Angiotensin type 2 receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to preeclampsia

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between angiotensin II type 1 receptor at position+1166 [AT1R+1166A/C; rs5186] and angi-otensin II type 2 receptor at position+1675 [AT2R+1675A/G; rs5194] gene poly-morphisms with preeclampsia in an Iranian women population

Methods: 430 women were recruited in this study including 212 preeclamptics and 218 healthy women. PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping the polymorphisms. Chi square and Fisher exact test were used for comparing case and control groups. The p<0.05 was considered statistically significant

Results: The frequency of genotypes of the AT1R gene and AT2R gene was similar in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. There were no significant differences in geno-type and also allele frequencies between preeclamptics and healthy women regarding the two studied polymorphisms. AT1R/AT2R genotypes combination study indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between preeclamptics and healthy women. AC/AG combination was significantly decreased, while CC/AA combination showed significant increase in patients compared with the healthy women [p<0.01]

Conclusion: The present study showed that the genetic polymorphisms within AT1R and AT2R genes may be associated with susceptibility to preeclampsia in Iranian women

Intrauterine administration of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin before embryo transfer on outcome of in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized clinical trial

The direct effect of hCG on the human endometrium was studied several times. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of intrauterine injection of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin [rhCG] before embryo transfer [ET]. In this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, a total number of 182 infertile patients undergoing their first in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection [IVF-ICSI] cycles were randomly assigned to receive 250 micro g intrauterine rhCG [n=84] or placebo [n=98] before ET. The implantation and pregnancy rates were compared between groups. Patients who received intrauterine rhCG before ET had significantly higher implantation [36.9% vs. 22.4%; p=0.035], clinical pregnancy rates [34.5% vs. 20.4%; p=0.044] and ongoing pregnancy rate [32.1% vs. 18.4%; p=0.032] when compared to those who received placebo. The abortion [2.4% vs. 2.0%; p=0.929] and ectopic pregnancy rates [1.2% vs. 1.0%; p=0.976] were comparable between groups of rhCG and placebo, respectively. Intrauterine injection of 250 micro g of rhCG before ET significantly improves the implantation and pregnancy rates in IVF/ICSI cycles.

Vagifem is superior to vaginal Premarin in induction of endometrial thickness in the frozen-thawed cycle patients with refractory endometria: a randomized clinical trial

Embryo transfer to a developed endometrium is an important prognostic factor in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle outcome. Vaginal estrogen, such as Vagifem vaginal tablets and Premarin vaginal cream, is a regimen used for the patients with refractive endometria. Our objective was to compare the effects of Vagifem and Premarin on the endometrial thickness of the patients with refractive endometria. In this randomized clinical trial, 30 patients with refractive endometria in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles received Vagifem vaginal tablets and 30 women received Premarin vaginal cream. Endometrial thickness was measured on the 14th day of drug administration. Comparing the endometrial thicknesses of the two groups showed that the endometria of the Vagifem group was significantly thicker than that of the Premarin group [5.93 +/- 0.38 vs. 6.74 +/- 0.32; p<0.001]. Vagifem is superior to Premarin in induction of endometrial thickness in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles in the patients with refractive endometria

Comparison of Elaeagnus angustifolia extract and sildenafil citrate on female orgasmic disorders: a randomized clinical trial

Orgasmic disorder can create a feeling of deprivation and failure and provide mental problems, incompatibility and marital discord. This study aimed to compare the effects of Elaeagnus angustifolia flower extract and sildenafil citrate on female orgasmic disorder in women in 2013. In this randomized clinical trial, 125 women between 18-40 years old who suffered from orgasmic disorder were divided into three E. angustifolia, sildenafil citrate and control groups. The data were gathered using Female Sexual Function Index and through measurement of TSH and prolactin. The first intervention group had to consume 4.5 gr E. angustifolia extract in two divided doses for 35 days and the second one had to use 50 mg sildenafil citrate tablets for 4 weeks one hour before their sexual relationship. However, the control group had to consume the placebo. The data were analyzed using paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc test and p < 0.05 was considered significant. The frequency of orgasmic disorder before the intervention was 41.5%, 40.5%, and 57.1% in E. angustifolia, sildenafil citrate, and control groups, respectively [p=0.23]. However, these measures were respectively 29.3%, 16.7%, and 50% after the intervention [p=0.004]. A significant difference between the two groups regarding sexual satisfaction after the intervention [p=0.003] compared to the beginning of the study [p=0.356]. Besides, the highest reduction of changes after the intervention [58.82%] was observed in the sildenafil citrate group. Both E. angustifolia extract and sildenafil citrate were effective in reduction of the frequency of orgasmic disorder in women

