[Obesity and reproductive disorders].

Introduction: Obesity and overweight correlate with endocrine disorders in women, polycystic ovary syndrome, there are more atretic follicles in the ovary of obese women, overweight affects ovulation, pregnancy rates and outcomes in natural as well as in treated cycles. Similarly starvation correlates with menstrual cycle disturbances with anovulation.

Material And Methods: The study includes 309 IVF treatment cycles performed in our IVF centre between 1/1/97 and 30/6/99.

[Analysis of the zona pellucida in human oocytes and embryos in an assisted reproduction program].

Objective: Our aim was to design simple method for quantitative evaluation of oocyte and embryo morphology in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme efforting of embryo implantation prediction to be able to set the optimal number of embryos for transfer for given specific case. This study deals with zona pellucida (ZP)--the one interesting and for oocyte unique structure. The work is the part of comprehensive research of oocyte, zygote and embryo morphology.

Endometriosis in reproductive immunology.

Problem: Endometriosis is suggested to represent an autoimmune disorder, but what is the prevalence of autoantibodies to antigens relevant to reproduction?

Method Of Study: The humoral immune response to the women with endometriosis (stage I-II: 261 women; stage III-IV: 62 women) in serum and in peritoneal fluid was investigated compared with 101 healthy women. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used in all the women for the detection of seven antiphospholipid antibodies [antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) against cardiolipin, L-phosphatidyl (ph)-serine, ph-glycerol, ph-inositol, ph-ethanolamine, phosphatidic (ph)-acid and against beta2-glycoprotein I] of class IgG, IgA, and IgM. A passive haemmagglutination method and ELISA (BioGen) was used for assessment of antizona pellucida antibodies (aZP), tray agglutination test (TAT) and indirect mixed anti-imunoglobulin reaction test (MAR-test) for the determination of sperm antibody levels.

[Fructose and glucose in follicular fluid and serum of women undergoing stimulation in an in vitro fertilization program].

Objective: To find out if there is some amount of fructose in the follicular fluid of IVF stimulated patients. If so then to compare fructose and glucose levels with IVF outcome, type of stimulation and infertility factors.

Design: Retrospective study.

Beta 2-glycoprotein I is a good indicator of certain adverse pregnancy conditions.

Objective: To compare levels of beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies with six different antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in sera from patients with certain adverse pregnancy conditions.

Patients And Methods: aPL levels were examined in pregnant women with anti-phospholipid syndrome (26), pre-eclampsia (32), autoimmune disease (12), or diabetes mellitus (23) and in a group with physiological pregnancy (38). A commercial ELISA was used to determine the serum levels of anti-beta2-GPI (Immunotech) in isotypes IgG and IgA, and anti-cardiolipin levels (Milenia) in IgG and IgM.

Effect of corticosteroids on sperm antibody concentration in different biological fluids and on pregnancy outcome in immunologic infertility.

Objective: In the last fourteen years, detection of free spermagglutinating antibodies has been performed by tray agglutination test (TAT) and by direct/indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction test (MAR) in 696 infertile couples aged 23-42 years (female) and 26-52 years (male) with previously undiagnosed infertility.

Material And Methods: Oral decreasing doses of prednisone or dexamethasone for three months in the case of serum or seminal plasma spermantibodies, plasmapheresis in one patient with serum spermantibodies were used. Hydrocortisone to the ectocervix was applicated in patients with spermagglutinating antibodies in cervical ovulatory mucus.

[The effect of follicular fluid pH on the quality and number of oocytes produced in the in vitro fertilization program].

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of follicular fluid pH as the marker of quality of the human oocyte in the IVF treatment efforting to predict and to enhance the effect of IVF treatment: oocyte quality, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, implantation rate.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Center of assisted reproduction, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty of Charles University, Pilsen.

Correlation between peritoneal fluid and serum antiphospholipid antibodies in women with primary infertility.

Objective: To compare the peritoneal and serum levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) against the following phospholipids: cardiolipin, L-alpha-phosphatidic acid, L-alpha-phosphatidylethanolamine, 1-alpha-phosphatidyl-DL-glycerol, L-alpha-phosphatidyl-inositol, L-alpha-phosphatidyl-L-serine in immunoglobulin isotypes of G, M, and secretory A.

Patients And Methods: A group of 107 women with primary infertility were immunologically examined. An ELISA method was used for detection of aPLs.

[Monitoring immunity factors in serum and peritoneal fluid after laparoscopy in women. II. Sperm and zona pellucida antibodies].

A team of authors investigated antibody levels against spermatozoa and against the zona pellucida in sera and peritoneal fluids in infertile women where diagnostic laparoscopy was indicated. The immunological cause of infertility was diagnosed in some women with a normal laparoscopic finding on the inner genital, as well as in patients with endometriosis and in women with adhesions. A minimal antibody response to antigens of gametes was recorded in women with the diagnosis of uterus myomatosus, uterus hypoplasticus and polycystic ovary.

[Immunologic factors in the serum and peritoneal fluid in women after laparoscopy. I. Nonspecific factors].

The authors examined by diagnostic laparoscopy and immunologically 180 patients in 1993-1995. They assessed in serum and peritoneal fluid IgG, IgA, IgM, haptoglobulin, A2-macroglobulin, A1-antitrypsin, transferrin, C4- and C3-complement, orosomucoid, A2AP-glycoprotein, albumin, prealbumin and hemopexin. The authors found that some individual pathological results as regards non-specific immunity supplement the clinical diagnosis, in particular in endomeriosis, multiple adhesions, polycystic ovaries and chronic anovulation.