Ladies College

This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effects of an internet-delivered compassion-focused therapy program on depressive symptoms in women with recurrent pregnancy loss. The target population will be non-pregnant women aged 18-50 years with at least two pregnancy losses who visit the recurrent pregnancy loss outpatient clinics. Participants who fulfill the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to either a 5-week intervention group (n = 55) or a waitlist control group (n = 55). Participants in the intervention group will be asked to complete four weekly video modules (20-25 min each), including psychoeducation, experiential exercises, and homework assignments based on compassion-focused therapy principles. The intervention incorporates psychiatrist-guided support through weekly messages encouraging participants to share insights and questions about the program. The primary outcome is depression severity measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Secondary outcomes are psychological distress, perinatal grief, self-compassion, rumination, and worry about future pregnancies. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 5-week follow-up (post-intervention), and 13-week follow-up. Mixed model analyses will be conducted to test the effectiveness of the intervention. As this is a study protocol, results are not yet available. If the intervention program demonstrates significant benefits, it could be offered to all women with recurrent pregnancy loss in Japan.

Abstract Study question Does combined treatment with hyaluronic acid (HA) and prolactin (PRL) for post-warming cultures and embryo transfer increase live births after single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (SVBT)? Summary answer Combined treatment with HA and PRL significantly increased live births and decreased early pregnancy loss compared with treatment with HA alone or no treatment. What is known already Systematic reviews have shown that the addition of HA to embryo transfer media improves live birth rates. Therefore, addition of HA to transfer media is currently recommended. Human endometrial tissues secrete PRL, which is accompanied by the differentiation of decidual cells during the mid-secretory phase. Human embryos express PRL receptors during the morula and blastocyst stages. Although in vitro experiments have demonstrated that PRL treatment at the blastocyst stage improves trophoblast migration by stimulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition and focal adhesion, the clinical benefits of PRL treatment have not been evaluated. Study design, size, duration This three-arm, double-blind, randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at an in vitro fertilisation centre between October 2020 and May 2021. A total of 1,236 couples undergoing SVBTs in their ovulatory cycles were randomised at a ratio of 1:1:1 into one of three groups using a computer-generated random number sequence. The primary outcome was the live birth rate. Secondary outcomes included pregnancy-, maternal-, and perinatal-related variables. Subgroup analyses of pregnancy outcomes were performed. Participants/materials, setting, methods After removing the zona pellucida of the warmed blastocysts, the blastocysts were incubated in a medium without HA and PRL (control group), an HA-enriched transfer medium (EmbryoGlue; EG group), or EG supplemented with PRL (EGP group) for 2 h prior to transfer in the same medium. All SVBTs were performed using either natural or letrozole cycles. Implantation, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy rates were assessed. Main results and the role of chance The live birth rate in the EGP group (39.1%, 160/409) was higher than that in the control (31.4%, 128/40; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.39; P = 0.0279) and EG (31.7%, 130/410; AOR, 1.41; P = 0.0347) groups. Although implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were comparable among the three groups (P = 0.6049 and P = 0.1225, respectively), the ongoing pregnancy rate in the EGP group (43.5%) was higher than that in the control (35.1%; AOR, 1.41; P = 0.0207) and EG (35.9%; AOR, 1.39; P = 0.0334) groups. Furthermore, the rate of early pregnancy loss was lower in the EGP group (5.3%) than in the control (13.0%; AOR, 0.40; P = 0.0114) and EG (13.3%; AOR, 0.37; P = 0.0061) groups. Miscarriage, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy rates were comparable between groups. The incidences of maternal and perinatal complications were comparable between groups. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that EGP treatment was effective for blastocysts derived from young patients, morphologically good blastocysts, and Day 4/5 blastocysts. However, live birth rates did not improve in poor prognosis blastocysts or advanced-age patients, even after EGP treatment. Conversely, EG conferred significant benefits for Day 6/7 blastocyst transfers. Limitations, reasons for caution This RCT was a single-centre study, necessitating further multicentre studies to ascertain the generalisability of our findings to other clinics. Data on maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected using self-reported parental questionnaires, which could be error-prone. Furthermore, follow-up studies of children’s physical and cognitive development are required. Wider implications of the findings This RCT demonstrated the effectiveness of combined HA and PRL treatment in improving live birth rates by reducing early pregnancy loss in a very specific subgroup of patients and blastocysts. Continuous development of methods for enhancing the implantation capacity of poor-prognosis blastocysts is required. Trial registration number Yes

