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Objective: To compare two commonly used sperm-preparation techniques, density gradient centrifugation and swim-up procedures, with respect to their effects on acrosome reaction (AR), hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) and nuclear maturity in men with abnormal and normal semen analyses., Study Design: In accordance with World Health Organization criteria, 23 men with abnormal (group I) and 20 men with normal (group II) semen analyses were included in a prospective, controlled study. Each semen specimen was divided into aliquots in order to assess AR, HOS and nuclear maturity, determined with acridine orange staining, in both raw and processed semen samples using the density gradient centrifugation and swim-up techniques., Results: Initial semen samples in group I revealed diminished AR, HOS and nuclear maturity rates in comparison to those in group II. In group I, density gradient centrifugation improved AR, HOS and nuclear maturity rates more than did swim-up. However, in group II it improved only the AR; HOS rates were better than with swim-up. There was a significant positive correlation between sperm concentration and HOS rate in raw semen samples from group I. In the same group, motility and morphology correlated with the nuclear maturity rate but not with AR and HOS rates. Semen samples with better motility (> 20%) or morphology (> 25%) showed better nuclear maturity rates (> 50%) in men with abnormal semen analyses. Motility had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 90% in predicting nuclear maturity. Morphology had similar sensitivity but lower specificity (70%)., Conclusion: Density gradient centrifugation is superior to the swim-up technique in improving AR, HOS and nuclear maturity rates in men with abnormal semen analyses. However, when only nuclear maturity rate is taken into account, the swim-up technique seems to be sufficient for selecting spermatozoa in men with normal semen analyses. The nuclear maturity rate also correlates with sperm morphology and motility.

A short-term evaluation of 6 months of estrogen therapy on oxidant status in 38 postmenopausal women was conducted. The levels of serum lipid peroxidation products, glutathione (GSH) status, and glutathione-related enzymes were evaluated before and after 6 months of hormone replacement therapy. After 6 months of estrogen treatment there was a significantly increased concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), which are an end product of lipid peroxidation. This was accompanied by a significant increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). However, the activities of glutathione reductase (GSSG-R) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly decreased and total protein thiols were reduced. Data suggest that hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women is associated with oxidant mechanisms.

Objective: To determine the incidence of late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LOCAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency among hirsute women and to evaluate the results of the ACTH stimulation test with the clinical characteristics., Study Design: Prospective, controlled study. One hundred women with hirsutism and 14 normally cycling women without hirsutism were included in this study at the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University. After basal serum progesterone (P) and 17 hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) levels were determined, an ACTH stimulation test was performed on cycle day 3-5. The same parameters were checked 30 minutes later. We estimated the 21 hydroxylase activity by calculating the change in 17OHP (17OHP 30-0) and the summed rate of the change in P and 17OHP ([P30-0] + [17OHP30-01/30 minutes). The 95th percentile for these estimates in normal women were calculated, and values above three times the 95th percentile were considered to distinguish women with LOCAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency., Results: The 95th percentile for 17OHP 30-0 and (P30-0) + (17OHP30-0)/30 minutes in normal women was 1.6 and 8.9 ng/dL/min, respectively. Regarding 17OHP 30-0 values, three women with hirsutism had levels above three times the 95th percentile of these estimates, and 28 women had estimates of more than the 95th percentile but less than threefold. Seventeen of 28 women had oligomenorrhea, and all had severe hirsutism. The women with severe hirsutism and oligomenorrhea had significantly higher ACTH-stimulated serum 17OHP levels and values for 17OHP 30-0 and (P30-0 + (17OHP30-0)/30 min) than did normally cycling women., Conclusion: The incidence of LOCAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and mild 21-hydroxylase deficiency is 3% and 28%, respectively, in women with hirsutism. Clinical characteristics are not helpful in determining 21-hydroxylase deficiency. However, the incidence of 21-hydroxylase deficiency is more common among women with severe hirsutism and oligomenorrhea. The change in serum 17OHP 30-0 seems to be greater than the summed rate of change in serum 17OHP and P in the detection of 21-hydroxylase enzyme deficiency.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the ovarian stromal area and clinical hormonal characteristics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)., Study Design: Twenty-eight women with PCOS (group 1) and 26 healthy women (group 2) participated in this study. For measuring the ovarian stromal area, transvaginal ultrasonography was performed on all women during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Venous blood was sampled from the women to determine serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, androstenedione, free testosterone (FT), total testosterone (TT), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and fasting insulin and glucose levels. Two-tailed t and Pearson correlation tests were used for statistical analysis., Results: Women with PCOS were heavier, and their serum FT, TT and LH levels were significantly higher than in the normals (P < .001, P < .012 and P < .001, respectively). The ovarian stromal area measured by transvaginal ultrasonography was also significantly larger than in the normals (P < .001). Only basal serum insulin levels seemed to correlate positively with the ovarian stromal area in women with PCOS (r = .43 P = .09)., Conclusion: Although transvaginal ultrasonography has played an important role in the evaluation of women with PCOS, we could not demonstrate a relationship between the ovarian stromal area and hormonal characteristics of PCOS. Therefore, transvaginal ultrasonography and hormonal parameters must be used as complementary diagnostic methods in women with PCOS.

