cut-off point of dual energy X ray and laser [DXL] of calcaneus osteoporosis diagnosis in postmenopausal women

Dual X-Ray energy Absorptiometry [DXA] is a method that can be used extensively for bone mineral densitometry [BMD]. A newer method is called DXL, associates dual X ray absorptiometry assisted by laserX-ray absorptiometry to the measures of heel thickness with a laser beam. In this study the cut off points for DXL of calcaneus in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in different bone regions in postmenopausal women were determined. In 268 postmenopausal women, BMD of the spinal and femoral regions was measured by DXA and the value for the heel calcaneous was measured by DXL. The agreement of the two methods in diagnosis of osteoporosis and optimal cut-off point for DXL in defining osteoporosis was obtained. DXA showed osteoporosis in 40.7% of cases with 35.2% in L2-L4, 16.2% in the femoral neck, and 11.7% for the femoral total region. The DXL found osteoporosis, considering -2.5 SD as a threshold, in 26.1% of cases. According to WHO criteria, agreementAgreement of the two methods in the diagnosis of osteoporosis [Kappa score] was 0.443 for the lumbar region, 0.464 for the neck, and, 0.421 for total femur regions [all P values were significant]. Using Receiver Operating Characteristic [ROC] curves, it was found that a T-score of -2.1, -2.6 and -2.4 as the optimal cut-off point of DXL in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine, the neck and total region of femur, respectively. The results of this study showed a moderate agreement of the two methods in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. It seems that the DXL cannot be used as a substitute for the DXA method, but it can be used as a screening method for finding osteoporosis

[ comparison of oral mucosal clinical reactions to PVDF and silk sutures in albino rabbit]

This study was carried out in order to compare the oral mucosal reactions to silk and poly vinylidene fluoride [PVDF] suture materials in albino rabbit. Twenty-one mature male albino rabbits were selected and under general and local anesthesia suture materials were placed randomly at right and left side of vestibular area of maxillary jaw. The animals were divided into three equal groups based on the time of suture removal [3, 5 and 7 days after suturing], and inflammatory reaction of the oral mucosa at sutured area was scored clinically and sutures were removed. The sutured areas in all of the animals were observed 14 days after suturing and the inflammatory reaction was scored again. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis. Results showed that in all time intervals, inflammatory reactions to PVDF sutures were significantly milder comparing to silk sutures [P<0.05]. Also, later suture removal increased the inflammatory reaction and healing decreased. It can be concluded that in oral surgeries PVDF suture due to creating milder tissue reactions is preferable to silk suture

Morphometrie study of GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG effects on infrastructure of human endometrial glandular epithelium in early luteal phase

GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG administration are common protocol for ovulation induction in assisted reproductive technology [ART]. Since implantation rate in stimulated ART cycles is lower than unstimulated cycles and as endometrium plays an important role in embryo receptivity, effect of this protocol on the ultrastructure of human endometrial glandular epithelium was studied at LH 4 [embryo transfer time]. In this research endometrial biopsies were obtained from fertile women as well as infertile women who had undergone this protocol at LH 4. Quantitative and qualitative studies on endometrial glandular epithelium was performed by transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and morphometry and the results were statistically compared between the two groups. Qualitative results revealed presence of nuclear channel system [NCS], sub vacuole of glycogen and giant mitochondria [GM] in both groups. Similarly, in quantitative analysis, the volume fractions [Vv] of glycogen, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum to cell and also the Vv of euchromatin to nucleus were statistically not different [P> 0.05]. These results suggest that ovulation induction by GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG are not associated with advanced endometrial development and consequently, embryo transfer at this stage [before advanced endometrial development which occurs normally at LH 7 to LH 10] may cause a lower rate of implantation

Effects of IL 6 on steroidogenesis of human granulosa cells in vitro

Recent studies suggest that in addition to gonadotropins, immunological factors, such as cytokines play an important role in production of steroid hormones. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of IL-6 on basal and FSH stimulated secretions of estradiol and progesterone in the presence of androstendione by human granulosa cells [GC] in vitro. Graunlosa cells were harvested at the time of follicular aspiration after ovarian hyperstimulation according to standard protocols with hMG from patients undergoing IVFET. The cells [2 X 10[4] viable cells per well] were cultured with HAM and # 101; s F-10 without any supplements [control] or increasing concentrations of recombinant human [rh] IL-6, [8,16,32,64,128 pg/ml] added in the absence or presence of FSH [96 IU/ml]. Media were collected after 24,48,72 and 96 hours at a 24h interval and estradiol and progesterone levels were measured by an enzyme immunoassay [EIA] with automated system. Results of this study showed that leuteinized GC in the absence of FSH and the presence of androgen was able to produce estradiol and progesterone in vitro. This production was significantly increased in the presence of FSH. Basal and FSH stimulated productions of estradiol were significantly [P < 0.05] inhibited by increasing amounts of IL-6. Although this inhibitory effect on basal production of progesterone was not significant. IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner significantly [P < 0.05] inhibited FSH stimulated production of progesterone by GC. These results suggest that IL-6 may play an important role in the production of estradiol and progesterone and any disorders in level of IL-6 may cause estradiol and progesterone release disturbances

[Serum and follicular fluid IL-6 and sex steroid hormone levels and their correlation of undergoing IVF-ET with endometriosis and pregnancy rate in women.]

Cytokines Not only do rcgulate physiological processes, but also play important roles in immunopathological reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between IL-6 and sex hormone levels with endometriosis and pregnancy rate at the time of oocyte retrieval. In infertile women undergoing IVF-ET Eighty patients received ovulation induction drugs and underwent IVF-ET. IL-6 levels in serum and follicular fluid [FF] were measured by ELISA and FSH. estradiol and progesterone by RIA. In 36 out of 80 patients embryos were transferred and pregnancy rate were evaluated after two weeks. The result showed no significant correlation between serum and FF levels of estradiol. progesterone and FSH with pregnancy rate in IVF patients. Similar levels of lL-6 in serum and FE of pregnant and non pregnant patients after embryo transfer were observed [P> 0.05]. However there was a significant correlation between FF levels of IL-6 in pregnant and non pregnant endometriosis patients [P<0.05]. These results indicate that increase of FE levels of IL-6 may be accompanied by pregnancy rate reduction in endometriosis patients