Italian Constitutional Court removes the prohibition on gamete donation in Italy

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Dopamine treatment for severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Seven oliguric patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome following gonadotrophin treatment for in-vitro fertilization or gamete intra-Fallopian transfer, were treated with low doses of dopamine by peripheral infusion. Five patients were pregnant. The rationale for this therapeutic approach was to increase renal blood flow and glomerular filtration. In addition to dopamine, fluid intake was restricted to 500 ml/day and a protein and salt-rich diet was provided in order to increase serum osmolarity. Within 24-48 h from the beginning of the dopamine treatment, the syndrome started to regress in all cases. No adverse maternal or fetal effects occurred. We conclude that dopamine therapy may constitute a major advance towards the management of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrom

Objective way to support embryo transfer: a probabilistic decision

STUDY QUESTION Is it feasible to identify factors that significantly affect the clinical outcome of IVF-ICSI cycles and use them to reliably design a predictor of implantation? SUMMARY ANSWER The Bayesian network (BN) identified top-history embryos, female age and the insemination technique as the most relevant factors for predicting the occurrence of pregnancy (AUC, area under curve, of 0.72). In addition, it could discriminate between no implantation and single or twin implantations in a prognostic model that can be used prospectively. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The key requirement for achieving a single live birth in an IVF-ICSI cycle is the capacity to estimate embryo viability in relation to maternal receptivity. Nevertheless, the lack of a strong predictor imposes several restrictions on this strategy. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Medical histories, laboratory data and clinical outcomes of all fresh transfer cycles performed at the International Institute for Reproductive Medicine of Lugano, Switzerland, in the period 2006-2008 (n = 388 cycles), were retrospectively evaluated and analyzed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Patients were unselected for age, sperm parameters or other infertility criteria. Before being admitted to treatment, uterine anomalies were excluded by diagnostic hysteroscopy. To evaluate the factors possibly related to embryo viability and maternal receptivity, the class variable was categorized as pregnancy versus no pregnancy and the features included: female age, number of previous cycles, insemination technique, sperm of proven fertility, the number of transferred top-history embryos, the number of transferred top-quality embryos, the number of follicles >14 mm and the level of estradiol on the day of HCG administration. To assess the classifier, the indicators of performance were computed by cross-validation. Two statistical models were used: the decision tree and the BN. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHOICE The decision tree identified the number of transferred top-history embryos, female age and the insemination technique as the features discriminating between pregnancy and no pregnancy. The model achieved an accuracy of 81.5% that was significantly higher in comparison with the trivial classifier, but the increase was so modest that the model was clinically useless for predictions of pregnancy. The BN could more reliably predict the occurrence of pregnancy with an AUC of 0.72, and confirmed the importance of top-history embryos, female age and insemination technique in determining implantation. In addition, it could discriminate between no implantation, single implantation and twin implantation with the AUC of 0.72, 0.64 and 0.83, respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The relatively small sample of the study did not permit the inclusion of more features that could also have a role in determining the clinical outcome. The design of this study was retrospective to identify the relevant features; a prospective study is now needed to verify the validity of the model. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The resulting predictive model can discriminate with reasonable reliability between pregnancy and no pregnancy, and can also predict the occurrence of a single pregnancy or multiple pregnancy. This could represent an effective support for deciding how many embryos and which embryos to transfer for each couple. Due to its flexibility, the number of variables in the predictor can easily be increased to include other features that may affect implantation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This study was supported by a grant, CTI Medtech Project Number: 9707.1 PFLS-L, Swiss Confederation. No competing interests are declare

IVF treatment of moderate male factor infertility: a comparison of mini-Percoll, partial zona dissection and sub-zonal sperm insertion techniques

In this study we examined various techniques of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for treating couples in whom the male had subnormal semen parameters. We compared two sperm preparation methods (mini-Percoll and conventional swim-up) for efficiency of recovery after preparation and for fertilization rates after IVF, and compared the suitability of partial zona dissection (PZD) and sub-zonal sperm insertion (SUZI) to patients with different types of male factor infertility. The mini-Percoll technique allowed the recovery of significantly more motile spermatozoa from the same semen sample compared to the swim-up method. More oocytes were fertilized after spermatozoa were prepared by the mini-Percoll technique. An increased number of spermatozoa recovered from an ejaculate led to an improvement in the quality of spermatozoa in the insemination droplet. Subsequently, when using the PZD technique, the fertilization rate increased when there was a higher number of spermatozoa in the patient's ejaculate. When comparing the two micromanipulation techniques, SUZI provided patients with oligoasthenzoo-spermia (i.e. < 10 × 106 spermatozoa/ml and 40% motility) with a higher chance of obtaining 2-pronculeate egg

Modelling a Prototype of Bidirectional Substation for District Heating with Thermal Prosumers

