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Hoffman JR, Delaney MA, Valdes CT, Herrera D, Washington SL, Aghajanova L, Smith JF, Herndon CN. Disparities in fertility knowledge among women from low and high resource settings presenting for fertility care in two United States metropolitan centers. Fertil Res Pract 2020; 6:15. [PMID: 32821417 PMCID: PMC7429753 DOI: 10.1186/s40738-020-00084-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Few studies have examined health literacy and fertility knowledge among women from low income, socio-culturally diverse communities presenting for fertility care in the United States. Our study sought to examine demographic predictors of fertility-related knowledge among infertile women from low and high-resource communities in two major metropolitan centers in the United States. Methods Fertility Knowledge Assessments were administered to women presenting for fertility care at county medical centers serving low-resource, largely immigrant patients and to women from largely affluent populations presenting to comprehensive fertility centers in two cities. The influence of demographic predictors on fertility knowledge was examined through regression analysis. Results A total of 143 women were included in our analysis. In the county hospital/low resource clinic (LR, n = 70), the mean age was 32.8 ± 6.1 years vs 35.0 ± 5.0 years in the fee-for-service/high resource clinic (HR, n = 73). Among the LR patients, 74% were immigrants, 71% had an annual income <$25,000 and 52% had completed high school. Among HR patients, 36% were immigrants, 60% had an annual income >$100,000, and 95% had some college or above. On average, women from HR settings scored 3.0 points higher on the Fertility Knowledge Assessment than their LR counterparts (p < 0.001). Upon multivariate analysis, education level remained the sole independent factor associated with fertility knowledge assessment score (p < 0.001). Stratifying by resource level revealed that income was highly associated with fertility knowledge (p < 0.01) among high resource individuals even when adjusting for education level. Conclusions Women from low resource, largely immigrant communities, seeking fertility care have greater disparities in fertility knowledge and lower health literacy compared to women from high resource clinical settings. Further studies are needed to understand these barriers and to develop targeted inventions to lower disparities and improve care for these vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn R Hoffman
- University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, 1501 N Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724 USA
| | - Meaghan A Delaney
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Office S1661, Springfield, MA 01199 USA
| | - Cecilia T Valdes
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, One Baylor Plaza, BCM 610, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Diana Herrera
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Houston Methodist Hospital, 1401 St. Joseph Pkwy. Susan K. Strake Building, 1st Floor SKS1106A, Houston, TX 77002 USA
| | - Samuel L Washington
- Department of Urology, University of California, 400 Parnassus, Box 0738, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Lusine Aghajanova
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Services, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1195 West Fremont Avenue, MC 7717, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 USA
| | - James F Smith
- Department of Urology, University of California, 400 Parnassus, Box 0738, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA.,UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, 3333 California St, San Francisco, CA 94118 USA
| | - Christopher N Herndon
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356460, Seattle, WA 98195-6460 USA
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Schutt AK, Blesson CS, Hsu JW, Valdes CT, Gibbons WE, Jahoor F, Yallampalli C. Preovulatory exposure to a protein-restricted diet disrupts amino acid kinetics and alters mitochondrial structure and function in the rat oocyte and is partially rescued by folic acid. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2019; 17:12. [PMID: 30654812 PMCID: PMC6337842 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0458-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detrimental exposures during pregnancy have been implicated in programming offspring to develop permanent changes in physiology and metabolism, increasing the risk for developing diseases in adulthood such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. This study investigated the effects of protein restriction on the metabolism of amino acids within the oocyte, liver, and whole organism in a rat model as well as effects on mitochondrial ultrastructure and function in the cumulus oocyte complex. METHODS Wistar outbred female rats 8-11 weeks of age (n = 24) were assigned to three isocaloric dietary groups, including control (C), low protein (LP) and low protein supplemented with folate (LPF). Animals were superovulated and 48 h later underwent central catheterization. Isotopic tracers of 1-13C-5C2H3-methionine, 2H2-cysteine, U-13C3-cysteine and U-13C3-serine were administered by a 4 h prime-constant rate infusion. After sacrifice, oocytes were denuded of cumulus cells and liver specimens were obtained. RESULTS Oocytes demonstrated reduced serine flux in LP vs. LPF (p < 0.05), reduced cysteine flux in LP and LPF vs. C (p < 0.05), and a trend toward reduced transsulfuration in LP vs. C and LPF. Folic acid supplementation reversed observed effects on serine flux and transsulfuration. Preovulatory protein restriction increased whole-body methionine transmethylation, methionine transsulfuration and the flux of serine in LP and LPF vs. C (p = 0.003, p = 0.002, p = 0.005). The concentration of glutathione was increased in erythrocytes and liver in LP and LPF vs. C (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0003). Oocyte mitochondrial ultrastructure in LP and LPF had increased proportions of abnormal mitochondria vs. C (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Cumulus cell mitochondrial ultrastructure in LP and LPF groups had increased proportions of abnormal mitochondria vs. C (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). Preovulatory protein restriction altered oocyte expression of Drp1, Opa-1, Mfn1/2, Parl and Ndufb6 (p < 0.05) and Hk2 (p < 0.01), which are genes involved in mitochondrial fission (division) and fusion, mitochondrial apoptotic mechanisms, respiratory electron transport and glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Preovulatory protein restriction resulted in altered amino acid metabolism, abnormal cumulus oocyte complex mitochondrial ultrastructure and differential oocyte expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K. Schutt
