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News: Human Embryo-Like Models Created from Stem Cells

IVF.net Newsdesk 12 September 2023
Human Embryo-Like Models Created from Stem Cells

The challenge of studying human development shortly after implantation has been restricted due to the ethical and technical difficulties connected with in-utero growth post-implantation. Yet, recent breakthroughs have been made using mouse naïve embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to develop embryo-like structures. Extending this method, scientists have now successfully developed complete human embryo models using unmodified human naïve ESCs. These models mimic almost all the known features of post-implantation human embryos up to 14 days after fertilization.

In a revolutionary step, researchers at the Weizmann Institute have cultivated an entity resembling a 14-day-old human embryo using stem cells, without resorting to sperm, eggs, or a womb. Remarkably, this "embryo model" exuded hormones that registered a positive result on a pregnancy test in a laboratory setting.

These embryo models offer a promising and ethically sound method to probe into the earliest phases of human existence. The transition from a vague cluster of cells post-fertilization to a recognizable entity during a prenatal scan undergoes significant transformations, which, unfortunately, are inadequately understood despite being vital as it's a period that often results in miscarriages or birth defects.

The novelty of this research, shared in the Nature journal, lies in its comprehensive replication of primary structures seen in early embryos. This achievement, creating a vivid representation of a 14-day-old human embryo, is unprecedented.

Initiating with naïve stem cells, which can morph into any body tissue, they used chemicals to guide the cells into four primary types present during an embryo's earliest stages. Astonishingly, around 1% of these cultivated cells spontaneously organized into a structure reminiscent of a human embryo. Simply providing the right environment allows the cells to autonomously arrange themselves.

These models matured until they resembled 14-day post-fertilization embryos, a significant juncture in numerous countries that often marks the limit for standard embryo studies.

Through these models, scientists hope to elucidate cellular differentiation processes, observe initial organ formation stages, and gain insights into inherited or genetic conditions. Notably, the study indicates that certain embryo parts won't develop unless enclosed by early placenta cells. This research could even aid in enhancing IVF success rates.

However, this method's present 99% failure rate demands refinement, points out Prof Robin Lovell Badge from the Francis Crick Institute, who otherwise praises the study.

In conclusion, while these models showcase immense potential, using them for pregnancy remains firmly off the table, with ethical, legal, and practical reasons making it an impossibility.

 

Sources

Weizmann Institute of Science

Nature

BBC News

 


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News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 02 September 2023
ART & Embryology training program

The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

 Training Batch Schedule

                       # September 2023      -    4th to 18th September 

                                                            $ October 2023          -    03rd to 17th October 

                                                            # November 2023      -    15th to 29th November

                                                              $ December 2023       -      04th to 18th December    

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218 (Whats app)


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News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 02 September 2023
ART & Embryology training program

October 2023 Training Batch Schedule - 3rd October 2023 - 17th October 2023.

The International School of Embryology a unit of Chennai Fertility Centre and Research Institute was established to offer training in Advanced Reproductive Techniques and Embryology for clinicians and embryologists. It will help them to know in-depth knowledge and have good hands-on training. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring Clinician and Embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about Assisted Reproductive Technology and practical capability.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218 (Whats app)


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News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 02 August 2023
ART & Embryology training program

September 2023 Training Batch Schedule - 4th September 2023 - 18th September 2023.

The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218 (Whats app)


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Announcement: AI and IVF Survey

Giles Palmer 19 July 2023
AI and IVF Survey

 

Calling all Reproductive Biologists, Embryologists/Andrologists in ART labs

IVF2.0 with the International IVF Initiative (I3) is conducting a survey about Artificial Intelligence. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes of your time.

Awareness, Use and Understanding of AI in the ART Laboratory

The aim of the survey is:

A)    Assess the level of awareness among ART laboratory professionals regarding the applications and potential benefits of AI technology. 
B)    Evaluate the extent of AI adoption and utilization within ART laboratories.
C)    Measure the comprehension and understanding of ART laboratory professionals regarding the underlying principles, limitations, and ethical considerations associated with the use of AI

This survey is being managed by Community Research, an independent research agency that will collect and process different types of data from you.

To participate, simply click on the button!
You have the option to pause and resume the survey too!

Thank you in advance for your time and valuable contribution.

