RESUMO
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
RESUMO
This study was designed to determine the current age-related hepatitis A virus [HAV] seroprevalance, vaccination status of children and to evaluate the epidemiological shift in HAV serostatus living in Tekirdag, which is located in Thrace region, the European part of Turkey. Children 6 months-12 years of age with simple health problems were included. Blood samples were studied for HAV IgM and IgG collectively. A questionnaire addressing several characteristics of subjects was administered to obtain basic descriptive data on HAV epidemiology. Vaccination status of the children was recorded according to the immunization cards. The overall anti-HAV IgM and anti-HAV IgG prevalance in children aged 6 months - 12 years was 3.3% and 25.4% respectively. Maximum hepatitis A IgM positivity was in the 7-12 years age group 4.8% [n=12; P<0.001] and maximum hepatitis A IgG positivity in the same age group was 34% [n=85; P<0.001]. HAV vaccination rate among patients aged more than 2 years was 11.03%. HAV IgG seroprevalance was higher in children of low monthly income families [36.1%, n=78; P<0.001] than in the intermediate [17%, n=31] and high income families [11.1%, n=6]. These results indicate a shift in Hepatitis A seroprevalance when compared with the previous studies. As HAV infection in childhood is decreasing, the pool of susceptible adolescents and young adults is increasing. Introduction of hepatitis A vaccination into the national immunization schedule of Turkey should be considered