Yongquan Zheng, Dan He, Xiaoyu Cai, Xiaoqian Zhang, Caihong Zheng, Yao Yao
{"title":"Exploring the epigenetic mechanisms of recurrent pregnancy loss: from genetic predisposition to environmental influences.","authors":"Yongquan Zheng, Dan He, Xiaoyu Cai, Xiaoqian Zhang, Caihong Zheng, Yao Yao","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03603-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03603-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a complex and emotionally distressing condition defined by the occurrence of two or more consecutive miscarriages before 20 weeks of gestation. The exact causes of RPL remain unclear, despite extensive research into its genetic, immune, and environmental underpinnings. Recent advances in epigenetics have revealed that alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression play crucial roles in regulating pregnancy-related processes such as immune tolerance, placental development, and embryo implantation. These epigenetic changes are influenced not only by genetic predisposition but also by environmental factors, highlighting the dynamic interaction between genes and the environment in the pathogenesis of RPL. This review explores the role of epigenetics in RPL, focusing on the identification of epigenetic biomarkers, their potential for early diagnosis and prediction, and their implications for targeted therapeutic interventions. We also discuss how environmental factors, including diet, stress, and pollutants, can modify epigenetic regulation, potentially increasing the risk of RPL. Furthermore, emerging epigenetic-based therapies, such as epigenetic drugs and gene editing, are discussed as potential approaches to improving pregnancy outcomes in women with RPL. This review underscores the need for further research to translate epigenetic findings into clinical applications for personalized and precision medicine in RPL management.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alessandro Bartolacci, Valentina Pavone, Beatrice Maria Barbagallo, Anna Cecchele, Enrico Papaleo, Luca Pagliardini
{"title":"Reconsidering the clinical value of 1PN-derived embryos: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Alessandro Bartolacci, Valentina Pavone, Beatrice Maria Barbagallo, Anna Cecchele, Enrico Papaleo, Luca Pagliardini","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03631-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03631-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To assess if 1PN-derived embryos are diploid/euploid and suitable for embryo transfer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS were systematically searched for peer-reviewed original papers using relevant keywords and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms: \"1PN\" OR \"monopronucleated\" OR \"single pronucleus\" AND \"cleavage\" OR \"embryo quality\" OR \"blastocyst quality\" OR \"blastulation\" OR \"embryo development\" OR \"euploidy\" OR \"ploidy\" OR \"pregnancy\" OR \"live birth\" OR \"miscarriage\" OR \"clinical outcomes\" OR \"malformation.\"</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. Compared to 2PN-derived embryos, 1PN-derived embryos exhibited a lower blastulation rate and clinical outcomes when transferred without prior genetic testing. However, 1PN-derived embryos demonstrated similar euploidy and live birth rates following euploid blastocyst transfer, as well as comparable malformation rates to their 2PN counterparts. A non-significant trend toward a higher risk of abnormal ploidy constitution was observed in 1PN-derived embryos. Notably, pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly lower for 1PN-derived embryos from ICSI compared to those from conventional IVF.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>1PN-derived embryos, though less competent than 2PNs, can lead to healthy live births. They may be cautiously utilized in clinical practice, particularly when biparental diploidy has been confirmed.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>CRD42024605305.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bingqi Li, Da He, Hui Zhu, Yuqiong Li, Wen Ye, Doudou Guo, Mengwen Yu, Yiying Wu, Jie Cai, Lindan Ji, Jin Xu
{"title":"Factors influencing the birth weight of ART-conceived offspring.","authors":"Bingqi Li, Da He, Hui Zhu, Yuqiong Li, Wen Ye, Doudou Guo, Mengwen Yu, Yiying Wu, Jie Cai, Lindan Ji, Jin Xu","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03617-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03617-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since the birth of the first infant conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) in 1978, over 10 million individuals worldwide have been born using these methods. ART has offered hope to many facing infertility. However, concerns remain regarding potential health risks in ART-conceived offspring. Current evidence suggests that these individuals are at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, such as low birth weight and small size for gestational age, compared to naturally conceived peers. These disparities may result from intrauterine growth restriction, often leading to rapid postnatal catch-up growth. This pattern may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome later in life. Birth weight is a key indicator of fetal growth and an important predictor of postnatal development. It carries significant prognostic value