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Biomedical subjects

J Gerris

Publications and source records attributed to J Gerris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Does treatment with testosterone undecanoate improve the in-vitro fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa in patients with idiopathic testicular failure? (results of a double blind study).

Seventy-seven couples in whom conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF) had remained unsuccessful because of low fertilization rate and abnormal sperm characteristics were given either testosterone undecanoate 120 mg/day, or placebo during 3 months, after which a new IVF treatment was applied under identical technical conditions. There were no significant changes in sperm characteristics among the treated and placebo couples and the fertilization rate showed a similar increase after treatment in both groups. No significant difference in pregnancies occurred, with 32% pregnancies in the placebo controls and 17% among couples treated with testosterone undecanoate. It is concluded that testosterone undecanoate intake does not improve sperm characteristics, or the in-vitro fertilizing potential, or pregnancy rate over those observed in the placebo controls in cases with primary idiopathic testicular failure.

Adult↗

Cervical pregnancy: three case reports and a review of the literature.

Three cases of cervical pregnancy are described: the incidence, the diagnostic approach and different therapeutic managements used for this rare type of ectopic pregnancy are discussed. The last case shows that hysterectomy can be avoided by early diagnosis and by an adequate tamponing technique to control haemorrhage. For this purpose, a three-way Dufour catheter was successfully used to rinse the uterus with heated saline, allowing evacuation of intrauterine blood after curettage and to tampon the cervix.

Adult↗

Fetal fibronectin detection for prediction of preterm birth in low risk women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical value of cervical fetal fibronectin detection by a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (PTDcheck, Adeza Biomedical, Sunnyvale, California, USA) as a screening tool for the prediction of preterm contractions and preterm delivery in an unselected population of pregnant women globally considered to be at low risk for preterm delivery (n = 133). DESIGN: A prospective study in which cervical fetal fibronectin samples were collected at two-week intervals between 26 and 36 weeks of gestation. SETTING: A regional training hospital. SUBJECTS: One hundred and thirty-three singleton pregnancies presenting consecutively at an antenatal clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Occurrence of preterm contractions and preterm delivery (delivery at < 37 weeks of gestation). RESULTS: Twenty-four (18%) patients were considered positive for the presence of fetal fibronectin. Overall 15 patients (11%) developed preterm contractions and, despite therapeutic intervention, 10 patients (8%) were delivered preterm. As a predictor for preterm contractions, cervical fetal fibronectin detection had a sensitivity of 47%, a specificity of 86%, a positive predictive value of 29% and a negative predictive value of 93%. As a predictor for preterm delivery, cervical fetal fibronectin detection had a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 85% a positive predictive value of 25% and a negative predictive value of 96%. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical fetal fibronectin determinations at a two-week sampling frequency for prediction of preterm birth in a general obstetric population at low risk for preterm birth has limited clinical value as a routinely performed screening procedure.

Adult↗

Serum hCG decline following salpingotomy or salpingectomy for extrauterine pregnancy.

Twenty-five women with ectopic pregnancy were surgically treated, fifteen by conservative salpingotomy and ten by radical salpingectomy. All patients showed a clinically normal postoperative course. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were determined serially before and after the surgical procedure until non-pregnant values (< 5 mI.U./ml) were reached. Serum hCG decline was compared between patients treated by salpingotomy versus salpingectomy, using calculated hCG half-life times. We observed a significantly slower decline of serum hCG levels during the early phase of hCG disappearance in patients treated by salpingotomy versus patients treated by salpingectomy.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of metaphase II oocytes with spermatozoa from a man with complete retrograde ejaculation.

Retrograde ejaculation is an uncommon cause of infertility, which has been treated successfully with different kinds of artificial reproduction technique, e.g. cervical cap artificial insemination by husband, intra-uterine and intraperitoneal insemination, standard in-vitro fertilization, pronuclear stage transfer and gamete intra-Fallopian transfer. All these techniques require a minimal number and motility of spermatozoa obtained after post-masturbation voiding. In some cases, only very few spermatozoa with very poor or no motility are found in the urine voided immediately after masturbation. In such a case, where no more than 14 spermatozoa were recovered over a 3 h search, intracytoplasmic sperm injection of metaphase II oocytes led to the development and replacement of three fair embryos, resulting in an ongoing twin pregnancy. This technique opens up perspectives for the treatment of men with complete retrograde ejaculation and quasi-azoospermic post-voiding specimens.

