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In France, prescription of micronized progesterone at high doses of 900 to 1200 mg/day is common practice in the case of preterm delivery, even though this is neither an indication nor a posology given for marketing authorisation. A few cases of gestational pruritus have been reported during such use, associated with cholestasic and/or cytolytic hepatic disorders. We report here the results of a controlled, double-blind study versus a placebo, aimed at assessing the effects on the liver of micronized progesterone administered orally at high doses (900-1200 mg/day), conducted in a population of 201 women presenting moderate menace of preterm delivery during the third trimester of pregnancy. 85 patients received micronized progesterone and 116 the placebo. The increase above normal levels of total biliary acids (TBA) and aminotransferases (ASAT, ALAT), was significantly more frequent in the micronized progesterone than in the placebo group. Among the 26 patients (14%) with a level of TBA superior to 10 mumoles/l during treatment, 18 belonged to the progesterone and 8 to the placebo group (p = 0.004); the 6 patients (3.4%) with increased ASAT were all under micronized progesterone (p0.001), as were the 10 patients (5.6%) with increased ALAT (p0.001). However, there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the occurrence of clinical manifestations (icterus, pruritus) which could be attributed to gravid cholestasis. We may conclude from this prospective study that, during the third trimester of pregnancy, micronized progesterone is associated with a significant risk of biological cholestasis. This would suggest that in patients genetically predisposed towards gravid cholestasis, micronized progesterone could be a factor favoursing this disease.

In a prospective study, 30 women with polycystic ovarian disease resistant to clomiphene citrate therapy and gonadotropins were treated success fully with laparoscopic ovarian CO2 laser vaporization or CO2 laser wedge resection.

Parents of a sample of 76 same sexed pairs of twins aged 3 to 9 months completed a mailed similarity questionnaire. It included the Bonnelykke et al.'s questionnaire and a four anthropological variable scale. To improve each of these two methods, three other combined methods were carried out and results were compared with the biological zygosity diagnosis. The Bonnelykke et al.'s classification combined with anthropological scale (method 4) gave only 1.2% misclassified in the whole sample. It is concluded that zygosity diagnosis using this type of procedure to distinguish MZ and DZ pairs would be important not only for epidemiological study but also for pediatricians and parents.

A survey of all French Centres performing heart and heart lung transplant provided an exhaustive registry of pregnancy after transplantation.A questionnaire was sent to 36 Centres. Anonymous reports of transplantation and subsequent pregnancies which occurred between 1984 and 1994 were analyzed.Among 1290 heart and 120 heart lung transplantations performed during the study period 10 pregnancies were reported in 9 patients (6 after heart transplantation and 3 heart-lung transplantation) who gave birth to 11 neonates. The interval between the transplantation and the pregnancy is 23.1 months (range: 10-39). High blood pressure complicated nine pregnancies and severe preeclampsia occurred in two cases. Immunosuppressive therapy was i) Cyclosporine alone (n = 1), ii) i with corticosteroid therapy (n = 7), iii) ii with azathioprine (n = 2). One patient developed Kaposi sarcoma of the cervix. Delivery at 35 (27-39) weeks' gestation was by caesarean section in 50% of the cases. Mean birthweight was 1990 gm (range: 700-2880) and 50% of the neonates were below the tenth centile. One child developed cardiomyopathy as diagnosed in her mother and another one was diagnosed with congenital hepatitis B by absence of prophylaxis at birth. All the patients are alive at this time.

This study compare the ovarian response of patients with high day 3 FSH (6.5 UI/L), treated with two protocols; a protocol with a low dose of GnRH agonist and a so called "long protocol" with GnRH agonist in a depot formula. The ovarian response with the agonist low dose was better with less ampules (37.1 vs 46.6) and a shorter duration of stimulation (10.5 vs 12.4 days). The number of mature oocyte was higher (5.9 vs 4.5) as well as the number of good quality embryo (3.2 versus 2.3). The E2 levels on day 8 was higher (1065 vs 460 pg/ml). The cancellation rate was lower (14% vs 26%). The use of the low dose protocol gave a better ovarian response for patients with high 3 FSH. Large randomized studies are needed to confirm these data.

Management of male infertility has been totally changed with the development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This technique, used for in vitro fertilization, consists in injecting a single spermatozoa into the ovum. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be proposed in case of severe male sterility (oligoasthenospermia) or after repeated failure of in vitro fertilization. Satisfactory rates of fecondation and pregnancy have been obtained. Results have also been obtained with sperm taken from the epididymis or testis. The risks involved concern the transmission of poorly understood genetic defects leading to the infertility. The rates of reported malformations and chromosome anomalies are quite low. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be useful in managing most cases of male infertility which to date have had to rely on donor sperm. Long-term results have not yet been obtained.

The ability of ultrasound to diagnose fetal anomalies is limited in the early stages of gestation. We describe a microendoscope that can be used with an 18-gauge needle at the time of amniocentesis to provide more precise diagnostic information when the first-trimester ultrasound examination suggests a problem.

After having shown that rate of pregnancies after IVF was higher without sperm infection, the authors demonstrate that the inflammatory aspects of the endometrium (when observed by hysteroscopy) accompany the failures of IVF. At last it exists a positive correlation between endometrial congestion and positive spermculture. Further prospective studies should examine the rate of implantation of women presenting signs of endometrial congestion.

We studied 98 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients with a high basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; >6.5 IU/l) concentration on day 3 who were treated with a low dose gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) protocol and who had received in the previous 6 months a long protocol with GnRHa in a depot formula. The evaluation was made using the previous IVF cycle of the same patient as a control. The mean +/- SD age of the patients was 34.1+/-4.2 years. The use of a low dose agonist protocol ended with significantly less ampoules (37.5 versus 46.1), a shorter duration of stimulation (10.7 versus 12.3 days), a higher oestradiol concentration on day 8 (1068 versus 495 pg/ml), a higher number of mature oocytes (5.9 versus 4.4) and a higher number of good quality embryos (3.3 versus 2.3). The cancellation rate was lower (11 versus 24%). A GnRHa low dose protocol may be the protocol of choice for patients with high FSH concentrations on day 3. Larger randomized studies are needed to confirm these data.

Assess expression and management of HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) occurring before 32 weeks gestation.Among 50 patients presenting HELLP syndrome from 1990 to 1994, 22 (44%) who developed the syndrome before 32 weeks gestation were evaluated retrospectively.Most of the patients were primiparous and HELLP syndrome recurred in 2 during a second gestation before 32 weeks gestation. Only three cases began during the post partum period. All patients had severe pre-eclampsia before discovery of the HELLP syndrome. Episodes of eclampsia also occurred in 6. The most frequent clinical manifestation was epigastric pain. Ten patients had acute severe renal failure. The 3 post partum patients had severe complications (eclampsia, renal failure, subcapsular hepatic hematoma). Obstetrical intervention was required in all cases. Cesarean section was performed within 48 hours of diagnosis. Pregnancy had to be terminated in 3 cases between 24 and 29 weeks gestation. There was one fetal death in utero and one during the neonatal period. Seventeen live infants were delivered. In the group of 11 infants born after 30 weeks gestation, only 1 had hyalin membrane disease which developed in all those born before 30 weeks, including 2 with broncho-pulmonary dysplasia.Based on the physiological mechanisms involved in HELLP syndrome, criteria for obstetrical extraction and the possibilities for conservative management in very premature pregnancies, we propose a management protocol for HELLP syndrome developing before 32 weeks gestation. Corticosteroid therapy may be given for 48 hours in cases without maternal or fetal complications in order to accelerate fetal maturation before extraction.

We report on 2 women who were treated with retinoids (Roaccutan, isotretinoin) during the first trimester of their pregnancies. Therapeutic abortions were carried out. The interest in these case reports lies in the determination of concentration of isotretinoin and its metabolites (4-oxo-isotretinoin, and tretinoin) in foetal tissues, using high performance liquid chromatography. The findings show the significant transplacental passage of isotretinoin, an accumulation of 4-oxo-isotretinoin in the liver, and a low concentration of retinoids in the brain of these foetuses. Contraception must be used with retinoid treatment and for 4 weeks after retinoid withdrawal.

Abnormal connexion of the umbilical vein in the inferior vena cava was diagnosed in a fetus at 18 weeks' gestation. Associated anomalies included nuchal and axillary lymphangiectasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hepatomegaly. Neonatal death occurred after spontaneous vaginal delivery at 25 weeks. A review of the literature summarizes the diagnostic criteria and associated anomalies.

