Effect of a short-term vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress in infertile PCOS women under ovulation induction: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E, which is critically important in the whole process of reproduction, can antagonize the oxidative stress caused by the oxygen free radicals and antioxidant imbalance and regulate normal physiological function of the reproductive system. The effect of short-term supplementation of vitamin E on outcomes of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) when they underwent ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate (CC) and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) remains unknown. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort clinical trial from October 2015 to April 2017. A total of 321 PCOS cases underwent ovulation induction with CC and HMG. Patients in group A (n = 110) did not receive vitamin E while patients in group B (n = 105) and group C (n = 106) received oral treatment of vitamin E at 100 mg/day during follicular phase and luteal phase, respectively. RESULTS: It was observed no significant differences of ovulation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate among the three groups. It was interesting that dosage of HMG were significant lower in group B compared with those in group A and group C (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A short-term supplementation of vitamin E can improve oxidative stress, and reduce exogenous HMG dosage to lower the economic cost with a similar pregnancy rate in the ovulation induction cycle. However, the supplementation does not alter the pregnancy rate in the ovulation induction cycle. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-OOC-14005389, 2014.

[Clinical Trial of Electroacupuncture Treatment for Relieving Stress Responses in Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) on stress responses of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: A total of 40 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were randomized into conventional treatment group (control) and EA group (n＝20 in each group). Patients of the EA group received conventional treatment (pre- and post-surgical fasting, measures for gastrointestinal decompression, parenteral nutrition support, and patient controlled analgesia pump, etc.) and EA stimulation (2 Hz, 30 min) of bilateral ST 36 and PC 6 (twice after surgery, at an interval of 6 h), and patients of the control group received conventional treatment only. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the patients' pain severity and the blood glucose levels were detected once every 4－6 h within 24 h after operation. Serum cortisol (Cort) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were detected by chemiluminescence method, and serum D-lactic acid level (for assessing gastrointestinal mucosal injury) was assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: After the treatment, the levels of serum Cort, ACTH, D-lactate acid and the highest blood glucose were significantly lower in the EA group than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), suggesting a reduction of stress reactions after EA. But no significant difference was found between the control and EA groups in the VAS score (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at ST 36 and PC 6 can alleviate stress responses and reduce intestinal mucosal damage in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.