Prediction of ovarian reserve based on day-3 serum follicle stimulating hormone concentrations during the pituitary suppression cycle using a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Satisfactory results following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatments depend on retrieving an appropriate number of mature oocytes without causing the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The present study was carried out to investigate whether the ovarian reserve is predictable based on the day-3 serum concentration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during the pituitary suppression cycle using a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (defined as day-3 FSH) in patients undergoing IVF-ET treatment. Day-3 FSH before the administration of gonadotropin was assessed in 72 IVF-ET cycles from 59 infertile women.

Serum leptin concentrations in patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment.

Objective: To investigate the changes in serum leptin concentration in the conception cycle of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Design: Prospective longitudinal study of 66 IVF-ET cycles between May 2000 and June 2002.

Setting: Infertility outpatient clinic at a Japanese medical school.

Prediction of pregnancy by intrauterine insemination using CASA estimates and strict criteria in patients with male factor infertility.

This study was performed to predict pregnancy by intrauterine insemination (IUI) using computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) estimates and strict criteria in patients with male factor infertility. IUI was performed in 682 cycles on 160 male factor infertile patients. Semen examinations were carried out by CASA and strict criteria before and after sperm preparation using continuous-step density gradient centrifugation.

Relationships between Chlamydia trachomatis antibody titers and tubal pathology assessed using transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in infertile women.

Problem: Since transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) was introduced as the first-line procedure in the early stages of the exploration of the adnexal structures in infertile women, it has been shown that THL is a less traumatic and a more suitable outpatient procedure than diagnostic laparoscopy. This study was performed to investigate the relationships between Chlamydia trachomatis antibody titers and tubal pathology assessed using THL in infertile women.

Methods: The C.

Clinical significance of the Acridine Orange test performed as a routine examination: comparison with the CASA estimates and strict criteria.

The aim of the present study is to clarify the clinical significance of the Acridine Orange (AO) test (a sperm function test) as a routine examination by investigating the relationships between chromatin decondensation assessed by the AO test and routine semen analysis. Totally 543 semen samples were obtained from 286 infertile men. The AO test was performed, and spermatozoa displaying green fluorescence were considered as mature.

Chemokine bioactivity of RANTES is elevated in the sera of infertile women with past Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Problem: It has been shown that Chlamydia trachomatis infection in infertile women is highly associated with tubal pathology. Chlamydia trachomatis antibody testing is a simple screening test for tubal factor subfertility, however, it is based on the detection of previous infection. Recently, association between some inflammatory diseases and chemokines has been investigated.

Symphysis-fundus height and weight gain pattern in Japanese women with twin pregnancies.

Objective: To determine the normogram for symphysis-fundus height and weight gain pattern in Japanese women with twin pregnancies and to examine whether fundus height and weight gain pattern are altered in women who give birth to twin infants complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Study Design: A retrospective review of the medical records of 186 twin gestations that had been followed at our institution together with 229 singleton pregnancies as a control. We examined maternal symphysis-fundus height, body weight gain and increase in body mass index (BMI) according to gestational age and compared them between women with and without FGR.

Hemodynamic effect of the ventricular pacing site in fetal lambs with complete atrioventricular block.

Complete atrioventricular (AV) block in hydrops fetalis is associated with high mortality. Fetal ventricular pacing to restore ventricular rate can be an effective procedure, however, no fetal data has shown an appropriate epicardial ventricular pacing site. To evaluate the hemodynamic effect of right and left ventricular pacing in fetal lambs with complete AV block, a fetal complete AV block model was created.

Optimal ventricular pacing rate in fetal lambs with complete atrioventricular block.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the optimum ventricular pacing rate at which the optimal cardiac function can be attained in fetal lambs with complete atrioventricular block.

Study Design: Complete atrioventricular block was created by cryosurgery in 12 fetal lambs, and the ventricle was paced randomly at rates of 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 beats/min. The aortic pressure, central venous pressure, and right ventricular cardiac output were measured before cryosurgery and during ventricular pacing.

Liver dysfunction in late pregnancy: cytomegalovirus-induced hepatitis or the HELLP syndrome?

A 27-year-old primiparous preeclamptic woman developed a skin rash in late pregnancy and was persistently febrile for 10 days after giving birth. Blood tests suggested that she developed the HELLP syndrome and had concomitant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Hemolysis, slightly impaired liver function, and thrombocytopenia were explainable by either only the CMV infection or only the HELLP syndrome.