In vitro fertilization, levels of pro-inflammatory factors and lipid peroxidation

Infertility is a problem concerning 10-15% of the individuals in the fertile period. This study investigated effects of proinflammatory factors as well as lipid hydroperoxides [LPO] levels upon in vitro fertilization [IVF] success. In this prospective, non-randomized, controlled clinical study, sera obtained from 26 fertile [group-1], 26 infertile women before [group-2] and after [group-3] IVF treatment were analyzed. Leptin, leptin receptor, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], and C-reactive protein [CRP] were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. LPO was determined spectrophotometrically. Mann-Whitney U test, paired samples t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test as well as Pearson correlation analysis by SPSS were performed for statistical analysis. TNF-alpha, resistin and LPO levels increased [P=0.020, P=0.003, P=0.001, respectively] in group-3 compared to group-2. A significant increase in LPO was noted both in group-2 and -3 compared to controls [P=0.000]. LPO were higher in non-pregnants than pregnants in group-2. For pregnants, significant correlations were observed between leptin and resistin in group-2 and TNF-a and leptin in group-3. None of these correlations were found for the women, who could not conceive. LPO, leptin-resistin correlation, associations with TNF-a may be helpful during the interpretation of IVF success rates

Association of fetuin A, adiponectin, interleukin 10 and total antioxidant capacity with IVF outcomes

Possible roles of anti-inflammatory factors as well as total antioxidative capacity in reproductive processes of women undergoing in vitro fertilization [IVF] are still being investigated and the contributions by some of them remain controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between anti-inflammatory parameters and total antioxidative capacity [TAC] of the body during IVF. In this respect, adiponectin, interleukin-10 [IL-10], interleukin-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1RA], fetuin A and TAC analyses have been performed. In this prospective, non-randomized, controlled clinical study, sera obtained from 26 fertile [Group-1], and 26 infertile women before [Group-2] and after [Group-3] IVF treatment were analyzed. IL-1RA, IL-10, fetuin A, adiponectin and insulin were determined by ELISA. TAC was determined spectrophotometrically. Mann-Whitney U test, paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test as well as Pearson correlation analysis by SPSS were performed for statistical analysis. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were determined as 30.8% and 23.1%, respectively, in pregnant group. For the pregnant, significant indirect correlations were detected between fetuin A and adiponectin [r=-0.843; p=0.035] as well as IL-10 [r=-0.846; p=0.034] in Group 2. The correlation between adiponectin and IL-10 doubled in pregnant compared to non-pregnant [r=0.929; p=0.007 vs. r=0.478; p=0.033]. The correlations between fetuin A and TAC in pregnant were noted both in Group 2 [r=0.892; p=0.017] and Group 3 [r=0.875; p=0.022]. No correlation of fetuin A with these parameters was detected in non-pregnant group. Fetuin A, TAC, IL-10, adiponectin and their associations may be important from their predictive values for IVF success point of view. Parameters with anti-inflammatory or antioxidant property appear to improve pregnancy in women undergoing IVF

Evaluation of a recently developed colorimetric glycated hemoglobin assay in patients with hemoglobinopathies

The present study investigates the effect of hemoglobinopathies on glycated hemoglobin [gHb] results obtained by ion exchange chromatography [IEC] and colorimetric method developed in our department. Sixty one nondiabetic persons from Turkey and Syria entered the study. Hematological analysis, Hb electrophoresis, quantitation of Hb A2, HbF and gHb were performed. The mean gHb values obtained by IEC were 7.6%, 6.2%, 11.5%, and 14.8% for the control, sickle cell trait, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia groups, respectively. The corresponding values were determined as 0.22, 0.23, 0.19 and 0.22 in terms of A443 perunit of Hb by the colorimetric method. The mean gHB values obtained by IEC in the control group were significantly different from the values detected in the other groups, whereas the means determined by the colorimetric method did not differ from each other. In conclusion, since our colorimetric method is not subject to interference from abnormal hemoglobins and requires almost the same assay time as IEC; it can be considered highly suitable for routine purposes in the laboratories located in the regions where iron deficiency anemia, abnormal hemoglobins and thalassemias are very common and which show great seasonal temperature variation such as Mediterranean countries

Problems encountered in SDS-Pagde of normal and abnormal human hemoglobins

Polyacrylamid gel disc electrophoresis [PAGDE] is an additional technique to various routine electrophoretic methods. Although it is simple, less time consuming and more sensitive than other electrophoretic methods, satisfactory identification and separation of the normal and abnormal human hemoglobins has not been obtained up to now. The application of isoelectrofocusing to PAGDE has not been satisfactory, either. This research uses sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS] which is an anionic detergent for analysis of abnormal human hemoglobins in PAGDE for the first time. However, as in the other reports using Triton X-100, although satisfactory separations cannot be obtained in chains of Hb E and Hb A, good results were odtained in cases of Hb A2 and F. A good separation of Hb A2 and Hb E was also performed. Various SDS concentrations were applied to the samples and the effects were observed. A new technique of gel extrusion and a good clearing solution are suggested