Biomedical subjects

H N Ho

Publications and source records attributed to H N Ho.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Luteinizing hormone up-regulates the expression of interleukin-1 beta mRNA in human granulosa-luteal cells.

PROBLEM: Previously, we observed that follicular fluid obtained from patients with premature luteinization contained elevated interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) levels. In this study. we aimed to examine the effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) on IL-1 beta expression and IL-1 beta on steroidogenesis in human granulosa-luteal cells. METHOD OF STUDY: Human granulosa-luteal cells were obtained during oocyte retrieval. The cells were treated with either LH or IL-1 beta and subsequently were examined for the level of IL-1 beta transcript. The conditioned media were examined for IL-1 beta protein and steroid hormone levels. RESULTS: LH (250-500 mIU/mL) up-regulated the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA (up to a 4-fold increase over control; P<0.05) in the granulosa-luteal cells. IL-1 beta (5-50 ng/mL) increased the basal, but not LH-dependent, progesterone production from these cells in a dose-dependent manner after 96 and 144 hr of culture (P<0.05). However, an inhibitory effect of IL-1 beta on LH-dependent estradiol production was observed (up to 20% decrease, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LH is capable of stimulating IL-1 beta transcript expression in human granulosa-luteal cells and may regulate ovarian steroidogenesis, at least partly through the activation of IL-1 beta.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1999

Reversed CD4/CD8 ratios of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are correlated with the progression of human cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within the tumor milieu of human cervical carcinoma, the authors quantitatively measured and compared the subpopulations of lymphocytes infiltrating the neoplastic cervix. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with Stage Ia-IIa cervical carcinoma were enrolled. TILs were isolated from tissue specimens by means of a mechanical dispersal technique, and the immunocyte subsets were quantified with dual-color flow cytometry. Bulky tumor was defined as tumor size >4 cm in greatest dimension according to the 1995 staging of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. RESULTS: The CD4/CD8 ratios of TILs were reversed in both cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n = 20) and cervical adenocarcinoma (n = 10). The proportion of CD4(+) T cells was significantly lower in tumors from patients with lymph node metastasis (n = 8) than in those from patients without lymph node metastasis (n = 22) (24.5 vs. 32.7, P = 0.001), as was the reversed CD4/CD8 ratio (0.50 vs. 0.81, P = 0.001). The proportion of CD4(+) T cells was much lower in bulky tumors (n = 5) than in nonbulky tumors (n = 25) (21.4 vs. 32.5, P < 0.001), reflecting in a more strongly reversed CD4/CD8 ratio (0.41 vs. 0.81, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased proportions of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T cells with reversed CD4/CD8 ratios are highly correlated with rapid tumor growth and lymph node metastasis in cervical carcinoma. The regional immune escape is of prognostic importance with regard to cancer progression.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

