Embryo selection through artificial intelligence versus embryologists: a systematic review

Comparative outcomes of AI-assisted ChatGPT and face-to-face consultations in infertility patients: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, digital platforms like ChatGPT offer innovative alternatives to traditional medical consultations. This study seeks to understand the comparative outcomes of AI-assisted ChatGPT consultations and conventional face-to-face interactions among infertility patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 120 infertility patients, split evenly between those consulting via ChatGPT and traditional face-to-face methods. The primary outcomes assessed were patient satisfaction, understanding, and consultation duration. Secondary outcomes included demographic information, clinical history, and subsequent actions post-consultation.

RESULTS

While both consultation methods had a median age of 34 years, patients using ChatGPT reported significantly higher satisfaction levels (median 4 out of 5) compared to face-to-face consultations (median 3 out of 5; p < 0.001). The ChatGPT group also experienced shorter consultation durations, with a median difference of 12.5 minutes (p < 0.001). However, understanding, demographic distributions, and subsequent actions post-consultation were comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

AI-assisted ChatGPT consultations offer a promising alternative to traditional face-to-face consultations in assisted reproductive medicine. While patient satisfaction was higher and consultation durations were shorter with ChatGPT, further studies are required to understand the long-term implications and clinical outcomes associated with AI-driven medical consultations. Key Messages What is already known on this topic:  Artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as ChatGPT, have shown potential in various healthcare settings, including primary care and mental health support. Infertility is a significant global health issue that requires extensive consultations, often facing challenges such as long waiting times and varied patient satisfaction. Previous studies suggest that AI can offer personalized care and immediate feedback, but its efficacy compared with traditional consultations in reproductive medicine was not well-studied. What this study adds:  This study demonstrates that AI-assisted ChatGPT consultations result in significantly higher patient satisfaction and shorter consultation durations compared with traditional face-to-face consultations among infertility patients. Both consultation methods were comparable in terms of patient understanding, demographic distributions, and subsequent actions postconsultation. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy:  The findings suggest that AI-driven consultations could serve as an effective and efficient alternative to traditional methods, potentially reducing consultation times and improving patient satisfaction in reproductive medicine. Further research could explore the long-term impacts and broader applications of AI in clinical settings, influencing future healthcare practices and policies toward integrating AI technologies.

Artificial intelligence and porcine breeding

Livestock management is evolving into a new era, characterized by the analysis of vast quantities of data (Big Data) collected from both traditional breeding methods and new technologies such as sensors, automated monitoring system, and advanced analytics. Artificial intelligence (A-In), which refers to the capability of machines to mimic human intelligence, including subfields like machine learning and deep learning, is playing a pivotal role in this transformation. A wide array of A-In techniques, successfully employed in various industrial and scientific contexts, are now being integrated into mainstream livestock management practices. In the case of swine breeding, while traditional methods have yielded considerable success, the increasing amount of information requires the adoption of new technologies such as A-In to drive productivity, enhance animal welfare, and reduce environmental impact. Current findings suggest that these techniques have the potential to match or exceed the performance of traditional methods, often being more scalable in terms of efficiency and sustainability within the breeding industry. This review provides insights into the application of A-In in porcine breeding, from the perspectives of both sows (including welfare and reproductive management) and boars (including semen quality and health), and explores new approaches which are already being applied in other species.

The Role of One-Carbon Metabolism and Methyl Donors in Medically Assisted Reproduction: A Narrative Review of the Literature

One-carbon (1-C) metabolic deficiency impairs homeostasis, driving disease development, including infertility. It is of importance to summarize the current evidence regarding the clinical utility of 1-C metabolism-related biomolecules and methyl donors, namely, folate, betaine, choline, vitamin B12, homocysteine (Hcy), and zinc, as potential biomarkers, dietary supplements, and culture media supplements in the context of medically assisted reproduction (MAR). A narrative review of the literature was conducted in the PubMed/Medline database. Diet, ageing, and the endocrine milieu of individuals affect both 1-C metabolism and fertility status. In vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, and culture conditions in particular, have a direct impact on 1-C metabolic activity in gametes and embryos. Critical analysis indicated that zinc supplementation in cryopreservation media may be a promising approach to reducing oxidative damage, while female serum homocysteine levels may be employed as a possible biomarker for predicting IVF outcomes. Nonetheless, the level of evidence is low, and future studies are needed to verify these data. One-carbon metabolism-related processes, including redox defense and epigenetic regulation, may be compromised in IVF-derived embryos. The study of 1-C metabolism may lead the way towards improving MAR efficiency and safety and ensuring the lifelong health of MAR infants.

Diagnostic or prognostic? Decoding the role of embryo selection on in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes

In this review, we take a fresh look at embryo assessment and selection methods from the perspective of diagnosis and prognosis. On the basis of a systematic search in the literature, we examined the evidence on the prognostic value of different embryo assessment methods, including morphological assessment, blastocyst culture, time-lapse imaging, artificial intelligence, and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.

Preimplantation genetic testing: A remarkable history of pioneering, technical challenges, innovations, and ethical considerations

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) has emerged as a powerful companion to assisted reproduction technologies. The origins and history of PGT are reviewed here, along with descriptions of advances in molecular assays and sampling methods, their capabilities, and their applications in preventing genetic diseases and enhancing pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, the potential for increasing accuracy and genome coverage is considered, as well as some of the emerging ethical and legislative considerations related to the expanding capabilities of PGT.

Heterogeneity of nucleolar morphology in four-cell mouse embryos after IVF: association with developmental potential

In mammals, around fertilization, the nucleolus of embryos transforms into the nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs), which continue to mature until the blastocyst stage, leading to distinct morphological changes. In our study, we observed two types of nucleolar morphology in mouse in vitro fertilized embryos at the four-cell stage, which we refer to single nucleolus (SN) and multiple nucleoli (MN). To visualize nucleolar morphology, four-cell embryos were immunostained with anti-NOPP140 antibody. These embryos were categorized into five types based on the number of blastomeres carrying SN: SN4/MN0, SN3/MN1, SN2/MN2, SN1/MN3, and SN0/MN4, with percentages of 13, 27, 21, 23 and 9, respectively. Next, using a light microscope, we divided the four-cell in vitro fertilized embryos without fixation into two groups: those with at least two blastomeres displaying SN (SN embryos) and those without (MN embryos). Notably, significantly more SN embryos developed into blastocysts and offspring at 18.5 dpc compared with MN embryos. Furthermore, SN embryos displayed a higher NANOG-positive cell number at the blastocyst stage, significantly lower body and placental weights, resulting in a higher fetal/placental ratio. These findings suggest a close association between nucleolar state at the four-cell stage and subsequent developmental potential.