The effect of oral contraceptive use on sympatic nerve activity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: High sympathetic nerve activity, is thought to be a cardiovascular risk factor, has been shown to correlate with circulating high testosterone levels. However its role on the pathophysiology of the polycystic ovarian syndrome has not been clearly established. The aim of our study is to compare the sympathetic nerve activity between polycystic ovarian syndrome and control group and to determine whether the use of oral contraceptives for contraception has any effect on this activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study has designed as a prospective, case-control study including patients diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Antropometric measurements were calculated, hormone levels were measured and sympathetic skin response and heart rate variability measurements were performed in the laboratory to assess sympathetic activity before starting oral contraceptive pill therapy and at the end of 1 month follow up. RESULTS: In the baseline condition LH/FSH ratio, LH, DHEAS, and total testosterone levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS. After 1 month of treatment, reductions in Ferriman-Gallwey score, ovarian volumes, number of follicles, LH/FSH ratio, LH, and androgen hormone levels were statistically significant. The mean values of sympathetic skin response amplitude and R-R analysis-Valsalva test were higher in PCOS group as compared to the control group. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Similarly, no statistically significant difference in SSR latency and R-R analysis-standup test were demonstrated between PCOS and control groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study supports the increased sympatovagal activity in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Safe and successful use of oocyte in-vitro maturation in two infertile women with multiple sclerosis.

There is evidence to support an impact of ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues on the progression or recurrence of multiple sclerosis. In addition, there is no universally acknowledged approach toward ovarian stimulation in patients with multiple sclerosis. This report describes two patients at a large tertiary university hospital who underwent an in-vitro maturation protocol in order to avoid a risk of exacerbating their multiple sclerosis by ovarian stimulation. Both patients were referred to the infertility clinic because of the concern of exacerbation of multiple sclerosis during or after ovarian stimulation treatment. The patients underwent the in-vitro maturation protocol to avoid ovarian stimulating agents. Both patients gave birth to healthy babies at term. They did not suffer any relapses of multiple sclerosis during their treatment or during pregnancy. Exacerbation of disease related to ovarian stimulation encourages the search for a safer approach to these patients. To the authors' knowledge, these are the first babies described in the literature who were born after in-vitro maturation to mothers suffering from multiple sclerosis. In-vitro maturation can thus be recommended as an alternative in suitable women with multiple sclerosis.

The effect of myoinositol on ovarian blood flows in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

To evaluate whether 4 gram myoinositol and 400 mcg folic acid(MYO) therapy has any effects on ovarian stromal blood flow by using pulsed and color Doppler at 3 months follow-up period in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). One-hundred eighty patients were designed into six groups; Group 1: PCOS patients that received OCP containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol (EE) plus 3 mg drospirenone (DRP); Group 2: PCOS patients that received MYO; Group 3: PCOS patients that received no medication. Group 4: Healthy patients that received OCP; Group 5: Healthy patients that received MYO; Group 6: Healthy patients that received no medication. Resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of both ovaries were assessed. There was a significant increase in RI and PI of both ovarian stromal blood flow women with PCOS who received OCP (Group 1, p < .001) and MYO (Group 2, p < .001). The rate of increment in both RI and PI values were similar for OCP users (Group 1) and MYO users(Group2) in PCOS patients. MYO therapy reduced ovarian vascularization in both PCOS and healthy users after 3 months and this decrease is especially noticeable in women with PCOS compared to healthy women. OCP therapy also reduced ovarian vascularization just like MYO therapy.

Corrigendum to "Different Effects of Myoinositol plus Folic Acid versus Combined Oral Treatment on Androgen Levels in PCOS Women".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/3206872.].

Myo-inositol administration positively effects ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective, controlled, randomized trial.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of myo-inositol (MYO) on pregnancy rates of patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who undergone controlled ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI). METHODS: A total of 196 infertile patients diagnosed with PCOS and admitted to Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine were included in the study between March 2013 and May 2016. The patients in group 1 (n = 98) were given 4 g MYO and 400 µg folic acid before and during ovulation induction. The patients undergone controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with recombinant FSH and IUI. The patients in group 2 (n = 98), were given recombinant FSH directly and 400 µg folic acid. The primary outcome measure of this study was the clinical pregnancy rate. RESULTS: In group 1, 9 patients conceived spontaneous pregnancy. During COH + IUI treatment three cycles were canceled in group 1 and 8 cycles in group 2. Total rFSH dose and cycle duration were significantly lower and clinical pregnancy rates were higher in group 1. The pregnancy rate for group 1 was %18.6 and for group 2 was %12.2. Conclusions: This study shows that MYO should be considered in the treatment of infertile PCOS patients. MYO administration increases clinical pregnancy rates, lowers total rFSH dose and the duration of the ovulation induction.

