Pregnancy outcomes from more than 1,800 in vitro fertilization cycles with the use of 24-chromosome single-nucleotide polymorphism–based preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy

Total gonadotropin dose did not affect euploid blastocyst rates: an analysis of more than 19,000 oocytes

BACKGROUND

To evaluate whether increasing total gonadotropin (Gn) dose is associated with changes in euploid blastocyst rate in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) oocytes.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2017 and 2022, and 19,246 oocytes were grouped and analyzed based on tri-sectional quantiles of total Gn doses.

SETTING

Single reproductive medical center.

SUBJECTS

All the patients who underwent PGT cycles, including PGT for aneuploidy, monogenic disorders, and structural rearrangements, were included.

EXPOSURE

Next-generation sequencing platforms for chromosomal analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates.

RESULTS

In total, 19,246 oocytes and 5375 PGT blastocysts were analyzed. There were significant differences in blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates among the groups classified according to tri-sectional quantiles of total Gn doses. Significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), proportion of primary infertility, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, number of oocytes retrieved, controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) regimen, type of Gn, and PGT category were observed among the three groups. After stratifying the analysis by age, BMI, infertility diagnosis, AMH levels, number of oocytes retrieved, PGT category, type of Gn, and COS regimen, significant differences were only seen in a small number of specific subgroups. Furthermore, the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates did not significantly increase or decrease with the total Gn dose, whether treated as a continuous variable or divided into three Gn groups as categorical variables. Notably, advancing age was a risk factor for blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates. PGT for structural rearrangements was a risk factor for blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates as compared with PGT for aneuploidy.

CONCLUSION

In the total PGT cycles, advancing age, and preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements negatively affected blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates; however, the total Gn dose did not affect blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates.

Role of genetic analysis of products of conception and PGT in managing early pregnancy loss

This article considers the addition of comprehensive 24-chromosomal microarray (CMA) analysis of products of conception (POC) to a standard evaluation for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) to help direct treatment towards expectant management versus IVF with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). The review included retrospective data from 65,333 miscarriages, a prospective evaluation of 378 couples with RPL who had CMA testing of POC and the standard workup, and data from an additional 1020 couples who were evaluated for RPL but did not undergo CMA testing of POC. Aneuploidy in POC explained the pregnancy loss in 57.7% (218/378) of cases. In contrast, the full RPL evaluation recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine identified a potential cause in only 42.9% (600/1398). Combining the data from the RPL evaluation and the results of genetic testing of POC provides a probable explanation for the loss in over 90% (347/378) of women. Couples with an unexplained loss after the standard evaluation with POC aneuploidy accounted for 41% of cases; PGT-A may be considered after expectant management. Conversely, PGT-A would have a limited role in those with a euploid loss and a possible explanation after the standard workup. Categorizing a pregnancy loss as an explained versus unexplained loss after the standard evaluation combined with the results of CMA testing of POC may help identify patients who would benefit from expectant management versus PGT-A.

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in patients of different age: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to summarize the current knowledge on the benefits of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) and to discuss the role of PGT-A in patients of different ages undergoing assisted reproduction. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 checklist. Registration number: CRD42022354697. Studies were identified by searching the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and ClinicalTrials databases. Seven meta-analyses were performed with additional stratification of age and prognosis of the women studied. Clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer in patients aged >35 years was higher in the PGT-A group (P=0.0002) than in controls. Live birth rate (LBR) per embryo transfer in women 35 years old or younger (P=0.002) was higher in the PGT-A group. The LBR per patient in women aged >35 years was higher in the PGT-A group (P=0.004). The effects of PGT-A on LBR in patients with poor prognosis showed a statistically significant increase (P=0.003). There was no significant difference in the rate between the two groups. PGT-A is effective and can be recommended for patients aged >35 years undergoing assisted reproduction to improve their reproductive outcomes. Moreover, our study showed the possible benefits of PGT-A in patients with a poor prognosis. Overall, our findings suggest that PGT-A is a valuable tool for improving the reproductive outcomes of assisted reproductive procedures in older women and those with a history of pregnancy complications.

Association of early cleavage, morula compaction and blastocysts ploidy of IVF embryos cultured in a time-lapse system and biopsied for genetic test for aneuploidy

IVF embryos have historically been evaluated by morphological characteristics. The time-lapse system (TLS) has become a promising tool, providing an uninterrupted evaluation of morphological and dynamic parameters of embryo development. Furthermore, TLS sheds light on unknown phenomena such as direct cleavage and incomplete morula compaction. We retrospectively analyzed the morphology (Gardner Score) and morphokinetics (KIDScore) of 835 blastocysts grown in a TLS incubator (Embryoscope+), which were biopsied for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Only the embryos that reached the blastocyst stage were included in this study and time-lapse videos were retrospectively reanalysed. According to the pattern of initial cleavages and morula compaction, the embryos were classified as: normal (NC) or abnormal (AC) cleavage, and fully (FCM) or partially compacted (PCM) morulae. No difference was found in early cleavage types or morula compaction patterns between female age groups (< 38, 38-40 and > 40 yo). Most of NC embryos resulted in FCM (≅ 60%), while no embryos with AC resulted in FCM. Aneuploidy rate of AC-PCM group did not differ from that of NC-FCM group in women < 38 yo, but aneuploidy was significantly higher in AC-PCM compared to NC-FCM of women > 40 yo. However, the quality of embryos was lower in AC-PCM blastocysts in women of all age ranges. Morphological and morphokinetic scores declined with increasing age, in the NC-PCM and AC-PCM groups, compared to the NC-FCM. Similar aneuploidy rates among NC-FCM and AC-PCM groups support the hypothesis that PCM in anomalous-cleaved embryos can represent a potential correction mechanism, even though lower morphological/morphokinetic scores are seen on AC-PCM. Therefore, both morphological and morphokinetic assessment should consider these embryonic development phenomena.

A review of the optimization of thyroid function, thrombophilia, immunity and uterine milieu treatment strategy for recurrent implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss

Background

Aside from embryonic factors, various factors can intricately interfere with embryo implantation and maintenance of pregnancy, causing recurrent implantation failure (RIF) or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This review focuses the optimization of thyroid function, thrombophilia, immunity, and uterine milieu (OPTIMUM) treatment strategy on RIF and RPL.

Methods

Three studies employing the OPTIMUM treatment strategy for patients with RIF and/or RPL were reviewed.

Results

The OPTIMUM improved pregnancy rates in women with RIF aged <40 years. Among advanced age women, however, no significant differences in pregnancy rates were observed between the control, OPTIMUM, and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) groups, although pregnancy rates were highest after OPTIMUM + PGT-A. The OPTIMUM reduced miscarriage rates in women with RPL aged <40 years. Among advanced age women, PGT-A, but not the OPTIMUM, contributed to miscarriage prevention. Factors predicting pregnancy success in women with RIF who received the OPTIMUM included thrombophilia and young age. Risk factors for an unsuccessful live birth among women with RPL who received the OPTIMUM included advanced age, infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, and non-ART treatment.

Conclusions

The OPTIMUM can improve pregnancy outcomes in women with RIF/RPL, except for advanced age women with embryonic factor-induced reproductive failure.

Similar implantation competence in euploid blastocysts developed on day 5 or day 6 in young women: a retrospective cohort study

The results from different studies are inconsistent regarding whether development potential correlated with embryo development speed after single euploid blastocyst transfer. The age-associated reproductive decline is not only because of the difference in aneuploidy rates but also because of metabolic and epigenetic changes of the embryos. Therefore, we aimed to assess the independent effect of embryo development speed on implantation potential in young women. A total of 326 young women who underwent preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic diseases with aneuploidy screening were analyzed. Day-5 and day-6 euploid blastocysts yielded similar implantation rates (65.20 vs. 61.22%). The odds ratio (OR) remained non-significant after adjusting for confounders (adjusted OR = 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.52-1.36). There was a trend that day-6 euploid blastocysts had a higher miscarriage rate (13.33 vs. 9.20%). However, the live birth delivery rate of day-5 blastocysts was similar to that of day-6 blastocysts (59.20 vs. 53.06%). In the stratified analysis, live birth delivery rates were similar between day-5 and day-6 similarly graded euploid blastocysts (excellent and good, 62.04 vs. 64.71%; average, 58.73 vs. 53.70%; poor, 43.75 vs. 44.44%). Embryo development speed has no obvious impact on implantation competence in young women's vitrified/warmed euploid embryo transfer cycles.

