BACKGROUND:Since the first frozen embryo transplantation succeeded in 1983, embryo cryotechnique has been an important component in human assisted reproductive techniques. It is controversial which embryos and blastocysts after cryopreservation is selected.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the birth outcomes and neonatal status of frozen thawed embryos and blastocysts.
METHODS:In frozen thawed embryo group (n=1 273) and frozen thawed blastocyst group (n=471), we compared pregnancy rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, premature delivery rate, average premature gestational weeks, term yield, average ful-term gestational age, newborn sex, birth weight, birth defects and so on.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were frozen thawed blastocyst thaw cycles in 478 cases, 471 cases of transplantation period (including 7 cases without blastocyst transfer were canceled), 236 cases of pregnancy, 201 cases of delivery. Delivery number was 251, including 140 boys and 111 girls. The third day embryo thawing cycle of freezing and thawing appeared in 1 280 cases, 1 273 cases of transplantation period (including 7 cases of no embryo transplantation were canceled), 415 cases of pregnancy, 343 cases of delivery. The delivery number was 431, including 225 boys and 206 girls. Rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in frozen thawed blastocysts compared with frozen thawed embryos. No significant differences were detected in rate of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy rate, premature delivery rate, average premature gestational weeks, term yield, average ful-termgestational age, newborn sex, and birth weight between frozen thawed embryos and blastocysts. There was no increase in birth defects between frozen thawed embryos and blastocysts. Results suggested that no significant difference was detected in birth outcomes and neonatal status of frozen thawed embryos and blastocysts. Nevertheless, pregnancy outcome is better in frozen thawed blastocysts than frozen thawed embryos.

Objective To compare the effect of three different fertilization modes of frozen-thawed embryos and blastocysts on the pregnancy outcome after thawed transplantation .Methods 3 586 cycles of frozen embryos transplantation (FET ) treatment in our center from January 2012 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into 3 groups according to the fertilization modes .The group A adopted the conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) of frozen-thawed embryo transfer in 2 008 cases and blas-tocysts transfer in 954 cases .The group B adopted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of frozen-thawed embryo transfer in 361 cases and blastocysts transfer in 129 cases ;the group C was given early remedy intracytoplasmic sperm injection (r-ICSI) of frozen-thawed embryo transfer in 87 cases and blastocysts transfer in 47 cases .The recovery rate of embryo and blastocyst ,pregnancy rate ,abortion rate ,ectopic pregnancy rate were compared for determining whether the differences among the indexes existed . Results The thawing recovery rate ,pregnancy rate ,abortion rate and ectopic pregnancy rate in the three different fertilization modes of embryo and blastocyst had no statistically significant differences (P>0 .05) .Conclusion Compared with conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection ,early r-ICSI is one of effective treatment means .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of dobutamine stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for myocardial viability.

METHODSTen male miniswines underwent left ventriculography and coronary angiography, followed by stenosis of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) using ameroid constrictor. More than one month later, left ventriculography and coronary angiography were performed again, followed by cine-MRI at rest and during stress with incremental dose of dobutamine 5 - 20 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1). Traditional and/or breath-hold cine-MRI were used to evaluate regional left ventricular wall motion, corresponding to basal, midventricular and apical short-axis tomograms. Regional wall motion score index (WMSI) was calculated. The miniswines were finally sacrificed for pathological examination. Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) delineated myocardial infarction. Microscopy was used to identify myocardial cellular changes.

RESULTSOne pig died, one pig suffered from aneurysm and another showed no negative findings. The other seven pigs were found with hypokinetic (n = 4) or akinetic (n = 3) myocardial regions related to stenosed LCX. Their mean WMSI at rest for the lateral and posteroinferior walls (ischemic regions) of the left ventricle was 2.27 +/- 0.32, as compared with 1.00 +/- 0.00 (P < 0.01) for the corresponding nonischemic anteroseptal regions. Further, the mean WMSI for the ischemic regions was 2.27 +/- 0.32 at rest compared with 1.40 +/- 0.39 (P < 0.01) at the dose of dobutamine 5 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1). However, the mean WMSI at the doses of dobutamine 10 and 20 micro g.kg(-1). min(-1) were 1.70 +/- 0.76 and 1.75 +/- 0.83, respectively, with no significant difference as compared with the mean WSCI at rest (P > 0.05). The pathologic examination showed viable myocardium at the ischemic regions.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose dobutamine (5 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1)) recovers hypokinetic or akinetic myocardial regions, and dobutamine stress MRI can be used to detect myocardial viability.

Animals ; Dobutamine ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; methods ; Male ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Ventricular Function, Left