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Purpose: To evaluate the effect of culture duration (embryo (day 3) transfer vs. blastocyst (day 5-6) transfer) on the birthweight of singletons from frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.Methods: A total of 1092 singletons were analyzed in this retrospective study. The distribution of large for gestational age (LGA) infants, the mean birthweight, and z scores of singletons were compared between the day 3 and day 5-6 transfer groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between confounding factors and singleton birthweight.Results: The proportion of LGA infants significantly increased with BMI (BMI < 20, 12.8%; 20 ≤ BMI ≤ 25, 23.2%; BMI > 25, 32.3%; P < 0.0001). However, the proportions of small for gestational age (SGA) and LGA infants were not significantly different between day 3 and day 5-6 transfers. The absolute mean birthweight of singletons was not significantly different between day 3 transfer (3422 ± 547 g) and day 5-6 transfer (3433 ± 559 g; P = 0.732). The z scores (calculated from a reference population) of singletons were also not significantly different between the two groups (0.499 vs. 0.533, P = 0.625). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that maternal BMI, gestational age, and infant gender had significant effects on singleton birthweight, while culture duration (P = 0.731) did not significantly affect singleton birthweight.Conclusions: In vitro culture duration did not affect the birthweight of newborns resulting from day 3 to day 5-6 transfers in FET cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the association between the numbers of oocytes retrieved and the cumulative live birth rates (LBR) in women aged 35-40 years undergoing long GnRH agonist IVF/ICSI cycles.Methods: A total of 931 women aged 35-40 years who underwent their first cycle of IVF/ICSI treatment between January 2010 and December 2013 at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were identified and reviewed. The main endpoint of this study was the cumulative LBR after one complete oocyte retrieval, which included fresh and all subsequent frozen-thaw embryo transfer cycles. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for live birth were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, all the women were divided into four groups based on the number of oocytes retrieved: 0-4, 5-9, 10-14 or ≥15 oocytes group. Variables were then compared among groups.Results: We found that 634 out of the 931 patients (68.1%) achieved at least one live birth. The number of oocytes retrieved was an independent predictive factor for live birth, with OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.15-1.26) when adjusted for age (years), duration of infertility and Gn (gonadotrophin) doses. The cumulative LBR in the four different oocyte groups was 35.6, 68.8, 83.4 and 89.2%, respectively. When the 1-4 oocytes group was issued as a reference, the ORs for cumulative LBR gradually increased to 3.66, 6.74 and 11.77 in other three oocytes groups, respectively. The moderate-severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rate was dramatically increased in the ≥15 oocytes group (6.9%) when compared to that in the 10-14 oocytes group (0.8%), while the cumulative LBR only increased 5.8% (from 83.4 to 89.2%).Conclusions: The ideal number of oocytes retrieved in women aged 35-40 years is 10-14 oocytes, which achieves a high cumulative LBR while maintaining an acceptable low OHSS rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Excessive inflammation results in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including embryonic resorption, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia. This study investigated whether curcumin, a highly safe anti-inflammation drug, had protective effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated pregnant mice. Method: A mouse model of LPS-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes was generated by daily administering LPS from GD 13.5 to GD 16.5. Curcumin was given from GD 0.5. The effects of curcumin on maternal hypertension, proteinuria, pregnancy outcomes, as well as proinflammatory factors, chemokines, Akt, JNK, and P38 levels in placenta were examined. Results: Systolic blood pressure (156.6 ± 5.056 versus 125.5 ± 3.617 mmHg; P < 0.05) and proteinuria (22.36 ± 2.22 versus 12.70 ± 1.04 mg/L; P < 0.05) were decreased in the LPS+curcumin-treated group, as compared with the LPS-treated group. Curcumin also increased the number of live pups, fetal weight, and placental weight, while it decreased fetal resorption rate. Moreover, increased placental TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expressions in LPS-treated group were significantly suppressed after curcumin administration. Furthermore, decreased p-Akt level in placenta induced by LPS was improved by curcumin. Of note, the expression of p-Akt increased by curcumin was accompanied by the decreased chemokines MCP-1 and MIP-1 levels and fewer CD68-positive macrophages in the placenta. Conclusion: Curcumin inhibited the expression of proinflammatory factors and macrophage infiltration in placenta and ameliorated LPS-induced adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice by inhibiting inflammation via upregulation of phosphorylated Akt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]