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Biomedical subjects

T Leonard

Publications and source records attributed to T Leonard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of cyclic changes in muscle length on force production in in-situ cat soleus.

Muscle shortening and stretch are associated with force depression and force enhancement, respectively. Previously, we have investigated the effect of combined dynamic contractions (i.e. a single shortening-stretch and stretch-shortening cycle) on force production (Herzog and Leonard, 2000). In order to investigate the relationship between force depression and force enhancement systematically, we studied the effects of a single as well as multiple stretch-shortening and shortening-stretch cycles on the ascending limb of the force-length relationship. Furthermore, by systematically varying the speed and magnitude of stretch preceding shortening and the speed and magnitude of shortening preceding stretch, we investigated the influence of these varying contractile conditions on force depression and force enhancement, respectively. Test contractions were performed on cat soleus (n=6) by electrical stimulation using four conceptually different protocols containing a single or repeated stretch-shortening and shortening-stretch cycles. The results of this study showed that: (1) force depression was not influenced by stretch preceding shortening independent of the speed and amount of stretch; (2) force enhancement was influenced in a dose-dependent manner by the amount of shortening preceding stretch but was not affected by the speed of shortening; (3) repeated stretch-shortening (shortening-stretch) cycles showed cumulative effects; (4) the number of shortening steps over a given distance did not influence the amount of force depression. The findings of this study support the idea that the mechanism of force depression associated with muscle shortening is different from that of force enhancement associated with muscle stretch. Furthermore, they support and extend our previous findings that stretch-shortening and shortening-stretch cycles are not commutative.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Beta-cell mass dynamics in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Rosiglitazone prevents the rise in net cell death.

The evolution of diabetes in the male leptin receptor-deficient (fa/fa) Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat is associated with disruption of normal islet architecture, beta-cell degranulation, and increased beta-cell death. It is unknown whether these changes precede or develop as a result of the increasing plasma glucose, or whether the increased beta-cell death can be prevented. Early intervention with thiazolidinediones prevents disruption of the islet architecture. To determine the specific effects of rosiglitazone (RSG) on beta-cell mass dynamics, male fa/fa (obese) and +/fa or +/+ (lean) rats age 6 weeks were fed either chow (control group [CN]) or chow mixed with rosiglitazone (RSG group) at a dosage of 10 micromol. kg(-1) body wt.day(-1). Rats were killed after 0, 2, 4, 6, or 10 weeks of treatment (at age 6, 8, 10, 12, or 16 weeks). Plasma glucose increased from 8.9 +/- 0.4 mmol/l at 0 weeks to 34.2 +/- 1.8 mmol/l (P = 0.0001) at 6 weeks of treatment in obese CN rats and fell from 8.0 +/- 0.3 to 6.3 +/- 0.4 mmol/l in obese RSG rats (P = 0.02). beta-cell mass fell by 51% from 2 to 6 weeks of treatment (ages 8-12 weeks) in obese CN rats (6.9 +/- 0.9 to 3.4 +/- 0.5 mg; P < 0.05), whereas beta-cell mass was unchanged in obese RSG rats. At 10 weeks of treatment (age 16 weeks), beta-cell mass in obese CN rats was only 56% of that of obese RSG rats (4.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 7.8 +/- 0.3 mg, respectively; P = 0.0001). The beta-cell replication rate fell from a baseline value of 0.95 +/- 0.12% in lean rats and 0.94 +/- 0.07% in obese rats (at 0 weeks) to approximately 0.3-0.5% in all groups by 6 weeks of treatment (age 12 weeks). After 10 weeks of treatment, beta-cell replication was higher in obese RSG rats than in CN rats (0.59 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.28 +/- 0.05%, respectively; P < 0.02). Application of our mass balance model of beta-cell turnover indicated that net beta-cell death was fivefold higher in obese CN rats as compared with RSG rats after 6 weeks of treatment (age 12 weeks). The increase in beta-cell death in obese CN rats during the 6-week observation period was well correlated with the increase in plasma glucose (r2 = 0.90, P < 0.0001). These results suggest that the development of hyperglycemia in ZDF rats is concomitant with increasing net beta-cell death. beta-cell proliferation compensates for the increased beta-cell loss at a time when plasma glucose is moderately elevated, but compensation ultimately fails and the plasma glucose levels increase beyond approximately 20 mmol/l. Treatment with rosiglitazone, previously shown to reduce insulin resistance, prevents the loss of beta-cell mass in obese ZDF rats by maintaining beta-cell proliferation and preventing increased net beta-cell death.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Assessing rbf networks using DELVE.