Importance of anti-GRP78 antibody in pre-eclampsia

Preeclampsia [PE] is a pregnancy specific syndrome that is associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Glucose regulated protein78 [GRP78] is an Endoplasmic Reticulum [ER] protein which is expressed on the cell surfaces of trophoblast cells under stress or hypoxic condition. GRP78 has a role in aggressive behavior of invasive cells and may play a role in normal placentation. To investigate the autoantibody against GRP78 in the sera of patients with PE and to assess the correlation between antibody and severity of the disease. We evaluated the anti-GRP78 antibody within the sera of fifty pre-eclamptic [12 severe and 38 mild PE] and fifty healthy pregnant women using a home-made ELISA assay. Furthermore, western blot technique was used to assess the expression of GRP78 in placenta of healthy and pre-eclamptic women in their third trimester. The presence of anti-GRP78 antibody in the serum samples from pre-eclamptic and healthy women was also assessed. GRP78 was expressed by placenta, and both healthy and preeclamptic women produced anti-GRP78 antibody. Although no significant difference was found between the pre-eclamptic and healthy women regarding the level of anti-GRP78 antibody, the difference between severe pre-eclamptic and healthy control women was statistically significant [p<0.003]. The findings of the present study indicated that measurement of anti-GRP78 antibody may provide a new marker for severe pre-eclampsia. Yet, future studies are required to confirm this notion.

Soluble cd30 in normal pregnancy pre-eclampsia and recurrent pregnancy loss

Normal pregnancy is thought to be dependent on Th2 deviation, while Recurrent Pregnancy Loss [RPL] and Pre-eclampsia [PE] appear to be biased toward the Th1 immune response. It is believed that the soluble form of CD30 [sCD30] is an index of Th2 immune response or modulator of Th1/Th2 responses. The aim of this study was determination of the sCD30 level in RPL and PE patients. The sCD30 level was measured in sera of a group of normal non-pregnant women [N=43] and compared with normal pregnancy at the first [N=42] and third [N=42] trimester. Furthermore, the level of sCD30 in the normal first and third trimester pregnancies were compared with that of RPL [N=38] and severe pre-eclamptic [N=41] patients, respectively. sCD30 levels were measured by ELISA method and student t-test was used for statistical analysis. The mean level of sCD30 at the first trimester in normal pregnancy was significantly elevated as compared with normal non-pregnant women [21.4 vs. 15.2 ng/ml, p<0.0001]. A significant difference between sCD30 concentration at the first and third trimester of normal pregnancies was also observed [21.4 vs. 14.3 ng/ml, p<0.0001]. Interestingly, the sCD30 concentration did not show any significant changes at the first trimester of normal pregnancy as compared with RPL [21.4 vs. 20.9 ng/ml] and third trimester of normal pregnancy as compared with PE [14.3 vs. 13.1 ng/ml]. The data of this study indicated that the concentration of sCD30 in serum during pregnancy period is not associated with RPL or PE and serum sCD30 is not a good correlate of Th2 immune responses in pregnancy

effect of sperm morphology on IUI outcome in cases with unexplained and male factor infertility

Although intrauterine insemination [IUI] is one of the most common methods which is used for male factor and unexplained infertility, the relative influence of various semen parameters on the likelihood of a successful outcome is controversial. Several semen parameters have been evaluated as predictors of a successful outcome with intrauterine insemination. To evaluate the effects of sperm morphology on the success rate of IUI. This was a prospective study of 200 couples who underwent IUI cycles of ovarian stimulation in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The patients were chosen in 2 groups, group A: 100 patients with 20% normal sperm morphology [unexplained infertility]. The other semen parameters were normal in both groups. Total clinical pregnancies were 10.5% [pregnancy rate / cycle]. There was not any difference between two groups in rate of pregnancy and also pregnancy outcome. Intrauterine insemination used for treating male factor infertility has not shown excessive advantage when normal sperm morphology in semen analysis is more than 20% in comparison with