Evaluation of endometrioma size effect on ovarian reserve, embryo quality and pregnancy outcome after in vitro fertilization cycle; a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Investigation of endometrioma size and its laterality on the quality of the embryo in patients with endometrioma compared to healthy subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective and cross-sectional study, 70 patients with unilateral and bilateral endometrioma were recruited and compared with 70 age-matched infertile patients as the control group in terms of AMH before ovum pick-up, embryo quality as well as pregnancy outcome. Additionally, in the case group, we divided both unilateral (n = 32) and bilateral endometrioma patients (n = 38) into three groups based on the size of endometrioma. (1-3 cm, 3-6 cm, 6-10 cm) RESULTS: There was no difference in terms of age, BMI, parity, and age of menarche between the case and control groups. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the baseline level of AMH between the case 2.96 ± 2.72 ng/dl (0.21-11.3) and control 2.73 ± 2.39 (0.21-12.8) groups. (P = 0.59) There was also no significant difference concerning AMH level between unilateral 3.58 ± 3.20 ng/dl (0.21-12.8) and bilateral endometrioma 2.45 ± 2.14 (0.21 - 0.20) groups. In terms of the quality and number of embryos, there was no significant difference between the case and control groups. (P = 0.30) Although the AMH level decreased with the increase in endometrioma size, this difference was not statistically significant. (P = 0.07) There was no significant difference in terms of the embryo quality between the groups based on the size of endometrioma. (P = 0.77) In addition, no significant difference was observed between the case and control groups in the terms of birth weight and pregnancy complications, such as premature delivery, cesarean section rate, neonatal respiratory distress, jaundice, as well as hospitalization rate. Head circumference of the newborns was higher in the endometrioma group while their Apgar score was lower in the case compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The presence of endometrioma by itself does not affect the main result of IVF procedures, including the number and quality of embryos and pregnancy outcome. Thus, IVF and embryo preservation and even pregnancy before surgery seem to be reasonable for endometriotic patients.

Ovarian Malignant Mixed Germ Cell Tumor: A Case of Unusual Presentation as Molar Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

This research was conducted to introduce a patient with rare ovarian mixed germ cell tumor, presented as molar pregnancy.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 16 year old woman admitted with diagnosis of molar pregnancy. Abdominal enlargement was the only complaint. She had a large pelvic mass in physical examination. The first diagnosis was molar pregnancy due to previous ultrasonic reports and positive βeta HCG. Urine pregnancy test was positive. As suction curettage was performed for her, surprisingly, the size of uterus was normal and no molar tissue was found in pathologic examination. At intraoperative ultrasound exam, an extra-uterine heterogeneous mass was found. Extra-uterine mass was confirmed by CT and MRI done after suction curettage. Mixed germ cell tumor was confirmed by histological examination after laparatomy and removing tumoral mass. Finally, she received Bleomycin, Etoposide and Cisplatin (BEP) regimen in four courses and Vincristine, Actinomycin D (Dactinomycin) and Cyclophosphamide (VAC) regimen in two courses and Diphereline for saving the other ovary.

CONCLUSION

Some young patients misinterpret the early symptoms of an ovarian neoplasm as those of pregnancy which can lead to a delay in the diagnosis.

Changes in blood metals, hematology and hepatic enzyme activities in lactating cows reared in the vicinity of a lead-zinc smelter

The present study examines blood metals levels and health parameters in dairy cows reared in areas around a Pb-Zn industrial complex located near the city of Zanjan-Iran. Blood samples (n = 27) were collected from cows reared around the smelter. Blood samples (n = 25) were also collected from cows reared in areas where chances of Pb contamination of soil, water and fodder do not exist, to serve as reference. The mean blood Pb level in cows around the smelter (1.09 ± 0.26 µg/mL) was higher than the cows from the reference area (0.72 ± 0.25 µg/mL). Hematocrit (PCV) levels decreased in cows reared in the near of smelter (24.37 % ± 2.22 %) compared to the reference site (27.54 % ± 2.87 %). Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and mean corpuscular Hb concentration value in cows from the area around the smelter were statistically lower than the cows reared in reference area. Activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase (IU/l) were significantly higher in cows around the smelter as compared to reference animals.

Source of copper may have regressive effects on serum cholesterol and urea nitrogen among male fattening lambs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary copper (Cu) on mineral profile, hematological parameters, and lipid metabolism in lambs. Eighteen Zandi male lambs (approximately 3 months of age; 17.53±1.6 kg of body weight) were housed in individual pens and were assigned randomly to one of three treatments. Treatments consisted of (1) control (no supplemental Cu), (2) 10 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) from copper sulfate (CuS), and (3) 10 mg Cu/kg DM from Cu proteinate (CuP). The Cu concentration was 8.2 mg/kg DM in the basal diet. Blood was sampled from the jugular vein at the beginning of the study (enrollment, before feeding Cu supplement) and at days 25, 50, and 70 of experiment. The amounts of total serum glucose, urea nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, and lipids and hematological parameters were measured. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were improved (P<0.05) with Cu supplementation and were better for the lambs fed diet supplemented with CuP. The concentrations of serum Ca, P, and Zn were not affected by source of Cu in the diet. However, Fe concentration was lower (P<0.01) in the Cu-supplemented groups. Experimental treatment had no significant effects on the hematological parameters. The serum glucose concentration was not affected by treatments. However, the urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly affected (P<0.05) by added Cu and was lower for CuP group as compared to the lambs in the CuS and control groups. Addition of Cu had no influence (P>0.05) on the serum triglyceride concentration, but lambs fed with CuP supplement had lower (P<0.05) serum cholesterol than the CuS and control animals. These results indicated that CuP supplemented at 10 mg/kg DM improved gain and enhanced the efficiency of nitrogen in male lambs.

