A randomized double-blind controlled study of the efficacy of laser-assisted hatching on implantation and pregnancy rates of frozen-thawed embryo transfer at the cleavage stage.

Background: Assisted hatching (AH) in fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles increases the implantation and pregnancy rates, especially in women with a poor prognosis, repeated implantation failures and in older women. Little information exists in the literature regarding the role of AH in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Methods: Embryos were cryopreserved at the cleavage stage.

Intracervical sodium nitroprusside versus vaginal misoprostol in first trimester surgical termination of pregnancy: a randomized double-blinded controlled trial.

Background: Results from small-scale randomized studies on the effectiveness of different preparations of nitric oxide donors in cervical priming before first trimester termination of pregnancies are not consistent. We compared sodium nitroprusside gel to misoprostol, the standard agent for cervical priming in this randomized double-blinded controlled trial.

Methods: Two hundred pregnant patients between 8 to 12 weeks admitted for surgical termination of pregnancy were recruited.

Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in patients with small intramural uterine fibroids during IVF treatment.

Background: The impact of intramural fibroids on the success of IVF treatment is controversial and the mechanisms leading to poor treatment outcomes remain unknown. We compared endometrial and subendometrial blood flow between women with and without intramural fibroids during IVF treatment.

Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed on the day of oocyte retrieval in 50 patients with intramural fibroids not distorting the uterine cavity and in 50 matched controls to measure endometrial thickness, uterine pulsatility index (PI)/resistance index (RI), endometrial volume and vascularization index (VI)/flow index (FI)/vascularization flow index (VFI) of endometrial and subendometrial regions.

Effect of pituitary downregulation on antral follicle count, ovarian volume and stromal blood flow measured by three-dimensional ultrasound with power Doppler prior to ovarian stimulation.

Background: Despite the extensive use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists (GnRH ag) for pituitary downregulation, the literature regarding their effect on ultrasound parameters for predicting ovarian responses are few and conflicting. The aim of this prospective study was to compare antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian volume and ovarian stromal blood flow measured by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound before and after pituitary downregulation.

Methods: All patients received a long protocol of intranasal Buserelin from the mid-luteal phase of the cycle.

A prospective randomised comparison of sublingual and vaginal misoprostol in second trimester termination of pregnancy.

Objective: To compare the efficacy, side effects and acceptability of sublingual and vaginal misoprostol for second trimester medical abortion.

Design: Prospective randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Tertiary referral unit and a teaching hospital.

Comparison of endometrial and subendometrial blood flow measured by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound between stimulated and natural cycles in the same patients.

Background: Low implantation rates in stimulated IVF cycles may be related to suboptimal endometrial perfusion. Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow was compared between stimulated and natural cycles in the same patients undergoing IVF.

Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed in stimulated and natural cycles of 67 consecutive patients to measure endometrial thickness, uterine artery pulsatility index/resistance index, endometrial volume, vascularization index (VI)/flow index (FI)/vascularization flow index (VFI) of endometrial and subendometrial regions.

A pilot-randomized comparison of sublingual misoprostol with syntometrine on the blood loss in third stage of labor.

Background: To compare sublingual misoprostol with intravenous syntometrine use during third stage of labor by measuring the blood loss.

Methods: Sixty women were randomized to receive either 600 micro g misoprostol sublingually or 1 ml syntometrine intravenously during the third stage of labor after spontaneous vaginal delivery. For those with risk factors of postpartum hemorrhage such as medical induction or augmentation of labor, previous third stage complications were excluded.

WHO multinational study of three misoprostol regimens after mifepristone for early medical abortion.

Objectives: To compare the side effect profiles of regimens of oral and vaginal administration of misoprostol after a single oral dose of 200 mg of mifepristone and to investigate patients' perceptions of medical abortion.

Design: Double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Fifteen gynaecological clinics in 11 countries.

A randomized study comparing the use of sublingual to vaginal misoprostol for pre-operative cervical priming prior to surgical termination of pregnancy in the first trimester.

Background: Misoprostol is an effective agent for pre-operative cervical priming before surgical termination of pregnancy in the first trimester. Previous studies have shown that both oral and vaginal routes are equally effective for such a purpose. This study aimed to compare a new route of sublingual administration to the vaginal route of administration for pre-operative cervical priming in first trimester surgical abortion.

Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow measured during early luteal phase by three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound in excessive ovarian responders.

Background: Impaired implantation in assisted reproduction cycles with high serum estradiol (E(2)) concentrations may be related to suboptimal endometrial perfusion. Endometrial and subendometrial blood flow were compared between excessive responders (serum E(2) on the day of HCG >20 000 pmol/l) and moderate responders (E(2) < or =20 000 pmol/l).

Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination with power Doppler was performed 2, 4 and 7 days after HCG in 32 patients who did not have embryo transfer in order to measure endometrial thickness, pulsatility index (PI)/resistance index (RI) of uterine vessels, and endometrial volume, vascularization index (VI)/flow index (FI)/vascularization flow index (VFI) of endometrial and subendometrial regions.

A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the use of mifepristone with sublingual or vaginal misoprostol for medical abortions of less than 9 weeks gestation.

Background: A combination of mifepristone and misoprostol provides an effective method of medical abortion for early pregnancy. This is the first randomized trial comparing the use of sublingual misoprostol with vaginal misoprostol in combination with mifepristone for termination of early pregnancies up to 63 days.