Abstract Study question Are the dynamics of the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cortex during a rescue in vitro maturation (IVM) culture associated with oocyte maturation, fertilisation, and embryo development? Summary answer The position of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and cytoplasmic membrane ruffling (CMR) during metaphase I (MI) stage were associated with maturation and subsequent embryonic outcomes. What is known already Recent studies have indicated that morphokinetic and morphological alterations in human embryos are associated with developmental competence, pregnancy outcomes, and ploidy status. Chromosomal segregation errors occur frequently during meiosis, and are closely linked to the ploidy of nascent embryos. This emphasises the importance of observing morphokinetics and morphological alterations throughout this phase. However, time-lapse imaging has been only sporadically exploited to observed these phenomena, leaving a window of opportunity to study possible relationship between morphokinetic patterns and biological and clinical correlates of oocyte meiosis. Study design, size, duration This retrospective observational study analysed data from 269 patients (39.2 ± 0.2 years) who underwent oocyte retrieval—following minimal ovarian stimulation, combined with maturation triggering using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist—between March 2022 and June 2023. The cohort included immature and mature oocytes: germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes (n = 210), and metaphase I (MI, n = 65) and II (MII, n = 308) oocytes. Phenomena occurring during meiosis were observed, and their associations with maturation, fertilisation, and embryo development were analysed. Participants/materials, setting, methods The oocytes were denuded immediately after retrieval, and their maturation status was observed. Immature oocytes were utilised for rescue in vitro maturation cultures. The denuded immature and mature oocytes were cultured in a time-lapse incubator. Dynamics of the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cortex at the GV and MI stages were annotated. Microinjected oocytes were evaluated in terms of fertilisation, embryo development, morphology, and morphokinetics during the pre-implantation period using time-lapse systems. Main results and the role of chance The maturation rate of GV oocytes (44.3%) was significantly lower than that of MI oocytes (78.5%; P < 0.0001). Although fertilisation rates were similar for GV, MI, and MII oocytes, full blastocyst development was impaired in GV (31.2%) and MI (36.8%) oocytes when compared with MII oocytes (55.8%; P = 0.0002). Morphokinetic analysis indicated variations in the position of GVBD, with 79.1% occurring in the central ooplasm and 20.9% in the cortical area. GVBD in the central ooplasm was associated with a reduced maturation rate (P = 0.0045); however, this did not affect fertilisation or embryonic outcomes. The longer time interval from ovulation induction to GVBD was associated with diminished blastocyst expansion (P = 0.0044). Furthermore, 75.5% of the oocytes exhibited CMR at the MI stage, and CMR occurrence was negatively correlated with impaired full blastocyst development (P = 0.0274). Additionally, there was a variation in the duration of CMR (median, 7.0 hours; quartile outer limits, 5.1 and 9.8 hours). Prolonged CMR was associated with an extended MI stage (P = 0.0003), impaired maturation (P = 0.0092), delayed redistribution of the cytoplasmic halo (P = 0.0260), delayed pronuclear breakdown (P = 0.0267–0.0302), and diminished blastocyst expansion (P = 0.0117). Limitations, reasons for caution This study exclusively utilised data from ICSI cycles with minimal stimulation, conducted at a single centre. Consequently, these findings should be independently validated by other research groups to ensure their reliability. Additionally, data from pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy cycles was not included because of the limited sample size. Wider implications of the findings We identified several morphokinetic events—occurring during meiosis associated with oocyte maturation and developmental competence following rescue IVM—that may be further explored as non-invasive markers of oocyte quality. Our data indicates that time-lapse imaging has the potential to reveal mechanisms underlying human oocyte maturation, possibly advancing the rescue IVM clinical approach. Trial registration number No

With the rapid development of society and the acceleration of the globalization process, the post-2000 generation of women, namely Generation Z women, are experiencing unprecedented social changes. The gender concepts of this generation are undergoing profound transformations. This study selects an all-girls high school in Australia as a typical field site and investigates on the marriage views, family concepts, future career choices, and attitudes towards current feminism of Generation Z women. This research aims to explore how Generation Z women shape and express their gender concepts when confronted with the conflict between traditional gender roles and modern feminist ideas. Through in-depth research on this specific group, this study will reveal the diversity and complexity of gender concepts in contemporary society and provide new perspectives and data support for future gender research.

