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Objective: To evaluate and compare MRI-based ovarian morphology in groups of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and controls.Methods: All PCOS cases (n = 44) had oligo-amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism irrespective of ovarian morphology, and fulfilled NIH/Rotterdam diagnostic criteria for PCOS. All control women (n = 40) had normal menses and normoandrogenaemia. All subjects were of white British/Irish origin and pre-menopausal. Group comparisons were based on independent-sample t tests. Polycystic ovarian morphology was defined by at least 12 follicles 2-9 mm in diameter and/or an ovarian volume greater than 10 cm(3).Results: Ovarian morphology differed significantly in PCOS cases and controls (follicle number geometric mean [SD range] 18.6 [9.9, 35.0] vs 6.6 [3.1, 14.2], unadjusted P = 1.3 x 10(-16); calculated ovarian volume 8.8 cm(3) [5.0, 15.5] vs 5.1 cm(3) [2.5, 10.3], unadjusted P = 3.0 x 10(-7); peripheral follicle location in 55% vs 18% of ovaries, P = 7.9 x 10(-6); visible central ovarian stroma in 61% vs 24% of ovaries, P = 2.3 x 10(-5)). Follicle number and calculated ovarian volume were not concordant with clinical/biochemical assignment of PCOS/control status in 36 (23%) and 52 (34%) of ovaries, respectively.Conclusion: Ovarian morphology overlaps in PCOS cases and controls, emphasising the importance of considering clinical/biochemical presentation together with imaging ovarian morphology in the diagnosis of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuum aspiration is a safe, acceptable, and efficacious method of first trimester pregnancy termination. The success and complication rates are thought to be partially dependent on operator experience and gestation. We examined this further by studying the outcome of 828 consecutive surgical abortions up to 13 weeks gestation in our hospital. The following outcomes were measured: surgical curettage for presumed retained products of conception; continuing pregnancy; uterine perforation; pelvic sepsis requiring intravenous antibiotics; and blood transfusion required. The complete abortion rate was 94.6% and the rate of continuing pregnancy 0.24%. There was a significant relationship between efficacy and seniority of the surgeon; consultants, senior registrars, registrars, and senior house officers had complete abortion rates of 97.8, 92.8, 94.7, and 88.4% respectively (P = 0.039). Parity did not affect efficacy. Terminations at 12-13 weeks gestation were associated with a significantly lower complete abortion rate. The rates of uterine perforation, blood transfusion, pelvic sepsis requiring intravenous antibiotics, and overnight hospital admission were 0.24, 0, 0.97, and 1.69% respectively. Thus, the only significant factors affecting outcome of surgical abortion are grade of operating surgeon or terminations performed at later gestations of 12-13 weeks. It is vital that physicians performing surgical terminations are adequately trained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy and complications associated with early medical and surgical pregnancy termination. The study population comprised 932 consecutive women undergoing pregnancy termination at gestations of 63 days or less. There were no age or parity differences between the study groups. Medical termination was performed with mifepristone 200 mg orally and misoprostol 800 microgram vaginally; surgical aspiration termination was performed under general anaesthesia. Outcome measures were: surgical curettage for presumed retained products of conception; ongoing pregnancy; and planned and emergency review in the unit. Early medical and surgical termination were associated with a 90.2 and 94.5% complete abortion rate respectively (P = 0.025). The complete abortion rate with medical termination decreased significantly with increasing parity; no such relationship with surgical abortion was found. Women of parity three or more were less likely to have a complete abortion following a medical (83.3%) compared to surgical procedure (97.7%) (P = 0.028). The ongoing pregnancy rate was 0.9% with medical and 0.5% with surgical termination (P = NS). Medical termination was associated with a lower complete abortion rate than surgical termination, particularly for women of higher parity. However, early medical termination allows over 90% of women to avoid the risks of surgical instrumentation of the uterus and anaesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from regular ovarian cyclicity to menopause is associated with a rise in the circulating concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), despite the maintenance of serum oestradiol concentrations during the perimenopause. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of secretion of dimeric inhibins, activin A, gonadotrophins and steroids in regularly cycling women of 40-50 years with normal and raised early follicular phase serum FSH concentrations and young women (25-33 years) during the menstrual cycle. Blood samples were taken prospectively almost daily throughout the menstrual cycle. Women recruited were classified into three groups: (i) older women with normal FSH [(ON-FSH), day 3 FSH <8 mIU/ml, n = 10]; (ii) older women with raised FSH [(R-FSH), day 3 FSH >8 mIU/ml, n = 6] and (iii) young normal FSH (YN-FSH) women, age 25-32 years (n = 6). Cyclic patterns of serum inhibins and activin A were similar in the ON-FSH and YN-FSH groups. The R-FSH group had significantly lower concentrations of inhibin A prior to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and in the mid-luteal phase and lower concentrations of inhibin B in the early follicular phase compared with the ON-FSH group. Serum concentrations of activin A, progesterone and oestradiol were similar in all three groups. It is concluded from this study that the rise in early follicular phase serum FSH in older women is associated with a decrease in circulating concentrations of inhibin B in the early follicular phase. However, lower circulating concentrations of inhibin A in the luteal phase of the R-FSH group may also contribute to the rise in early follicular phase FSH concentrations during the menstrual cycle, although further studies with larger numbers are required to confirm this observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from regular ovarian cyclicity to menopause is associated with a rise in the circulating concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), despite the maintenance of serum oestradiol concentrations during the perimenopause. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of secretion of dimeric inhibins, activin A, gonadotrophins and steroids in regularly cycling women of 40–50 years with normal and raised early follicular phase serum FSH concentrations and young women (25–33 years) during the menstrual cycle. Blood samples were taken prospectively almost daily throughout the menstrual cycle. Women recruited were classified into three groups: (i) older women with normal FSH [(ON-FSH), day 3 FSH <8 mIU/ml, n = 10]; (ii) older women with raised FSH [(R-FSH), day 3 FSH >8 mIU/ml, n = 6] and (iii) young normal FSH (YN-FSH) women, age 25–32 years (n = 6). Cyclic patterns of serum inhibins and activin A were similar in the ON-FSH and YN-FSH groups. The R-FSH group had significantly lower concentrations of inhibin A prior to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and in the mid-luteal phase and lower concentrations of inhibin B in the early follicular phase compared with the ON-FSH group. Serum concentrations of activin A, progesterone and oestradiol were similar in all three groups. It is concluded from this study that the rise in early follicular phase serum FSH in older women is associated with a decrease in circulating concentrations of inhibin B in the early follicular phase. However, lower circulating concentrations of inhibin A in the luteal phase of the R-FSH group may also contribute to the rise in early follicular phase FSH concentrations during the menstrual cycle, although further studies with larger numbers are required to confirm this observation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As a contribution to the international efforts toward the development of an integrated technology (IT) for managing project information, a major research project has been undertaken at the University of Salford. Based on advances in international standards in data models, i.e., the Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs), and communication protocols, i.e., the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), this project has successfully developed and implemented a three-tier computer architecture environment to integrated design and construction applications. The IFC data model has been implemented as the single project database in an open and distributed computer environment whereby the World Wide Web has been used as the delivery medium. This article explains the background of this project, outlines other international efforts in this field, introduces the concept of the three-tier computer architecture, and discusses the proposed structure for the integrated environment along with its implementation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to: (i) determine whether oocytes are present in cultures of human fetal ovary; (ii) identify whether meiotic anomalies are evident; and (iii) assess whether preparation or culture conditions influence oocyte survival and meiotic progression. Ovaries were collected from fetuses after termination at 13-16 weeks. Oocyte assessment utilized antibodies specific for synaptonemal complex proteins (associated with chromosomes only during meiosis), and antibodies to centromeric proteins. Fragments of tissue were cultured in minimal essential medium + 10% serum ± follicle stimulating hormone (100 mIU/ml). The sera were fetal calf serum (FCS), FCS for embryonic stem cells (ES-FCS) and human female serum. The numbers and stages of oocytes were assessed after 7-40 days, and particular arrangements of chromosome synapsis identified. Results in fresh tissue included oocytes at leptotene, zygotene, pachytene and diplotene in three of five samples. Four specimens remained viable in vitro, and three had detectable oocytes after culture. The numbers of oocytes and the proportions of zygotene and pachytene cells increased with time in culture. The proportion of degenerate cells in culture was initially higher than in fresh samples, but declined subsequently. More oocytes were detected in ES-FCS and human serum than in FCS. We conclude that human oocytes survive in culture and that progression through prophase I continues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reports on an approach used by the ICON (Integration/Information for CONstruction) project in order to elicit knowledge and information from experts in the construction domain. The approach adopted is that of protocol analysis whereby the expert is encouraged to think aloud about a certain domain area or application. The ICON project aims at the development of a framework for an integrated database for the construction industry. Such a task requires a significant amount of information and knowledge from the various disciplines involved within a construction project. A workshop was organized for experts in the fields of architecture, quantity surveying, contracting, building and information technology in order to analyse the information required to design and build a particular building. The knowledge and information extracted from these experts were used to test and approve the information infrastructure of the ICON integrated models and identify where additional information was required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now established that the glycoprotein