Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Anne Z Steiner.
A higher proportion of nonobstructive than obstructive azoospermia, as well as an increased prevalence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were documented in a retrospective study characterizing azoospermia in a population of predominantly Latino, inner-city male partners of infertile couples, as compared to previous reports from relatively affluent socioeconomic status male populations.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if 17beta-estradiol increases blood pressure in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: A total of 222 healthy postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to either 1 mg micronized 17beta-estradiol daily or placebo for 2 years. Blood pressure measurements were obtained every other month and common carotid artery intima-media thickness measured every 6 months. Statistical analyses comparing longitudinal changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between treatment groups used a mixed general linear model including interaction terms to evaluate variations by age or estradiol level. RESULTS: Both placebo and estradiol groups showed small declines in systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the trial among the normotensive subjects and subjects on antihypertensive medications. However, the decline did not differ significantly between the groups. Treatment effects on systolic blood pressure differed significantly by the age of the subject (interaction P value = 0.04) with younger women on estradiol showing on average a rise in systolic blood pressure, and older women a decline. The association between serum estradiol level and systolic blood pressure showed a similar modification with age (P = 0.03). Changes in systolic blood pressure in women on estradiol were positively correlated with intima-media thickness progression (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 17beta-estradiol did not influence changes in blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive women. The effect of 17beta-estradiol treatment on systolic blood pressure may be influenced by a woman's age. Estradiol may increase systolic blood pressure in younger postmenopausal women, while having the opposite effect in older postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND: Both selective estrogen receptor modulators, tamoxifen and clomiphene have been used for ovulation induction for patients with anovulatory infertility. This meta-analysis sought to compare the effectiveness of tamoxifen to clomiphene for the induction of ovulation and achievement of pregnancy. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, BIOSIS, PreMEDLINE, CINAHL, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, DDSR, ACP Journal Club, DARE and CCTR, along with reference lists and national experts. Inclusion criteria were prospective clinical trials, which compared tamoxifen and clomiphene for ovulation induction in infertile couples with isolated anovulatory infertility. Main outcome measures were ovulation rate and clinical pregnancy rate. Pooled odds ratios were obtained using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Four trials were included. After pooling all the trials, the use of tamoxifen or clomiphene citrate resulted in similar ovulation rates [odds ratio (OR) 0.755, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.513-1.111]. There was no benefit of tamoxifen over clomiphene citrate in achievement of pregnancy per cycle (OR 1.056, 95% CI 0.583-1.912) or per ovulatory cycle (OR 1.162, 95% CI 0.632-2.134). CONCLUSIONS: Clomiphene citrate and tamoxifen are equally effective in inducing ovulation. Although data regarding pregnancy rates and outcome are limited, there does not appear to be a significant benefit of one medication over the other.
OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of competition among fertility centers on pregnancy and high-order multiple (HOM) gestation rates after IVF. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Four hundred eight fertility clinics registered with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology as providing IVF services in 2000. Competition was defined as number of clinics in a geographically defined area. Demand for services was based on the population of reproductive-aged women. PATIENT(S): Three hundred eighty-one fertility clinics reporting clinical outcomes. INTERVENTION(S): Pregnancy rates, HOM gestation rates, population of reproductive-aged women, and number of competing clinics were calculated for each clinic from Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology and census data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The clinic HOM gestation rate (percentage of pregnancies that were HOM) and age-adjusted pregnancy rate. RESULT(S): The number of clinics in an area of competition ranged from 1 to 22. The HOM gestation rate per clinic ranged from 0% to 50%. As demand increased, competition increased. As competition increased, the number of HOM pregnancies per clinic decreased. In areas of low competition (1 to 2 clinics) the clinic HOM gestation rate was 8.43%, in areas of intermediate competition (3-7 clinics) 8.39%, and in areas of high competition (8-22 clinics) 8.24%. In areas with intermediate demand, high levels of competition resulted in fewer HOM pregnancies than intermediate competition (relative risk 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.89) or low levels of competition (RR 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.94). Age-adjusted pregnancy rates did not differ by level of competition. CONCLUSION(S): According to these data, the risk of HOM gestation decreases with increasing competition among clinics; however, pregnancy rates are unaffected.
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To determine if there are therapeutic advantages to oil-soluble contrast medium compared with water-soluble medium during hysterosalpingography.A randomized, controlled trial including 56 infertile patients undergoing hysterosalpingography was performed. After a hysterosalpingogram with water-soluble contrast demonstrated tubal patency, 30 patients were randomized to receive oil-soluble contrast medium (oil group) and 26 patients received no additional contrast medium (control group). The outcome was pregnancy and timing of pregnancy in relation to hysterosalpingography. There were 18 (64%) pregnancies in the oil group and 14 (56%) pregnancies in the control group. Mean time to achieve pregnancy was shorter in the oil group: 3.8 months in the oil group compared with 6.1 months in the control group (P =.06) There was a clinically meaningful improvement in pregnancy rates between the oil group and the control group at 1 month postprocedure (relative risk [RR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6, 7.2). However, at 12 months postprocedure, the advantage was diminished. (RR 1.3, CI 0.8, 2.1)Eighteen months after hysterosalpingography, contrast does not appear to influence cumulative pregnancy rates; however, the addition of oil-soluble contrast medium to water-soluble contrast medium may have the potential to reduce the time to conception.