Why Prospectively Randomized Clinical Trials Have Been Rare in Reproductive Medicine and Will Remain So?
There is almost unanimity that modern medicine should be "evidence based." In this context, lack of prospectively randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is widely lamented in reproductive medicine. Some leading voices, indeed, increasingly suggest that only RCT-based clinical conclusions should be integrated into clinical practice, since lower levels of evidence are inadequate. We have argued that reproductive medicine requires special considerations because, like clinical oncology, fertility treatments (especially in older women) are time dependent. Unlike clinical oncology, reproductive medicine, however, does not receive sub...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - December 14, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Gleicher, N., Kushnir, V. A., Barad, D. H. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
In the Spotlight
(Source: Reproductive Sciences)
Source: Reproductive Sciences - December 14, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Maduro, M. R. Tags: In the Spotlight Source Type: research
High-Frequency Ultrasound for the Study of Early Mouse Embryonic Cardiovascular System
An accurate diagnosis of congenital heart defects during fetal development is critical for interventional planning. Mice can be used to generate animal models with heart defects, and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) imaging enables in utero imaging of live mouse embryos. A wide range of physiological measurements is possible using Doppler-HFUS imaging; limitations of any single measurement warrant a multiparameter approach to characterize cardiovascular function. Doppler-HFUS was used to explore the embryonic (heart, aorta) and extraembryonic (umbilical blood flow) circulatory systems to create a database in normal mouse e...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Greco, A., Coda, A. R. D., Albanese, S., Ragucci, M., Liuzzi, R., Auletta, L., Gargiulo, S., Lamagna, F., Salvatore, M., Mancini, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The Effect of Maternal Obesity on Pregnancy Outcome in Correlation With Placental Pathology
Conclusion:
Pregnancy outcome is worse without different placental component in obese versus normal weight women, with complicated pregnancies. In uncomplicated pregnancies, more maternal placental vascular supply lesions exist in obese versus normal weight women, suggesting background placental compromise. (Source: Reproductive Sciences)
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Kovo, M., Zion-Saukhanov, E., Schreiber, L., Mevorach, N., Divon, M., Ben-Haroush, A., Bar, J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Immunohistochemical Investigation of Metastasis-Related Chemokines in Deep-Infiltrating Endometriosis and Compromised Pelvic Sentinel Lymph Nodes
Endometriosis is a prevalent benign disease, despite sharing several similarities with malignancies, such as the possibility of lymphatic spread. In malignancies, chemokines play a sovereign role in the process of metastasis. Metastasis-related chemokine axes have not yet been assessed in deep-infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), and this investigation was the aim of our study. The expression of these chemokines was investigated by immunohistochemistry in rectovaginal DIE lesions and in matched pelvic sentinel lymph nodes (PSLNs) of patients with endometriosis (n = 27), and their expression in the eutopic endometrium (EE) of ...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Borrelli, G. M., Abrao, M. S., Taube, E. T., Darb-Esfahani, S., Köhler, C., Kaufmann, A. M., Chiantera, V., Mechsner, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Delayed Start Versus Conventional GnRH Antagonist Protocol in Poor Responders Pretreated With Estradiol in Luteal Phase: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Conclusion:
Delayed start protocol significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate and IVF cycle parameters in PORs. (Source: Reproductive Sciences)
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Maged, A. M., Nada, A. M., Abohamila, F., Hashem, A. T., Mostafa, W. A., Elzayat, A. R. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Knockdown of Eag1 Expression by RNA Interference Increases Chemosensitivity to Cisplatin in Ovarian Cancer Cells
In this study, we measured the expression of Eag1 in ovarian cancer and investigated the association between cisplatin chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer cells and Eag1 expression level. We demonstrate that decreased expression of Eag1 correlates with favorable prognosis in patients treated with cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy and predicts higher cisplatin sensitivity in ovarian cancer cells. In vitro, knockdown of Eag1 by small interfering RNA facilitated the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3 and TYK) to cisplatin-induced apoptosis via nuclear factor -light chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-B) pathway...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Hui, C., Lan, Z., Yue-li, L., Li-lin, H., Li-lin, H. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Oogonial Precursor Cell-Derived Autologous Mitochondria Injection to Improve Outcomes in Women With Multiple IVF Failures Due to Low Oocyte Quality: A Clinical Translation
Conclusion: These data show encouraging results for AMI in comparison to previous failed IVF cycles. (Source: Reproductive Sciences)
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Oktay, K., Baltaci, V., Sonmezer, M., Turan, V., Unsal, E., Baltaci, A., Aktuna, S., Moy, F. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Pregnancy is Associated With Earlier Delivery and Reduced Birth Weight
