Depok, October 7th 2023. Infertility or fertility disorders is defined as failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of sexual intercourse without contraception. As a result of this problem, quite a few couples choose to carry out the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process or what is known to the general public as tube baby. IVF is one of the latest technologies that can be used to treat fertility disorders in couples with the highest success rate.
According to Dr. Achmad Kemal Harzif, Sp.O.G, Subsp.F.E.R., Doctoral Program student in the Doctor of Medical Sciences Study Program (Prodi), Faculty of Medicine (FK) Universitas Indonesia (UI), one of the factors that influences the success of the IVF process is the embryo factor. Therefore, many researchers have developed various ways to select the best embryos.
The selection of the best embryos is carried out using a more precise method to ensure that the selected embryos have high implantation, pregnancy, and birth success. One way is to ensure that the selected embryos do not have aneuploidy chromosomes, namely abnormalities in the number of chromosomes, by carrying out the Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) procedure.
“However, this procedure is invasive because some of the embryos need to be taken for examination. Therefore, we need a non-invasive examination that does not require a biopsy on the embryo,” said Dr. Kemal.
Research was then developed to assess the quality of embryos without invasive methods using several parameters, such as the shape of the embryo, the development of the embryo during culture, and examination of the residual fluid from the embryo culture. This research was conducted at the IMERI FKUI Human Reproduction, Infertility and Family Planning (HRIFP) Cluster for one year and obtained data from 124 embryos.
In his research, dr. Kemal said there are three parameters that can be used to assess the chromosomal status of an embryo. The first parameter is the degree of embryo cell development, where the more developed embryo cells are associated with normal chromosomes. The second parameter is the levels of miRNA-191 and miRNA-372, where low levels are associated with normal chromosomes. The final parameter is cell free DNA contained in the remaining culture medium.
The results of this research found that if these three parameters were combined, an embryo chromosome prediction model could be applied with good accuracy. This research also produces a pathway for embryo chromosome diagnosis that can be used by clinicians with high accuracy.
Thanks to the research entitled “Artificial Intelligence-Based Embryo Chromosome Status Prediction Model: Morphological and Morphokinetic Assessment Study, Secretion of MicroRNA 372, MicroRNA 191 and cell-free DNA in Embryo Culture Medium”, Dr. Achmad Kemal succeeded in obtaining a Doctorate degree in Medical Sciences at FKUI. The doctoral promotion session was held in the Auditorium Room on the 3rd Floor of the IMERI Building, FKUI Salemba Campus, on Wednesday (27/09) with the Chair of the Session being the Vice Dean of FKUI for Education, Research, and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. dr. Dwiana Ocviyanti, Sp.OG(K), M.P.H.
Acting as promoter at this doctoral promotion session was Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, FKUI, Prof. Dr. dr. Budi Wiweko, Sp.OG, Subsp. F.E.R.(K), MPH with Co-Promoter namely Prof. Dr. dr. R. Muharam, Sp.OG, Subsp. F.E.R.(K) MPH and Dr. dra. Dwi Anita Suryandari, M. Biomed. The examining team was chaired by Prof. Dr. dr. Suhendro, Sp.PD, Subsp.PTI(K) with members namely Dr. dr. Retno Asti Werdhani, M. Epid; Prof. Dr. Eng. Wisnu Jatmiko, S.T., M.Kom from the Faculty of Engineering (FT) UI, and two guest examiners, namely Prof. drh. Arief Boediono, Ph.D., PA.Vet(K) from the Bogor Agricultural Institute and Dr. dr. Hartanto Bayuaji, Sp.OG, Subsp.F.E.R(K) from Padjadjaran University.
