Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

Pages 8-12

Authors: Rohit Dhumal, N.A. Selkar, M.B. Chawda, K.S. Thakur, M.K. Vahalia, Venu Gopal Jonnalagadda, Geeta Vanage

Objective To evaluate the safety & efficacy of Maa-Lact granules for its galactogougue activity in Holtzman rats and its effect on suckling pups. Methods Group I rats were treated as control, group II and III rats were treated with 500 mg/kg, 1 000 mg/kg of Maa-Lact granules for 21 days. Weekly body weights of dams and pups were collected, litter survivability for 22 days and ocular blood samples were collected on 1st day of parturition and 21st day of post parturition for the estimation of prolactin levels. On 21st day blood samples were collected from retro-orbital sinus for haemotological and biochemical estimations. On the same day of weaning rats were sacrificed and subjected to necropsy and individual organ weights were recorded. Results No significant difference in weekly food weight consumption, body weights between control & treated groups with normal clinical signs. There is no mortaly in dams throught the study period with no significant difference in pups weights. The percentage mortality in pups was 14.43 %, 14.07 %, and 13.42% in group I, group II and group III, respectively. The histopathological finding has shown that treated groups have less convulution and adipose tissue deposition along with increase in length and branching of lactiferous duct and alveolar size. Conclusion Based on above results, it can be concluded that Maa-Lact posseses significant galctogogue activity.

Pages 18-22

Authors: G. Ganapathy Selvam, K. Sivakumar

Objective To investigate the effect of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer (SLF) of the red seaweed Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) Lamouroux (H. musciformis). on the growth, biochemical and pigment characteristics of Arachis hypogea (A. hypogea). Methods Experiments were conducted on ground nut to study the potential red alga of H. musciformis as a biofertilizer. The seeds were sown in soil and SLF were added to soil bed in five different concentrations separately (1%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% w/v). Results The 2% concentration of water extract showed better results of growth parameters, biochemical and pigments constitutions. Among the different concentrations of SLF investigated, the plants that received with 2% SLF showed maximum germination percentage, fresh weight, dry weight, root and shoot length, number of branches, leaf area, root nodules and content of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b, protein, carbohydrate and lipid were observed at 2% concentration of SLF. The leaf of 2% SLF treated A. hypogea has subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive spectroscopic analysis, it revealed that the presence of ten elements in the following order: Ca>P>N>Na>K>Mg>Mn>S>Fe>Zn in treated and Ca>N>P>Na>Mg>Mn>K>Zn>S>Fe in control plant. The data generated from study reveal that SLF of H. musciformis could be used as foliar spray at low concentration of 2% to maximize the growth and yield of A. hypogea and also increase the number of stomata in the leaf. Conclusion It is suggested that there are considerable gains to be made in increasing yield and stabilizing the yield in environments characterized by terminal requirement for organic and by shortening crop duration nutrient management appear promising.

Pages 30-34

Authors: Mahmoud Fathy Hassan

Objective To evaluate the role of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for prediction of pregnancy loss in patients with history of unexplained early recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Methods A prospective case control study was conducted in 42 women with history of unexplained early RPL, and 170 pregnant controls with history of uncomplicated pregnancy. We measured maternal serum sFlt-1 and VEGF at gestational age 6–9 weeks as predictor for pregnancy loss. Results Mean serum levels of sFlt-1 and VEGF were significantly higher in RPL group than controls (10439.7±385.4 vs 3304.5±104.8; P<0.0001, for sFlt-1, and 1885.0±98.3 vs 709.8±24.8; P<0.0001, for VEGF). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analyses established that sFlt-1 and VEGF were able to discriminate women at risk of developing pregnancy loss with area under ROC curve 0.970 for sFlt-1 and 0.953 for VEGF. Cutoff value of 5159.5 pg/mL for sFlt-1 was predictor for early pregnancy loss with 95.2% sensitivity, 91.2% specificity, and odds ratio (OR) 206 [95%confidence interval (CI), 45.4–941]. Cutoff value of 915.5 pg/mL for VEGF was predictor for early pregnancy loss with 92.9% sensitivity, 90.6% specificity, and OR 125 [95% CI: 34.7–451]. Conclusion These data advocate a relationship between sFlt-1, VEGF, and RPL suggesting that the high levels of sFlt-1 and VEGF might be associated with the pathogenesis of RPL.

Pages 41-45

Authors: Stanimir A. Yotov, Anatoli S. Atanasov, Georgi B. Georgiev, Julieta D. Dineva, Nadejda A. Palova