In this paper, different methods for training radial basis function (RBF) networks for regression problems are described and illustrated. Then, using data from the DELVE archive, they are empirically compared with each other and with some other well known methods for machine learning. Each of the RBF methods performs well on at least one DELVE task, but none are as consistent as the best of the other non-RBF methods.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2000

Combining regression trees and radial basis function networks.

We describe a method for non-parametric regression which combines regression trees with radial basis function networks. The method is similar to that of Kubat, who was first to suggest such a combination, but has some significant improvements. We demonstrate the features of the new method, compare its performance with other methods on DELVE data sets and apply it to a real world problem involving the classification of soybean plants from digital images.

Models, Statistical↗
PubMed1998

Method to assess in vivo knee stability longitudinally in an animal model of ligament injury.

The purpose of this study was to develop a method to prospectively quantify passive knee stability in an animal model of joint injury over time. Knee stability is defined here as the amount of translation or rotation of the tibia relative to the femur for a given application of force or moment, respectively. Five animals that had undergone transection of the anterior cruciate ligament and three control animals that had undergone a sham operation were anaesthetized and positioned in a stereotaxic frame. Motion of the tibia relative to the femur was quantified with use of reflective markers secured to modified bone pins and a three-dimensional motion analysis system. External forces and moments in the transverse plane of the tibia were measured with use of force transducers based on a strain-gauge design. Longitudinal measurements of knee stability were made before either sham surgery (control animals) or transection of the ligament (experimental animals), immediately after surgery, and at 2 and 4 months after transection. The results showed that the animals tolerated the procedures well and that systematic measurements could be obtained. The method described here has the practical advantage over cross-sectional experimental designs in that the number of subjects can be decreased while maintaining statistical power and has the further conceptual advantage that individual changes can be accounted for over time.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Longitudinal measurement of tibial motion relative to the femur during passive displacements in the cat before and after anterior cruciate ligament transection.

Passive anterior-posterior displacement and medial-lateral rotation of the tibia on the femur in the feline knee were assessed before transection of the anterior cruciate ligament, immediately after transection, and 2 and 4 months after transection. Four anaesthetized experimental and three sham-operated control animals were positioned in a stereotaxic frame. Motions of the tibia relative to the femur were measured with use of 60-Hz video motion analysis, while a strain-gauged system allowed measurement of forces and moments applied to the tibia. Displacement at 15 N of anterior force and 30 degrees of knee flexion increased by an average of 6 mm following transection, and stiffness decreased by an average of 6 N/mm. At 2 and 4 months following transection, there were statistically significant reductions in this abnormal displacement. Stiffness during anterior displacement of the tibia at 30 degrees increased significantly from immediately after transection to 4 months. At 90 degrees, mean anterior displacement decreased from 5.1 mm immediately after transection to 2.9 mm at 4 months. Medial rotation at 30 degrees of knee flexion was significantly decreased from a mean of 16.5 degrees after transection to a mean of 10.7 degrees at 4 months. Changes in medial rotation at 90 degrees, lateral rotation at 90 degrees, and lateral rotation at 30 degrees were not statistically significant. These results indicate a significant change in secondary constraints to tibial motion in response to knee instability.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Pronounced cytoplasmic pH gradients are not required for tip growth in plant and fungal cells.