Our purpose was to evaluate the incidence of asymptomatic amniotic fluid infection.One hundred fifty-four amniotic fluid samples obtained at the second trimester between 14 and 27 weeks gestation were studied by Gram stain with bacteriological cultures and detection of mycoplasm species and Chlamydiae trachomatis. Transabdominal amniocentesis for caryotyping were carried out in 151 health patients with intact membranes and without preterm labor or signs of infectious (3 dizygotic twin pregnancies).One hundred forty-seven complete microbiologic examinations were performed (Gram stain examination white-cell count, quantitative aerobic and anaerobic cultures). Commercial texts for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydiae trachomatis were negative. Three patients had rare microorganisms, coagulase negative staphylococcus (30 and 50 bacteria per ml) and alpha-hemolytic streptococcus (5 x 10(2) bacteria per ml). White cell count on amniotic fluids in 50 cases (32%) was less than 30 per ml.These findings appear to be in contradiction with recent data, suggesting the existence of intraamniotic infection in the early phase of the second trimester. Our data confirm the need for a cut-off level for white cell count to improve test sensibility.

During the last decade IVF and other assisted conception treatment (ACT) methods have become an internationally accepted form of treatment of infertile couple. The final definition of success following ACT is the couple who having received treatment have a live child. As IVF treatment gradually becomes more successful and as the number of babies born as a result of this treatment increases more attention is being focused on the outcome of ACT pregnancies. Recent and futur development of ACT are related.

Human endometrium from fertile women secrete HILDA/LIF in vitro. In endometrial explants from women suffering from an unexplained sterility or women whose fertilized eggs do not implant the in vitro secretion is significantly reduced. HILDA/LIF secretion is increased by IL-1 and decreased by IL-4. CSF-1 has little effects on secretion from fertile women but clearly inhibits secretion from some infertile women. Altogether, the results suggest that HILDA/LIF might be involved in human implantation.

Human interleukin for DA cells/leukaemia inhibitory factor (HILDA/LIF) is a cytokine with pleiotropic effects involved in successful murine implantation. We evaluated human uterine HILDA/LIF production by monitoring its in-vitro secretion by endometrial explant cultures obtained from individuals in either normal or pathological conditions. The cytokine secretion was standardized using the day 5:day 1 ratio of HILDA/LIF concentration in supernatants of such cultures, hereby termed HILDA/LIF production index (HLPI). Our results confirmed that HILDA/LIF is secreted by the human endometrium as assessed by secretion at every phase of the cycle in either normal fertile women, or women bearing intrauterine devices. This was also the case for samples obtained from infertile women presenting repeated failures of embryonic implantation or unexplained primary sterility. However, the HLPI were significantly lower in those latter two groups when compared to fertile women. These results suggest an abnormal regulation of HILDA/LIF secretion in such circumstances, and the clinical implication of those data is discussed.

After standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) chromosome analysis of uncleaved oocytes has shown that in about 80% of the cases, there was no fertilization at all while in 10% of the cases there was a premature chromosome condensation and a development arrest. After micro-injection our results suggest that both the technique itself and the pathologies which require micro-injection can influence the results. On the other hand about 20-30% of the metaphase II oocytes are cytogenetically abnormal after IVF attempt while ICSI might increase chromosome breakage. Our results suggest that both the technique used and the gamete pathologies can influence the different steps of development arrest.

The authors report the case of a women who took retinoids (Roaccutan, isotretinoin) during the first trimester of pregnancy, and a therapeutic abortion was carried out. The interest in this case report lies in the determination of the concentration of isotretinoin and its metabolites (4-oxo-isotretinoin, and tretinoin) in fetal tissues, using high performance liquid chromatography. The findings show the significant transplacental crossing of isotretinoin, an accumulation of 4-oxo-isotretinoin in the liver, and a low concentration of retinoids in the brain of this 4-month-old fetus. The authors emphasize that contraception must be used during retinoid treatment, and 4 weeks after retinoids have been stopped.

This work analyzes the causes of cleavage failure after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the effect of the procedure on the chromosomes of the oocytes.Ninety-seven uncleaved oocytes from 39 patients with severe male infertility or repeated IVF failure were fixed; 79 were analyzable. We checked the decondensation stage of spermatozoa nucleus and the chromosomal abnormalities of the oocytes.Among the fixed oocytes, the spermatozoa nucleus was present in 97% of the cases, and it was undecondensed in 89% of the cases, showing no evolution at all. A low rate (2.6%) of premature chromosome condensation (PCC) of the spermatozoa and a low rate (2.5%) of female diploïdy were observed. Among the oocytes that could be karyotyped, we observed a high rate (45%) of chromosome breakage.ICSI fertilization failure was due mostly to the complete lack of evolution of the spermatozoa nucleus. Oocyte selection before ICSI seemed to lower the PCC rate. The high rate of oocyte chromosomal breakage rate has to be confirmed.

