Shubhashree Uppangala

Manipal Academy of Higher Education | MAHE · Kasturba Medical College (KMC)

Background: Primary care physicians not only coordinate referrals to oncology services but can play a crucial role in successful fertility preservation referrals in cancer-diagnosed patients. Hence, it is important to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards fertility preservation. Methods: An eighteen-item oncofertility survey was administered...

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was developed to overcome male factor infertility, however, there recently has been an increasing trend in ICSI usage irrespective of the etiology, demonstrating an overuse of this insemination technique. There is a limited knowledge on the behaviour of ICSI derived embryos in non-male factor infertility pati...

This study investigated whether combining metabolomic and embryologic data with machine learning (ML) models improve the prediction of embryo implantation potential. In this prospective cohort study, infertile couples ( n =56) undergoing day-5 single blastocyst transfer between February 2019 and August 2021 were included. After day-5 single blastoc...

Concern about fertility impairment after vaccination is one of the reasons for vaccine hesitancy in the population. This retrospective observational study aims to understand the impact of Covishield™ (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 corona virus vaccine, recombinant) COVID-19 vaccination on ejaculate quality in 53 patients undergoing semen analysis between 2018 an...

Reproductive abnormalities in women with a history of childhood diabetes are believed to be partially attributed to hyperglycemia. Prolonged hyperglycemia can negatively affect the ovarian function and fertility during reproductive life. To address this in an experimental setting, the present study used streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic prepuber...

Background: No association between the length of ejaculatory abstinence (LEA) and semen characteristics has been confirmed. A short LEA has been linked to improved sperm characteristics and a higher pregnancy rate, but its negative influence on sperm chromatin maturity and longevity may adversely affect reproductive outcomes. Objectives: We soug...

Background: The extended embryo culture using single-step medium gained popularity in clinical in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, there are concerns about the degradation of unstable medium components and their negative effects on the developing embryos. Further, dry-incubation can increase osmolality, which can in-turn enhance the concentratio...

Background: The extended embryo culture using single-step medium gained popularity in clinical in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, there are concerns about the degradation of unstable medium components and their negative effects on the developing embryos. Further, dry-incubation can increase osmolality, which can in-turn enhance the concentratio...

Background: The extended embryo culture using single-step medium gained popularity in clinical in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, there are concerns about the degradation of unstable medium components and their negative effects on the developing embryos. Further, dry-incubation can increase osmolality, which can in-turn enhance the concentratio...

IntroductionCryopreservation of immature-testicular-tissue (ITT) prior to gonadotoxic treatment, while experimental, is the only recommended option for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys. The handling and manipulation of ITT prior to banking could influence the functionality, genetic and epigenetic integrity of cells.Objectives To investiga...

Background: The extended embryo culture using single-step medium gained popularity in clinical in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, there are concerns about the degradation of unstable medium components and their negative effects on the developing embryos. Further, dry-incubation can increase osmolality, which can in-turn enhance the concentratio...

Cryopreservation of immature-testicular-tissue (ITT) prior to gonadotoxic treatment, while experimental, is the only recommended option for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys. The handling and manipulation of ITT before cryopreservation could influence the functionality of cells during fertility restoration, which this study explored by eva...

Corticosteroids are increasingly being used during the peri-implantation period to treat women with repeated IVF failure and recurrent miscarriage. However, the direct effects of prednisolone (PRDL), one of the commonly used corticosteroids on early embryo development is not understood. To mimic the possible clinical scenario and to understand the...

Reopening fertility care services across the world in the midst of a pandemic brings with it numerous concerns that need immediate addressing, such as the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the male and female reproductive cells and the plausible risk of cross-contamination and transmission. Due to the novelty...

This pilot study was conducted to explore the benefits of using a centrifugation-free device based on the migration–sedimentation (MS) technique over centrifugation-based techniques in selecting competent spermatozoa, as compared with using split human semen samples. Ejaculates from 35 men undergoing semen analysis were split into four parts where...

