Recombinant LH supplementation in patients with a relative reduction in LH levels during IVF/ICSI cycles: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the use of recombinant luteinizing hormone (rLH) supplementation in patients who experience a reduction in LH concentration during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for IVF/ICSI.

Methods: A multi-center prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed over three years. Two hundred and forty patients aged between 24 and 42 years undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment with a long down regulation (LDR) protocol were recruited.

A Progress Report of the IFCC Committee for Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests.

Background: The IFCC Committee for Standardization of Thyroid Function Tests aims at equivalence of laboratory test results for free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin (TSH).

Objectives: This report describes the phase III method comparison study with clinical samples representing a broad spectrum of thyroid disease. The objective was to expand the feasibility work and explore the impact of standardization/harmonization in the clinically relevant concentration range.

Single-arm, observational study of the ease of use of a redesigned pen device to deliver recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (follitropin alfa) for assisted reproductive technology treatment.

Purpose: Evaluation of patients' ease of use of the redesigned, disposable, ready-to-use follitropin alfa pen during controlled ovarian stimulation for assisted reproductive technology.

Methods: This single-center, observational, open-label, single-arm study recruited infertile normo-ovulatory women (aged 18-45 years). Nurses trained patients to self-administer recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone daily using the follitropin alfa pen (300 IU, 450 IU, and 900 IU).

Thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity in apparently healthy pregnant and non-pregnant Mexican women.

Background: Thyroid disorders are common in women of reproductive age, and thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy has been associated with adverse outcomes for mother and child. Thyroid function and thyroid function tests (TFTs) can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as ethnicity, the presence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), dietary iodine intake, pregnancy, and methodological differences. However, no large-scale studies have been published which examine TFTs and prevalence of AITD in Mexican pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

Longitudinal evaluation of thyroid autoimmunity and function in pregnant Korean women.

Background: Maternal thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy has been associated with adverse outcomes for both the mother and child. For this reason, it is important to understand thyroid status in pregnant women. However, there are relatively few published studies that examine thyroid function tests (TFT) and thyroid autoimmunity in non-Western pregnant women.

A radiographic analysis of implant component misfit.

Purpose: Radiographs are commonly used to assess the fit of implant components, but there is no clear agreement on the amount of misfit that can be detected by this method. This study investigated the effect of gap size and the relative angle at which a radiograph was taken on the detection of component misfit. Different types of implant connections (internal or external) and radiographic modalities (film or digital) were assessed.

Can evaluation of a dental procedure at the outset of learning predict later performance at the preclinical level? A pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of conventional pre-clinical training in dentistry and to determine if evaluation of a dental procedure at the beginning of dental training can be a predictor for future performance. A group of second year dental students with no previous experience in operative dentistry were asked to prepare a conventional class I cavity on a lower first molar typodont. Their first preparation was carried out after an introductory lecture and a demonstration and their second at the end of conventional training.

The reproducibility and accuracy of internal fit of Cerec 3D CAD/CAM all ceramic crowns.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of internal fit using Cerec 3D CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing) all-ceramic crowns and to investigate the proximal contact point areas between the crowns and neighbouring teeth, in terms of location and the presence or absence of contact. A total of 48 crowns were milled and divided into two groups of twenty-four each. One group consisted of testing a Control die and the other group consisted of testing single Replica stone die duplicates of the Control die.

Thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid hormone reference intervals in apparently healthy Chinese adults.

Background: Thyroid disorders are common, often go unrecognized, and when left untreated, can have serious public health implications. Dietary and ethnic differences are known to influence thyroid function. However, comparatively few studies have examined the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and thyroid function test (TFT) reference intervals in non-Western populations.

Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Interval Database (CALIPER): pediatric reference intervals for an integrated clinical chemistry and immunoassay analyzer, Abbott ARCHITECT ci8200.

Objectives: A comprehensive set of age- and gender-specific pediatric reference intervals is essential for accurate interpretation of laboratory tests in a pediatric setting.

