Four zona pellucida glycoproteins are expressed in the human.

Background: The zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular glycoprotein matrix which surrounds all mammalian oocytes. Recent data have shown the presence of four human zona genes (ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZPB). The aim of the study was to determine if all four ZP proteins are expressed and present in the human.

Blastocyst transfer for patients with multiple assisted reproduction treatment failures: preliminary experience.

This preliminary study reports the results obtained from a patient group in which blastocyst culture and transfer were performed, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of introducing blastocyst transfer in a clinic. Twenty-six patients who had failed to achieve a pregnancy in previous in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments were offered the choice of a fresh cycle with culture to the blastocyst stage. Of the 26 patients who elected to attempt blastocyst culture, 11 opted to have transfer on day 2 or day 3 due to low numbers of embryos.

Reducing the dose of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist on starting ovarian stimulation: effect on ovarian response and in-vitro fertilization outcome.

The aim of this study was to examine if lowering the dose of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) on starting ovarian stimulation could be beneficial in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programmes. A total of 64 normally ovulating patients entering an IVF programme were randomized to receive GnRHa (nafarelin acetate/Synarel) as an intranasal spray commencing in the midluteal phase, either at a dosage of 200 microg three times daily until the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, or to be reduced to 200 microg twice daily as ovarian stimulation was initiated. Patients in both groups were below 35 years with a body mass index below 30.

Transmyometrial embryo transfer after difficult immediate mock transcervical transfer.

Objective: To evaluate the place of ultrasound-directed transvaginal transmyometrial ET in a protocol using both the transcervical and transmyometrial routes in a step-wise fashion.

Design: A prospective descriptive clinical study.

Setting: A university-based assisted conception unit.

Mock embryo transfer with a full bladder immediately before the real transfer for in-vitro fertilization treatment: the Birmingham experience of 113 cases.

The technique of embryo transfer can have a great impact on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Transcervical embryo transfer is a blind procedure and difficulty can unexpectedly arise. Many IVF programmes therefore perform a 'mock' embryo transfer prior to the treatment cycle to determine the most suitable catheter and technique for transfer.

Do patients need to remain in bed following embryo transfer? The Birmingham experience of 103 in-vitro fertilization cycles with no bed rest following embryo transfer.

Since the early days of human in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, rest in bed for hours immediately following the transfer has been advocated and widely practised. However, there is no scientific validation for this practice which is both time-consuming for the patient and increases space occupancy in the hospital or clinic. We report here on a study of 103 in-vitro fertilization cycles with no bed rest in hospital following the embryo transfer.

Does resection enhance the response of the intestine to urogastrone-epidermal growth factor in the rat?

1. The objective of this study was to see whether another proliferative stimulus could modify the marked proliferative effect of human epidermal growth factor (urogastrone-epidermal growth factor, URO-EGF) on the gastrointestinal epithelium. 2.

Effects of urogastrone (epidermal growth factor) on the intestinal epithelium.

Recombinant urogastrone (human epidermal growth factor) was infused into rats in which intestinal cell proliferation was reduced to a steady state basal level by feeding them intravenously. Urogastrone elevated the augmented metaphase index and weight of all sections of the gastrointestinal tract in a dose-related manner. Infusion of urogastrone at a dose which has a minimal effect on gastric acid secretion significantly increased crypt cell production and tissue weights throughout the gastrointestinal tract.

Intravenous but not intragastric urogastrone-EGF is trophic to the intestine of parenterally fed rats.

The effects of beta-urogastrone/human epidermal growth factor (URO-EGF) on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation were studied in rats in which intestinal cell proliferation had been reduced to a steady state basal level, by maintaining the rats on total parenteral nutrition. The accumulation of arrested metaphases over a two hour time period was determined in a dose response study. Increasing doses of URO-EGF progressively raised the two hour collection of metaphases and intestinal weights.

Effects of an elemental diet, inert bulk and different types of dietary fibre on the response of the intestinal epithelium to refeeding in the rat and relationship to plasma gastrin, enteroglucagon, and PYY concentrations.

Refeeding starved rats with an elemental diet resulted in a marked increase in crypt cell production rate (CCPR) in the proximal small intestine but not in the distal regions of the gut. Little effect on CCPR was noted when inert bulk (kaolin) was added to the elemental diet. Addition of a poorly fermentable dietary fibre (purified wood cellulose) had little effect on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation except in the distal colon where it significantly increased CCPR.

Proliferative effects of urogastrone-EGF on the intestinal epithelium.

The effects of B-urogastrone/human epidermal growth factor on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation were studied in rats in which intestinal cell proliferation was reduced to a steady state basal level (by maintaining the rats on total parenteral nutrition). Increasing doses of urogastrone progressively raised the two hour collection of metaphases and intestinal weights. The crypt cell production rate was measured in animals maintained parenterally with or without urogastrone, and in rats fed a standard laboratory ration.

Proliferative effects of 'fibre' on the intestinal epithelium: relationship to gastrin, enteroglucagon and PYY.

Refeeding starved rats with a fibre free 'elemental' diet increased crypt cell production rate (CCPR) in the proximal small intestine but not in the distal regions of the gut. Little effect on CCPR was seen when inert bulk (kaolin) was added to the 'elemental' diet. Addition of a poorly fermentable dietary 'fibre' (purified wood cellulose) had little effect on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation except in the distal colon where it significantly increased CCPR.

Urogastrone-epidermal growth factor is trophic to the intestinal epithelium of parenterally fed rats.

The weight of the stomach, small intestine and colon and the mucosal crypt cell production rate of these tissues were significantly decreased after 10 days on an isocaloric TPN diet when compared to orally fed controls. Continuous infusion of recombinant beta urogastrone, at a dose below that needed to inhibit gastric acid secretion, largely prevented this decrease in crypt cell production rate and gastrointestinal tissue weights.