Transmission of de novo mutations of the deleted in azoospermia genes from a severely oligozoospermic male to a son via intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transmission of microdeletions in the deleted in azoospermia (DAZ) genes to a male offspring via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Reproductive unit of a university teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): A 29-year-old, severely oligozoospermic male with microdeletions of the DAZ genes in Yq interval 6 and his son, who was conceived via ICSI. INTERVENTION(S): DNA screening for the microdeletions in Yq interval 6 with 24 sequence tagged sites with the use of polymerase chain reaction amplification for the patient, the patient's father, and the patient's son. Paternity identification was performed using nine hypervariable short tandem repeats. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Deletion mapping of Yq interval 6 from sequence tagged sites and electropherogram of short tandem repeats for DNA fingerprinting. RESULT(S): The son had the same microdeletions of the DAZ genes as the patient, and the patient's father had normal DAZ genes. The paternity of the patient, the patient's father, and the patient's son was verified. CONCLUSION(S): De novo DAZ microdeletions in an infertile male can be transmitted to a male offspring via ICSI. DNA screening tests for DAZ genes before ICSI may help in the genetic counseling of patients with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Prognostic importance of serial cytokine changes in ascites and pleural effusion in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of various cytokine levels in ascites and pleural effusion during the evolution of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). DESIGN: A longitudinal study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty patients with severe OHSS who required either paracentesis or thoracentesis or both from whom ascites (n = 56) or pleural effusion (n = 12) samples were obtained. Control peritoneal fluid was obtained from 20 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Abdominal paracentesis for tense ascites and thoracentesis for massive pleural effusion. Control peritoneal fluid was obtained before oocyte retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E2, and progesterone concentrations in ascites and pleural effusion. RESULT(S): Levels of VEGF and IL-6 in ascites dropped significantly during the course of OHSS and were not correlated with E2 concentrations. Levels of VEGF were significantly correlated with levels of IL-1 beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, as well as progesterone concentrations, hematocrit, and white blood cell counts. None of the cytokine levels measured in pleural effusion were correlated with the course of OHSS. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that local cytokines might be involved in the evolution of severe OHSS and possibly serve as prognostic markers for this syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Expression of leukemia inhibitory factor and its receptor in preimplantation embryos.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and its receptor (LIF-R) transcripts in human and murine preimplantation embryos. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Human oocytes were obtained from patients undergoing IVF treatment. Two-cell murine embryos were obtained from ICR strain mice. INTERVENTION(S): Second-day intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures were performed on oocytes that failed to be fertilized by IVF. Embryos were cultured to various stages and collected for study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The transcript levels of LIF and LIF-R in these embryos were examined and semiquantitated using single-cell reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction methodology. RESULT(S): Leukemia inhibitory factor and LIF-R transcripts were detectable in most human preimplantation embryos (30 of 34 and 31 of 34 embryos showed LIF and LIF-R messenger RNA, respectively). There was a trend toward decreased expression of both transcripts in embryos at the four-cell stage and in embryos in which growth had been arrested for 24-48 hours. The expression of LIF and LIF-R genes in murine embryos was inconsistent. CONCLUSION(S): Preimplantation human embryos express LIF and LIF-R messenger RNA. It is suggested that LIF may be able to affect embryo development through its action at stages before implantation in an autocrine or paracrine manner.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

The expression of killer cell inhibitory receptors on natural killer cells and activation status of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the decidua of normal and abnormal early pregnancies.

The establishment of the human placenta in early pregnancy is characterized by the presence of large numbers of natural killer cells within the maternal decidua. These NK cells have an unusual phenotype, CD3- CD16- CD56(bright), distinguishing them from peripheral blood NK cells. They may control trophoblast migration and placentation. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to several members of the KIR family and flow cytometry, we found that KIRs are expressed on decidual NK cells. There is variation in both the percentage of cells expressing a particular receptor and the density of receptor expression between decidual NK cells from different individuals. In anembryonic pregnancy, the proportions of decidual NK cells with a particular KIRs (GL183 and EB6) decreased significantly when compared with normal pregnancy (p = 0.01 and 0.01, respectively), raising the possibility that these NK receptors may be involved in recognition of the allogeneic fetus by the mother at the implantation site. In the decidua, more CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressed CD69 and HLA-DR than in blood, indicating that T cells are regionally activated during early pregnancy. When compared with normal pregnancy, decidual HLA-DR+CD4+CD3+, CD69+CD8+CD3+ and HLA-DR+CD8+CD3+ T lymphocytes are significantly increased in anembryonic pregnancy. The over-activation of decidual T cells during anembryonic pregnancy may thus contribute to the increased NK cytotoxicity activity.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1999

Association of endometrial blood flow as determined by a modified colour Doppler technique with subsequent outcome of in-vitro fertilization.

An endometrial thickness of 10 mm or more has been reported to be favourable for embryo implantation. Nevertheless, many women participating in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programmes have adequate endometrial thickness but do not achieve satisfactory implantation. With the aid of power Doppler sonography, we examined the association between intra-endometrial vascularity and reproductive outcome. For this study, we enrolled only women with endometrial thickness >/=ISOdia>/=10 mm and excluded those with apparent endometrial pathologies. Of 95 women undergoing IVF cycles, there resulted 37 intrauterine pregnancies. The women were of similar age, body mass index, peak oestradiol concentration and endometrial thickness, and a similar number of embryos were transferred. Those women with an intra-endometrial power Doppler area (EPDA) <5 mm2 achieved a significantly lower pregnancy rate (23. 5 versus 47.5%, P = 0.021) and implantation rate (8.1 versus 20.2%, P = 0.003) than those with an EPDA >/=ISOdia>/=5 mm2. We conclude that, in addition to endometrial thickness, EPDA may serve as a factor indicative of endometrial receptivity. Women with adequate endometrial thickness but a small EPDA tended to have an unfavourable reproductive outcome.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Increase in the production of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and interleukin-12 by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages from women with endometriosis.