Comparison of clinical and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy outcomes between in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in sibling mature oocytes from high-risk patients: A retrospective study

AIM

To evaluate the influence of insemination methods on clinical outcomes by assessing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) outcomes in embryos obtained using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in sibling mature oocytes from high-risk patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study involved 108 couples with nonmale or mild male factor infertility who underwent split insemination cycles from January 2018 to December 2021. PGT-A was performed using trophectoderm biopsy, array comparative genome hybridization, or next-generation sequencing with 24-chromosome screening.

RESULTS

Mature oocytes were divided into IVF (n = 660) and ICSI (n = 1028) groups. The normal fertilization incidence was similar between the groups (81.1% vs. 84.6%). The total number of blastocysts biopsied was significantly higher in the IVF group than in the ICSI group (59.3% vs. 52.6%; p = 0.018). However, euploidy (34.4% vs. 31.9%) and aneuploidy (63.4% vs. 66.2%) rates per biopsy and clinical pregnancy rates (60.0% vs. 58.8%) were similar between the groups. Implantation (45.6% vs. 50.8%) and live birth or ongoing pregnancy (52.0% vs 58.8%) rates were slightly higher in the ICSI group than in the IVF group and miscarriage rate per transfer was slightly higher in the IVF group than in the ICSI group (12.0% vs 5.9%); however no significant difference was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

IVF and ICSI using sibling mature oocytes had similar clinical outcomes, and euploidy and aneuploidy rates in couples with nonmale and mild male factor infertility. These results suggest that IVF is a useful option, along with ICSI, as an insemination method in PGT-A cycles, especially in high-risk patients.

Mitochondrial DNA mutations can influence the post-implantation development of human mosaic embryos

Introduction: Several healthy euploid births have been reported following the transfer of mosaic embryos, including both euploid and aneuploid blastomeres. This has been attributed to a reduced number of aneuploid cells, as previously reported in mice, but remains poorly explored in humans. We hypothesized that mitochondrial function, one of the most critical factors for embryonic development, can influence human post-implantation embryonic development, including a decrease of aneuploid cells in mosaic embryos. Methods: To clarify the role of mitochondrial function, we biopsied multiple parts of each human embryo and observed the remaining embryos under in vitro culture as a model of post-implantation development (n = 27 embryos). Karyotyping, whole mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing, and mtDNA copy number assays were performed on all pre- and post-culture samples. Results: The ratio of euploid embryos was significantly enhanced during in vitro culture, whereas the ratio of mosaic embryos was significantly reduced. Furthermore, post-culture euploid and culturable embryos had significantly few mtDNA mutations, although mtDNA copy numbers did not differ. Discussion: Our results indicate that aneuploid cells decrease in human embryos post-implantation, and mtDNA mutations might induce low mitochondrial function and influence the development of post-implantation embryos with not only aneuploidy but also euploidy. Analyzing the whole mtDNA mutation number may be a novel method for selecting a better mosaic embryo for transfer.

Biphasic oxygen tension promotes the formation of transferable blastocysts in patients without euploid embryos in previous monophasic oxygen cycles

This study evaluated whether the concentration of biphasic O₂ (5-2%) promotes the formation of qualified blastocysts (QBs) and euploid blastocysts and the probability of cycles with transferable blastocysts. The paired experimental design included a total 90 patients (180 cycles) without euploid blastocysts in previous monophasic O₂ (5%) cycles were enrolled for an additional cycle of biphasic O₂ (5-2%). In the biphasic O₂ (5-2%) group, the QB rate (35.8%, 225/628) was significantly higher than that in the monophasic O₂ (5%) group (23.5%, 137/582; p < 0.001). In addition, the euploid blastocyst number (0.5 ± 0.8) and the percentage of cycles with transferable blastocysts were significantly higher in the biphasic O₂ (5-2%) group (57.8%, 52/90) than those in the monophasic O₂ (5%) group (0 and 35.6%, 32/90, respectively; p < 0.01). Multivariable regression analysis also indicated that the QB rate and the probability of cycles with transferable blastocysts correlated with O₂ tension (OR 1.535, 95% CI 1.325-1.777, and OR 3.191, 95% CI 1.638-5.679, respectively; p < 0.001). Biphasic O₂ culture can be used as an alternative strategy to increase the euploid QBs and the probability of cycles with transferable blastocysts in patients with a poor prognosis.

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and chromosomal structural rearrangement: A summary of a nationwide study by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Purpose

The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted a nationwide clinical study to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy or chromosomal structural rearrangement (PGT-A/SR).

Methods

Patients that had experienced recurrent implantation failure, recurrent pregnancy loss, or chromosomal structural rearrangement were recruited from 200 fertility centers in Japan. For patients in whom one or more blastocysts were classified as euploid or euploid with suspected mosaicism, a frozen-thawed single embryo transfer (ET) was performed.

Results

A total of 10 602 cycles, maternal age 28-50 years, were enrolled in this study. 42 529 blastocysts were biopsied, and 25.5%, 11.7%, and 61.7% of embryos exhibited euploidy, mosaicism, and aneuploidy, respectively. At least one euploid blastocyst was obtained in 38.3% of egg retrieval cycles with embryo biopsy. A total of 6080 ETs were carried out, and the clinical pregnancy rate per ET, ongoing pregnancy rate per ET, and miscarriage rate per pregnancy were 68.8%, 56.3%, and 10.4%, respectively. The rates of clinical pregnancy and miscarriage remained relatively constant across all maternal ages.

Conclusions

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy or chromosomal structural rearrangement may improve the pregnancy rate per ET and reduce the miscarriage rate per pregnancy, especially in patients of advanced maternal age.

A non-invasive artificial intelligence approach for the prediction of human blastocyst ploidy: a retrospective model development and validation study

BACKGROUND

One challenge in the field of in-vitro fertilisation is the selection of the most viable embryos for transfer. Morphological quality assessment and morphokinetic analysis both have the disadvantage of intra-observer and inter-observer variability. A third method, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), has limitations too, including its invasiveness and cost. We hypothesised that differences in aneuploid and euploid embryos that allow for model-based classification are reflected in morphology, morphokinetics, and associated clinical information.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we used machine-learning and deep-learning approaches to develop STORK-A, a non-invasive and automated method of embryo evaluation that uses artificial intelligence to predict embryo ploidy status. Our method used a dataset of 10 378 embryos that consisted of static images captured at 110 h after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, morphokinetic parameters, blastocyst morphological assessments, maternal age, and ploidy status. Independent and external datasets, Weill Cornell Medicine EmbryoScope+ (WCM-ES+; Weill Cornell Medicine Center of Reproductive Medicine, NY, USA) and IVI Valencia (IVI Valencia, Health Research Institute la Fe, Valencia, Spain) were used to test the generalisability of STORK-A and were compared measuring accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

FINDINGS

Analysis and model development included the use of 10 378 embryos, all with PGT-A results, from 1385 patients (maternal age range 21-48 years; mean age 36·98 years [SD 4·62]). STORK-A predicted aneuploid versus euploid embryos with an accuracy of 69·3% (95% CI 66·9-71·5; AUC 0·761; positive predictive value [PPV] 76·1%; negative predictive value [NPV] 62·1%) when using images, maternal age, morphokinetics, and blastocyst score. A second classification task trained to predict complex aneuploidy versus euploidy and single aneuploidy produced an accuracy of 74·0% (95% CI 71·7-76·1; AUC 0·760; PPV 54·9%; NPV 87·6%) using an image, maternal age, morphokinetic parameters, and blastocyst grade. A third classification task trained to predict complex aneuploidy versus euploidy had an accuracy of 77·6% (95% CI 75·0-80·0; AUC 0·847; PPV 76·7%; NPV 78·0%). STORK-A reported accuracies of 63·4% (AUC 0·702) on the WCM-ES+ dataset and 65·7% (AUC 0·715) on the IVI Valencia dataset, when using an image, maternal age, and morphokinetic parameters, similar to the STORK-A test dataset accuracy of 67·8% (AUC 0·737), showing generalisability.

INTERPRETATION

As a proof of concept, STORK-A shows an ability to predict embryo ploidy in a non-invasive manner and shows future potential as a standardised supplementation to traditional methods of embryo selection and prioritisation for implantation or recommendation for PGT-A.

