SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Fertility Pattern Method”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

[Family and population in China from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century in the light of a recent work by Liu Ts'ui-Jung].

Taking as its starting point the huge sample of 260,000 people born in China between the 13th and the 19th century used by Liu Ts'ui-Jung in her recent study on Lineage population, our study aims at assessing the premodern demographic evolution of China. Inasmuch the method of family reconstruction actually limited the scope of her book, Liu Ts'ui-Jung was not able to go beyond the description of a specific demographic regime defined by three elements: 1) universal marriage; 2) a moderate level of masculine fertility; and 3) a life expectation at 15 comprised between 30 and 40. These conditions would not allow the constitution of many extended households, whereas the annual rate of growth would be somewhere around 1%, a situation having little in common with the present day "population explosion". Using data included in the book, but not considered for the demonstration, we have been able to establish a dramatic deterioration of the mortality pattern from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Accordingly, the proportion of widows increases whereas population which would be characterized with a long period of growth followed by a crisis generated by a surge of the mortality rate.

China↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Observations on the motility, ultrastructure and elemental composition of human permatozoa incubated with caffeine. II. A time sequence study.

The effect of incubation with caffeine to a final concentration of 6 mM at seven time intervals from 0 to 120 minutes was examined in spermatozoa from two normal fertile semen samples and two infertile asthenozoospermic men. Light microscopic estimation of motility, scanning electron microscopic examination of the surface morphology and scanning transmission determination of subcellular elemental composition was carried out at each stage in comparison with placebo controls (modified Ringer solution). An interaction with incubation appeared necessary for caffeine to energise spermatozoa. This stimulatory effect on motility was more marked in the abnormal subjects although in all four individual response was variable. Surface morphological damage was noted in all experiments but was more pronounced the longer spermatozoa spent incubated with caffeine. Disruption of the sperm head and swelling of the mid-piece were the most characteristic features. Subcellular elemental composition of all six elements was greater in the fertile than in the infertile samples and caffeine exceeded placebo in four of the six, with a significant difference in sulphur levels. Sodium, sulphur and magnesium showed similar patterns of sub-group measurements at each of the seven time points suggesting perhaps a similar time influence mechanism operating for these three elements. The study shows the detrimental effect of incubation with caffeine to be marked and time linked, the shorter the time of incubation exposure with the drug the better. Therefore not only does the damage created make the incubation with caffeine of any semen sample unwise but the time strictures, especially in the asthenozoospermic, show it also to be an impractical method of increasing pregnancy potential in such subjects.

Caffeine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The transition in Korean family planning behavior, 1935-1976: a retrospective cohort analysis.

This study traces the diffusion of family planning behavior-the use of abortion, contraception, and/or sterilization-in Korea between 1935 and 1976. Within- and cross-cohort examinations were made of the levels of ever-use of family planning, method of initiation of family planning, and patterns of family planning behavior. Ever-use of any of the three modes was very low for all cohorts prior to the introduction of the National Family Planning Program in 1962; afterwards, family planning diffused at a rapid rate. A major determinant of ever-use levels attained by cohorts married before 1962 was the length of time between the introduction of the program and menopause.

Abortion, Induced↗

PubMed1996

Gender-related differences in gastric emptying rate of solid meals.

Controversy exists about the occurrence of a gender-related difference in gastric emptying in humans. In this paper, a strictly standardized scintigraphic method, in which pancakes were labeled with technetium-99m-macroaggregated albumin, was used to follow gastric emptying in 16 male and 14 female healthy young subjects. The resulting mean gastric emptying curves described biphasic patterns. There was a similar lag period (30.6 +/- 4.2 vs 33.6 +/- 3.8 min; means +/- SEM) but a faster linear gastric emptying rate (32.9 +/- 1.4 vs 22.0 +/- 1.3%/hr), a shorter half-emptying time (111.2 +/- 8.6 vs 158.2 +/- 6.4 min) and lower residual radioactivity after 2 hr (43.0 +/- 3.5 vs 62.8 +/- 1.7%) in the male subgroup as compared with the female subgroup. The differences were highly statistically significant. As a result, separate reference values are recommended for young male and fertile female subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Morphological classification of sperm heads using artificial neural networks.