Different Effects of Myoinositol plus Folic Acid versus Combined Oral Treatment on Androgen Levels in PCOS Women.

Recently, myoinositol (myo-ins) and folic acid combination has gained an important role for treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), in addition to combined oral contraceptives (COC). We aimed to examine myo-ins effects on anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels and compare them with those ones obtained administering COC. In this prospective study, 137 PCOS patients, diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria and admitted to the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Outpatient Clinic at Dokuz Eylul University (Izmir, Turkey), were included. After randomization to COC (n = 60) and myo-ins (n = 77) arms, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, Modified Ferriman Gallwey scores were calculated. Biochemical and hormonal analysis were performed, and LH/FSH and Apo B/A1 ratios were calculated. Data analysis was carried out in demographically and clinically matched 106 patients (COC = 54; myo-ins = 52). After 3-month treatment, increase in HDL and decreases in LH and LH/FSH ratio were statistically more significant only in COC group when compared with baseline (in both cases p > 0.05). In myo-ins group, fasting glucose, LDL, DHEAS, total cholesterol, and prolactin levels decreased significantly (for all p < 0.05). Progesterone and AMH levels, ovarian volume, ovarian antral follicle, and total antral follicle counts lessened significantly in both groups (for all p < 0.05). In PCOS treatment, MYO is observed more effective in reductions of total ovarian volume and AMH levels.

Quantitative Sonographic Differences in Mid-Urethra between Postmenopausal Women with and without Stress Urinary Incontinence.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate midurethral tissue characteristics in continent and stress urinary incontinent postmenopausal women by using transvaginal ultrasound gray-level histogram. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and 77 patients without SUI were evaluated. Vaginal ultrasound gray-level histograms were performed by 2 gynecologists blinded to patients' SUI statuses. The mean gray-level (MGL) of ultrasound gray-level histogram, representing the echogenicity of a region of interest, was measured in the anterior and posterior midurethral wall along a vertical ultrasound beam. The difference in MGL between anterior and posterior (AP difference) midurethra was calculated. RESULTS: The MGL value of SUI patients was found to be lower in posterior (p = 0.008) and higher in anterior midurethral region (p = 0.001) when compared with control group. In addition, the difference in MGL between anterior and posterior midurethra (AP difference) was found to be higher in SUI group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis by logistic regression including confounding factors revealed that AP difference was independently associated with presence of SUI (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.08-1.20, p < 0.001). Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was found to be high with intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.83 and 0.78, respectively. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal SUI patients might have a distinct midurethral echogenicity pattern with the quantitative ultrasonography.

Do preeclampsia symptoms resolve after intrauterine death of a fetus?

We present two cases of twin pregnancies without resolution of preeclamptic symptoms after intrauterine death of one twin. CASE 1: A nulliparous woman aged 37 years was referred at 26 weeks of gestation because of arterial hypertension, edema, and growth restriction in one twin. Three weeks later the restricted twin died. During the following three weeks, ultrasound examinations showed a reduced growth velocity of the surviving fetus and reversed umbilical flow. At the end of the 34th week of gestation, cesarean section was performed and a healthy female infant was delivered. CASE 2: A nulliparous woman aged 33 years with a 27-week twin pregnancy was referred because of arterial hypertension and discordant growth. The restricted twin died at 31 weeks of gestation. Following the death, within two weeks the growth of the co-twin started to slow down and reversed end diastolic flow presented. At the end of the 33rd week of gestation, cesarean section was performed and a healthy female infant was delivered.The interesting point of these cases was the secondary effects on the co-twins. During the time after intrauterine deaths of one twin, the surviving fetuses started to show a reduced growth velocity and reversed umbilical flow and mothers had increased blood pressure and proteinuria again. We think that both cases are evidence of late on-set systemic maternal effects (such as systemic maternal endothelial activation and/or systemic maternal inflammatory response) depends on preeclampsia.