FUNDING

US National Institutes of Health.

Influence of Diminished Ovarian Reserve on Early Embryo Morphokinetics during In Vitro Fertilization: A Time-Lapse Study

There is great controversy as to whether women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) exhibit only a quantitative decrease in ovarian reserve or also impaired oocyte and embryo quality. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of DOR on embryo morphokinetic parameters with a time-lapse system. 1314 embryos were obtained from 256 couples undergoing IVF or ICSI cycles, with 242 embryos in the DOR group as classified by the Bologna and POSEIDON criteria and 1072 embryos derived from the Normal Ovarian Reserve (NOR) group. For each morphokinetic parameter (t2, t3, t4, t5, t8, tB, ECC2, cc2a, ECC3, s2, s3), a generalized linear mixed model was created to control for female age, BMI, smoking status, method of insemination and correlation between oocytes from a same cohort. No significant association was found between DOR and any of the morphokinetic parameters studied. In a secondary analysis, we evaluated the influence of maternal aging, comparing morphokinetic characteristics between two age groups (<37 and ≥37 years). In the univariate analysis, we found that embryos from older women displayed a slower embryo development (in particular for t3, t4, t5, tB, and ECC2), although without statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, our study did not reveal any substantial impact of ovarian aging on early morphokinetic parameters and suggested potential biases that may be a source of controversy in the literature.

Transcriptomic signatures in trophectoderm and inner cell mass of human blastocysts classified according to developmental potential, maternal age and morphology

Selection of high-quality embryos is important to achieve successful pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Recently, it has been debated whether RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) should be applied to ART to predict embryo quality. However, information on genes that can serve as markers for pregnant expectancy is limited. Furthermore, there is no information on which transcriptome of trophectoderm (TE) or inner cell mass (ICM) is more highly correlated with pregnant expectancy. Here, we performed RNA-Seq analysis of TE and ICM of human blastocysts, the pregnancy expectation of which was retrospectively determined using the clinical outcomes of 1,890 cases of frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer. We identified genes that were correlated with the expected pregnancy rate in ICM and TE, respectively, with a larger number of genes identified in TE than in ICM. Downregulated genes in the TE of blastocysts that were estimated to have lower expectation of pregnancy included tight junction-related genes such as CXADR and ATP1B1, which have been implicated in peri-implantation development. Moreover, we identified dozens of differentially expressed genes by regrouping the blastocysts based on the maternal age and the Gardner score. Additionally, we showed that aneuploidy estimation using RNA-Seq datasets does not correlate with pregnancy expectation. Thus, our study provides an expanded list of candidate genes for the prediction of pregnancy in human blastocyst embryos.

A Mini-Review Regarding the Clinical Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Following Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)-Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Approach

Background: PGT-based NGS revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine, becoming an integrated component within current assisted reproductive technology (ART) protocols. Methods: We searched the literature published in the last half a decade in four databases (PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect, and Scopus) between 2018 and 2022. Results: A total of 1388 articles were filtered, from which 60 met, initially, the eligibility criteria, but only 42 were included (≥100 patients/couples—62,465 patients and 6628 couples in total) in the present mini-review. In total, forty-two (70.0%) reported reproductive outcomes, while eighteen (30.0%) had distinct objectives. Furthermore, n = 1, 1.66% of the studies focused on PGT, n = 1, 1.66% on pre-implantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M), n = 3, 5.0% on pre-implantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements (PGT-SR) and n = 55, 91.66% on pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). Conclusions: PGT using NGS proved to be an excellent companion that folds within the current ascending tendency among couples that require specialty care. We strongly encourage future studies to provide a systematic overview expanded at a larger scale on the role of the PGT-NGS.

A Costly Choice? In Vitro Fertilization and Those That Terminate: Working towards an Understanding in a Post-Roe America

Abortion continues to be a hotly debated topic in the United States, despite the majority of the populace endorsing it as a legal right. The June 2022 ruling from the Supreme Court turned the legal question about abortion back to the states, which will drastically reduce abortion services in the country and confine abortion access mainly to the coasts. The intersection between abortion and a pregnancy achieved using assisted reproductive technology is one that lacks understanding. While presumed to be rare, as data is not collected in the US about abortions, this intersection exists but is understudied. This paper illuminates the little that we know to date about this intersection as well as where our knowledge is profoundly lacking. Creating a better sense of understanding will enable clinics to counsel patients appropriately when the intersection arises.

The role of extracellular vesicles in animal reproduction and diseases

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized membrane-enclosed compartments that serve as messengers in cell-to-cell communication, both in normal physiology and in pathological conditions. EVs can transfer functional proteins and genetic information to alter the phenotype and function of recipient cells, which undergo different changes that positively affect their structural and functional integrity. Biological fluids are enriched with several subpopulations of EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies carrying several cargoes, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. EVs associated with the reproductive system are actively involved in the regulation of different physiological events, including gamete maturation, fertilization, and embryo and fetal development. EVs can influence follicle development, oocyte maturation, embryo production, and endometrial-conceptus communication. EVs loaded with cargoes are used to diagnose various diseases, including pregnancy disorders; however, these are dependent on the type of cell of origin and pathological characteristics. EV-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins in the placenta regulate inflammatory responses and trophoblast invasion through intercellular delivery in the placental microenvironment. This review presents evidence regarding the types of extracellular vesicles, and general aspects of isolation, purification, and characterization of EVs, particularly from various types of embryos. Further, we discuss EVs as mediators and messengers in reproductive biology, the effects of EVs on placentation and pregnancy disorders, the role of EVs in animal reproduction, in the male reproductive system, and mother and embryo cross-communication. In addition, we emphasize the role of microRNAs in embryo implantation and the role of EVs in reproductive and therapeutic medicine. Finally, we discuss the future perspectives of EVs in reproductive biology.

Deficiency of RARα Suppresses Decidualization via Downregulating CEBPB Transcription in Women With Recurrent Implantation Failure

Background

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a disease associated with endometrial receptivity dysfunction. Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) is an important protein in many biological processes, such as differentiation and development. However, the exact underlying mechanism whereby RARα affects RIF remains unknown. This study investigated RARα expression and its contribution in the mid-luteal phase endometria of patients with RIF.

Methods

The expression levels of RARα and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) β in the endometria of the RIF and normal group were investigated using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. In in vitro experiments, immortal telomerase-transformed human endometrial stromal cells (T-HESCs) were incubated with medroxyprogesterone-17-acetate (MPA) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) for 4 days to induce decidualization. The expression levels of the decidualization markers prolactin (PRL) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RARα was knocked down using a small interfering RNA, and C/EBPβ was overexpressed from an adenoviral vector. The transcriptional regulation of CEBPB by RARα was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and luciferase assays.

Results

We found that the expression levels of RARα decreased in the mid-luteal endometria of RIF patients. After 4 days of decidualization induction in vitro, RARα knockdown impaired the decidualization of T-HESCs and downregulated the expression of C/EBPβ. The restoration of C/EBPβ expression rescued the RARα knockdown-induced suppression of T-HESC decidualization. In ChIP analysis of lysates from decidualized T-HESCs, the CEBPB promoter region was enriched in chromatin fragments pulled down using an anti-RARα antibody. However, the relationship between CEBPB transcription and RARα expression levels was only observed when the decidualization of T-HESCs was induced by the addition of cAMP and MPA. To identify the binding site of RARα/retinoid X receptor α, we performed luciferase assays. Mutation of the predicted binding site in CEBPB (-2,009/-1,781) decreased the transcriptional activity of the reporter. To confirm this mechanism, the expression levels of C/EBPβ in the mid-luteal endometria of RIF patients were determined and found to decrease with decreased RARα expression levels.

Conclusion

A deficiency of RARα expression in the mid-luteal endometrium inhibits decidualization due to the downregulation of CEBPB transcription. This is a potential mechanism contributing to RIF.

Maternal body mass index is not associated with increased rates of maternal embryonic aneuploidy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and embryonic aneuploidy of maternal origin.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis.

SETTING

University hospital-based reproductive center.

PATIENTS

Maternal origin of aneuploidy was available for 453 cycles and 1,717 embryos.