In male reproducible health and fertility and IVF (in-vitro fertilization), morphological analysis of sperm has been most important. But the traditional tools for semen analysis are subjective, imprecise, inaccurate, difficult to standardize, and reproduce mainly due to their manually oriented operations. The purpose of morphological analysis of sperm is to microscopically type-classify sperm according to their morphological characteristics of heads. Until now, the strict criteria method has long been used in clinic to discriminate normal sperm from abnormal. This method cannot classify the diverse groups of abnormal sperm in detail and shows large variations in inter-operators and intra-operator. In this paper, we have studied a new method of sperm morphological classification using artificial neural networks that are widely used in pattern recognition and image processing. With a multi-layer perceptron trained by the error back-propagation algorithm, profile features from digitized sperm images were classified into four classes that consisted of one normal group and three abnormal groups according to their morphological characteristics.

Humans↗

PubMed1992

Human zona pellucida during in vitro fertilization: an ultrastructural study using saponin, ruthenium red, and osmium-thiocarbohydrazide.

The human zona pellucida (ZP) and its changes during in vitro fertilization in oocytes at different maturational stages and polypronuclear ova at one- to four-cells stages were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and correlative scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To define the microstructure of the ZP, its amorphous masking material was removed using a detergent (saponin), and its structural glycoproteins were stabilized with a cationic dye, ruthenium red, followed by osmium-thiocarbohydrazide treatment. These methods allowed in all samples the clear visualization of variously arranged networks of filaments composing the outer and inner surfaces of the ZP. These filaments were straight or curved, 0.1-0.4 microns in length and 10-14 nm thick as seen via TEM or 22-28 nm thick as seen via SEM (the difference in thickness was due to the presence of the metal coating for SEM). The filament arrangement was remarkably different between the inner and outer surfaces of the ZP and among the various stages studied. The filaments of the outer surface of the ZP were basically arranged in "large" and "tight" meshed networks. Mature oocytes and fertilized (polypronuclear) ova had a regular alternating pattern of wide and tight meshed networks of filaments. On the other hand, immature and atretic oocytes displayed almost exclusively a tight meshed network of filaments. The inner surface filaments of the ZP of unfertilized oocytes at any stage were arranged in repetitive structures characterized by numerous short and straight filaments anastomosing with each other and sometimes forming at the intersections small, rounded structures. After fertilization, the inner surface of the ZP displayed numerous areas where filaments fused together. Collectively, these data clearly reveal that oocyte maturation and fertilization in humans are accompanied by changes of ZP filaments arrangement, which may be relevant in the processes of binding, penetration, and selection of spermatozoa.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

PubMed2005

Safety and efficacy of Implanon, a single-rod implantable contraceptive containing etonogestrel.

OBJECTIVES: The safety and efficacy of a single-rod implantable contraceptive containing etonogestrel (Implanontrade mark) were investigated in a multicenter clinical trial. STUDY DESIGN: Sexually active American women (N=330) with apparently normal menstrual cycles used the implant for up to 2 years. All subjects recorded bleeding and/or spotting daily in a diary. Safety was assessed through adverse experiences (AEs), laboratory tests and physical and gynecologic examinations. RESULTS: Total exposure was 474 woman-years (6186 cycles), and 68% of subjects had at least 1 year of exposure. No pregnancies occurred. The most common bleeding pattern observed throughout the study was infrequent bleeding, defined as less than three episodes of bleeding in a reference period (excluding amenorrhea). The least common pattern was frequent bleeding, defined as more than five episodes of bleeding in a reference period. Infrequent, prolonged and frequent bleeding patterns were most common early in the study and declined thereafter. During the 3-month Reference Periods 2-8 (Months 4-24), the incidence of amenorrhea ranged from 14% to 20%. Forty-three subjects (13%) withdrew from the study because of bleeding pattern changes and 76 subjects (23%) discontinued because of other AEs. Other common AEs leading to discontinuation, besides bleeding irregularities, were emotional lability (6.1%), weight increase (3.3%), depression (2.4%) and acne (1.5%). Use of Implanon (etonogestrel subdermal implant, referred to herein as ENG implant) for up to 2 years had no clinically significant effects on laboratory parameters, physical and pelvic examinations, vital signs or body mass index. The average length of time required for ENG implant insertion and that for removal were 0.5 and 3.5 min, respectively, and all the procedures were uncomplicated. The return to normal menstrual cycles and fertility was rapid after removal. CONCLUSIONS: Implanon is a safe, highly effective and rapidly reversible new method of contraception.

Acne Vulgaris↗

PubMed2004

[Evaluation of sperm samples from infertile men by flow cytometry].

