[Obesity and reproductive disorders].

Introduction: Obesity and overweight correlate with endocrine disorders in women, polycystic ovary syndrome, there are more atretic follicles in the ovary of obese women, overweight affects ovulation, pregnancy rates and outcomes in natural as well as in treated cycles. Similarly starvation correlates with menstrual cycle disturbances with anovulation.

Material And Methods: The study includes 309 IVF treatment cycles performed in our IVF centre between 1/1/97 and 30/6/99.

[Analysis of the zona pellucida in human oocytes and embryos in an assisted reproduction program].

Objective: Our aim was to design simple method for quantitative evaluation of oocyte and embryo morphology in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme efforting of embryo implantation prediction to be able to set the optimal number of embryos for transfer for given specific case. This study deals with zona pellucida (ZP)--the one interesting and for oocyte unique structure. The work is the part of comprehensive research of oocyte, zygote and embryo morphology.

Endometriosis in reproductive immunology.

Problem: Endometriosis is suggested to represent an autoimmune disorder, but what is the prevalence of autoantibodies to antigens relevant to reproduction?

Method Of Study: The humoral immune response to the women with endometriosis (stage I-II: 261 women; stage III-IV: 62 women) in serum and in peritoneal fluid was investigated compared with 101 healthy women. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used in all the women for the detection of seven antiphospholipid antibodies [antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) against cardiolipin, L-phosphatidyl (ph)-serine, ph-glycerol, ph-inositol, ph-ethanolamine, phosphatidic (ph)-acid and against beta2-glycoprotein I] of class IgG, IgA, and IgM. A passive haemmagglutination method and ELISA (BioGen) was used for assessment of antizona pellucida antibodies (aZP), tray agglutination test (TAT) and indirect mixed anti-imunoglobulin reaction test (MAR-test) for the determination of sperm antibody levels.

[Fructose and glucose in follicular fluid and serum of women undergoing stimulation in an in vitro fertilization program].

Objective: To find out if there is some amount of fructose in the follicular fluid of IVF stimulated patients. If so then to compare fructose and glucose levels with IVF outcome, type of stimulation and infertility factors.

Design: Retrospective study.

Beta 2-glycoprotein I is a good indicator of certain adverse pregnancy conditions.

Objective: To compare levels of beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies with six different antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in sera from patients with certain adverse pregnancy conditions.

Patients And Methods: aPL levels were examined in pregnant women with anti-phospholipid syndrome (26), pre-eclampsia (32), autoimmune disease (12), or diabetes mellitus (23) and in a group with physiological pregnancy (38). A commercial ELISA was used to determine the serum levels of anti-beta2-GPI (Immunotech) in isotypes IgG and IgA, and anti-cardiolipin levels (Milenia) in IgG and IgM.