The existence of pronounced cytoplasmic pH gradients within the apices of tip-growing cells, and the role of cytoplasmic pH in regulating tip growth, were investigated in three different cell types: vegetative hyphae of Neurospora crassa; pollen tubes of Agapanthus umbellatus; and rhizoids of Dryopteris affinis gametophytes. Examination of cytoplasmic pH in growing cells was performed by simultaneous, dual emission confocal ratio imaging of the pH-sensitive probe carboxy SNARF-1. Considerable attention was paid to the fine tuning of dye loading and imaging parameters to minimise cellular perturbation and assess the extent of dye partitioning into organelles. With optimal conditions, cytoplasmic pH was measured routinely with a precision of between +/-0.03 and +/-0.06 of a pH unit and a spatial resolution of 2.3 microm2. Based on in vitro calibration, estimated values of mean cytoplasmic pH for cells loaded with dye-ester were between 7.15 and 7.25 for the three cell types. After pressure injecting Neurospora hyphae with dextran-conjugated dye, however, the mean cytoplasmic pH was estimated to be 7.57. Dextran dyes are believed to give a better estimate of cytoplasmic pH because of their superior localisation and retention within the cytosol. No significant cytoplasmic pH gradient (delta pH of >0.1 unit) was observed within the apical 50 microm in growing cells of any of the three cell types. Acidification or alkalinisation of the cytoplasm in Neurospora hyphae, using a cell permeant weak acid (propionic acid at pH 7.0) or weak base (trimethylamine at pH 8.0), slowed down but did not abolish growth. However, similar manipulation of the cytoplasmic pH of Agapanthus pollen tubes and Dryopteris rhizoids completely inhibited growth. Modification of external pH affected the growth pattern of all cell types. In hyphae and pollen tubes, changes in external pH were found to have a small transient effect on cytoplasmic pH but the cells rapidly readjusted towards their original pH. Our results suggest that pronounced longitudinal gradients in cytoplasmic pH are not essential for the regulation of tip growth.

Benzopyrans↗
PubMed1997

A two-item screening test for alcohol and other drug problems.

BACKGROUND: Although nonmedical use of illicit and prescription drugs is not uncommon among American adults, the currently recommended screening tests for substance use disorders (SUDs) focus only on alcohol. This study reports on the criterion validity of a two-item conjoint screening (TICS) test for alcohol and other drug abuse or dependence for a primary care sample. METHODS: A random sample of 434 primary care patients aged 18 to 59 years responded to nine screening items, which emanated from a focus group process. The DSM-III-R criteria for SUDs, as operationalized by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Substance Abuse Module, served as the criterion standard. RESULTS: At least one positive response to the TICS ("In the last year, have you ever drank or used drugs more than you meant to?" and "Have you felt you wanted or needed to cut down on your drinking or drug use in the last year?") discriminated current SUDs with approximately 81% sensitivity and specificity. The TICS was particularly sensitive to polysubstance use disorders. Respondents with zero positive responses had a 7.4% chance of a current SUD; one positive response, 45.0%; and two positive responses, 75.0%. CONCLUSIONS: More than 80% of young and middle-aged patients with current alcohol or other drug problems may be recognized by the TICS, which is easily integrated into a clinical interview.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Transfer of mechanical energy between ankle and knee joints by gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles during cat locomotion.