INTRODUCTION: Human spermatogenesis begins at adolescence and continues throughout life. This process includes morphologic, cytologic and biological changes, leading to the formation of mature spermatozoa. Male infertility may be caused by several reasons, including oligozoospermia at variable degrees and complete absence of mature spermatozoa. Routine spermatogram, measuring sperm counts, motility and morphology, might not provide complete information in the evaluation of these cases. This study is aimed to evaluate the possible use of flow cytometry in the identification of different sperm cell populations in sperm samples obtained from infertile men, and in determining the different cell types in various groups of infertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sperm samples from normal and infertile men (the latter were azoospermic or oligoteratozoospermic OTA) underwent flow cytometry analysis, after preparation with TNE buffer and staining with Propidium Iodide. The separation of germinal cells into different populations, according to their DNA content and chromatin condensation, was evaluated. The WINMDI (http://fac.-scripps.edu, J. Trotter) software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Flow cytometric analysis enabled identification of several cell populations in sperm samples, including haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells. Certain cellular distribution patterns were observed in sperm samples from infertile men: mature haploid cells, diploid cells, domination of tetraploid or non-mature haploid cells, and combination of these patterns. These patterns appeared in a statistically different manner among fertile and infertile men; the median value of mature haploid cells was higher in normal men (91%, compared to 85% in the OTA group and 0% in the azoospermic men), while the median value of diploid and tetraploid cells was higher in azoospermic men (72% and 8.5% respectively, compared to only 1% and 0% in normal men). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that flow cytometry of sperm samples may serve as a non-invasive tool for investigations of male infertility and for identification of appropriate candidates for interventional treatment.

Flow Cytometry↗

PubMed2000

The Drosophila seminal fluid protein Acp26Aa stimulates release of oocytes by the ovary.

Mating stimulates the rate of egg-laying by female insects. In Drosophila melanogaster this stimulation is initially caused by seminal fluid molecules transferred from the male (Acps or accessory gland proteins; reviewed in [1] [2] [3]). Egg-laying is a multi-step process. It begins with oocyte release by the ovaries, followed by egg movement down the oviducts and the deposition of eggs onto the substratum. Although two Acps are known to stimulate egg-laying [4] [5], they were detected by assays that do not discriminate between the steps of this process or allow examination of its earliest changes [4] [5] [6] [7]. To determine how egg-laying is regulated, we developed a generally applicable assay to separate the process into quantifiable steps, allowing us to assess the ovulation pattern and rate of egg movement. As the steps are interdependent yet potentially subject to independent controls, we determined the contribution of each step and effector independent of the others. We used a statistical method [8] [9] that separately considers and quantifies each 'path' to a common end. We found that the prohormone-like molecule Acp26Aa [5] [10] stimulates the first step in egg-laying - release of oocytes by the ovary. During mating, Acp26Aa begins to accumulate at the base of the ovaries, a position consistent with action on the ovarian musculature to mediate oocyte release. Understanding how individual Acps regulate egg-laying in fruitflies will help provide a full molecular picture of insects' prodigious fertility, of reproductive hormones, and of the roles of these rapidly evolving proteins [11] [12].

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Patterns of local migration and their consequences in a rural Ethiopian population.

AIMS: In the context of the Butajira Rural Health Programme (BRHP) in Ethiopia, which has maintained demographic surveillance in selected communities since 1987, this paper investigates patterns of migration and their consequences within that population over a ten year period 1987-1996. METHODS & RESULTS: Based on observations of over 336,000 person-years in nine rural villages and one small town, 48% of individuals migrated in or out of the study area at some stage, as recorded in monthly household visits. There was a net incidence of migration into the urban area, particularly among young adults. Mortality was higher among residents compared with in-migrants, with rates of 10.5 (95% CI 7.5 to 14.9) and 8.2 (95% CI 5.8 to 11.7) per 1,000 person-years respectively after adjustment for age, sex and area of residence, a rate ratio of 1.3. Fertility among in-migrant and resident women was similar, at rates of 0.26 and 0.28 births per reproductive year respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The causes of the observed differences in mortality are not clear, though they may be partly due to self-selection effects among migrants, and may have important implications for future health policy and planning in Ethiopia and other similar settings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Repeated inseminations required for natural fertility in a wild bird population.

