Research
An important mainstay of Stockholm IVF's activities is its link with research. 
Our doctors and embryologists have either a PhD (have received a PhD degree in medicine) in reproductive medicine, or a related subject, or are conducting PhD work in order to achieve a PhD degree in medicine. Stockholm IVF employees produce significantly more research articles than all of the other nine private IVF clinics in Sweden do together. This means that we are on the international research front in a number of fields. We have research collaboration with IVF units at internationally leading clinics such as Harvard Medical School, Yale University, Cleveland Clinic and Tokyo University.

Published articles

2017

Uterine Tissue Engineering and the Future of Uterus Transplantation.

Hellström M, Bandstein S, Brännström M.

Ann Biomed Eng. 2017 Jul;45(7):1718-1730. doi: 10.1007/s10439-016-1776-2. Epub 2016 Dec 19.

PMID: 27995397

Live Donors of the Initial Observational Study of Uterus Transplantation-Psychological and Medical Follow-Up Until 1 Year After Surgery in the 9 Cases.

Kvarnström N, Järvholm S, Johannesson L, Dahm-Kähler P, Olausson M, Brännström M.

Transplantation. 2017 Mar;101(3):664-670. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000001567.

PMID: 27941441

Monitoring of Human Uterus Transplantation With Cervical Biopsies: A Provisional Scoring System for Rejection.

Mölne J, Broecker V, Ekberg J, Nilsson O, Dahm-Kähler P, Brännström M.

Am J Transplant. 2017 Jun;17(6):1628-1636. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14135. Epub 2017 Jan 3.

PMID: 27868389

Induction of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor 2 by hCG Regulates Periovulatory Gene Expression and Plasmin Activity.

Puttabyatappa M, Al-Alem LF, Zakerkish F, Rosewell KL, Brännström M, Curry TE Jr.

Endocrinology. 2017 Jan 1;158(1):109-120. doi: 10.1210/en.2016-1544.

PMID: 27813674

Selecting living donors for uterus transplantation: lessons learned from two transplantations resulting in menstrual functionality and another attempt, aborted after organ retrieval.

Brucker SY, Brännström M, Taran FA, Nadalin S, Königsrainer A, Rall K, Schöller D, Henes M, Bösmüller H, Fend F, Nikolaou K, Notohamiprodjo M, Rosenberger P, Grasshoff C, Heim E, Krämer B, Reisenauer C, Hoopmann M, Kagan KO, Dahm-Kähler P, Kvarnström N, Wallwiener D.

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2017 Dec 21. doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4626-z. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 29270725

Authors' reply re: Starting a Uterus transplantation service: Notes from a small island.

Tan HK, Tan BK, Tan LK, Olofsson JI, Dahm-Kähler P, Brännström M.

BJOG. 2017 Dec 11. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.15019. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.

PMID: 29226565

Uterus transplantation: A Rapidly Expanding Field.

Brännström M, Dahm Kähler P, Greite R, Mölne J, Díaz-García C, Tullius SG.

Transplantation. 2017 Nov 28. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000002035. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.

PMID: 29210893

Allogeneic ovarian transplantation using immunomodulator preimplantation factor (PIF) as monotherapy restored ovarian function in olive baboon.

Feichtinger M, Barnea ER, Nyachieo A, Brännström M, Kim SS.

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2017 Nov 11. doi: 10.1007/s10815-017-1051-y. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 29128910

Starting a uterus transplantation service: notes from a small island.

Tan HK, Tan BK, Tan LK, Olofsson JI, Dahm-Kähler P, Brännström M.

BJOG. 2017 Oct 14. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.14968. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.

PMID: 29031004

Spontaneous twin pregnancy with live births after cryopreservation and re-implantation of ovarian tissue.

Milenkovic M, Brännström M, Diaz-Garcia C, Lundin K, Selleskog U, Söderlund B, Khatibi A, Gull B, Bokström H, Mateoiu C, Akyürek LM, Thurin-Kjellberg A.

Gynecol Surg. 2017;14(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s10397-017-1012-6. Epub 2017 Jun 14. No abstract available.

PMID: 28725171

Womb transplants with live births: an update and the future.

Brännström M.

Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2017 Sep;17(9):1105-1112. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2017.1347633. Epub 2017 Jul 6. Review.

