Shandong University

FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2025 -- Frozen embryo transfer is associated with a lower live birth rate compared with fresh embryo transfer among women with a low prognosis for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in The BMJ . Daimin Wei, M.D., Ph.D., from Shandong University in Jinan, China, and colleagues conducted a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized controlled trial in nine academic fertility centers in China involving 838 women with a low prognosis for IVF treatment (defined by no more than nine oocytes retrieved or poor ovarian reserve). Participants were randomly assigned to undergo frozen or fresh embryo transfer on the day of oocyte retrieval. All embryos were cryopreserved in the frozen embryo transfer group, and participants underwent frozen embryo transfer later. In the fresh embryo transfer group, participants underwent fresh embryo transfer after oocyte retrieval. The researchers found that the rate of live birth was lower in the frozen versus fresh embryo transfer group in the intention-to-treat analysis (32 versus 40 percent; relative ratio, 0.79). The rate of clinical pregnancy was also lower for the frozen embryo group versus the fresh embryo group (39 versus 47 percent; relative ratio, 0.83). The frozen versus fresh embryo transfer group had a lower cumulative live birth rate (44 versus 51 percent; relative ratio, 0.86). There were no differences in terms of birth weight, incidence of obstetric complications, or neonatal morbidity risk. "Fresh embryo transfer may be a better choice for women with low prognosis for IVF in terms of live birth rate compared with frozen embryo transfer," the authors write. One author disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry. Abstract/Full Text Editorial Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

MONDAY, Sept. 9, 2024 -- Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with multiple systemic diseases, according a study presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, held from Sept. 9 to 13 in Madrid. Jing Wu and Y. Song, from the Cheeloo College of Medicine at Shandong University in Jinan, China, explored the correlation between IR and systemic diseases using data from the U.K. Biobank, which recruited more than 500,000 participants aged 40 to 69 years. The degree of IR was measured using the triglyceride-glucose index and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. The researchers identified a correlation between IR and 31 diseases (26 positive and five negative correlations) during a median follow-up of 13 years, and for all-cause mortality among women. Strong associations were seen for IR with diabetes, gout, disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, and other lipidemias. A novel finding of an association between IR and diseases such as gout, Parkinson disease, and sciatica was seen. "We have shown that by assessing the degree of insulin resistance, it is possible to identify individuals who are at risk of developing obesity, hypertension, heart disease, gout, sciatica, and some other diseases," Wu said in a statement. "This provides a basis for early intervention measures to reduce the risk of disease and also offers new ideas for disease prevention and treatment." More Information Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 4, 2024 -- Adolescent Meniere disease (MD) has a higher pure-tone average threshold, lower speech discrimination score, and lower otoacoustic emission pass rates than recurrent vertigo of childhood (RVC), according to a study published in the August issue of Laryngoscope: Investigative Otolaryngology . Xiaofei Li, M.D., Ph.D., from Shandong University in Jinan, China, and colleagues examined clinical features in adolescent MD in a retrospective analysis of the medical records of adolescents with MD (aged 11 to 17 years). Features were compared to those with RVC. The researchers found that adolescent MD showed a higher pure-tone average threshold compared with RVC, a lower speech discrimination score, and lower otoacoustic emission pass rates. A significant reduction in equilibrium score, composite sensory score, and vestibular sensory score was exhibited by adolescents with MD. Compared with adolescents with unilateral MD, those with bilateral MD exhibited worse performance in equilibrium score and strategy score. The more severe endolymphatic hydrops detected by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, the higher the auditory brainstem response threshold and the lower the otoacoustic emission pass rate for the affected ear. "Adolescents with MD have similar vestibular information inputs with that of RVC, but the ability for the nerve center to use these clues to maintain balance is worse in adolescents with MD," the authors write. "There were potential differences in vestibular weights in adolescents with unilateral and bilateral MD, also potential effects on vision and proprioception." Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.