Design And Methods: 1459 serum/plasma from children attending select outpatient clinics and deemed to be metabolically stable, were collected from five age groups; 0-12 months, 1-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-14 years and 15-20 years. Samples were analyzed for 24 chemistries and 15 immunoassays on ARCHITECT ci8200.

The selection of adhesive systems for resin-based luting agents.

The use of resin-based luting agents is ever expanding with the development of adhesive dentistry. A multitude of different adhesive systems are used with resin-based luting agents, and new products are introduced to the market frequently. Traditional adhesives generally required a multiple step bonding procedure prior to cementing with active resin-based luting materials; however, combined agents offer a simple application procedure.

A long-term follow up of spontaneously healed root fractures later subjected to orthodontic forces - two case reports.

There is evidence that many dental injuries which result in root fractures may not require active treatment in cases where the coronal fragment is minimally displaced and does not exhibit clinical signs or symptoms. This paper discusses two individual cases where spontaneous root fracture healing was observed and this healing was apparently not compromised by later orthodontic tooth movement. The observation periods for the two cases were 13 and 18 years since the original root fractures occurred.

Single unit CAD/CAM restorations: a literature review.

Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) has been used in dentistry since 1987. Since then, many CAD/CAM systems have been described, which enable the production of chair-side single unit dental restorations. These restorations are of comparable quality to those made by conventional techniques and have some specific advantages, including rapid production, improved wear properties, decreased laboratory fee and improved cross infection control.

Establishment of detailed reference values for luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone during different phases of the menstrual cycle on the Abbott ARCHITECT analyzer.

During a normal menstrual cycle, serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and progesterone can vary widely between cycles for the same woman, as well as between different woman. Reliable reference values based on the local population are important for correct interpretation of laboratory results. The purpose of our study was to determine detailed reference values for these hormones throughout the menstrual cycle using the Abbott ARCHITECT system.

Prevalence of abnormal thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid peroxidase antibody-positive results in a population of pregnant women in the Samara region of the Russian Federation.

Undiagnosed thyroid disease is a common problem with significant public health implications. This is especially true during pregnancy, when the health of both the mother and the developing child can be adversely affected by abnormal maternal thyroid function. Measurement of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) are two common ways to assess maternal thyroid status.

'We're having trouble conceiving...'.

Background: The growing trend for Australian women to delay childbearing has a significant impact on their individual fertility and the consequent need for assisted reproductive technology.

Objective: This article defines infertility and highlights typical male, female, and unexplained combined causes of infertility. Initial fertility investigations best undertaken in general practice are outlined, and suggestions on when to refer a couple to a fertility specialist is clarified.

A study comparing the effectiveness of conventional training and virtual reality simulation in the skills acquisition of junior dental students.

The use of virtual reality (VR) in the training of operative dentistry is a recent innovation and little research has been published on its efficacy compared to conventional training methods. Two groups of dental students, with no experience in operative dentistry, were trained solely by either VR or conventional training in the preparation of conventional class 1 cavities. The subjects all used the same operative armamentarium and phantom heads, and were allocated the same duration of practice periods.

A pilot study comparing the effectiveness of conventional training and virtual reality simulation in the skills acquisition of junior dental students.

The use of virtual reality (VR) in the training of operative dentistry is a recent innovation and little research has been published on its efficacy compared to conventional training methods. To evaluate possible benefits, junior undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1 as taught by conventional means only; group 2 as trained by conventional means combined with VR repetition and reinforcement (with access to a human instructor for operative advice); and group 3 as trained by conventional means combined with VR repetition and reinforcement, but without instructor evaluation/advice, which was only supplied via the VR-associated software. At the end of the research period, all groups executed two class 1 preparations that were evaluated blindly by 'expert' trainers, under traditional criteria (outline, retention, smoothness, depth, wall angulation and cavity margin index).

A comparison of different sample matrices for evaluating functional sensitivity, imprecision and dilution linearity of the Abbott ARCHITECT i2000 TSH assay.

Important performance characteristics for any thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assay include low-end sensitivity, precision across a wide dynamic range, and linear specimen dilution. Laboratories often characterize the performance of their TSH assay using many different sample matrices (e.g.