ESHRE task force on ethics and law 15: Cross-border reproductive care

This paper analyses the ethical aspects of cross-border reproductive care. Ethical questions are raised by some of the main reasons of cross-border travelling, i.e. law evasion and unequal access to treatment. The phenomenon also generates possible conflicts linked to the responsibility of the professionals. Three points are discussed: the moral obligation of the physician to refer the patient, his/her duty to provide information and counselling and the acceptability of fee-splitting. The recommendations focus on measures to reduce or limit the number of patients that have to travel abroad and on steps to guarantee the safety and quality of the treatment wherever it is provided

Responsible innovation in human germline gene editing: Background document to the recommendations of ESHG and ESHRE

Technological developments in gene editing raise high expectations for clinical applications, including editing of the germline. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) together developed a Background document and Recommendations to inform and stimulate ongoing societal debates. This document provides the background to the Recommendations. Germline gene editing is currently not allowed in many countries. This makes clinical applications in these countries impossible now, even if germline gene editing would become safe and effective. What were the arguments behind this legislation, and are they still convincing? If a technique could help to avoid serious genetic disorders, in a safe and effective way, would this be a reason to reconsider earlier standpoints? This Background document summarizes the scientific developments and expectations regarding germline gene editing, legal regulations at the European level, and ethics for three different settings (basic research, preclinical research and clinical applications). In ethical terms, we argue that the deontological objections (e.g., gene editing goes against nature) do not seem convincing while consequentialist objections (e.g., safety for the children thus conceived and following generations) require research, not all of which is allowed in the current legal situation in European countries. Development of this Background document and Recommendations reflects the responsibility to help society understand and debate the full range of possible implications of the new technologies, and to contribute to regulations that are adapted to the dynamics of the field while taking account of ethical considerations and societal concerns

Human germline gene editing: Recommendations of ESHG and ESHRE

Technological developments in gene editing raise high expectations for clinical applications, first of all for somatic gene editing but in theory also for germline gene editing (GLGE). GLGE is currently not allowed in many countries. This makes clinical applications in these countries impossible now, even if GLGE would become safe and effective. What were the arguments behind this legislation, and are they still convincing? If a technique can help to avoid serious genetic disorders, in a safe and effective way, would this be a reason to reconsider earlier standpoints? The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) together developed a Background document and Recommendations to inform and stimulate ongoing societal debates. After consulting its membership and experts, this final version of the Recommendations was endorsed by the Executive Committee and the Board of the respective Societies in May 2017. Taking account of ethical arguments, we argue that both basic and pre-clinical research regarding GLGE can be justified, with conditions. Furthermore, while clinical GLGE would be totally premature, it might become a responsible intervention in the future, but only after adequate pre-clinical research. Safety of the child and future generations is a major concern. Future discussions must also address priorities among reproductive and potential non-reproductive alternatives, such as PGD and somatic editing, if that would be safe and successful. The prohibition of human germline modification, however, needs renewed discussion among relevant stakeholders, including the general public and legislators

La Maladie des œdèmes des Chèvres de Sparte. Sa place dans le groupe Pleuropneumonie-Agalaxie et sensibilité aux antibiotiques de son virus causal

Cristodoulou Th., Tarlatzis C. La maladie des œdèmes des Chèvres de Sparte. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 107 n°8, 1954. pp. 441-446

Aromatase inhibitors in stimulated IVF cycles

Aromatase inhibitors have been introduced as a new treatment modality that could challenge clomiphene citrate as an ovulation induction regiment in patients with PCOS. Although several randomized trials have been conducted regarding their use as ovulation induction agents, only few trials are available regarding their efficacy in IVF stimulated cycles. Current available evidence support that letrozole may have a promising role in stimulated IVF cycles, either when administered during the follicular phase for ovarian stimulation. Especially for women with poor ovarian response, letrozole appears to have the potential to increase clinical pregnancy rates when combined with gonadotropins, whereas at the same time reduces the total gonadotropin dose required for ovarian stimulation. However, given that in all of the trials letrozole has been administered in GnRH antagonist cycles, it is intriguing to test in the future how it may perform when used in GnRH agonist cycles. Finally administration of letrozole during luteal phase in IVF cycles offers another treatment modality for patients at high risk for OHSS taking into account that it drastically reduces estradiol level

