to fill this gap in knowledge in the field of male reproductive disorders.
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE
The aim of this study was to systematically synthesize published data ...
Source: Human Reproduction Update - December 13, 2016 Category: OBGYN Authors: Bonde, J. P., Flachs, E. M., Rimborg, S., Glazer, C. H., Giwercman, A., Ramlau-Hansen, C. H., Hougaard, K. S., Hoyer, B. B., Haervig, K. K., Petersen, S. B., Rylander, L., Specht, I. O., Toft, G., Bräuner, E. V. Tags: Review Source Type: research
