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The use of mitochondrial transfer as a clinic procedure is drawing closer to reality. Here we provide a detailed overview of mitochondrial transfer techniques – both established and recent – including pronuclear, spindle, ooplasmic and blastomere transfer. Reasons as to why some techniques are more suitable for the prevention of mitochondrial DNA disease than others, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each methodology, are discussed. The possible clinical introduction of these techniques has raised concerns about the adverse effects they may have on resultant embryos and offspring. Success rates of each technique, embryo viability and developmental consequences post mitochondrial transfer are addressed through analysis of evidence obtained from both animal and human studies. Counterarguments against potential mitochondrial-nuclear genome incompatibility are also provided. Additional clinical applications of mitochondrial transfer techniques are discussed. These include the rescue or enhancement of fertility in women of advanced maternal age or those suffering from diabetes. An alternative to using mitochondrial DNA transfer for germ line therapies is the therapeutic use of somatic cell nuclear transfer for the generation of personalised stem cells. Although ethically challenging, this method could offer patients already suffering from mitochondrial DNA diseases a novel treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diseases resulting from mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are inherited by all offspring through the maternal lineage. Multiple organs are severely affected, no preventative treatments are available and most patients experience a poor quality of life or early death. With developments in mitochondrial transfer techniques, hope for preventing transmission of mutated mtDNA onto offspring is emerging. Many ethical issues have been raised regarding such treatments, which involve transfer of nuclear material into donated oocytes with healthy mitochondria, or the introduction of healthy donor mitochondria into affected oocytes. Blastomere, ooplasmic, pronuclear and spindle transfer have been explored. Ethical concerns relate to (a) the alteration of germ line genetics and (b) the dilemma of children inheriting DNA material from three instead of two parents. In contrast to gene therapy, where only the DNA of the treated individual is altered, these techniques involve the introduction of foreign mtDNA into the germ line that will be inherited by all children in downstream generations. Mitochondrial transfer has also been closely associated with reproductive cloning, which is regulated differently worldwide. Children born from these techniques might experience an identity crisis. Although three gametes are needed to produce a healthy embryo in this scenario, the child will inherit all nuclear DNA from the intending parents, while only inheriting mtDNA from the donor. Social and scientific values must be considered when introducing new healthcare technology. Many believe that some assisted reproductive technology techniques go beyond the limits of acceptable medical intervention. But who ultimately decides what is acceptable? We address the ethical and social issues surrounding this emerging new technology, legal developments regarding its clinical introduction in the UK and the USA, the future impact on technique and patient management, and relevant legislation in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies using animal models resulted in the development of a novel antibiotic cocktail for eliminating a variety of bacteria from semen, without significantly affecting sperm viability. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the treatment with standard antibiotics on bacteria commonly found in human semen and to determine the effects on sperm viability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of a novel treatment designed to remove HIV from semen by combining multiple density gradients and a proteolytic enzyme and to evaluate sperm viability after treatment. The procedure was effective for reducing viral copies in spiked semen to clinically insignificant levels. The procedure had a statistical vs. clinical significance on reducing the motility (but not supravital staining) of cryopreserved sperm at 0 and 2 h; however, no differences were observed after 24 h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of male, female and fetal cord sera, follicular fluid, and seminal plasma on human sperm-zona pellucida binding, using the hemizona assay. Steroids, gonadotrophins, growth hormone and prolactin concentrations in follicular fluid and sera were also analysed. The influence of follicular fluid (10 or 50%, v/v) and sera (10%) on sperm-zona pellucida binding was investigated by supplementing the sperm processing medium as well as the sperm-hemizona incubation medium. Different seminal plasma concentrations (1 or 10%) were added to the sperm-hemizona incubation medium. Supplementation with 10% day 3 donor serum was used as a control throughout experimentation. Although supplementation with male sera and fetal cord serum exerted a stimulatory effect (36 and 90% respectively; P < 0.029) on sperm-zona pellucida binding, hemizona indices obtained with addition of male sera, fetal cord serum and sera obtained from sub-fertile in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients on day 12 of their menstrual cycle did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Final progesterone concentrations in sperm-zona pellucida incubation media (10% follicular fluid supplementation), which ranged from 0.788 to 3.85 microg/ml, enhanced sperm binding to the zonae by >100% (P < 0.02). The utilization of follicular fluid (10%) as a natural physiological stimulus to enhance sperm-zona pellucida binding in an IVF setting is recommended. The presence of seminal plasma in the spermzona pellucida incubation media showed no beneficial effect on the binding ability of sperm, and can be viewed as an unfavourable substance in the proximity of the oocyte. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction Half of all patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have their disease onset in childhood and adolescence of which up to 40 percent shows persistence of symptoms into adulthood [1]. In addition to their clinical symptoms, patients also show an underperformance in neurocognitive functioning that may hamper the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) [2]. Previous studies showed changes after CBT in prefrontal cortex function and cognitive performance in pediatric OCD [3]. It remains unknown whether these changes are short lasting or persistent during a period of brain maturation. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of CBT on planning performance and brain function in pediatric OCD using a longitudinal design. Methods Fifteen pediatric OCD patients and sixteen matched healthy controls ranging from the ages of 8-18 years performed the Tower of London planning paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at three time points; before treatment, after 16 sessions of CBT and after two years of naturalistic follow up. The task consisted of six conditions: a baseline condition and five planning conditions with increasing difficulty. Weighted contrasts for each subject for the effect of all planning moves versus baseline and for the linear effect of the increasing task load were computed. Voxel-wise statistical tests were family wise error (FWE) rate corrected (P<0.05) for multiple comparisons across the whole brain at the cluster level using an initial height threshold of P<0.001, or at the peak level for the regions of interest (ROI) using a small volume correction. The prefrontal cortex ROI was defined as a sphere with 10 mm radius around the coordinates of the frontal areas involved in the Tower of London task reported in a recent meta-analysis [4]. Results Pediatric OCD patients performed the planning task significantly slower than healthy controls at baseline (pre-treatment), but with the same accuracy. After two years of follow up, reaction times were at the level of healthy controls. Imaging results at baseline showed that increasing task difficulty was associated with stronger recruitment of the left inferior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and anterior insula in patients than controls. With increasing age, activity in the left insula and right cingulum decreases, opposed to increasing activity in the parietal lobe. Normalization of the anterior insula and inferior frontal gyrus that occurred shortly after CBT continued during the two-year follow-up. Conclusion Pediatric OCD patients showed longer reaction times and additional recruitment of frontal brain regions during planning complexity compared with healthy controls. These differences tended to normalize after CBT and the process continued during two years of follow-up. This longitudinal study shows long-lasting changes in cognitive performance and prefrontal cortex function after CBT during a period of ongoing brain maturation. In addition, the temporary effects of this longitudinal study suggest that modest planning dysfunction in pediatric OCD is a state rather than a trait characteristic of the disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this survey were to investigate the incidence, management strategies and policies of SA infertility centres regarding Hepatitis/HIV positive patients seeking assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous factors can jeopardize the culture conditions and success rates of an IVF laboratory. Three IVF laboratories participated within this study. The external and internal environments of each unit were evaluated by means of visual observations, physical measurements and questionnaires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriospermia is commonly found in unprocessed semen samples and will impact assisted reproductive procedures negatively. Density gradient centrifugation in combination with a novel tube insert was effective in eliminating all bacteria from semen up to a spiking concentration of 1x104CFU/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to and the use of Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) is viewed in general as excessively expensive, accessible only to the privileged few. A dissection of cost-drivers within an ART laboratory is discussed in the current overview. ART providers should reflect on the validity of the techniques and equipment, without compromising treatment virtue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for establishing a greater knowledge of embryo quality variables is needed. Thus constructing reliable scoring systems is becoming increasingly more evident. This may result in selection of the appropriate embryo and reducing the number of embryos transferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study designed to determine what type of patients may attend a government-subsidized infertility clinic, the patients' understanding of medical terms, jargon, sexually transmitted diseases and the level of Stressors patients experience during an infertility workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current paper is to discuss prevention of infections in a public sector laboratory-orientated assisted reproduction treatment setting. Alternative viewpoints on resource management, semen decontamination for the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) seropositive male and the subsequent choice of ART procedures, are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) constitute to many health problems. STIs have far reaching public health consequences for sexual wellbeing and reproductive function. The aim of this study was to establish a management tool on the prevalence of STIs that occur amongst patients at SBAH. This study proved the necessity in implementing more cost effective testing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of semen processing with a novel tube insert for the elimination of seminal pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopreservation of human sperm is considered a routine practice in assisted reproduction treatment (ART) laboratories. Vitrification is not yet common practice for sperm cryopreservation in ART laboratories. The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility of utilising vitrification as opposed to current conventional cryopreservation of spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]