In most bird species, pairs copulate many times before egg laying. The exact function of repeated inseminations (i.e. successful copulations) is unknown, but several suggestions have been made. We tested the hypothesis that repeated inseminations are required to ensure fertilization of eggs, by using an experimental method where free-ranging male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) were prevented from inseminating their mates. We show that egg fertility was lower when females had not copulated during the studied part of their fertile period. By counting sperm on the inner perivitelline layer of eggs, we estimated that a minimum of 86 sperm must reach the site of fertilization to ensure average fertility. Using the timing of inseminations and the numbers of sperm on successive eggs, we show that repeated copulations are necessary to achieve an average rate of fertilization of a single clutch. Our results thus provide evidence that repeated inseminations function to ensure fertilization success. We discuss possible constraints on sperm production and utilization that may have contributed to this pattern.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

DNA fingerprinting of sister blastomeres from human IVF embryos.

BACKGROUND: Previously published single cell DNA fingerprinting systems have been plagued by high rates of allele drop-out (ADO) and preferential amplification (PA) preventing clinical application in preimplantation genetic diagnosis. METHODS: Tetranucleotide microsatellite markers with high heterozygosity, known allelic size ranges and minimal PCR stutter artefacts were selected for chromosomes X, 13, 18 and 21 and optimized in a multiplex fluorescent (FL)-PCR format. FL-PCR products were analysed using the ABI Prism 377 DNA sequenator and Genescan software. Validation of the DNA fingerprinting system was performed on single diploid (n = 50) and aneuploid (n = 25) buccal cells and embryonic blastomeres (n = 21). RESULTS: The optimized pentaplex PCR DNA fingerprinting system displayed a high proportion of successful amplifications (>91%) and low ADO and PA (<6%) when assessed on 50 human buccal cells. DNA fingerprints of single cells from a subject with Down's syndrome detected the expected tri-allelic pattern for the chromosome 21 marker, confirming trisomy 21. In a blind study on 21 single blastomeres, all embryos were identifiable by their unique DNA fingerprints and shared parental alleles. CONCLUSIONS: A highly specific multiplex FL-PCR based on the amplification of five highly polymorphic microsatellite markers was developed for single cells. This finding paves the way for the development of a more complex PCR DNA fingerprinting system to assess aneuploidy and single gene mutations in IVF embryos from couples at genetic risk.

Alleles↗

PubMed1988

Bufo japonicus japonicus and Xenopus laevis laevis egg jellies contain structurally related antigens and cortical granule lectin ligands.

The antigenic relationship of the egg jelly coat glycoproteins from Bufo japonicus japonicus and Xenopus laevis laevis was investigated using agar double diffusion methods. The presence of ligands in the jelly coats for the cortical granule lectin from X.l. laevis eggs was also investigated. Anti-jelly serum for both anuran species crossreacted with the jelly coat from the other species with precipitin patterns of identity. Each egg jelly coat of both species contained two ligands for the cortical granule lectin. Although the ligands in the two different jelly coats appeared to react with the lectin in a pattern of identity, the species ligands were antigenically distinguishable using anti-Xenopus jelly serum. The observations that the two anuran egg jelly coats were antigenically related and that they both contained ligands for the X.l. laevis cortical granule lectin was interpreted in terms of fertilization mechanisms in the two different species. In addition, these observations bring into question the currently accepted phylogenetic relationship of B.j. japonicus and X.l. laevis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Congenital absence of the vas deferens: incomplete penetrance of cystic fibrosis gene mutations.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the penetrance of cystic fibrosis gene mutations for the clinical phenotype of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the fertility status of 244 brothers of 105 men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. Testing for the most common cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations and for haplotype analysis of the intron 8/polythymidine segment was recommended for all men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. RESULTS: Of 244 brothers of men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens 131 were eligible for assessment of fertility. Of the 131 evaluable brothers only 7 (5%) were found to have congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. This prevalence is 5 times lower than that predicted for congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (25%) based on the autosomal recessive inheritance pattern seen in classical cystic fibrosis. For couples in which the man has congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens and the female partner tests negative for standard CFTR gene mutations including 5T analysis, the maximum risk of having a child with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens is less than 1.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Our data are consistent with incomplete penetrance for the congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens phenotype after inheritance of cystic fibrosis gene mutations, even after adjusting for environmental factors and wolffian anomalies. Incomplete penetrance may account for a low prevalence of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens in the population and may lower the risk of having a child with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens for couples undergoing sperm retrieval and assisted reproductive techniques.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