The time at which embryo developmental velocity variations occur remains unknown. Therefore, we analysed the morphokinetic trajectory of human early fertilisation from the extrusion of the second polar body (PB2) to pronuclear breakdown (PNBD) and retrospectively compared its alterations during the fertilisation of day 4-7 blastocysts. Patients (n = 905) who underwent oocyte retrieval and blastocyst expansion between October 2019 and December 2020 were included. This study involved time-lapse technology monitoring of day 4 (n = 29), 5 (n = 1181), 6 (n = 244), and 7 (n = 12) blastocysts generated over 1009 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Morphokinetics during fertilisation were compared among the day 4-7 blastocyst groups. The timing of fertilisation events in the cytoplasm and pronuclei (PN) differed among the day 4-7 blastocyst groups from the outset. PB2 extrusion occurred significantly earlier in day 4 blastocysts than in day 5 blastocysts. The duration of the cytoplasmic halo was shortened in day 4 blastocysts and prolonged in day 6 blastocysts compared with that in day 5 blastocysts. Paternal PN appeared earlier in day 4 blastocysts than in day 5 blastocysts, whereas their appearance was delayed in day 6 blastocysts. In paternal and maternal PN, the time interval from PN appearance to PNBD was shortened in day 4 blastocysts but was prolonged in day 6 and 7 blastocysts. Embryos that reached the blastocyst stage between days 4 and 7 displayed different morphokinetic speeds throughout fertilisation and as early as PB2 extrusion. Aberrant cytoplasmic granules, organelles, and PN rearrangement may contribute to these differences.

Bage, TN, Bishop, C, Coughlan, D, and Wells, JET. Can the variance in DP World Tour Golfers' drive distance be predicted from kinetic variables during a countermovement jump and isometric mid-thigh pull? J Strength Cond Res 39(9): 982-988, 2025-In recent years, a growing body of research has investigated the relationships clubhead velocity has with kinetic variables during a countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP). However, to date, no research has investigated the relationships these kinetic variables have with real-world drive distance (DD) in elite DP World Tour golfers. The purpose of this investigation was to assess if CMJ positive impulse (PI), CMJ net impulse (NI), IMTP peak force (PF), force at 200 milliseconds, force at 250 milliseconds, and force at 300 milliseconds could predict the variance in elite DP World Tour golfers DD during a real-world tournament season. Twenty-five DP World Tour golfers performed CMJs and IMTPs on force plates in a real-world setting, with DD assessed using DP World Tour statistics. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to assess if kinetic variables significantly predicted the variance in DP World Tour Golfers' DD. Statistical significance for this investigation was set at p ≤ 0.05 with effect size determined using the f2 statistic. The results of the investigation note that model 2 (CMJ PI and CMJ NI) was the best fit, significantly predicting ( R2 = 0.279, p ≤ 0.05) the variance in DP World Tour Golfers' DD, which represented a large effect size ( f2 = 0.39). These findings support the use of CMJ PI and CMJ NI when physically profiling elite golfers. In addition, strength and conditioning practitioners should consider utilizing modalities aimed at increasing CMJ impulse when working with golfers.

Background:Dysmenorrhea is chronic and cyclic pain during menstruation and is a common gynecological problem worldwide. Although there are several reported risk factors for dysmenorrhea, the findings of previous studies are inconsistent. This study aimed to identify lifestyle factors associated with dysmenorrhea.Methods:The study population comprised 36,665 premenopausal female nurses aged 20–49 years who completed the Japan Nurses’ Health Study (JNHS) baseline survey. Out of grades 0–4 of menstrual pain, dysmenorrhea was defined as grades 2–4. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the associations between dysmenorrhea and possible risk factors, namely age, current menstrual cycle, marital status, parity, current body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, work shift, physical activity, sleep duration, and soybean isoflavone intake.Results:There was a significant negative association between age and the prevalence ratio (PR) of dysmenorrhea (p < 0.0001). Older age and parity were significantly associated with decreased multivariable-adjusted PRs. The factors significantly associated with increased PRs were an irregular menstrual cycle, being underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), smoking, consuming alcohol, short sleep duration, and night shift work. Although the age-adjusted PRs of total isoflavone aglycone equivalents, tofu intake, and miso soup intake showed a significant linear trend toward decreased PRs, there was a significant decrease in multivariable-adjusted PRs only in the “almost every day” tofu-intake group.Conclusion:The JNHS baseline survey revealed that the factors associated with dysmenorrhea in Japanese women were age, parity, menstrual cycle, being underweight, and lifestyle factors, including soybean food intake.