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We share our experiences of instructing three patients with severe upper limb dysfunction on how to self‐adjust CPAP/NPPV masks. In Case 1, we simplified the procedure by suturing a part of the headband as the left forearm was amputated. In Case 2, the patient had congenitally short limbs with short stature; thus, we provided an additional belt to the headband to maintain the headband's configuration while wearing the mask. In Case 3, the patient had left hemiplegia due to stroke and, repetitive coaching was conducted during the recovery phase rehabilitation program. Difficulties with self‐adjusting NPPV/CPAP masks can occur whenever there is limited hand mobility above the head, including upper limb dysfunction. Simplifying procedures and providing sufficient time for instruction could help achieve independence. There have been no previous reports describing similar training details. We believe that sharing this knowledge will be helpful to both patients and healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at exploring the benefits of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) in ensuring a successful pregnancy in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes in the embryo and recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Thirty-two patients who underwent PGT-A (18 in the RIF protocol and 14 in the RPL protocol) were enrolled in the study, and 2556 patients who did not undergo PGT-A during the same in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment period were enrolled as controls. All patients underwent minimal stimulation cycle IVF. In the RPL protocol, the live birth rate per embryo transfer (ET) and that per patient were higher with PGT-A (80.0% each) than without it (0% each; P = 0.0050), and the rate of miscarriages was lower with PGT-A than without it (20.0% vs. 100.0%, P = 0.0098). In the RIF protocol, there were no significant differences in the live birth rate per ET and in the rate of miscarriages between groups with and without PGT-A—90.0% vs. 69.2% (P = 0.2313) and 0% vs. 10.0% (P = 0.3297), respectively. None of the children whose mothers underwent PGT-A presented adverse findings at a 1.5-year developmental check-up. In conclusion, PGT-A in RPL is advantageous for improving the live birth rate per ET and that per patient in minimal stimulation cycle IVF; it reduces the rate of miscarriages. In addition, PGT-A might be more beneficial for embryo selection than the existing morphological grades of blastocysts, resulting in earlier conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytogenetic analysis of the retained products of conception (POC) is the most effective test for identifying miscarriage causes. However, there has been no large-scale study limited to blastocyst transfer. This study retrospectively reports the findings of 1030 cases in which POC analysis was performed after missed abortion following single blastocyst transfer performed at the Shinbashi Yume Clinic. We identified 19.4% as normal karyotypes and 80.6% as aneuploid. These cases broke down into: 62.3% trisomy; 7.8% double trisomy; 0.5% triple or quadruple trisomy; 1.3% monosomy 21; 3.2% monosomy X; 0.1% 47,XXY; 1.0% polyploidy; 1.0% mixed; 1.1% embryonic mosaicism; and 2.4% structural anomalies. In samples with normal karyotypes, 49.5% were female while 50.5% were male. The occurrence of trisomy and double trisomy were both significantly more frequent in the ≥38 years group than in the ≤37 years group ( P < 0.01). Trisomy was significantly more frequently associated with fetal heartbeat ( P < 0.01); double trisomy, polyploidy and normal karyotype were significantly more frequent with no fetal heartbeat ( P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities between the number of miscarriages or blastocyst quality. Thus, POC cytogenetic testing is highly valuable for ascertaining the cause of miscarriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steroidal glucocorticoid antagonistmifepristone has been reportedto improve the symptoms of depression. We report the discovery of6-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9-hexahydro-1H-cyclopenta[h]quinolin-3-one 3d(QCA-1093)as a novel nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. The compounddisplayed potent in vitroactivity, high selectivityover other steroid hormone receptors, and significant antidepressant-likeactivity in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To establish blastocyst freezing criteria for day 7 blastocyst (day 7 BL) for single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (SVBT) by examining the diameter of blastocysts. Methods: Patients who underwent day 7 BL transfer cycles (1143 cycles, mean age: 38.5 ± 3.5) and randomly selected patients after 1:1 matching who underwent day 6 BL transfer cycles and day 2-single-embryo transfer (SET) cycles were used for analysis. Comparison of the miscarriage (per clinical pregnancy) and live birth rates were made among day 2-SET, day 7 BL, and day 6 BL. These blastocyst groups were stratified into six groups based on blastocyst diameter, namely, 180 μm, 190 μm, 200 μm, 210 μm, over 220 μm, and hatched, for making the freezing criteria. Results: For each diameter, 180 μm, 190 μm, 200 μm, 210 μm, over 220 μm, and hatched, the live birth rates of day 7 BL after SVBT were 9.0%, 11.9%, 11.5%, 15.6%, 20.0%, and 19.9%, respectively. Compared with the 14.6% live birth rate of the day 2-SET group, the live birth rate of 220 μm day 7 BL was significantly higher (P < 0.05) and was around the same in other diameter groups. