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Poultry Science Mar 2022Globally, the production of Pekin ducks for meat and eggs is considerable, with an estimated >200 million ducks slaughtered yearly for their meat in the United States... (Review)
Review
Globally, the production of Pekin ducks for meat and eggs is considerable, with an estimated >200 million ducks slaughtered yearly for their meat in the United States and the European Union alone. However, despite the size of the Pekin duck industries, there is a lack of research-based guidance regarding the welfare of the ducks. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine and summarize available scientific literature related to the welfare of Pekin ducks raised on commercial farms for meat and eggs. Specifically, we aimed to identify topics where sufficient literature exists to support best-practice duck welfare recommendations, as well as further research needs. The literature search targeted original research papers and review articles published in English. Six pre-establish inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, yielding 63 publications. We summarized their content based their main topic of focus. For all original studies, we additionally recorded the country where the study was executed, scale of the project (commercial or experimental barns), general information about the housing system and management (waterers, flooring, ventilation, group size, and space allowance), and the types of outcome variables collected. We begin with an overview of key publication trends. We then synthesize and discuss welfare outcomes related to key housing/management decisions: bathing water, flooring and litter, stocking density and space availability, ventilation/air quality, lighting, outdoor access, and for egg laying birds the availability of nest boxes. Throughout, we outline specific research gaps, as well as overarching research needs.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Ducks; Meat; Ovum
PubMed: 35042179
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101614 -
Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic... Dec 2023Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is recognized as one of the most prevalent endocrinopathy in women at reproductive age. As affected women tend to have poorer assisted... (Review)
Review
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is recognized as one of the most prevalent endocrinopathy in women at reproductive age. As affected women tend to have poorer assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, PCOS has been suggested to endanger oocyte quality and competence development. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the available evidence on how the follicular fluid (FF) profile of women with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment differs from the FF of normo-ovulatory women. For that, an electronic search in PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted (up to December 2021). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses - PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Data retrieved from papers included (n=42), revealed that the FF composition of women with PCOS compared to those without PCOS predominantly diverged at the following molecular classes: oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers, growth factors and hormones. Among those biomarkers, some were proposed as being closely related to pathophysiological processes, strengthening the hypothesis that low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress play a critical role in the pathogenesis of PCOS. Notwithstanding, it should be noticed that the available data on PCOS FF fingerprints derives from a limited number of studies conducted in a relatively small number of subjects. Furthermore, phenotypic heterogeneity of PCOS hampers wider comparisons and weakens putative conclusions. Therefore, future studies should be focused at comparing well characterized patient subgroups according to phenotypes.
Topics: Female; Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Follicular Fluid; Fertilization in Vitro; Oocytes; Biomarkers
PubMed: 37493841
DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09819-z -
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology... Sep 2021Sequential embryo transfer has been proposed as a way to improve embryo implantation in women for in vitro fertilization (IVF), but the effect on pregnancy outcomes...
BACKGROUND
Sequential embryo transfer has been proposed as a way to improve embryo implantation in women for in vitro fertilization (IVF), but the effect on pregnancy outcomes remains ambiguous. This systematic review was conducted to investigate the efficacy of sequential embryo transfer on IVF outcomes.
METHODS
A literature search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect and Wanfang databases. Data were pooled using a random- or fixed-effects model according to study heterogeneity. The results are expressed as relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated by the I statistic. The study protocol was registered prospectively on INPLASY, ID: INPLASY202180019.
RESULTS
Ten eligible studies with 2658 participants compared sequential embryo transfer and cleavage transfer, while four studies with 513 participants compared sequential embryo transfer and blastocyst transfer. The synthesis results showed that the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the sequential embryo transfer group than in the cleavage embryo transfer group (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.26-1.60, P< 0.01) for both women who did experience repeated implantation failure (RIF) (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.17-2.13, P< 0.01) and did not experience RIF (Non-RIF) (RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.66, P< 0.01). However, sequential embryo transfer showed no significant benefit over blastocyst embryo transfer.
CONCLUSION
The current systematic review demonstrates that sequential cleavage and blastocyst embryo transfer improve the clinical pregnancy rate over conventional cleavage embryo transfer. For women with adequate embryos, sequential transfer could be attempted following careful consideration. More high-grade evidence from prospective randomized studies is warranted.