PROBLEM: To verify whether the peritoneal macrophage (PM) is activated in endometriosis. METHOD OF STUDY: We examined the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-12 by cultured PMs, which were either unstimulated or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), from women with endometriosis (early, n = 12; advanced, n = 11) or without endometriosis (n = 13). RESULTS: After stimulation with 2 ng/mL LPS for 24 hr, PMs from women with early-stage endometriosis secreted more NO, IL-6, and IL-10 than the controls. Higher IL-12 levels were noted in women with advanced endometriosis when compared with the controls. After 2 ng/mL-LPS stimulation for 24 hr, we also detected higher total antioxidant levels in the advanced-endometriosis group than those in the early-endometriosis group. CONCLUSION: The increased production of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 by stimulated PMs confirmed previous observations that the PM is the principle source of these cytokines in peritoneal fluid.

Endometriosis↗

PubMed1999

T lymphocytes and cytokine production in ascitic fluid of ovarian malignancies.

The activation status of T lymphocytes and the presence of various cytokines in ascitic fluid were examined to test peritoneal immunity in women with ovarian malignancies. Peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid were collected from 12 patients with primary ovarian cancer with ascites and 27 normal control subjects during laparoscopic examination. Lymphocyte subpopulations and the expression of activation markers on T lymphocytes were analyzed by dual-color flow cytometry. The concentrations of various cytokines and soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor-alpha were measured. CD8 T lymphocytes were the main component of peritoneal lymphocytes. CD69 and HLA-DR, but not CD25, were highly expressed on peritoneal T lymphocytes compared to those in peripheral blood. In ascitic fluid of ovarian malignancies, CD4 T lymphocyte concentrations were further decreased, resulting in a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio. Decreased expression of CD69 and CD25 was also noted on T lymphocytes from ascites compared with T lymphocytes in normal peritoneal fluid. IL-1b, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha concentrations were increased significantly in the ascitic fluid of women with ovarian cancer. The decrease in activation markers on T lymphocytes is suggestive of an immunosuppressive state, despite the presence of abundant stimulatory cytokines. The immunosuppression may be multifactorial, attributed, in part, to the increased concentrations of soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha and other inhibitors.

Ascitic Fluid↗

PubMed1999

Tumor immunology--when a cancer cell meets the immune cells.

Tumor immunology consists of two essential concepts: immune surveillance, which specifies the host immune reactions against tumor cells, and tumor immune escape, which refers to the tumor-cell evasion process against the host immune system. Effective antitumor immunity by the host immune surveillance is supposed to be dependent on the identification of tumor antigens. In the process of malignant transformation, genetic mutations with aberrant expression of cancer-related genes and protein products are potentially immunogenic, which may serve as rejection antigens. Several scenarios are proposed to be responsible for tumor immune-escape mechanisms. The elucidation of the immune deficit against cancer progression has been a difficult task and no solitary mechanism explains the complicated cancer-host immune interactions. Cancer cells may overcome immune surveillance through a common but effective pathway, either by changing the polarity of effector cells, thus down-regulating the proliferation of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells, or altering the effector compositions of immune cells within the tumor milieu, or both. Understanding the interaction between cancer cells and host immune cells within the tumor milieu is of importance for further clinical applications of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed1998

Postpartum myocardial infarction rescued with an intraaortic balloon pump and extracorporeal membrane oxygenator.

A 37-year-old woman had postpartum myocardial infarction complicated with cardiogenic shock. The infarction was attributed to diffuse coronary artery spasm caused by methylergonovine, which had been used to treat the postpartum haemorrhage due to placenta increta. The haemodynamics could not be maintained with catecholamine infusion and intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. At last, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator was used to save her life, and the patient was successfully weaned from the machine 100 h later; she made an uneventful recovery thereafter.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Pregnancy achieved by intracytoplasmic sperm injection using cryopreserved vasal-epididymal sperm from a man with spinal cord injury.

