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Biomedical subjects

K Nowroozi

Publications and source records attributed to K Nowroozi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer between the donors and the recipients in a donor oocyte program.

Our in vitro fertilization (IVF) program provides a unique opportunity to evaluate influences of hormonal milieu on pregnancy outcome, by using a shared pool of oocytes obtained by donors (in exchange for financial assistance). The study presented herein evaluated 38 retrieval cycles (28 oocyte donors/22 recipients). No difference in mean number of embryos transferred was seen (2.7 in the donors vs 2.8 in the recipients). However, a statistically significant difference was seen in the pregnancy rates per retrieval (10.5% donors vs 29% recipients) and per transfer (4/35, 11.1%, vs 11/34, 32.3%). Abortion rates were similar (25% donor, 27.2% recipients). These data suggest that other reports of higher pregnancy rates from donor oocyte programs may not be due exclusively to better-quality oocytes. Possibly a negative effect of hyperstimulation or adverse endometrial environment of the donor (possible chronic endometritis) may explain these data.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Comparison of short versus long-term leuprolide acetate--human menopausal gonadotrophin hyperstimulation in in-vitro fertilization patients.

The use of leuprolide acetate for at least 10 days beginning in the mid-luteal phase prior to initiating human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) stimulation has been fairly successful in preventing cancellations for premature luteinization and allowing retrieval of more oocytes, which in turn provide more embryos for cryopreservation. However, it is theoretically possible that the long-term use of leuprolide may have some adverse effect on either pregnancy rates or on mean survival after cryopreservation and thawing. Recently, a short 3 day regimen of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, buserelin effectively prevented premature luteinization during HMG stimulation. The present study indicated that substitution of a 3 day course of leuprolide acetate also effectively prevented premature luteinization but was less expensive, required statistically fewer ampoules of HMG and much less leuprolide.

Adult

An evaluation of couples with failure of fertilization in vitro.

Attempts at in-vitro fertilization (IVF) may be used as a method of evaluating whether in a given couple, the inability of the sperm to fertilize the oocyte may be the cause of infertility. We evaluated all IVF patients in our practice who had at least one cycle with no fertilization to determine how often this was an isolated event or was repeated in multiple cycles; would poor semen quality be found as a frequent cause; and how well can a donor sperm or oocyte 'probe' uncover which of the two is the problem? Of 35 couples who used their own gametes exclusively, 30 (85.7%) had at least one cycle with zero fertilization; 42.5% of those failing to fertilize in cycle 1 and 35% of those failing in cycle 2 had a subnormal concentration of motile spermatozoa, morphology or hypo-osmotic swelling test scores. The pregnancy rate per cycle with both husband's and wife's gametes was only 2.3% (3/130), but was 8.3% for those using donor spermatozoa (3/36) and 18.2% (2/11) for donor oocytes. Thus, failing to fertilize in a given cycle does not necessarily predict failure to fertilize in a subsequent cycle, but does predict a poor fertility outcome unless donor gametes are used.

Adult

Successful delivery of twins in a woman with a unicornuate uterus.

The presence of a unicornuate uterus is a rare congenital condition which represents only 1-2% of uterovaginal anomalies. Previous reports have demonstrated an increase in the number of cases of primary infertility, pregnancy loss and preterm labor associated with the unicornuate uterus. Herein, we present a case in which a patient conceived following a thawed frozen embryo transfer. She had been given the option of selective reduction, because of the high risk associated with this pregnancy, but refused and her pregnancy successfully continued to 35 weeks and delivery of twins.

Adult

Serum progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies and the value of progesterone replacement in intrauterine pregnancies when serum progesterone levels are low.

The corpus luteum function was evaluated in patients with surgically confirmed ectopic pregnancy (EP) in a multicenter study. In addition, the minimal threshold of serum progesterone (P) concentration required for salvaging intrauterine pregnancies (IUP) was also examined. Results show that single P or 17-OHP measurements are not diagnostic for EP, since mean P levels in EP were similar to those with spontaneous abortion though significantly lower than those in controls. 17-OHP levels in EP overlapped in 50% with IUP, and the mean levels were significantly lower only at 6-7 weeks. The 17-OHP levels when compared to hCG supports the view that corpus luteum defect is primary. In IUP, P levels < 8 ng/ml still were associated with viable (60%) pregnancy; thus no minimal threshold could be established.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone

Influence of endometrial thickness and echo patterns on pregnancy rates during in vitro fertilization.

Previous data has suggested that improved PRs were seen in women with increased endometrial thickness as determined by sonography before oocyte retrieval. The hyperstimulation protocol used was CC-hMG. The study presented herein was initiated to evaluate if a similar trend was evident in women whose hyperstimulation protocol included the long LA-hMG therapy. We also demonstrated an improved PR in women with greater endometrial thickness, but in general, the endometrium was thicker in the pregnant women treated with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist than in those treated with CC.

Embryo Transfer

Premature luteinization: treatment and incidence in natural cycles.

