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Objective: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) activate distinct intracellular signaling cascades. However, due to their similar structure and common receptor, they are used interchangeably during ovarian stimulation (OS). This study aims to assess if the source of LH used during OS affects IVF outcome. Patients and methods: This was a cross sectional study of patients who underwent two consecutive IVF cycles, one included recombinant follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) plus recombinant LH [rFSH+rLH, (Pergoveris)] and the other included urinary hCG [highly purified hMG (HP-hMG), (Menopur)]. The OS protocol, except of the LH preparation, was identical in the two IVF cycles. Results: The rate of mature oocytes was not different between the treatment cycles (0.9 in the rFSH+rLH vs 0.8 in the HP-hMG, p = 0.07). Nonetheless, the mean number of mature oocytes retrieved in the rFSH+rLH treatment cycles was higher compared to the HP-hMG treatment cycles (10 ± 5.8 vs 8.3 ± 4.6, respectively, P = 0.01). Likewise, the mean number of fertilized oocytes was higher in the rFSH+rLH cycles compared with the HP-hMG cycles (8.5 ± 5.9 vs 6.4 ± 3.6, respectively, p = 0.05). There was no difference between the treatment cycles regarding the number of top-quality embryos, the ratio of top-quality embryos per number of oocytes retrieved or fertilized oocytes or the pregnancy rate. Conclusion: The differences in treatment outcome, derived by different LH preparations reflect the distinct physiological role of these molecules. Our findings may assist in tailoring a specific gonadotropin regimen when assembling an OS protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenyltelluroxane clusters of the composition [{(PhTe)19O24}2I18(solv)] (1) are formed during the hydrolysis of [PhTeI3]2 or the oxidation of various phenyltellurium(II) compounds with iodine under hydrolytic conditions. The compounds consist of two half‐spheres with a {(PhTe)19O24}9+ network, which are connected by 18 iodine atoms. The spherical clusters can accommodate solvent molecules such as pyridine or methanol in the center of two rings formed by iodine atoms. The presence of other metal ions during the cluster formation results in a selective replacement of the central {PhTe}3+ units of each half‐sphere as has been demonstrated with the isolation of [{(PhTe)18({Ca(H2O)2}O24}2I16] (2) and [{(PhTe)18({Y(NO3)(H2O)}O24}2I16] (3). A crownether‐like coordination by six oxygen atoms of the telluroxane network is found for the {Ca(H2O}2}2+ and {Y(NO3)(H2O)}2+ building blocks. Mass spectrometric studies show that considerable amounts of the intact clusters are transferred to the gas phase without dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenyltelluroxane clusters of the composition [{(PhTe)19O24}2I18(solv)] (1) are formed during the hydrolysis of [PhTeI3]2 or the oxidation of various phenyltellurium(II) compounds with iodine under hydrolytic conditions. The compounds consist of two half‐spheres with a {(PhTe)19O24}9+ network, which are connected by 18 iodine atoms. The spherical clusters can accommodate solvent molecules such as pyridine or methanol in the center of two rings formed by iodine atoms. The presence of other metal ions during the cluster formation results in a selective replacement of the central {PhTe}3+ units of each half‐sphere as has been demonstrated with the isolation of [{(PhTe)18({Ca(H2O)2}O24}2I16] (2) and [{(PhTe)18({Y(NO3)(H2O)}O24}2I16] (3). A crownether‐like coordination by six oxygen atoms of the telluroxane network is found for the {Ca(H2O}2}2+ and {Y(NO3)(H2O)}2+ building blocks. Mass spectrometric studies show that considerable amounts of the intact clusters are transferred to the gas phase without dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Placenta immunomodulatory ferritin (PLIF) cDNA was recently cloned from the human placenta, where it is expressed in syncytiotrophoblast and decidual mononuclear cells. PLIF and its subcloned bioactive domain (C48), expressed in Escherichia coli, are immunosuppressive proteins and induce pronounced IL‐10 production in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: PLIF serum level, measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, was elevated in pregnant mice throughout gestation and declined towards delivery. Blocking of PLIF activity by vaccination of mice with C48 prior to mating inhibited pregnancy development. Passive transfer of anti‐C48 immunoglobulin (Ig) starting at 3.5–12.5 days post coitum (dpc) resulted in high rate of embryo resorption. Furthermore, treatment with anti‐C48 Ig resulted in placental and embryonal growth restriction. At gestation day 13.5, growth retardation was especially notable in the placentae, while at 16.5 dpc it was pronounced in the embryos. Histopathological examination revealed that experimental placentae were globally hypoplastic and the labyrinth was strikingly pale and contained less maternal blood compared with control. Immune‐activated spleen cells harvested at 13.5 dpc from anti‐C48 Ig‐treated pregnant mice secreted in vitro increased level of Th1 cytokines (IL‐2, TNF‐α, IL‐12) and decreased level of Th2 cytokines (IL‐10, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6) as compared with the level of the respective cytokines secreted by spleen cells from control pregnant mice. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first in vivo evidence that PLIF plays a major role in placentation and embryonic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with Turner’s syndrome should be carefully followed throughout life. Growth hormone therapy should be started at age 2–5 years. Hormone replacement therapy for the development of normal female sexual characteristics should be started at age 12–15 years and continued for the long term to prevent coronary artery disease and osteoporosis. Most women with Turner’s syndrome have ovarian dysgenesis; therefore, they are usually infertile, and in very rare cases have spontaneous menses followed by early menopause. Only 2% of the women have natural pregnancies, with high rates of miscarriages, stillbirths and malformed babies. Their pregnancy rate in oocyte donation programmes is 24–47%, but even these pregnancies have a high rate of miscarriage, probably due to uterine factors. A possible future prospect is cryopreservation of ovarian tissue containing immature follicles before the onset of early menopause, but methods of replantation and in-vitro maturation still need to be developed. Should these autologous oocytes indeed be used in the future, affected women would need to undergo genetic counselling before conception, followed by prenatal assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The association between hyperinsulinaemia and hyperandrogenism in many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) implies roles for insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in the regulation of ovarian androgen production. The aim of the present study was to compare the abilities of insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II to stimulate androgen production by human thecal cells in vitro. Serum-free monolayer cell cultures were established from the ovaries of euandrogenic women undergoing hysterectomy with oophorectomy for non-ovarian indications. Androgen (androstenedione) production was determined after 4 days of culture in the presence of insulin or either of the IGFs (10–100 ng/ml), with and without a maximal stimulatory dose of luteinizing hormone (LH; 10 ng/ml). Interactions with inhibin (30 ng/ml), a putative paracrine regulator of ovarian androgen synthesis, were also tested. The three metabolic hormones exerted similar dose-related effects on androgen production (ED ≤10 ng/ml), which were augmented 2- to 3-fold in the presence of LH and further increased several-fold by the additional presence of inhibin. No treatment with insulin or either IGF stimulated thecal cell growth, but all treatments caused striking morphological changes consistent with enhanced steroidogenesis. These results reveal potent regulatory effects of metabolic hormones on human thecal androgen synthesis, which imply (i) ‘progonadotrophic’ roles for insulin and IGF-I in regulating normal ovarian androgen production, (ii) a role for insulin in the aetiology of hyperandrogenism (both with and without hyperinsulinism) in PCOS and (iii) paracrine roles for granulosa-derived IGF-II and inhibin in regulating ovarian androgen production. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to optimise the service for patients who require an emergency service, and to meet patient needs, we conducted a study in Shillo ambulatory outpatient women's health centre, affiliated to Rabin Medical Center and Tel Aviv University. The study population consisted of 512 women, aged 25 - 55 years, attending the centre for emergency consultation and urgent obstetrics and gynaecological day care. Before the doctor's visit and at the end of the session, the women were asked to complete a 20-item questionnaire survey. The most common complaints were related to pregnancy complications (29%). Significant improvement in their problems was reported by almost 70% of these women; 20% thought that the information they received was inadequate or unsatisfactory. Less than 10% were referred to the hospital for further care such as surgery. Most of the women (96%) reported that they would continue to use these emergency services in the future if needed. There was a statistically significant difference between the doctors' opinion and the nurse regarding the urgency and severity of the patients' problems. The nurses graded them lower than did the doctors. There was also a statistically significant difference between patients' opinion and the nurses and the doctors regarding the urgency and severity of the patients' problems. The patients graded the problems as more urgent and more severe than the nurses or doctors. We concluded that an ambulatory emergency service is an essential part of an ideal ambulatory womens' health centre but it requires substantial progress to meet the patients' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a clinical quiz regarding the diagnosis of a tumoral form of cerebral Schistosoma mansoni infection. Case background; Factors that contribute to the involvement of the central nervous system in the infection; Clinical manifestations.

Examines whether meiosis-activating sterols (MAS) play a physiological role in the resumption of meiosis in the rat when using ketoconazole as an inhibitor of sterol synthesis. Inhibition of ovulation; Ketoconazole-treated ovaries; Maturation and degeneration of oocytes; Luteinizing hormone-stimulated oocyte maturation; Follicular progesterone production.