A fecondant substance has been recently isolated in the air. The discovery was made by observing that fertile couples loose their fertility when they are placed in a room where infertile couples had breathed. A major difference was observed in the respiration of infertile couples. They first inspire and then expire, contrary to the fertile couples who do the opposite. The ethical and pathophysiopolitical considerations are discussed. Emergency management in case of side effects observed with the use of the fecondant substance is described. This is the first description of a new aerial major compounds involved in human fertility.

The sequential transformations of human sperm nuclei in human eggs after subzonal insemination (SUZI; n = 104) and the influence of sperm defects on this timing were studied. This chronology was compared to that of two control series of zygotes obtained after SUZI with normal spermatozoa (n = 35) and after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with normal donor spermatozoa (D-IVF; n = 220). Pronuclear formation took place between 4.5 and 10.5 h post-SUZI for 92.8% of the zygotes. They remained visible for 13 h and began to disappear 18.5 h post-SUZI. The timespan 3 h. Zygotes obtained after D-IVF had a similar rate of pronuclear disappearance but approximately 4 h later. The second cell cycle was more rapid for zygotes obtained by D-IVF than by SUZI, but the developmental rate of zygotes obtained by SUZI varied according to sperm phenotypes. For patients with previous unexplained IVF failures (control group with normal spermatozoa), the developmental rate was lower, suggesting the influence of oocyte quality. In conclusion, the end of the first cell cycle of zygotes obtained by insemination under the zona pellucida appears 4 h earlier compared to zygotes obtained after insemination outside the zona pellucida.

Training in ultrasound-guided procedures in fetal medicine is currently available in a few major fetal medicine units. Unlike elective surgical procedures, cordocentesis is usually performed without sedation as an outpatient procedure and active supervision of the trainee intensifies the anxiety already felt by the patient. In addition, the complication rate is higher in the initial few procedures or when the procedure is not regularly practiced. We have developed a comprehensive method of training for transabdominal invasive procedures using a medical model that simulates the in vivo situation.

It has been established that maternal immunity developing before conception protects the fetus from congenital toxoplasmosis. We observed a case of congenital toxoplasmosis consecutive to a maternal toxoplasma infection that had preceded pregnancy. A woman with normal immune system developed toxoplasmosis 2 months before conceiving. No treatment was given to this prepregnancy seroconverted patient. At 25 weeks of amenorrhoea, the ultrasound examination showed a fetal cerebral ventricular dilatation. Amniocentesis and cordocentesis showed fetal toxoplasmosis infection. Fetopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis. The pathophysiology of maternal-fetal toxoplasma transmission and the role played by maternal immunodeficiency are discussed. This exceptional case-report showed the difficulties of the management in patients with 3-month pre-pregnancy toxoplasmosis and its practical implications.

The first case of prenatal diagnosis of congenital varicella by amniotic fluid viral culture and PCR is reported. Chickenpox is a benign disease in children, but it can lead to severe complications in the adult, especially in the pregnant woman. Five percent of women in childbearing age are not immunised, and the incidence of gestational chickenpox is between 1 and 7 per 10,000. The consequences of this primary infection during pregnancy can be severe for the mother, because of the risk of serious varicella pneumonia, and for the fetus. The fetal infection depends on the gestational age at which the maternal infection occurs. The 2% evaluated risk of fetopathy is maximal between the 7th and 20th week of amenorrhoea. The reported congenital abnormalities are essentially cutaneous, neurological, ophthalmological and musculo-squeletal lesions. A prenatal diagnosis can be suggested: the revelation of defects by ultrasound scan confirms the fetal affection, and can justify pregnancy termination; on the other hand, amniocentesis and cordocentesis are not totally safe, and cannot always assert the fetal contamination or its level of affection. From the therapeutical point of view, prevention with polyvalent gamma-globulin is prescribed to non-immunised pregnant women who have been in contact with the virus. On the opposite, in case of contracted chickenpox, the treatment of the mother with an association of polyvalent gamma-globulin and acyclovir is still controversial since, although probably effective, it may not be safe for the fetus. The solution may reside in the vaccination, soon available, of non-immunised women in childbearing age.

Coculture techniques on monolayers cells increase the rate of human blastocysts development. The selection of these heavier and more expensive methods should be reserved for cases which this work specifies. The rate of achieved pregnancies seems increased, embryo quality being, at this stage of later development, better estimated, from which a more objective selection. The window of endometrial receptivity to blastocysts implantation seems later than the one defined by the 2/8 cells stage. Last but not least, the cryopreservation of high quality blastocysts favours a high rate of recovery on defreezing.

