Trace exposures to the toxic metals mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) may threaten human reproductive health. The aim of this study is to generate biologically-plausible hypotheses concerning associations between Hg, Cd, and Pb and in vitro fertilization (IVF) endpoints. For 15 female IVF patients, a multivariable log-binomial model suggests a 75% reduction in the probability for a retrieved oocyte to be in metaphase-II arrest for each μg/dL increase in blood Pb concentration (relative risk (RR) = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–2.50, P = 0.240). For 15 male IVF partners, each μg/L increase in urine Cd concentration is associated with an 81% decrease in the probability for oocyte fertilization (RR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03–1.35, P = 0.097). Because of the magnitude of the effects, these results warrant a comprehensive study with sufficient statistical power to further evaluate these hypotheses.

National Institutes of Health and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

We have isolated Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) from stool and CSF samples taken from patients with acute flaccid paralysis, herpangina, or hand, foot and mouth disease in 2000. Both the cell culture-neutralization test and RT-PCR were used to detect enteroviruses. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD), HEP2c, and BGM cells were used for the isolation of viruses, and serotypes were determined by the neutralization test using EV71-specific antiserum. For genomic analysis, we amplified a 437-bp fragment of the 5'-noncoding region of the enterovirus genome and a 484-bp fragment of the VP3/VP1 region of EV71 by RT-PCR, with positive results. Products amplified using an EV71-specific primer pair were sequenced and compared with other isolates of EV71. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the amplified fragments showed that the EV71 isolates from patients were over 98% homologous and belonged to the genotype C.

No significant trends in prevalence were identified for most birth defects. Gastroschisis prevalence increased significantly among NHW and NHB mothers <20 years of age, with the greatest increases in NHB mothers. Prevalence of Down syndrome among NHB mothers ≥35 years also increased slightly. Stratified results may suggest avenues of research in birth defect etiology and in evaluating prevention efforts. Birth Defects Research 109:1442-1450, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Despite research indicating that sleep disorders influence reproductive health, the effects of sleep on reproductive hormone concentrations are poorly characterized. We prospectively followed 259 regularly menstruating women across one to two menstrual cycles (the BioCycle Study, 2005-2007, measuring fasting serum hormone concentrations up to eight times per cycle. Women provided information about daily sleep in diaries and chronotype and night/shift work on a baseline questionnaire. We evaluated percent differences in mean hormone concentrations, the magnitude of shifts in the timing and amplitude of hormone peaks, and the risk for sporadic anovulation associated with self-reported sleep patterns and night/shift work. We estimated chronotype scores-categorizing women below and above the interquartile range (IQR) as "morning" and "evening" chronotypes, respectively. For every hour increase in daily sleep duration, mean estradiol concentrations increased by 3.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0, 5.9%) and luteal phase progesterone by 9.4% (CI 4.0, 15.2%). Receiving less than 7 hours of sleep per day was associated with slightly earlier rises in peak levels for several hormones. Women reporting night/shift work (n=77) had lower testosterone relative to women employed without night/shift work (percent difference: −9.9%, CI −18.4, −0.4%). Women with morning chronotypes (n=47) had earlier rises in estradiol during their cycles and potentially an earlier rise in luteinizing

#NCT00467363.

Objective To evaluate the association of oocyte donor-recipient characteristics, oocyte donor response, and live birth pregnancy rate (LBR) following fresh donor oocyte IVF-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic reproductive medicine practice Patients Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive fresh donor oocyte IVF-ET cycles from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2013 at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measure Live birth rate per cycle initiated Results The mean (± standard deviation) age of oocyte donors and recipients was 27.0 (± 3.7) and 41.4 (± 4.6) years, respectively. Oocyte donor demographic/reproductive characteristics, ovarian reserve testing, and peak serum estradiol during ovarian stimulation (OS) were similar among cycles which did and did not result in live birth (LB), respectively. Overall implantation, clinical pregnancy, and LBR per cycle initiated were 40.5%, 60.8%, and 54.9%, respectively. The greatest probability of LB was observed in cycles with >10 oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes, oocytes with normal fertilization (zygote-two pronuclear stage), and cleaved embryos, respectively. Conclusion The number of oocytes (total and mature), zygotes, and cleaved embryos are associated with LB following donor oocyte IVF cycles. These findings suggest that specific peri-fertilization factors may be predictive of pregnancy outcomes following donor oocyte IVF cycles.

Purpose We previously reported associations between trace concentrations of Hg, Cd and Pb in blood and urine and reproductive outcomes for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Here we assess measurements in single follicular fluid (FF) specimens from 46 women as a presumably more relevant marker of dose for reproductive toxicity. Methods FF specimens were analyzed for Hg, Cd and Pb using sector field-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). Variability sources were assessed by nested ANOVA. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate associations for square root transformed metals with IVF outcomes, adjusting for confounders.