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In defense of deleterious retrotransposition of intracisternal A particle (IAP) elements, IAP loci are heavily methylated and silenced in mouse somatic cells. To determine whether IAP is also repressed in pluripotent stem cells by DNA methylation, we examined IAP expression in demethylated mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and epiblast-derived stem cells. Surprisingly, in demethylated ESC cultures carrying mutations of DNA methyltransferase I (Dnmt1), no IAP transcripts and proteins are detectable in undifferentiated Oct4(+) ESCs. In contrast, approximately 3.6% of IAP-positive cells are detected in Oct4(-) Dnmt1(-/-) cells, suggesting that the previously observed increase in IAP transcripts in the population of Dnmt1(-/-) ESCs could be accounted for by this subset of Oct4(-) Dnmt1(-/-) ESCs undergoing spontaneous differentiation. Consistent with this possibility, a dramatic increase of IAP mRNA (100-fold) and protein expression was observed in Dnmt1(-/-) ESC cultures upon induction of differentiation through the withdrawal of leukemia-inhibitory factor for 6 or more days. Interestingly, both mRNAs and proteins of IAP can be readily detected in demethylated Oct4(+) epiblast-derived stem cells as well as differentiated mouse embryo fibroblasts, neurons, and glia upon conditional Dnmt1 gene deletion. These data suggest that mESCs are a unique stem cell type possessing a DNA methylation-independent IAP repression mechanism. This methylation-independent mechanism does not involve Dicer-mediated action of microRNAs or RNA interference because IAP expression remains repressed in Dnmt1(-/-); Dicer(-/-) double mutant ESCs. We suggest that mESCs possess a unique DNA methylation-independent mechanism to silence retrotransposons to safeguard genome stability while undergoing rapid cell proliferation for self-renewal.

To compare the clinical outcome of IVF treatment after pituitary suppression with two different oral contraceptives (OCs).65 patients who received IVF treatment was classified into 2 groups based on the difference of OCs they used for pituitary suppression before ovarian hyperstimulation. Group 1 included 36 patients who received monophasic OCs. Group 2 included 29 patients who received triphastic OCs. Both groups received the OCs from the 5th day of the cycle for consecutive 21 days. The hormone profiles after OCs and clinical outcome of IVF treatment were compared between two groups. Two-sample t-tests and X2 tests were used for statistical analyses. P0.05 was considered statistically significant.The mean age and basal hormone profiles were comparable between two groups. After ovulation suppression with different OCs, the day 2 FSH and LH value revealed statistically significant difference between two groups(4.2+/-1.8 vs 6.0+/-2.6; 2.7+/-2.0 vs 4.2+/-3.3 respectively). The numbers of oocyte per retrieval and fertilization rate were comparable between two groups, but higher quality embryos as revealed by the cleavage speed were noted in the triphastic OCs group. Although statistically not significant, higher implantation rate and pregnancy rate were also noted in the triphastic OCs group.Different OCs for pituitary suppression can result in different hormone profiles. Ovulation induction in IVF treatment should be individualized according to these hormone changes to achieve the optimal clinical outcome. Triphastic OCs exceeds monophastic OCs in producing good quality embryo in IVF-ET treatment.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a complex human brain abnormality caused by incomplete cleavage of the prosencephalon into the right and left hemispheres, occurring between the 18 th and 28 th day of gestation. Different levels of increasing severity are defined: (1) lobar HPE, where the right and left ventricles are separated, but with some continuity across the frontal cortex; (2) semilobar HPE with a partial separation; and (3) alobar HPE, the most severe form, with a single brain ventricle and no interhemispheric fissure. Mettler [1] described the dorsal cyst of HPE as a structure that “occupies the area of the calvarium above the dorsocaudal aspect of the diencephalons” and indicated that the “walls of this cyst are always directly continuous with the most caudal parts of the walls of the telencephalon medium and its cavity communicates directly with the common ventricle of the telencephalon”. Furthermore, he added that a variable amount of the anterior wall of the dorsal cyst is “fused with the dorsal surface of the thalamus, sealing over the third ventricle”. Other authors have suggested that aqueduct stenosis or atresia results in dorsal cyst formation [2,3]. There have been many reports on the nature of dorsal cyst in HPE, but it was always noted after birth. HPE is the most common but lethal defect in the congenital cerebral abnormalities. It is a heterogeneous etiologic disease that can be caused by both a teratogenic and/or a genetic basis. Alobar or semilobar HPE is usually combined with a facial defect due to the missed embryogenesis, but early prenatal diagnosis of semilobar HPE with a dorsal cyst and no facial defect is rare. Herein, we report a case of early detection of HPE with a dorsal cyst and no facial defect in a low-risk mother, to present the distinctive features of semilobar HPE and the hypotheses involving a dorsal cyst. A 27-year-old, gravida 1, para 0, woman first visited our prenatal clinic at 9 weeks of gestation. Previous obstetric history and family history were unremarkable. An ultrasound (US) scan confirmed an intrauterine pregnancy with a fetus of crown–rump length of 2.5 cm without abnormal findings. During the second visit at 12 weeks’ gestation, a second US scan illustrated a nuchal translucency measuring 1.8 mm and a clear nasal bone structure. However, a dorsal cyst over the magnum cisterna in the transverse view (Figure A) was noted. The follow-up scans showed abnormalities of the forebrain, including partial absence of the midline echo, partial fusion of the thalami and abnormal ventricular configuration (Figures B and C), but facial structure was normal. Semilobar type of HPE with a dorsal cyst was diagnosed at that time. The other organs and systems, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and urinary systems, were unremarkable under the sonographic examination. Examinations for the presence of toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes (TORCH) were performed but without positive findings. Consequently, amniocentesis was scheduled for the next visit.

