The place of ultrasonographical endometrial echo evaluation in the detection of luteal phase deficiency

WOS: A1997YD9760043

Accuracy of ovarian reserve tests

Several tests predict ovarian reserve in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. However, the accuracy of these tests in assessing the number of the remaining follicles within the ovary (ovarian reserve) has not been previously validated. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of ovarian reserve tests, namely basal and clomiphene-stimulated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist stimulation test in predicting the number of the follicles within the ovaries. The ovaries of 22 parous women over 35 years of age who underwent oophorectomy were examined histologically for follicle number. Early follicular phase serum FSH, clomiphene citrate challenge tests (CCCT) and GnRH agonist stimulation test (GAST) were performed in the menstrual cycle prior to the surgery, The predictive value of these tests was then assessed. A positive correlation was detected between basal serum oestradiol concentrations and follicles per unit tissue but no significant correlation was detected between basal and clomiphene-stimulated FSH and follicles per unit tissue. The receiver operator characteristic curves indicated that the clomiphene citrate challenge test was the most accurate of the three tests assessed. In conclusion, none of the tests in this study accurately reflects ovarian reserve

Does fetal gender affect cytotrophoblast cell activity in the human term placenta? Correlation with maternal hCG levels

Background. Pregnant women with female fetuses have higher maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels than pregnant women with male fetuses. Ki-67, a cell proliferation and activity marker, is confined mostly in the nuclei of villous cytotrophoblasts of the human placenta. In this study, we examined the effect of fetal gender on the cytotrophoblast cell activity in human term placenta, with special regard to maternal serum and cord blood hCG levels