International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Year:2014 | Volume:12 | Issue:12|Papers Count:8

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the common complications during pregnancy with considerable maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Hypercoagulability due to thrombophilic factors is discussed as the etiology involved in this disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate selected thrombotic factors among pregnant women with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 200 pregnant women at third trimester of pregnancy between 2012 and 2013. 100 pregnant women admitted to Qaem and Imam Reza hospitals of Mashhad, due to preeclampsia, were selected as case group and 100 pregnant women without preeclampsia referred to OB/GYN clinic of these hospitals as control group. Blood samples were taken from two groups for evaluation of the coagulation factors including factor V Leiden, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, anti- cardiolipin antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant antibodies. Results: Two groups were not significantly different in terms of maternal age and parity (p>0.05). Levels of factor V Leiden, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, anti- cardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant antibodies were compared between two groups. The number of patients with abnormal factor V Leiden and protein C was significantly higher in case group than in the control group (p<0.01 respectively), but other factors were not significant different between two groups. Thrombophilia disorders were significantly more in case group compared to control (p<0.001).Conclusion: The risk of thrombophilia disorders is higher in preeclamptic patients than normal pregnant women.

Background: Melatonin, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and an antioxidant, has been shown that can inhibit apoptosis. Administration of melatonin may improve embryo development in assisted reproductive technology (ART).Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of melatonin in inhibition of spontaneous and induced apoptosis by Tumor Necrosis Factor Alph (TNF-a) and actinomycin-D during preimplantation development of mouse embryos.Materials and Methods: Female BALB/c mice were superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), then allowed to mate with male mice. The resultant 2-cell embryos were divided into six groups as follows: control (group I), melatonin (group II), actinomycin-D (group III), actinomycin-D + melatonin (group IV), TNF-a (group V), and TNF-a+ melatonin (group VI). We recorded the numbers and developmental rates of the 4-cell, 8-cell, morula and blastocyst embryos. Blastocysts were stained with acridine orange in order to assess for the embryo quality.Results: The group IV showed a significantly higher developmental rate of blastocysts compared to group III (p<0.05). The number of dead blastomers was significantly decreased in group IV in comparison to group III (p<0.05). Both V and VI groups had a lower developmental rate and lesser quality of blastocysts compared with group I. There was no significant difference in the developmental rate of blastocysts from group II compared to group I (p<0.05).Conclusion: Supplementation of embryo culture media with melatonin can improve the quality and developmental rate of embryos. Melatonin can prevent cell death that was induced by TNF- a and actinomycine-D.

Background: Vitamin D plays a critical role in the regulation of growth and differentiation of squamous epithelium. The pleiotropic effects of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1, 25(OH) 2 D3], include proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and pro-differentiation effects on numerous cell types. Although 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is involved in the regulation and differentiation of epithelium, there is no data in the aspect of the distribution of 1, 25-(OH)2 D3 receptor (VDR), estrogen receptor-b (ER- b) and ezrin, and how it changes according to the menstrual phases and serum vitamin D level in the human vagina.Objective: To detect of the 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (VDR), estrogen receptor- b (ER- b), and ezrin in human vagina.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 15 premenopausal women who had hysterectomies. Vaginal tissues were obtained from vaginal vaults of hysterectomized uterus and processed for immunohistochemical analysis. We recorded the localization, distribution, and expression of VDR, ER- b, and ezrin in the vaginal epithelium.Results: VDR was detected in all layers of vaginal epithelium regardless of the menstrual cycle stage and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.Conclusion: In this study, we have characterized the presence and distribution of VDR, ER- b, and ezrin in human vaginal epithelium, including menstrual cycle-related and vitamin D-related expression. However, the VDR-related mechanisms underlying vaginal epithelial proliferation and differentiation remain to be elucidated.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that clinical features of 16TPolycystic ovary syndrome16T (PCOS) are associated with a lower degree of health, self, and sex satisfaction.Objective: Our study aimed to investigate possible associations between depression and different clinicobiochemical markers of PCOS.Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional analytic study, 120 PCOS women aged 18-45 yr, were enrolled. Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess depression. Also, all participants underwent biochemical studies. Individuals with 15 points and more in Beck test were referred to a psychiatrist to participate in a complementary interview for the diagnosis of depression based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSMIV-TR) criteria.Results: Among the study participants, 82 women (68.3%) were non-depressed, and 38 patients (31.7%) had some degrees of depression. According to the psychiatric interview, 10 patients (8.3%) had major depression, 22 patients (18.3%) had minor depression and 6 patients (5%) had dysthymia. We failed to show any significant difference in body mass index, hirsutism, infertility, serum total testosterone, lipid profile, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) between depressed and non-depressed subjects (p>0.05). Using Spearman correlation, we did not find a positive correlation between BDI scores and clinicobiochemical markers for all PCOS subjects (-0.139≤r≤+0.121, p>0.05).Conclusion: In spite of high rate of depression in women with PCOS, there was no significant association between Clinicobiochemical Markers and depression.