The biochemical nature of nipple discharge, including galactorrhea, and the physiology of lactation in patients with nipple discharge have not been studied extensively. Studies of the composition of nipple discharges may provide further insight into the complex processes involved in their secretion. In this study we compared the lipid composition of nipple discharges from patients with galactorrhea with that of human colostrum. The diagnosis of galactorrhea was confirmed by the presence of casein, detected by the anti-casein radial immunodiffusion test. Triglyceride, cholesterol and phospholipid levels in the nipple discharge samples were quite high compared with the colostrum samples. The proportion of 6:0 and 22:1 fatty acids was lower in the discharge samples and the proportion of 18:2 and 20:4 fatty acids was higher. Levels of phospholipid and neutral lipids, determined by quantitative densitometry in situ after separation by thin layer chromatography, also varied between discharge and colostrum, with a higher level of free fatty acids and triglyceride fractions in the nipple discharge. The lipoprotein electrophoretic bands of the nipple discharge samples resembled serum lipoprotein bands while colostrum samples gave no bands on electrophoresis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the introduction of fetal heart rate monitoring on perinatal mortality rates in high-risk pregnancies. Results were compared with the perinatal mortality rates published previously from our clinics. The study group consisted of 2165 high-risk pregnant patients. The perinatal mortality rate in the study group was 28.6%, and the corrected rate 15.9%. The rates were significantly lower in comparison with the total perinatal mortality rates in former years. We are convinced that fetal heart-rate monitoring resulted in a significant decrease in the perinatal mortality rate. Although the increased use of fetal monitoring cannot reduce perinatal mortality resulting from problems such as genetic disorders, this study shows improved outcomes for many high-risk conditions, in particular postmature pregnancies.

The predictive value of fetal heart-rate monitoring on fetal well-being was studied in 2165 high-risk pregnancies. 1883 reactive nonstress test (NST) patterns and 278 nonreactive NST patterns and 4 cases of sinusoidal pattern were obtained. Oxytocin challenge test (OCT) was applied to 263 nonreactive cases. OCT was not applied to 15 cases out of 278 nonreactive NST cases, because of placenta previa, abruptio placenta and previous cesarean section. There were 155 cases with negative OCT, 84 cases with positive OCT and 24 cases with equivocal, prolonged or severe variable decelerations. Sensitivity and specificity were for NST 50 and 88% and for OCT 60 and 67%. The positive and negative predictive values were 11 and 98% for NST and 18 and 93% for OCT. It is concluded that the reactive nonstress test is a reliable test for good outcome but a positive oxytocin challenge test is not a reliable test for poor outcome. Additional procedures are necessary such as assessment of fetal growth, doppler velocity waveforms and fetal biophysical profile to avoid unnecessary obstetric interventions and to reach good fetal outcome.