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that sufficient live birth rates can be obtained after SVBT even from blastocysts on day 7 when blastocysts were vitrified at expanded blastocyst stage of over 180 μm of diameter or at hatched blastocyst stage and were transferred at the optimal time. This is the first study to establish a day 7 blastocyst freezing criteria using blastocyst diameter, which is an objective assessment way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We evaluated whether preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) could increase the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Methods: The clinical records of 7,668 patients who underwent oocyte retrieval (OR) with or without PGT-A were reviewed for 365 days and retrospectively analyzed. Using propensity score matching, 579 patients in the PGT-A group were matched one-to-one with 7,089 patients in the non-PGT-A (control) group. Their pregnancy and perinatal outcomes and CLBRs were statistically compared. Results: The live birth rate per single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfers (SVBTs) significantly improved in the PGT-A group in all age groups (P < 0.0002, all). Obstetric and perinatal outcomes were comparable between both groups regarding both RIF and RPL cases. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that in the RIF cases, the risk ratio per OR was significantly lower in the PGT-A group than in the control group (P = 0.0480), particularly in women aged < 40 years (P = 0.0364). However, the ratio was comparable between the groups in RPL cases. The risk ratio per treatment period was improved in the PGT-A group in both RIF and RPL cases only in women aged 40–42 years (P = 0.0234 and P = 0.0084, respectively). Conclusion: Increased CLBR per treatment period was detected only in women aged 40–42 years in both RIF and RPL cases, suggesting that PGT-A is inappropriate to improve CLBR per treatment period in all RIF and RPL cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 49-year-old cataract patient with myotonic dystrophy had phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in both eyes. Rubeosis iridis developed bilaterally 10 days later and began to regress without treatment 2 weeks after the surgery. It was completely absent 1 year after the surgery. These findings indicate that surgeons should be aware that rubeosis iridis can develop in myotonic patients after cataract surgery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A retrospective cohort study of 8736 autologous single vitrified–warmed blastocyst transfer cycles was conducted in a single centre to investigate the effect of cryostorage on clinical and neonatal outcomes. Cryostorage duration was classified into three groups: (A) 0–2 months ( n = 4702); (B) 2–13 months ( n = 2853) and (C) 13–97 months ( n = 1181). Blastocysts were vitrified using the Cryotop method. No significant differences were observed in live birth rates: (A) 37.3%; (B) 34.9%; (C) (35.2%). Gestational period was significantly shorter in group C: (A) 38.7 ± 1.8; (B) 38.6 ± 1.6; (C) 38.1 ± 1.7; P < 0.05. This was clinically unimportant as the average gestational age was more than 38 weeks. No significant differences between groups were observed in birth weight: (A) 3060 ± 455 g; (B) 3052 ± 449 g; (C) 2992 ± 445 g, or congenital malformation rates: (A) 2.2%; (B) 1.9%; (C) 1.8%. The limitation of this study was that maximum storage duration was 8 years; most blastocysts were in cryostorage for much shorter periods. Long-term storage of blastocysts that are vitrified using an open device vitrification system has no negative effect on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does embryo categorization by existing artificial intelligence (AI), morphokinetic or morphological embryo selection models correlate with blastocyst euploidy? A total of 834 patients (mean maternal age 40.5 ± 3.4 years) who underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) on a total of 3573 tested blastocysts were included in this retrospective study. The cycles were stratified into five maternal age groups according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology age groups (<35, 35–37, 38–40, 41–42 and >42 years). The main outcome of this study was the correlation of euploidy rates in stratified maternal age groups and an automated AI model (iDAScore® v1.0), a morphokinetic embryo selection model (KIDScore Day 5 ver 3, KS-D5) and a traditional morphological grading model (Gardner criteria), respectively. Euploidy rates were significantly correlated with iDAScore (P = 0.0035 to <0.001) in all age groups, and expect for the youngest age group, with KS-D5 and Gardner criteria (all P < 0.0001). Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that for all models, higher scores were significantly correlated with euploidy (all P < 0.0001). These results show that existing blastocyst scoring models correlate with ploidy status. However, as these models were developed to indicate implantation potential, they cannot accurately diagnose if an embryo is euploid or aneuploid. Instead, they may be used to support the decision of how many and which blastocysts to biopsy, thus potentially reducing patient costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Can preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) improve the live birth rate and reduce the miscarriage rate in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) caused by an abnormal embryonic karyotype and recurrent implantation failure (RIF)?Summary Answer: PGT-A could not improve the live births per patient nor reduce the rate of miscarriage, in both groups.What Is Known Already: PGT-A use has steadily increased worldwide. However, only a few limited studies have shown that it improves the live birth rate in selected populations in that the prognosis has been good. Such studies have excluded patients with RPL and RIF. In addition, several studies have failed to demonstrate any benefit at all. PGT-A was reported to be without advantage in patients with unexplained RPL whose embryonic karyotype had not been analysed. The efficacy of PGT-A should be examined by focusing on patients whose previous products of conception (POC) have been aneuploid, because the frequencies of abnormal and normal embryonic karyotypes have been reported as 40-50% and 5-25% in patients with RPL, respectively.Study Design, Size, Duration: A multi-centre, prospective pilot study was conducted from January 2017 to June 2018. A total of 171 patients were recruited for the study: an RPL group, including 41 and 38 patients treated respectively with and without PGT-A, and an RIF group, including 42 and 50 patients treated respectively with and without PGT-A. At least 10 women in each age group (35-36, 37-38, 39-40 or 41-42 years) were selected for PGT-A groups.