for long-term health. The causes of birth weight differences in ART offspring are complex. They may involve ART procedures, parental infertility, and intrauterine environmental factors. Understanding how these elements interact with early growth trajectories is crucial. This review explores the multidimensional factors influencing birth weight in ART-conceived offspring, knowledge that can guide personalized monitoring strategies and early intervention measures to prevent metabolic disorders. It also lays a critical foundation for establishing a theoretical framework for long-term health risk management in ART-conceived individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144955550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Siyuan Xie, Meiling Zhang, Fengyan Wu, Ran Yu, Jing Fu, Rong Shi, Qiaoli Li, Biaobang Chen, Juanzi Shi, Tianyu Wu, Xiaoxi Sun, Qing Sang, Lei Wang, Weijie Wang, Jian Mu
{"title":"Novel homozygous variants in ASTL and WEE2 responsible for female infertility characterized by abnormal fertilization.","authors":"Siyuan Xie, Meiling Zhang, Fengyan Wu, Ran Yu, Jing Fu, Rong Shi, Qiaoli Li, Biaobang Chen, Juanzi Shi, Tianyu Wu, Xiaoxi Sun, Qing Sang, Lei Wang, Weijie Wang, Jian Mu","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03626-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10815-025-03626-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To identify the disease-causing gene behind infertile couples with female infertility and abnormal fertilization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used to identify variants in disease-causing genes in 119 infertile couples with abnormal fertilization. Molecular modeling and functional analysis were used to evaluate the pathogenic effects of the variants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified one homozygous ASTL variant and three homozygous WEE2 variants from four affected individuals. Among them, WEE2 variants c.1006<sub>-</sub>1007insTA (p.His337Tyrfs*24) and c.585G > C (p.Lys195Asn) have been previously reported. Structural modeling indicated that the novel ASTL variant c.643G > A (p.Glu215Lys) disrupted the hydrogen bond with Gly-213, while the novel WEE2 variant c.791C > T (p.Ala264Val) significantly decreased tyrosine 15 phosphorylation on Cdc2 and reduced pronucleus formation rate in vitro. In addition, intracytoplasmic sperm injection with assisted oocyte activation (ICSI-AOA) can prevent polyspermy in oocytes with ASTL c.643G > A (p.Glu215Lys) variant and can assist patients in delivering a girl.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We identified novel homozygous variants in ASTL and WEE2, and functional analysis confirmed the pathogenicity of these variants. In addition, ICSI-AOA rescued the polyspermy phenotype in patients with ASTL c.643G > A (p.Glu215Lys) variant. Our findings further reveal the important role of ASTL and WEE2 in female reproduction and expand the mutational spectrum of the abnormal fertilization related genes ASTL and WEE2.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144882890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie Willson, Leah Roberts, Thomas Molinaro, Kassie Bollig
{"title":"Navigating fertility care in the telehealth era: association of consultation mode with patient engagement and pregnancy outcomes.","authors":"Stephanie Willson, Leah Roberts, Thomas Molinaro, Kassie Bollig","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03620-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10815-025-03620-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To examine levels of patient engagement in fertility care by evaluating the association between initial visit type (in-person versus telehealth) and discharge with an ongoing pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective study of all new patient visits (n = 5527) at an academic fertility clinic from April 2020 to March 2021. The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy with discharge to obstetrical care, stratified by treatment type: non-in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment versus IVF. Secondary outcomes included the highest level of patient engagement achieved, defined as the furthest stage in clinical assessment and treatment of infertility, if the primary outcome was not achieved.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 5527 patients were included (telehealth: n = 1331, in-person: n = 4196). Overall, 44.4% and 47.1% of those who had a telehealth and in-person consultation, respectively, achieved an ongoing pregnancy as a result of any fertility treatment. When stratified by those who utilized non-IVF versus IVF treatment, there was no difference in the probability of discharge with an ongoing pregnancy as a result of treatment after adjusting for age, BMI, time from first visit, AMH, and infertility diagnosis (non-IVF: aOR 1.07, 95% CI 0.73-1.57, p = 0.725; IVF: aOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.74-1.22, p = 0.688). Those who had an initial in-person visit were 55% more likely to complete diagnostic testing compared to those who had a telehealth visit (telehealth compared to in-person: aOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.45-0.67, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among those who pursue infertility treatment to conceive, there is no association between initial visit type and ongoing pregnancy as a result of non-IVF or IVF treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Normozoospermic seminal fluid extracellular vesicles could ameliorate adverse effects of freeze-thaw in oligoasthenoteratospermia men.","authors":"Roya Hassani, Hamid Reza Asgari, Morteza Koruji, Zahra Zandieh, Zohreh Nazmara","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03597-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03597-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cryopreservation can lead to sperm damage, which is why incorporating extracellular vesicles derived from normal semen can help protect against the damage caused by freezing.