Diagnostic performance of an automated microscopy and pH test for diagnosis of vaginitis.

Vaginitis is a common gynecological problem, nevertheless, its clinical evaluation is often insufficient. This study evaluated the performance of an automated microscope for the diagnosis of vaginitis, by comparison of the investigated test results to a composite reference standard (CRS) of wet mount microscopy performed by a specialist in vulvovaginal disorders, and related laboratory tests. During this single-site cross-sectional prospective study, 226 women reporting vaginitis symptoms were recruited, of which 192 samples were found interpretable and were assessed by the automated microscopy system.

'Luckily, I don't believe in statistics': survey of women's understanding of chance of success with futile fertility treatments.

Research Question: Why are women who face poor prognoses for success in assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment choosing to pursue procedures using their own eggs, despite receiving information that their chances of success are very low.

Design: Cross-sectional study based on an anonymous questionnaire distributed to women aged between 43 and 45 years, undergoing ART using their own oocytes, at six public outpatient fertility clinics and three public in-hospital IVF units in Israel between 2015 and 2016. The main outcome measure was personal estimation of chance to achieve a live birth after the current ART treatment cycle and the cumulative estimated rate after all the treatment cycles the patient intended to undergo.

Newborn infant urinary cotinine and birth outcomes in the Jerusalem Environment Mother and Child Cohort Study.

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure during pregnancy can cause preterm delivery and childhood cancer. The aim of this study was to measure ETS exposure in pregnant women and in newborn infants in Israel using urinary cotinine measurements, to assess predictors of ETS exposure in these vulnerable groups, and to assess associations with birth effects (birth weight, birth length, head circumference) in newborn infants.

Methods: We analyzed urinary cotinine and creatinine in 265 non-smoking pregnant women and 97 newborns, and analyzed associations with self-reported exposure to ETS, paternal smoking, sociodemographic variables and with birth outcomes (birth weight, birth length, head circumference).

Decreasing urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites among pregnant women and their offspring in Jerusalem: Impact of regulatory restrictions on agricultural organophosphate pesticides use?

Introduction: Maternal urinary levels of dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites of organophosphate pesticides (OP) during pregnancy are associated with adverse outcomes in the offspring. Between 2012 and 2014, eighteen active OP ingredients were restricted or banned in Israel for agricultural use.

Aim: We aimed to study trends of urinary DAP metabolites among pregnant women and their offspring in the era of the new regulations.

Fetal Biometry in the Israeli Population: New Reference Charts.

Background: Selection of appropriate reference charts for fetal biometry is mandatory to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Most hospitals and clinics in Israel use growth curves from the United States. Charts developed in different populations do not perform well in the Israeli population.

A comparison of methods for construction of fetal reference charts.

Reference charts for fetal measures are used for early detection of pregnancies that should be monitored closely. Construction of reference charts corresponds to estimation of quantiles of a distribution as a function of gestational age. Existing methods have been developed under various modeling assumptions, typically by fitting a polynomial regression to certain functionals of the distributions (e.

Ovarian stimulation for oocyte cryopreservation for prevention of age-related fertility loss: one in five is a low responder.

Oocyte cryopreservation for age-related fertility loss is gaining interest considering the tendency to postpone motherhood in many societies. Little is currently known about the actual efficiency of this approach. We aimed to explore ovarian response of presumably fertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization for this indication.

The dynamics of serum anti-Mullerian-hormone levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with GnRH-antagonist short protocol in polycystic ovary syndrome and low responders.

Objective: To determine whether the decrease in AMH levels during ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF occurs in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and patients with low ovarian reserve (LOR), as in normal cycling women.

Study Design: A cohort of 22 infertile patients treated in a single tertiary center with a GnRH-antagonist short protocol for IVF were prospectively included and divided into three groups: PCOS with hyperandrogenism (n=7), LOR (n=8) and control (n=7). Serum AMH levels were measured before and during FSH treatment, on the day of HCG administration, at the mid-luteal phase, and 14 days after embryo transfer.

Does estrogen directly modulate anti-müllerian hormone secretion in women?

Objective: To investigate whether estrogen may modulate anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) expression in women.

Design: Prospective analysis.

Setting: Fertility clinic of tertiary university hospital.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with familial Mediterranean fever receiving colchicine: is amniocentesis justified?

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of pregnancies in women with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) who are taking colchicine, and to reconsider the justification for amniocentesis in these women.

Methods: The outcome of 179 pregnancies in a group of women with FMF taking colchicine was compared with the outcome of 197 pregnancies in women with FMF who did not take colchicine during pregnancy and with 312 pregnancies in another cohort of healthy pregnant women of similar age and ethnicity.

