Differences in female and male perception of information and decision-making in single-embryo transfer in in vitro fertilization in Sweden

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the information and the factors that contribute to the decision to accept and choose single embryo transfer (SET) in females and males. Materials and methods Fifty-four females and males undergoing SET were interviewed separately using a structured questionnaire. Results The women were significantly more satisfied with the information than the men (odds ratio 3.3), but the decision to accept SET was nevertheless more difficult for women (OR 3.1). Only one-third of both female and males were aware of the increased maternal risks with twin pregnancies. There was a tendency that the women who accepted SET had previous children, shorter duration of infertility, and were younger. Cryopreservation of embryos and a good pregnancy chance were important irrespective of gender. Conclusion The female needs more support to choose SET. The male needs better information and further involvement in decision-making. The females were more aware of the fetal risks, but the awareness of the increased maternal risks with twin pregnancies was low. The female need more support to accept and choose single embryo transfer, compared to the male and information should in some areas be directed differently to females and males.     

Ovulation induction in in vitro fertilization

The main goal of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program is to maximize the number of women who become pregnant in any treatment cycle. In order to achieve pregnancy, many steps should be successfully accomplished. The number of mature oocytes that are retrieved and fertilized in a treatment cycle has the major impact on the success rate of the IVF program. The chances of achieving conception increases dramatically when the number of embryos replaced into the uterus increases^1-3. Hence, most IVF treatment programs currently use some combination of ovulation induction agents in order to stimulate and aspirate as many follicles as possible.     

Non-persistent pesticides in breast milk in an agricultural area in Turkey

Background: Organophosphates, pythyreoids, carbamate pesticides and fungicides are heavily used in agriculture. They may have dangerous effects on newborn health especially on immune system and growth via prenatal transmission by placenta or postnatal transmission by breastfeeding.

Methods: In 2015, 144 non-persistent pesticides in 64 milk samples of 32 mothers were studied by OuEChERS method in liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometer in neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Adana, a city in Cukurova region which is an important agricultural area in Turkey.

Results: Pesticides were detected in milk samples of 11 mothers (34.3%) and 21 (32.8%) of milk samples. In five mothers, fungicides (in 5/10 samples propicanozole-PP, in 4/10 samples bromucanozole-BM), in five mothers, organophosphates (in 10/10 samples primyphosphomethyl-PPM), in one mother, both organophosphates and fungicide (in 1/2 samples PPM and in 1/2 samples buprimate) were detected. However, the estimated daily intakes (EDI) were less than acceptable daily intakes (ADI) for PPM, PP and BM, respectively.

Conclusions: Although pesticides levels in human milk did not exceed the ADIs, we suggest monitoring pesticides in human breast milk especially for newborn health.     

Heterogeneity in alpha-thalassemia interactions in Malays, Chinese and Indians in Malaysia

AIM: Interactions between different determinants of alpha-thalassemia raises considerable problems, particularly during pregnancies where antenatal diagnosis is necessary. This study aims to determine the different types of deletional alpha-thalassemia and Hemoglobin Constant Spring (HbCS), and their frequency in Malays, Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. METHODS: DNA from 650 pregnant women from the Antenatal Clinic of the University of Malaya Medical Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who showed mean cell volume < or =89 fL and/or mean cell hemoglobin < or =28 pg were analyzed for the double alpha-globin gene South-East Asian deletion (--SEA), the -alpha3.7 and -alpha4.2 single alpha-globin gene deletions and HbCS. RESULTS: One hundred and three (15.8%) of the pregnant women were confirmed as alpha-thalassemia carriers: 25 (3.8%) were alpha-thalassemia-1 carriers with the --SEA/alphaalpha genotype, 64 (9.8%) were heterozygous for the -alpha3.7 rightward deletion (-alpha3.7/alphaalpha), four (0.6%) were heterozygous for the -alpha4.2 leftward deletion (-alpha4.2/alphaalpha), nine (1.4%) were heterozygous for HbCS (alphaCSalpha/alphaalpha) and one (0.2%) was compound heterozygous with the -alpha3.7/alphaCSalpha genotype. The double alpha-globin gene --SEA deletion was significantly higher in the Chinese (15%) compared to the Malays (2.5%) and not detected in the Indians studied. The -alpha3.7 deletion was distributed equally in the three races. HbCS and -alpha4.2 was observed only in the Malays. CONCLUSION: The data obtained gives a better understanding of the interactions of the different alpha-thalassemia determinants in the different ethnic groups, thus enabling more rapid and specific confirmation of alpha-thalassemia in affected pregnancies where antenatal diagnosis is necessary.     