The performance of the innovative configurations of the “efficient” thermal networks is a key topic in scientific research, focusing on distribution temperatures and integration with high-efficiency plants and renewable sources. As it already happens for the electricity prosumers, a thermal prosumer may feed the district heating network through a bidirectional exchange substation with the excess of the locally produced thermal energy (e.g., by means of solar thermal plant) or with the waste heat recovered in the industrial processes. The Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) and the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna (UNIBO) designed a bidirectional substation prototype, based on a return-to-supply configuration, and tested steady-state and dynamic conditions to evaluate performances and optimization measures. In this paper, the Modelica language and Dymola software were used to run a multi-domain simulation and model-based design of the substation, starting from a new heat exchanger model featuring variable efficiency, based on the thermal resistance scaling method. Control systems and components were customized from models in standard libraries in order to reproduce the substation behavior under defined operating settings, and the model was validated on the abovementioned experimental tests. Numerical results in terms of exchanged powers, temperatures and flow rates were systematically compared to experimental data, demonstrating a sufficient agreement. In particular, the absolute mean deviation—in terms of temperature—between experimental and numerical data assessed over the entire tests remains contained in +/-1 °C. As further step of the analysis, an optimized model could be included as a component in a district heating network for further investigations on the prosumers’ effects on an existing traditional grid (e.g., in case of deep renovation of urban areas connected to district heating and/or creation of micro energy communities)

Polar body array CGH for prediction of the status of the corresponding oocyte. Part II: technical aspects

The purpose of this study was to assess the technical aspects related to polar body (PB) biopsy, which might have an influence on the results of the microarray comparative genomic hybridization analysis. Furthermore, a comparison was made between two biopsy methods (mechanical and laser). Biopsy of the first and second PB (PB1 and PB2) was performed by mechanical- or laser-assisted biopsy in two different IVF centres. PBs were separately amplified by whole genome amplification. The method of biopsy, mechanical or laser had no influence on the proportion of successfully biopsied oocytes. Especially, for the PB2, the timing of biopsy after ICSI was directly correlated to amplification efficiency. Special care has to be taken with respect to the timing of biopsy of the PB2. Mechanical- and laser-assisted biopsy give the same performance in terms of diagnostic efficienc

Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Community Designs for District Heating Networks: Case Study of Corticella (Italy)

In recent years, a rapid increase in the adoption of renewable energy sources and in the transition from a centralized electricity generation system to an increasingly distributed one has occurred. Within this scenario, in line with the European directives for achieving the objectives in the field of energy transition and climate change, energy communities are seen as potential contributors. The purpose of this work is to analyze the application potential of the energy community concept associated with district heating networks, leading to better overall energy-economic performance. This was demonstrated for a specific energy community in Italy, and it can be achieved by maximizing internal energy sharing-resulting from the electricity surplus generated by the photovoltaic system-and adopting different strategies that include heat pumps in order to maximize self-consumption and self-sufficiency, as well as to evaluate the most efficient investment in economic terms by exploiting the incentive tariff on shared energy. The results show that the performance of the system can be improved with the proposed design, achieving a significant reduction in the system's energy demand, emissions and costs: compared to the reference case, the use of photovoltaics reduces primary energy demand by approximately 11%, while the addition of the energy community configuration allows emissions to be reduced by nearly 12%, with no additional investment

A picture of medically assisted reproduction activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe

STUDY QUESTION: How did coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact on medically assisted reproduction (MAR) services in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic (March to May 2020)? SUMMARY ANSWER: MAR services, and hence treatments for infertile couples, were stopped in most European countries for a mean of 7 weeks. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: With the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, non-urgent medical care was reduced by local authorities to preserve health resources and maintain social distancing. Furthermore, ESHRE and other societies recommended to postpone ART pregnancies as of 14 March 2020. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: A structured questionnaire was distributed in April among the ESHRE Committee of National Representatives, followed by further information collection through email. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The information was collected through the questionnaire and afterwards summarised and aligned with data from the European Centre for Disease Control on the number of COVID-19 cases per country. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: By aligning the data for each country with respective epidemiological data, we show a large variation in the time and the phase in the epidemic in the curve when MAR/ART treatments were suspended and restarted. Similarly, the duration of interruption varied. Fertility preservation treatments and patient supportive care for patients remained available during the pandemic. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Data collection was prone to misinterpretation of the questions and replies, and required further follow-up to check the accuracy. Some representatives reported that they, themselves, were not always aware of the situation throughout the country or reported difficulties with providing single generalised replies, for instance when there were regional differences within their country. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The current article provides a basis for further research of the different strategies developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Such conclusions will be invaluable for health authorities and healthcare professionals with respect to future similar situations.Peer reviewe

What next for preimplantation genetic screening? A polar body approach!

Screening of human preimplantation embryos for numerical chromosome abnormalities has been conducted mostly at the preimplantation stage using fluorescence in situ hybridization. However, it is clear that preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) as it is currently practiced does not improve live birth rates. Therefore the ESHRE PGS Task Force has decided to start a proof of principle study with the aim of determining whether biopsy of the first and second polar body followed by subsequent analysis of the complete chromosome complement of these polar bodies using an array based technique enables a timely identification of the chromosomal status of an oocyte. If the principle of this approach can be proven, it is obvious that a multicentre randomized controlled trial should then be started to determine the clinical value of this technique. In this way the ESHRE PGS Task Force hopes to redirect preimplantation screening from the blind alley to the main road of assisted reproduction