Gene expression microarray profiles of cumulus cells in lean and overweight-obese polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

The aim of this work was to study gene expression patterns of cultured cumulus cells from lean and overweight-obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients using genome-wide oligonucleotide microarray. The study included 25 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection: 12 diagnosed with PCOS and 13 matching controls. Each of the groups was subdivided into lean (body mass index (BMI) < 24) and overweight (BMI > 27) subgroups.

EGF increases expression and activity of PAs in preimplantation rat embryos and their implantation rate.

Background: Embryo implantation plays a major role in embryogenesis and the outcome of pregnancy. Plasminogen activators (PAs) have been implicated in mammalian fertilization, early stages of development and embryo implantation. As in-vitro developing embryos resulted in lower implantation rate than those developed in-vivo we assume that a reduced PAs activity may be involved.

Impact of hypnosis during embryo transfer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a case-control study.

Objective: To investigate whether hypnosis during ET contributes to successful IVF/ET outcome.

Design: Case-control clinical study.

Setting: Academic Fertility and IVF Unit, Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

Cullen's sign following ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval.

Objective: To describe two cases of periumbilical hematoma (Cullen's sign) following ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval.

Design: Case report.

Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital.

The effect of women's occupational psychologic stress on outcome of fertility treatments.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the possible association between women's occupational stress and outcome of fertility treatments.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed, including a consecutive group of 75 working women with a female fertility problem attending fertility clinics between the years 1999 and 2000. A structured questionnaire measuring burnout, job strain, and job satisfaction was used.

Uterine leiomyoma among women who conceived following fertility treatment.

Objective: The objective was to determine if uterine leiomyoma increases the risk of cesarean section (CS) among women who conceived following fertility treatment.

Study Design: The study population consisted of all women who conceived after fertility treatment with singleton gestation and who delivered between the years 1988 and 1999 in the Soroka University Medical Center. A comparison was performed between patients with and without uterine leiomyomas.

Relationship between the duration of sexual abstinence and semen quality: analysis of 9,489 semen samples.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between duration of sexual abstinence and various characteristics of normal and subnormal semen.

Design: A retrospective study based on computerized data.

Setting: Fertility and IVF unit at a university medical center.

Testicular interleukin-6 response to systemic inflammation.

Spermatogenesis is a highly controlled process of proliferation, meiosis, and differentiation. Systemic infection and chronic inflammation can impair testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. In this study, we examined the effect of systemic infection--intraperitoneal (i.

Interleukin-6 expression during normal maturation of the mouse testis.

In this study, we examined the cellular origin and the expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) during normal maturation of mouse testis. The levels of IL-6 (protein and mRNA) were higher in testicular homogenates of sexually immature than mature mice. Immunohistochemical staining of testicular tissues of sexually immature and adult mice show that testicular germ cells, at different stages of differentiation, Leydig cells/interstitial cells and peritubular cells express IL-6.

Headaches in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo-transfer treatment.

Background: In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer has become a common therapeutic modality in modern fertility medicines. Treatment protocols are associated with exaggerated hormonal fluctuations in order to promote multiple follicular development and support of embryo survival. Estrogen is considered to be closely linked to migraine, and its extreme serum level fluctuations have been considered to trigger migrainous headaches.

Expression of plasminogen activators in preimplantation rat embryos developed in vivo and in vitro.

Background: Embryo implantation plays a major role in embryogenesis and the outcome of pregnancy. Plasminogen activators (PAs) have been implicated in mammalian fertilization, early stages of development and embryo implantation. The invasion of trophoblast cells into the endometrium during the implantation process can be blocked by inhibitors of serine proteases, illustrating the role of these enzymes in the invasion process.

Blastocyst-stage embryo transfer in patients who failed to conceive in three or more day 2-3 embryo transfer cycles: a prospective, randomized study.

Objective: To compare blastocyst-stage embryo transfers (ETs) with day 2-3 ETs in patients who failed to conceive in three or more day 2-3 IVF/ET cycles.

Design: Prospective, randomized.

Setting: Fertility unit in a university medical center.

Differences in the implantation rates of rat embryos developed in vivo and in vitro: possible role for plasminogen activators.

Objective: To assess the participation of urokinase-type (uPA) and tissue-type (tPA) plasminogen activators in embryo development and implantation.

Design: The study was set to compare the activities of PAs in embryos developed in vivo and in vitro and their implantation rates. Endometrial PA activity was studied as well.

Over expression of interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in testicular tissues from sexually immature mice as compared to adult mice.

The levels of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-1Ra were higher in homogenates of testicular tissue from sexually immature than those from mature mice. Immunohistochemical staining of testicular tissues from sexually immature and adult mice show that differentiated germ cells express higher levels of IL-1alpha compared to Sertoli cells and Leydig cells/interstitial cells. Peritubular cells of sexually immature and adult mice did not express IL-1alpha.

Effect of occupational exposures on male fertility: literature review.

The present review was aimed to determine the influence of working conditions, occupational exposures to potential chemical and physical reproductive toxic agents and psychological stress during work on male fertility. Significant associations were reported between impaired semen parameters and the following chemical exposures: metals (lead, mercury), pesticides (dibromochlorophane, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), ethylene glycol ethers and estrogens. The following physical exposures were shown to deteriorate sperm parameters: radiation (both ionized and microwaves) and heat.

Potential association between male infertility and occupational psychological stress.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of working conditions, occupational exposures to potential reproductive toxic agents, and psychological stress on male fertility. The study population consisted of 202 consecutive male patients attending a fertility clinic. Of those, 106 patients had attended the clinic because of a male infertility problem (case group), 66 patients had attended the clinic because of a female infertility problem (control group), and 30 patients had a combined infertility problem (male and female).