Adult↗

Triggering of ovulation using a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist does not prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

A total of 24 women with primary or secondary infertility due to oligo- or anovulation, were treated with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG). In 48 cycles, we used a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) nasal spray (buserelin) to induce a pre-ovulatory endogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. In 44 cycles, there was a rapid rise of the serum LH concentration within 8 h from the first administration of GnRHa. One patient with pituitary hypogonadotrophic amenorrhoea showed a weak or no response in four treatment cycles. Conception occurred in 10 cycles (pregnancy/cycle (P/C) index = 22.7%), four of which ended in a spontaneous abortion and six of which are ongoing pregnancies. In 27 cycles, there was an increased risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), defined as more than three follicles > or = 18 mm in diameter and/or serum oestradiol > 1200 pg/ml. Three of these treatment cycles gave rise to the development of moderate OHSS in the absence of exogenously administered human chorionic gonadotrophin, two being conception cycles.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Successful triplet pregnancy in a patient with a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicating rudimentary horn.

In a patient with primary infertility, ovulation was induced by monitored stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophins (HMG) because of polycystic ovarian disease. Infertility work-up had shown a unicornuate uterus with a cavitary communicating rudimentary horn. The husband showed a varicocele-related moderate oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia. A triplet pregnancy occurred in a third HMG ovulation induction cycle combined with intra-uterine insemination of the husband's washed semen. The pregnancy was carefully monitored, and measures to prevent premature delivery were taken. Because of the patient's obvious discomfort in the presence of premature labour, Caesarean section was performed at 33 weeks gestation and three healthy infants were delivered. This is the first report of a successful triplet pregnancy in a women with a unicornuate uterus. The reproductive and obstetric outcome of this condition in general, and in the case of multiple pregnancy, is discussed.

Adult↗

Clinical and endocrine effects of laser vaporization in patients with polycystic ovarian disease.

Responses to laparoscopic ovarian laser vaporization were studied in 17 anovulatory patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). Ovulatory cycles were obtained in 14 patients (82%). A total of 11 patients (65%) conceived within 1-8 months. Measurements of basal serum hormone levels before and after the procedure in 12 patients revealed a significant decline in testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione. In addition, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels decreased, but not significantly. On the other hand estradiol levels slightly increased and a surge in luteal progesterone levels was noted. Serum levels of sex hormone binding globulin, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfate, 17-OH-progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) remained unchanged. These results suggest that ovarian laser vaporization is very useful when clomiphene citrate fails in PCOD, and has no risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or multiple gestation, which is frequently observed in ovulation induction with drugs. Most of the endocrine abnormalities associated with PCOD are corrected by the laser procedure.

Adult↗

Preliminary results with the use of the ROM-check immunoassay in the early detection of rupture of the amniotic membranes.

The unequivocal presence of amniotic fluid in the vagina is an important clinical sign of rupture of amniotic membranes, entailing impending delivery or risk for chorioamnionitis. Commonly used methods for detection of amniotic fluid in the vagina include pooling, ferning, nitrazine paper, ultrasound measurement of amniotic sac dimensions, dye injection or measurement of prolactin in vaginal secretions. These results are either difficult to interpret or are obtained after an invasive or expensive procedure. Measurement of alphafetoprotein (AFP) in vaginal secretions has also been considered for this application, but has proven unreliable due to its similar concentration in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid in the third trimester of pregnancy. We have evaluated a recently introduced method, the ROM-check Immunoassay (Adeza Biomedical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) which is based on the detection of a fetal isoform of fibronectin in vaginal secretions when amniotic fluid is present. Our aim was to establish the reliability and clinical efficacy of this test in a number of obstetrical situations with unequivocal or equivocal rupture of the membranes (ROM). We conclude that in cases of unequivocal rupture and/or intactness of membranes, results of the ROM-check Immunoassay correspond well with the clinical findings, whereas in clinically equivocal rupture of the membranes, the test may add proof to the clinical suspicion of ROM but has to be interpreted with caution along with other clinical and non-clinical parameters.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Placebo-controlled trial of high-dose Mesterolone treatment of idiopathic male infertility.

The possible effect of Mesterolone (Schering N.V., Brussels, Belgium) (1 alpha-methyl-5-alpha-androstane-17 beta-ol-3-one) on semen quality and fertility of men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia and/or teratozoospermia has been evaluated in a double-blind trial. The study included 52 patients who were treated during 12 months with either 150 mg/d of Mesterolone or placebo. The overall pregnancy rate was similar in the Mesterolone-treated cases (26%) and in the placebo control cases (48%), although a significant increase in motility and in the proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology was recorded in the Mesterolone-treated cases. Because similar semen improvement also occurred in the placebo controls, our findings cast doubt on the possible usefulness of high-dose Mesterolone treatment of idiopathic male infertility.

Administration, Oral↗

Embryo-derived platelet activating factor, a marker of embryo quality and viability following ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

Embryo-derived platelet-activating factor (PAF) may be an important mediator of early maternal recognition of pregnancy. PAF was higher in media associated with clinical pregnancies when compared to preclinical pregnancies but not higher in pregnant vs nonpregnant groups. The production of PAF by the preimplantation embryo was not related to follicle size or embryo morphology. However, differences in PAF concentrations in the culture media were related to the age of the embryo culture medium and the developmental stage of the embryo.