The transfer of blastocysts obtained by co-culture with 'Vero' (African green monkey kidney) cells was offered to infertile couples with the following indications: (i) repeated failure of implantation, (ii) patients in whom multiple pregnancies had to be avoided (malformed uterus or risk of descending uterus), (iii) patients where embryo development potential had to be assessed, and (iv) replacement of supernumerary embryos frozen at the blastocyst stage. In the 142 cycles analysed, the pregnancy rates per transfer were 37.2, 36.3, 13.0 and 13.6% respectively for the couples with indications i-iv. The respective implantation rates per blastocyst were 20.0, 16.7, 7.1 and 9.3%. In patients in whom multiple pregnancies had to be avoided, the transfer of a maximum of two blastocysts gave a pregnancy rate per cycle of 23.5%, without any multiple pregnancies. The freezing of supernumerary embryos at the blastocyst stage allowed us to replace them using simple protocols and to avoid cancellation of the transfer cycles. Embryo co-culture has been found to be an interesting technique for selected indications, making available a good number of blastocysts for transfer. The transfer of blastocysts allowed us to reduce the number of embryos transferred per patient and therefore also reduce the rate of multiple pregnancies (there were no triplet pregnancies in this study). These results need to be confirmed by larger, randomized studies with comparisons to control groups to evaluate the effectiveness of blastocyst transfers.

We report a prospective trial of in vitro sperm-mucus penetration test performed in hormonally controlled environment. To enhance the quality of the cervical mucus (CM), prevent spontaneous ovulation and to eliminate the possibility that results may be biased solely because of CM inadequacy, we conceived a 28-day physiological hormonal replacement regimen. For this women received oral estradiol valerate (E2-V) (4 mg/day) from cycle 1 to 28. CM was collected on days 13 (n = 17), 14 (n = 38) or 15 (n = 16), according to patients' individual preferences. The in vitro sperm-mucus penetration test was performed approximately 30 minutes later. On the same day, measurements of P and E2 levels were done to eliminate the possibility of spontaneous ovulation. Plasma E2 on the day of testing were 220 +/- 100 pg/ml (mean +/- SD). In all patients, except 4, P levels were low (1 ng/ml) on the day of the test. Our results indicate that a hormonal preparation with E2/P can be clinically useful for preventing spontaneous ovulation and reliably assuring CM quality when sperm/mucus penetration tests are performed.

We have studied from birth up to the 3rd year the psychological attitude of 33 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) children compared to two other groups: children born after ovarian stimulation without IVF (n = 33) and children conceived naturally (n = 33) during the same period. Fourteen children, born by oocyte donation, were also studied by the same methodology. In the IVF group, we found some feeding difficulties and sleep disorders in the infants at 9 months and some signs of depression in mothers. All these symptoms disappeared afterwards. The development of all the children is satisfactory and the relationship with their mother is excellent. In this preliminary study, we conclude that the method of assisted reproduction has no bad influence on the psychomotor development of these children.

Expectant management was studied in 35 patients representing 4.9% of all ectopic pregnancies during an 8 year period. Laparoscopy was performed in a first period to define the inclusion criteria: hematosalpinxor = 2 cm and hemoperitoneumor = 50 ml. In a second period, inclusion criteria used a predictive pretherapeutic scoreor = 11 with a sonographic visualization of the ectopic pregnancy. This score involved six criteria graded on a scale from 1 to 3: gestational age, hCG and P level, existence of abdominal pain, size of hemoperitoneum and diameter of hematosalpinx assessed sonographically. The patients were on out-patients basis. Success rate was 85.7% (30/35 patients). When the pretherapeutic score wasor = 11 and the initial hCG level1,000 mUl/ml the success rate increased to 96%. Thirteen patients (87%) had patent tubes evaluated by hysterosalpingography on the side of the ectopic pregnancy. Twelve patients delivered one miscarriage occurred and none ectopic pregnancy was observed. Expectant management is a useful form of treatment for ectopic pregnancy in selected cases.

The recent development of co-culture technique has permitted to cryopreserve human embryos at the blastocyst stage. The aim of the present study was to compare pregnancy rates after transfers of embryos frozen at an early embryo stage (2-8 cell stage, group A; n = 175) with others frozen at blastocyst stage (group B; n = 98). Our results demonstrated that the frozen/thawed blastocyst survival is approximately 100%. In comparison the early embryos survival rate was 59% (P0.05). Moreover, pregnancy rates/embryo transfer in group A (16.4%) were significantly improved by comparison to those observed with early embryos (6.2%) (P0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that embryo frozen/thawed at the blastocyst stage can be useful for improving pregnancy rates after cryopreservation.

