Biomedical subjects

Anna Pia Ferraretti

Publications and source records attributed to Anna Pia Ferraretti.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Embryo morphology and development are dependent on the chromosomal complement.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze embryo morphology in relation to the corresponding chromosomal status, in order to evaluate the effects of aneuploidy over fragmentation, delayed cleavage, and arrested cleavage. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Società Italiana di Studi di Medicina della Riproduzione, Bologna, Italy. PATIENT(S): A total of 662 patients with a poor prognosis for pregnancy underwent 916 cycles of preimplantation genetic diagnosis for aneuploidy. INTERVENTION(S): The chromosomes XY, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21, and 22 were analyzed in blastomeres biopsied from day 3 embryos. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Embryo morphology, chromosomal status of the analyzed blastomeres, and spreading and reanalysis of nontransferred embryos. RESULT(S): The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was significantly higher in arrested or slow-cleaving embryos, and in embryos cleaving too fast, compared to embryos with eight cells at 62 hours after insemination. The presence of an uneven number of blastomeres or fragments scattered in the perivitelline space was associated with an increased incidence of chromosomal abnormalities. CONCLUSION(S): A correlation between embryo development and chromosomal complement makes the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities significantly higher in embryos dividing according to a time frame and a symmetry plan which are different from what are expected. The type of fragmentation is also related to chromosomal status, which explains why the extrusion of fragments might severely affect embryo viability.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Semen donor recruitment in an oocyte donation programme.

The article presents a new system for the recruitment of gamete donors. The system is a partial application of the mirror exchange system: the male partner of a couple donates sperm, and in return, he receives the guarantee that his partner benefits from a greatly reduced waiting time for donor oocytes. More specifically, the woman will obtain donor oocytes within a period of 8 months. The procedure was very successful in recruiting sperm donors while avoiding the ethical objections raised against other incentives to attract donors. The data indicate that the system would also work to encourage IVF patients to share their oocytes.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

L- and T-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in human granulosa cells: functional characterization and cholinergic regulation.

Using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique, we have characterized two types of ionic currents through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in human granulosa cells. One is long-lasting, activates at approximately -20 mV, reaches the peak at approximately +20 mV, has an inactivation time constant of 132.5 +/- 5.6 msec at 20 mV, and is sensitive to dihydropyridines. The other is transient, activates at approximately -40 mV, peaks at approximately -10 mV, has an inactivation time constant of 38.8 +/- 1.8 msec at -10 mV, displays a voltage-dependent inactivation, and is sensitive to 100 microm Ni2+, but not to dihydropyridines. Biophysical and pharmacological properties of these currents indicate that they are gated through L- and T-type calcium channels, respectively. The cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol (50 microm) reduces the amplitude of the currents through both L-type (-34.7 +/- 6.4%; n = 10) and T-type (-52.6 +/- 7.4%; n = 8) channels, suggesting a possible role of these channels in the cholinergic regulation of human ovarian functions.

Calcium↗

PubMed2005

Effect of inner myometrium fibroid on reproductive outcome after IVF.

To evaluate the influence of inner myometrium fibroids (myomas) on the outcome of IVF cycles, a retrospective agematched controlled study was performed at SISMeR Reproductive Medicine Unit. The study group included 129 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in 75 patients with one or more intramural and/or submucosal fibroids, while the control group consisted of 129 cycles in 127 patients without fibroids. The two groups were similar for mean oestradiol concentration at human chorionic gonadotrophin administration (1205.16 +/- 874 versus 1395 +/- 821 pg/ml), mean number of transferred embryos (2.02 +/- 0.4 versus 2.14 +/- 0.6) and clinical pregnancy rate (34.9 versus 41.1%). Conversely, the implantation rate was significantly lower in the study group (18.0%) than in the control group (26.5%; chi(2) = 4.81, P < 0.05), whereas the rate of spontaneous abortion demonstrated an opposite trend (40 versus 18.9%; chi(2) = 4.34, P < 0.05). Further research should be aimed at classifying fibroids on the basis of their location, especially when they are positioned in the junctional zone of the myometrium. Whether this classification will be superior in predicting the impact of fibroids on the reproductive outcome should be elaborated in a large multicentric study.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed2004

Over a decade of experience with preimplantation genetic diagnosis: a multicenter report.