Biomarkers↗

Comparison between different pre-treatment techniques for sperm recovery prior to intrauterine insemination, GIFT or IVF.

An attempt was made to compare different pre-treatment techniques in 16 normal and proven fertile and 30 subnormal and hitherto infertile semen samples. The techniques used were (i) standard, (ii) layering, (iii) discontinuous Percoll density gradient and (iv) albumin columns. Percoll gradient was most effective in separating a high fraction of progressive motile spermatozoa (75 and 57% in normal and subnormal semen samples, respectively). The albumin columns, as well as the standard techniques, were equally effective in recovering 45 and 24% respectively of progressive motile spermatozoa in normal and subnormal semen samples. The layering method was the least effective of the four techniques (4% recovery in normal and subnormal semen samples). In cases of contamination with inflammatory cells, the standard and layering methods were significantly (P less than 0.001) more advantageous than isolations with Percoll gradient and albumin columns. The percentage of ideal forms of spermatozoa recovered from a normal semen sample was significantly higher with the standard (P less than 0.01), layering (P less than 0.05) and Percoll gradient (P less than 0.05) techniques. In subnormal samples, only the Percoll gradient gave a significantly (P less than 0.02) higher percentage of ideal forms, whereas the other techniques were less effective. The significance and practical use of the various pre-treatment techniques are discussed in relation to the characteristics of the pre-treatment semen sample.

Cell Separation↗

Management and outcome of 21 triplet and quadruplet pregnancies.

The course of gestation and the outcome of fifteen triplet and six quadruplet pregnancies are reviewed. Twenty pregnancies followed induction of ovulation and only one was spontaneous. Bed rest, the use of beta-mimetics and betamethasone, and prolonged hospitalisation were part of the management. Elective cervical suture was not used. The most frequent antenatal complications were preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The median gestational age was 33.5 weeks in the triplets and 32 weeks in the quadruplets. The overall perinatal and neonatal mortality was 4.9%. The neonatal complications resulted from prematurity and sepsis.

Adult↗

Comparison of HMG/HCG superovulation for AID with or without superactive GnRH agonist.

New methods of ovulation induction have been discovered and perfected in recent years. Among others, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are being used increasingly in the treatment of ovulatory infertility. In a prospective study, 24 women undergoing artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID) and facing failure of treatment because of ovulation disorders, were treated with human menopausal gonadotrophin/human chorionic gonadotrophin (HMG/HCG) superovulation with or without pituitary densensitization using a superactive luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, buserelin (BUS), Suprefact (Hoechst, Frankfurt a/Main, FRG). In 86 cycles stimulated with HMG/HCG no pregnancy occurred, whereas 12 pregnancies occurred in the same group of patients after a total of 43 BUS/HMG/HCG stimulation cycles. Superactive LHRH agonists have a definite place in the treatment of AID patients presenting with refractory ovulation disorders and/or luteal insufficiency.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Clinical aspects in the surgical treatment of varicocele in subfertile men. I. Comparison of observed and expected pregnancy rates.

Ninety-six couples, consulting for primary (n = 73) or secondary (n = 23) infertility, and thought to be infertile due to a varicocele in the husband associated with sperm abnormalities, were subjected to a follow-up study. Of these, 57 were surgically corrected and 39 were not, depending only on the patient's choice. All women were intensively treated where necessary. From our data we conclude that (1) fertility prognosis is significantly better in couples with secondary subfertility than in couples with primary subfertility, (2) surgical correction of varicocele in cases of secondary subfertility does not increase subsequent pregnancy rates, and (3) surgical correction of varicocele in cases of primary subfertility significantly increases subsequent pregnancy rates, since cumulative observed pregnancy rates are more than double the cumulative theoretically expected treatment-independent pregnancy rates.

Female↗

Clinical aspects in the surgical treatment of varicocele in subfertile men. II. The role of the epididymal factor.

Ninety-six couples, consulting for primary (n = 73) or secondary (n = 23) infertility, and thought to be infertile due to a varicocele in the husband associated with sperm abnormalities, were subjected to a follow-up study. Of these, 57 were surgically corrected and 39 were not, depending only on the patient's choice. All women were intensively treated where necessary. All patients who were corrected were subjected to scrotal exploration in a search for epididymal anomalies. From our data we conclude that (1) on a statistical basis, comparing observed with expected pregnancy rates, varicocelectomy is useful in primary infertility and unnecessary in secondary infertility and (2) on an individual basis, patients with primary infertility and 'pure' varicoceles have a better prognosis than patients with concomitant epididymal dysfunction.

Epididymis↗