The effect of intrauterine insemination time on semen parameters.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this observational study was to determine whether semen parameters (concentration, motility) were affected by the interval between the onset of postwash sperm incubation and intrauterine insemination (IUI) time. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semen specimens of 100 normozoospermic men collected at the clinic were allowed 20 minutes for liquefaction at room temperature. Semen samples were subjected to both macroscopic and microscopic examinations. After centrifugation in a density gradient column and sperm-washing medium, the samples were kept in an incubator. After 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes, the concentration and motility were recorded. RESULTS: According the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test, there were significant differences in values of mean sperm count, percent progressive sperm motility, and total motile sperm count between 30 minutes and 120 minutes (p=0.000, p=0.000, and p=0.000) and between 60 minutes and 120 minutes (p=0.000, p=0.000, and p=0.001), but there was no significant difference between 30 minutes and 60 minutes (p=1, p=0.173, and p=1). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that sperm parameters are negatively affected from prolonged incubation time. A maximum 60-minute limit of the interval between the onset of postwash sperm incubation and IUI time may increase pregnancy rates.

Value of maternal procalcitonin levels for predicting subclinical intra-amniotic infection in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

AIM: To determine whether procalcitonin (ProCT) levels can be used to predict subclinical intra-amniotic infection by comparing maternal plasma levels in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term with the levels in healthy pregnant women. METHODS: The mean plasma ProCT levels of 32 patients with PPROM, 35 patients with PROM at term, 24 healthy women at preterm gestation and 30 healthy women at term were compared. In the PPROM group, the presence or absence of histological chorioamnionitis and neonatal infection were used as a reference to analyze ProCT levels. RESULTS: The mean ProCT level of patients in the PPROM group was significantly higher than those in the PROM group and healthy controls. Patients in the PPROM group diagnosed with histological chorioamnionitis had significantly higher ProCT levels than those of the remaining patients. At a cut-off of 0.054 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of ProCT to predict histological chorioamnionitis were 92.3% and 68.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ProCT levels were significantly higher in patients with PPROM, and facilitate identification of those who require expectant management.

The effect of post-wash total progressive motile sperm count and semen volume on pregnancy outcomes in intrauterine insemination cycles: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of post-wash total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) and semen volume on pregnancy outcomes in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective study included a total of 156 cycles (141 couples) and was performed in our center over a 24-month period. The semen parameters were recorded for each man and each insemination. The semen samples were re-evaluated after the preparation process. Post-wash TPMSC values were divided into four groups; Group 1: <1×10(6); Group 2: 1-4.9×10(6); Group 3: 5-9.9×10(6); Group 4: 10×10(6) and >10×10(6). Post-wash inseminated semen volume was divided into three groups; Group 1: 0.3 mL; Group 2: 0.4 mL; Group 3: 0.5 mL. The effect of post-wash total progressive motile sperm and semen volume on pregnancy outcomes was evaluated. RESULTS: The pregnancy rates per cycle and per couple were 27.56% and 30.49%, respectively. There was not a significant relationship between the inseminated semen volume and pregnancy rate (p>0.05). However, a significant linear-by-linear association was documented between the TPMSC and pregnancy rate (p=0.042). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the post-wash inseminated semen volume should be between 0.3-0.5 mL. An average post-wash total motile sperm count of 10×10(6) may be a useful threshold value for IUI success, but more studies are needed to determine a cut-off value for TPMSC.

Comparison of uterine exteriorization and in situ repair during cesarean sections.

PURPOSE: To compare the peri- and postoperative complication rates of two cesarean delivery techniques. METHODS: Medical records from 1,087 patients who had a cesarean delivery with regional anesthesia between 2008 and 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Seven hundred and thirty-two patients had an in situ uterine repair, and 355 patients had an exterior uterine repair. Patients who had chorioamnionitis, preeclampsia, a bleeding disorder, or abnormal placentation were excluded from the study. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups: mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative nausea, tachycardia, hypotension, hemoglobin level, hematocrit level, the time to the first recognized bowel movement, postoperative analgesic dose, nausea, length of hospital stay, surgical site infection rate and endometritis rate. RESULTS: No clinically significant differences were found between the exteriorization and in situ uterine repair groups for mean hematocrit differences, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative nausea, tachycardia, hypotension and postoperative analgesic doses. However, the mean operative time, time to the first recognized bowel movement, surgical site infection rate and length of hospital stay were significantly lower in the in situ repair group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the techniques are similar in most scenarios, in situ uterine repair during cesarean sections appears to be more advantageous than exteriorization with respect to the mean operative time, time to the first recognized bowel movement, surgical site infection rate and length of hospital stay.