Preliminary studies on apoptosis in human fetal ovaries

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if apoptosis occurs in human germ cells between 19 and 33 gestational weeks (GW). DESIGN: Human fetal ovaries were obtained from aborted fetuses aged 19-33 GW. SETTING: Rabin Medical Center, a major tertiary care and referral center. PATIENT(S): Twenty-seven women undergoing pregnancy termination. The abortions were mostly because of fetal anatomical or chromosomal abnormalities. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Microscopy studies, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) assay (TUNEL), and immunocytochemistry for B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (bcl-2). RESULT(S): TUNEL assay revealed a slight increase in apoptotic oocytes in fetuses from 23 GW, with a peak at 27 GW. Overexpression of bcl-2 was detected in all ovarian components, regardless of fetal age. CONCLUSION(S): There seems to be a slight increase in apoptosis in oocytes from 23 GW with a peak at 27 GW. However, it is very unlikely that these low apoptotic rates could be the cause of the extensive germ cell loss throughout human pregnancy. The overexpression of bcl-2 possibly suggests either that this gene is necessary to overcome extensive apoptotic activity or that it is responsible for the low apoptosis rates. However, these results should be considered with caution, since the ovaries were mostly from abnormal fetuses after feticide.     

The effect of diabetes on ovaries in a rat model: the role of interleukin-33 and apoptosis

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a novel cytokine involved in diabetes mellitus (DM) but its role in diabetic ovarian injury is unknown. As IL-33 is modulated by apoptosis, we aimed at investigating the effect of diabetes on ovaries in terms of evaluating apoptosis and IL-33 in a rat model. In this prospective experimental study, 16 female, nonpregnant Sprague–Dawley albino rats (12?weeks, 220–240?g) were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 included eight healthy nondiabetic rats as controls and group 2 included eight rats in which diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of streptozotocin (STZ). After overt DM occurred (blood glucose >400?mgr/dl), all animals were euthanized and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. Bilateral oophorectomy was performed for histopathological examination. Serum levels of IL-33 and ovarian IL-33 and caspase-3 immunoexpressions were assessed. Immunoexpressions of caspase-3 and IL-33 were significantly higher in ovarian stromal cells of the diabetic rats compared to the controls. Also, in diabetic group, serum IL33 levels were significantly higher than the control group. In conclusion, increased IL-33 was observed both in serum and ovaries of STZ-induced diabetic rats as well as increased apoptosis in these diabetic rats. IL-33 may contribute to the apoptosis in diabetic ovarian injury.     

放射诱导细胞凋亡与子宫颈癌放射敏感性的关系

目的 研究细胞凋亡及放射诱导细胞调亡与子宫颈癌放射敏感性的关系,寻找预测放射敏感性的新指标。方法 采用原位末端标记法（ＴＵＮＥＬ）检测宫颈癌活检标本中凋亡的细胞数,并观察细胞凋亡及放射诱导细胞凋亡与３次后肿瘤体积缩小、肿瘤细胞放射敏感性级别以及放射治疗（放疗）结束后肿瘤局部控制率的关系。结果 放疗前凋亡细胞数与放疗后宫颈肿瘤体积缩小无关（Ｐ〉０．０５）;放射诱导凋亡细胞数与宫颈肿瘤体积缩小有明显相     

聚明胶肽对预防卵巢过度刺激综合征的研究分析

目的探讨辅助生殖技术中的卵巢过度刺激综合征(OHSS)的预防性治疗效果。方法在内蒙古医科大学附属医院接受体外受精-胚胎移植的(IVF-ET)患者417例,应用随机研究将其中具有OHSS高危因素且获卵数≥15个的患者155例分为两组,对照组在卵泡成熟日肌注人绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)4000～10000U,常规34～36h取卵,72h移植胚胎;实验组在对照组的基础上,取卵后24～48h进行聚明胶肽预防治疗。结果 417例总OHSS发生率4.80%,其中入组研究的155例总OHSS发生率12.90%实验组OHSS中度18.46%、重度6.15%;对照组OHSS中度2.22%、重度2.22%;实验组与对照组OHSS的发生率差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 OHSS为促排卵引起的严重并发症,应用聚明胶肽对OHSS的发生有预防性作用。     

Regulation of follicle growth and apoptosis in cultured mouse ovaries by NGF and oxygen

