values of CA-125, progesterone, beta-HCG and estradiol in the early prediction of ectopic pregnancy

To explore the diagnostic value and measurement of serum CA-125, the single measurement of progesterone [P], beta-HCG, and estradiol [E2] in the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Serum levels of CA-125, progesterone, beta-HCG and estradiol were measured by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay [ELISA] techniques in 40 symptomatic women with ectopic pregnancy and 24 women with normal intrauterine pregnancy during gestational age of 4-10 weeks at Al-Kadhmiya Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, between November 2010 and June 2011. The mean +/- SEM serum levels of CA-125, progesterone, beta-HCG, and estradiol in patients with ectopic pregnancies [16.51 +/- 2.39U/ml; 2.54 +/- 0.47ng/ml; 72.75 +/- 12.27mIU/ml; 13.4 +/- 2.14pg/ml; respectively] were significantly lower than the levels in normal intrauterine pregnancies [74.25 +/- 18.5U/ ml; 28.36 +/- 3.7ng/ml; 249.54 +/- 18.0mIU/ml; 112.7 +/- 23.6pg/ml; respectively]. When using a CA-125 concentration of 20.5 U/ml as a cut-off value for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, sensitivity was 75.7%, specificity 100%, the positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value 71.4%. The measurement of CA-125 and progesterone levels is useful in discriminating ectopic from normal gestations

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase as oxidative stress marker in pre-and postmenopausal Iraqi women

The primary role of gamma-glutamyltransferase is to metabolize reduced glutathione by assimilating and utilizing precursor amino acids for intracellular glutathione synthesis. The aim of this study is to investigate the exact role of gamma-glutamyltransferase enzyme in the oxidative stress associated with menopause. This study was carried out at the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, Al Nahrain University from October 2009 to January 2010. The study participants were categorized into two groups; premenopausal group [n=17] and postmenopausal group [n=16]. Blood specimens were collected from each participant by vein puncture procedure. The g-glutamyltransferase enzyme was measured by kinetic spectrophotometric method while glutathione and malondialdehyde were measured by spectrophotometric methods. Serum glutathione levels in pre- and postmenopausal women were 0.62 +/- 0.17 and 0.47 +/- 0.11 mmol/L respectively. Serum g-glutamyltransferase levels increased significantly in the postmenopausal women group [p=0.025] compared to the premenopausal women group. Serum malondialdehyde levels were 1.04 +/- 0.06 and 1.32 +/- 0.05 mmol/L in pre- and postmenopausal groups respectively. Serum g-glutamyltransferase may be considered as an index of oxidative stress associated with menopause

Iron body status, ceruloplasmin levels and oxidative stress in pre- and postmenopausal women at baghdad city

Estimatiorfof different iron body status markers, ceruloplas-min and oxidative stress in pre- and postmenopausal women at Baghdad city. This study was performed at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of medicine, AI-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq from January 2009 to October 2009. The study consisted of 42 healthy women categorized into two groups premeno-pausal women [n= 22] aged 29.71 +/-8.92 years and postmenopausal women [n=20] aged 53.33 +/- 4.61 years. Iron, total iron binding capacity [TIBC] were measured colorimetrically, ferritin levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], ceruloplas-min level was estimated by radial immunodiffusion technique whereas malondialdehyde was quantified colorimetrically. Non-significant increase [P>0.05] in iron, ferritin levels, transferrin saturation percents in sera of postmenopausal women and non- significant increase [P>0.05] in total iron binding capacity [TIBC] transferrin, iron stores in sera of premenopausal women. Malondialdehyde increased non- significantly [P=0.44] in premenopausal women whereas ceruloplasmin increased significantly [P=0.000] in postmenopausal women group. On the other hand ferritin was correlated positively and significantly with body mass index [BMI] [r= 0.696; P < 0.05] and with ceruloplasmin levels [r=0.725; P<0.05] in pre- and postmenopausal women. Hormonal changes which usually associated with menopause may be the cause of increased oxidative stress and consequent rise in ceruloplasmin levels, as an antioxidant response

Coenzyme Q10 and oxidative stress markers in seminal plasma of Iraqi patients with male infertility

