No abstract available.
Sensation* ; Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer*

Despite the rapid development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in recent years, implantation rates after replacement of embryos into the uterine cavity remains low. Several techniques such as culture conditions based on formulations of human tubal fluid and various ART techniques as GIFT, ZIFT, TET have been adopted in recent years to improve embryo viability in vitro and implantation rates. Also, coculture of human IVF-derived embryos have been used in an effort to increase the number of viable embryos following IVF and to improve synchrony between the developing embryo and the uterine environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of coculture with autologous cumulus cells has a significant beneficial effect on the development of embryos in vitro and its relation to the pregnancy rates in 120 patients with previous failed IVF-ET from September, 1995 to January 1998. We obtained the results from which significant improvement in the quality of viable embryos were observed using a coculture system with autologous cumulus cells, but pregnancy rates in this group of patients did not differ from the rate in the standard IVF group during the same period. Our study shows that a simplified short-term coculture system with autologous cumulus cells may help rescue moderate quality embryos to cleave regularly.
Coculture Techniques* ; Cumulus Cells* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Humans ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer

The author studied the effects of adrenergic and its blocking agents, ACTH, methylprednisolone, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and prostaglandin E1 and E2 on the phosphorylase activity in bovine ciliary muscle in vitro and obtained the following results. 1. The phosphorylase activity in bovine ciliary muscle was enhanced by the adrenergic agents. such as epinephrine. norepinephrine and isoproterenol, but was not affected by adrenergic alpha receptor blocking agents, such as phenoxybenzamine and phentolamine, and adrenergic beta receptor blockades. such as propranolol and pronethalol. Pretreatment with propranolol prevented partly the epinephrine-induced increase of the phosphorylase activity in bovine ciliary muscle. 2. The phosphorylase activity in bovine ciliary muscle was shown to be stimulated by ACTH, methylprednisolone and 5-hydroxytryptamine but not by prostaglandin E1 and E2. 3. The phosphorylase activity in bovine ciliary muscle which was stimulated by epinephrine, ACTH, methylprednisolone or 5-hydroxytryptamine was markedly blocked by pretreatment with prost aglandin E1 but less by prostaglandin E2. 4. Prostaglandin E1 exerted no effects on the phosphorylase activity in bovine ciliary muscle following the addition of cyclic AMP or MgH++-ATP, but markedly depressed that stimulated by epinephrine.
Adrenergic Agents ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Alprostadil ; Cyclic AMP ; Dinoprostone ; Epinephrine ; Isoproterenol ; Methylprednisolone ; Norepinephrine ; Phenoxybenzamine ; Phentolamine ; Propranolol ; Serotonin ; Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein(MSAFP) has been a world wide screening test for open neural the tube defect. But elevation of MSAFP is related to not only neural tube defect, but also incorrect gestational age, congenital anomalies such as congenital nephrosis, esophageal and intestinal obstruction, low birth weight, oligohydroamnios, fetal death and chromosomal anomalies. If MSAFP is elevated, gestational age, congenital anomalies such as neural tube defect, multiple pregnancy and fetal death must be evaluated by ultrasound. When the ultrasound is nondiagnostic, amniotic fluid AFP(AFAFP) levels are measured and if AFAFP is elevated, presence or absence of aetylchoineststarase(AChE) is determined to rule out the false positive of amniotic AFP. Amniotic AChE test yielded detection rate of open spina bifida of 99%, 98% for anecephaly and a false-positive rate of 0.34%. We report a case with elevated AFAFP and positive amniotic AChE result in one fetus of the twin pregnancy conceived by ICSI and ZIFT, but in which targeted ultrasound findings were normal, maintained the pregnancy to term and normal twin was delivered by elective cesarean section.
Acetylcholinesterase ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Mass Screening ; Nephrosis ; Neural Tube Defects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic* ; Spina Bifida Cystica ; Ultrasonography ; Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer ; Zygote*