Higher Serum Oestradiol Concentrations Research Articles

Use of pentoxifylline during ovarian stimulation to improve oocyte and embryo quality: A retrospective study.

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate if the administration of pentoxifylline during ovarian stimulation have an impact on the quantity and quality of oocytes recovered for in vitro fertilization (IVF), the quality of zygotes and embryos resulting from IVF, the serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations, the endometrial thickness and pregnancy outcomes after embryo transfer. MethodsRetrospective crossover study including 18 women with recurrent implantation failur, defined as having a history of at least two consecutive cycles of implantation failure and 25-45 years of age at the time of embryo transfer. Pentoxifylline was added during their following IVF attempt aiming to improve endometrial function. Oocyte, zygote and embryo quality, serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations, endometrial thickness and IVF outcomes were compared between the two sequential attempts. ResultsCompared to the first attempt, the outcomes of the second attempt, with the addition of pentoxifylline administration, resulted in higher numbers of total and mature oocytes, better oocyte, zygote and embryo quality, higher serum estradiol concentrations, thicker endometrium and better clinical IVF outcomes. ConclusionsThe administration of pentoxifylline during ovarian stimulation seems to improve IVF outcomes, not only by the generating a thicker endometrial lining, but also by producing a higher number of oocytes, with better oocyte, zygote and embryo quality, and higher serum estradiol concentrations.

Relationship Between Serum Estradiol Concentrations and Clinical Outcomes in Transgender Individuals Undergoing Feminizing Hormone Therapy: A Narrative Review.

Transgender, including gender diverse and nonbinary, individuals are treated with estradiol with or without antiandrogen to align their physical appearance with their gender identity, improve mental health and quality of life. Consensus guidelines give target ranges for serum estradiol concentration based on premenopausal female reference ranges. However, limited studies have evaluated the relationship between serum estradiol concentrations and clinical outcomes in transgender individuals undergoing feminizing hormone therapy. The available evidence has not found that higher serum estradiol concentrations, together with suppressed testosterone, enhance breast development, or produce more feminine changes to body composition. However, ensuring testosterone suppression appears to be an important factor to maximize these physical changes. Higher serum estradiol concentrations have been associated with higher areal bone mineral density. Although the resultant long-term clinical implications are yet to be determined, this could be a consideration for individuals with low bone mass. The precise serum estradiol concentration that results in adequate feminization without increasing the risk of complications (thromboembolic disease, cholelithiasis) remains unknown. Further prospective trials are required.

Lower follicular fluid vitamin D concentration is related to a higher number of large ovarian follicles.

Vitamin D receptor-knockout mice fail to produce mature oocytes, indicating vitamin D is crucial for folliculogenesis in mice. However, the actions of vitamin D during folliculogenesis remain unknown. This prospective study aimed to assess whether follicular fluid (FF) vitamin D (25OHD3) concentrations are related to specific responses to ovarian stimulation. Women undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF participated in the study. FF 25OHD3 concentrations were assessed in the first follicle aspirate on oocyte retrieval day. Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations were assessed on the trigger day. K-means grouping analysis showed that 25OHD3 FF concentrations clustered into a higher and lower group (mean ± SEM 17.4 ± 6.61 ng/ml and 35.5 ± 7.17 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0.001). The clusters were analysed according to the oestradiol and progesterone concentrations, follicle number and size and resulting oocyte number and maturity. The FF 25OHD3 concentrations were no different among the infertility diagnoses. The lower 25OHD3 group had more follicles (≥16.0 mm, P = 0.009) and higher serum oestradiol concentrations (P < 0.03) on the day of HCG administration. In this study, lower follicular 25OHD3 concentrations predicted a better response to ovarian stimulation shown by a greater production of larger follicles and higher serum oestradiol concentrations.

Elevated blood plasma antioxidant status is favourable for achieving IVF/ICSI pregnancy