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Extracellular vesicles were obtained from normozoospermic semen samples (n = 15), and their effects on the cryopreservation process were studied in three groups: the control group (A, n = 6), the extracellular vesicles treated before freezing group (B, n = 6), and the extracellular vesicles treated after freezing group (C, n = 6). Characteristics of sperm after thawing, including morphology, viability, motility, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the rate of apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI), as well as the expression levels of the BAX, BCL<sub>2</sub>, CRISP<sub>3</sub>, and KRAS genes, were examined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Group B displayed a significant increase in total motility, progressive motility, normal morphology, and MMP compared to groups A, and DNA fragmentation (DFI) showed a significant decrease compared to groups A and C. Also, vitality and TAC were significantly increased in group B compared to groups A and C. Decreased level of apoptosis was evident in group B compared to group A. Group A exhibited a significant increase in the expression of BAX/BCL<sub>2</sub> ratio compared to groups B and C. Significantly higher expression of KRAS and CRISP<sub>3</sub> was evident in group B compared to groups A and C.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Extracellular vesicles obtained from normozoospermic seminal plasma could protect against the adverse cryopreservation effects through increased MMP and TAC, as well as decreased expression of BAX/BCL<sub>2</sub> ratio and increased KRAS and CRISP<sub>3</sub>.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding the gaps in research on donor motivations and their views on identity release.","authors":"Vareesha Javed, Talha Ali","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03621-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03621-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of repeated vitrification and biopsy on the developmental potential of blastocysts and clinical outcomes: A retrospective propensity-score-matched cohort study.","authors":"Juanjuan Zou, Xuejiao Shi, Haifeng Lu, Zhiguo Zhang, Yan Hao, Yunxia Cao, Dawei Chen","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03630-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03630-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated vitrification and trophectoderm (TE) biopsy procedures during preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) on blastocyst developmental potential and clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study analyzed data from January 2018 to January 2024. The study group included 229 blastocysts from 85 patients that underwent double vitrification (with either single or double biopsy). The control group consisted of 2,611 embryos from 654 patients who underwent conventional PGT with a single vitrification. Propensity score matching (PSM) in a 1:2 ratio was employed to balanced baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was live birth rate, with secondary outcomes including ploidy status, implantation, and miscarriage rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After PSM, the double-vitrification group (226 blastocysts) was compared to a matched single-vitrification group (719 blastocysts). The double-vitrification group exhibited a significantly lower live birth rate (32.61% vs. 54.87%, p = 0.011). For embryos biopsied on Day 5, the double-vitrified group showed a significantly lower euploidy rate (37.80% vs. 48.79%, p = 0.032). A subgroup analysis within the double-vitrification group found no significant differences in ploidy status, clinical pregnancy rates, or live birth rates between embryos that underwent a single biopsy versus those that underwent a double biopsy (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Repeated vitrification negatively impacts clinical outcomes in PGT cycles, specifically by reducing the live birth rate. However, the frequency of biopsy (single vs. double) does not appear to significantly affect clinical success. These findings suggest that while re-biopsy is a viable option for inconclusive cases, caution should be exercised regarding repeated vitrification procedures.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yves Ménézo, Kay Elder, Patrice Clement, Maurizio Dattilo, Pasquale Patrizio
{"title":"Fortification with folic acid and early human embryo development: lessons from assisted reproduction.","authors":"Yves Ménézo, Kay Elder, Patrice Clement, Maurizio Dattilo, Pasquale Patrizio","doi":"10.1007/s10815-025-03613-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-025-03613-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}