INTERVENTIONS

Data regarding BMI were collected before egg retrieval. Comparison groups included underweight (BMI, <18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m²), overweight (BMI, 25-29.9 kg/m²), and obese (BMI, ≥30 kg/m²). Overall embryonic aneuploidy and maternal aneuploidy rates were compared. The aneuploidy rate was the number of embryos with either maternal or mixed (maternal and paternal) aneuploidy divided by the total number of embryos tested.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Overall embryonic aneuploidy and maternal aneuploidy rates.

RESULTS

Maternal aneuploidy rate was 51.5% for BMI of ≥30 kg/m² and 39.3% for BMI of <30 kg/m². Female age as well as several in vitro fertilization characteristics were significantly different across groups and were included in the adjusted model. Both the overall embryonic aneuploidy rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.59) and the maternal aneuploidy rate (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.25-2.16) increased with increasing maternal BMI. However, after controlling for significant confounders, BMI did not significantly predict the rate of maternal aneuploidy (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.85-1.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal BMI did not correlate with embryonic aneuploidy of maternal origin after adjusting for confounders.

A novel trophectoderm biopsy technique for all blastocyst stages

Purpose

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a new trophectoderm (TE) biopsy method that does not require prior opening of the zona pellucida at the blastocyst stage.

Methods

TE biopsy was conducted using a modified extrusion method for embryos during the cleavage stage. In this method, culture medium was injected into the perivitelline space to help extrude TE cells from the zona pellucida before TE biopsy.

Results

Our extrusion method preserves the embryo culture environment until immediately before biopsy because it does not require opening of the zona pellucida prior to TE biopsy. Furthermore, this method does not require a waiting time for blastocyst hatching after laser irradiation, thereby minimizing damage to the embryos and maintaining the time schedule of culture operations.

Conclusions

TE biopsy using this novel extrusion method may be useful in various applications, including the collection of TE cells for next-generation sequencing analysis.

A novel system based on artificial intelligence for predicting blastocyst viability and visualizing the explanation

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to invent and evaluate the novel artificial intelligence (AI) system named Fertility image Testing Through Embryo (FiTTE) for predicting blastocyst viability and visualizing the explanations via gradient-based localization.

Methods

The authors retrospectively analyzed 19 342 static blastocyst images with related inspection histories from 9961 infertile patients who underwent in vitro fertilization. Among these data, 17 984 cycles of single-blastocyst transfer were used for training, and data from 1358 cycles were used for testing purposes.

Results

The prediction accuracy for clinical pregnancy achieved by a control model using conventional Gardner scoring system was 59.8%, and area under the curve (AUC) was 0.62. FiTTE improved the prediction accuracy by using blastocyst images to 62.7% and AUC of 0.68. Additionally, the accuracy achieved by an ensemble model using image plus clinical data was 65.2% and AUC was 0.71, representing an improvement in prediction accuracy. The visualization algorithm showed brighter colors with blastocysts that resulted in clinical pregnancy.

Conclusions

The authors invented the novel AI system, FiTTE, which could provide more precise prediction of the probability of clinical pregnancy using blastocyst images secondary to single embryo transfer than the conventional Gardner scoring assessments. FiTTE could also provide explanation of AI prediction using colored blastocyst images.

Novel approaches to the management of recurrent pregnancy loss: The OPTIMUM (OPtimization of Thyroid function, Thrombophilia, Immunity, and Uterine Milieu) treatment strategy

PURPOSE

Does the OPtimization of Thyroid function, Thrombophilia, Immunity, and Uterine Milieu (OPTIMUM) treatment strategy, developed for treating repeated implantation failure (RIF), contribute to improving pregnancy outcomes in patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)?

METHODS

Between 2018 and 2019, women with RPL after two or more clinical pregnancy losses underwent RPL testing. We treated chronic endometritis with antibiotics, high Th1/Th2 cell ratios with vitamin D and/or tacrolimus, overt/subclinical hypothyroidism with levothyroxine, and thrombophilia with low-dose aspirin. Of 168 consecutive women aged ≤43 years, 115 underwent RPL testing. We compared 100 pregnancies (90 women) and 46 pregnancies (41 women) with and without the OPTIMUM treatment strategy, respectively.

RESULTS

RPL testing identified intrauterine abnormalities in 66 (57.4%), elevated Th1/Th2 cell ratios in 50 (43.5%), thyroid dysfunction in 33 (28.7%), and thrombophilia in 33 (28.7%). The live birth rate in the OPTIMUM group was significantly higher than that in the control group among women aged <40 years (78.1% and 42.3%, respectively; p = 0.002), but no significant difference was observed in women aged ≥40 years (55.6% and 30.0%, respectively; p = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

The OPTIMUM treatment strategy improved pregnancy outcomes in patients with not only RIF but also RPL.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Kidney Disease-Related Genes: A Laboratory's Experience

INTRODUCTION

Recent literature highlights the clinical utility of genetic testing for patients with kidney disease. Genetic testing provides significant benefits for reproductive risk counseling, including the option of in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disease (PGT-M). PGT-M allows for a significant reduction in risk for a pregnancy affected with the familial disease. We aim to summarize our experience with PGT-M for genes with kidney involvement as either a primary or secondary feature of the disease.

METHODS

All PGT-M tests performed by the reference laboratory between September 2010 and July 2020 were reviewed for clinical indication and cases for which the disease tested included a renal component. Each patient referred for PGT-M had an existing molecular genetic diagnosis themselves or in their family. Frequency of each condition, gene, inheritance pattern, and year over year increase in referral cases was analyzed.

RESULTS

In the study cohort, the most common disease targeted was autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, caused by pathogenic variants in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes, which accounted for 16.5% (64/389) of cases. The 5 most common referral indications accounted for 51.9% (202/389) of the cases. Autosomal recessive inheritance accounted for 52.0% (26/50) of conditions for which PGT-M was performed. The number of PGT-M tests performed for conditions that included either primary or secondary kidney disease increased from 5 cases in 2010 to 47 cases in the 2020 study period.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the pursuit of PGT-M by couples at risk for passing on conditions with a kidney component is common and has significantly increased since 2010. With this rising trend of patients undergoing PGT-M and the prerequisite of molecular genetic confirmation in the PGT-M process, this study underscores the importance of the reproductive component to a molecular genetic diagnosis for patients with kidney disease, especially as the accessibility of genetic testing and utilization by nephrologists grows.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes following blastocyst biopsy for PGT in single vitrified-warmed embryo transfer cycles

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does blastocyst biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) increase the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes?

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of 5097 single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles from January 2016 to December 2018, with 2061 cycles in the biopsied group and 3036 cycles in the unbiopsied group enrolled in the analyses. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The live birth rate in the biopsied group (41.1%) was significantly higher than that in the unbiopsied group (35.6%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.54, P = 0.012) after adjusting for maternal age, maternal body mass index, gravidity, parity, infertility diagnosis, timing of blastocyst transfer, blastocyst quality, regimen of endometrial preparation, endometrial thickness before transfer and treatment year. The rates of total pregnancy loss (25.4% versus 32.2%, aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.52-0.91, P = 0.008) and early miscarriage (12.1% versus 17.3%, aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.38-0.83, P = 0.004) were significantly lower in the biopsied group than in the unbiopsied group. No significant differences were found in sex ratio or the risks of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, placenta previa, preterm premature rupture of membranes, low birthweight, very low birthweight, macrosomia, small for gestational age, large for gestational age or birth defects between the two groups. When the subgroup analyses were conducted based on different types of PGT, similar patterns were found for all types.

CONCLUSION

Blastocyst biopsy might not increase the risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in the short term.

Effects of Gender of Reciprocal Chromosomal Translocation on Blastocyst Formation and Pregnancy Outcome in Preimplantation Genetic Testing

Objective

To determine the effect of gender of reciprocal chromosomal translocation on blastocyst formation and pregnancy outcome in preimplantation genetic testing, including different parental ages.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study that enrolled 1034 couples undergoing preimplantation genetic testing-structural rearrangement on account of a carrier of reciprocal chromosomal translocation from the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2019. Group A represented 528 couples in which the man was the carrier of reciprocal translocation and group B represented 506 couples in which the woman was the carrier of reciprocal translocation. All patients were divided into two groups according to their age: female age<35 and female age≥35. Furthermore, the differences in blastocyst condition and pregnancy outcome between male and female carriers in each group were further explored according to their father's age.