The purposes of this study were (1) to define and estimate the direction and amount of the energy transfer between the knee and ankle through gastrocnemius (GA) and plantaris (PL) muscles during cat locomotion, and (2) to test the assumption that the force and activity patterns of soleus (SO), GA, and PL are mechanically and physiologically advantageous for providing the transfer of energy between these joints. The direction, amount and rate of the energy transfer through a two-joint muscle were defined using a theoretical analysis of movements in two adjacent joints spanned by the two-joint muscle. The energy transferred between the ankle and the knee was calculated using the time integration of the difference between the power developed by the moments of SO, GA, and PL at the ankle joint and the total power of these muscles. The total power of SO, GA, and PL muscles, and the power of their movements about the ankle and knee, were obtained using the experimentally determined muscle forces, the rates of change in muscle length, and the angular velocities at the knee and ankle which were calculated from the kinematics and the geometry of the cat hindlimb. Muscular forces and hindlimb kinematics of the cats were recorded during normal walking and trotting on a treadmill at speeds of 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 ms-1 using 'E'-shaped tendon transducers and high-speed video, respectively. It was found that during the early phase of support, there was a transfer of mechanical energy from the ankle to the knee through GA and PL. During the late phase of support, mechanical energy was transferred from the knee to the ankle. The amount of energy transferred increased with increasing speeds of locomotion. The energy transferred from the ankle to the knee was 3-60 mJ (7-22% of the negative work done by the moments of SO, GA, and PL at the ankle), and the energy transferred from the knee to the ankle was 10-67 mJ (7-14% of the positive work done by the moments of SO, GA, and PL at the ankle). The results of this study suggest that the activation and the forces of one-joint SO and multi-joint GA and PL are organized in such a way as to fit the features of the design of these ankle extensor muscles in order to provide locomotion efficiently. For example, the decrease in the contractile abilities of SO during the late phase of support at fast speeds of locomotion may be compensated for by the transfer of energy from the knee to the ankle through GA and PL. The design of GA and PL (a high percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers, large angles of pinnation and short length of the fibers, long tendons, and the location about the ankle and knee joints) seems to be well suited for transferring mechanical energy between the ankle and knee at fast speeds of locomotion. Because of the design of GA and PL, their contractile abilities remain close to the maximum at fast speeds of locomotion. The design of GA and PL allows for extension of the ankle joint through the action of the knee extensor muscles during knee extension with a relatively small change in length of GA and PL.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A pilot study of infusional CMF (CMF-inf): active and well tolerated in breast cancer. The Edinburgh Breast Group.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) given by continuous infusion is well tolerated and active in the treatment of breast cancer [1, 2]. We found that given infusional 5-FU could produce responses in patients whose disease was resistant to bolus 5-FU and speculated that it could be combined safely with methotrexate/cyclophosphamide in a manner analogous to i.v. CMF bolus. Using a modification of the i.v. CMF regimen, comprising a standard dosage of bolus cyclophosphamide at 750 mg/m2 and bolus methotrexate at 50 mg/m2 given every 3 weeks we altered the continuously infused 5-FU schedule to 200 mg/m2/24 hours and treated 28 patients of whom 23 had had previous chemotherapy (18 containing anthracycline, 4 bolus CMF and 19 infusional 5-FU alone or in combination with other drugs) and 4 post menopausal patients with locally advanced breast cancer. RESULTS: Fourteen responded (2 CR, 12 PR) out of 27 evaluable patients with onset of response between 3 and 9 weeks. Toxicity was relatively mild in the 28 evaluable patients and did not require cessation of treatment, with one exception (vomiting leading to dehydration at home and moderate transient uraemia). The main toxicities seen were WHO grade 3 neutropenia in 13/28 patients and grade 2 mucositis in 2 further patients. Grade 2 palmar/planter syndrome was reported in 4/28 patients and grade 2 or 3 nausea/vomiting was reported in 7/28 patients. CONCLUSION: This well tolerated regimen is clearly active in patients with heavily pretreated breast cancer and should be tested against intravenous or classical CMF in a randomised trial.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Measuring management potential.

This article provides a brief introduction to instruments that may be used to measure management potential in persons being considered for administrative positions. Instruments that measure aspects of leadership, power, personality, conflict, and organizational climate are discussed. An overview of each instrument is provided as well as data on the type of test, time to complete, cost, and purchasing information. While objective tests such as these are useful in assessing individual suitability for management positions, we advise that they be used prudently and judiciously.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1996

Physical measures of recovery from anorexia nervosa during hospitalised re-feeding.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between weight gain, changes in body composition and physiological characteristics of fitness during the recovery from anorexia nervosa. DESIGN: Longitudinal over eight weeks of intensive inpatient re-feeding (Wk 0-8). SETTING: The London Hospital Medical College. SUBJECTS: Ten female patients who agreed to participate. Seven completed the protocol. INTERVENTIONS: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (dexa) and skinfold thickness measures at Wk 0 and 8. Weekly measures of peak expiratory flow rate and cycle ergometry (several variables relating to aerobic work recorded at rest and during cycling at low loads (0-60 W)). Blood samples for lactate and potassium measures, taken during cycling at Wk 0, 4 and 8 only. RESULTS: (1) Body composition: Mean weight gain over eight weeks was 9.6 kg, dexa and skinfold measures showing fat gain to contribute 62% and 54%, respectively. Both methods showed significant changes in percentage body fat with refeeding (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), however there were significant differences in results between methods before (P < 0.01) but not after (P = 0.2) refeeding. (2) Physiological function: Between weeks 0 and 8, mean peak expiratory flow rate rose to 85% of predicted values, cycle ergometry performance improved in six subjects (three never reached 60 W load), mean respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during cycling fell at 0 W and 20 W loads (both P < 0.05), and oxygen pulse increased at rest and 0 W load cycling (both P < 0.05), Wk 8 values being well below normal. Oxygen uptake at rest and all loads increased in line with body weight gain only. No significant changes were seen in heart rate or blood lactate and potassium levels. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Lean body and fat mass increased significantly during eight weeks of refeeding. The methodological difference in initial body fat measurements requires further investigation. (2) The women had severely impaired physiological function. Variables studied were only slowly improving with refeeding, and work capacity was still well below normal.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1995