Background Due to improved treatment, there is an increasing focus on the reproductive potential of survivors of childhood cancer. Cytotoxic chemotherapy accelerates the decline in the number of primordial follicles within the mammalian ovary at all ages, but effects on the developmental potential of remaining oocytes following prepubertal cancer t...

Purpose: Recommendations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) emphasize the critical need to understand current trends in fertility preservation (FP) among the two sets of primary health care providers involved in oncofertility: the oncologists and the gynecologists. This study is aimed at understanding the health care providers' k...

Serum estradiol (E2) level is routinely used to monitor the ovarian response during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and the concentration of serum E2 may influence the oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome. However, the knowledge on the association between COH induced serum E2 level, oocyte quality and embryo development is limited. Theref...

This study investigated if in vitro maturation (IVM) before or after vitrification would be more successful for prepubertal oocytes. To mimic prepubertal conditions in an experimental setup, oocytes were collected from healthy 14, 21 and 28day old Swiss albino mice. The germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes and in vitro matured MII oocytes were subje...

The metabolomic profile of an embryo culture medium can aid in the advanced prediction of embryonic developmental potential and genetic integrity. But it is not known if this technology can be used to determine the in vitro potential of inner cell mass (ICM) in adherence and proliferation. Here, we investigated the developmental potential of mouse...

Paternal genetic alterations may affect embryo viability and reproductive outcomes. Currently it is unknown whether embryo metabolism is affected by sperm-mediated abnormalities. Hence, using a mouse model, this study investigated the response to paternally transmitted DNA lesions on genetic integrity and metabolism in preimplantation embryos. Spen...

The advantage of using laser for assisted hatching in routine assisted reproductive technology (ART) practice is debatable. Recently, it has been shown that laser-manipulated mouse embryos had compromised genetic integrity. However, the impact of laser-assisted hatching (LAH) on the epigenetic integrity of the preimplantation embryos is not elucida...

Female sperm storage is an intriguing adaptation exhibited by a wide array of both vertebrates and invertebrates. The mechanisms underlying female sperm storage have remained elusive. Using the Indian garden lizard Calotes versicolor as a model organism, we investigated the role of low and high molecular weight factors in this phenomenon. Previousl...

Managing the fertility potential has emerged as a major concern for young men who receive gonadotoxic therapy for various malignant and nonmalignant conditions. One of the major causes of non-accidental mortality worldwide is cancer. Over the past few decades, due to the development of reasonably effective cancer treatment regimens, survival rate a...

Early development of certain mammalian embryos is protected by complex checkpoint systems to maintain the genomic integrity. Several metabolic pathways are modulated in response to genetic insults in mammalian cells. The present study investigated the relationship between the genetic integrity, embryo metabolites and developmental competence in pre...

Laser assisted zona hatching (LAH) is a routinely used therapeutic intervention in assisted reproductive technology for patients with poor prognosis. However, results are not conclusive in demonstrating the benefits of zona hatching in improving the pregnancy rate. Recent observations on LAH induced genetic instability in animal embryos prompted us...

Understanding the embryo metabolic response to sperm induced specific abnormalities could help in developing the metabolic markers to prevent the transfer of embryos carrying sperm mediated defects. In this study, NMR based metabolic profiling of the embryo spent media was employed in 34 patients undergoing ICSI cycles. Processed ejaculates were te...

Background: The influence of ejaculatory abstinence (EA) on semen parameters and subsequent reproductive outcome is still debatable; hence understanding the impact of EA on sperm structural and functional integrity may provide a valuable information on predicting successful clinical outcome. Objective: To understand the influence of EA on sperm...

