Since 1983, Slovenia has been offering well-established, successful, and fully reimbursed IVF programme to infertile couples. On the grounds of data gathered at the Slovenian IVF units we aimed to determine whether the fully accessible IVF treatment system can provide notable success considering cumulative delivery rate (cDR). Longitudinal analysis of getting cDR was performed in 810 IVF cycles of 395 couples who for the first time attended the IVF programme in year 2006 and were followed until year 2012. We calculated the actual and the optimistic cDR. In women aged<38 years the actual cDR was 54% and optimistic DR was 83%, respectively. In women aged≥38 years the actual cDR was 24% and optimistic cDR was 27%. These results enable us to report that prospects of the treatment for the women aged<38 years, if they undergo all 6 available IVF cycles, are very positive and quite comparable to the chances of spontaneous conception. Even in older patients it is beneficial to repeat the IVF procedures. Therefore we consider the existing infertility treatment system in Slovenia as an example of good medical practice with high level of beneficence offered to the patients.

Purpose The aim of our study was to determine whether there are any differences in the cumulus cell gene expression profile of mature oocytes derived from modified natural IVF and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles and if these changes could help us understand why modified natural IVF has lower success rates. Methods Cumulus cells surrounding mature oocytes that developed to morulae or blastocysts on day 5 after oocyte retrieval were submitted to microarray analysis. The obtained data were then validated using quantitative real-time PCR. Results There were 66 differentially expressed genes between cumulus cells of modified natural IVF and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles. Gene ontology analysis revealed the oxidation-reduction process, glutathione metabolic process, xenobiotic metabolic process and gene expression were significantly enriched biological processes in MNIVF cycles. Among differentially expressed genes we observed a large group of small nucleolar RNA’s whose role in folliculogenesis has not yet been established. Conclusion The increased expression of genes involved in the oxidation-reduction process probably points to hypoxic conditions in modified natural IVF cycles. This finding opens up new perspectives for the establishment of the potential role that oxidation-reduction processes have in determining success rates of modified natural IVF.

In in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is established by gonadotropins in combination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists, to prevent premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. The aim of our study was to improve the understanding of gene expression profile of cumulus cells (CC) in terms of ovarian stimulation protocol and oocyte maturity. We applied Affymetrix gene expression profiling in CC of oocytes at different maturation stages using either GnRH agonists or GnRH antagonists. Two analyses were performed: the first involved CC of immature metaphase I (MI) and mature metaphase II (MII) oocytes where 359 genes were differentially expressed, and the second involved the two GnRH analogues where no differentially expressed genes were observed at the entire transcriptome level. A further analysis of 359 differentially genes was performed, focusing on anti-Müllerian hormone receptor 2 (AMHR2), follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC) and serine protease inhibitor E2 (SERPINE2). Among other differentially expressed genes we observed a marked number of new genes connected to cell adhesion and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, glycine and γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). No differential expression in CC between the two GnRH analogues supports the findings of clinical studies where no significant difference in live birth rates between both GnRH analogues has been proven.

DNA microarray technology, showing great perspective in clinical diagnostics and prognostics, is facing a problem of loosely defined and non-unified data quality control. We have developed a general approach for controlling the quality of low density DNA microarrays, which is based on the analysis of covariance of control probes. We have applied the approach to the Steroltalk microarray, which was developed to study genes in connection with cholesterol homeostasis. We analyzed changes in genes expression in human primary hepatocytes treated with rifampicin and rosuvastatin and evaluated the approach by comparing our results to these from the literature. The proposed approach is independent of the type of DNA microarray and therefore may contribute to more rapid transfer of this technology to the clinical practice.

DNA microarray technology, showing great perspective in clinical diagnostics and prognostics, is facing a problem of loosely defined and non-unified data quality control. We have developed a general approach for controlling the quality of low density DNA microarrays, which is based on the analysis of covariance of control probes. We have applied the approach to the Steroltalk microarray, which was developed to study genes in connection with cholesterol homeostasis. We analyzed changes in genes expression in human primary hepatocytes treated with rifampicin and rosuvastatin and evaluated the approach by comparing our results to these from the literature. The proposed approach is independent of the type of DNA microarray and therefore may contribute to more rapid transfer of this technology to the clinical practice.