The risk factors for miscarriage of viable intrauterine pregnancies in patients with heterotopic pregnancy after surgical intervention.

To summarize the clinical characteristics and explore the risk factors for miscarriage of a viable intrauterine pregnancy following surgical intervention in patients with heterotopic pregnancy (HP). A total of 106 women diagnosed with HP that underwent surgical intervention in the Women's Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University between January 2014 and December 2021 were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into a miscarriage group (n = 13) and an ongoing pregnancy group (n = 93) according to the outcomes of the HP within 2 weeks after surgery. Data regarding clinical characteristics, surgical conditions, postoperative recovery, and complications were collected and compared between the groups. Logistic multivariate analysis was performed to explore the risk factors for miscarriage in patients with HP within 2 weeks of surgical intervention. Among the 106 women with HP, 80 had tubal HP, 8 had cornual HP, and 18 had interstitial HP. Eighty-seven (82.1%) patients developed clinical symptoms that manifested primarily as abnormal vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain, whereas 19 (17.9%) patients had no clinical symptoms. The mean gestational age on the day of surgery was 7.2 weeks (inter-quartile range, 6.4-8.3). The miscarriage rate within 2 weeks of surgical intervention was 12.3% in patients with HP. Compared to the ongoing pregnancy group, the miscarriage group had a higher body mass index, earlier gestational age at treatment, and higher volume of hemoperitoneum (P < .05 for all). Logistic multivariate analysis indicated that the women with a hemoperitoneum volume > 200 mL had significantly higher risk of miscarriage after adjusting covariates [OR (odds ratio) = 5.285, 95% CI (confidence interval) (1.152-24.238), P < .05]. Hemoperitoneum volume was independently associated with miscarriage of viable intrauterine pregnancies in patients with HP within 2 weeks of surgical intervention.

Serum androgen profiles in women with premature ovarian insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to investigate serum androgen profiles (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and sex hormone-binding globulin) in women with premature ovarian failure and to establish if there is evidence of diminished androgen levels in these women. METHODS: Various Internet sources of PubMed, Cochrane library, and Medline were searched systematically until February, 2018. Out of a pool of 2,461 studies, after applying the inclusion/exclusion criterion, 14, 8, 10, and 9 studies were chosen for testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and sex hormone-binding globulin, respectively, for this meta-analysis. The effect measure was the standardized mean difference with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) in a random-effects model. RESULTS: The testosterone concentrations in premature ovarian insufficiency were compared with fertile controls: stamdard mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI) -0.73 [-0.99, -0.46], P value < 0.05. The dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations in premature ovarian insufficiency compared to fertile controls: standard mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI) -0.65 [-0.92, -0.37], P value < 0.05. Androstenedione in premature ovarian insufficiency were compared with fertile controls: standard mean difference (IV, random, 95% CI) -1.09 [-1.71, -0.48], P value < 0.05. Sex hormone-binding globulin levels did not show statistical significance. The dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were reduced in premature ovarian insufficiency cases, but still showed a higher level than in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Women with premature ovarian insufficiency are at risk for decreased concentrations of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and androstenedione. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were more reduced in postmenopausal controls when compared with premature ovarian insufficiency cases.

[The expression of integrin beta3 in mice's endometrium during the implantation window based on different ovarian stimulation protocols].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the uterine receptivity with different ovarian stimulation protocols, the endometrial expression of Integrin beta3 in mice's during the implantation window underwent different ovarian stimulation were studied. METHODS: Forty mice were randomly allocated into 4 groups of 10 mice. (1) GnRHant group, gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant) was given first for desensitizing the pituitary, then the pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) was added for ovarian stimulation. (2) gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) group, GnRHa was given first for desensitizing the pituitary, then PMSG was added for ovarian stimulation. (3) PMSG group, injected with PMSG only; and (4) control group, given with saline of the same volume. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was injected to the mice of the GnRHant, GnRHa, and PMSG groups. Forty-eight hours after the mice of the control group the mice were killed. Their uteri were taken. RT-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of integrin beta3 mRNA. Immunohistochemistry (SP method) was used to locate and semiquantitatively measure the integrin beta3 in the endometrium during implantation window. RESULTS: (1) Immunohistochemistry: showed that the staining intensity of integrin beta3 was 3.74 +/- 0.15 in GnRHa group, 3.22 +/- 0.19 in the GnRHant group, and 3.24 +/- 0.18 in the PMSG group, all significantly lower than that in the control group (3.90 +/- 0.11, P = 0.023, 0.001, and 0.001). with a significant difference between the GnRHa group and the PMSG group (P = 0.001) and without a significant difference between the. GnRHant group and PMSG groups (P = 0.768). (2) RT-PCR showed that the relative quantity of integrin beta3 mRNA expression was 1.14 +/- 0.16 in the GnRHa group, 0.76 +/- 0.33 in the GnRHant group, and 0.73 +/- 0.26 in the PMSG group, all significantly lower than that in the control group (1.4 +/- 0.3, P = 0.045, 0.001, and 0.001). with a significant difference between the GnRHant and PMSG groups (P = 0.001) and without a significant difference between the GnRHant and PMSG groups (P = 0.857). CONCLUSION: All of the ovarian stimulation protocols do harm to the mice's uterine receptivity. Ovarian stimulation combining GnRHa protocol in mice is better than PMSG alone protocol, because it can improve the uterine receptivity. Ovarian stimulation combining GnRHant protocol in mice decrease the uterine receptivity as well as the PMSG alone protocol.

Ovarian stimulation with GnRH agonist, but not GnRH antagonist, partially restores the expression of endometrial integrin beta3 and leukaemia-inhibitory factor and improves uterine receptivity in mice.

BACKGROUND: The impact of different ovarian stimulation (OS) protocols on endometrial receptivity remains controversial. In this study, the effects of different OS on the expression of endometrial integrin beta3 subunit and leukaemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) during the implantation window and the implantation rate in mice were investigated. METHODS: Three OS protocols were used, involving either pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) alone, PMSG plus GnRH agonist or PMSG plus GnRH antagonist. Uterus samples were collected at 48 h after OS or ovulation and were detected with immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR analyses. Normal embryos at gestation day 4 were transferred into the uteri of mice in the control and OS groups. RESULTS: All OS groups showed a significant decrease in the expression of both the endometrial integrin beta3 subunit and LIF during the implantation window and the implantation rate. Among the three OS groups, GnRH agonist-treated mice showed a higher endometrial integrin beta3 subunit and LIF expression and a higher implantation rate. No significant difference was found in the measured indices between the GnRH antagonist and PMSG groups. CONCLUSIONS: OS may inhibit the expression of endometrial integrin beta3 subunit and LIF and impair endometrial receptivity in mice. OS with GnRH agonist, but not GnRH antagonist, may partially restore the endometrial physiological secretion and improve uterine receptivity.