Effect of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneal pressure on the ultrastructure of implanted endometriotic lesions in a rat model

Objective To evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂) pneumoperitonal pressure on the ultrastructure of implanted endometriotic lesions in a rat model.     

Role of the plasminogen system in basal adhesion formation and carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum-enhanced adhesion formation after laparoscopic surgery in transgenic mice

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in adhesion formation after laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: Academic research center. ANIMAL(S): Seventy female wild-type and transgenic knockout mice for PAI-1 (PAI-1(-/-)), uPA (uPA(-/-)) or tPA (tPA(-/-)). INTERVENTION(S): Standardized lesions to induce peritoneal adhesions were performed during laparoscopy. To evaluate basal adhesions and pneumoperitoneum-enhanced adhesions, the pneumoperitoneum was maintained for 10 minutes or 60 minutes, respectively. Peritoneal biopsy samples were obtained during and after 60 minutes of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Adhesions were blindly scored after 7 days. Concentrations of PAI-1 and tPA were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULT(S): In PAI-1, uPA, and tPA wild-type mice, pneumoperitoneum enhanced adhesions. Compared with wild-type mice, basal adhesions were fewer in PAI-1(-/-) mice and more in uPA(-/-) and tPA(-/-) mice. Pneumoperitoneum did not enhance adhesions in these transgenic mice. PAI-1 concentration increased after 60 minutes of pneumoperitoneum whereas tPA concentration did not change. CONCLUSION(S): Impaired fibrinolysis increases basal adhesions. The absence of pneumoperitoneum-enhanced adhesions in PAI-1(-/-), uPA(-/-), and tPA(-/-) mice and the increase in PAI-1 expression indicate that PAI-1 up-regulation by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum is a mechanism of pneumoperitoneum-enhanced adhesion formation.     

远红外辐射保温台与婴儿培养箱保暖对早产儿生命体征及体质量的影响

目的探讨远红外辐射保温台保暖与婴儿培养箱保暖对早产儿生命体征及体质量的影响。方法深圳市宝安区石岩人民医院新生儿科2013年1月至2014年5月收治早产儿80例,随机分为观察组和对照组各40例。观察组采用婴儿培养箱进行保暖,对照组采用远红外辐射保温台进行保暖。比较两组患儿各时期(入院时、入院4d、入院7d、入院14d)的呼吸及心率生命体征及奶量、体质量。结果两组患儿的心率、呼吸体征在入院时、入院4d、入院7d,入院14d4个时期比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。入院时两组患儿奶量及体质量比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);入院后经过不同的保暖方式护理,入院4、7、14d3个时期观察组奶量及体质量显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论相对于远红外辐射保暖台,婴儿培养箱更适合早产儿保暖护理,可有效提升早产儿呼吸及心率频次,临床效果显著。     

Serum thyroid hormone levels among Chinese pregnant women

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine gestational serum thyroid hormone levels and influencing factors among Chinese pregnant women with high dietary iodine intake.

Methods: The study was conducted from 2011 and 2013 in Zhoushan Women &; Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang, China. A total of 1991 pregnant women were enrolled and their serum levels of free thyroid hormones (FT₄, FT₃, and TSH) were detected by chemiluminescence method.

Results: Gestational serum FT₄ and FT₃ decreased with gestational week while TSH increased. Furthermore, the prevalence rate of subclinical hypothyroid increased with gestational stages, especially in the third trimester. Women aged more than 30?years had lower FT₄ and FT₃ in the first trimester and lower FT₄ in the second trimester. No significant difference was found in the association of gestational serum thyroid hormones with maternal height and the gender of fetuses.

Conclusion: Gestational serum thyroid hormones significantly changed with gestational week and were associated with the age of women. Specific normal range of thyroid hormones might be modified so as to better evaluate the thyroid hormone levels of pregnant women during pregnancy.     

Comparison of depth of necrosis achieved by CO2- and N2O-cryotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the depth of necrosis achieved using CO2- and N2O-cryotherapy. METHOD: We treated 20 women with CO2-cryotherapy and 20 with N2O-cryotherapy 24 h prior to undergoing total hysterectomy for reasons unrelated to cervical cancer. Depth of necrosis in the ectocervix was measured on surgically removed tissue. RESULTS: The mean depth of necrosis for the anterior lip achieved by N2O-cryotherapy was 5.3 mm compared with 3.4 mm by CO2-cryotherapy (P<0.001). We found similar results for the posterior lip (5.0 vs 3.1 mm; P<0.001). N2O-cryotherapy was more likely than CO2-cryotherapy to achieve a depth of necrosis of >or=4.8 mm for the anterior lip (75% vs 15%; P<0.001) and posterior lip (60% vs 5%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that CO2-cryotherapy may not achieve the depth of necrosis necessary to completely destroy cervical precancer and therefore may be less robust than N2O-cryotherapy.     

Reactive oxygen species in follicular fluid may serve as biochemical markers to determine ovarian aging and follicular metabolic age

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in the process of ovarian aging.

Methods: Follicular fluid (FF) from two randomly selected sibling follicles was collected from women undergoing in-vitro fertilization and tested for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels.

Results: Group A consists of seven women with whom each of the two sibling separate follicle yielded an oocyte that was later discordantly developed to a low- and top-quality embryo. Group B consists of 13 patients in whom one of the sibling follicle yielded an oocyte while the other did not (empty follicle).

