A field study on glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate and thyroid hormones in dairy cows during the breeding period in Fars province, Iran.

Background: It was hypothesized that under apparently good management practices in dairy farms, some cows may not be metabolically perfect during the breeding period and this may affect their performance.

Aims: This study was conducted to assess probable metabolic drawbacks in mid-lactation dairy cows affecting their performance.

Methods: Thirty-seven clinically healthy Holstein cows were assessed for plasma concentrations of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), thyroxin (T4), and tri-iodothyronine (T3) on days 60, 90 and 120 of lactation.

Successful delivery after age 50: a report of two cases as a result of oocyte donation.

Background: Because of donor oocyte programs, women who previously were considered too old to successfully achieve conception and delivery can now bear children. To our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of pregnancy outcome in women over age 50 who conceived using donor oocytes. This study presents the pregnancy and delivery data on two women who delivered at age 52.

The effect of endometrial thickness and echo pattern on in vitro fertilization outcome in donor oocyte-embryo transfer cycle.

There have been some conflicting data concerning the importance of endometrial thickness and echo patterns before transfer in different IVF-ET situations under different COH regimens. We previously found in women undergoing IVF-ET after luteal phase LA-hMG a significantly higher PR in those patients attaining at least a 10-mm endometrial thickness and a lower rate in those women with an entirely homogeneous hyperechogenic endometrium (pattern C). The present study evaluated the relationship of endometrial thickness and echo pattern to PRs in donor oocyte recipient immediately before transfer.

CA 125 levels measured in different phases of the menstrual cycle in screening for endometriosis.

Objective: To examine variations in CA 125 levels during the three phases of the menstrual cycle in women with and without endometriosis.

Methods: One hundred infertile women were studied prospectively. CA 125 levels were measured during menses and during the follicular and luteal phases before diagnostic laparoscopy.

The effects of multiple gestation and selective reduction on fetal outcome.

A group of 32 women with at least 3 or more viable fetuses by sonography at approximately 8 weeks gestation were given the option of selective reduction. They were advised that this was a relatively new procedure but heretofore in a small series was not associated with a significant increase in fetal demise. Only 7 of 32 women chose this option.

Late luteal phase progestogen-dependent endometrial protein levels in women with in-phase biopsies--can low levels predict a subfertile group?

A group of infertile women who had luteal phase defects (LPD), but in whom follicular maturation was deemed normal, were treated with progesterone until the endometrial biopsy was corrected. At the time the corrected biopsy was obtained, serum was taken and the progestogen-dependent endometrial protein (PEP) concentration was determined. Serum PEP concentration in patients who successfully conceived was 102.

An evaluation of couples with failure of fertilization in vitro.

Attempts at in-vitro fertilization (IVF) may be used as a method of evaluating whether in a given couple, the inability of the sperm to fertilize the oocyte may be the cause of infertility. We evaluated all IVF patients in our practice who had at least one cycle with no fertilization to determine how often this was an isolated event or was repeated in multiple cycles; would poor semen quality be found as a frequent cause; and how well can a donor sperm or oocyte 'probe' uncover which of the two is the problem? Of 35 couples who used their own gametes exclusively, 30 (85.7%) had at least one cycle with zero fertilization; 42.

Comparison of pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer between the donors and the recipients in a donor oocyte program.

Our in vitro fertilization (IVF) program provides a unique opportunity to evaluate influences of hormonal milieu on pregnancy outcome, by using a shared pool of oocytes obtained by donors (in exchange for financial assistance). The study presented herein evaluated 38 retrieval cycles (28 oocyte donors/22 recipients). No difference in mean number of embryos transferred was seen (2.

Evidence that difference in size of fraternal twins may originate during early gestation: a case report.

We describe a woman who conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET). Transvaginal ultrasound demonstrated at least 1 week's difference in size of twin gestations from 1 month post-transfer of embryos to delivery. Differences in sac size, crown-rump length, and gestational growth are discussed, as are implications of ultrasound in early pregnancy.

Comparison of short versus long-term leuprolide acetate--human menopausal gonadotrophin hyperstimulation in in-vitro fertilization patients.

The use of leuprolide acetate for at least 10 days beginning in the mid-luteal phase prior to initiating human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) stimulation has been fairly successful in preventing cancellations for premature luteinization and allowing retrieval of more oocytes, which in turn provide more embryos for cryopreservation. However, it is theoretically possible that the long-term use of leuprolide may have some adverse effect on either pregnancy rates or on mean survival after cryopreservation and thawing. Recently, a short 3 day regimen of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, buserelin effectively prevented premature luteinization during HMG stimulation.

Serum progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and the value of progesterone replacement in intrauterine pregnancies when serum progesterone levels are low.