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
- 0000 0001 2200 2638grid.416975.8Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women, 6651 Main St, Suite F1020, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Chellakkan S. Blesson
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jean W. Hsu
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Cecilia T. Valdes
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - William E. Gibbons
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Farook Jahoor
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Chandra Yallampalli
- 0000 0001 2160 926Xgrid.39382.33Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
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Peavey MC, Reynolds CL, Szwarc MM, Gibbons WE, Valdes CT, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. A Novel Use of Three-dimensional High-frequency Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Characterization in the Mouse. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 29155779 DOI: 10.3791/56207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
High-frequency ultrasonography (HFUS) is a common method to non-invasively monitor the real-time development of the human fetus in utero. The mouse is routinely used as an in vivo model to study embryo implantation and pregnancy progression. Unfortunately, such murine studies require pregnancy interruption to enable follow-up phenotypic analysis. To address this issue, we used three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of HFUS imaging data for early detection and characterization of murine embryo implantation sites and their individual developmental progression in utero. Combining HFUS imaging with 3-D reconstruction and modeling, we were able to accurately quantify embryo implantation site number as well as monitor developmental progression in pregnant C57BL6J/129S mice from 5.5 days post coitus (d.p.c.) through to 9.5 d.p.c. with the use of a transducer. Measurements included: number, location, and volume of implantation sites as well as inter-implantation site spacing; embryo viability was assessed by cardiac activity monitoring. In the immediate post-implantation period (5.5 to 8.5 d.p.c.), 3-D reconstruction of the gravid uterus in both mesh and solid overlay format enabled visual representation of the developing pregnancies within each uterine horn. As genetically engineered mice continue to be used to characterize female reproductive phenotypes derived from uterine dysfunction, this method offers a new approach to detect, quantify, and characterize early implantation events in vivo. This novel use of 3-D HFUS imaging demonstrates the ability to successfully detect, visualize, and characterize embryo-implantation sites during early murine pregnancy in a non-invasive manner. The technology offers a significant improvement over current methods, which rely on the interruption of pregnancies for gross tissue and histopathologic characterization. Here we use a video and text format to describe how to successfully perform ultrasounds of early murine pregnancy to generate reliable and reproducible data with reconstruction of the uterine form in mesh and solid 3-D images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Peavey
- Devision of Repreoductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | | | | | - William E Gibbons
- Devision of Repreoductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Cecilia T Valdes
- Devision of Repreoductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Francesco J DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences;
| | - John P Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine;
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Valdes CT, Schutt A, Simon C. Implantation failure of endometrial origin: it is not pathology, but our failure to synchronize the developing embryo with a receptive endometrium. Fertil Steril 2017; 108:15-18. [PMID: 28668151 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is an intriguing, massive failure of reproductive treatment in otherwise healthy women leading to the introduction of empirical adjuvant interventions that are costly, inefficient, and frustrating for our patients. In this article, we will try to convince the readers that RIF is neither a stigma nor a mysterious pathology but rather our failure to diagnose and properly synchronize the euploid blastocyst with the patient's personalized window of implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia T Valdes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amy Schutt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Carlos Simon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Valencia University and INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain; Igenomix, Parc Cientific Valencia University, Valencia, Spain; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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Valbuena D, Valdes CT, Simon C. Introduction: Endometrial function: facts, urban legends, and an eye to the future. Fertil Steril 2017; 108:4-8. [PMID: 28601409 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The embryo alone, though very important, is not sufficient to explain successful or failed implantation. Human embryonic implantation is less efficient than in nonmenstruating species. The main difference lies in the decidual control of early implantation events and the subsequent course of pregnancy versus embryo control in nonmenstruating species. In this article, we introduce the facts behind the low efficiency of this crucial process, address urban legends routinely considered without high clinical quality evidence, and provide a vision of how the endometrial field will develop in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Valbuena