We report the first case of full-term pregnancy arising from donated oocytes in a 36-year-old woman with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 6 years after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) following total body irradiation (TBI) (12 Gy) and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg. The first attempt at implantation with her own cryopreserved ovocytes was unsuccessful. Thereafter, she became pregnant after donated oocyte implantation using estradiol and progesterone support replacing the defective ovarian function. The baby was normal. Unfortunately, 6 months later, she relapsed in chronic phase of CML.

Post-partum abdominal pain is common. Separation of the pubic symphysis is one cause. Diagnosis is based upon clinical and ultrasonographic findings. Bed rest is often satisfactory treatment.

Antimitotic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy can induce a premature ovarian failure in women. The improvement of the prognosis of cancer and the increasing in long-term survival mean that preservation of fertility should be considered before initiating therapy. An embryo cryopreservation can be proposed if the circumstances allow that possibility. Ten young women were included in our program and benefited from an oocyte retrieval before cancer therapy. Nine of them had an embryo cryopreservation, and one without partner an oocyte cryopreservation. Three patients had an embryo replacement without success, and in one case, a spontaneous full-term pregnancy was obtained after ovarian detransposition through coelioscopy. In the future, oocyte cryopreservation could appear a more suitable answer. Actually, oocyte donation with estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy gives good results (in our experience, 23.2 per cent of ongoing pregnancies per transfer). Nevertheless, after treatment against cancer, a study of the uterus with its arteries, and a particular adaptation of the treatment are necessary because of the risks of tissue damage impairing the embryo implantation. Indeed, in fifteen patients included in this group, eight women had fourteen transfers unfortunately without success. Consequently, the seven other women underwent complementary examinations. Two embryos were replaced in one patient with a more adjustable treatment allowing a full-term pregnancy.

To describe the outcome of pregnancies conceived by IVF and the follow-up of the children after a minimum of 1 year of life.Survey of clinical pregnancies and follow-up of the children and comparison with national statistics.All clinical pregnancies from 11 French centers between January 1987 and June 1989.A total of 1,637 pregnancies resulting in 1,263 deliveries and 1,669 live-born or still-born children and 1,411 alive children after 1 year.Gestational age of birth, birth weight, mortality rates, prevalence of congenital malformation, and prevalence of disorders during the follow-up of the children.The preterm birth rate was 22.7% of all deliveries and 12.2% of single deliveries compared with 5.6% in France, and 34.7% of babies weighed2,500 g compared with 5.2% in France. The rate of perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality were higher than the national average. The rate of malformation (2.86%) was comparable with national survey (2.08%). The health of children diseased during the whole follow-up was approximately 2%.The health of children after 1 year of live is close normal.

In spite of the progress in in vitro fertilization (IVF), implantation rate of IVF embryos remains low. Many factors seem to be involved in these results. Among them, impairment of the hatching process was incriminated by some authors. Assisted hatching seems to be an interesting method for repeated failures of IVF.

High endometrial receptivity has been achieved with physiological oestradiol and progesterone replacement cycles in women with ovarian failure. To understand whether different protocols using the oral route or the transdermal route can influence the endometrial maturation and the regulation of sex steroid receptors, we studied 33 women with ovarian failure treated by two commonly used protocols and assessed endometrial receptivity using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry for oestrogen and progesterone receptors on biopsies taken to include different periods of the luteal phase. The morphology in these patients was similar to that observed in women with normal ovulatory cycles, indicating that the morphological response is not dependent on the type of oestradiol, oral or transdermal, in the replacement cycles as compared to the endogenous oestradiol in the menstrual cycle. The relative distribution of steroid receptors between the epithelium and stroma varies similarly to that observed during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. These results confirm the role of progesterone, especially the importance of the number of days of exposure to it, in the disappearance of steroid receptors from endometrial glands. These observations give a better understanding of endometrial receptivity around the time of presumed implantation and confirm clinical results concerning the best timing of oocyte transfer.

We describe a case of spontaneous twin ectopic pregnancy, managed with the combination of local injection under ultrasound control and intramuscular administration of methotrexate. We describe a difference between the area under the curve of declining plasma concentration of methotrexate after intramuscular and local injection.