Topics: Blastocyst; Cleavage Stage, Ovum; Embryo Transfer; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Infertility; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Rate; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34521412
DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00824-y -
Fertility and Sterility Apr 2023Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional ovarian stimulation (COS) in subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. To... (Review)
Review
Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional ovarian stimulation (COS) in subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IVM compared with COS in women with predicted hyperresponse to gonadotropins, we searched the published literature for relevant studies comparing any IVM protocol with any COS protocol followed by in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A systematic review was undertaken on 3 eligible prospective studies. Live birth rate was not significantly lower after IVM vs. COS (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 0.56 [0.32-1.01] overall, 0.83 [0.63-1.10] for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-triggered IVM [hCG-IVM] and 0.45 [0.18-1.13] for non-hCG-triggered IVM [non-hCG-IVM]), irrespective of the stage of transferred embryos. Data from nonrandomized studies generally showed either significantly low or statistically comparable rates of live birth with IVM vs. COS. Most studies have not identified any significant difference between IVM and COS with respect to the rates of obstetric or perinatal complications, apart from a potentially higher rate of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The development of offspring from IVM and COS with in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection appears to be similar. Additional research is needed to identify which patient populations will benefit most from IVM, to define the appropriate clinical protocol, and to develop the optimal culture system.
Topics: Male; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Prospective Studies; Semen; Fertilization in Vitro; In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Infertility, Female; Pregnancy Rate; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Oocytes
PubMed: 36754159
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.046 -
JBRA Assisted Reproduction Mar 2023The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of the dual trigger (human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) + GnRH agonists) compared to the conventional trigger (hCG) in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of the dual trigger (human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) + GnRH agonists) compared to the conventional trigger (hCG) in terms of oocyte retrieval (number and oocyte maturity), fertilization rate or number of embryos with two pronuclei, number of high-quality embryos, number of transferred embryos, number of cryopreserved embryos, implantation rate, positive β-hCG rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, abortion rate, and live birth rate.
METHODS
This search performed in this systematic review included all literature published in the PubMed database of studies on controlled ovarian stimulation with dual trigger compared with conventional trigger. The meta-analysis included clinical trials and prospective cohort studies.
RESULTS
Statistically significant differences between groups (dual trigger vs. hCG trigger) in terms of number of oocytes retrieved and live birth rate favored the dual trigger protocol. No statistically significant differences were found in the other studied variables. A tend favoring the dual trigger protocol was observed in all studied parameters.
CONCLUSIONS
Dual trigger seems to be more effective in GnRH antagonist cycles in terms of embryo and pregnancy outcome.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Prospective Studies; Ovulation Induction; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Fertilization in Vitro; Oocytes; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36356171
DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20220035 -
Medicine Dec 2017Pretreatment of myoinositol is a very new method that was evaluated in multiple small studies to manage poor ovarian response in assisted reproduction. This study was to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Pretreatment of myoinositol is a very new method that was evaluated in multiple small studies to manage poor ovarian response in assisted reproduction. This study was to determine the efficacy of myoinositol supplement in infertile women undergoing ovulation induction for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
METHODS
A meta-analysis and systematic review of published articles evaluating the efficacy of myo-inositol in patients undergoing ovulation induction for ICSI or IVF-ET was performed.
RESULTS
Seven trials with 935 women were included. Myoinositol supplement was associated with significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.96; P = .03] and abortion rate (95% CI, 0.08-0.50; P = .0006). Meanwhile, Grade 1 embryos proportion (95% CI, 1.10-2.74; P = .02), germinal vescicle and degenerated oocytes retrieved (95% CI, 0.11-0.86; P = .02), and total amount of ovulation drugs (95% CI, -591.69 to -210.39; P = .001) were also improved in favor of myo-inositol. There were no significant difference in total oocytes retrieved, MII stage oocytes retrieved, stimulation days, and E2 peak level.
CONCLUSIONS
Myoinositol supplement increase clinical pregnancy rate in infertile women undergoing ovulation induction for ICSI or IVF-ET. It may improve the quality of embryos, and reduce the unsuitable oocytes and required amount of stimulation drugs.
Topics: Adult; Dietary Supplements; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Infertility, Female; Inositol; Oocytes; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
PubMed: 29245250
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000008842 -
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Oct 2023The biggest cell in the human body, the oocyte, encloses almost the complete machinery to start life. Despite all the research performed to date, defining oocyte quality... (Review)
Review
The biggest cell in the human body, the oocyte, encloses almost the complete machinery to start life. Despite all the research performed to date, defining oocyte quality is still a major goal of reproductive science. It is the consensus that mature oocytes are transcriptionally silent although, during their growth, the cell goes through stages of active transcription and translation, which will endow the oocyte with the competence to undergo nuclear maturation, and the oocyte and embryo to initiate timely translation before the embryonic genome is fully activated (cytoplasmic maturation). A systematic search was conducted across three electronic databases and the literature was critically appraised using the KMET score system. The aim was to identify quantitative differences in transcriptome of human oocytes that may link to patient demographics that could affect oocyte competence. Data was analysed following the principles of thematic analysis. Differences in the transcriptome were identified with respect to age or pathological conditions and affected chromosome mis segregation, perturbations of the nuclear envelope, premature maturation, and alterations in metabolic pathways-amongst others-in human oocytes.
Topics: Humans; Oocytes; Oogenesis; Transcriptome; Cytoplasm; RNA, Messenger
PubMed: 37558907
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02906-9 -
Fertility and Sterility Aug 2011To perform a systematic review of the literature to identify randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of oocyte vitrification in terms of oocyte survival,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To perform a systematic review of the literature to identify randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of oocyte vitrification in terms of oocyte survival, fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy rates.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
SETTING
Private university-affiliated IVF center, university-based hospital.