- Igenomix, Parc Cientific Valencia University, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cecilia T Valdes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Carlos Simon
- Igenomix, Parc Cientific Valencia University, Valencia, Spain; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Valencia University and INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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Peavey MC, Reynolds CL, Szwarc MM, Gibbons WE, Valdes CT, DeMayo FJ, Lydon JP. Three-Dimensional High-Frequency Ultrasonography for Early Detection and Characterization of Embryo Implantation Site Development in the Mouse. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169312. [PMID: 28046063 PMCID: PMC5207679 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonography is a powerful tool to non-invasively monitor in real time the development of the human fetus in utero. Although genetically engineered mice have served as valuable in vivo models to study both embryo implantation and pregnancy progression, such studies usually require sacrifice of parous mice for subsequent phenotypic analysis. To address this issue, we used three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction in silico of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) imaging data for early detection and characterization of murine embryo implantation sites and their development in utero. With HFUS imaging followed by 3-D reconstruction, we were able to precisely quantify embryo implantation site number and embryonic developmental progression in pregnant C57BL6J/129S mice from as early as 5.5 days post coitus (d.p.c.) through to 9.5 d.p.c. using a VisualSonics Vevo 2100 (MS550S) transducer. In addition to measurements of implantation site number, location, volume and spacing, embryo viability via cardiac activity monitoring was also achieved. A total of 12 dams were imaged with HFUS with approximately 100 embryos examined per embryonic day. For the post-implantation period (5.5 to 8.5 d.p.c.), 3-D reconstruction of the gravid uterus in mesh or solid overlay format enabled visual representation in silico of implantation site location, number, spacing distances, and site volume within each uterine horn. Therefore, this short technical report describes the feasibility of using 3-D HFUS imaging for early detection and analysis of post-implantation events in the pregnant mouse with the ability to longitudinally monitor the development of these early pregnancy events in a non-invasive manner. As genetically engineered mice continue to be used to characterize female reproductive phenotypes, we believe this reliable and non-invasive method to detect, quantify, and characterize early implantation events will prove to be an invaluable investigative tool for the study of female infertility and subfertility phenotypes based on a defective uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C. Peavey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Corey L. Reynolds
- Mouse Phenotyping Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Maria M. Szwarc
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - William E. Gibbons
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cecilia T. Valdes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Francesco J. DeMayo
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. United States of America
- * E-mail: (FJD); (JPL)
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (FJD); (JPL)
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Comstock IA, Diaz-Gimeno P, Cabanillas S, Bellver J, Sebastian-Leon P, Shah M, Schutt A, Valdes CT, Ruiz-Alonso M, Valbuena D, Simon C, Lathi RB. Does an increased body mass index affect endometrial gene expression patterns in infertile patients? A functional genomics analysis. Fertil Steril 2016; 107:740-748.e2. [PMID: 27919438 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the transcriptomic profile of endometrial gene alterations during the window of implantation in infertile obese patients. DESIGN Multicenter, prospective, case-control study. SETTING Three academic medical centers for reproductive medicine. PATIENT(S) Infertile patients, stratified into body mass index (BMI) categories according to the World Health Organization guidelines, were included in the study. INTERVENTION(S) Endometrial samples were obtained from women undergoing standardized estrogen and P replacement cycles after 5 days of vaginal P supplementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) To identify endometrial gene expression alterations that occur during the window of implantation in infertile obese patients as compared with infertile normal-weight controls using a microarray analysis. RESULT(S) XCL1, XCL2, HMHA1, S100A1, KLRC1, COTL1, COL16A1, KRT7, and MFAP5 are significantly dysregulated during the window of implantation in the receptive endometrium of obese patients. COL16A1, COTL1, HMHA1, KRCL1, XCL1, and XCL2 were down-regulated and KRT7, MFAP5, and S100A1 were up-regulated in the endometrium of obese patients. These genes are mainly involved in chemokine, cytokine, and immune system activity and in the structural extracellular matrix and protein-binding molecular functions. CONCLUSION(S) Obesity is associated with significant endometrial transcriptomic differences as compared with non-obese subjects. Altered endometrial gene expression in obese patients may contribute to the lower implantation rates and increased miscarriage rates seen in obese infertile patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02205866.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna A Comstock
- Stanford University Clinic for Reproductive Medicine, Sunnyvale, California.