The aim of the study was to determine the roles of intrafollicular and systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant response in ovarian stimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. For this purpose, 102 ICSI patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation were enrolled and samples were collected on the day of follicle puncture. Total peroxide (TPX) concentrations and total antioxidant response (TAR) were measured in follicular fluid and blood plasma, and an oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated based on these two parameters. Urinary concentrations of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a (F2IsoP) were measured. Elevated intrafollicular oxidative stress was positively correlated with ovarian stimulation outcome: less FSH per retrieved oocyte was used, more oocytes were collected and higher serum oestradiol concentrations were measured in patients with higher follicular OSI. However, high urinary F2IsoP related to lower embryo quality and F2IsoP was also elevated in smoking patients. Patients with endometriosis had lower follicular antioxidant status. Most importantly, higher systemic blood TAR was significantly favourable for achieving clinical pregnancy (P=0.03). In conclusion, the findings suggest clear associations between oxidative stress, antioxidant status and several aspects of ovarian stimulation and IVF/ICSI outcome, including pregnancy rate.Several oxygen-dependent biochemical reactions produce reactive oxygen species as by-products that may eventually lead to oxidative stress, which is detrimental to cells and tissues. Total antioxidant status, on the other hand, comprises several agents that balance the excess of these reactive oxygen species and reduce potential damage to the body. The aim of the current work was to study this balance in 102 patients participating in an ICSI programme and to examine the degree to which total peroxide content and antioxidant status influence infertility and pregnancy outcome. During the study, several tests were performed to characterize oxidative stress levels in ovarian follicular fluid, blood plasma and urine. We found a significantly higher oxidative stress environment in the ovary when compared with blood plasma. This suggests a prominent role of oxidative stress in the ovaries of these patients. The elevated oxidative stress levels were correlated to a higher number of oocytes that could be obtained via the procedure and to a lower amount of FSH needed to mature the oocytes, suggesting that oxidative stress, to some degree, is favourable for hormone stimulation outcome. A high level of lipid peroxidation products in the urine, another marker of oxidative stress, was observed in smokers and this marker was elevated in patients with embryos that had lower developmental potential. A higher overall antioxidant status in blood plasma was advantageous for achieving pregnancy.

Some Prognostic Health Hazards Associated with Moderate Alcohol Use: Latest Findings

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the developed world and obesity remains a significant contributor to elevated CVD risk, affecting 24-30% of the male population. Cytokines derived from adipose tissue adipocytes and macrophages drive inflammation, which may confer this increased risk. These cytokines can activate T lymphocytes and vascular tissue macrophages, which are known to play a key role in all stages of the atherosclerotic process. Men with CVD, chronic inflammatory conditions and / or obesity have lower serum testosterone concentrations and higher serum oestradiol concentrations than men without these conditions. Testosterone has a suppressive effect on macrophages and lymphocytes, whereas oestradiol’s effect is proinflammatory. Lymphocytes, adipocytes and macrophages have sex hormone receptors. In elderly men, population studies have shown an association between low testosterone concentrations and elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels. The role of testosterone and oestradiol in the proinflammatory state that characterizes obesity and cardiovascular disease will be explored.

Contribution of environmental factors to the risk of male infertility.

An increasing number of reports suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by human activity, may affect male fertility in humans. We investigated the relationships between exposure to environmental agents and seminal characteristics, and the concentrations of reproductive hormones in the serum of men seeking infertility treatment. We studied 225 male partners from consecutively recruited couples, who had their first infertility consultation between 1995 and 1998, in the Litoral Sur region of Argentina, one of the most productive farming regions in the world. A multivariate logistic regression model showed that exposure to pesticides and solvents is significantly associated with sperm threshold values well below the limit for male fertility. We also found that men exposed to pesticides had higher serum oestradiol concentrations, and that men exposed to solvents had lower LH concentrations than non-exposed men. All of these effects were greater in men with primary infertility than in men with secondary infertility. We have shown that environmental factors contribute to the severity of infertility, and that this may worsen the effects of pre-existing genetic or medical risk factors.

ANDROSTENEDIONE SUPPLEMENTATION AND POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (ANDROSTENEDIONE) supplementation in an animal model of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). It is hypothesized that androstenedione, because it is only one enzymatic reaction from testosterone conversion, may be an anabolic agent capable of elevating serum testosterone above normal levels, and because of this, androstenedione may exacerbate the disease state of ADPKD. Two groups of female PKD rats and two groups of male PKD rats were used (n = 18 females; n = 18 males). One group of females were supplemented with androstenedione in chow (n = 9) while the female controls received chow only (n = 9). Male rats were grouped in the same fashion. Rats were observed for a six-week period, from age 4 - 10 weeks. At the end of the six-week period, rats were euthanized via decapitation for total blood volume. Male rats receiving androstenedione had increased serum estrone concentrations compared to controls (p < 0.02) and female rats had increased serum testosterone concentrations compared to controls (p < 0.03). All rats receiving androstenedione supplementation had higher serum estradiol concentrations than controls (p < 0.02). Serum creatinine was significantly affected by gender, genotype, or treatment but rats with PKD had significantly increased serum creatinine concentration. Urinary creatine was increased in controls (p < 0.01) and was greater in males than females (p < 0.03). Total protein was decreased in females compared with males (p < 0.002). Concentration of serum urea nitrogen was increased among males and polycystic animals (p < 0.001). Urinary urea nitrogen was decreased in control males (p < 0.03) and androstenedione-supplemented females. Total kidney weight was increased among male and polycystic animals (p < 0.05). These data suggest androstenedione supplementation may promote estrogenization among males and androgenization among females and thereby exert a limited protective effect on males with PKD while exacerbating effects of PKD in females. Supported by Texas Woman's University Human Nutrition Research