The corpus luteum function was evaluated in patients with surgically confirmed ectopic pregnancy (EP) in a multicenter study. In addition, the minimal threshold of serum progesterone (P) concentration required for salvaging intrauterine pregnancies (IUP) was also examined. Results show that single P or 17-OHP measurements are not diagnostic for EP, since mean P levels in EP were similar to those with spontaneous abortion though significantly lower than those in controls.

Successful delivery of twins in a woman with a unicornuate uterus.

The presence of a unicornuate uterus is a rare congenital condition which represents only 1-2% of uterovaginal anomalies. Previous reports have demonstrated an increase in the number of cases of primary infertility, pregnancy loss and preterm labor associated with the unicornuate uterus. Herein, we present a case in which a patient conceived following a thawed frozen embryo transfer.

Comparison of various therapies for the luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome.

A study was initiated to evaluate the prevalence of the luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) syndrome in a group of 355 women with infertility. The diagnosis was established by carefully observing daily sonograms along with measuring estradiol, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Two distinct types of LUF syndrome were identified: mature follicle LUF, in which release of an ovum was not demonstrated after a follicle attained maturity (serum estradiol reached 200 pg/mL while serum progesterone remained less than 2.

Influence of endometrial thickness and echo patterns on pregnancy rates during in vitro fertilization.

Previous data has suggested that improved PRs were seen in women with increased endometrial thickness as determined by sonography before oocyte retrieval. The hyperstimulation protocol used was CC-hMG. The study presented herein was initiated to evaluate if a similar trend was evident in women whose hyperstimulation protocol included the long LA-hMG therapy.

Extreme elevation of serum CA-125 in two women with severe endometriosis: case report.

Two women with elevated preoperative serum CA-125 levels were found to have extensive endometriosis - one, the highest level related to endometriosis ever reported in the English literature. Endometriosis was found to be etiologic as seen by the prompt reduction in serum CA-125 levels following surgical treatment limited to endometriosis. Thus, a very high CA-125 level does not necessarily forebode ovarian malignancy.

Correlation of serum progestagen-associated endometrial protein levels with endometrial biopsies serum steroid levels and therapy for luteal phase defects.

The progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PEP) level rises from the early to the late luteal phase. A study was performed in infertile women where late luteal phase endometrial biopsies and serum PEP levels were obtained. The objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the PEP levels and the endometrial biopsies and to determine if subnormal PEP levels could be improved by the same therapies used to correct endometrial defects.

Viable pregnancy in a woman with premature ovarian failure treated with gonadotropin suppression and human menopausal gonadotropin stimulation. A case report.

Ovulation and pregnancy were achieved in a woman with premature ovarian failure by mildly suppressing the elevated gonadotropins and following with a small dose of human menopausal gonadotropins for completion of follicular maturation.

Premature luteinization: treatment and incidence in natural cycles.

The incidence of premature luteinization was evaluated in 400 women with a history of infertility (greater than or equal to 18 months). After its diagnosis, this condition was treated with ovulation-inducing drugs in the early follicular phase in an attempt to accelerate follicular maturation before the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Premature luteinization was diagnosed if serum progesterone levels greater than 1.

An in vivo technique for screening immunologic factors in the etiology of the unexplained poor postcoital test.

A study was designed to determine the incidence and etiology of the unexplained poor postcoital test. An in vivo comparison of sperm penetration by husband's versus donor sperm in the wife's estrogen-stimulated mucus was performed. The 8 of 30 women showing improvement of husband's penetration in mucus (group 1) were treated with high-dose estrogen (HDE) and hMG, and 4/8 conceived.

Serum progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PEP) levels in conception versus nonconception cycles following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

The human endometrium synthesizes a specific protein known as the progestagen-dependent endometrium protein (PEP) which rises from early to late luteal phase. The PEP levels follow the pattern of the endometrial biopsy more than the serum progesterone (P) levels (4). Late luteal-phase serum PEP levels were evaluated as well as serum P in mid-luteal phase in patients undergoing IVF-ET.

Serum CA 125 levels in early pregnancy and subsequent spontaneous abortion.

CA 125 has been found in high concentrations in human amniotic fluid throughout gestation, with significant quantities seen in the decidua and chorion. Because disruption of the epithelial basement membrane of the fetal membrane or the decidua could theoretically lead to a rise in maternal CA 125 levels, this increase may be a predictor of subsequent spontaneous abortion of the fetus. A study was initiated to investigate whether a sudden rise in the serum CA 125 level might predict spontaneous first-trimester abortions.

Ovulation induction and pregnancies in 100 consecutive women with hypergonadotropic amenorrhea.

The efficacy of a technique of gonadotropin suppression and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) to induce ovulation in women with hypergonadotropic amenorrhea was evaluated in 100 consecutive women. Ovulation was achieved in 19% of cycles (68/361), the pregnancy rate per cycle was 5.2% (19/361), and the viable pregnancy rate was 2.