Results

The blastocyst formation rate of group A (55.3%) is higher than that of group B (50%) and the results were statistically significant (P<0.05). The blastocyst formation rate of group A is higher than that of group B, no matter in young maternal age or in advanced maternal age (P<0.05). The blastocyst formation rate in maternal age<35y and paternal age<30y in group A(57.1%) is higher than that of Group B(50%); Similarly, the blastocyst formation rate in maternal age≥35 and paternal age≥38y(66.7%) is higher than that of Group B(33.3%)(all P<0.05). There was no difference in fertilization rate, aeuploidy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and live birth rate between Group A and Group B.

Conclusion

When the carrier of reciprocal translocation is male, the blastocyst formation rate is higher than that of female carrier. While there is no significant difference between the two in terms of fertilization rate, aeuploidy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and live birth rate.

Experience analysing over 190,000 embryo trophectoderm biopsies using a novel FAST-SeqS preimplantation genetic testing assay

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is FAST-SeqS an accurate methodology for preimplantation genetic testing for whole-chromosome aneuploidy (PGT-A)? What additional types of chromosomal abnormalities can be assessed? What are the observed aneuploidy rates in a large clinical cohort?

DESIGN

FAST-SeqS, a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based assay amplifying genome-wide LINE1 repetitive sequences, was validated using reference samples. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Clinically derived trophectoderm biopsies submitted for PGT-A were assessed, and aneuploidy and mosaicism rates among biopsies were determined. Clinician-provided outcome rates were calculated.

RESULTS

Sensitivity and specificity were over 95% for all aneuploidy types tested in the validation. Comparison of FAST-SeqS with VeriSeq showed high concordance (98.5%). Among embryos with actionable results (n = 182,827), 46.2% were aneuploid. Whole-chromosome aneuploidies were most observed (72.9% without or 8.7% with a segmental aneuploidy), with rates increasing with egg age; segmental aneuploidy rates did not. Segmental aneuploidy (n = 20,557) was observed on all chromosomes (most commonly deletions), with frequencies associated with chromosome length. Mosaic-only abnormalities constituted 10.1% (n = 3862/38145) of samples. Abnormal ploidy constituted 1.8% (n = 2370/128,991) of samples, triploidy being the most common (73.6%). Across 3297 frozen embryo transfers, the mean clinical pregnancy rate was 62% (range 38-80%); the mean combined ongoing pregnancy and live birth rate was 57% (range 38-72%).

CONCLUSION

FAST-SeqS is a clinically reliable and scalable method for PGT-A, is comparable to whole-genome amplification-based platforms, and detects additional information related to ploidy using SNP analysis. Results suggest ongoing benefit of PGT-A using FAST-SeqS, consistent with other platforms.

Progress and Challenges in Laboratory-Based Diagnostic and Screening Approaches for Aneuploidy Detection during Pregnancy

Aneuploidy is caused by problems during cellular division and segregation errors during meiosis that lead to an abnormal number of chromosomes and initiate significant genetic abnormalities during pregnancy or the loss of a fetus due to miscarriage. Screening and diagnostic technologies have been developed to detect this genetic condition and provide parents with critical information about their unborn child. In this review, we highlight the complexities of aneuploidy as a disease as well as multiple technological advancements in testing that help to identify aneuploidy at various time points throughout pregnancy. We focus on aneuploidy diagnosis during preimplantation genetic testing that is performed during in vitro fertilization as well as prenatal screening and diagnosis during pregnancy. This review focuses on DNA-based analysis and laboratory techniques for aneuploidy detection through reviewing molecular- and engineering-based technical advancements. We also present key challenges in aneuploidy detection during pregnancy, including sample collection, mosaic embryos, economic factors, and the social implications of this testing. The goal of this review is to synthesize broad information about aneuploidy screening and diagnostic sample collection and analysis during pregnancy and discuss major challenges the field is still facing despite decades of advancements.

Proteomics based drug repositioning applied to improve in vitro fertilization implantation: an artificial intelligence model

Embryo implantation is one of the most inefficient steps in assisted reproduction, so the identifying drugs with a potential clinical application to improve it has a strong interest. This work applies artificial intelligence and systems biology-based mathematical modeling strategies to unveil potential treatments by computationally analyzing and integrating available molecular and clinical data from patients. The mathematical models of embryo implantation computationally generated here simulate the molecular networks underneath this biological process. Once generated, these models were analyzed in order to identify potential repositioned drugs (drugs already used for other indications) able to improve embryo implantation by modulating the molecular pathways involved. Interestingly, the repositioning analysis has identified drugs considering two endpoints: (1) drugs able to modulate the activity of proteins whose role in embryo implantation is already bibliographically acknowledged, and (2) drugs that modulate key proteins in embryo implantation previously predicted through a mechanistic analysis of the mathematical models. This second approach increases the scope open for examination and potential novelty of the repositioning strategy. As a result, a list of 23 drug candidates to improve embryo implantation after IVF was identified by the mathematical models. This list includes many of the compounds already tested for this purpose, which reinforces the predictive capacity of our approach, together with novel repositioned candidates (e.g., Infliximab, Polaprezinc, and Amrinone). In conclusion, the present study exploits existing molecular and clinical information to offer new hypotheses regarding molecular mechanisms in embryo implantation and therapeutic candidates to improve it. This information will be very useful to guide future research.Abbreviations: IVF: in vitro fertilization; EI: Embryo implantation; TPMS: Therapeutic Performance Mapping System; MM: mathematical models; ANN: Artificial Neuronal Networks; TNFα: tumour necrosis factor factor-alpha; HSPs: heat shock proteins; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; PPARA: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α PXR: pregnane X receptor; TTR: transthyretin; BED: Biological Effectors Database; MLP: multilayer perceptron.

Single-embryo transfer: a key strategy to reduce the risk for multiple pregnancy in assisted human reproduction

In the early days of assisted reproductive technology (ART), the main target was achieving gestation. Success rates were low, and multiple embryo transfers became common practice, with multiple pregnancies being 20 times higher than in natural conception. Multiple pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of complications for the mother and the baby than a singleton pregnancy. Added to healthcare costs, multiple pregnancy also involves other costs and psychosocial risks, with a high social and health costs. At present, success rates of assisted human reproduction (AHR) have improved dramatically, partially due to advances in laboratory techniques such as culture of blastocyst-stage embryos and vitrification. Additionally, there is a wide range of counseling, health and economic policies that have demonstrated being effective in increasing single-embryo transfer (SET) practices and reducing multiple pregnancies, which ensures satisfactory success rates. Therefore, single-embryo transfer emerges as the approach of choice for AHR to result in a full-term healthy newborn.

In-Vitro Fertilization Outcome Predictors in Women With High Baseline Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Levels: Analysis of Over 1000 Cycles From A Tertiary Center

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate reproductive outcomes and determine the predictors of clinical pregnancy and live birth in women with elevated baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, who have undergone intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 1011 ICSI cycles of women with high baseline FSH levels (> 10 IU/L), from a tertiary university IVF center between 2010 and 2015. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors of clinical pregnancy and live birth.

RESULTS

Among the 1011 ICSI cycles, the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates per oocyte retrieval were 19.5% and 14.3%, respectively. The live birth rates were 21.1% and 1.7% in women aged ≤30 years and those aged ≥40 years, respectively. In addition, the live birth rate was 1.47-fold higher in women from whom >3 oocytes were retrieved, compared to those from whom ≤3 oocytes were retrieved (p=0.047). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the age categories ≤30y, 36-39y and ≥40y, level of baseline FSH (≥20 IU/L) and the ovarian response (≤3 or >3 oocytes retrieved) were significantly associated with live birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated that age, baseline FSH level, and ovarian response are independent predictive factors for clinical pregnancy and live birth among women with baseline FSH levels >10 IU/L.

Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes after Transfer of Mosaic Embryos: A Review

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) seeks to identify embryos with a normal chromosome complement during in vitro fertilization (IVF). Transfer of one euploid embryo at a time maximizes the chance of implantation while minimizing the risk of multiple pregnancy. The emergence of new technologies including next generation sequencing (NGS) has led to increased diagnosis of embryonic mosaicism, suggesting the presence of karyotypically distinct cells within a single trophectoderm (TE). Clinical implications of embryonic mosaicism are important in both naturally conceived and IVF pregnancies. Although information regarding outcomes after mosaic embryo transfer (MET) is limited, more than 100 live births have now been documented with rather reassuring outcomes with no abnormal phenotype. Here, we aim to provide a summary of recent data regarding clinical and neonatal outcomes after transfer of mosaic embryos in IVF/PGT-A cycles.