缺氧缺血性脑病的性别差异性研究进展

新生儿缺氧缺血性脑病(hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,HIE)是指围产期窒息缺氧导致的脑缺氧缺血性损害,可遗留不同程度的神经系统后遗症。动物研究表明,缺氧缺血性损伤后,炎性反应、氧化应激和细胞死亡途径等关键病理生理过程中存在明显的性别差异,雌性动物对亚低温、促红细胞生成素、脑源性营养因子和别嘌呤醇等治疗效果也明显优于雄性。临床研究发现男性HIE患儿病情更重、预后更差。基于性别的治疗干预很有可能在围产期脑损伤中提供更好的神经保护。本文总结了目前HIE性别差异性的相关证据,以期为临床治疗提供新思路。     

Abortion in France in 1977

This update of legal abortion in France begins with the history of abortion, the French abortion law, and application since its passage in 1975, and evaluates current acceptance by French physicians. In France, abortion was outlawed in 1923, with the highest numbers of convictions, 5521, in 1946. Increasingly since the late 1960s, the law was neither heeded nor enforced, resulting in a new liberalized law passed in 1975, and put into effect over the next 2 years. Some of the difficulties encountered in implementing legal abortion were: the decision to permit abortion only in approved hospitals, rather than to allow establishment of abortion clinics; resistance of many hospitals or individuals against performing abortions; fixed prices for physicians fees (160 F.) and quotas of 25% of the total surgical and obstetrical patient load; regional variations in availability of abortion; and waiting periods. These problems have led to continuation of black market abortions, fraud in reporting numbers of abortions performed, and have forced some women to travel to other regions of the country or to other countries to obtain safe abortions. Only the 1975 figures are available: there were 45,085 legal abortions, 32,923 in public hospitals and 12,792 in private hospitals. Abortions are easily obtained in large cities and the Southeast, Central and Breton regions but less so in the North and Southwest.     

Trends in preterm birth in singleton deliveries in a Hong Kong population

Objective

To examine trends in preterm birth and its relationship with perinatal mortality in Hong Kong.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, data were reviewed from singletons delivered between 1995 and 2011 at a university teaching hospital. Trends in preterm birth (between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy), perinatal mortality, and subtypes of preterm birth (spontaneous, iatrogenic, and following preterm premature rupture of membranes [PPROM]) were examined via linear regression.

Results

There were 103 364 singleton deliveries, of which 6722 (6.5%) occurred preterm, including 1835 (1.8%) early preterm births (24–33 weeks) and 4887 (4.7%) late preterm births (34–36 weeks). Frequency of preterm birth remained fairly consistent over the study period, but that of spontaneous preterm birth decreased by 25% (β = –0.83; P < 0.001), from 4.5% to 3.8%. Frequency of preterm birth following PPROM increased by 135% (β = 0.82; P < 0.001), from 0.7% to 1.7%. The perinatal mortality rate decreased from 56.7 to 37.0 deaths per 1000 deliveries before 37 weeks (β = –0.16; P = 0.54). Early preterm birth contributed to 16.0% of all deaths.

Conclusion

Although the overall rate of preterm birth in Hong Kong has remained constant, the frequencies of its subtypes have changed. Overall perinatal mortality is gradually decreasing, but early preterm birth remains a major contributor.