ObjectiveTo validate a morphokinetic implantation model developed for EmbryoScope on embryos with known outcome, compared to standard morphology in a retrospective single center study.MethodsMorphokinetic annotation of 768 embryos with known outcome between 2013 -2015; corresponding to 116 D3 fresh embryos, 80 D6 frozen blastocysts, and 572 D5 blastocysts, fresh or frozen. The embryos were ranked by the KIDScore into five classes, KID1-5, and grouped into four classes based on standard morphology. Pregnancy rates, clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates were compared. Combinations of morphology and morphokinetics were evaluated for implantation rates and live births.ResultsLive birth rate increased with increasing KIDScore, from 19% for KID1 to 42% for KID5. Of all live births, KID5 contributed with 71%, KID4 with 20%, KID3 with 4%, KID2 with 4%, and KID1 with 2%. For morphology, the corresponding figure was 43% for Top Quality, 47% for Good Quality, 4% for Poor Quality, and 5% for Slow embryos. For day 3 embryos, KID5 embryos had the highest live birth rates, and contributed to 83% of the live births; whereas the second best morphological class had the highest live birth rate and contributed to most of the live births. For blastocysts, the KIDScore and morphology performed equally well. Combining morphology and morphokinetics indicated stronger predictive power for morphokinetics.ConclusionsOverall, the KIDScore correlates with both implantation and live birth in our clinical setting. Compared to morphology, the KIDScore was superior for day 3 embryos, and equally good for blastocysts at predicting live births.

ObjectiveOur primary aim was to compare the morphology and morphokinetics on inter- and intra-observer agreement for blastocyst with known implantation outcome. Our secondary aim was to validate the morphokinetic parameters' ability to predict pregnancy using a previous published selection algorithm, and to compare this to standard morphology assessments.MethodsTwo embryologists made independent blinded annotations on two occasions using time-lapse images and morphology evaluations using the Gardner Schoolcraft criteria of 99 blastocysts with known implantation outcome. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was calculated and compared using the two methods. The embryos were grouped based on their morphological score, and on their morphokinetic class using a previous published selection algorithm. The implantation rates for each group was calculated and compared.ResultsThere was moderate agreement for morphology, with agreement on the same embryo score in 55 of 99 cases. The highest agreement rate was found for expansion grade, followed by trophectoderm and inner cell mass. Correlation with pregnancy was inconclusive. For morphokinetics, almost perfect agreement was found for early and late embryo development events, and strong agreement for day-2 and day-3 events. When applying the selection algorithm, the embryo distributions were uneven, and correlation to pregnancy was inconclusive.ConclusionsTime-lapse annotation is consistent and accurate, but our external validation of a previously published selection algorithm was unsuccessful.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cardiovascular cell therapy are procured from different sources including bone marrow and adipose tissue. Differently located MSCs differ in growth potential, differentiation ability and gene expression when cultured in vitro, and studies show different healing abilities for different MSC subgroups. In this study, bone marrow derived MSCs (BMSCs) and adipose tissue derived MSCs (ADSCs) from six human donors with coronary artery disease were compared for growth potential and expression of target genes (Angpt1, LIF, HGF, TGF-b1 and VEGF-A) in response to exposure to 1% and 5% O 2 , for up to 48 h. We found greater growth of ADSCs compared to BMSCs. ADSCs expressed higher levels of Angpt1, LIF and TGF-b1 and equal levels of VEGF-A and HGF as BMSCs. In BMSCs, exposure to low oxygen resulted in upregulation of TGF-b1, whereas other target genes were unaffected. Upregulation was only present at 1% O 2 . In ADSCs, LIF was upregulated in both oxygen concentrations, whereas Angpt1 was upregulated only at 1% O 2 . Different response to reduced oxygen culture conditions is of relevance when expanding cells in vitro prior to administration. These findings indicate ADSCs as better suited for cardiovascular cell therapy compared to BMSCs. ARTICLE HISTORY

No abstract