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Oocyte donation has become a common treatment modality for a large spectrum of infertility conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the success rate of a shared egg donation programme, and to define the profile of a successful 'donor-recipient' couple in view of the limitations imposed by the shared programme. The results of all consecutive cycles of egg donation from 1st January 1995 to 31st December 1996 were analysed. A total of 383 donor cycles were matched with 946 recipient cycles; clinical pregnancy rates were 23. 5 and 16.7% respectively. With the exception of endometriosis, which significantly reduced the pregnancy rate in both groups, similar pregnancy rates were obtained in both groups for all the other infertility aetiologies of the donors. The donor's age had no impact on pregnancy rate of the recipient, but pregnancy rate was significantly decreased in donors >35 years. Recipients >50 years had significantly reduced pregnancy rates and those >45 years a significantly increased abortion rate. Recipients with severe male factor infertility, who had intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, showed pregnancy rates equivalent to those recipients who had regular in-vitro fertilization. We conclude that in a shared egg donation programme, the recipients' pregnancy rate and outcome are dependent only on the donors' infertility aetiologies and on recipients' ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the studies demonstrating the involvement of eicosanoids (prostaglandins and hydroxyperoxides, including leukotrienes) in ovulation in several mammalian species, we have examined the activity of the two enzyme systems, lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase in human granulosa cells obtained from women undergoing in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. The activity of cyclooxygenase was assessed by radio-immunoassay of prostaglandin E and of 6-keto-prostaglan-din F, the conversion product of prostacyclin, accumulated in the culture medium of granulosa cells. Lipoxygenase activity was detected by the conversion of [C]arachidonic acid into its products (hydroxyperoxides and leukotrienes) separated by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The results confirmed the activity of cyclooxygenase in human granulosa cells, production of prostaglandin E and prostacyclin and demonstrated the presence of active lipoxygenase enzymes. These results support the possible involvement of eicosanoids in ovulation of the human. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Study Objective: To assess obstetric performance and fetal outcomes after laparoscopy or laparotomy performed during pregnancy., Design: Nationwide, multicenter, retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-2)., Setting: Seventeen hospitals throughout Israel: 12 university or university-affiliated hospitals and 5 general hospitals., Patients: Three hundred eighty-nine pregnant women., Intervention: Laparoscopy or laparotomy for various indications., Measurements and Main Results: Of 192 laparoscopies performed, 141 were during the first, 46 during the second, and 5 during the third trimester; respective figures for 197 laparotomies were 63, 110, and 24. No intraoperative complications were reported for either procedure. Six and 25 women had complications after laparoscopy and laparotomy, respectively. There was no significant difference in abortion rates between groups. Mean gestational age at delivery and mean birthweight were comparable between groups. No significant difference was found in frequency of fetal anomalies between groups or when compared with the Israel register of anomalies., Conclusion: Operative laparoscopy seems to be as safe as laparotomy in pregnancy.

The present study aimed to determine a reliable tool to estimate the interval time to delivery in assisted conception twin pregnancies. Mid-gestation cervical length was prospectively measured using transvaginal sonography (TVS) during routine antenatal care. Fifty-seven of 101 suitable women were longitudinally followed and two TVS measurements of their cervical length were obtained, first at approximately 24 weeks gestation and then at approximately 27 weeks gestation. The mean cervical length decreased from 37 +/- 12mm at first measurement to 34 +/- 11mm at the second one. A linear regression model was found between the time interval of the first (R = 0.656, p < 0.001) and the second (R = 0.435, p < 0.001) assessments and the week of delivery. The current data confirm that the length of the preserved segment of the cervix is an important indicator of its competence. A simple equation using the cervical length (mm) divided by 3 can predict mid gestation scan-to-delivery interval in twin gestation.

The purpose of this study was to calculate the cumulative pregnancy rates of IVF cycles with ICSI using ejaculated or testicular spermatozoa. A computerized database for the IVF cycles with ICSI performed between January 1996 and December 1998 was utilized. Cycles with spermatozoa obtained after electro-ejaculation were excluded. A multifactorial analysis was performed to define the impact of different factors on the success rate of IVF and ICSI. During a 36-month period, 229 pregnancies were achieved by 643 couples using ejaculated spermatozoa, and 83 pregnancies by 167 couples who required testicular spermatozoa. The pregnancy rates (PR) per cycle, including all treatment cycles with ejaculated spermatozoa, remained similar during the first five consecutive cycles achieving a cumulative PR of 80.44%. The cumulative pregnancy rates for cycles with testicular spermatozoa showed a consistent rise during four consecutive treatments and reached 61.84%. The regression analysis of pregnancy rate showed that it was significantly positively correlated with oocyte fertilization rate (P = 0.02), and negatively correlated with maternal age (P = 0.03). Thus, according to the present results, couples with infertility who require IVF with ICSI should be offered at least five consecutive attempts if ejaculated spermatozoa are used, and at least four cycles whenever testicular spermatozoa are used.

Successful pregnancies in uremic women are rare. Early initiation of regular hemodialysis in pregnant moderately uremic women is debatable. We chose regular hemodialytic treatments in 2 pregnant patients with stable renal failure with the aim of improving fetal outcome. The first patient with reflux nephropathy arrived at our clinic in the 18th week of her second pregnancy, having a serum creatinine level of 4.5 mg/100 ml and a creatinine clearance (Ccr) of 15 ml/min. Regular hemodialysis was carried out from the 29th gestational week until delivery. A healthy female infant was born weighing 1,095 g at the end of the 36th week of pregnancy. The second patient had an immune complex nephritis with a serum creatinine of 4.2 mg/100 ml and a Ccr of 18 ml/min. Hemodialysis was performed regularly from the 13th gestational week until the 37th week and stopped when normal labor developed and a healthy female infant weighing 2,145 g was born. We believe that the early initiation of regular hemodialysis in these 2 patients contributed significantly to the successful outcome of their pregnancies.