Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42366052›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of reproduction and development2026

Evaluation of the clinical utility of poor-quality embryos using an extended in vitro embryo culture system.

Can Cheng, Shuoping Zhang, Yifan Gu, Fei Gong, Ge Lin, Lizhi Leng

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of reproduction and development, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Can ChengInstitute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Shuoping ZhangClinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China.
Yifan GuInstitute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Fei GongInstitute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Ge LinInstitute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Lizhi LengInstitute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Xiangya School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

There is limited consensus among embryologists regarding the decision to freeze or discard borderline-quality blastocysts. This study aims to investigate the intrinsic developmental potential of blastocysts with poor inner cell mass (ICM) or trophectoderm (TE) quality using an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) culture system that excludes maternal factors. A total of 51 one-pronucleus (1PN)-derived blastocysts were obtained from couples undergoing assisted reproduction technology (ART). The embryos were categorized into three groups: 20 high-quality embryos, 17 embryos with poor ICM, and 14 embryos with poor TE. A 3D culture system was utilized to assess the post-implantation developmental potential of blastocysts with varying grades. Embryonic morphology and diameter were measured to evaluate growth characteristics, and immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess the differentiation of embryonic lineages. 35% of high-quality 1PN embryos developed into OCT4 + epiblast (EPI), GATA6 + hypoblast (HYP), and CK7 + TE, along with an amniotic cavity and yolk sac. Blastocysts with poor TE quality demonstrate reasonable developmental potential, whereas those with poor ICM quality are already compromised during implantation. This study provides valuable insights for ART and clinical management of low-quality blastocysts.

Indexed as

BlastocystEmbryo Culture TechniquesEmbryonic DevelopmentBlastocyst Inner Cell MassEmbryo ImplantationFemaleFertilization in VitroHumansPregnancyReproductive Techniques, AssistedEarly post-implantation embryonic developmentExtended culture systemHuman low-quality blastocystsPoor inner cell mass qualityPoor trophectoderm quality

Identifiers

PMID42366052
PMCPMC13677168

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.