Next-Generation Sequencing Is More Efficient at Detecting Mosaic Embryos and Improving Pregnancy Outcomes than Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Array Analysis

We compared chromosomal mosaicism, detected by next-generation sequencing (NGS), during preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) with that detected by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array-based PGT to assess the pregnancy outcomes associated with both platforms in a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in a single university-based assisted reproduction center. In total, 6427 blastocysts biopsied from 1513 patients who underwent 2833 oocyte retrievals from January 2017 to February 2019 were identified. The incidence of mosaicism was significantly higher in the NGS-based PGT group than in the SNP array-based PGT group. Furthermore, some aneuploid specimens were affected by mosaicism. The total mosaicism detection rate with NGS-based PGT (23.3%) was significantly higher than that with SNP array-based PGT (7.7%). Mosaicism rates were similar when stratified by maternal age or PGT type. The SNP array cohort showed a significantly higher spontaneous abortion rate than the NGS cohort (10.07% versus 6.33%; P = 0.0403). The ongoing pregnancy/live birth rate was higher in the NGS cohort (44.1%) than in the SNP array cohort (42.28%). Our results confirm that NGS-based PGT can detect mosaicism more frequently than SNP array-based PGT in trophectoderm specimens. Therefore, clinical application of NGS for PGT may improve pregnancy outcomes compared with that of SNP array-based PGT. More detailed blastocyst detection and classification is necessary to prioritize embryo transfers.

Effects of PGT-A on Pregnancy Outcomes for Young Women Having One Previous Miscarriage with Genetically Abnormal Products of Conception

In this retrospective study, the effect of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) was evaluated in women younger than 38 years with a history of one prior miscarriage and embryonic chromosomal abnormalities were detected in previous products of conception (POCs). Abnormal karyotypes were detected in POCs at our center between January 2014 and December 2017. Of the women included in this analysis, 124 continued with conventional in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (non-PGT-A group) and 93 chose PGT-A cycles (PGT-A group), and the pregnancy outcomes in both groups were compared. Although the clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was significantly higher in the PGT-A group (67.23% vs. 51.85%, p-adj = 0.01), no between-group differences were found in the live birth rate or miscarriage rate (45.38% vs. 40.74%, p-adj = 0.59; 16.25% vs. 14.29%, p-adj = 0.15). Women in both groups had comparative cumulative live birth rates (PGT-A vs. non-PGT-A, 58.06% vs. 53.23%, p = 0.48). The main results of this study suggest that PGT-A is not associated with an increased likelihood of a live birth or a decreased rate of miscarriage among women younger than 38 years without recurrent pregnancy loss and with a history of POCs with embryonic chromosomal abnormalities.

The Effectiveness of Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Balanced Translocation Couples

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for balanced translocation carriers to identify normal/balanced blastocysts and to measure pregnancy outcomes following euploid embryo transfer. We enrolled 75 couples with a balanced translocation who underwent 83 PGT cycles (58 cycles for carriers with reciprocal translocations and 25 cycles for carriers with Robertsonian translocations) and 388 blastocysts were diagnosed. Moreover, we transferred single euploid blastocysts through frozen embryo transfer and calculated the biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and ongoing pregnancy rates per embryo transfer cycle. Despite a mean maternal age of 29.8 years and mean of 4.34 embryos biopsied, there was a 32.8% chance of recording no chromosomally normal/balanced embryos for reciprocal translocation carriers. The proportion of normal/balanced embryos was significantly higher (44.1 vs. 27.8%) in Robertsonian translocation carriers than in reciprocal translocation carriers. Female carriers had a significantly lower (23.3 vs. 42.4%, 34.7 vs. 54.7%, respectively) percentage of normal/balanced embryos than male carriers, regardless of the translocation. After transfering single blastocysts, we obtained a 64.4% clinical pregnancy rate per transfer, and the clinical miscarriage rate was 5.7%. Amniocentesis results showed that all karyotypes of the fetuses were consistent with PGT results. The clinical outcomes are probably not influenced by the type of translocation, maternal age, and blastocyst morphology following the transfer of euploid blastocysts. Therefore, we conclude that NGS-based PGT is an efficient method for analyzing balanced translocation carriers, and aneuploidy screening had good clinical outcomes.

Comparison of single euploid blastocyst transfer cycle outcome derived from embryos with normal or abnormal cleavage patterns

RESEARCH QUESTION

To assess incidence of abnormal cleavage among biopsied blastocysts; to compare euploidy rates of the blastocysts with abnormal and normal cleavage; and to compare single euploid blastocyst transfer (SEBT) outcome derived from embryos with normal or abnormal cleavage.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a private IVF clinic. Consecutive 554 patients (749 cycles) undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (n = 497; 671 cycles) or monogenic diseases (n = 57; 78 cycles) were included. All assessments for abnormal cleavage were carried out retrospectively; presence of abnormal cleavage was not a factor in deciding which euploid embryo to transfer. A total of 1015 blastocysts were biopsied and 295 SEBT procedures were carried out. Main outcome measure was live birth rate (LBR).

RESULTS

Incidence of reverse cleavage, direct cleavage, and reverse plus direct cleavage, were 7.7%, 6.4% and 2.3%, respectively. Of the 1015 biopsied blastocysts, 35.0% were euploid. Blastocysts with abnormal cleavage, in total, had a significantly higher euploidy rate compared with blastocysts with normal cleavage (44.6% [74/166] versus 33.1% [281/849]; P = 0.017). The LBR after SEBT with normal, reverse and direct cleavage, and direct cleavage plus reverse cleavage, was 133/238 (55.9%), 6/26 (23.1%), 8/24 (33.3%) and 0/3 (0.0%) (P < 0.001). Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that the presence of abnormal cleavage pattern was the only independent predictor of LBR (OR 0.316; 95% CI 0.115 to 0.867; P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Blastocysts with direct or reverse cleavage should be biopsied in preimplantation genetic testing cycles if they are morphologically eligible. Euploid blastocysts with abnormal cleavage, however, have approximately half the LBR of those euploid blastocyst with normal cleavage, hence, blastocysts with abnormal cleavage should have lower priority for transfer.

Powder suspensions in non-aqueous vehicles for delivery of therapeutic proteins

Formulating biopharmaceuticals is a challenging task due to their complex and sensitive nature. Protein drugs are typically marketed either as an aqueous solution or as a lyophilizate. Usually aqueous solutions are preferred as neither drying nor reconstitution are required. But it may be unfeasible if the protein features low stability. An interesting alternative to avoid at least reconstitution are protein powder suspensions in non-aqueous vehicles. Such formulations combine the ready-to-use approach with the high protein stability in the solid state. Additionally, protein powder suspensions offer a potentially lower viscosity compared to aqueous solutions at high protein concentrations. Besides injection, other application routes might also benefit from the protein powder approach such as topical or inhalational delivery. Protein powders, which can be dispersed in the non-aqueous suspension vehicle, are usually prepared by spray-drying or freeze-drying with an additional milling step, but other techniques have also been described in literature. An ideal powder preparation technique results in minimum protein damage and yields particle sizes in the lower micrometre range and homogeneous particle size distribution enabling subcutaneous or intramuscular injection through hypodermic needles. As suspension vehicles traditional non-aqueous injectable liquids, such as plant oils, may be selected. But they show an inherent high viscosity, which can lead to unacceptable glide forces during injection. Furthermore, the vehicle should provide high product stability with respect to protein integrity and suspension resuspendability. This review will describe how proteins can be formulated as protein powder suspensions in non-aqueous vehicles for subcutaneous injection including potential vehicles, protein powder preparation techniques, protein and suspension physical stability, as well as the use in the field of high concentration protein formulations.

Suboptimal trophectoderm mitochondrial DNA level is associated with delayed blastocyst development

PURPOSE

To provide a comprehensive analysis of mtDNA quantity in D5 and D6 blastocysts, as well as a further insight to the origin of delayed blastocyst development.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis of 829 D5 and 472 D6 blastocysts from 460 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) with next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). The quantity of trophectoderm mtDNA was extrapolated from the NGS data, followed by the analysis of mean mtDNA levels between D5 and D6 blastocysts of the same ploidy (aneuploid/euploid) and transfer outcomes (positive/negative clinical pregnancy).