| | | | - Sergio Cabanillas
- Valencia University/Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jose Bellver
- Valencia University/Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Meera Shah
- Stanford University Clinic for Reproductive Medicine, Sunnyvale, California
| | - Amy Schutt
- Baylor Family Fertility Center, Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women, Houston, Texas
| | - Cecilia T Valdes
- Baylor Family Fertility Center, Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | - Carlos Simon
- Stanford University Clinic for Reproductive Medicine, Sunnyvale, California; Valencia University/Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain; Baylor Family Fertility Center, Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women, Houston, Texas; Igenomix, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ruth B Lathi
- Stanford University Clinic for Reproductive Medicine, Sunnyvale, California
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Grunert GM, Wun WSA, Cheung SW, Dunn RC, Valdes CT, Schenk L. Blastocyst formation is not an indication of genetically normal embryos. Fertil Steril 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(03)01442-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the blastocyst formation rates of day-2 fertilized oocytes. METHODS A retrospective study of the outcomes/blastocyst formation of day-2 fertilized oocytes was undertaken. RESULTS Fertilization rates of day-1 and -2 oocytes by intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection were similar. The development frequencies to four cells were similar. However, the blastulation rates were significantly lower from the day-2 fertilized eggs. The fertilization rates from day-2 conventional in vitro fertilization reinsemination were lower than the fertilization rates of day-1 oocytes. The blastulation rates from day-2 fertilized eggs were also lower than the rates from day-1 fertilized eggs in the in vitro fertilization group. CONCLUSIONS Fertilization is not a good indicator to predict the viability of fertilized oocytes. Day-2 fertilized oocytes had significantly lower blastocyst formation rates than the rates from day-1 fertilized oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gullett
- Obstetrical and Gynecological Associates, Houston, Texas 77504-1989, USA
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Wun WS, Wun CC, Valdes CT, Dunn RC, Grunert GM. Optimal insemination concentration for human in vitro fertilization (IVF). CHINESE J PHYSIOL 1997; 40:227-36. [PMID: 9551252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study is looking for optimal insemination concentration to achieve optimal IVF pregnancy. Sperm lateral head displacement, total abnormal form, Kruger morphology and index, hypo-osmotic swelling test were significantly correlated with fertilization in vitro. Based on those parameters, logistic regression models were formulated. These models predict either fertilization probability provided with an insemination concentration or insemination concentration assigned with a definite fertilization percentage. These models showed that increased insemination concentration can increase fertilization percentage. The increase of fertilization didn't compensate for the significant loss of implantation by increasing insemination concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Wun
- Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
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Wun WS, Wun CC, Valdes CT, Dunn RC, Grunert GM. Blastocyst formation is a good indicator for attainment of assisted reproduction. CHINESE J PHYSIOL 1997; 40:237-42. [PMID: 9551253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Blastocyst formation is a late stage of embryogenesis before implantation. The examination for the percentage of blastocyst formation (PBF) can predict the viability/pregnancy of the assisted reproduction trials. The PBF significantly correlates with age and pregnancy. The PBF is significantly lower in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment than the conventional IVF treatment. The zygotes from immature oocytes give less blastocyst formation than the zygotes from mature oocytes. One pronucleus "zygotes" have significantly less chance to blastocyst than the normal 2 pronuclei zygotes. A mathematical model is proposed, verified, and predicts the hatching/hatched is the rate limiting step for the outcome of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- W S Wun
- Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
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Wright S, Valdes CT, Dunn RC, Franklin RR. Short-term Lupron or danazol therapy for pelvic endometriosis. Fertil Steril 1995; 63:504-7. [PMID: 7851578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of a 3-month trial of leuprolide acetate (LA; Lupron; TAP Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, IL) versus danazol (Danocrine; Scenofi Winthrup Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY) therapy on laparoscopically proven endometriosis. DESIGN Endometriosis severity was assessed at the time of laparoscopy and patients were randomized to receive 0.1 mg SC LA (n = 22) or 800 mg danazol orally (n = 18) daily for 3 months. A second laparoscopy and/or laparotomy was performed to assess the change in the extent of endometriosis and for surgical