DNA fragmentation in the processed fraction of frozen thawed spermatozoa. (XLSX)

Percentage of aniline blue positive spermatozoa and percentage of 5-mC positive spermatozoa at various EA periods. (XLSX)

Total motility in the processed fraction of the ejaculate from various EA intervals. (XLSX)

Basic semen characteristics in relation to various EA intervals. (XLSX)

DNA longevity analysis by SCD assay in spermatozoa from various EA intervals. (XLSX)

Sperm DNA fragmentation in fresh and processed ejaculate (0h) at various EA intervals. (XLSX)

Earlier reports have suggested that exposure to radiation at workplace may induce cytogenetic abnormalities. However, the association between plasma antioxidants and the cytogenetic abnormalities in these patients has not been elucidated till now. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the relationship between the cytogenetic abnormal...

Concerns regarding the safety of ICSI have been intensified recently due to increased risk of birth defects in ICSI born children. Although fertilization rate is significantly higher in ICSI cycles, studies have failed to demonstrate the benefits of ICSI in improving the pregnancy rate. Poor technical skill, and suboptimal in vitro conditions may a...

To differentiate dead spermatozoa from viable but immotile spermatozoa, several techniques are being used during ICSI. As processed spermatozoa from poor-quality ejaculate are confronted with a higher risk of experiencing stress on exposure to altered osmotic conditions or chemicals, this study was undertaken to determine the expression of stress r...

It has been shown that oocytes isolated from ovarian tissue cryopreservation acquire DNA damage during the process of freeze–thawing. Using a mouse model, here we have investigated the functional competence and phosphoryla-tion of H2AX (g-H2AX) in germinal vesicle (GV) and parthenogenetically activated oocytes derived from conventional ovarian tiss...

This study aims to investigate the influence of two- (day 2) and six-to-eight-cell-stage (day 3) laser-assisted hatchings on the developmental potential and genetic integrity of the embryos. In this prospective experimental study, two- and six-to-eight-cell-stage mouse embryos were subjected to laser hatching using 1,480 nm diode laser, and then as...

Abstract Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the primary treatment modality currently available to women at risk of losing their ovarian function due to cytotoxic therapy. However, the impact of these techniques on the oocyte DNA integrity is not elucidated. Here we have investigated the effect of vitrification and conventional slow freezing of eigh...

There is a paucity of data regarding the association between occupational radiation exposure and risk to human fertility. Recently, we provided the first evidence on altered sperm functional characteristics, DNA damage and hypermethylation in radiation health workers. However, there is no report elucidating the association between seminal plasma an...

We present a new method for rapid NMR data acquisition and assignments applicable to unlabeled ((12)C) or (13)C-labeled biomolecules/organic molecules in general and metabolomics in particular. The method involves the acquisition of three two dimensional (2D) NMR spectra simultaneously using a dual receiver system. The three spectra, namely: (1) G-...

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of zona pellucida bound X-bearing (green) and Y-bearing (red) spermatozoa.

To investigate the influence of sperm DNA integrity on the zona binding ability of mouse spermatozoa in relation to their sex chromosomal constitution. In this prospective experimental study, the sperm DNA fragmentation was induced by exposing testicular area of Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus) to different doses of γ-radiation (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10....

Cytogenetic studies have demonstrated that low levels of chronic radiation exposure can potentially increase the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and aneuploidy in somatic cells. Epidemiological studies have shown that health workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation bear an increased risk of hematological malignancies. To find the i...

There has been growing interest in understanding energy metabolism in human embryos generated using assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for improving the overall success rate of the method. Using NMR spectroscopy as a noninvasive tool, we studied human embryo metabolism to identify specific biomarkers to assess the quality of embryos for their i...

Purpose: To assess the effect of streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia on germ cell integrity, DNA ploidy and methylation status for a period of two spermatogenesis cycles in adult male Swiss albino mice. Methods: Streptozotocin injected mice were monitored for hyperglycemia at a regular interval for a period of 36 and 72 days. The DNA integrity...

To elucidate the effect of sperm immobilization media that are and are not based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the DNA integrity of fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa during standard intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) conditions. Experimental prospective study. Embryology research laboratory. Forty-six ejaculates from normozoospermic and o...