To evaluate seminal plasma coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10] levels and oxidative stress in patients with different types of male infertility. A case-control study was carried out in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq from the period of November 2004 to July 2006. Sixty patients with male infertility were recruited from Al Kadhimia Teaching Hospital, Baghdad and included in this study. The male patients were categorized according to their seminal fluid parameters to oligozoospermia [n=32], azoospermia [n=22], and asthenozoospermia [n=6]. All obtained results from infertile men groups were compared with age-matched healthy volunteers as control group consisting of 39 subjects. Seminal plasma samples were analyzed for CoQ10 by an improved high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] method and for malondialdehyde [MDA] as an index of oxidative stress. The mean seminal plasma CoQ10 was 1.10 +/- 0.169 mg/L in oligozoospermia, 0.567 +/- 0.098 mg/L in azoospermia, 0.740 +/- 0.06 mg/L in patients with asthenozoospermia, and 1.652 +/- 0.139 mg/L in control group. The seminal plasma CoQ10 levels in all infertility groups showed a significant difference from the control group [p Elevated seminal plasma CoQ10 levels are associated directly with good semen parameters and inversely with the oxidative stress

Association between seminal plasma copper and magnesium levels with oxidative stress in Iraqi infertile men

To study the association between copper, magnesium and malondialdehyde levels in seminal plasma of oligozoospermic, azoospermic in relation to normozoospermic men. The present study was conducted at the Chemistry and Biochemistry department, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad-Iraq during September 2007 to February 2008 after obtaining approval from the research and ethics committee and obtaining written consent, 78 infertile men [age range 33.01 +/- 4.20 years] were recruited at the institute of embryo research and infertility treatment, Al-Kadhimiya teaching hospital, Iraq and were categorized according to their seminal fluid parameters to oligozoospermia [n=43] and azoospermia [n=35]. 41 fertile men [age range 30.29 +/- 2.30 years] were selected as controls. Seminal plasma copper and magnesium were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Malondialdehyde was measured calorimetrically using thiobarbituric acid assay which detects thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Seminal plasma copper level was decreased significantly [p=0.000] in the azoospermic group compared to the control group. Whereas, the level decreased non-significantly in the oligozoospermic group. Seminal plasma magnesium levels were decreased significantly [p=0.000] in all the infertility groups studied. On the other hand, malondialdehyde levels which is an end product of lipid peroxidation were significantly elevated [p=0.000] in all the infertility groups studied. Copper and magnesium work in different ways in order to maintain normal environment for spermatozoa for normal fertilization to occur

relationship between seminal plasma zinc levels and high molecular weight zinc binding protein and sperm motility in Iraqi infertile men

To evaluate the relationship between sperm motility and total seminal plasma zinc concentration and high molecular weight zinc bound protein values in infertile Iraqi men. A case-control study was conducted at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq between March 2005 to February 2006. The subjects for the study included 60 infertile male patients who were recruited Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, and Institute of Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment, Baghdad, Iraq. They were categorized according to their seminal parameters to oligozoospermia [n=32], azoospermia [n=22], and asthenozoospermia [n=6]. Thirty nine fertile men [age range 31.87 +/- 3.76 years] were selected as controls, whose partners had conceived within the last year before participation with this study, and having normal spermiogram parameters. Seminal plasma zinc concentration and high molecular weight zinc binding proteins [HMW-Zn] were assayed in the ejaculates of fertile and infertile men. The seminal plasma zinc levels were 181.92 +/- 23.40 ug/mL in the oligozoospermia group, 178.50 +/- 18.61 ug/mL in the azoospermia group, 195.33 +/- 13.00 ug/mL in the asthenozoospermia group, and 184.66 +/- 21.31 ug/mL in the control group. The HMW-Zn% is a good index of sperm function rather than the total seminal plasma zinc levels

Shock wave lithotripsy for medium to large renal pelvic stone without ureteral stent

Although Double J ureteral stent placement has been widely used to prevent steinstrasse after fragmentation of larger stones. But, particularly more recently, its preventive efficacy has been questioned. It is to determine that patients with medium to large renal pelvic stone should be treated in situ shock wave lithotripsy without auxiliary stenting. Between October 2007 and December 2008 a series of 55 patients with unilateral renal pelvic stone with at least one diameter between 15 and 30mm. were treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in situ without auxiliary stenting. Fifty five patients the mean age 40 years, 21 being males and 34 were females. With renal pelvic stone, clearance of stone fragments was analyzed by x-ray KUB and ultrasound on first month and three months after treatment or until stone fragments were cleared. Twenty three 42% were stone free three months after treatment while 32 patients 58% were having residual fragments. Treatment complications consisted of steinstrasse in seven 12.7%, pyelonephritis in two, four of steinstrasse cleared spontaneously, the other three steinstrasse were treated successfully with ESWL. Shock wave lithotripsy in situ for medium to large renal pelvic calculi [15 to 30 mm] is reasonable procedure, avoiding the morbidity of ureteral stent and additional cost