therapy. SETTING Private practice at a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS Forty patients with mild, moderate, or severe endometriosis. Ten patients were excluded. INTERVENTION Three-month treatment randomly assigned to either LA or danazol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prospective measurement of American Fertility Society endometriosis scores and size of ovarian endometriomata before and after therapy via laparoscopy. RESULTS The mean endometriosis score including adhesions decreased significantly from 36 +/- 4.9 to 29 +/- 5.0 (mean +/- SEM) with LA and from 34 +/- 6.4 to 29 +/- 6.5 with danazol. The mean laparoscopic endometriosis score not including adhesions decreased from 27 +/- 3.5 to 22 +/- 3.4 with LA and 22 +/- 3.5 to 19 +/- 3.1 with danazol. Seven of 18 (39%) endometriomata responded to LA and 6 of 15 (40%) endometriomata responded to danazol. CONCLUSION We conclude that both danazol and LA will reduce endometriosis scores after a 3-month course of therapy. Larger clinical trials are needed to compare short courses of therapy with the more established 6-month trials. A 3-month versus a 6-month course of therapy offers obvious benefits including decreased cost and decreased side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Wright
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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Wright S, Valdes CT, Dunn RC, Franklin RR. Short-term Lupron or danazol therapy for pelvic endometriosis**Lupron, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, Illinois.††Presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of The American Fertility Society, San Francisco, California, November 13 to 16, 1989.‡‡Supported by an educational grant from TAP Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, Illinois. Fertil Steril 1995. [DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57417-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine if changes in insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness in women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) occurred after ovarian androgen suppression with a GnRH agonist, leuprolide acetate (LA, Lupron; TAP Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, IL) using the minimal model method. DESIGN Twelve patients with PCOD were tested in the untreated state (baseline) and after 6 weeks of LA treatment. Subjects were divided into two groups based on the degree of impairment of their baseline insulin sensitivity index (SI; (min-1) (microU/mL-1): mild insulin resistance (SI > 1) or severe insulin resistance (SI < 1). RESULTS In all patients, serum T was significantly decreased from elevated baseline levels to normal female concentrations after 6 weeks of LA therapy. Insulin sensitivity in PCOD patients with mild insulin resistance significantly improved from baseline after 6 weeks of LA therapy, whereas no change in SI on LA therapy was seen in PCOD women with severe insulin resistance. Glucose utilization independent of increased insulin secretion did not change as a function of LA treatment in either group. CONCLUSION These findings indicate a significant improvement in SI in mildly insulin-resistant women with PCOD after suppression of ovarian function with LA treatment.
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Elkind-Hirsch KE, Valdes CT, McConnell TG, Malinak LR. Androgen responses to acutely increased endogenous insulin levels in hyperandrogenic and normal cycling women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/0020-7292(92)90401-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Elkind-Hirsch KE, Valdes CT, Rogers DG. Does estradiol treatment normalize the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in streptozotocin-induced ovariectomized diabetic female rats? Horm Metab Res 1991; 23:481-5. [PMID: 1761279 DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1003734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We recently found circulating corticosterone (CS) levels to be significantly lower in diabetic female rats as compared with proestrous control animals. This reduction in CS was correlated with the hypoestrogenic state of the diabetic female. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate basal and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)-stimulated CS secretion in ovariectomized (OVX) control (C) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic (D) rats given blank, 5 mcg and 20 mcg estradiol (E2) implants to determine if adrenal CS secretion in the diabetic is normalized by E2 treatment. After 3 weeks of diabetes, pituitary-adrenal function was assessed in rats from each group with a CRH stimulation test. The remaining rats were sacrificed for determination of CS, E2, testosterone and fructosamine in serum. Suppressed CS secretion in OVX female diabetic rats was partially restored with E2 therapy. Basal CS levels were significantly higher in 20 mcg E2 treated C and D rats compared with OVX rats. However, C rats had significantly higher basal CS compared with D rats in similarly E2 treated groups. The CS response to CRH stimulation was not different between OVX female diabetic and control rats. Estrogen enhanced the CS response to CRH stimulation in control animals but not in diabetic animals suggesting altered estrogen action at the pituitary level in diabetic animals.