Anejaculation and poor semen quality are two major causes of infertility in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). The poor motility of retrieved sperm usually has low fertilization potential and is thought to be unfavorable for cryopreservation. This report describes a pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with cryopreserved vasal-epididymal sperm from a man with SCI and anejaculation. An attempt was made to obtain sperm through electroejaculation, but no motile sperm were found in two trials. Therefore, the subject underwent vasal aspiration. The retrieved sperm had a concentration of 26 x 10(6)/mL and a motility of 3%. ICSI was considered to be the best choice for the couple, but the wife did not become pregnant in the first cycle of treatment. A successful pregnancy was achieved by ICSI in the second cycle using frozen-thawed sperm, supernumerary in the previous cycle, with a density of 5 x 10(6)/mL and 1% motility. A set of healthy twins, one boy and one girl, were delivered via cesarean section at 36 weeks of gestation. Complementary to other assisted reproductive techniques, ICSI may provide men with SCI a greater opportunity to father children. The supernumerary sperm, regardless of quality, should be cryopreserved to avoid the necessity and risk of repeated assisted ejaculations and aspirations of the genital tract.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

The simplified two-pipette technique is more efficient than the conventional three-pipette method for blastomere biopsy in human embryos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of a simplified two-pipette technique in comparison to the conventional three-pipette method; in the two-pipette method, a single, larger drilling/biopsy pipette is used to perform zona pellucida (ZP) drilling and blastomere aspiration for embryo biopsy. DESIGN: A preclinical, prospective, randomized, in vitro experiment. SETTING: The reproductive unit of a university teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Ninety-five excess embryos at the two- to four-cell stage were obtained from 35 patients undergoing IVF. INTERVENTION(S): At the six- to eight-cell stage, 88 embryos were allocated randomly to three groups: group I for the conventional method (n = 29), group II for the simplified technique (n = 30), and group III for controls (n = 29). The embryos then were cultured in vitro. The retrieved blastomeres were fixed and examined with fluorescence in situ hybridization using X and Y probes simultaneously. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Biopsy time, successful retrieval of a blastomere, fixation of the cell, signals developed from fluorescence in situ hybridization, and growth potential and hatching capacity of the biopsied embryos were evaluated. RESULT(S): The mean time (+/- SD) for biopsy of each embryo in group I (435 +/- 137 seconds) was significantly longer than that in group II (126 +/- 32 seconds). The success rates for obtaining an intact blastomere were not different between group I (93%) and group II (97%). The growth capacity to the blastocyst stage was similar among the three groups (34%, 37%, and 38%, respectively). However, the ZP-drilled and biopsied embryos of groups I and II had higher percentages of hatching (34% and 37%, respectively) and complete hatching (17% and 20%, respectively) than did those of group III (10% and 0, respectively). The blastomeres obtained by biopsy in groups I and II were equally fixed (90% vs. 90%, respectively) and shown in fluorescence in situ hybridization (79% vs. 80%, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): Compared with the conventional method, the simplified technique is more efficient and equally efficacious for blastomere biopsy in preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1998

Effects of repeated abdominal paracentesis on uterine and intraovarian haemodynamics and pregnancy outcome in severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of paracentesis on uterine and intraovarian haemodynamics by colour Doppler ultrasound and the influences of repeated paracentesis on pregnancy outcome in severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Forty-one abdominal paracenteses were performed on seven pregnant women with tense ascites and eight thoracocenteses were performed on three pregnant women with pleural effusion. Pulsatility index (PI) and maximum peak systolic velocity (MPSV) of uterine and intraovarian arteries were measured before and after each intervention. The mean PI of uterine arteries was decreased significantly after paracentesis, but not after thoracocentesis. Furthermore, uterine PI was decreased in 13 out of 14 (92.9%) paracenteses with <2500 ml ascites removed, compared with eight out of 13 (61.5%) with >2500 ml ascites removed. After paracentesis, there were no significant changes in the intraovarian PI and MPSV in either group. The 24-hour urine output increased significantly in the paracentesis group, but not in the thoracocentesis group. There were no significant changes in haematocrit and electrolytes as a result of paracentesis. However, gradual falls in serum total proteins and albumin concentrations were observed in all patients after repeated paracentesis, necessitating post-paracentesis albumin infusion. There was no significant difference in miscarriage rates between the two groups. We conclude that repeated abdominal paracentesis increases uterine perfusion and has no adverse effects on pregnancy outcome in severe OHSS. Extraction of 2500 ml of ascitic fluid did not impair uterine perfusion.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Molecular characterization.

OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular defects of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). STUDY DESIGN: Twenty Chinese patients, including 8 with salt-wasting (SW) type CAH, 11 with simple virilizing (SV) type CAH and 1 with nonclassical (NC) type CAH, were recruited. Two rounds of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to study the 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21). The primary PCR amplified CYP21-specific DNA fragments, and the secondary PCR used products from the primary PCR for analysis of amplification-created restriction sites (ACRS) and direct DNA sequencing. In all patients, ACRS analysis was done at 12 possible mutation sites, and then direct DNA sequencing was performed to confirm or define the molecular defects. RESULTS: Ten different mutations, including nine point mutations and gross gene deletion or conversion, were found in this study. Of the nine point mutations, eight could be easily detected by ACRS analysis. The three most common mutations were codon (CD)172 t-->a (I172N), IVS-II 656 c/a-->g, and gross gene deletion or conversion, accounting for 27.5% (11/40 alleles), 25% (10/40) and 20% (8/40) of all identified mutations, respectively. All SW patients were compound heterozygotes of IVS-II 656, gross gene deletion or conversion, or other severe defects, including CDs236 (t-->a) (I236N)+ 237 (t-->a) (V237E)+ 239 (t-->a) (M239K), CD306 (+t), CD318 (c-->t) (Q318X) and CD356 (c-->t) (R356W) mutations. All SV patients had one allele with a CD172 (I172N) mutation. One allele of an NC patient had a CD183 (c-->g) (D183E) mutation, and the other allele was not defined. In the whole series, four alleles (10%) had more than one mutation. CONCLUSION: We found 10 different mutations in this study. The correlation between genotypes and phenotypes was compatible with the reported data. Two rounds of PCR and ACRS analysis may provide important information for genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis and management of families at risk for CAH.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

PubMed1998

Cornual pregnancy after IVF-ET. A report of three cases.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic pregnancy is a well-known complication of in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Although ectopic pregnancy after IVF-ET in patients with prior bilateral salpingectomy is uncommon, it can occur and may be a cornual implantation. Because of the possibility of early rupture with severe hemorrhage, special attention to cornual pregnancy after IVF-ET is warranted. CASES: Three cases of cornual pregnancy occurred after IVF-ET. Two of these patients had prior bilateral salpingectomy, whereas another had prior tuboplasty for tubal disease. CONCLUSION: Patients who had prior salpingectomy or tuboplasty with cornual patency undergoing IVF-ET are at risk for cornual pregnancy. Close monitoring of pregnancies in these patients is important to prevent a deleterious delay in treatment of a cornual pregnancy.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination in subfertility. How many treatment cycles are sufficient?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the combined effects of factors influencing the pregnancy rates following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). STUDY DESIGN: After utilizing the couple as the unit of analysis, 416 couples undergoing COH and IUI with the husband's sperm were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: The woman's age, postwash total motile sperm counts and number of IUI treatment cycles were three major factors that affected the results of IUI. The predicted cumulative pregnancy rates under different values of the above three factors were therefore calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis and were compared to the pregnancy rate achieved by a cycle of in vitro fertilization and tubal embryo transfer. CONCLUSION: Three treatment cycles of IUI are optimal for women aged < or = 34 with postwash total motile sperm counts > 5 x 10(6). For women either aged > or = 35 or with postwash total motile sperm counts < 5 x 10(6), the cumulative pregnancy rates achieved by IUI are extremely low, and other means of assisted reproduction are recommended for couples in those categories. However, this conclusion pertains to our clinics, and other institutions should establish their own data.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

A simplified technique for embryo biopsy: use of the same micropipette for zona drilling and blastomere aspiration.

PURPOSE: Using different micropipettes for zona drilling and blastomere aspiration for embryo biopsy is prevalent at centers of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. The purpose of our study was to simplify the technique by using only one micropipette. METHODS: In this animal model, ICR mouse embryos at the four-cell stage (n = 446) were randomly allocated into two groups; a biopsied group (n = 224) for blastomere aspiration and a control group (n = 222) without micromanipulation. We used a drilling/biopsy micropipette to drill a hole in the zona by expulsion of acidified Tyrode's solution and to aspirate the blastomere by gentle suction with the same micropipette and pull it out of the zona. One blastomere was biopsied from each embryo. RESULTS: In all, 222 (99.1%) intact blastomeres were successfully biopsied from 224 embryos. Only two blastomeres were damaged during aspiration. The capacity for blastocyst development (92.4 vs 93.7%) was not different between the two groups, but the percentages of embryos hatching (51.8 vs 18.0%) and hatched (29.9 vs 8.1%) were significantly higher in the biopsied group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This simplified technique of embryo biopsy is safe and highly efficient for obtaining blastomeres for preimplantation genetic diagnosis and may also facilitate hatching of the blastocysts.

Animals↗