Pharmacological characterization of MCCG and MAP4 at the mGluR1b, mGluR2 and mGluR4a human metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes.

The two reported metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonists, alpha-methyl-cyclopropyl glycine (MCCG) and alpha-methyl-aminophosphonobutyrate (MAP4) were tested on the mGluR1b, mGluR2 and mGluR4a subtypes of human mGluRs. Neither MCCG (500 microM) nor MAP4 (500 microM) antagonized the activation of mGluR1b by 10 microM quisqualate. MCCG was found to potently antagonize the action of 30 microM (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid [(1S,3R)-ACPD] at mGluR2 (IC50 = 87.5 microM; apparent Kd = 25 microM) but did not block the action of 1 microM S-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid at mGluR4a (IC50 >> 1 mM). MAP4 was found to be a weak antagonist or partial agonist at mGluR4a (IC50 > 500 microM) and, less potently, also antagonized the action of 30 microM (1S,3R)-ACPD) at mGluR2 (IC50 approximately 2 mM).

Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of SUZI and ICSI for severe male factor.

We compare the results of subzonal insemination (SUZI) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) carried out between February 1993 and end of August 1994. A total of 232 couples underwent 302 cycles of micro-assisted fertilization (79 patients had SUZI for a total of 93 cycles, 153 patients ICSI for a total of 209 cycles). The indications for treatment were obstructive azoospermia in 35 cycles, ejaculatory failure with severely low sperm count in 7 cycles, and failure of fertilization in a previous IVF cycle or less than 10% of oocytes fertilized in 87 cycles. In 173 cycles the indication for treatment was a poor semen parameter. Patients undergoing ICSI had significantly higher fertilization rates [43 (728/1692) versus 22.3% (151/ 676), chi 2 = 86.308, P < 0.0001], better chances of embryo transfer [95 (199/209) versus 73% (68/93), chi 2 = 30.671, P < 0.001], and greater numbers of embryos transferred (2.4 +/- 0.9 versus 1.6 +/- 1.2 F = 42, P < 0.0001) than patients who had SUZI. Eighteen patients became pregnant following the SUZI procedure, a pregnancy rate of 19% per egg collection, compared with 28% for those who underwent the ICSI procedure, where 58 out of 209 became pregnant. The pregnancy rate was similar in those who underwent embryo transfer, whether they had ICSI or SUZI (29.2 and 28.6% respectively). Overall, the pregnancy rate doubled with each number of embryos transferred, so it was 8.9% when one embryo was transferred, which increased to 18.3% when two embryos were transferred, and this rose to 37.7% when three embryos were transferred. There was no significant difference in the pregnancy wastage rate between SUZI and ICSI. None of the offspring from either SUZI or ICSI showed any evidence of fetal abnormalities. Pregnancy rate was negatively correlated, with sperm progression being 36% (36/100) if progression was < 2 and 19.8% (40/202) if it was > or = 2 (chi 2 = 8.99, P < .002). ICSI therefore provides a higher number of embryos available for transfer and should be the primary treatment for severe male factor infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Age, pregnancy and miscarriage: uterine versus ovarian factors.