Best regards,
Giles Palmer
Executive Director, I3

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/IVFAI20/


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I3 Revisited: The Curious Case of Lactate, a Blastocyst and an Endometrium

Professor David Gardner 19 July 2023

Lactate is typically considered a “waste-product” of glucose metabolism, produced through glycolysis, when there is insufficient oxygen available.

But why does the blastocyst produce significant quantities of lactate even when there is an abundance of oxygen?

The answer to this question will make you rethink completely the significance of metabolic functions, and you will discover that this quirky metabolic trait is a prerequisite for a tissue that needs to invade, establish a blood supply and avoid immuno rejection. Spoiler alert – cancers use the same trick as our beautiful blastocysts to invade surrounding tissues!

PROFESSOR DAVID K. GARDNER, FAA

PROFESSOR DAVID K. GARDNER, FAA

David is the Scientific Director of Melbourne IVF and a Distinguished Professor in the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne. 

He completed his PhD (1987) at the University of York. In 1988 he moved to Harvard Medical School, after which he moved to Monash, Australia, in 1989. In 1997 became the Scientific Director of the Colorado Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Denver, where his work on human embryo culture conditions revolutionised how human IVF is performed today with the introduction of blastocyst transfer. 

In 2007 he was appointed Professor at the University of Melbourne and promoted to the level of Distinguished Professor in 2018. He has published over 285 papers and chapters and has edited 15 books, and is one of the mostly highly cited scientists in Reproductive Medicine, with over 25,000 citations and an H Factor of 91. 

In 2017 in recognition of his many significant contributions to reproductive sciences he was elected as a Fellow into the Australian Academy of Science (FAA) and further was the recipient of the Distinguished Researcher Award from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.


This video is one of many educational resources produced by the International IVF Initiative (I3). As a worldwide movement, I3 focuses on improving education and refining methods in assisted reproductive technologies. To explore a wider range of educational content, we invite you to visit https://ivfmeeting.com.


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News: New Findings Link Higher Live Birth Rates in IVF to Summer Egg Collection

IVF.net Newsdesk 19 July 2023

The time of year when eggs are collected from women’s ovaries during fertility treatment influences live birth rates, according to recent research published in Human Reproduction, one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals.

The Australia-based research team found that transferring embryos, initially frozen then thawed, which were retrieved from eggs collected in the summer, resulted in a 30% higher likelihood of live births than those collected in the autumn.

Dr Sebastian Leathersich, who led the study, stated, "If eggs were collected in autumn, the live birth rate was 26 births per 100 people, but if collected in summer there were 31 births per 100 people. This improvement was seen regardless of when the embryos were finally transferred to the women’s wombs."

The study also observed a 28% increase in the chances of a live birth among women who had eggs collected on days with the most sunshine compared to those with the least sunshine.

New Insights into Seasonal Variations

Previous studies have presented conflicting findings about the influence of seasons on pregnancies and live birth rates after egg collection and embryo freezing. Dr Leathersich elaborated, "Most studies have looked at fresh embryo transfers, where the embryo is returned within a week of the egg being collected. We realised that many embryos are now 'frozen' and transferred later, allowing us to explore the impact of environment on egg development and early pregnancy separately."

The study analysed outcomes from all frozen embryo transfers carried out at a single clinic in Perth over a period of eight years. The researchers took into account factors such as the season, temperature, and actual number of hours of bright sunshine.

The results showed that the likelihood of a live birth was higher when the egg was collected on a day with more sunshine, irrespective of the season and conditions during the embryo transfer.

However, the study found that temperature on the day of egg collection did not influence live birth chances. Interestingly, live birth rates decreased by 18% when embryos were transferred on the hottest days, accompanied by a small rise in miscarriage rates.

Implications of the Findings

"Our study suggests that the best conditions for live births appear to be associated with summer and increased sunshine hours on the day of egg retrieval," said Dr Leathersich.

Factors that may contribute to increased live birth rates after summer egg collection and during more sunshine hours include melatonin, as its levels are typically higher in winter and spring. Lifestyle differences between winter and summer months may also play a part.

Moreover, the study findings that miscarriage rates were highest when embryo transfer occurred on the hottest days echo epidemiological studies showing higher rates of miscarriage during summer months.