High-quality embryos were derived from follicles with lower H₂O₂ levels compared to follicles from which poor-quality embryos developed (1.004 units?±?0.260 versus 1.145 units?±?0.236, p?2O₂ levels were significantly higher (0.951 units?±?0.233 versus 0.623 units?±?0.309, p?Conclusion: During the process of ovarian ageing, there might be a gradual increase in H₂O₂ level in the follicle. Finally, when the follicle ages and becomes empty of oocyte H₂O₂ levels drops significantly. Therefore, H₂O₂ levels in FF may serve as a possible marker to determine ovarian aging and follicular metabolic age.     

Isolation and characterization of membrane — associated placental proteins

Summary Membrane-associated proteins (MP_S) of the human term placenta (afterbirth) were obtained by extracting the insoluble part of the tissue with solubilizing agents, after the soluble material had been removed by washing with saline. The insoluble residue was subsequently exhaustively extracted first with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 and then with 6 M urea. In the Triton extract eleven new different membrane-associated antigens could be detected by immunochemical methods; they were designated as MP₂A to MP₂L. One of these proteins (MP₂C) was found to be immunochemically identical with the already described soluble placental protein PP₂₁ [3]. MP₁ another antigen detected in the Triton extract later was identified as heat stable alkaline phosphatase. In the urea extract eight different membrane-associated antigens could be identified by immunochemical methods; they were designated as MP₃ to MP₁₀. MP₃ later was found to be immunochemically identical with laminin. All these membrane-associated proteins have now been isolated to purity and characterized by their physico-chemical properties. Specific antisera to the new proteins were obtained by immunizing animals with the corresponding purified proteins. They were used to detect and quantitate the new proteins in extracts of placentas and other human tissues by immunochemical methods such as gel diffusion tests. The immunocytochemical localization of the new proteins as well as measurement of their concentrations in body fluids by sensitive radioimmunoassays or enzyme immunoassays are presently under investigation.     

Exposure to high levels of luteinizing hormone and estradiol in the early follicular phase of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cycles is associated with a reduced chance of pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To compare ongoing implantation rates under two different GnRH antagonist protocols. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S): One hundred eleven women undergoing ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). INTERVENTION(S): Ovarian stimulation with 150 IU recombinant-FSH (rec-FSH) starting on day 2 of the cycle and GnRH antagonist starting either on day 6 of stimulation (fixed group) or when a follicle of > or = 15 mm was present after at least 5 days of stimulation (flexible group). In the flexible group, the rec-FSH dose was increased to 250 IU when the antagonist was initiated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Ongoing implantation and pregnancy rate. RESULT(S): In patients with no follicle of > or = 15 mm present on day 6 of stimulation, a significantly lower ongoing implantation rate was observed if the flexible scheme was applied as compared with the fixed scheme of administration (8.8% vs. 23.9%, respectively). Exposure of the genital tract to LH or E2 from initiation of stimulation to antagonist administration was able to distinguish between pregnant and nonpregnant patients in the population studied. CONCLUSION(S): High exposure of the genital tract to LH and E2 in the early follicular phase is associated with a reduced chance of pregnancy in cycles stimulated with recombinant FSH and GnRH antagonist for IVF/ICSI.     

The impact of CO2 laser for treatment of Bartholin’s gland cyst or abscess on female sexual function: a pilot study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the sexual functionality before and after treatment of Bartholin’s gland diseases (BGD) with CO₂ laser and to compare our results to patients who underwent surgical cold knife and to a healthy control group (HCG). Consecutive patients (n?=?15) affected by BG cyst or abscess who underwent CO₂ laser treatment were evaluated. Patients were asked to complete the Italian translation of the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) before and 4?weeks after treatment. Results after CO₂ laser were compared with two control groups: patients affected by BG cyst (n?=?15) or abscess treated with surgical cold knife treatment and a HCG (n?=?18). A statistically significant advantage of CO₂ laser versus cold knife treatment in terms of lubrication, pain and global score were recorded. Both the single scores of five domains and total score of FSFI were globally higher after any treatment compared to before (CO₂ and cold knife) of BGD. According to our data, CO₂ laser therapy is often well tolerated by patients and correlated with a favorable sexual health recovery.     

Factors affecting the survival of mouse embryos during freezing and thawing

This paper reports the survival of mouse embryos after freezing when glycol derivatives or erythritol is used as the cryoprotectant and also describes the two-step preservation of mouse embryos (rapid cooling to solid CO₂ or liquid nitrogen vapor before transfer to liquid nitrogen). Ethylene glycol was the most effective cryoprotectant of glycols tested and considerable protection against freezing injury was also afforded by propylene glycol. When embryos were frozen in glycerol by a solid CO₂ procedure or liquid nitrogen vapor, a relatively high survival was obtained but the survival was lower than that of embryos frozen slowly. Sucrose dilution of glycerol from the embryos frozen-thawed rapidly improved the survival rates. Survival of embryos frozen by the present two-step method was high on rapid thawing but poor on slow thawing, suggesting that the method of rapid freezing permits the formation of some intracellular ice.     

Prostaglandin F2alpha increases the sensitivity of the contractile proteins to Ca2+ in human myometrium

It is not known whether agonists (other than oxytocin) increase the contractile protein sensitivity to intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in human myometrium. We determined the calcium-tension relationship in the presence and absence of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). PGF2alpha increased the calcium sensitivity during both the contractile (rising) and relaxation (falling) phases of a contraction.