This study was performed to evaluate the relative contribution of oocyte and uterine factors to the age-related reduction in fecundity. The pregnancy and miscarriage rates in women receiving donated oocytes were compared to those in women using their own oocytes in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) procedures. Oocyte donation with embryo transfer was performed on 241 women in 371 cycles; 116 of these women became pregnant (48% per patient and 31.5% per cycle) of whom 40 (35%) miscarried, giving a live birth rate of 20.5%. Assisted conception, in the form of IVF/GIFT procedures, was performed on 1331 women using their own oocytes in 2194 cycles; 627 of these women became pregnant (47% per patient and 28.7% per cycle), of whom 228 (36%) miscarried, giving a live birth rate of 18.2%. Neither the age of the donor nor the age of the recipient was related to pregnancy rate. The age of the donor, however, was directly related to the miscarriage rate. On the other hand, the age of patients undergoing IVF/GIFT was inversely related to the pregnancy rate and directly related to the miscarriage rate. In women of 40 years or over, the overall pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly higher and the miscarriage rate was significantly lower in the group receiving donated oocytes compared to the group using their own oocytes. In summary, we suggest that the age-related decline in fecundity is associated with the age of the oocytes rather than the age of the uterus.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1990

In vivo biliary excretion and in vitro cellular accumulation of thyroxine by rats or cultured rat hepatocytes treated with a novel histamine H1-receptor antagonist.

Rats treated with temelastine (SK&F 93,944), a novel histamine H1-receptor antagonist, develop thyroid lesions characterized by hypertrophy and colloid depletion. To investigate the mechanism underlying the lesion the biliary clearance and hepatocellular accumulation of radio-labelled iodothyronines was measured in rats or cultured rat hepatocytes. Treatment with temelastine increased both the biliary clearance (approximately 300% of control) and hepatocellular accumulation (approximately 200%) of thyroxine (T4) but had little or no effect on tri-iodothyronine (T3). Chromatographic analysis of bile samples from temelastine-treated rats showed that the majority (approximately 78%) of T4 was present in the unconjugated form. This contrasted with data from phenobarbitone-treated rats which showed that approximately 80% of T4 in the bile was present as the glucuronide conjugate. Studies with cultured hepatocytes showed that the hepatocellular accumulation of T4 was energy dependent. At 4 degrees C the treatment-related increases in accumulation of T4 were abolished, suggesting that temelastine is specifically affecting the high affinity, energy dependent system which preferentially transports thyroxine into hepatocytes. Because temelastine is metabolized extensively, investigations were undertaken to discover if the hepatic effects were caused by the parent compound or an oxidative metabolite. The results showed that the hepatocellular accumulation of T4 remained increased in hepatocytes co-incubated with temelastine and 1-aminobenzotriazole (a suicide inhibitor of cytochrome P450), even though no measurable P450 could be found in the cells. Also, in studies with two major "rat" metabolites of temelastine, i.e. 93,944-Met I or 93,944-Met VIII, treatments failed to reproduce the responses seen with the parent compound.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Comparative trial of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog/human menopausal gonadotropin and clomiphene citrate/human menopausal gonadotropin in an assisted conception program.

To establish the usefulness of a new drug regimen in an assisted conception program, a trial was performed comparing clomiphene citrate (CC) plus human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) with a new regimen of intranasal luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) analog plus hMG. One hundred two patient cycles received treatment with CC and hMG and 118 patient cycles received treatment with LH-RH analog and hMG. Fifteen percent of cycles were canceled in the CC group and 8% in the analog group. Four percent of cycles in the CC group were canceled due to premature ovulation. The number of oocytes collected in the analog group was significantly higher than in the CC group (8.5 versus 5.5), as was the number of mature oocytes (3.5 versus 2.7). However, the percentage of mature oocytes was higher in the CC group (54.2% versus 42.3%). The number of embryos resulting from in vitro fertilization as well as the number of cleaving embryos were significantly higher in the analog group (5.2 versus 2.8 and 4.6 versus 2.3, respectively). The pregnancy rate in the analog group was significantly higher than in the CC group (30.6% versus 16.1%), as was the live birth rate (21% versus 8%). Early pregnancy loss was significantly higher in the CC group than in the analog group (35% versus 9%); and the serum level of LH on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration was also significantly elevated in the CC group when compared with the analog group (8.1 versus 4.1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Intranasal↗