Methods: A total of 224 women who requested legal termination of pregnancy up to 63 days were randomized by computer- generated list into two groups and given 200 mg of oral mifepristone followed 48 h later by either 800 micro g of sublingual (n = 112) or vaginal (n = 112) misoprostol.

Bioavailability of hCG after intramuscular or subcutaneous injection in obese and non-obese women.

Background: Obese women require higher gonadotrophin doses for ovarian stimulation and to trigger ovulation. The bioavailability of a drug is affected by its route of administration. Herein, the bioavailability of hCG was compared after intramuscular (i.

WHO multinational study of three misoprostol regimens after mifepristone for early medical abortion. I: Efficacy.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of oral and vaginal administration of misoprostol after a single oral dose of 200 mg of mifepristone and to investigate whether the efficacy can be improved and the duration of bleeding shortened by continuing oral misoprostol for one week.

Design: Double blind, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Fifteen gynaecological clinics in 11 countries.

Prostaglandins for induction of second-trimester termination and intrauterine death.

The introduction of synthetic prostaglandin has revolutionized the treatment protocol for induction of second-trimester abortion and intrauterine death. Gemeprost is the only licensed synthetic prostaglandin analogue for second-trimester abortion in the United Kingdom. However, it is expensive and needs to be stored in a refrigerator.

Pilot study on the use of sublingual misoprostol in termination of pregnancy up to 7 weeks gestation.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and incidence of side effects of a regimen of repeated doses of 400 microg sublingual misoprostol for termination of pregnancy of <7 weeks gestation.

Method: Fifty women were given 400 microg sublingual misoprostol every 3 h for three doses. Two additional doses were given if necessary.

Polymorphisms in the coagulation factor VII gene and the risk of myocardial infarction in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Objective: To investigate whether coagulation factor VII (FVII) polymorphisms play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or myocardial infarction (MI) in a series of Hans.

Methods: The Arg(353)Gln and HVR4 polymorphisms of FVII gene were determined in 374 patients undergoing selective coronary angiography by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.

Results: The FVII genotype distribution was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

A prospective randomized study to compare the use of repeated doses of vaginal with sublingual misoprostol in the management of first trimester silent miscarriages.

Background: A randomized controlled trial comparing sublingual with vaginal administration of misoprostol for medical management of silent miscarriages.

Methods: Eighty women who had silent miscarriages (<13 weeks) were randomized to receive 600 micro g of misoprostol every 3 h for a maximum of three doses either sublingually or vaginally.

Results: The success rates of medical management were the same in both groups (87.

A prospective randomized study on the measured blood loss in medical termination of early pregnancy by three different misoprostol regimens after pretreatment with mifepristone.

Background: Prolonged vaginal bleeding is a common complaint after medical abortion. The effect of a 1 week course of daily oral misoprostol after medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol on the amount of post-abortal blood loss was studied.

Methods: A total of 150 women (gestation View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pilot study on the use of sublingual misoprostol with mifepristone in termination of first trimester pregnancy up to 9 weeks gestation.

Background: A combination of mifepristone and misoprostol provides an effective method of medical abortion for early pregnancy. A new route of administration of misoprostol, the sublingual route, was investigated in this study.

Methods: One hundred women who requested legal termination of pregnancy up to 63 days were given 200 mg of oral mifepristone followed 48 h later by 800 microg (4 x 200 microg tablets) of sublingual misoprostol.

Medical abortion in the second trimester.

The introduction of prostaglandin analogues and mifepristone has changed the management of second trimester abortion in the last 2 decades. Gemeprost and misoprostol are the two most extensively studied prostaglandin analogues that are used in this period. The combination of either gemeprost or misoprostol with mifepristone is most effective.

Mifepristone: contraceptive and non-contraceptive uses.

Mifepristone is an orally active progesterone antagonist. It can be used for both contraceptive and non-contraceptive clinical indications. It is a very effective drug for emergency contraception with a low incidence of side effects.

Pilot study on the use of repeated doses of sublingual misoprostol in termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks gestation: efficacy and acceptability.

Background: A sublingual misoprostol-alone regimen was used in 50 women requesting medical abortion at up to 12 weeks gestation. The efficacy and acceptability of this regimen were studied.

Methods: The women were given 600 microg misoprostol sublingually every 3 h for a maximum of 5 doses.

Pharmacokinetics of different routes of administration of misoprostol.

Background: The pharmacokinetic parameters of four different routes of administration of a single dose of 400 microg of misoprostol were studied.

Methods: A total of 40 women undergoing termination of pregnancy by suction evacuation was randomized by computer model to receive 400 microg of misoprostol by one of four routes: (i) sublingual (ii) oral (iii) vaginal and (iv) vaginal with addition of water. Venous blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 120, 240 and 360 min after the administration of misoprostol.

Pilot study on the use of sublingual misoprostol for medical abortion.

A new route of sublingual administration of misoprostol was used by 25 women with first trimester, non-viable intrauterine gestation and by 18 women requesting mid-trimester termination of pregnancy. Twenty-three women (92%, 95% CI 75, 98) with first trimester, non-viable gestation had complete abortion after sublingual misoprostol. All women (100%, 95% CI 82, 100) requesting second trimester abortion aborted, and the median induction-to-abortion interval was 11.