IVF Laboratory

INTRODUCTION: Schizophyllum commune (S. commune) is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus and can cause infection of the respiratory system in immunocompromised hosts. Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) is the major disease caused by S. commune. However, identification of S. commune using routine mycological diagnostic methods is difficult. It is easy to make mistakes in diagnosis and treatment, resulting in deterioration of the disease. We report the first case of ABPM due to S. commune in a Chinese patient with chronic hepatitis B...

OBJECTIVE: To study the development and clinical validation of the ART Pipetting Robot for the IVF Laboratory (APRIL), a liquid-handling robot customized for the precise preparation of microdroplet culture dishes in the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF). DESIGN: A prospective randomized study conducted at an academic IVF center comparing mouse and human embryo outcomes and quantitative measures of accuracy in embryo dishes prepared using APRIL compared with standard manual preparation...

OBJECTIVE: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) has been a major challenge in infertility treatment. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) regimen and antagonist regimen in infertile patients aged 35 years or older with DOR. METHODS: A retrospective study of 289 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles from April 2016 to June 2022 was performed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups at a ratio of 1:1...

OBJECTIVES: Contamination with intravenous (IV) fluids is a common cause of specimen rejection or erroneous results in hospitalized patients. Identification of contaminated samples can be difficult. Common measures such as failed delta checks may not be adequately sensitive nor specific. This study aimed to determine detection criteria using commonly ordered tests to identify IV fluid contamination and validate the use of these criteria. METHODS: Confirmed contaminated and non-contaminated samples were used to identify patterns in laboratory results to develop criteria to detect IV fluid contamination...

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical characteristics, virus serotype, and outcome in cases of mild and severe enteroviral infection at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of cases hospitalized between June and August 2019. Samples (stool or throat swabs) were examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Positive cases were divided into two groups: mild infection and severe infection. RESULTS: A total of 149 cases were assigned to one of two groups: mild infection (n = 104) and severe infection (n = 45)...

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is the most common method for prenatal aneuploidy screening. Low fetal fraction (LFF) is the primary reason for NIPT failure. Consequently, factors associated with LFF should be elucidated for optimal clinical implementation of NIPT. METHODS: In this study, NIPT data from January 2019 to December 2022 from the laboratory records and obstetrical and neonatal data from the electronic medical records were collected and analyzed...

STUDY QUESTION: Can generative artificial intelligence (AI) models produce high-fidelity images of human blastocysts? SUMMARY ANSWER: Generative AI models exhibit the capability to generate high-fidelity human blastocyst images, thereby providing substantial training datasets crucial for the development of robust AI models. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The integration of AI into IVF procedures holds the potential to enhance objectivity and automate embryo selection for transfer...

BACKGROUND: Intramural hematoma of the small bowel is a rare yet acute gastrointestinal condition typically linked with impaired coagulation function, often posing diagnostic challenges. It is principally encountered in patients undergoing prolonged anticoagulant therapy, specifically warfarin. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a case of intramural hematoma associated with warfarin use. The patient was admitted to hospital with abdominal pain and had received anticoagulant therapy with warfarin 2...

A 12-year-old boy was transferred to our pediatric department from a rural hospital for fever, cough, and vomiting associated with thrombocytopenia, non-immune hemolytic anemia, and acute kidney injury, leading to the diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). A nasopharyngeal swab and a lower respiratory sample detected Influenza A by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient was treated with oseltamivir and intravenous fluids in addition to fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was detected in a stool sample by PCR...

A 51-year-old woman presented to her local emergency department with acute onset right-sided flank pain and nausea. Her blood results on admission were largely unremarkable aside from leucocytosis and neutrophilia. Two days after admission, she developed the following: stage 3 AKI with oliguria, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute derangement of liver function tests. A computed tomography of the kidney ureter bladder demonstrated a right-sided 4 mm obstructing vesicoureteric junction stone with associated hydronephrosis and hydroureter...

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis (AP) following drug-induced hypertriglyceridemia is a rare clinical phenomenon. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized treatment for a variety of solid organ and hematological malignancies. Pembrolizumab is a programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor that has shown promising responses in many advanced cancers. However, a constellation of immune-related adverse events has also been described. There are reports of pembrolizumab-induced hypertriglyceridemia, but AP as a result of this side effect remains an exceedingly rare clinical sequela...

