[Does hyperandrogenic statute in the polycystic ovary syndrome constitute an obstacle to the success of in vitro fertilization?].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of initial androgenic statute of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (SOPK) on the expected results of in vitro fertilization (FIV).

Materials And Methods: It is about an exploratory study carried out in 61 unfertile SOPK patients, having profited all from a cycle of FIV/ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). We have divided our population in two groups according to their hormonal androgenic statute: groups with hyperandrogenism and without hyperandrogenism.

Obesity-induced impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in Tunisian women.

Objective: It is now well recognized that obesity is a major public health concern, and its prevalence has tremendously increased worldwide over the last decades, including Tunisia. As obesity is associated with cardiovascular diseases, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity on forearm skin blood flow (FSBF) response to acetylcholine (Ach), an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, in Tunisian women over a wide range of body mass indices (BMIs).

Subjects: One hundred and eighty healthy women with an average age of 34+/-6 years, an average height of 162+/-7 cm and an average weight of 78+/-19 kg participated in this investigation.

Establishment of reference serum insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 levels of Tunisian children during childhood and adolescence.

Background: The aim of the present study is to establish age- and sex-related reference ranges of serum IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in a pattern of Tunisian children.

Subjects And Methods: Two hundred healthy Tunisian children (103 boys and 97 girls), aged between 6 and 16 yr, were considered in the study.

Results: Mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 are observed to be higher in girls compared to boys of the same age interval.

One-year endurance training: effects on lung function and airway inflammation.

The aim of this study was to determine whether endurance training in athletes induces airway inflammation and pulmonary function disorders. Respiratory pattern and function were analysed in ten healthy endurance runners at rest, during sub-maximal exercise, and during the recovery. Inflammatory cells and metabolites (histamine, interleukin-8, and leukotriene E(4)) were measured in sputum at rest and after exercise.

Effects of 17 days of head-down bed rest on hydro-electrolytic regulation in men.

Prolonged periods of head-down bed rest (HDBR) are commonly used to mimic the effects of microgravity. HDBR has been shown to produce, as in space, a cephalad redistribution of circulating blood volume with an increase in central blood volume which induces the early adaptations in blood volume regulating hormones. Changes in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), arginine vasopressin (AVP), renin activity and aldosterone have been observed.