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Elkind-Hirsch KE, Valdes CT, McConnell TG, Russell Malinak L. Androgen responses to acutely increased endogenous insulin levels in hyperandrogenic and normal cycling women**Presented in part at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecological Investigation, St. Louis, Missouri, March 21 to 24, 1990.††This work was funded by the Division of Research Resources of the National Instutites of Health under grant MO1RR00350 and by a grant from the Women’s Fund of Houston, Texas. Fertil Steril 1991. [DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)54172-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Elkind-Hirsch KE, Valdes CT, McConnell TG, Malinak LR. Androgen responses to acutely increased endogenous insulin levels in hyperandrogenic and normal cycling women. Fertil Steril 1991; 55:486-91. [PMID: 1825813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We examined androgen responses in hyperandrogenic (polycystic ovarian disease [PCOD]) and normal women after an acute endogenous insulin elevation. Standard intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs), modified to include a tolbutamide injection 20 minutes after IVGTTs, were performed. Polycystic ovarian disease patients were studied in the untreated state, after 6 weeks of ovarian androgen suppression with leuprolide acetate, after a 6-week rest period, and after 6 weeks of antiandrogen therapy with spironolactone. Normal menstruating women were studied during the early follicular, midcycle, and luteal phases of a single cycle. An acute rise in insulin did not alter serum testosterone or androstenedione levels in PCOD or normal women. A significant rise in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate after modified IVGTTs was found in both hyperandrogenic and normal cycling women. Although these results are not supportive of the theory that insulin acts on the ovary to stimulate androgen production, they may be because of the short time course of insulin elevation that occurs during an IVGTT.
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Abstract
Using glucose tolerance tests or a glucose clamp some studies report impaired insulin sensitivity during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, while others find no change in insulin sensitivity. Tissue sensitivity to insulin and glucose effectiveness can be estimated using the minimal model analysis of an iv glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), but this method has never been applied to evaluate the impact of the menstrual cycle on these parameters. We, therefore, studied eight cycling women using tolbutamide-modified IVGTTs during three different phases of the same menstrual cycle: early follicular, midcycle, and midluteal. Insulin sensitivity (SI) and glucose effectiveness were derived using insulin and glucose levels obtained from tolbutamide-modified IVGTTs and analyzed with the minimal model computer program. The mean SI (x10(-4)/min.microU/mL) decreased in a stepwise fashion from the follicular level of 6.20 +/- 0.91 to a midcycle level of 4.95 +/- 0.73 and was lowest in the luteal phase (3.20 +/- 0.25; P less than 0.007). No change in glucose effectiveness occurred as a function of the menstrual cycle. These findings indicate a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity in the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle, but no significant change at midcycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Valdes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77054
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Valdes CT, Elkind-Hirsch KE, Rogers DG, Adelman JP. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis of streptozotocin-induced diabetic female rats is not normalized by estradiol replacement. Endocrinology 1991; 128:433-40. [PMID: 1986935 DOI: 10.1210/endo-128-1-433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Studies in diabetic rats have found abnormalities at the hypothalamic, pituitary, and/or ovarian level but have not controlled for changes in estrogen levels induced by diabetes. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of diabetes on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in ovariectomized rats treated with estradiol (E2). Ovariectomized 60 day old female rats were assigned to control (C, n = 42), diabetic (D, n = 47) or insulin-treated diabetic (DI, n = 16) groups. Diabetes was induced with an injection of streptozotocin in the D and DI groups. In the C, D, and DI groups, estrogen was replaced by implanting blank, 5 micrograms or 20 micrograms E2 pellets sc. Pituitary LH responsiveness to GnRH was assessed in C and D animals. Anterior hypothalamic and midhypothalamic concentrations of proGnRH and GnRH, pituitary LH and FSH and serum levels of LH, and E2 were measured by RIA. Anterior hypothalamic proGnRH concentrations were decreased in diabetic rats treated with 5 micrograms E2 compared to 5 micrograms E2 control animals (P less than 0.05). Midhypothalamic GnRH concentrations were also reduced in D vs. C animals despite comparable estrogen therapy (P less than 0.004). GnRH-stimulated LH levels were greater in E2-treated diabetic females than in similarly treated control rats (P less than 0.001). D and DI animals were more sensitive than controls to the inhibitory effect of estrogen on basal LH levels. Pituitary LH and FSH content was lower in 20 micrograms E2-replaced animals but was not influenced by the diabetic state. These data demonstrate a diabetes-induced decrease in hypothalamic proGnRH and GnRH concentration which is not corrected with E2 replacement. The hyper-responsiveness of the diabetic rat pituitary to GnRH also suggests a chronic lack of GnRH stimulation from the hypothalamus but a continued ability of the pituitary to respond to GnRH.
