Low-Dose Aspirin Does Not Increase Implantation Rates in Patients Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: A Prospective Randomized Study

Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the effect of aspirin on pregnancy and implantation rates in an unselected group of patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods: Two hundred and seventy-nine patients were randomized to receive 80 mg of aspirin (n = 139) or no treatment (r = 136) starting from the first day of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Results: Duration of stimulation, gonadotropin consumption, peak estradiol, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and number of embryos transferred were similar in the two groups. Implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were 15.6% and 39.6% versus 15.1% and 43.4% in aspirin treated and untreated groups, respectively (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Low-dose aspirin administration does not improve implantation and pregnancy rates in an unselected group of patients undergoing ICSI.     

The reversible antifertility effect of Piper betle Linn. on Swiss albino male mice

To study the antifertility effect of an extract (alcoholic) of the leaf-stalk of Piper betle Linn., one set of experiments with two different doses in Swiss male albino mice were evaluated. Initially, 500 mg of the leaf-stalk extractive for 30 days and then 1000 mg for next 30 days/animal/day/kg body weight were administered orally. The extract reduced fertility to 0% within 60 days. Suppression of cauda epididymal sperm count and motility (p <0.05) was observed. Biochemical parameters did not show any marked alterations in testosterone content in serum nor 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity in testes although fructose content in seminal vesicles was reduced as are the weights of reproductive organs. The cholesterol content in testes increased, although not appreciably. After cessation of drug (plant extract) treatment, the altered parameters recovered. Results suggest that the contraceptive effect of the extract of leaf-stalk of Piper betle Linn. is mainly on the maturation process of spermatozoa in epididymides without influencing hystemic hormonal profiles. Withdrawal of the extract restored all altered parameters including organ weights and fertility after 60 days.     

Expression of an antigen homologous to the human CO17-1A/GA733 colon cancer antigen in animal tissues.

The CO17-1A/GA733 antigen is associated with human carcinomas and some normal epithelial tissues. This antigen has shown promise as a target in approaches to passive and active immunotherapy of colorectal cancer. The relevance of animal models for studies of immunotherapy targeting this antigen in patients is dependent on the expression of the antigen on normal animal tissues. Immunohistoperoxidase staining with polyclonal rabbit antibodies to the human antigen revealed the human homologue on normal small intestine, colon and liver of mice, rats and non-human primates, whereas mouse monoclonal antibodies to the CO17-1A or GA733 epitopes on the human antigen did not detect the antigen. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies, elicited by the murine antigen homologue derived from recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells, immunoprecipitated the antigen from mouse small intestine, colon, stomach, kidney and lung. The isolated recombinant murine protein bound polyclonal, but not monoclonal, antibodies to the human CO17-1A/GA733 antigen, and recombinant human antigen bound polyclonal antibodies elicited by the murine antigen homologue. Thus, the antigen homologue expressed by animal tissues is similar, but not identical, to the human antigen. These results have important implications for experimental active and passive immunotherapy targeting the CO17-1A/GA733 antigen.     

Structure and stereochemistry of nardostachysin, a new terpenoid ester constituent of the rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi

The structure and stereochemistry of a new terpenoid ester, nardostachysin (1), isolated from the rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi, were established as the 7',8'-dihydroxy-4'-methylene hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1'-one-8'-methyl ester of 7, 9-guaiadien-14-oic acid, by spectral and chemical studies.     

Anticlastogenic potential of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in murine lymphoma

Vitamin D3, having gained scientific interest for so long because of its role in mineral homeostasis, has now received great importance as a possible antitumor agent. This study was undertaken in an attempt to visualize the possible anticlastogenic potential of the vitamin in an ascitic mouse lymphoma model namely, Dalton's lymphoma. Frequencies of structural type chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and micronucleus assays have been chosen as the genotoxic endpoints in the proposed investigation. All these cytogenetic markers have been found to be markedly elevated during the progression of lymphoma in bone marrow cells. Vitamin D3 effectively suppressed the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in the lymphoma-bearing mice during the entire phase of tumor growth that significantly coupled with almost two-fold increase in survival time (37 +/- 2 and 68 +/- 2 days in lymphoma controls and vitamin D3-treated lymphoma-bearing mice, respectively), thus substantiating the antineoplastic efficacy of this secosteroid. The outcome of this study also is clearly reflected in the depletion of circulating (serum) vitamin D3 levels in the lymphoma control mice compared with normal (vehicle) controls while a still higher level was maintained in the VD3-treated lymphoma mice. This anticlastogenic property of the vitamin has so far been neglected and this is the first attempt to unravel the vitamin D3's effect in combating tumor development in vivo by limiting the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei at least in transplantable murine model studied herein.     

High responders are not exempt from detrimental effects of prematurely rising progesterone levels in fresh embryo transfer cycles

Research question

Are high-responder IVF patients protected from the deleterious effect of prematurely elevated serum progesterone level on the probability of pregnancy?

Kinetic behaviour under defined assay conditions for bovine lens aldose reductase

Bovine lens aldose reductase, an enzyme important in sugar cataract formation, has been purified using a new procedure, and its optimum conditions of assay defined in both lens homogenates and purified preparations. Preliminary kinetic analysis shows that the degree of the rate equation is of a low order, and may be Michaelian under the standard conditions used.     

Complications of intestinal milking: experimental model

BACKGROUND: Intestinal milking is a frequently used method in abdominal surgery for various purposes; although it is frequently used for eliminating distension, moving faeces, bezoar or other foreign objects proximal or distal, there are no experimental or prospective studies in the surgical literature with respect to complications of the method. The purpose of the present study was to investigate complications of the milking process in an experimental model. METHODS: Forty-four outbred, 8-month old Wistar albino male rats with weights ranging between 195 and 225 g were used. Four rats were used for preliminary study. The other 40 rats were divided into two equal groups. In the study group (n = 20), a plastic sphere, 3 mm in diameter was sent to the stomach via oro-gastric tubes. This sphere was then moved into the cecum by milking. In the control group rats (n = 20) the small intestines were manipulated at 1-cm intervals but milking was not performed. RESULTS: In the study group six rats (30%) developed grade 1, 11 rats (55%) developed grade 2, and three rats (15%) developed grade 3 peritoneal adhesion. In the control group, 18 rats (90%) had no adhesions and only two rats (10%) developed grade 1 adhesion (chi(2) = 34, P < 0.0001). In the study group, four rats (20%) had small bowel obstruction, whereas no rats in the control group developed small bowel obstruction (Fisher's P > 0.05). Peritoneal smear culture was positive in 11 rats (55%) in the study group, whereas it was positive in two rats (10%) in the control group (Fisher's P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal milking is a process that can cause severe peritoneal adhesions and peritoneal contamination, which may lead to small bowel obstruction. Avoiding milking to the extent possible in eliminating distension intraluminal material that may cause obstruction, and preferring alternative methods is important for reducing postoperative morbidity.