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: All patients and controls had received IVF-ET for infertility. Patients in the RPL group had had two or more miscarriages, and at least one case of aneuploidy had been ascertained through prior POC testing. No pregnancies had occurred in the RIF group, even after at least three embryo transfers. Trophectoderm biopsy and array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) were used for PGT-A. The live birth rate of PGT-A and non-PGT-A patients was compared after the development of blastocysts from up to two oocyte retrievals and a single blastocyst transfer. The miscarriage rate and the frequency of euploidy, trisomy and monosomy in the blastocysts were noted.Main Result and the Role Of Chance: There were no significant differences in the live birth rates per patient given or not given PGT-A: 26.8 versus 21.1% in the RPL group and 35.7 versus 26.0% in the RIF group, respectively. There were also no differences in the miscarriage rates per clinical pregnancies given or not given PGT-A: 14.3 versus 20.0% in the RPL group and 11.8 versus 0% in the RIF group, respectively. However, PGT-A improved the live birth rate per embryo transfer procedure in both the RPL (52.4 vs 21.6%, adjusted OR 3.89; 95% CI 1.16-13.1) and RIF groups (62.5 vs 31.7%, adjusted OR 3.75; 95% CI 1.28-10.95). Additionally, PGT-A was shown to reduce biochemical pregnancy loss per biochemical pregnancy: 12.5 and 45.0%, adjusted OR 0.14; 95% CI 0.02-0.85 in the RPL group and 10.5 and 40.9%, adjusted OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.03-0.92 in the RIF group. There was no difference in the distribution of genetic abnormalities between RPL and RIF patients, although double trisomy tended to be more frequent in RPL patients.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: The sample size was too small to find any significant advantage for improving the live birth rate and reducing the clinical miscarriage rate per patient. Further study is necessary.Wider Implication Of the Findings: A large portion of pregnancy losses in the RPL group might be due to aneuploidy, since PGT-A reduced the overall incidence of pregnancy loss in these patients. Although PGT-A did not improve the live birth rate per patient, it did have the advantage of reducing the number of embryo transfers required to achieve a similar number live births compared with those not undergoing PGT-A.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This study was supported by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. There are no conflicts of interest to declare.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To compare neonatal outcome between children born after vitrified versus fresh single-embryo transfer (SET). Study design: Retrospective, single-centre cohort study of 6623 delivered singletons following 29,944 single-embryo transfers. Patients underwent minimal ovarian stimulation/natural cycle IVF followed by SET of fresh or vitrified-warmed (using Cryotop, Kitazato) cleavage-stage embryos or blastocysts. Outcome measures were gestational age at delivery, birth weight, birth length, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) infants, perinatal mortality and minor/major birth defects (evaluated by parent questionnaire). Results: Gestational age (38.6±2 versus 38.7±1.9 weeks) and preterm delivery rate (6.9% versus 6.9%, aOR: 0.96 95%CI: 0.76–1.22) in singletons born after the transfer of vitrified embryos were comparable to those born after the transfer of fresh embryos. Children born after the transfer of vitrified embryos had a higher birth weight (3028±465 versus 2943±470g, p <0.0001) and lower LBW (8.5% versus 11.9%, aOR: 0.65 95%CI: 0.53–0.79) and SGA (3.6% versus 7.6% aOR: 0.43 95%CI: 0.33–0.56) rates. Total birth defect rates (including minor anomalies) (2.4% versus 1.9%, aOR: 1.41 95%CI: 0.96–2.10) and perinatal mortality rates (0.6% versus 0.5%, aOR: 1.02 95%CI: 0.21–4.85) were comparable between the vitrified and fresh groups. Conclusions: Vitrification of embryos/blastocysts did not increase the incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes or birth defects following single embryo transfer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report dielectric and magnetic properties of a single crystal of LuFe2O4 with different degrees of oxygen deficiency. The oxygen stoichiometry was monitored with the gas mixture ratio of CO2 and CO during the crystal growing process. A sample having high resistivity of about 10 kΩ cm sample was found at room temperature. The relation between the control of the charge frustration and the completeness of the charge ordering is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: PurposeTo evaluate changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer following traumatic optic neuropathy.: DesignObservational case report.: MethodsA patient presented with visual loss after an accident. Scanning laser polarimetry was performed.: ResultsThickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer increased immediately after the trauma but then progressively decreased. Severe loss was observed at day 90 and then ceased. Enlargement of the optic disk cup was also observed.: ConclusionsThis is the first report documenting early transient increase followed by progressive loss of the retinal nerve fiber layer in traumatic optic neuropathy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]