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Valdes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
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Affiliation(s)
- C Navarro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Women's Hospital of Texas, Houston
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Abstract
Diabetes interferes with reproductive function in laboratory animals. Previous studies in female diabetic rats have not resolved if the reproductive abnormalities observed are at the hypothalamic, pituitary and/or ovarian level. The interaction of the gonadal and adrenal axes has not been studied in the diabetic female rat. The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to determine the level of dysfunction in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis caused by diabetes in the adult female rat controlling for stage of the estrous cycle, and, second, to evaluate basal corticosterone secretion in female diabetic rats. Sixty cycling 40-day-old female rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups; control (n = 32), diabetic (n = 14), and diabetic insulin-replaced animals (n = 14). The level of hyperglycemia in each group was documented by glycosylated hemoglobin levels and biweekly blood glucoses. Three weeks after induction of diabetes, pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) responsiveness following an i.v. injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was assessed in representative diestrous rats from each group. All animals were sacrificed in either diestrus or proestrus for determination of GnRH concentration in the hypothalamus, LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) content in pituitary and LH, FSH, estradiol and corticosterone in serum. Uterine weight to body weight ratios (a bioassay for estrogen) were also calculated. Hypothalamic GnRH concentration was significantly lower in diabetic versus control diestrous rats. Basal pituitary and serum gonadotropin levels were not different between any groups. GnRH-stimulated serum LH levels were higher in diabetic vs. control and diabetic insulin-treated animals. LH surges occurred in the control and diabetic insulin-replaced but not the diabetic group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Valdes
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex
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Rogers DG, Valdes CT, Elkind-Hirsch KE. The effect of ovarian function on insulin-like growth factor I plasma levels and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels in diabetic rats treated with insulin. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1990; 8:235-42. [PMID: 2187662 DOI: 10.1016/0168-8227(90)90122-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
When insulin was administered to streptozotocin-induced diabetic female rats, the percentage of glycohemoglobin, growth rate, ovulatory cycle, uterus to body weight ratio, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) level returned to near normal. In untreated diabetic rats there were no normal estrous cycles, and hepatic IGF-I mRNA (7.94 +/- 1.02 O.D. units per micrograms total RNA) levels were significantly lower than the control or insulin-treated groups in proestrus (16.47 +/- 0.91 and 17.15 +/- 1.84, respectively). Insulin therapy restored the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis with the reinstitution of normal estrous cycles. Plasma IGF-I levels were highest in non-diabetic proestrous animals (277 +/- 36.9 ng/ml), significantly higher than IGF-I levels in insulin-treated diabetic rats in diestrus (174 +/- 23.1 ng/ml), non-diabetic diestrus rats (165 +/- 18.4 ng/ml) and untreated diabetic rats (135 +/- 19.7 ng/ml). Plasma IGF-I levels were elevated in insulin-treated diabetic rats in proestrus (221 +/- 78.3 ng/ml), however this was not significantly different from any other group. The increases observed in plasma IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I mRNA after insulin therapy correlate with the normalization of sex hormone secretion. Though this study does not prove a causal relationship between restoration of ovarian function and normalization of circulating IGF-I levels, a relationship has been established, as evidenced by higher levels of IGF-I in both the control and insulin-treated diabetic proestrous groups when compared to the diestrus groups.
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