PMID: 28683576

The expression of CXCR4 is induced by the luteinizing hormone surge and mediated by progesterone receptors in human preovulatory granulosa cells.

Choi Y, Park JY, Wilson K, Rosewell KL, Brännström M, Akin JW, Curry TE Jr, Jo M.

Biol Reprod. 2017 Jun 1;96(6):1256-1266. doi: 10.1093/biolre/iox054.

PMID: 28595291

European Society of Gynaecological Oncology Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Vulvar Cancer.

Oonk MHM, Planchamp F, Baldwin P, Bidzinski M, Brännström M, Landoni F, Mahner S, Mahantshetty U, Mirza M, Petersen C, Querleu D, Regauer S, Rob L, Rouzier R, Ulrikh E, van der Velden J, Vergote I, Woelber L, van der Zee AGJ.

Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2017 May;27(4):832-837. doi: 10.1097/IGC.0000000000000975.

PMID: 28441255

Uterus transplantation and beyond.

Brännström M.

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2017 May;28(5):70. doi: 10.1007/s10856-017-5872-0. Epub 2017 Mar 29. Review.

PMID: 28357688

Metformin Ameliorates Uterine Defects in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Zhang Y, Hu M, Meng F, Sun X, Xu H, Zhang J, Cui P, Morina N, Li X, Li W, Wu XK, Brännström M, Shao R, Billig H.

EBioMedicine. 2017 Apr;18:157-170. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.03.023. Epub 2017 Mar 18.

PMID: 28336389

Coordinated Regulation Among Progesterone, Prostaglandins, and EGF-Like Factors in Human Ovulatory Follicles.

Choi Y, Wilson K, Hannon PR, Rosewell KL, Brännström M, Akin JW, Curry TE Jr, Jo M.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jun 1;102(6):1971-1982. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-3153.

PMID: 28323945

Professionals' perspectives on a market-inspired policy reform: A guiding light to the blind spots of measurement.

Korlén S, Amer-Wåhlin I, Lindgren P, von Thiele Schwarz U.

Health Serv Manage Res. 2017 Aug;30(3):148-155. doi: 10.1177/0951484817708941. Epub 2017 May 16.

PMID: 28508667

Managerial strategies to make incentives meaningful and motivating.

Korlén S, Essén A, Lindgren P, Amer-Wahlin I, von Thiele Schwarz U.

J Health Organ Manag. 2017 Apr 10;31(2):126-141. doi: 10.1108/JHOM-06-2016-0122.

PMID: 28482774

The electrical heart axis and ST events in fetal monitoring: A post-hoc analysis following a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Vullings R, Verdurmen KMJ, Hulsenboom ADJ, Scheffer S, de Lau H, Kwee A, Wijn PFF, Amer-Wåhlin I, van Laar JOEH, Oei SG.

PLoS One. 2017 Apr 14;12(4):e0175823. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175823. eCollection 2017.

PMID: 28410419

Case mix adjusted variation in cesarean section rate in Sweden.

Mesterton J, Ladfors L, Ekenberg Abreu A, Lindgren P, Saltvedt S, Weichselbraun M, Amer-Wåhlin I.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2017 May;96(5):597-606. doi: 10.1111/aogs.13117. Epub 2017 Mar 30.

PMID: 28222233

Why STAN might not be dead.

Xodo S, Saccone G, Schuit E, Amer-Wåhlin I, Berghella V.

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017 Oct;30(19):2306-2308. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2016.1247263. Epub 2016 Nov 2.

PMID: 27734746

2016

Molecular characterization of insulin resistance and glycolytic metabolism in the rat uterus.

Zhang Y, Sun X, Sun X, Meng F, Hu M, Li X, Li W, Wu XK, Brännström M, Shao R, Billig H.

Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 27;6:30679. doi: 10.1038/srep30679.

PMID: 27461373

Uterine transplantation is not a good use of limited resources: AGAINST: It is a highly effective infertility treatment.

Brännström M, Dahm-Kähler P, Diaz-Garcia C.

BJOG. 2016 Aug;123(9):1440. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13962. No abstract available.

PMID: 27440590

One uterus bridging three generations: first live birth after mother-to-daughter uterus transplantation.