PATIENT(S)
Patients recruited in randomized controlled trials considering oocyte vitrification as one of the experimental arms and slow freezing or fresh oocytes control as the other.
INTERVENTION(S)
Vitrification of human oocytes vs. slow freezing or fresh oocytes.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Ongoing pregnancy rate; secondary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, embryo development, fertilization rate, and oocyte survival.
RESULT(S)
Five eligible studies were finally included. They involved 4,282 vitrified oocytes, 3,524 fresh oocytes, and 361 slow-frozen oocytes between 2005 and 2009. The rates of ongoing pregnancy, top-quality embryo, embryo cleavage, and fertilization did not differ between the vitrification and the fresh oocyte groups. The oocyte survival rate was higher in vitrified vs. slow-frozen oocytes (odds ratio [OR] 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.82-3.32), although heterogeneity between studies was observed. The fertilization rate was higher in vitrified vs. slow-frozen oocytes (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.07-2.11). Vitrification also resulted in a higher rate top-quality embryo (22.4% vs. 8.0%, OR 3.32, 95% CI 1.37-8.02) and embryo cleavage rate (day 2: 64.6% vs. 47.7%, OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.33-3.00; day 3: 53.0% vs. 33.3%, OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.32-3.85) as compared with slow freezing.
CONCLUSION(S)
Vitrification is an efficient method to preserve oocytes, although more large controlled clinical trials are needed to strengthen this conclusion.
Topics: Cell Survival; Cryopreservation; Embryo Transfer; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Fertility; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Infertility; Odds Ratio; Oocytes; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vitrification
PubMed: 21718983
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.06.030 -
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Jul 2016The objective of this meta-analysis is to determine whether there is a higher incidence of preeclampsia (PE) in pregnancies achieved by oocyte donation (OD) compared... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
The objective of this meta-analysis is to determine whether there is a higher incidence of preeclampsia (PE) in pregnancies achieved by oocyte donation (OD) compared with pregnancies achieved by in vitro fertilization with autologous oocytes (IVF).
METHODS
A systematic review was performed to identify relevant studies published from January 1994 until April 2015 with at least an abstract in English using PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and clinicaltrials.gov. The 11 studies included in this systematic review were retrospective and prospective cohort studies of women reporting results on the association between oocyte donation vs. in vitro fertilization (exposure) and preeclampsia (outcome).
RESULTS
Oocyte donation is a risk factor for the development of PE compared to IVF cycles, with a weighted OR of 3.12 under a fixed effects method (FEM: no heterogeneity between the studies). The weighted OR under a random effects model was 2.9 (REM: heterogeneity between the studies). The meta-regression analysis showed that neither multiple pregnancies (estimate = 0.08; p = 0.19) nor patient age (estimate = -2.29; p = 0.13) significantly explained the variability of the effect of oocyte donation on PE. Q statistic was 12.78 (p = 0.237), suggesting absence of heterogeneity between the studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancies achieved by oocyte donation confer a threefold increase in the likelihood of developing PE than those achieved by in vitro fertilization with own oocytes. Physicians should be aware of this risk in order to both counsel patients and monitor pregnancies accordingly.
Topics: Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Oocyte Donation; Oocytes; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 27007875
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-016-0701-9 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022Worldwide, infertility affects between 10 and 15% of reproductive-aged couples. Female infertility represents an increasing health issue, principally in developing... (Review)
Review
Worldwide, infertility affects between 10 and 15% of reproductive-aged couples. Female infertility represents an increasing health issue, principally in developing countries, as the current inclinations of delaying pregnancy beyond 35 years of age significantly decrease fertility rates. Female infertility, commonly imputable to ovulation disorders, can be influenced by several factors, including congenital malformations, hormonal dysfunction, and individual lifestyle choices, such as smoking cigarettes, stress, drug use and physical activity. Moreover, diet-related elements play an important role in the regulation of ovulation. Modern types of diet that encourage a high fat intake exert a particularly negative effect on ovulation, affecting the safety of gametes and the implantation of a healthy embryo. Identifying and understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for diet-associated infertility might help clarify the confounding multifaceted elements of infertility and uncover novel, potentially curative treatments. In this view, this systematic revision of literature will summarize the current body of knowledge of the potential effect of high-fat diet (HFD) exposure on oocyte and follicular quality and consequent female reproductive function, with particular reference to molecular mechanisms and pathways. Inflammation, oxidative stress, gene expression and epigenetics represent the main mechanisms associated with mammal folliculogenesis and oogenesis.
Topics: Animals; Diet, High-Fat; Female; Humans; Infertility, Female; Mammals; Oocytes; Oogenesis; Ovulation; Pregnancy
PubMed: 36012154
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168890