The effects of feeding clinoptilolite on hematology, performance, and health of newborn lambs

The effects of feeding clinoptilolite on hematology, performance, and health of newborn Balouchi lambs were evaluated in this experiment. In a completely randomized design, 30 newborn lambs were allocated to three groups and fed by basal diet (C0; without clinoptilolite) and C1 and C2 (the basal diet plus 1.5% and 3% clinoptilolite, respectively, for 6 weeks (3 weeks before and 3 weeks after weaning)). Blood samples were taken from all lambs, at the time when the animals were allocated to the experimental diet and at the end of each week of experiment, and analyzed for hematology, plasma fibrinogen, and total protein. Performance and health of all lambs were measured. Fecal consistency score and diarrhea severity were evaluated. There was no difference between lambs in case of hematological parameters. Lambs fecal consistency score and severity of diarrhea were lowest (P < 0.05) for lambs on C1 and C2 and highest for lambs on C0. Dry matter intake and feed conservation ratio were similar between the groups of lambs fed by different diets, but daily gain of lambs differed significantly (P < 0.05) and was higher in C2. It was concluded that addition of 3% clinoptilolite to starter diet of newborn lamb can reduce incidence and severity of diarrhea, although its effect on hematology and performance was negligible.

Productivity, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics of fattening Zandi lambs fed sodium bentonite supplemented total mixed rations

Thirty male Zandy lambs (25 +/- 0.50 kg BW, 10 lambs in each group) were randomly allocated in three (control, 2% bentonite and 4% bentonite) treatment groups. Lambs were fed Total Mixed Rations (TMRs) containing 75% Concentrate Mixture (CM) and 25% forage. Sodium bentonite was mixed with the CM part of TMRs before being mixed with the forage. The fattening period lasted 84 days and data were collected on the performance, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics of lambs. Results showed that sheep fed bentonite added diets had relatively higher feed intake than the control group which ended to slightly higher weight change with a fairly appropriate feed conversion ratio in bentonite fed animals. Compared to the control group, a reasonably lower glucose and urea concentration and a higher total protein content was observed in the blood of sheep fed bentonite supplemented diets. The use of bentonite in diets did not affect the blood cholesterol contents of sheep. Slaughter weights, carcass dressing out percentages and carcass cuts were a bit higher in sheep of bentonite fed groups compared to those in control group. Sheep fed bentonite added diets produced carcasses with lower subcutaneous fat thicknesses and lower fat-tail percentages. Furthermore, feed cost was estimated to be lower for sheep in 2% bentonite group than that in other two groups. In conclusion, the use of two-percent sodium bentonite is suggested for diets of fattening lambs in Iranian feed markets.

Effects of live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on fermentation parameters and microbial populations of rumen, total tract digestibility of diet nutrients and on the in situ degradability of alfalfa hay in Iranian Chall sheep

The effects of live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (LYSC, strain Sc 47) on rumen fermentation and microbial populations, digestibility of nutrients, degradability of alfalfa hay and on the performances of sheep were investigated in two experiments. In both experiments, animals in treatment groups were received 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 g of LYSC per sheep per day and were defined as control, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g LYSC treatment groups, respectively. In the first experiment, four fistulated Chall sheep (49 +/- 0.5 kg BW) were kept in individual metabolic crates under a 4x4 Latin square design and fed a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) containing of barely (48%), wheat bran (16%), shelled corn (5%), mineral-vitamin mix (1%) and of alfalfa hay (30%). In the second experiment, 28 sheep (48 +/- 0.5 kg BW) were assigned into four treatment groups under a complete randomized design and fed a TMR containing of barely (60%), wheat bran (7%), cottonseed meal (2%), mineral-vitamin mix (1%) and of alfalfa hay (15%) and wheat straw (15%). The highest and the lowest ruminal pH values (p < 0.01) were recorded for sheep in 2.5 g LYSC and control groups, respectively. At 3 h post-feeding, the total VFA of rumen fluid was increased (p < 0.01) from 91.26 to 103.34 mmol L(-1) in control vs. 2.5 g LYSC groups. The ruminal NH3-N of sheep was decreased (p < 0.01) from 159.63 to 128.90 mg L(-1) in control vs. 2.5 g LYSC groups. Bacterial populations of rumen fluids were differed from 14 to 43% in treatment groups although the differences were not significant. Compared to the other groups, voluntary feed intake was higher (p < 0.01) in 5.0 g LYSC group and this was ended to an inappropriate feed to gain ratio in this group. It can be concluded that the use of LYSC at a level of 2.5 g per sheep per day could improve the ruminal fermentation and resulted in a relatively better performances in Chall sheep.