The incidence of premature luteinization was evaluated in 400 women with a history of infertility (greater than or equal to 18 months). After its diagnosis, this condition was treated with ovulation-inducing drugs in the early follicular phase in an attempt to accelerate follicular maturation before the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Premature luteinization was diagnosed if serum progesterone levels greater than 1.5 ng/ml were associated with an LH surge before the serum oestradiol level reached 200 pg/ml and before the follicle was mature. Fifty-two of 400 (13%) women demonstrated premature luteinization in two consecutive cycles. Fourteen of 52 (27%) women corrected the problem with a clomiphene citrate regimen, as compared with 32 of 38 (75%) treated with HMG and HCG; conception rates were 83 and 50%, respectively, for the patients who responded to the two regimens. Overall, regimens utilized in this study resulted in a 58% pregnancy rate in 6 months.

Female

Correlation of serum progestagen-associated endometrial protein levels with endometrial biopsies serum steroid levels and therapy for luteal phase defects.

The progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PEP) level rises from the early to the late luteal phase. A study was performed in infertile women where late luteal phase endometrial biopsies and serum PEP levels were obtained. The objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the PEP levels and the endometrial biopsies and to determine if subnormal PEP levels could be improved by the same therapies used to correct endometrial defects. There was a poor correlation between PEP levels and endometrial biopsies (r = 0.17). Similarly, there was no significant correlation between PEP levels and levels of the following hormones: mid- and late-luteal phase progesterone (P) (r = 0.186 and 0.282 respectively), mid-luteal phase 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) (r = 0.139) and mid-luteal phase oestradiol (r = 0.135). Furthermore, there was no correlation between PEP levels and the dosage of progesterone used in therapy (r = 0.07). There were no statistically significant differences in PEP values (U/ml) depending on whether any fertility drug was taken. Thus our data suggest that progesterone may only have a permissive role, with some other factor(s) controlling the actual rise and fall of PEP.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone

Extreme elevation of serum CA-125 in two women with severe endometriosis: case report.

Two women with elevated preoperative serum CA-125 levels were found to have extensive endometriosis - one, the highest level related to endometriosis ever reported in the English literature. Endometriosis was found to be etiologic as seen by the prompt reduction in serum CA-125 levels following surgical treatment limited to endometriosis. Thus, a very high CA-125 level does not necessarily forebode ovarian malignancy.

Acute Disease

Serum progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PEP) levels in conception versus nonconception cycles following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

The human endometrium synthesizes a specific protein known as the progestagen-dependent endometrium protein (PEP) which rises from early to late luteal phase. The PEP levels follow the pattern of the endometrial biopsy more than the serum progesterone (P) levels (4). Late luteal-phase serum PEP levels were evaluated as well as serum P in mid-luteal phase in patients undergoing IVF-ET. Comparisons were made between conceivers and nonconceivers and between aborters and nonaborters. Both serum PEP and late luteal P levels were significantly higher in pregnant patients but no differences in mid luteal P levels were seen. No difference was seen in aborters vs nonaborters. It is still inconclusive whether the higher late luteal PEP levels contribute to the greater likelihood of pregnancy or are a result of the pregnancy.

Abortion, Spontaneous

Ovulation induction and pregnancies in 100 consecutive women with hypergonadotropic amenorrhea.

The efficacy of a technique of gonadotropin suppression and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) to induce ovulation in women with hypergonadotropic amenorrhea was evaluated in 100 consecutive women. Ovulation was achieved in 19% of cycles (68/361), the pregnancy rate per cycle was 5.2% (19/361), and the viable pregnancy rate was 2.2% (8/361). In the majority of the successful cases, estrogen was used to decrease the elevated luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, especially where the ethinyl estradiol therapy alone induced a rise in endogenous 17 beta-estradiol levels with hMG used to boost the follicle to maturation. Although the success rate is low, this technique can result in some successes in otherwise almost hopeless cases.

Adult

Correlation of computerized semen analysis with successful fertilization of oocytes in an in vitro fertilization program.

Sixty-nine couples enrolled in 123 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles were categorized by percentage fertilization; the results of categorization were compared with those of computerized semen analysis carried out with the CellSoft semen analyzer. Four groups were established: group 1 had 75% fertilization or greater; group 2 had 34% to 74% fertilization; group 3 had 1% to 33% fertilization; and group 4 had 0% fertilization. Statistical differences in certain semen parameters (motility, linearity, and straight-line velocity) were found comparing groups 1 and 3 using the initial ejaculate. A significant number of patients in group 1 had all normal semen parameters, but no statistical difference could be found in group 3 or 4 because of variations in specific abnormal parameters in the groups. When the straight-line velocity-motile density (SLVMD) calculation was used, a significant difference was seen between group 1 and group 3 and between group 1 and group 4 (p less than 0.01); 65% of group 3 and 76% of group 4 had an abnormal SLVMD. SLVMD is a useful calculation to predict fertilization rates in vitro from the initial ejaculate.

Computers

Evaluation and treatment of a male factor component to unexplained infertility.

The standard semen analysis frequently fails to identify subfertile males even when findings are normal and conversely often fails to identify fertile males with subnormal semen analyses. This has created the need to produce other tests of sperm physiology that will better distinguish a fertile from a subfertile specimen. Understanding more about the nature of the sperm defect should lead to the establishment of more specific and effective therapies. Until that time, it would still be reasonable to try some of the available empirical therapies even though they may work merely by a placebo mechanism.

Ascorbic Acid