Blood type predicts live birth in the infertile population.

PURPOSE: To determine if blood type in infertile women relates to the likelihood for live birth (LB) following IVF, and to the etiology for infertility. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients undergoing IVF at two academic centers in the northeast US. Relationships between blood type (A, B, AB, O) and patient characteristics, IVF cycle parameters and LB were assessed utilizing multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In the studied population (n=626), women with type O were significantly more likely to have baseline FSH > 10 IU/L after adjusting for age, BMI and race (OR 5.09, 95 % CI 1.4-18.7, p=0.01). Conversely, women with blood type A were significantly more likely to have ovulatory infertility compared to those with blood type O after adjusting for age and BMI (OR 3.2, 95 % CI 1.7-6.2). Blood type B was associated with increased likelihood of live birth (OR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.10-3.41, p=0.03) after adjusting for factors recognized to impact IVF outcome. CONCLUSION: Ovulatory infertility and baseline FSH > 10 IU/L were more prevalent in women with blood type A and O respectively. However, those of blood type B had significantly higher odds for LB compared to other blood types after adjusting for factors recognized to impact on IVF cycle outcome. While underlying mechanisms are unclear, for infertile women, patient's blood type is seemingly relevant for IVF cycle outcome.

The impact of preconceptual diet on the outcome of reproductive treatments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the dietary factors that influence the reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing fertility treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have found that a woman's nutritional status and dietary intake can play a role in her reproductive health. In addition to weight, specific dietary patterns rich in omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients such as vitamin D have all been shown to impact fertility. Although data regarding diet and fertility treatment are limited with many studies lacking the statistical power to validate findings, recent studies corroborate the importance of a balanced diet and appropriate weight management program while undergoing fertility treatment. SUMMARY: The growing reliance on assisted reproductive technologies in conjunction with the increase in the general population's weight and poor nutritional status has raised questions as to the effects of dietary status and weight on fertility treatment outcome. A review of findings thus far indicates potential avenues for future research to further elucidate cytotoxic and genotoxic dietary factors as well as dietary elements that may improve oocyte quality, aid implantation, as well as pregnancy maintenance during the periconception period.

Dopaminergic D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 induces GAP-43 expression and long-term potentiation in hippocampus in vivo.

We evaluated whether activating dopamine D1 receptors (D1R) with an agonist will mimic the effects of long-term potentiation (LTP)-inducing electrical stimulation and trigger the expression of the presynaptic growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), a putative synaptic plasticity factor. Thus, we conducted GAP-43 protein analyses together with assessments of LTP across CA3/CA1 synapses in guinea pigs administered with SKF38393 (the D1R agonist) and/or SCH23390 (the D1R antagonist). Our results showed that guinea pigs treated with SKF38393 coupled with low-frequency stimulation gradually exhibited an LTP-like potentiation in correlation with increased GAP-43 protein expression. However, when SKF38393 treatment was preceded by administration of SCH23390, this antagonized the occurrence of both synaptic potentiation and GAP-43 up-regulation. By comparison, persistent LTP was readily expressed after brief high frequency tetanic stimulation in control guinea pigs, whereas animals injected with SCH23390 and tetanized only developed early-LTP but not late-LTP. Western blot analyses showed GAP-43 up-regulation in the tetanized control guinea pigs but not those injected with SCH23390. We conclude that direct D1R activations with an agonist can mimic LTP-inducing electrical stimulation to produce GAP-43 up-regulation and synaptic plasticity.

Acute portal vein thrombosis complicating in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of acute portal vein thrombosis after IVF treatment. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): A 39-year-old woman experienced worsening, right upper quadrant pain several days after oocyte retrieval; ET was withheld. Imaging studies revealed acute portal vein thrombosis with extension into the splenic and superior mesenteric veins. INTERVENTION(S): Therapeutic anticoagulation; no ET was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Improvement in symptoms, accurate diagnosis of condition. RESULT(S): Decreased size of portal vein thrombosis and partial vessel recanalization. CONCLUSION(S): Thromboembolic events are a rare complication of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In women who present with upper abdominal pain during ART, portal vein thrombosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis.