Association between urine and serum estradiol levels in in vitro fertilization cycles.

To study the correlation between urine and serum estradiol (E2) controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). This is a cross-sectional analytical study that was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Seventy-seven urine and blood samplings were collected from infertile women who were treated with COH. An electrochemiluminescent immunoassay was performed to evaluate E2 levels between urine and serum samples on the 6th day and the day of ovarian trigger. In addition, the correlations were evaluated between urine E2 level and number of follicles, retrieved, metaphase II oocytes, and fertilization rate. A sub-analysis was performed for age, responding status and BMI. Seventy-seven infertile women were recruited. The medians of serum and urine E2 level levels on the day 6th of ovarian stimulation were 833.20 pg/ml (IQR; 516.90-1371.00) and 3.67 (IQR; 2.84-4.81), respectively. On the day of ovarian trigger, the median of serum E2 level was 2113.00 pg/ml (IQR; 1382.00-3885.00) and urine E2 level (E2/creatinine) was 6.84 (IQR; 5.34-8.70). The correlation between serum and urine E2 level on day 6th was 0.53 and the day of ovarian trigger was 0.59, p < 0.001. Moreover, the correlations of urine E2 level on the day of ovarian trigger to number of follicles, number of oocytes retrieved, metaphase II oocytes and fertilization rate were 0.57, 0.58, 0.61, and 0.64 (p < 0.001). The urine E2 level was moderately correlated to serum E2, number of follicles growth, oocytes retrieved and fertilization rate.

Adequacy of calcium intake during pregnancy in a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Calcium is an essential element for the body, which is taken through the dietary sources. Calcium supplements may be needed to achieve the dietary reference intake (DRI). Dietary calcium and supplemental calcium intake for calcium balance might be necessary. However, increasing evidence shows that calcium supplementation may enhance soft tissue calcification and cause cardiovascular diseases. Calcium requirement during pregnancy is markedly increased. If calcium supplementation depends on the dietary style of a region, then the adequacy of dietary calcium intake may guide the calcium supplementation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among pregnant women who attended prenatal care at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. We used semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) to evaluate the amount of daily calcium intake, and 3 days food record to assess the SFFQ reliability. We used the INMUCAL-N V.3.0, based on the Thai food composition table for nutritional calculation. RESULTS: Among 255 recruited pregnant women, the mean daily dietary calcium intake was 1,256.9 mg/day (SD: 625.1) and up to 1,413.4 mg/day (SD: 601.3) in daily milk consumed group. Based on Thai DRI for pregnant women, with 800 mg/day as adequate intake of calcium, 74.9% had adequate calcium intake, and majority of them had milk daily. CONCLUSION: The majority of pregnant women in a province of Northeast Thailand had adequate calcium intake, particularly those who had milk with their meal every day.