Purpose The aim of this study was to establish a simple tool to predict good-quality embryos in in vitro fertilization (IVF) by using cumulus cells (CCs) or peripheral blood cells (PBCs). Methods Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from CCs and PBCs in patients undergoing IVF. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, mtDNA copy number in a single cell was calculated. Embryo quality was assessed when it was transferred or frozen. Results CCs were obtained from 60 oocyte cumulus-cell complexes (OCCCs) in 30 women, and PBCs were collected from 18 women. For the 30 women in the study, the median age was 37 years old (range, 24-43), and the mean body mass index was 21.4 (standard error, 2.0). mtDNA content of CCs and PBCs was highly correlated (Pearson's r = 0.900, p < 0.0001). The median mtDNA content of CCs for goodand poor-quality embryos was 140 and 57, respectively (p < 0.0001). The median mtDNA content of PBCs for goodand poor-quality embryos was 36 and 13, respectively (p = 0.604). The logistic regression model indicated that mtDNA content in CCs was the only parameter that predicted good-quality embryos (p = 0.020). The receiver operating characteristic curve for obtaining good-quality embryos by mtDNA copy number in CCs had an area under the curve of 0.823, and using a threshold of 86, positive and negative predictive values were 84.4 and 82.1 %, respectively. Conclusions The determination of mtDNA content in CCs can be used to predict good-quality embryos.

Although the ovary has a large store of germ cells, most of them do not reach mature stages. If a culture system could be developed from early growing follicles to mature oocytes, it would be useful for biological research as well as for reproductive medicine. This study was conducted to establish a multistep culture system from isolated early growing follicles to mature oocytes using a mouse model. Early growing follicles with diameters of 60-95 mm corresponding to primary and early secondary follicles were isolated from 6-day-old mice and classified into three groups by diameter. These follicles contained oocytes with diameters of w45 mm and one or a few layered granulosa cells on the basal lamina. Embedding in collagen gel was followed by first-step culture. After 9-day culture, the growing follicles were transferred onto collagen-coated membrane in the second step. At day 17 of the culture series, the oocyte-granulosa cell complexes were subjected to in vitro maturation. Around 90% of the oocytes in follicles surviving at day 17 resumed second meiosis (metaphase II oocytes: 49.0-58.7%), regardless of the size when the follicle culture started. To assess developmental competence to live birth, the eggs were used for IVF and implantation in pseudopregnant mice. We successfully obtained two live offspring that produced next generations after puberty. We thus conclude that the culture system reported here was able to induce the growth of small follicles and the resultant mature oocytes were able to develop into normal mice.

A 76-year-old female presented to our hospital with a 2 cm firm, nontender, protuberant umbilical nodule. She received treatment with antibiotics for suspected granuloma, with no improvement after two months. High levels of CA125 as well as an ovarian cyst and intrathoracic and intra-abdominal lesions on imaging studies made us suspect an ovarian cancer with a Sister Mary Joseph nodule (SMJN) and other metastases. A bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and umbilical and omentum tumor resections were performed and a metastatic ovarian serous adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathology. After surgery, the patient received chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab; however paclitaxel allergy was observed. As a result, chemotherapy continued with carboplatin and bevacizumab every three weeks for a total of 6 courses. Currently, she is still undergoing treatment with bevacizumab and CA125 levels have been progressively decreasing. SMJN is a rare umbilical metastasis which needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis in the presence of an umbilical tumor for prompt treatment initiation.

During a routine prenatal exam, a 36-year-old female in her third pregnancy was diagnosed with fetal hydrops at 11 weeks of gestation. The pregnancy was monitored with periodic ultrasounds; however, spontaneous resolution was not observed. Amniotic fluid examination at 16 weeks of gestation showed a normal karyotype; however, macrocephaly, a narrow thorax, and shortening of the long bones were observed on ultrasonography. With the strong suspicion of a fetal skeletal disease, specifically thanatophoric dysplasia (TD), and after extensive genetic counseling, termination of the pregnancy was performed per the parents' wishes with mechanical cervical dilation and gemeprost (PGE1) administration. Following delivery, the fetus was found to have macrocephaly, a narrow bell-shaped thorax, and a protuberant abdomen, as well as curved long bones, H-shaped platyspondyly, and curved clavicles on skeletal radiography. As a result, the fetus was diagnosed with TD type I. This case illustrates that although TD is a rare disease, an accurate prenatal diagnosis can be made with the use of ultrasonography.

No abstract