Follicle cyst formation after administration of different gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues for assisted reproduction.

The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of ovarian cysts during the administration of three different gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) in the long protocol as well as their characteristics, management and outcome compared with patients with no cyst formation. A total of 172 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in which GnRHa was administered at menstruation were analysed. Group B consisted of 72 cycles in which buserelin was used. Of these, 10 (13.9%) were with cysts (group B1) and 62 (86.1%) without cysts (group B2). Group T included 49 cycles in which triptorelin was injected. Of these, seven (14.2%) were with cysts (group T1) and 42 (85.7%) without cysts (group T2). Group L comprised 51 cycles in which leuprolide was administered. Of these, eight (15.7%) were with cysts (group L1) and 43 (84.3%) without cysts (group L2). All women with ovarian cysts had higher serum oestradiol concentrations and all except five underwent cyst aspiration with no complication. No differences were observed in the number of follicles and oocytes between groups B, T and L or between the groups with cysts and those without cysts. The pregnancy rate was similar in all groups. In conclusion, follicle cyst formation does not seem to be related to the use of a specific GnRHa, its short- or long-acting form or to the mode of administration. In addition, follicle cyst aspiration is a safe and successful solution to the problem of functionally active ovarian cysts.

Serum hormone levels in pre-menopausal Chinese women in Shanghai and white women in Los Angeles: results from two breast cancer case-control studies

To assess whether risk of breast cancer in young women is associated with differences in luteal-phase hormone production and to attempt to explain differences in risk of breast cancer of young Shanghai Chinese and Los Angeles white women, two concurrent case-control studies of serum hormone concentrations were conducted. Both studies were carefully controlled for the possible confounding effects of age, weight, height, pregnancy history, and day of the menstrual cycle, by individually matching cases and controls on these factors. Case eligibility was limited to women with localized breast cancer. Sixteen of 39 Shanghai breast-cancer cases were sampled prior to the histologic diagnosis of their disease. The remaining 23 Shanghai cases and all 42 Los Angeles cases were diagnosed, and treated by surgery only, at least six months prior to hormonal evaluation. All subjects were sampled on day 22 of the menstrual cycle. Overall, cases had 13.5% higher serum estradiol concentrations (p = 0.038) with a case-to-control excess of 16.6% in Shanghai subjects (p = 0.089) and 10.8% in Los Angeles subjects (p = 0.23). There were no appreciable differences in amounts of sex-hormone binding globulin between cases and controls. Cases had lower progesterone levels than controls, but the situation was reversed when the analysis was restricted to subjects with evidence of ovulation. Los Angeles controls had 20.6% greater estradiol concentrations than Shanghai controls (p = 0.036); adjustment for body weight accounted for only 25.7% of this difference.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Some endocrine characteristics of early menarche, a risk factor for breast cancer, are preserved into adulthood

Early menarche is a risk factor for breast cancer. In a longitudinal manner, we have investigated the endocrine features of girls with early menarche. This study extends our investigations to the third decade of life in a cohort of girls followed up for 13 years. The group studied comprised 44 women, 20-31 years of age. Eleven women had had their menarche before 12.0 years, 14 women at 12.0-12.9 years and 19 women at 13.0 years or more. The women who had had early menarche had higher serum oestradiol concentrations during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle than the women who had had their menarche later. The serum oestradiol concentrations increased rapidly at the beginning of cycle in these "early menarche" women. If there is a threshold which serum oestradiol concentrations must exceed to increase the risk of breast cancer, then these women have more days at risk than other women. In addition, the serum SHBG (sex-hormone-binding globulin) concentration was about 30% lower in the follicular-phase specimens of the women who had had their menarche before 12.0 years compared with those who had had their menarche at 13.0 years. Our data therefore indicate that women with early menarche are subject to a high degree of oestrogen stimulation at least until approximately 30 years of age. Our findings may have important consequences for the design of intervention programs for breast cancer prevention.