New algorithm for OHSS prevention

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) still remains a life-threatening complication of in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF), keeping patients and especially those, who previously experienced OHSS, from attempting infertility treatment and childbearing. The recent implementation of four new modalities: the GnRH antagonist protocol, GnRH agonist (GnRHa) triggering of ovulation, blastocyst transfer and embryo/oocyte vitrification, renders feasible the elimination of OHSS in connection with ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF treatment. The proposed current algorithm is based on the number of follicles developed after ovarian stimulation, setting a cut-off level at the development of 18 or more follicles. Further, fulfilling this criterion, the algorithm is based on four decision-making points: the final day of patient work-up, the day of triggering final oocyte maturation, day-1 post oocyte pick-up (OPU) and day-5 post OPU

Aromatase inhibitors in post-menopausal endometriosis

Postmenopausal endometriosis is a rare clinical condition. The diagnosis and treatment of an endometriotic lesion in postmenopausal women is complicated. First line treatment choice should be surgical, given that there is a potential risk of malignancy. Medical treatment may be considered as second line or as an alternate first line treatment whenever surgery is contradicted and aims to alter the hormonal pathway leading to endometriosis progress. Different hormonal regimens have been administered to these patients, with conflicting however results. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) represent one of the most recently used drugs for postmenopausal endometriosis. Clinical data for the use of (AIs) in postmenopausal patients is scarce. Up to date only 5 case reports are available regarding the use of these agents in postmenopausal women. Although definite conclusions may be premature, AIs appear to considerably improve patients' symptoms and reduce endometriotic lesions size. Nonetheless the subsequent induced reduction in estrogen production, leads to certain short-term and long-term adverse effects. Despite the limited available data, AIs appear to represent a new promising method which may improve symptoms and treat these patients, either as first line treatment, when surgery is contraindicated or as a second line for recurrences following surgical treatment. However, careful monitoring of patients' risk profile and further research regarding long-term effects and side-effects of these agents is essential prior implementing them in everyday clinical practice

Influence of conception and delivery mode on stress response marker Oct4B1 and imprinted gene expression related to embryo development: A cohort study

Background: Recent scientific data support that the mode of conception and delivery may influence epigenetic regulation and therefore embryo development. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4-B1 (OCT4B1), a novel variant of OCT4 with yet unknown biological function, is suggested to have a potential role in mediating cellular stress response. Furthermore, Insulinlike Growth Factor 2 (IGF2), Mesoderm-specific Transcript (MEST) and paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) are genes known as imprinted and are regulated via means of epigenetic regulation. The influence of delivery mode and conception on epigenetic regulation is an active research field. Objective: Our aim was to correlate the expression level of Oct4B1 and the expression and methylation level of IGF2, MEST, and PEG10 imprinted genes with the mode of delivery and conception in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. Materials and Methods: Samples of umbilical cord blood from infants born after vaginal delivery, caesarean section (CS) with the infant in cephalic position and CS due to breech position were examined. Furthermore, the investigation included infants conceived through means of assisted reproductive technology. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in mRNA expression levels between different modes of conception and delivery (p = 0.96). Oct4B1, IGF2, MEST, and PEG10 expression levels do not seem to be significantly affected by different modes of conception and delivery. Conclusion: These results indicate that the expression and methylation patterns of Oct4B1, IGF2, MEST and PEG10 in umbilical cord blood are not affected by the conception and delivery mode. Key words: Conception, Fertilization in vitro, Genomic imprinting, Fetal blood