Effect of the developmental stage and thawing temperature on the survival and development of the vitrified embryos

The best developmental stage and the best thawing protocol suitable for cryopreservation of the early embryos are not well documented. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of the ultra rapid cryopreservation [vitrification] technique, followed by slow or fast thawing protocol, on the fertilized ova, 4-cell embryos and morula. The vitrification method included equilibrating the ova in the vitrification solution [EFS40; consisted of 40% ethylene glycol, 30% Ficoll, 0.5 M sucrose in D-PBS] for 2 minutes before immersion in liquid nitrogen. Slow and fast thawing were done and the cryoprotectants were withdrawn by a hyperosmolar sucrose solution, which was then gradually diluted and replaced by culture medium. The best results were obtained with vitrification of the 4-cell embryos both with slow and fast thawing, which gave survival rate of 86% and 94%, and in vitro development rate of 74% and 80%, respectively. Fast thawing showed better survival rates [80%, 94%, 77%] and better in vitro development rates [60%, 80%, 63%] than those of slow thawing, following vitrification of the fertilized ova, 4-cell embryos and morula, respectively. These criteria of vitrification/ thawing could be inferred to the human 4-cell embryos in the IVF protocol

Heart rate variability [HRV] in young healthy females with primary dysmenorrhea

Primary dysmenorrhea affects more than 70% of young women. It may be associated with some degree of autonomic disturbances. Heart rate variability [HRV] is noninvasive technique to assess the cardiac autonomic balance. Low HRV reflects reduced parasympathetic [vagal] activity and/or elevated sympathetic tone and is considered an important cardiovascular risk factor. Was to investigate whether, in young healthy females with primary dysmenorrhea, alterations of cardiac autonomic function can be observed and, if so, whether these alternations affect their blood pressure and/or influenced by the body mass index BMI or the waist hip ratio WHR [visceral adiposity]. Twenty healthy young women participated in this study divided into two groups according to the results of The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire [MDQ]. Group 1 consisted of ten volunteers with primary dysmanorrhea. Group 2 [control] consisted often young females who where free from premenstrual symptoms. All subjects examined in the physiology laboratory, King Abdel Aziz University, 12 h post-prandial three times during a month-long screening period: menses [day 1-5]; ovulation [day 11-21] and luteal [day 21-34]. Anthropometric measurements height, weight, body mass index [BMI], waist, hip circumference, and waist hip ratio [WHR], in addition to arterial blood pressure [ABP] were evaluated each time. The ANS activity was assessed by means of HRV. Time domain [heart rate [HR], RR interval[RR], the standard deviation of the normal RR-interval [SDNN], the root-mean square of differences of successive normal RR intervals [rMSSD], and power spectral analysis [high frequency [0.15-0.40 Hz] [HF]; low frequency [0.04-0.15Hz] [LF], and LF/HF ratio]] during supine resting condition. The two groups matched as regard age, and BMI. However, the group 1 had higher WHR compared to group 2. The ANS activity significantly changed [reduced vagus and increased sympathetic activities] in the luteal phase compared to the menses and follicular phases in Group L In addition, Group 1 possessed lower parasympathetic nerve activity [rMSDD and HF] throughout the cycle and higher sympathetic nerve activity in the late luteal phase compared to Group 2. The present study have demonstrated that although young females with primary dysmenorrhea had no significant changes in their HR and mean ABP comparing with matched group "as regards age and BMI" females with painless cycle, however, they had significant alteration in their cardiac autonomic activity in a form of decreased HRV with manifested fluctuation during the menstrual cycle

Maternal hyperglycaemia and fetal macrosomia: a reappraisal

To assess the relation of third trimester glycemic control on each of fetal weight at birth and the probability of delivery of "large birth weight'> 4000 g "infants" in diabetic gravidas. Setting high Risk Pregnancy Unit at King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah. Analysis of data from 178 diabetic gravidas namely: mean third trimester blood glucose, maternal weight, gravidity, age, week at delivery, type and mode of treatment of diabetes, and fetal sex, using linear regression and multiple logistic regression, as appropriate. Similar variables were also studied in a group of normal, non diabetic patients".[n=226]. Main outcome measures: Fetal lirth weight and the incidencen of large luirth weight > 400 g infants Third trimester mean blood glucose and the duration of gestation each had significant relation to fetal birth weight. However, the incidence of delivering infants> 4000 g was related, primarily, to maternal age in both the diabetic and the normal groups. As well as the maternal weight and duration of gestation in the normal group. Conclusion: the level of glycemic control is an important determinant of fetal weight at birth. However, the probability of delivering "large birth weight > 4000 g infants" is primarily influenced by other factrs such as maternal age, and weight

Umbilical and utering doppler velocity waveform indices in normal pregnancy between 24-41 weeks

Ultrasound Doppler umbilical and uterine arteries waveforms studies were performed on obstetrically low risk "normal" population between 24-41 weeks of gestation. The established ranges [mean and 95% data interval] of three indices namely; Pulsatility index [PI], Resistance index [RI], and Systolic/Diastolic ratio [SD], compares favorably with data derived from other populations. Both umbilical and utero-placental velocity waveform indices decrease with advanced gestation, but only with umbilical artery indices that this decrease was significant. Fetal weight at birth correlate with uterine but not umbilical artery velocity waveforms indices. These data derived form our own population can be used for further studies of fetal hemodynamics in complicated pregnancies