OBJECTIVE: To review a 12-year experience of the world's three largest preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) centers. DESIGN: Multicenter analysis of the clinical outcome of PGD. SETTING: In vitro fertilization programs at the Reproductive Genetics Institute, Chicago, Illinois; Saint Barnabas Medical Center, West Orange, New Jersey; and SISMER, Bologna, Italy. PATIENT(S): Poor-prognosis IVF patients, patients carrying balanced chromosomal translocations, and couples at risk for producing children with Mendelian disorders. INTERVENTION(S): In vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, polar body removal, blastomere biopsy, and ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): DNA or chromosomal analysis of biopsied polar bodies or blastomeres, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates, and live-born pregnancy outcome. RESULT(S): A total of 754 babies have been born as a result of 4,748 PGD attempts, which shows the expanded application and the practical relevance of PGD for single-gene disorders, chromosomal aneuploidies and translocations, late-onset diseases with genetic predisposition, and nondisease testing in couples at need for human leukocyte antigens-matched offspring for treatment of affected siblings. CONCLUSION(S): Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is evolving to become a clinical option for couples at risk for producing offspring with Mendelian diseases, has a positive numerical impact in standard assisted reproduction practices through aneuploidy testing, and reduces by at least fourfold the spontaneous abortion rate in couples carrying translocations.

Blastula↗

PubMed2004

Over a decade of experience with preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

The three respondents provide additional support for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) having the pivotal place it now has in prenatal genetic diagnosis: chromosomal abnormalities (e.g., unbalanced translocations), Mendelian disorders, and HLA typing for transfer of compatible, genetically normal, embryos. Transferring euploid embryos has decreased the clinical abortion rate and increased the implantation rate in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), but it has not necessarily improved the live-birth rate. Safer embryo biopsy, more extensive diagnostic efforts (i.e., microarray analysis), and more refined patient selection may be required before shifting from preselection of embryos based solely on morphological parameters to transfer of only aneuploidy-free embryos.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed2004

Exogenous luteinizing hormone in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproduction techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of exogenous LH in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproductive technologies. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: SISMER fertility unit. PATIENT(S): Women showing a hyporesponsiveness to FSH under GnRH agonist down-regulation were randomized into three groups: group A (n = 54) received an increased dosage of FSH; group B (n = 54) was administered recombinant LH in addition to the increased dose of FSH; group C (n = 22) was given additional FSH and LH using hMG as a combined drug. Fifty-four age-matched women with no need to increase the FSH dose were included as a control group (D). INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation and live birth rate per started cycles. RESULT(S): In group B, the pregnancy and implantation rates were statistically higher when compared with groups A and C and did not differ from the control group for normal response. The live birth rate was similar in groups B and D but was half as high in groups A and C. CONCLUSION(S): Hyporesponsiveness to FSH could be related to iatrogenic LH deficiency that, in turn, could affect oocyte competence. Addition of a small amount of recombinant LH is able to rescue oocyte competence to produce viable embryos.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cinnoxicam and L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine treatment for idiopathic and varicocele-associated oligoasthenospermia.

The objective of this study was to detect a therapy for idiopathic and varicocele-associated oligoasthenospermia (OAT). Idiopathic and varicocele OAT patients were randomized into 3 groups. Each group was composed of varying degrees of left varicoceles (graded into 5 grades with echo-color Doppler) and of idiopathic OATs. Group 1 used a placebo, group 2 used oral L-carnitine (2 g/d) + acetyl-L-carnitine (1 g/d), group 3 used L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine + 1 x 30-mg cinnoxicam suppository every 4 days. Drugs were administered for 6 months. The groups were composed as follows: group 1, 71 varicoceles and 47 idiopathic OATs; group 2, 62 varicoceles and 39 idiopathic OATs; group 3, 62 varicoceles and 44 idiopathic OATs. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology before during and after treatments were assessed. Pregnancy rates and side effects were recorded. Group 1 did not have modified sperm patterns during treatment. Group 2 had significantly increased sperm patterns at 3 and 6 months into therapy in idiopathic patients and in patients with grades I, II, and III varicocele, but not in grades IV and V. Group 3 had significantly increased sperm parameters in all patients, with the exception of grade V varicocele. Group 3 sperm patterns proved significantly higher during therapy than group 2. All sperm patterns fell to baseline after therapy suspension. Minor side effects occurred. Pregnancy rates were 1.7% (group 1), 21.8% (group 2), and 38.0% (group 3) (P <.01). L-carnitine/acetyl-L-carnitine + cinnoxicam suppositories proved a reliable treatment for low-grade varicoceles and idiopathic OATs.

Acetylcarnitine↗