role of calcium, magnesium, and trace elements zinc and copper in preterm labour and prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes

This work was conducted on 60 pregnant women. Twenty full term normal pregnant women without premature rupture of membranes and with true labour pains [as a control group], 20 pregnant women with preterm labour and 20 full term pregnant women with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes. This work was done to study the relationship and role of calcium. magnesium and the trace elements, zinc and copper in pregnant women with preterm labour and those with premature spontaneous rupture of membranes. Maternal serum levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper were measured in the three groups. In addition, their levels were also measured in the foetal membrane in cases with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes and the control group. The maternal serum levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper, were statistically significantly decreased in cases with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes compared with the control group. Also a significant decrease in maternal serum levels of calcium, magnesium and zinc was found in cases with preterm labour compared with the control group, but there was no statistical significant change in the serum copper levels. The foetal membrane levels of calcium, magnesium and copper, were significantly decreased in cases with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes compared with the control group, but the foetal membrane zinc showed no significant decrease

Intrauterine insemination [IUI] using swim-up technique or percoll gradient technique versus timed intercourse in the management of unexplained infertility

Forty-eight patients with unexplained infertility were subjected to 3 treatment protocols. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group I comprised 13 patients who were treated by induction of superovulation and timed intercourse through 17 treatment cycles. Group II included 16 patients who were treated by induction of superovulation and IUI using husbands washed sperm prepared by the swim-up technique through 19 treatment cycles. Group III. on the other hand, included 19 patients who were similarly treated but with IUI utilizing Percoll gradient technique, through 23 treatment cycles. The clinical pregnancy rates/treated cycles were 5.9% in the first group, 10.5% in the second group and 13% in the third group. Induction of superovulation and IUI with husbands capacitated sperm especially using Percoll gradient technique may he beneficial for treatment of patients with unexplained infertility