Brännström M, Bokström H, Dahm-Kähler P, Diaz-Garcia C, Ekberg J, Enskog A, Hagberg H, Johannesson L, Kvarnström N, Mölne J, Olausson M, Olofsson JI, Rodriguez-Wallberg K.

Fertil Steril. 2016 Aug;106(2):261-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.04.001. Epub 2016 Apr 25.

PMID: 27125227

Bioengineered uterine tissue supports pregnancy in a rat model.

Hellström M, Moreno-Moya JM, Bandstein S, Bom E, Akouri RR, Miyazaki K, Maruyama T, Brännström M.

Fertil Steril. 2016 Aug;106(2):487-496.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.03.048. Epub 2016 Apr 8.

PMID: 27068301

Human uterus transplantation in focus.

Dahm-Kähler P, Diaz-Garcia C, Brännström M.

Br Med Bull. 2016 Mar;117(1):69-78. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldw002. Epub 2016 Feb 16. Review.

PMID: 26888381

Prostaglandin E2 and vascular endothelial growth factor A mediate angiogenesis of human ovarian follicular endothelial cells.

Trau HA, Brännström M, Curry TE Jr, Duffy DM.

Hum Reprod. 2016 Feb;31(2):436-44. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dev320. Epub 2016 Jan 5.

PMID: 26740577

Attitudes towards new assisted reproductive technologies in Sweden: a survey in women 30-39 years of age.

Wennberg AL, Rodriguez-Wallberg KA, Milsom I, Brännström M.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2016 Jan;95(1):38-44. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12781. Epub 2015 Oct 19.

PMID: 26399953

Minimal residual disease of leukemia and the quality of cryopreserved human ovarian tissue in vitro.

Asadi-Azarbaijani B, Sheikhi M, Nurmio M, Tinkanen H, Juvonen V, Dunkel L, Hovatta O, Oskam IC, Jahnukainen K.

Leuk Lymphoma. 2016;57(3):700-7. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2015.1065980. Epub 2015 Jun 30.

PMID: 26122194

Electrocardiogram ST Analysis During Labor: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Saccone G, Schuit E, Amer-Wåhlin I, Xodo S, Berghella V.

Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Jan;127(1):127-35. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001198. Review.

PMID: 26646135

Combined cardiotocographic and ST event analysis: A review.

Amer-Wahlin I, Kwee A.

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2016 Jan;30:48-61. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 Jun 23. Review.

PMID: 26206514

Understanding healthcare innovation systems: the Stockholm region case.

Larisch LM, Amer-Wåhlin I, Hidefjäll P.

J Health Organ Manag. 2016 Nov 21;30(8):1221-1241.

PMID: 27834601

Case mix adjustment of health outcomes, resource use and process indicators in childbirth care: a register-based study.

Mesterton J, Lindgren P, Ekenberg Abreu A, Ladfors L, Lilja M, Saltvedt S, Amer-Wåhlin I.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016 May 31;16(1):125. doi: 10.1186/s12884-016-0921-0.

PMID: 27245845

Can Intrapartum Cardiotocography Predict Uterine Rupture among Women with Prior Caesarean Delivery?: A Population Based Case-Control Study.

Andersen MM, Thisted DL, Amer-Wåhlin I, Krebs L; Danish CTG Monitoring during VBAC study group.

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 12;11(2):e0146347. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146347. eCollection 2016.

PMID: 26872018

2015

Uterus transplantation.

Brännström M.

Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2015 Dec;20(6):621-8. doi: 10.1097/MOT.0000000000000246. Review.

PMID: 26536423

Uterus transplantation trial: Psychological evaluation of recipients and partners during the post-transplantation year.

Järvholm S, Johannesson L, Clarke A, Brännström M.

Fertil Steril. 2015 Oct;104(4):1010-1015. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.06.038. Epub 2015 Jul 28.

PMID: 26231464

Chemokine Ligand 20: A Signal for Leukocyte Recruitment During Human Ovulation?

Al-Alem L, Puttabyatappa M, Rosewell K, Brännström M, Akin J, Boldt J, Muse K, Curry TE Jr.

Endocrinology. 2015 Sep;156(9):3358-69. doi: 10.1210/en.2014-1874. Epub 2015 Jun 30.

PMID: 26125463

Livebirth after uterus transplantation - Authors' reply.