RESULTS

D5 blastocysts had significantly higher euploidy rate and clinical pregnancy rate when compared with D6 blastocysts. The proportion of blastocysts derived from patients ≧ 40 years old were similar between the D5 and D6 cohorts. When blastocysts with identical ploidy were analyzed, the D5 cohorts all had significantly higher mean mtDNA levels than their D6 counterparts. Similarly, when embryo transfers with identical outcome were analyzed, the D5 cohorts also had significantly higher mean mtDNA levels than the D6 cohorts. Trophectoderm mtDNA level was independent of maternal age and blastocyst morphology grades.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data provided further evidence D5 blastocysts contained significantly greater mtDNA quantity than D6 blastocysts, and mtDNA quantity could be a key factor that affects the development rate of blastocysts. Furthermore, one must avoid using an arbitrary threshold when incorporating mtDNA quantity into the embryo selection criteria, as the observed value may have vastly different clinical implication when blastulation rate is also considered.

Normalized Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Can Optimize Pregnancy Outcome Prediction in IVF

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and embryo implantation potential in in vitro fertilization (IVF). A retrospective study of 319 blastocysts from patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) at Reproductive Medicine Center in Tongji Hospital from January 2016 to February 2018 was conducted. We used multiple annealing- and looping-based amplification cycles (MALBAC) technology to amplify the genetic materials from the trophectoderm cells of blastocysts, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to test mitochondrial DNA copy number. Box-Cox transformation was introduced to eliminate the skewness distribution of mtDNA copy number, and the transformed data were defined as adjusted mtDNA. Subsequently, associations between adjusted mtDNA and the clinical characteristics of patients were assessed by univariate analysis and multiple linear regression. In addition, Gaussian Naive Bayes classifier was also used to predict pregnancy outcomes. We observed that only antral follicle count (AFC) was significantly associated with adjusted mtDNA without the influence of multicollinearity. What's more, the distribution of the adjusted mtDNA of blastocysts resulting in live birth was more concentrated than that of others. The area under the curve (AUC) of the prediction model that combined adjusted mtDNA with other clinical characteristics of patients was up to 0.81, higher than that excluded adjusted mtDNA. Among patient clinical characteristics, AFC was significantly associated with adjusted mtDNA. Mitochondrial DNA copy number may help to optimize the pregnancy outcome prediction in IVF.

Mitochondrial replacement by genome transfer in human oocytes: Efficacy, concerns, and legality

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic mitochondrial (mt)DNA mutations, which often cause life-threatening disorders, are maternally inherited via the cytoplasm of oocytes. Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) is expected to prevent second-generation transmission of mtDNA mutations. However, MRT may affect the function of respiratory chain complexes comprised of both nuclear and mitochondrial proteins.

METHODS

Based on the literature and current regulatory guidelines (especially in Japan), we analyzed and reviewed the recent developments in human models of MRT.

MAIN FINDINGS

MRT does not compromise pre-implantation development or stem cell isolation. Mitochondrial function in stem cells after MRT is also normal. Although mtDNA carryover is usually less than 0.5%, even low levels of heteroplasmy can affect the stability of the mtDNA genotype, and directional or stochastic mtDNA drift occurs in a subset of stem cell lines (mtDNA genetic drift). MRT could prevent serious genetic disorders from being passed on to the offspring. However, it should be noted that this technique currently poses significant risks for use in embryos designed for implantation.

CONCLUSION

The maternal genome is fundamentally compatible with different mitochondrial genotypes, and vertical inheritance is not required for normal mitochondrial function. Unresolved questions regarding mtDNA genetic drift can be addressed by basic research using MRT.

Genetic Counseling and Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Despite the ever-increasing number of patients undergoing fertility treatments and the expanded use of genetic testing in this context, there has been limited focus in the literature on the involvement of genetics professionals in the assisted reproductive technology (ART) setting. Here we discuss the importance of genetic counseling within reproductive medicine. We review how genetic testing of embryos is performed, the process of gamete donation, the challenges associated with genetic testing, and the complexities of genetic test result interpretation.

Comparison of PGS2.0 versus conventional embryo morphology evaluation for patients with recurrent pregnancy loss: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised trial

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy loss (PL) is an adverse life event, and there is no proven effective treatment for recurrent PL (RPL). Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) can be performed to reduce the risks of PL; however, there is still no solid scientific evidence that PGS improves outcomes for couples experiencing RPL. Comprehensive chromosome screening (PGS2.0) has become a routine practice in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics. Previous studies based on PGS1.0 with a focus on RPL couples where the female is of advanced maternal age have reported contradictory results. Hence, a multicentre randomised trial is needed to provide evidence for the clinical benefits of PGS2.0 treatment for RPL couples.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Overall, 268 RPL couples undergoing IVF cycles will be enrolled. Couples will be randomised according to a unique grouping number generated by a random digital software into (1) PGS2.0 group and (2) non-PGS (conventional embryo morphology evaluation) group. This study aims to investigate whether the live birth rate (LBR) per initiated cycle after PGS2.0 is superior to the LBR per initiated cycle after conventional embryo evaluation (non-PGS group). Live birth will be defined as a live baby born after a gestation period of >28 weeks, with a birth weight of more than 1000 g. A multivariate logistic regression model will be used to adjust for confounding factors.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University and the participating hospitals. Written informed consent will be obtained from each couple before any study procedure is performed. Data from this study will be stored in the Research Electronic Data Capture. The results of this trial will be presented and published via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03214185; Pre-results.

Higher chromosomal abnormality rate in blastocysts from young patients with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in blastocysts is higher in patients with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (iRPL) who underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) than in those who underwent preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic defects (PGT-M).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

University-affiliated reproductive center.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 62 patients with iRPL underwent 101 PGT-A cycles (iRPL group), and 212 patients underwent 311 PGT-M cycles (control group).

INTERVENTIONS(S)

Blastocyst biopsy and comprehensive chromosome screening technologies, including single-nucleotide polymorphism microarrays and next-generation sequencing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in blastocysts and clinical miscarriage (CM) rate.

RESULT(S)

Stratification analysis by maternal age showed an increased incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in the iRPL group aged ≤35 years (48.9% vs. 36.9%), whereas no significant increase was found in the iRPL group aged >35 years (66.9% vs. 61.4%). After transfer of euploid embryos, women aged ≤35 years with iRPL exhibited an increased CM rate compared with the control group (26.1% vs. 3.1%).

CONCLUSION(S)

Young patients with iRPL have a significantly higher rate of chromosomal abnormalities in blastocysts compared with patients with no or sporadic CM. Although euploid embryos were transferred after PGT-A, young patients with iRPL had a higher CM rate, which may indicate that chromosomal abnormalities might not be the only causal factor for iRPL. Therefore, the role of PGT-A in iRPL still needs to be clarified.

Does ICSI for in vitro fertilization cause more aneuploid embryos?

Background

High proportion of human embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) is aneuploidy. Many factors are related to the prevalence of embryonic aneuploidies, such as maternal age, sperm quality, and in vitro manipulation of oocytes. Oocytes are usually inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures for preimplantation genetic testing. There is still no available information whether insemination procedures, regular IVF or ICSI, affect embryonic aneuploidies.

Methods

In this case report, a patient at her age of 47 years old received donated oocytes from a young donor for infertility treatment. Half of oocytes were inseminated by regular IVF and other half of oocytes were inseminated by ICSI. Fertilized oocytes were cultured to blastocyst stage and then biopsied for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). The proportions of aneuploidies were compared between two insemination procedures.

Results

Forty-seven oocytes were retrieved, 23 were inseminated by regular IVF and 24 were removed from enclosed cumulus cells for ICSI. Out of 24 oocytes, 21 oocytes at metaphase II were inseminated by ICSI. After fertilization assessment, it was found that 12 oocytes from regular IVF fertilized normally. Nine blastocysts (75%) were biopsied and 1 (11.1%) was aneuploidy. By contrast, 19 out of 21 oocytes inseminated by ICSI fertilized normally, 14 blastocysts (73.7%) were obtained and 7 (50.0%) were aneuploidy. Transfer of a euploid blastocyst from regular IVF resulted in a healthy baby delivery.