PubMed1994

Choice of contraceptive modality by women in Norway.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of contraception in a representative sample of Norwegian women. OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency distribution of contraceptive methods by age, marital status and partly strata. MATERIAL: A sample of 4,933 women were selected at random from the Central Population Register as participants in the second Norwegian fertility study (1988). The response rate was 81% (n = 4,019) and personal interviews of contraceptive use were carried out among 2,782 women who were fecund, sexually active and not pregnant. These women comprise the study population. RESULTS: 2,782 women were sexually active during the last month prior to the interview and thus in potential need of contraception. More than 50% of the women used either oral contraceptives (21%) or IUDs (30%). The use of oral contraceptives decreased linearly with age from a user rate of 60% among women 20-24 years old to 1.5% among women 40-44 years of age. The use of IUDs increased from 6% in the youngest age group to nearly 40% among women aged 30-39 years of age. Oral contraceptives were preferentially used by childless women or those with only one child, while IUDs were most often used by women with two or more children. The sterilisation rate increased by age and in the 40-44 age group one out of every three women was sterilised. Non-use was most frequent among the subgroups of women who planned children in the future. Use of condoms and other coitus-dependent contraceptives varied less with age, marital status and parity than did the use of OC, IUDs or sterilisation. CONCLUSION: The user pattern concerning different contraceptive methods reflects the general guidelines for contraceptives in Norway. The fact that nearly 70% of the women were in one of the three categories--OC or IUD users, or one of the partners was sterilised--reveals that the awareness and knowledge of modern contraception is high in Norwegian society.

Adult↗

PubMed1979

A collaborative study of the progesterone intrauterine device (Progestasert). The World Health Organization Task Force on Methods for the Regulation of Implantation.

A randomised double blind study of a plain T-shaped IUD and an active T-shaped IUD releasing 65 micrograms/day of progesterone, has been completed in four centres. A study of 1320 progesterone-releasing IUD's in parous women for 9660 women months of use significant to 18 months, gave a pregnancy rate of 1.0 +/- 0.4, expulsion of 4.7 +/- 0.6 and removals for pain and bleeding of 6.0 +/- 0.7. A detailed analysis of the menstrual bleeding patterns in these patients gave details of the number and length of bleeding and spotting episodes, count of bleeding days, and count of spotting episodes and days for four one-hundred-day reference periods. While the plain IUD contributed a significant number of intermenstrual spotting and bleeding days, the progesterone-releasing IUD contributed more spotting days.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Comparison between depot leuprorelin and daily buserelin in IVF.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of depot and daily forms of GnRH analogs in IVF programs. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients undergoing IVF, with no severe male factor, were randomized between two treatment groups. Pituitary desensitization was obtained in group 1 (60 patients) with a single IM injection of leuprorelin (3.75 mg), and in group 2 (57 patients) with buserelin (0.3 mg SC twice daily). In a subgroup of 10 patients (5 for the depot form and 5 for the daily form) several GnRH tests were performed to investigate pituitary desensitization. RESULTS: No differences were found in the time to reach desensitization. Resumption of pituitary activity occurred in 7 days with the daily form and in about 2 months with the depot form. No significant differences were found in the stimulation pattern, oocyte quality, percentage of fertilization. The pregnancy rate per transfer was slightly, but not significantly, better in the depot group (29.4% vs 25.9%). Implantation rate (11.9% vs 12.3%) and the percentage of miscarriages (26.6% vs 28.5%) were similar. CONCLUSION: Depot and daily forms of GnRH analogs are equally effective in superovulation induction for IVF. Considering improved patient compliance and preference, depot forms are advantageous.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed1995

Expression of pro-opiomelanocortin gene in human ovarian tissue.

The high concentration of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in human follicular fluid, which is several times higher than in plasma, suggested a local expression of the POMC gene. This has previously been observed in the animal ovaries. Peripheral POMC-like mRNAs are not translated in POMC-derived peptides but recent evidence supports the presence of a small amount of full-length transcript in human testes and lymphocytes. The purpose of this study was to test two hypotheses: firstly, that there is a different pattern of POMC mRNA expression in the human ovary of fertile and post-menopausal women, and secondly that there is a tissue-specific localization of POMC transcript. Northern blot analysis showed that a potential relationship exists between POMC gene expression and the reproductive age of a woman, and that POMC mRNA has a tissue-specific localization. The expression of POMC messenger in the ovarian parenchyma collected from women of fertile age and in the germinative follicles appeared higher than that observed in samples from post-menopausal women. No signals were detected in corpora lutea. In conclusion, we believe that the physiological role of the POMC gene in the human ovary remains an unsolved problem, necessitating more sensitive methods of mRNA detection as well as further studies in vitro.

Adult↗