Effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on pregnancy rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection

To evaluate the degree of DNA fragmentation in human sperm used for ICSI to determine the effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on fertilization rate, embryo cleavage rate, embryo quality and biochemical pregnancy rates after ICSI. Design: Prospective, analytic descriptive study. Settings: Tertiary care fertility clinic. Patient[s]: Fifty couples undergoing ICSI treatment due to male factor infertility. Intervention[s]: The percentage of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation was determined using the method f terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated UTP- biotin end- labeling [TUNEL] Main Outcome Measure[s]: The percentage of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation was correlated with semen analysis parameters, ICSI fertilization rate, embryo cleavage rate, embryo grades and biochemical pregnancy rate. Result[s]: The mean [ +/- SD] percentage of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation was 30.2 +/- 13.8%. A significant negative correlation was found between the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation and the concentration and motility of the ejaculated sperm. In addition, a significant negative association was found between the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation and fertilization rate, embryo cleavage rate, embryo quality and biochemical pregnancy rate. Conclusion[s]: Detection of DNA fragmentation in human sperm could provide additional information about the biochemical integrity of sperm and may explain fertilization failure after ICSI. By learning more about the fundamental mechanisms that cause sperm DNA fragmentation, it should be possible to develop more precise tests to describe defects and then to develop new therapeutic modalities designed to overcome these specific defects

Atrial natriuretic peptide aldosterone, plasma renin activity and prolactin in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Sixty six pregnant women in their third trimester were recruited from the outpatient clinic at El-Minia university hospital, 13 patients with mild pre-eclampsia, 15 cases with severe pre-eclampsia, 12 cases with chronic hypertension and 26 patients serving as controls. Blood' samples were drawn on all of them to study the levels of ANP, plasma renin activity, prolactin, aldosterone, sodium and potassium, ANP and prolactin levels were found to increase with the rise of blood pressure levels, lut the ANP rise is specific for severe pre-eclampsia. ANP rise was associated with a fall in the levels of renin and aldosterone and consequently the sodium level. The different parameters are discussed and compared to other studies