Conclusion

These results indicate that more embryos produced by ICSI are aneuploidy as compared with embryos produced by regular IVF. The results indicate that in vitro manipulation of oocytes for ICSI procedure may have adverse effect on human oocytes, and it may be one of the reasons causing aneuploid embryos in human IVF.

Which key performance indicators are optimal to assess clinical management of assisted reproduction cycles?

Like all industries, fertility clinics should identify and follow reference markers of its activity-key performance indicators (KPI)-to allow assisted reproductive technology outcomes to be monitored and compared. Clinical KPIs revolve around following set parameters of the patient population, procedures, and outcome data. Moreover, KPIs should also include identified protocols and standard operating procedures followed in daily practice and should keep track of multiple pregnancy rates, a ruthless confounder of assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Impact of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy on obstetrical practice

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide updated information on preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), focusing on its implications on prenatal diagnostic approaches after transferal of mosaic aneuploid embryos.

RECENT FINDINGS

PGT-A is a technology to screen for chromosome aneuploidy or major chromosome structural rearrangement in embryos before implantation using different cytogenetic analyses. PGT-A has been shown to reduce the negative effect of increasing maternal age on in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. PGT-A also encourages clinicians and patients to accept single embryo transfer after IVF-PGT-A to reduce the chance of multiple pregnancies. However, mosaic aneuploid embryo may be encountered following PGT-A. Recent discussions have focused on the consideration of transferal of mosaic aneuploid embryos in couples with no euploid embryo following multiple trials of IVF-PGT-A. A risk score for each chromosome has been developed to prioritize which mosaic embryos should be considered for transfer. However, there is a lack of long-term outcome data following mosaic aneuploid embryo transfer.

SUMMARY

Recent advances in PGT-A increase the detection of embryos with mosaicism, which is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, fetal mosaic aneuploidy, and uniparental disomy. Strategy in prenatal diagnostic testing after mosaic aneuploid embryo transfer is discussed in this review.

Prognostic role of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in medically indicated fertility preservation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) among patients pursuing embryo banking (EB) for medically indicated fertility preservation (FP).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

University-affiliated fertility center.

PATIENTS

All patients who underwent in vitro fertilization with or without PGT-A for medically indicated FP between January 2014 and April 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: EB cycle characteristics, subsequent cycle pursuit/outcomes, and frozen embryo transfer (FET) outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 58 medical EB cycles were compared; 34 cycles used PGT-A. Of the EB patients with breast cancer, 67% used PGT-A; other indications were evenly divided between PGT-A (FP/PGT-A) and no PGT-A (FP). PGT-A use increased over the study period. Groups were similar in age, days of stimulation, and days from initial FP consultation to treatment initiation. Number of oocytes (14.5 [2-63] FP vs. 17.5 [1-64] FP/PGT-A), 2PN zygotes (7 [1-38] FP vs. 9 [0-36] FP/PGT-A), and blastocysts (5.5 [0-22] FP vs. 5 [0-18] FP/PGT-A) cryopreserved were similar between groups. Equal numbers cryopreserved both oocytes and embryos (5 vs. 3). Five FP/PGT-A patients underwent a second EB cycle. Among FP/PGT-A patients, an average of 6.7 ± 5 blastocysts underwent PGT-A, with 3.5 ± 3 (48.2%) euploid embryos cryopreserved for future FET compared to an average of 7.2 ± 7 untested embryos in the FP group.

CONCLUSION

PGT-A in medical EB cycles increased over time and did not limit the use of other FP methods such as oocyte cryopreservation. In some cases, poor PGT-A results informed patients to pursue a second EB cycle. When counseling patients, the prognostic benefits of PGT-A must be weighed against the financial costs and potential for "terminal" fertility diagnosis.

RNA-seq as a tool for evaluating human embryo competence

The majority of embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) do not implant. It seems plausible that rates of implantation would improve if we had a better understanding of molecular factors affecting embryo competence. Currently, the process of selecting an embryo for uterine transfer uses an ad hoc combination of morphological criteria, the kinetics of development, and genetic testing for aneuploidy. However, no single criterion can ensure selection of a viable embryo. In contrast, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) of embryos could yield high-dimensional data, which may provide additional insight and illuminate the discrepancies among current selection criteria. Recent advances enabling the production of RNA-seq libraries from single cells have facilitated the application of this technique to the study of transcriptional events in early human development. However, these studies have not assessed the quality of their constituent embryos relative to commonly used embryological criteria. Here, we perform proof-of-principle advancement to embryo selection procedures by generating RNA-seq libraries from a trophectoderm biopsy as well as the remaining whole embryo. We combine state-of-the-art embryological methods with low-input RNA-seq to develop the first transcriptome-wide approach for assessing embryo competence. Specifically, we show the capacity of RNA-seq as a promising tool in preimplantation screening by showing that biopsies of an embryo can capture valuable information available in the whole embryo from which they are derived. Furthermore, we show that this technique can be used to generate a RNA-based digital karyotype and to identify candidate competence-associated genes. Together, these data establish the foundation for a future RNA-based diagnostic in IVF.

What is the clinical impact of the endometrial receptivity array in PGT-A and oocyte donation cycles?

PURPOSE

To evaluate the influence of the endometrial receptivity array (ERA) test on the implantation rate (IR) and pregnancy rate (PR) in patients with previous failed euploid embryo transfers (Euploid-ET) or oocyte donation embryo transfers (Donor-ET).

METHODS

Single-center retrospective study of patients with ≥ 1 previous failed Euploi-ET (n = 24) or ≥ 2 failed Donor-ET (n = 32) who underwent an ERA test and a post-ERA Euploid-ET/Donor-ET between 2012 and 2018. Controls were patients with ≥ 1 previously failed Euploid-ET (n = 119) or ≥ 2 failed Donor-ET (n = 158) who underwent Euploid-ET/Donor-ET during the same period without performing an ERA test. Only blastocyst stage embryos were included. IR/PR was compared between the post-ERA ET and the last ET in the control group.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference regarding IR [55.6% (34.6-76.5%) vs. 65.0% (56.9-73.1%)] nor PR (58.3% vs.70.6%, p = 0.238) in the Euploid-ET ERA vs. Euploid-ET control groups. In the Donor-ET arm, both IR [26.8% (12.3-41.4%) vs. 57.2% (50.1-64.3%)] and PR (34.4% vs. 65.2%, p = 0.001) were significantly lower in the ERA group. Multivariate analysis confirmed that performing an ERA test did not influence the PR in the Euploid-ET arm and was associated with a diminished PR in the Donor-ET arm. In the ERA group, 41.1% patients were non-receptive (NR). No significant difference was found regarding IR/PR in NR vs. receptive patients in both Euploid-ET/Donor-ET arms.

CONCLUSIONS

In our sample, the performance of an ERA test did not improve pregnancy outcomes. Future prospective studies in larger samples are needed to confirm the role of the ERA test in Euploid-ET/Donor-ET.

Noninvasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in spent medium may be more reliable than trophectoderm biopsy

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) with trophectoderm (TE) biopsy is widely applied in in vitro fertilization (IVF) to identify aneuploid embryos. However, potential safety concerns regarding biopsy and restrictions to only those embryos suitable for biopsy pose limitations. In addition, embryo mosaicism gives rise to false positives and false negatives in PGT-A because the inner cell mass (ICM) cells, which give rise to the fetus, are not tested. Here, we report a critical examination of the efficacy of noninvasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (niPGT-A) in the spent culture media of human blastocysts by analyzing the cell-free DNA, which reflects ploidy of both the TE and ICM. Fifty-two frozen donated blastocysts with TE biopsy results were thawed; each of their spent culture medium was collected after 24-h culture and analyzed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). niPGT-A and TE-biopsy PGT-A results were compared with the sequencing results of the corresponding embryos, which were taken as true results for aneuploidy reporting. With removal of all corona-cumulus cells, the false-negative rate (FNR) for niPGT-A was found to be zero. By applying an appropriate threshold for mosaicism, both the positive predictive value (PPV) and specificity for niPGT-A were much higher than TE-biopsy PGT-A. Furthermore, the concordance rates for both embryo ploidy and chromosome copy numbers were higher for niPGT-A than TE-biopsy PGT-A. These results suggest that niPGT-A is less prone to errors associated with embryo mosaicism and is more reliable than TE-biopsy PGT-A.