International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Year:2016 | Volume:14 | Issue:11|Papers Count:8

Thyroid dysfunctions such as hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis and thyroid nodules may develop during pregnancy leading to abortion, placental abruptions, preeclampsia, preterm delivery and reduced intellectual function in the offspring. Epidemiological data have shown the significant role of maternal thyroid hormone in fetal neurologic development and maternal health. It has been suggested that the deleterious effects of thyroid dysfunction can also extend beyond pregnancy and delivery to affect neuro-intellectual development in the early life of the child. Pregnancy poses an important challenge to the maternal thyroid gland as hormone requirements are increased during gestation as a result of an increase in thyroid-binding globulin, the stimulatory effect of HCG on TSH receptors, and increased peripheral thyroid hormone requirements. Maternal thyroid dysfunction is associated with increased risk for early abortion, preterm delivery, neonatal morbidity and other obstetrical complications. Early diagnosis for thyroid dysfunction of pregnant women and treatment of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy is important and cost effective to avoid both fetal and maternal complications secondary to thyroid dysfunction. Therefore the aim of this review was to assess the thyroid function changes occurring during pregnancy, the different disorders with their maternal and fetal implications, the laboratory diagnosis and the best ways of management of these conditions.

Background: Although pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles has been increased over the preceding years, but the majority of IVF-ET cycles still fail. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) is a glycoprotein that stimulates cytokine growth factor and induces immune system which may improve pregnancy rate in women with history of implantation failure. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate GCSF ability to improve pregnancy rate in women with history of implantation failure Materials and Methods: 0. 5 ml (300 μ g/ml) GCSF was infused intrauterine in intervention group. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed based on clinical pregnancy. Results: The mean age of participants was 31. 95± 4. 71 years old. There were no significant differences between demographic characteristics in two groups (p>0. 05). The pregnancy outcome in GCSF group was improved significantly (p=0. 043). Conclusion: GCSF can improve pregnancy outcome in patients with history of implantation failure.

Background: Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted protozoan diseases in the worldwide. Metronidazole is the choice drug for trichomoniasis treatment, however, metronidazole resistant Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) has been reported. Natural products are the source of most new drugs, and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) is widely used ingredient in the traditional medicine. Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of different concentrations of the ginger ethanol extract on the growth of T. vaginalis trophozoites in vitro. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 970 women who were attend in Kashan health centers were examined for T. vaginalis. Of them, 23 samples were infected with T. vaginalis. Three T. vaginalis isolates were cultured in a TYI-S-33 medium. The effect of ginger ethanol extracts and its toxicity in different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 μ g/ml) on mouse macrophages were measured in triplicate exam by MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. The effect of ginger on apoptosis induction was determined by Flow cytometry. Results: The IC50 of ginger and metronidazole were 93. 8 and 0. 0326 μ g/ml, respectively. 12, 24 and 48 hr after adding different concentrations of extract on mouse macrophages, fatality rates in maximum dose (800 μ g/ml) were 0. 19, 0. 26 and 0. 31 respectively. Flow cytometry results showed the apoptosis rate following treatment with different concentrations of the extract after 48 hr were 17, 28. 5, 42. 1, 58. 8, 76. 3 and 100% respectively, while in the control group was 2. 9%. Conclusion: Ginger ethanol extract induces programmed death in T. vaginalis. It is recommended that due to the known teratogenic effect of metronidazole, ginger can be considered as an alternative drug for metronidazole.

Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the important health problems with high incidence in young women. The exact cause of this syndrome is not clear and some theories have been declared from hormonal factors to nutritional disorders. Objective: We investigated the correlation between serum zinc and antioxidant status with PMS. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, forty eight young girls were selected from a total sample of 110 students residing at university dormitories including PMS (n=23) and healthy (n=25) groups based on PMS questionnaire. Dietary intake questionnaire and blood samples were collected from all participants. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and zinc concentrations were also measured. Results: Serum TAC and zinc concentrations were lower in PMS patients compared with healthy groups (p<0. 01 and p<0. 05, respectively). Healthy controls consumed lower servings of hydrogenated oils (p<0. 05). There were significant differences in terms of muscle mass between the PMS and healthy groups (p<0. 05). Both serum TAC and zinc levels were negatively correlated to PMS scores (r=-0. 39, p<0. 05 and r=-0. 36; p<0. 05, respectively). Conclusion: This study shows that higher TAC and zinc serum levels are associated with lower risk of PMS. PMS cases have more hydrogenated oils than their normal counterparts.