Background: Pentoxifylline (PX) is a methyl xanthine derivative that influences the sperm motion characteristics and L-carnitine (L-C) is an amino acid that is naturally produced in the body. In general, separate administration of PX and L-C has been reported to be effective on preserving sperm motility in vitro, and also when is consumed orally by the Idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (IOAT) patients.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate any possible effect of a combination of L-C and PX on sperm characteristics and improving the type of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) in a group of patients with unexplained oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.Materials and Methods: Two hundred twelve infertile men with IOAT in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial were allocated for this study. They randomized to four groups. Group I received PX/ and L-C (each one, twice daily), group II, PX and placebo, group III, L-C with the placebo, and group IV, received placebo tablets. Finally, we compared pre and post intervention sperm parameters and ART procedures between groups.Results: While the use of PX and L-C are only improved sperm motility, but their combined uses improved all sperm parameters, especially the sperm count. Also the combination of PX and L-C was effective on improving the ART procedures (p<0.01).Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the combination use of PX and L-C is useful in improving of sperm parameters in IOAT patients and also, improve ART procedures in this group of patients

Background: Primary ovarian pregnancy is one of the rarest forms of ectopic pregnancy having incidence of 1.7000-1.40,000 in live births and 0.5-3% of all ectopic gestations. Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), salpingitis, infertility, and assisted reproductive techniques are the important risk factors. Approximately, 75% terminate in first trimester and are often misdiagnosed as corpus luteum haemorrhage. Preoperative diagnosis by ultrasonography (USG) in early pregnancy can help in conservative medical/ surgical management.Objective: The aim of the present study was to find the incidence, risk factors, role of USG in pre-operative diagnosis, feasibility of conservative management with medical method or minimal invasive surgery in developing countries like India.Materials and Methods: We did a retrospective cross-sectional study of ovarian pregnancies managed at Government Medical College and Hospital Chandigarh between July 2000 to July 2010. We analyzed the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, management of ovarian pregnancy, and reviewed the literature.Results: Incidence of ovarian pregnancy was 4.9% of all ectopic pregnancies (14.523). Thirteen (93%) patients presented in first trimester with acute pain abdomen and of these ten patients had bleeding per vaginum. One (7%) patient referred from peripheral hospital at term gestation with ultrasonographic diagnosis of breech presention with plecenta previa. Pre-operative diagnosis was made only in two cases (11%). All cases were managed by laparotomy. Excision of the sac with conservation of the ovary was done in eleven cases (78%) and oophorectomy was done in two cases (14%).Conclusion: Incidence of ovarian pregnancy is on the rise. Although ultrasonography can detect ovarian gestations in unruptured cases but cannot easily differentiate ovarian from other tubal gestation in ruptured state. Medical management is usually not feasible it most of the patients present in ruptured state. Conservative surgical approach is the management of choice.

Background: Giant retroperitoneal uterine leiomyomas are uncommon. Degenerative changes of a leiomyoma may lead to unusual presentation resulting in misdiagnosis preoperatively. The final diagnosis can be made either intraoperatively or histologically.Case: We report a 45-year-old multiparous women presented with abdominal distension and fatigue for six months. Abdominopelvic Sonography and computed tomography showed a large cystic mass that filled the pelvis and abdomen. With the preoperative diagnosis of a malignant tumor, a laparotomy was planned. Intraoperatively, a cystic mass originated from the uterus near the left side of the broad ligament extending to the retroperitoneal space was observed. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy was administered. The histology revealed a leiomyoma with cystic degeneration.Conclusion: Retroperitoneal leiomyomas should be kept in mind in the diferrential diagnosis of a giant cystic mass in abdomen.

Dear Editor: Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples worldwide. Within 50% of cases, man provides reproductive function disorders (1). The cause of infertility in men with oligospermia and azoospermia seems to be due to underlying genetic abnormalities (2). Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the causes of human infertility as they interfere with spermatogenesis. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations and specific translocations in infertile men is multiplied by 10 compared with the normal population (3). Hundred patients aged between 26 and 50 years (the middle age 35 years old), oriented by specialized medical structures, are included in our study. All patients were referred for sterility (no spontaneous pregnancy despite >1 year unprotected intercourse). Only couples with infertility primary, in which men had a review of abnormal sperm: azoospermia or severe oligospermia (concentration sperm cells <5×106 ml and mobility <40%) were included in the study. 20 metaphases for each patient were analyzed by GTG banding technique (Giemsa Trypsin G bands).