Insulin-sensitizing agents for infertility treatment in woman with polycystic ovary syndrome: a narrative review of current clinical practice.

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive disorder which, according to the Rotterdam criteria, affects up to 24% of women of childbearing age. Although the prevalence of infertility in this subpopulation of women is high, the optimal treatment has not been fully established yet. Insulin resistance is considered to be an important mechanism involved in the development of PCOS; hence, the aim of this narrative review is to present an overview of the current pharmacological insulin-sensitizing treatment modalities for infertile women with PCOS.

Association Between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) -786 T/C and 27-bp VNTR 4b/a Polymorphisms and Preeclampsia Development.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the distribution of genotypes and haplotypes of functional eNOS gene polymorphisms in the promoter (-786 T/C), intron 4 (VNTR4b/a) and exon 7 (894 G/T), in Serbian population of pregnant women, and establish a possible association between these polymorphisms and preeclampsia development. DNA was isolated from venous blood samples of 50 heathy pregnant women and 50 preeclampsia patients. Polymerase Chain Reaction/Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) technique, with appropriate sets of primers and specific restriction enzymes, was used to determine polymorphisms in eNOS gene.

VAL158MET catechol O-methyltransferase polymorphism contributes to the development of preeclampsia.

: Establishment of association between: (a) Val158Met COMT (G1947A) polymorphism and preeclampsia; (b) cytokines gene expression and COMT genotypes. : 50 preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women were enrolled. COMT genotyping was done by PCR/RFLP.

Glutathione-S-transferase M1 polymorphism and pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β are associated with preeclampsia in Serbian women.

Problem: Preeclampsia has a multifactorial origin with genetic, immunological, and environmental factors described as main contributors to its onset. This study aimed to investigate glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione-S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphisms, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and the potential relationship between GST polymorphisms and cytokine expression levels in preeclampsia and uncomplicated pregnancy.

Method Of Study: This prospective case-control study included 50 women with preeclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women.

Maternal glycoregulation in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus in the prediction of fetal echography findings and perinatal outcomes.

Aim: We aimed to determine maternal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and pregestational body mass index (BMI) as the predictors of glycemic control and its importance for fetal echography findings and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: Our intention was to evaluate how BMI and HbA1c levels might be used to predict fetal interventricular septum (IVS) thickness, atrioventricular inflow early diastole (E)/ atrial systole (A) velocity ratio, and perinatal outcomes. Patients in the 38th gestational week were divided into three groups according to their insulin therapy: (i) patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treated only with dietary changes (GDM group, n = 32); (ii) patients with GDM treated with insulin therapy (DM2 group, n = 27); and (iii) patients with type 1 DM (DM1 group, n = 22).

Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnancies Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

Recent epidemiological studies showed significantly higher incidence of perinatal complications in newborns and women after the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Multiple pregnancies are more frequent after the use of ART. Singleton pregnancies following ART are more prone to preterm birth, low and very low birth weight (LBW and VLBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and perinatal mortality.

Clients' Perception of Outcome of Team-Based Prenatal and Reproductive Genetic Counseling in Serbian Service Using the Perceived Personal Control (PPC) Questionnaire.

This is the first study in Serbia and the region of South-East Europe dedicated to clients' perception of outcome and efficiency of prenatal and reproductive genetic counseling. The primary aim of this study was to assess overall value and success of genetic counseling in prenatal and reproductive care with regard to perceived personal control of clients, reflecting also in a part patient comprehension, knowledge retention, and empowerment in decision-making. The standardized Perceived Personal Control questionnaire (PPC) was used for the assessment of 239 female participants.

Fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine levels during the second half of uncomplicated pregnancy.

Objective: To measure fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancies.

Methods: Paired maternal venous and fetal umbilical cord blood (n = 81) samples were evaluated for plasma Hcy and vitamin B levels, in addition to eight neonatal umbilical cord blood samples obtained immediately following delivery.

Results: Both fetal and maternal Hcy concentrations were positively correlated with advancing gestational age (ρ = 0.

Nutrition in pregnancy: basic principles and recommendations.

Healthy diet in pregnancy should guarantee proper fetal growth and development, maintain (and promote) maternal health and enable lactation. Nutritional counseling and interventions need to be an integral part of antenatal care and continue during pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of maternal, fetal and neonatal complications, as well as the short- and long-term adverse outcomes. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are more common in women who begin the gestation as undernourished or obese in comparison to pregnant women whose weight is within normal ranges.

Is the rate of congenital heart defects detected by fetal echocardiography among pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization really increased?: a case-historical control study.

Objective: We investigated the prenatal prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) among in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies at a referral program in the United States.

Methods: Study patients were referred for fetal echocardiography between April 1, 2006, and May 1, 2009, due to IVF. An IVF pregnancy was defined as a patient who conceived with IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

The role of antioxidant vitamins in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia (PE) is an important and a leading cause of both maternal morbidity and adverse perinatal outcomes. Despite progress in perinatal medicine for patients with an established diagnosis of PE, a therapeutic approach other than termination of pregnancy was unsuccessful. Women predisposed to PE begin pregnancy with a certain degree of endothelial dysfunction, a lesion that precedes shallow placentation.

Micronutrients in women's reproductive health: II. Minerals and trace elements.

It is widely accepted that micronutrients have a major function in many periods of women's life, particularly during pregnancy and lactation. Inadequate stores or intake of micronutrients might have adverse effects both to the mother (hypertension, anemia, complications of labor) and the fetus (congenital malformations, pre-term delivery, intrauterine growth retardation). The effect of improper nutrition is influenced by gestational age, severity of deficiency, or both.

Micronutrients in women's reproductive health: I. Vitamins.

Proper nutritional status of women before, during, and after pregnancy is an important element of reproductive health. It maintains maternal health and reduces the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome, birth defects and chronic disease in children later in postnatal life. Pregnancy creates a special metabolic demand for high-quality nutrients.