Background: Normal amniotic fluid predicts normal placental function, fetal growth and fetal well-being. Objective: To determine adverse pregnancy outcomes in borderline amniotic fluid index (AFI). Materials and Methods: Pregnant women (37-40 wks) with diagnosis of borderline AFI between December 2012 and August 2014 were identified. Antepartum, intrapartum and neonatal data were collected and compared with those of pregnant women with normal AFI. An AFI less than 8 and more than 5 cm was defined for borderline AFI. Pregnancy outcomes included Cesarean section for non-reassuring fetal heart rate, meconium stained amniotic fluid, 5-min Apgar score <7, low birth weight, umbilical cord blood pH at term and NICU admission. Results: Gestational age at delivery in pregnancies with borderline AFI was significantly lower than normal AFI. Cesarean section rate for non-reassuring fetal heart rate in women of borderline AFI was significantly higher and there was an increased incidence of birth weight less than 10PthP percentile for gestation age in borderline AFI group. Incidence of low Apgar score and low umbilical artery pH in pregnancies with borderline AFI was significantly higher than women with normal AFI. There were no significant difference in the rate of NICU admission and meconium staining in both groups. Conclusion: There are significant differences for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as Cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate, birth weight less than 10PthP percentile for gestation age, low 5 min Apgar score and low umbilical artery pH between pregnancies with borderline and normal AFI.

Background: Unripe cervix prevents entering the endometrial cavity during intrauterine procedures. Mechanical dilatation of cervical canal might cause undesirable complications. Objective: To investigate the substitute of mechanical intervention with chemical treatment by administering hyoscine to patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty non-pregnant women, 20-70 years of age, with a closed cervix who were scheduled for an intrauterine procedure, were randomly divided into two groups. Group A as experimental (received two doses of hyoscine) and group B, as control group (received two doses of vitamin B6) in the vagina (8 hrs and 2 hrs before procedure) and the effect of these two drugs on dilatation and consistency of cervix were studied56T. Results: Statistics resulted from Mann-Whitney U test (p=0. 027) and χ P2P(p=0. 002) indicated that in premenopausal women, the priming effect of hyoscine on dilatation and consistency of uterine cervix was significant, but there were no significant benefits from giving vaginal hyoscine to menopausal women preoperatively (p=0. 603). Conclusion: Hyoscine proved a good choice for inducing cervical priming before intrauterine procedures in premenopausal women.

Background: Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a glycoprotein biomarker that is used in women with pelvic masses such as endometriosis and maybe is useful in practice of patients suspicious to endometriosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative serum CA-125 levels and clinic pathological characteristic in women with endometriosis, and find out the best serum CA-125 levels cut-off in pre and post menopause women. Materials and Methods: Serum CA-125 levels in 87 women aged 21-54 years suspected to endometriosis with pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, or dyspareunia were measured preoperatively. Also the association between clinic pathological characteristic and serum CA-125 level were analyzed. Results: The mean age of women was 32. 22± 6. 91. The mean serum CA-125 level was 49. 93± 4. 30 U/mL. There was a significant correlation between the endometriosis stage, lesion size, adhesion score and preoperative CA-125 plasma concentration. However, we did not found significant differences in age, marital status, patient’ s complaints, and pelvic pain associated to Ca125 serum level. The suggested preoperative serum cut-off levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients were 37 U/ml and 35 U/ml, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results, preoperative serum CA-125 is an important predictor for patients with endometriosis and it should be taken into consideration when surgical management is suspected, especially if stage of disease, lesion size and adhesion score are undertaken.

Dear Editor We interested in a very nice article by Motovali-Bashi at al entitled as “ Multiplex PCR based screening for micro/partial deletions in the AZF region of Y-chromosome in severe oligozoospermic and azoospermic infertile men in Iran” (1). In this article, authors described the frequency of Y chromosome AZF microdeletions increased in subjects with severe spermatogenic failure and partial deletions of AZFc associated with spermatogenic failure. However, in figure 2 of the paper, sY1291 and sY1201 STS-PCR products on agarose gel were presented erroneously. This mistake does not match with the legend of figure 2. sY1201 and sY1291 PCR product sizes are 677 bp and 527 bp, respectively. According to STS-PCR product sizes, sY1201 should be corrected on the top PCR product band on the description of agarose gel. We would like to bring forward this mistake for your attention and for a possible correction. Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interests.