Brännström M, Diaz-Garcia C, Johannesson L, Dahm-Kähler P, Bokström H.

Lancet. 2015 Jun 13;385(9985):2352-3. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61098-4. No abstract available.

PMID: 2608863844.

Psychological aspects in pre-transplantation assessments of patients prior to entering the first uterus transplantation trial.

Järvholm S, Johannesson L, Brännström M.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015 Oct;94(10):1035-8. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12696. Epub 2015 Jun 30.

PMID: 26073658

The Swedish uterus transplantation project: the story behind the Swedish uterus transplantation project.

Brännström M.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015 Jul;94(7):675-679. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12661. Epub 2015 May 10. No abstract available.

PMID: 25958784

Obstetric and neonatal outcome of pregnancies fathered by males on immunosuppression after solid organ transplantation.

Morken NH, Diaz-Garcia C, Reisaeter AV, Foss A, Leivestad T, Geiran O, Hervás D, Brännström M.

Am J Transplant. 2015 Jun;15(6):1666-73. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13159. Epub 2015 Apr 13.

PMID: 25868657

Induction of proteinases in the human preovulatory follicle of the menstrual cycle by human chorionic gonadotropin.

Rosewell KL, Al-Alem L, Zakerkish F, McCord L, Akin JW, Chaffin CL, Brännström M, Curry TE Jr.

Fertil Steril. 2015 Mar;103(3):826-33. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.11.017. Epub 2014 Dec 13.

PMID: 25516084

Uterus transplantation trial: 1-year outcome.

Johannesson L, Kvarnström N, Mölne J, Dahm-Kähler P, Enskog A, Diaz-Garcia C, Olausson M, Brännström M.

Fertil Steril. 2015 Jan;103(1):199-204. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.09.024. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

PMID: 25439846

Livebirth after uterus transplantation.

Brännström M, Johannesson L, Bokström H, Kvarnström N, Mölne J, Dahm-Kähler P, Enskog A, Milenkovic M, Ekberg J, Diaz-Garcia C, Gäbel M, Hanafy A, Hagberg H, Olausson M, Nilsson L.

Lancet. 2015 Feb 14;385(9968):607-616. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61728-1. Epub 2014 Oct 6.

PMID: 25301505

Adult human and mouse ovaries lack DDX4-expressing functional oogonial stem cells.

Zhang H, Panula S, Petropoulos S, Edsgärd D, Busayavalasa K, Liu L, Li X, Risal S, Shen Y, Shao J, Liu M, Li S, Zhang D, Zhang X, Gerner RR, Sheikhi M, Damdimopoulou P, Sandberg R, Douagi I, Gustafsson JÅ, Liu L, Lanner F, Hovatta O, Liu K.

Nat Med. 2015 Oct;21(10):1116-8. doi: 10.1038/nm.3775. No abstract available.

PMID: 26444631

Novel PRD-like homeodomain transcription factors and retrotransposon elements in early human development.

Töhönen V, Katayama S, Vesterlund L, Jouhilahti EM, Sheikhi M, Madissoon E, Filippini-Cattaneo G, Jaconi M, Johnsson A, Bürglin TR, Linnarsson S, Hovatta O, Kere J.

Nat Commun. 2015 Sep 11;6:8207. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9207.

PMID: 26360614

Effect of Previous Chemotherapy on the Quality of Cryopreserved Human Ovarian Tissue In Vitro.

Asadi Azarbaijani B, Sheikhi M, Oskam IC, Nurmio M, Laine T, Tinkanen H, Mäkinen S, Tanbo TG, Hovatta O, Jahnukainen K.

PLoS One. 2015 Jul 30;10(7):e0133985. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133985. eCollection 2015.

PMID: 26226487

Full-term newborn after repeated ovarian tissue transplants in a patient treated for Ewing sarcoma by sterilizing pelvic irradiation and chemotherapy.

Rodriguez-Wallberg KA, Karlström PO, Rezapour M, Castellanos E, Hreinsson J, Rasmussen C, Sheikhi M, Ouvrier B, Bozóky B, Olofsson JI, Lundqvist M, Hovatta O.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015 Mar;94(3):324-8. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12568. Epub 2015 Feb 2.

PMID: 25545009