Abstract

Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue has been proposed for use in preserving female fertility before anticancer chemo-radiotherapy, because ovarian tissue contains a large pool of non-growing, primordial follicles. The mechanisms that regulate the exit of follicles from the pool are poorly understood. To determine optimal conditions for in vitro ovarian culture, we investigated the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and oxygen concentration on follicle growth and apoptosis. Oxygen concentration affected both cell proliferation and apoptosis. Under 20% oxygen, but not 1.5% or 5%, NGF decreased apoptosis in mouse ovaries by down-regulating the pro-apoptotic genes Bax and p53. In conclusion, high oxygen tension during in vitro ovarian culture promotes follicle growth and, in conjunction with NGF, suppresses apoptosis. The efficiency of this method to preserve fertility depends in part on the level of atresia. These results suggest that oxygen and NGF may be used to increase numbers of preantral follicles and mature oocytes in the culture of mammalian ovarian cortical strips.     

The effect of preventive cesarean section in breech presentation on perinatal mortality]

This study is based upon 1229 infants delivered from breech presentations who were investigated for the influence of the prophylactic Caesarean section carried out with primiparae after their 36th week of pregnancy in 1972, on perinatal mortality. The periods under report, i. e., 1966 to 1971 and 1972 to 1975, were compared with one another. The incidence of Caesarean sections carried out in breech presentations increased from 11.6% to 52.2%. With a premature birth rate of 22.1% and 20.9%, respectively, the uncleaned perinatal mortality decreased from 109.2% to 96.5%, whereas the cleaned one dropped from 73.3% to 64.2%. As to mature infants delivered vaginally or by Caesarean section, there was no significant difference in death rates. The worse prognosis for breech presentation infants given birth by pluriparae could be confirmed. The high portion of underweight infants amounting to 78.0% and 82.9%, respectively, in the total number of perinatal deaths illustrates the main problem of the breech presentation births.     

The possible preterm birth preventive effect of ampicillin during pregnancy

Objective: To study the possible association between oral ampicillin treatment during pregnancy and pregnancy complications, in addition to birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. Methods: We evaluated newborn infants without congenital abnormalities born to mothers with or without ampicillin treatment during pregnancy in the population-based large data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities. Results: Of 38,151 newborn infants, 2,630 (6.9%) had mothers with ampicillin treatment during pregnancy. Some pregnancy complications, particularly preeclampsia, showed a higher prevalence in pregnant women with ampicillin treatment. Mean gestational age was slightly longer (0.2 week) but it resulted in a significant reduction in the prevalence of preterm birth (7.1 vs 9.3%; adjusted POR with 95% CI: 0.8, 0.7–0.9). The preterm birth preventive effect of ampicillin was most obvious after the use of the drug in the first trimester of pregnancy. Similar difference was not seen in the reduction of low birth weight. The rate of preterm birth was lower in newborn infants born to mothers with acute infectious diseases of both the genitourinary and respiratory systems if they were treated by ampicillin. Conclusions: Ampicillin treatment, particularly in the first trimester of gestation, can reduce the proportion of preterm birth in pregnant women with acute infectious diseases of the genitourinary and respiratory system.     

Evaluation of cardiac risk marker levels in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovaries

Objective: To compare cardiac risk markers such as asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), C-reactive protein (CRP), homocystein (Hcy), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI–1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-related growth factor 6 (ANGPTL6) in obese and non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Study design: Thirty obese (BMI?>30?kg/m²) and 30 non-obese (BMI?2) patients diagnosed with PCOS and 30 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The ages of subjects were varying between 18 and 30 years. Serum ADMA, CRP, Hcy, PAI-1, VEGF and ANGPTL6 levels were analyzed for each subject.

Results: Serum ADMA, CRP, Hcy, PAI-1, VEGF and ANGPTL6 levels were significantly elevated in obese and non-obese women with PCOS in comparison to control subjects (p?Conclusions: Cardiovascular risk markers such as ADMA, CRP, Hcy, PAI-1, VEGF and ANGPTL6 levels are elevated in women with PCOS.     

Surgery of the ovaries

The author contemplates the surgical therapy of ovarian diseases: oophorectomy, wedge resection and punction. A remaining ovary in case of surgical treatment of benign ovarian tumors is helpful in prophylaxis of atherosclerosis after climacterium, too.