Comparative Analysis of Antibody Titers against the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Infected Patient Cohorts and Diverse Vaccination Regimes.

The presence of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 correlates with protection against infection and severe COVID-19 disease courses. Understanding the dynamics of antibody development against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is important for recommendations on vaccination strategies and on control of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the dynamics and extent of α-Spike-Ab development by different vaccines manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

Serial Changes in Coronary Plaque Formation Using CT Angiography in Patients Undergoing PCSK9-Inhibitor Therapy With 1-year Follow-up.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown positive effects of intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-lowering therapy on atheroma volume using invasive intravascular ultrasound. This study describes the changes in coronary plaque composition on coronary computed tomography angiography in patients treated with proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, coronary plaques were analyzed using third-generation dual-source computed tomography before and after 1 year of PCSK9-inhibitor treatment.

Precision of progesterone measurements with the use of automated immunoassay analyzers and the impact on clinical decisions for in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To compare the precision of progesterone measurements obtained with the use of immunoassays and of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Design: Comparative study.

Setting: Academic, private practice, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) research centers.

Clinical efficacy of highly purified urinary FSH versus recombinant FSH in volunteers undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization: a randomized, multicenter, investigator-blind trial.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of highly purified human urinary follicle stimulating hormone (HP-hFSH) versus human recombinant follitropin-alpha (rFSH) in volunteers undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF.

Design: A randomized, controlled, investigator-blind trial.

Setting: Four assisted reproductive technology centers.

Hematuria and clot retention after transvaginal oocyte aspiration: a case report.

Objective: To report a case of bladder injury with hematuria and urinary retention after transvaginal oocyte aspiration.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Emergency room in a university medical center.

Evaluation of a pen device for self-administration of recombinant human FSH in clomiphene citrate-resistant anovulatory women undergoing ovulation induction.

This open-label multicentre study evaluated ease of use, safety, and efficacy of a pen device for self-administration of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) in 43 subjects undergoing ovulation induction. Follitropin beta was administered subcutaneously with the Follistim Pen within 3 days of onset of menses. A 75 IU starting dose could be increased by 25 or 50 IU on days 8 and 15 if no ovarian response was observed.

Preliminary report on the treatment of endometriosis with low-dose mifepristone (RU 486).

Objective: We have previously shown that treatment with mifepristone, 50 to 100 mg daily, results in amenorrhea, anovulation, and symptomatic improvement in women with endometriosis. In this study we lowered the dose to 5 mg daily to determine whether clinical efficacy is altered without other adverse actions.

Study Design: After a baseline cycle, seven women with endometriosis were given mifepristone, 5 mg daily, for 6 months.

Assisted reproductive technology: the state of the ART.

At least one in ten couples of reproductive age is affected by infertility. Tubal disease, ovulatory defects, endometrosis and abnormal sperm physiology are the most common causes of failure to conceive. Many of these disorders can be treated successfully with surgery, ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination, but in selected cases, or where there is long-standing intractable infertility, assisted reproductive technology (ART) becomes the treatment of choice.

Modern medical management of endometriosis.

The modern medical management of endometriosis has changed considerably since the first attempts were made to control this disease hormonally over four decades ago. Currently, there are multiple choices for the clinician and patient, including oral contraceptives, danazol, GnRH agonist analogues, and gestrinone. Several advances have been made in the use of GnRH agonists in preventing some of the untoward effects of prolonged hypoestrogenism.

Ovulation induction in the estrogenized anovulatory patient.

Ovulation induction is one of the greatest success stories in reproductive endocrinology. With appropriate therapy in properly f1p4cted patients, the conception and live birth-rates in treated patients are almost indistinguishable from normal. In the estrogenized woman there are many different techniques to reverse the condition of chronic anovulation.

Quality of life assessment.

Quality of Life (QOL) is a generic term covering a wide variety of end points. It generally refers to a multitude of subjective experiences important to people's lives. Four domains contribute to this overall effect: physical and occupational function, psychological state, social interaction, and economic status/factors.

