ABSTRACT
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra [Licorice], a cyclooxyge- nase-2 inhibitor [Celecoxib] and a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog [Diphereline], with a control group on endometrial implants in rats
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, endometriosis was induced in rats by auto transplantation and after confirmation, the rats were divided into 4 groups that were treated for 6 weeks with normal saline [0.5 ml/day, orally], licorice extract [3000 mg/kg/day, orally], celecoxib [50 mg/kg, twice a day, orally] or diphereline [3 mg/kg, intramuscularly]. At the end of treatments, the mean area, volume, histopathology and hemosiderin-laden macrophage [HLM] counts of the endometrial implants were evaluated and compared among the four groups
Results: The mean area, volume and HLM counts of the implants in the licorice group were significantly lower than those of the control group [P<0.001]. The histopathologic grades of endometrial implants were significantly decreased by licorice compared to the control group [P<0.001]. There was no significant change in the mentioned parameters in rats treated with celecoxib compared to the control group. Diphereline was the most potent agent for suppressing the growth of endometrial implants in terms of all of the above-mentioned parameters
Conclusion: Licorice decreased the growth and histopathologic grades of auto-transplanted endometrial implants. However, while celcoxib had no significant effect, diphereline showed the highest potency for decreasing the endome- trial growth. Licorice may have the potential to be used as an alternative medication for the treatment of endometriosis
ABSTRACT
Objectives: We sought to determine the effects of the delayed start protocol with gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] antagonists in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization [IVF]
Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted during a 15-month period from April 2014 to July 2015 in clinics in Shiraz, Iran. total of 42 poor responders with primary infertility were randomly assigned to the controlled ovarian stimulation group utilizing the delayed start protocol [n = 21] or the traditional group [n = 21] using GnRH antagonist, Cetrotide. The primary endpoint was the number of patients undergoing oocyte pick-up, implantation, and the rate of pregnancy
Results: The baseline characteristics of the two study groups were comparable including age, infertility duration, and body mass index. The number of follicles measuring > 13 mm in diameter [p = 0.057], retrieved oocytes [p = 0.564], mature metaphase II oocytes [p = 0.366], embryos [p = 0.709], and transferred embryos [p = 0.060] were comparable between the two groups. The number of patients undergoing oocyte pick-up [p = 0.311], the rates of implantation [p = 0.407], and pregnancy [p = 0.596] were also comparable between the two groups
Conclusions: The delayed start protocol was not associated with better conception results or cycle outcomes in poor responders with primary infertility undergoing IVF cycles
ABSTRACT
Background: Y chromosome deletions [YCDs] in azoospermia factor [AZF] region are associated with abnormal spermatogenesis and may lead to azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. Assisted reproductive tech- nologies [ART] by intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] and testicular sperm extraction [TESE] are commonly required for infertility management of patients carrying YCDs. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of YCDs, to find the most frequent variant in infertile men candidate for ART and to compare YCD distribution with a control fertile group. The semen parameters, hormonal profiles and ART outcomes of the infertile group were studied
Materials and Methods: This case-control study consisted of 97 oligozoospermic or non-obstructive azoospermic [NOA] infertile men, who had undergone ART, as the case group and 100 fertile men as the control group. DNA samples were extracted from blood samples taken from all 197 participants and YCDs were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction [PCR] of eight known sequence-tagged sites. The chi-square test was used to compare the mean values of hormone and sperm parameters between the two groups. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant
Results: No YCD was detected in the control group. However, 20 out of 97 [20.6%] infertile men had a YCD. AZFc, AZFbc and AZFabc deletions were detected in 15 [75%], four [20%] and one [5%] YCD-positive patients. No fertilization or clinical pregnancy was seen following ICSI in this sub-group with YCD. The mean level of FSH was significantly higher in the group with YCD [28.45 +/- 22.2 vs. 4.8 +/- 3.17 and 10.83 +/- 7.23 in YCD-negative patients with and without clinical pregnancy respectively]
Conclusion: YCD is frequent among NOA men and YCD screening before ART and patient counseling is thus strongly recommended