Objective To investigate some blood biochemical parameters in anoestrous dairy cows with cystic ovarian follicles (COF) during the first two months post partum and the effect of hCG-PGF2α -GnRH treatment on their reproductive response. Methods The investigation was performed on 20 lactating Holstein cows, divided into two groups: control group (n=8) and treated group (n=12). All animals had cystic ovarian follicles, detected during the two consecutive transrectal ultrasound examinations at 7-day interval. Blood samples from each animal were collected on the day of second ultrasonography (Day 0) and subjected to a hormonal and biochemical analysis. Treated cows were subjected to another ultrasound examination on day of prostaglandin injection and the presence of corpus luteum was recorded. The control animals were not treated, while the treated group received 1 500 IU hCG on day 0, PGF2α 500 mg on day 7 and 100 μg GnRH 48 hours latter. Eighteen hours after GnRH administration animals bearing corpus luteum on Day 7 were artificiallly inseminated. The last ultrasound examination was made forty days after start of the threapy. On the base of the obtained results, cumulative oestrous activity, cumulative ovulation rate, pregnancy rate and COF persistence were determined. Results The blood analysis in the both groups on Day 0 showed significantly (P<0.05) lower mean concentration of progesterone, glucose and inorganic phosphate compared to the reference range values for cyclic dairy cows. Cumulative oestrous activity (91.7%) and cumulative ovulation rate (75.0%) were considerably higher (P<0.05) in treated group than control group, whereas the cystic follicle persistence (25.0%) was lower (P<0.05) in the treated group than control group. Conclusions The present study confirmed the thesis for low blood levels of glucose and inorganic phosphate in cows presenting cystic ovarian follicles. It also indicated significant improvement of cumulative oestrous activity and ovulation rate in animals subjected to hCG-PGF2α -GnRH administration than non-treated animals. The used hormonal protocol could decrease cystic ovarian follicle persistence in dairy cows.

Pages 53-56

Authors: Amr H. Yehia, Magdy H. Koleib, Ibrahim A. Abdelazim, Ahmed Atik

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reduction of blood loss during and after cesarean section. Methods Women included in the current double blinded, randomized, controlled trial were recruited from women attending for elective cesarean section and randomized into two groups; study group: received tranexamic acid with induction of anesthesia plus 10 IU of oxytocin injection after delivery of the baby. Control group: received only oxytocin 10 IU injection after delivery of the baby. Results Twenty four hours post-operative hemoglobin level was significantly higher in study group (11.2 ± 1.5 mg/dL) compared to control (9.6 ± 1.2 mg/dL), also 24 hours post-operative hematocrit was significantly higher in study group (30.2 ± 6.6) compared to control (29.2 ± 2.8). Calculated total blood loss from placental delivery till end of cesarean section was significantly less in study group compared to control (369.5 ± 198.0 versus 606.8 ± 193.0 mL; respectively), also, calculated vaginal bleeding during first 6 hours post-operative was significantly less in study group compared to control (85.0 ± 30.7 mL versus130.8 ± 49.3 mL, respectively). The incidence of post-partum hemorrhage was significantly less in study group compared to control (31.1% versus 63.2%; respectively), also the need for iron replacement therapy was significantly less frequent in study group compared to control (0.9% versus 6.6%, respectively).

Pages 64-70

Authors: Cristianne Serafim da Silva Feuser, Jacklyne Silva Barbosa, Evelyn Barzotto da Silva, Sebastião Freitas de Medeiros

Objective To assess the gonadotrope cell function in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods This study included 42 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, aged 26.6 ± 5.9 years, and 13 eumenorrheic controls, aged 30.1 ± 4.6 years. Gonadotropins, sex steroids, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin, free thyroxin, and insulin were measured. Gonadotrope cell function was assessed at baseline and at 30 and 60 min after gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) injection. Results Luteinizante hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), total testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), and 17- hidroxyprogesterone (17-OHP4) levels were higher (P<0.05) and SHBG levels was lower (P<0.05) in PCOS patients. The LH response to GnRH stimulation was higher in PCOS patients than in controls (P<0.05). Positive correlations between progesterone (P4) and LH at baseline or the area under the curve (AUC) of LH was found only in PCOS patients. No association was found between estradiol (E2), insulin, T, and A concentrations with the LH increment in any group (P>0.05). Positive correlation between insulin and the AUC of LH was identified in controls. Conclusion The current study confirms the hypersecretion of LH in PCOS patients after the newest diagnostic systematization. The gonadotrope response to GnRH stimulation in PCOS patients was associated with the baseline levels of LH, P4, insulin.

Pages 77-79

Authors: V Ramakrishnan, S Gowtham Kumar, Radha Pandiyan

Klinefelter's syndrome is the most common genetic disorder in which there is at least one extra X chromosome. Males normally have an X chromosome and a Y chromosome (XY). But males who have Klinefelter syndrome have an extra X chromosome (XXY), giving them a total of 47 instead of the normal 46 chromosomes. Sex chromosome abnormalities are more frequently associated with male infertility. The prevalence of XXYs has risen from 1.09 to 1.72 per 1 000 male births. A patient attended to fertility and genetic clinic, during the clinical diagnosis we found the following complaints of loss of secondary sexual characteristics and infertility. Physical examination revealed breast development, thin built, small size testes, and absence of beard and pubic hairs. Karyotype and biochemical analysis were performed to detect chromosomal abnormality as well as hormonal level to confirm the diagnosis of Klinefelter's syndrome. Chromosomal analysis of the peripheral blood lymphocytes demonstrated the constitutional karyotype of 47, XXY. Using karyotype the presence of extra X chromosome was confirmed, supporting the cytogenetic finding. The 47, XXY syndrome is relatively uncommon and can be missed clinically because of its variable clinical presentations. Accurate diagnosis of this constitutional karyotype provides a valuable aid in the counselling and early management of the patients who undertake fertility evaluation.

Pages 83-84

Authors: Viroj Wiwanitkit

This short article specifically focuses on the new emerging H7N9 influenza which has just been observed since early 2013. As a new disease, it is lack for the knowledge on the new H7N9 influenza. Here, the author will discuss on the impact of emerging H7N9 influenza on pregnancy.