The purpose of this review is to address the critical need for standardization and clarity in the use of key performance indicators (KPIs) within the realm of in vitro fertilization (IVF), particularly emphasizing the integration of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) processes. This review is timely and relevant given the persistently modest success rates of IVF treatments, which stand at approximately 30%, and the growing complexity of IVF procedures, including PGT practices. The review synthesizes recent findings across studies focusing on technical and clinical KPIs in embryology and genetic laboratories, identifying gaps in current research and practice, particularly the lack of standardized KPIs and terminology...

Although the etiology of blue toe syndrome is varied, the association between blue toe syndrome and iron deficiency-induced thrombocytosis (IDIT) has not been well established. We report the case of a 38-year-old Saudi male who presented with blue toe syndrome and laboratory investigations revealed severe thrombocytosis secondary to iron deficiency. The patient was managed with analgesics, antiplatelets, anticoagulation, intravenous fluids, and iron supplementation. Subsequently, his symptoms resolved within a few days...

Intraosseous (IO) access and infusion is a safe and rapid alternative to intravenous access in obtaining vascular access for administering fluids and drugs. Healthcare professionals, such as primary and advanced care paramedics, use IO access and infusion in emergency circumstances where peripheral intravenous routes are inaccessible. IO access skills require hands-on training, which can be done remotely if the participants have access to simulation, instructions, guidance, and feedback. For the purpose of moving the training outside of the simulation laboratories, we have developed (1) an inexpensive and scalable three-dimensional (3D) printed and silicone-based advanced adult proximal tibial IO access and infusion simulator and (2) a unique learning management system (LMS) for remote simulation-based training...

BACKGROUND Small bowel hematoma is a rare yet clinically significant condition characterized by the accumulation of blood within the mucosa and submucosa layers of the small intestine wall. It can lead to complications such as bowel obstruction, ischemia, perforation, and even hemorrhagic shock. The etiology of intramural small bowel hematoma is diverse, encompassing factors such as anticoagulant therapy, coagulopathies, vascular disorders, trauma, and underlying systemic conditions. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 67-year-old man with a history of aortic valve replacement who presented with intense abdominal pain...

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can a deep learning image analysis model be developed to assess oocyte quality by predicting blastocyst development from images of denuded mature oocytes? DESIGN: A deep learning model was developed utilizing 37,133 static oocyte images with associated laboratory outcomes from eight fertility clinics (six countries). A subset of data (n = 7807) was allocated to test model performance. External model validation was conducted to assess generalizability and robustness on new data (n = 12,357) from two fertility clinics (two countries)...

Cocaine is an indirect-acting sympathomimetic drug that inhibits norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake in the adrenergic presynaptic cleft. Cocaine use has been associated with strokes, angina, arrhythmias, and agitation. Data on gastrointestinal complications such as mesenteric ischemia, bowel necrosis, ulceration, and perforation are scarce. Here, we present a rare case of cocaine-induced esophageal, gastric, and small bowel necrosis that contributes to the limited literature on this subject. Diagnosis of cocaine-induced gastrointestinal complications involves a combination of imaging studies, laboratory assessments, and histopathological examinations...

The celiacomesenteric trunk (CMT), an exceedingly rare anatomic variant uniting the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery (SMA), holds significant clinical and surgical implications. Despite its rarity, understanding these implications is crucial for effective management. This report outlines the case of a 99-year-old female presenting with septic shock and abdominal pain, with imaging revealing an incidental CMT. This paper aims to elucidate the surgical implications associated with CMT through a comprehensive case review and literature search...

Intrathecal injection is a commonly employed procedure in both pediatric and adult clinics, serving as an effective means to administer medications and treatments. By directly delivering medications and treatments into the cerebrospinal fluid of the central nervous system, this method achieves higher localized drug concentrations while reducing systemic side-effects compared to other routes such as intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injections. Its importance extends beyond clinical settings, as intrathecal injection plays a vital role in preclinical studies focused on treating neurogenetic disorders in rodents and other large animals, including non-human primates...

OBJECTIVE: To validate the performance of our laboratory-developed whole-genome screening assay within clinical preimplantation genetic testing environments. DESIGN: Perform a laboratory-developed whole-genome assay on both cell lines and trophectoderm biopsies, subsequently employing the next-generation sequencing procedure to reach a sequencing depth of 30X. Adhere to the Genome Analysis Toolkit best practices for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision calculations by comparing samples with references...