Results: There was no difference in the 3 groups regarding early abortions, late abortions, or congenital malformations.

Similar outcome for cryopreserved embryo transfer following GnRH-antagonist/GnRH-agonist, GnRH-antagonist/HCG or long protocol ovarian stimulation.

The pregnancy rates after triggering of final oocyte maturation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in GnRH-antagonist ovarian stimulation protocols are lower than those following triggering with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Furthermore, lower pregnancy rates following GnRH-antagonist protocols compared with long GnRH-agonist protocols have been reported. The differences might be due to an impact on oocyte number and quality or on the endometrium.

Dynamic assays of inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone and estradiol following FSH stimulation and ovarian ultrasonography as predictors of IVF outcome.

Background: We evaluated basal and dynamic hormonal markers [(FSH, inhibin B, estradiol and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)] during the follicular phase and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and ultrasonic ovarian morphology as predictors of IVF outcome.

Methods: Fifty-six women, aged <38 years, with normal day 3 FSH levels were included prospectively. Serum estradiol, inhibin B and AMH were measured before and 24 h after administration of 300 IU of recombinant FSH on cycle day 3-4 and during the luteal phase.

Vaginal ring delivering estradiol and progesterone: a possible alternative to relieve climacteric symptoms.

Background: Relief of climacteric symptoms is currently the main role of hormone therapy. However, vaginal bleeding complicating this therapy is among the leading causes for its early discontinuation.

Objectives: To assess the effect of a vaginal ring delivering estradiol and progesterone in postmenopausal women and to determine whether continuous administration can relieve climacteric symptoms, produce an acceptable pattern of vaginal bleeding and control endometrial proliferation.

Modified vulvar vestibulectomy: simple and effective surgery for the treatment of vulvar vestibulitis.

Objective: To evaluate the success of a simple modified vestibulectomy in treating vulvar vestibulitis.

Study Design: Fifty-nine patients with vulvar vestibulitis refractory to nonsurgical treatment underwent modified vestibulectomy. Response was defined as return to normal coitus and was graded as complete, partial or non-responsive.

Serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women with polycystic ovaries with and without hyperandrogenism.

Background: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is expressed in pre- and small-antral follicles. High serum levels are found in women with polycystic ovaries (PCO), accordant with their increased content of small follicles. To evaluate the relationship between AMH, folliculogenesis and hyperandrogenism, we compared serum AMH levels between women with PCO with and without hyperandrogenism and normal controls during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

The outcome of pregnancy in the wives of men with familial mediterranean fever treated with colchicine.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of pregnancies of normal women married to men with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), some of whom took colchicine during the conception with their wives.

Patients And Methods: We followed the outcome of pregnancies and deliveries of 60 wives of FMF patients; 53 of the husbands were taking colchicine during that time. As a control group we screened the outcome of pregnancy and delivery from 230 healthy women married to healthy men.

Mifepristone does not induce cervical softening in non-pregnant women.

Background: Many techniques have been developed to soften the cervix to reduce complications following surgical dilatation. Progesterone inhibits myometrial contractility and its secretion during pregnancy ensures cervical competence. We used the progesterone antagonist mifepristone as a cervical ripening agent and evaluated its effect prior to office hysteroscopy.

Associations between androgen receptor CAG repeat length and sperm morphology.

Background: The number of (trinucleotide) CAG repeats within the androgen receptor (AR) gene is inversely correlated with transcriptional activity of testosterone-target genes. Although abnormally long CAG repeats are strongly associated with male infertility, it is unclear whether CAG repeat length polymorphism can affect androgen receptor activity and sperm parameters. To explore the previously suggested association between CAG repeats and male fertility, we conducted this prospective cohort study.

[The effectiveness of estrogen replacement therapy to reduce ischemic heart disease--revaluation].

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death of postmenopausal women in developed countries. One of the main reasons for providing hormone treatment for women was the possible prevention of ischemic heart disease (IHD). There are many cellular and molecular studies showing the effectiveness of estrogen in reducing risk factors of IHD, but none of these studies deal directly with the reduction of IHD.

Vaginal rings delivering progesterone and estradiol may be a new method of hormone replacement therapy.

Objective: To determine whether a low dose of P delivered together with E(2) from a vaginal ring on a continuous schedule can prevent endometrial proliferation and yield a bleeding pattern dominated by amenorrhea.

Design: Longitudinal clinical study.

Setting: Three university hospitals.

Expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator during early human embryo development.

Formation of the blastocyst is one of the first morphological changes in early embryonic development. Ion transport has been shown to be crucial for blastocoele cavity formation and expansion, although the mechanisms that underlie this process are presently unknown. As a transmembrane Cl(-) channel, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) may participate in ion transport and early blastocoele formation.