Despite these promising findings, the study's retrospective nature means it can only demonstrate an association between conditions at the time of egg collection and the difference in live birth rates, rather than causation.

Looking forward, Dr Leathersich believes the findings should be confirmed through replication in different settings, with varying conditions and treatment protocols. He also expressed an interest in analysing the impact of seasonal and environmental factors on sperm parameters.

Given the surge in "social egg freezing" for fertility preservation, Dr Leathersich stated, "It would be very interesting to see if these observations hold true with frozen eggs that are thawed and fertilised years later."

While this study offers significant implications for fertility treatments, it also highlights the intricate balance between environmental factors and biological processes, and the ever-evolving understanding of reproductive medicine.

Sources & References

ESHRE - More IVF babies born after egg collection in summer rather than in autumn


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Announcement: REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP

Dr Yogitha Rao 12 July 2023
REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP

Duration of the course; 18 months

Number of seats; 2 seats every 6 months

Eligibility criteria;

  • Has to be a Citizen of India,
  • MBBS Degree from a University recognised by the MCI
  • M.D. / M.S. (or its equivalent recognised degree) in Obstetrics & Gynecology from a University recognised by the MCI
  • or DGO with 3 years experience.
  • Courses start in January and July of every year.
  • Selection by:
    Written Exam followed by Interviews in June & December
    Contact:
    SANTASA IVF & ENDOSURGERY INSTITUTE
    HASSAN-573201
    call on : 9845688608 / 8904253475
  • Mail: [email protected] 
    visit : www.santasaivf.com

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News: ART & Embryology training program

Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 04 July 2023
ART & Embryology training program

 

August 2023 Training Batch Schedule - 07th August - 21st August 2023.

The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field.

Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on).

Limited Seats. For admission Contact  9003111598 / 8428278218 (Whats app) 


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News: New Study Finds One in Five Women Can Conceive Naturally After IVF

IVF.net Newsdesk 26 June 2023

In a study published in Human Reproduction, scientists have unveiled data challenging the traditional view on natural conception in women who have previously given birth via assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Led by Dr. Annette Thwaites, the study systematically reviewed and analyzed data from various sources to assess the proportion of women experiencing natural conception after an ART-aided live birth. The research suggests that natural conception may occur in at least one in five women after having a baby via ART, a number significantly higher than widely anticipated.

This study is groundbreaking as it disputes the common narrative that such natural pregnancies are “miracle” pregnancies, and instead, emphasizes that they are not as rare as previously thought.

The researchers conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis, scrutinizing studies published from 1980 to September 24, 2021. The team searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO databases for studies in English, involving human subjects. The main criterion for inclusion was studies that measured the proportion of women experiencing natural conception following an ART live birth.

The team assessed the quality of the included studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme cohort study checklist or the AXIS Appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. Random-effects meta-analyses were utilized to estimate the pooled effect of the proportion of natural conception pregnancies after ART live births.

Out of 1108 distinct studies initially identified, 11 studies involving 5180 women were selected for the review. The maximum follow-up period in these studies ranged from 2 to 15 years. The pooled estimate for the proportion of women experiencing natural conception pregnancies after ART live birth stood at 20% (95% CI, 17-22%).

The study acknowledges several limitations, including variability in methodology, population, subfertility cause, type and outcome of fertility treatment, and follow-up duration among the studies considered. These variations might lead to potential biases related to confounding, selection bias, and missing data.

The study’s findings have wide-reaching implications, primarily in dispelling misconceptions surrounding natural conception post-ART. This knowledge is vital for healthcare professionals and couples who have undergone or are considering ART.

Recognizing the frequency of natural conception following ART, it becomes crucial to provide tailored counseling to couples contemplating further ART procedures.

Dr. Thwaites and her team advocate for national, data-linked studies to ascertain more accurate estimates and analyze factors associated with natural conception after ART. Such data would empower women and couples to make informed choices regarding family planning and further fertility treatments.

This research, supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as part of an academic clinical fellowship awarded to Dr. Thwaites, is poised to transform perceptions and practices in the realm of reproductive science.

Sources and References

Human Reproduction - How common is natural conception in women who have had a livebirth via assisted reproductive technology? Systematic review and meta-analysis

BBC News - One in five chance of natural pregnancy after IVF baby

UCL News - One in five women become pregnant naturally after having a baby conceived with IVF

 


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