Soluble LH-HCG receptor and oestradiol as predictors of pregnancy and live birth in IVF

Research question

Circulating soluble LH-HCG receptor (sLHCGR) is a first-trimester marker for screening pregnancy pathologies and predicts premature or multiple births before fertility treatment. Oestradiol per oocyte at ovulation induction predicts IVF treatment outcomes. We asked whether sLHCGR levels are stable during fertility treatment and whether, alone or with oestradiol, they could improve prediction of fertility treatment outcomes.

First report in India of HIV transmission through artificial insemination

A case of HIV-1 transmission through artificial inseminations from infertility clinics in Kolkata, is reported.     

Hospital burden of long-term genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity after radical radiotherapy for prostate cancer

Introduction

Treatment options for prostate cancer (PCa) include radical radiotherapy (RT) and radical prostatectomy, both of which have comparable oncological outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the hospital burden of long-term genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity among patients with PCa who were treated with radiotherapy at our institution.

The position of the anal dimple in newborns and infants with anorectal malformations and its correlation with the normal anal position

Background/purpose

The anal position index (API) defines the normal anal position as the ratio of fourchette–anal distance to fourchette–coccyx distance for females and the scrotum–anal distance to scrotum‐coccyx distance for males. In this study, measurement of the API in newborns and infants with anorectal malformations (ARM), using the center of the midline anal dimple (AD) to represent the center of the proposed neoanus, was performed to assess whether or not the AD was located in a significantly abnormal position as correlated with the normal anal position.

Development of autoimmunity in mice lacking DNA topoisomerase 3beta

Mice lacking DNA topoisomerase 3beta are predisposed to a shortened lifespan, infertility, and lesions in multiple organs resulting from inflammatory responses. Examination of the immune system of 6- and 52-week-old top3beta(-/-) mice revealed no significant aberrations in their central and peripheral tolerance or in T lymphocyte activation. However, the older but not the younger cohort shows a high incidence of serum autoantibodies relative to their TOP3beta(+/+) age-mates. The mutant mice also show an increase in numerical aberrations of chromosomes in splenocytes and bone marrow cells, as well as an increase in apoptotic cells in the thymus. Thus, it appears plausible that the inflammatory lesions in top3beta(-/-) mice are caused by the development of autoimmunity as they age: Chromosomal abnormalities in top3beta(-/-) mice might lead to a persistent increase in apoptotic cells, which might in turn lead to the progression of autoimmunity.     

Headache in a case of Rhupus syndrome

We report a case of Rhupus with secondary anti-phospholipid syndrome who presented with headache and papilloedema due to cerebral venous thrombosis. We propose that an increased awareness about the condition and meticulous investigation of headaches in lupus can avert catastrophic outcomes.     

Intraoperative PTH monitoring in parathyroid hyperplasia requires stricter criteria for success

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring in parathyroidectomy for multigland disease is less clear than for single-gland disease. This study assesses the role of IOPTH for hyperplasia. METHODS: A prospective database revealed 45 patients with hyperplasia undergoing parathyroidectomy utilizing IOPTH from February 1999 to August 2003. RESULTS: Twenty-six females and 19 males had a mean age of 55 years. Twenty-two patients underwent total parathyroidectomy. Twenty-three patients underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy. Twenty-seven patients (60%) had a drop of IOPTH greater than 50% at 10 minutes after removal of all presumably abnormal parathyroid tissue. Nine additional patients (20%) had an IOPTH drop greater than 50%, but continued exploration revealed more abnormal tissue. Nine patients failed to decrease greater than 50%, and exploration was continued. A final IOPTH less than 35 pg/mL or a greater than 90% decrease from baseline was predictive of a successful operation in 40 patients. The 5 patients who did not meet this criteria remained hyperparathyroid. CONCLUSIONS: IOPTH identifies sporadic hyperplasia and guides completeness of resection for patients with known hyperplasia. However, more rigid criteria are required than for adenomas. Failure to achieve appropriate decreases in IOPTH should prompt further neck exploration or a search for a mediastinal gland.     

A rare variant of Ellis van Creveld syndrome

A nine-year-old boy presented with progressively-increasing exertional dyspnoea for the last three months. The only significant finding in the general survey was polydactyly. His vital signs were normal. He had a prominent apical diastolic thrill, a prominent S1 with a low-pitched grade 4/6 mid diastolic rumbling murmur over the apex. The S2 was widely split, fixed and the second component was louder than the first one. There was a grade 3/6 ejection systolic murmur over the left second intercostal space. Electrocardiography showed features of left axis deviation, bi-atrial enlargement and right ventricular hypertrophy. Transthoracic echocardiography identified a thin undulating intra-atrial membrane on the left side along with an ostium-primum defect. In this patient, the diagnosis of a variant of Ellis van Creveld syndrome was made.