hormone inhibin is produced by primate granulosa cells, corpus luteum and trophoblast of human placenta. This study was designed to investigate the major source of inhibins and activin A in early pregnancy using a novel panel of assays with high specificity and sensitivity. A total of 12 women (aged 20-35 years) with singleton pregnancy undergoing first trimester (group 1: 6-8; group 2: 8-10; group 3: 10-12 weeks of gestation) termination of pregnancy (TOP) was recruited for the study. Blood samples were taken before TOP, every 15 min for the first hour and hourly for the next 3 h after TOP (total of 4 h of measurements). Circulating concentrations of inhibin A, pro alpha C, activin A, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), oestradiol and progesterone were higher in early pregnancy than at any stage of the menstrual cycle. Peripheral concentrations of inhibin A and activin A were significantly decreased within the first hour in all three groups and gradually decreased to even lower concentrations within the study period. Pro alpha C concentrations decreased within the first hour and then remained unaltered during the next 3 h. Similarly, HCG, oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in circulation decreased substantially within 4 h of TOP. Correlation analyses showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) between inhibin A, activin A, HCG, and oestradiol concentrations throughout the study period. In summary, this study shows that the feto-placental unit is the major source of increased circulating concentrations of inhibin A in early pregnancy. Activin A is produced by the feto-placental unit and the corpus luteum. Pro alpha C-containing inhibins are mainly secreted by the corpus luteum in early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The recovery of immature oocytes from unstimulated ovaries followed by in-vitro maturation (IVM) is an attractive alternative to conventional IVF in the treatment of female infertility. Similarly, surgical recovery of spermatozoa from the epididymis by percutaneous sperm aspiration (PESA) has simplified the retrieval of the male gamete in treatment of men with obstructive azoospermia. We report the first ongoing clinical twin pregnancy resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of spermatozoa retrieved by PESA into IVM oocytes. In the treatment of a 24-year old woman, 12 immature oocytes were retrieved. Six oocytes matured (maturation rate 50%) after 24-hour incubation and were inseminated by ICSI. Four oocytes had two pronuclei (fertilization rate 67%) and 3 good quality embryos were transferred. A viable twin pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound scan. This report illustrates the use of a combination of less invasive assisted reproductive techniques in overcoming barriers to infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When trying to conceive 1% of couples have recurrent miscarriages, defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses. This is not accounted for by the known incidence of chromosomal aneuploidy in miscarriage, and it has been suggested that there is an immunological aetiology. The endometrial mucosa is populated by a variety of immune cells which in addition to providing host pathogen immunity must facilitate pregnancy. Here we characterise the endometrial CD8-T cell population during the embryonic window of implantation and find that the majority of cells are tissue resident memory T cells with high levels of CD69 and CD103 expression, proteins that prevent cells egress. We demonstrate that unexplained recurrent miscarriage is associated with significantly decreased expression of the T-cell co-receptor CD8 and tissue residency marker CD69. These cells differ from those found in control women, with less expression of CD127 indicating a lack of homeostatic cell control through IL-7 signalling. Nevertheless this population is resident in the endometrium of women who have RM, more than three months after the last miscarriage, indicating that the memory CD8-T cell population is altered in RM patients. This is the first evidence of a differing pre-pregnancy phenotype in endometrial immune cells in RM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether similar levels of phospholipase C zeta (PLC-ζ) protein are present in sperm from men whose ejaculates resulted in normal oocyte activation, and to examine whether a predominant pattern of PLC-ζ localization is linked to normal oocyte activation ability.Design: Laboratory study.Setting: University laboratory.Patient(s): Control subjects (men with proven oocyte activation capacity; n = 16) and men whose sperm resulted in recurrent intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure (oocyte activation deficient [OAD]; n = 5).Intervention(s): Quantitative immunofluorescent analysis of PLC-ζ protein in human sperm.Main Outcome Measure(s): Total levels of PLC-ζ fluorescence, proportions of sperm exhibiting PLC-ζ immunoreactivity, and proportions of PLC-ζ localization patterns in sperm from control and OAD men.Result(s): Sperm from control subjects presented a significantly higher proportion of sperm exhibiting PLC-ζ immunofluorescence compared with infertile men diagnosed with OAD (82.6% and 27.4%, respectively). Total levels of PLC-ζ in sperm from individual control and OAD patients exhibited significant variance, with sperm from 10 out of 16 (62.5%) exhibiting levels similar to OAD samples. Predominant PLC-ζ localization patterns varied between control and OAD samples with no predictable or consistent pattern.Conclusion(s): The results indicate that sperm from control men exhibited significant variance in total levels of PLC-ζ protein, as well as significant variance in the predominant localization pattern. Such variance may hinder the diagnostic application of quantitative PLC-ζ immunofluorescent analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]