Circulating levels of follistatin from puberty to menopause.

Objective: To determine the changes in circulating levels of follistatin, a binding protein for activin and inhibin, through the reproductive life cycle in women.

Design: An open, prospective descriptive study.

Setting: An academic endocrine research unit.

Treatment of endometriosis with the antiprogesterone mifepristone (RU486).

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an antiprogesterone (mifepristone, RU486; Roussel-Uclaf, Romaineville, France) on endometriosis.

Design: An open, prospective clinical trial.

Setting: The clinical practice of an academic faculty.

Successful pregnancy outcome after cryopreservation of all fresh embryos with subsequent transfer into an unstimulated cycle.

Objective: To assess the pregnancy outcome of freezing and storing all fresh embryos produced in a stimulated IVF cycle and replacing them in a subsequent nongonadotropin-stimulated cycle.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University-associated assisted reproductive technology program.

Regression of uterine leiomyomata to the antiprogesterone RU486: dose-response effect.

Objective: To study the response of uterine leiomyomata to three daily doses of RU486 (5, 25, and 50 mg).

Design: Prospective nonrandomized trial of women with symptomatic leiomyomata.

Setting: Patients from the clinical practice of the authors at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center.

Clomiphene citrate reduces serum insulin-like growth factor I and increases sex hormone-binding globulin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) on circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Prospective open trial.

Patients: Eight women with clinical and biochemical evidence of PCOS.

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane) is superior to oxidized regenerated cellulose (Interceed TC7+) in preventing adhesions.

Objective: To compare the impact of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; Gore-Tex Surgical Membrane; W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Endometrial effects of long-term low-dose administration of RU486.

Objective: To examine endometrial response to long-term low-does RU486 administration.

Design: Retrospective controlled study of women with endometriosis treated for 6 months with 50 mg RU486 daily for 6 months. Controls consisted of women in the follicular phase of a spontaneous cycle undergoing endometrial biopsy.

Clinical efficacy of the antiprogesterone RU486 in the treatment of endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

To evaluate the long-term effects of treatment with RU486 and to test its efficacy in endometriosis, a 3-month trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of daily administration (100 mg/day or approximately 2 mg/kg/day) on the functional activity of the reproductive axis, as well as implants, in patients with symptomatic pelvic endometriosis. All women became amenorrhoeic and acyclic. However, ovarian suppression was incomplete.

Rapid regression of uterine leiomyomas in response to daily administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist.

Objective: The efficacy of acute and sustained pituitary gonadotropin down-regulation by the Nal-Glu GnRH antagonist (Nal-Glu) was evaluated in the treatment of uterine leiomyomas.

Design: Prospective, open clinical trial.

Patients: Seven normally cycling women with symptomatic leiomyomas.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian response to clomiphene citrate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To examine the hypothalamic-pituitary sites of clomiphene citrate (CC) action in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Prospective controlled trial.

Patients, Participants: Seventeen women with PCOS and 9 normal-cycling women.

Regression of uterine leiomyomata in response to the antiprogesterone RU 486.

Uterine leiomyomata are steroid hormone dependent tumors which possess receptors for estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR). We reasoned that an antiprogesterone (RU 486) may induce regression of leiomyomata by withdrawal of progesterone action and/or by its interference of estrogen action. Accordingly, we examined the effects of daily administration of RU 486 (50 mg) for a period of 3 months in 10 patients with uterine leiomyomata and regular menstrual cycles.

Interruption of endometrial maturation without hormonal changes by an antiprogesterone during the first half of luteal phase of the menstrual cycle: a contraceptive potential.

Objective: To examine hormonal and endometrial responses to intermittent low-dose RU486 administration in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Design: Prospective open trial in which subjects serve as their own controls.

Patients/participants: Eight normal cycling women.