Objective The aim of this study was to identify an optimal stimulation protocol for intrauterine insemination (IUI) to obtain an acceptable pregnancy rate and low frequency of multiple pregnancies. Materials and Methods In total, 340 patients, who received intrauterine insemination because of ovulation dysfunction, were enrolled in this study. Group I consisted of 203 patients who received recombinant FSH (r-FSH) 150U every other day as an ovulation induction agent. Group II consisted of 137 patients who received r-FSH 100U every other day as an ovulation induction agent. All patients in both groups also received clomiphene citrate 100 mg/day for consecutive five days from the fifth day of the cycle. Only patients with at least two follicles >18 mm on the human chorionic gonadotropin injection days were included in this study. Results The clinical pregnancy rate was 14.8% (30/203) in Group I compared with 20.4% (28/137) in Group II, p > 0.05. The incidence of multiple pregnancy was 41.7% (10/24) in Group I compared with 12.5% (3/24) in Group II, p Conclusions The concurrent use of low-dose r-FSH and clomiphene citrate would seem not only to be cost-effective but also highly satisfactory in that it prevents high-order multiple pregnancies.

In this study, the method of employing preretrieval vaginal douching with aqueous povidone iodine is examined to see if it can decrease the incidence of pelvic abscess without compromising the clinical outcome of IVF-ET.Patients with ovarian endometrioma and received IVF-ET treatment were retrospectively classified into two groups according to the difference of vaginal douching solution immediately before oocyte retrieval.There was no difference in the fertilization rate (81.2% versus 79.8%, P0.05), implantation rate (19.2% versus 23.3%, P0.05), clinical pregnancy rate (39.3% versus 46.2%, P0.05) between the two groups. There was no infection in patients of group two but two cases in group one developed pelvic abscess and needed surgical intervention.Vaginal douching with aqueous povidone iodine followed by normal saline irrigation immediately before oocyte retrieval is effective in preventing the pelvic infection without compromising the outcome of IVF treatment.

To assess the effect of short-term use of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue for 3 months before ovarian stimulation in patients with stage III and IV endometriosis after conservative surgery.Eleven patients were randomly selected to receive intramuscular injections of GnRH analogue, leuprolide acetate (3.75 mg), every 28 days, or 400 mg danazol orally 2 times per day for 3 months before ovarian stimulation after conservative laparoscopic or laparotomy surgeryfor stage III and IV symptomatic endometriosis (group 1), as compared with 30 patients who had received no postoperative treatment with GnRH analogue or danazol but underwent ovarian stimulation immediately after thefirst menses within 3 months postoperatively (group 2).Although the number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos per cycle were significantly higher in group 1, the pregnancy rate per cycle in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2 (18% vs. 20%). The cumulative pregnancy rate at 12 months was 54.5% and 56.7% in group 1 and group 2, respectively. With regard to recurrence of disease after 24 months of follow-up, group 2 had a statistically significantly higher recurrence rate (13.3%) than did group 1 (0%).Short-term use of GnRH analogue before ovarian stimulation in women with stage III or IV endometriosis confers no definite benefits on pregnancy rates per cycle when compared with patients who received ovarian stimulation within 3 months after conservative surgery.

To evaluate the effect of laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometrioma on the clinical outcome of IVF treatment.Patients who received IVF treatment were retrospectively classified into two groups. Group 1 included 95 patients who received IVF due to tubal occlusion. Group 2 included 127 patients who had received laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometrioma(s) followed by IVF treatment. Clinical outcomes of IVF treatment were compared between two groups.More oocytes were harvested per retrieval in Group 1 than Group 2 (p0.05). The fertilization rate was higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p0.05). Although the implantation rate was higher in Group 2 (p0.05), the clinical pregnancy rate revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.Women who received ovarian cystectomy for endometriomas have fewer oocytes harvested during IVF treatment. However, their chance of pregnancy was comparable to patients with tubal problems who underwent IVF treatment.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a potentially severe complication following ovarian stimulation. It has a clinical spectrum ranging from a mild form, which accounts for most cases, to moderate and severe forms that occur rarely but deserve special attention since they are life threatening [1]. Clinical manifestations of OHSS can be classified into (1) mild, with abdominal distension; (2) moderate, with ascites; (3) severe, with apparent ascites and/or effusion (pleural, rarely pericardial); and (4) hypovolemic shock, acute renal and respiratory failure, and thrombotic disorders [2]. This syndrome is an iatrogenic disorder, which is not yet fully understood, and carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Despite close monitoring during ovarian stimulation and rigid guidelines and criteria for canceling cycles, OHSS still occurs. Owing to the increased use of therapeutic strategies for infertility, the pulmonary complication of this syndrome should be suspected on clinical grounds and identified early to allow for more appropriate diagnosis and management [3]. We report a patient whose only manifestation of OHSS was unilateral pleural effusion with no ascites. A 35-year-old woman came to our hospital for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer treatment because of bilateral tubal occlusion. She received oral pills and standard downregulation during the previous cycle before ovarian stimulation. Ovulation induction, using recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH; 225 IU/ day for 8 days, up to a dose of 1650 IU) and human menopausal hormone (HMG; 150 IU/day for 3 days, up to a dose of 450 IU), was then started on day 3 after