Comment:A few articles on the use of sperm DNA Testing, on the role of NK cells in pregnancy and DNA basis for male infertility.
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Maternal Obesity alters immune cell frequencies and responses in umbilical cord blood samples.
Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that maternal obesity influences programming of the neonatal immune system, providing a potential link to increased incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma and cardiovascular disease in the offspring.
First do no harm: uterine natural killer (NK) cells in assisted reproduction
The evidence that targeting uNK or peripheral blood NK cells assists women with recurrent pregnancy failure is lacking. Healthcare professionals and patients should very carefully evaluate the practice of immunomodulation to enhance pregnancy outcome. A discussion on how to move towards stricter regulation of immunotherapy in non-hospital settings is now needed because it is clear that the potential risks and costs of these therapies outweigh an
Enough! Stop the arguments and get on with the science of natural killer cell testing
There is still uncertainty over the precise pathophysiological basis for all immune investigation and therapy, but this should not be a barrier for clinical observation and empirical care. On the contrary, clinicians and researchers should work more closely together to provide the best care for our patients.
The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on live birth rate after IVF or ICSI: a systematic review and meta-analysis
High sperm DNA fragmentation in couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques is associated with lower LBR. Well-designed randomized studies are required to assess the role of ICSI over IVF in the treatment of men with high sperm DNA fragmentation.
Should sperm DNA fragmentation testing be included in the male infertility work-up?
We have two choices. We can allow this inertia to continue and our traditional tests to prevail, but that may prevent an improvement in our success rates in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Alternatively, we can embrace innovation in male fertility testing and see if success rates improve. Which is greater: risk or benefit? What is in the best interest of the infertile couple?
The question of sperm DNA fragmentation testing in the male infertility work-up: a response to Professor Lewis' commentary
Professor Lewis (Lewis, 2015) makes some strong arguments and raises some important questions about routine testing of men for DNA fragmentation (DNA-F) during a work-up for infertility. It is indeed disappointing data are inadequate to recommend routine DNA-F testing.
Fertility clinic data kept from public, costing government millions
The Fertility Society of Australia keeps detailed statistics on in vitro fertilisation clinics, including how successful they are at producing live babies. Yet this data isn’t released to the public, and now a leading expert in IVF claims that tens of millions of dollars of Medicare funds are wasted on underperforming clinics each year
X-linked gene mutations cause some cases of male infertility,
Some cases of male infertility are due to mutations in the maternal X chromosome that prevent development of viable sperm, according to a study. Nearly half of cases of male infertility not due to a physical obstruction are estimated to have genetic roots, and about 20 percent of infertile men have azoospermia, meaning they don’t make sperm. The only causes for infertility that have been identified are defects of sex chromosomes, such as the dele
Maternal obesity compromises babies' immune system at time of birth
Maternal obesity is linked to several adverse health outcomes for the infant that can persist into adulthood. But when does the immune system of babies born to obese mothers get compromised? Very early in the baby's life, according to a study. The research team analyzed umbilical cord blood samples of infants born to lean, overweight and obese mothers, and found that pre-pregnancy maternal weight has a significant impact on the neonate's immune s
Double Embryo Transfer & Two Single Embryo Transfers
Many of the most successful programs have been urging their patients to consider single embryo transfer based upon their clinic-specific success rates. Some have even demonstrated that imposing a mandatory policy of single embryo transfer (SET) is well supported by patients in these settings. But now we have new data suggesting that patients at the typical center should also be considering SET.
Embryo engineering a moral duty, says top scientist
It would be unethical and a "sin of omission" to prevent the genetic engineering of embryos, a leading scientist has argued. Cloning pioneer Dr Tony Perry told the BBC that advances in genetics posed a "wonderful opportunity" for eliminating diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Last month, a group in China announced it was the first to successfully edit the genome of a human embryo.
In this second module from Menkvelds article on the Significance of low WHO sperm morphology values, the possible reasons for the decline in normal form reference values are summarised from the original article.
Understanding the endocrinology of the female reproductive cycle is the basis for all clinical management in IVF. This module summarises the basic elements of the hormones involved in the regulation of the menstrual cycle and forms the basis for a further module on how these hormones are managed and manipulated in IVF.
Some male infertility are due to mutations in the maternal X chromosome
Summary
Some cases of male infertility are due to mutations in the maternal X chromosome that prevent development of viable sperm, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Comment
Summary for FertAid - Some cases of male infertility are due to mutations in the maternal X chromosome that prevent development of viable sperm, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that was led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Magee-Womens Research Institute. Nearly half of cases of male infertility not due to a physical obstruction are estimated to have genetic roots, and about 20 percent of infertile men have azoospermia, meaning they don’t make sperm, explained co-principal investigator Alexander Yatsenko, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine, Pitt School of Medicine, and an MWRI investigator. He noted the only causes for infertility that have been identified are defects of sex chromosomes, such as the deletions of the Y (male) chromosome or duplication of the entire X (female) chromosome in Klinefelter syndrome. “Eight times out of 10, conventional genetic testing doesn’t reveal a chromosomal problem, so the cause is considered idiopathic or unknown,” Dr. Yatsenko said. “This study is among the first to describe specific gene mutations on the X chromosome that contribute to azoospermia and male infertility.” First, the research team scanned the genomes of 15 men with azoospermia and found a deletion in part of the DNA coding of the testis-expressed gene 11 (TEX11) on the X-chromosome that caused meiotic arrest.
Then, they found similar TEX11 gene mutations and meiotic arrest in two out of 49 men diagnosed with idiopathic azoospermia from the Center for Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, and the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan, Poland. Also, TEX11 gene errors were found in five out of 240 infertile men in a follow-up assessment at the Center of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology in Münster, Germany.
Dr. Yatsenko noted that it might be possible for an older father, whose pre-sperm cells have a greater likelihood of acquiring a mutation, to pass along the genetic error to his daughter, which could make it impossible for her son to make viable sperm. Also, men without seminal sperm who undergo a procedure to have a few rare, viable sperm extracted from the testes to attempt conception with in vitro fertilization could unknowingly pass a TEX11 gene mutation to a daughter, making her a carrier. "This research suggests screening for TEX11 gene mutations might be useful in cases of otherwise unexplained azoospermia,” Dr. Yatsenko said. “It might be possible to one day correct these problems with gene therapy and other interventions. More work must be done to identify other genetic causes of male infertility.” - Submitted by Alexander N Yatsenko, MD, PhD with thanks.
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