Herpes simplex type 2 neutralization antibodies in patients with cancers of urinary bladder,prostate, and cervix

In the blood samples obtained from a total of 68 patients with cancers of the urinary bladder, prostate, and cervix, who applied to the Departments of Urology, Obstetrics, and Gynecology of Hacettepe Medical Faculty, neutralizing antibodies were sought for against herpes simplex type 2 by neutralization test. The same test was applied to 35 control patients with no known malignancies. In contrast to the presence of the antibody in 62.86% of the control subjects, this ratio was 90.70% in patients with cancer of the urinary bladder, 87.50% in those with prostatic carcinoma, and 88.89% in those with cancer of the cervix.     

Age-related changes in ovarian volume, antral follicle counts and basal follicle stimulating hormone levels: comparison between fertile and infertile women.

Our objective was to compare the relationship between age, basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level and ultrasound-measured mean ovarian volume (MOV) and mean antral follicle counts (MFC) in a group of infertile and fertile women between the ages of 35 and 45 years. Menstrual cycle day 3 serum FSH, MOV and MFC were analyzed in 62 infertile and 53 fertile women. Basal FSH and MFC did not differ between infertile and fertile women, whereas MOV was significantly smaller in infertile women (p < 0.05). In the infertile group, there was a negative correlation between MOV and age (rho = -0.389, p < 0.05), between MOV and basal FSH (rho = 0.495, p < 0.01), and between MFC and age (rho = -0.553, p < 0.01). In the fertile group, there was a strong negative correlation between MOV and basal FSH (rho = -0.631, p < 0.01), and between MFC and basal FSH (rho = -0.710, p < 0.01). Mean basal FSH, MOV and MFC did not differ between subgroups of patients with different causes of infertility. In the infertile group, patients with small ovaries of volume less than 1.8 cm(3) (mean volume -1 SD) had higher mean basal FSH (p < 0.05) and lower MFC (p < 0.01) levels than patients with normal ovarian volume. In conclusion, transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) indices and indirect hormonal parameters of ovarian reserve were similar in infertile and fertile women aged between 35 and 45 years. It is suggested that, in infertile women above 35 years of age, TVU rather than hormonal parameters be preferred, based on our data showing a stronger association between age and TVU indices of ovarian reserve than between age and increase in basal FSH level. Thus, TVU assessment of ovarian volume and antral follicle counts is a practical and cost-effective, if not better, technique for ovarian reserve testing.     

Factors affecting live birth rate in intrauterine insemination cycles with recombinant gonadotrophin stimulation

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify the prognostic factors that influence the outcome of ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles using gonadotrophins in couples with unexplained and mild male-factor subfertility. A total of 838 cycles in 456 women with unexplained and mild male-factor subfertility attending a university-based infertility clinic was evaluated. Of these cycles, 139 resulted in pregnancy (16.6% per cycle) and 96 out of 98 ongoing pregnancies resulted in live term birth. Live birth rate per patient and per cycle was 21.1% and 11.4%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that duration of infertility (P = 0.034), type of infertility (P = 0.003), aetiology of infertility (P = 0.004), number of treatment cycles (P = 0.0001) and number of dominant follicles before human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG; P = 0.024) were significant independent factors to predict clinical pregnancy. The duration of infertility (P = 0.043), number of treatment cycles (P = 0.0001) and number of dominant follicles before HCG (P = 0.024) were significant independent factors to predict live birth. In conclusion, for subfertile couples having shorter duration of subfertility, multifollicular response to gonadotrophins and in their first treatment cycle are more likely to succeed a live birth with IUI treatment using recombinant gonadotrophins.     

Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive principles from a folk remedy, Rhododendron ponticum L. leaves

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Rhododendron ponticum L. (Ericaceae) is used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and to alleviate rheumatic pain and against toothache in Turkish traditional medicine.