The association between maternal smoking and preterm birth (PTB) has been known for more than 50 years but the effect of passive smoking is controversial. This retrospective cohort study in Bristol, United Kingdom, examines the effect of environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETSE) on gestational age at delivery, birth weight, PTB, and being small-for-gestational age (SGA). Environmental tobacco smoke exposure was defined by either self-report or exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) levels, and exposed women were compared with unexposed controls. Two models were used: The first included all women with adjustment for maternal smoki...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Ion, R. C., Wills, A. K., Bernal, A. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Expression Levels of Myostatin and Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 mRNAs in Uterine Leiomyoma are Correlated With Dysmenorrhea
Uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign neoplasm of female reproductive system, found in about 50% of women in reproductive age. The mechanisms of leiomyoma growth include cell proliferation, which is modulated by growth factors, and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Activin A and myostatin are growth factors that play a role in proliferation of leiomyoma cells. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known for their ability to remodel the ECM in different biological systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of activin βA-subunit, myostatin, and MMP14 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in uteri...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tsigkou, A., Reis, F. M., Ciarmela, P., Lee, M. H., Jiang, B., Tosti, C., Shen, F.-R., Shi, Z., Chen, Y.-G., Petraglia, F. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Ouabain Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy of Male Rat Offspring Exposed to Intrauterine Growth Restriction Following High-Salt Diet Challenge
Ouabain can normalize the blood pressure of the adult intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) offspring through retaining the number of glomeruli of the IUGR newborn. However, the melioration of hemodynamic features coinciding with the improvement in cardiac structure and function is poorly understood. Intrauterine growth restriction was induced in pregnant rats with protein intake restriction, and ouabain was administrated using osmotic mini pumps from the second gestational day. The male offspring of the mothers with normal diet, low-protein diet, and low-protein diet added with ouabain treatment were randomly divided int...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Chen, L., Yue, J., Wu, H., Yang, J., Han, X., Li, J., Hu, Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Progesterone Metabolites Produced by Cytochrome P450 3A Modulate Uterine Contractility in a Murine Model
Conclusion:
Progesterone metabolites produced by maternal or fetal CYP3A enzymes influence uterine contractility. (Source: Reproductive Sciences)
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Patil, A. S., Swamy, G. K., Murtha, A. P., Heine, R. P., Zheng, X., Grotegut, C. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Increased Levels of Cell-Free miR-517a and Decreased Levels of Cell-Free miR-518b in Maternal Plasma Samples From Placenta Previa Pregnancies at 32 Weeks of Gestation
Conclusion:
Plasma concentrations of cell-free miR-517a and miR-518b at 32 weeks of gestation were altered in pregnant women with placenta previa, and the circulating level of cell-free miR-517a in placenta previa may be a predictive marker for the risks of alert bleeding later and massive hemorrhage at delivery. (Source: Reproductive Sciences)
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Hasegawa, Y., Miura, K., Higashijima, A., Abe, S., Miura, S., Yoshiura, K.-i., Masuzaki, H. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Resveratrol Protects Against Pathological Preterm Birth by Suppression of Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation
Inflammatory cytokines play a major role in spontaneous preterm birth. Resveratrol has strong anti-inflammatory effects, but its effect on preterm birth in vivo is unknown. We investigated whether resveratrol protects against preterm birth in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm mouse model. Twelve-day-old pregnant mice were fed 20 to 40 mg/kg resveratrol daily. On day 15, 10 μg of LPS was injected into uterine cervices. Resveratrol administration significantly decreased the rate of preterm birth. Resveratrol administration abolished LPS-induced elevation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interl...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Furuya, H., Taguchi, A., Kawana, K., Yamashita, A., Inoue, E., Yoshida, M., Nakamura, H., Fujimoto, A., Inoue, T., Sato, M., Nishida, H., Nagasaka, K., Adachi, K., Hoya, M., Nagamatsu, T., Wada-Hiraike, O., Yamashita, T., Osuga, Y., Fujii, T. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Activation of the MAPK/ERK Cell-Signaling Pathway in Uterine Smooth Muscle Cells of Women With Adenomyosis
We investigated whether the myometrium might be intrinsically different in women with adenomyosis. We studied whether the mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (MAPKs/ERKs) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/AKT (PI3K/mTOR/AKT) cell-signaling pathways, implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, might also be activated in uterine smooth muscle cells (uSMCs) of women with adenomyosis and measured the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory mediators that modulate cell proliferation and have been shown to activate the MAPK/ERK pathway in en...
Source: Reproductive Sciences - November 13, 2015 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Streuli, I., Santulli, P., Chouzenoux, S., Chapron, C., Batteux, F. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
