Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D N Curole

Publications and source records attributed to D N Curole.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Relationship of first-trimester subchorionic bleeding detected by color Doppler ultrasound to subchorionic fluid, clinical bleeding, and pregnancy outcome.

We analyzed retrospectively the incidence of subchorionic fluid and embryonic death in 2116 consecutive patients evaluated with abdominal ultrasound and 783 patients evaluated with vaginal ultrasound. These women were examined during the first 12 postmenstrual weeks and had conceived as a result of infertility treatment. In addition, we analyzed the relationship of subchorionic bleeding to subchorionic fluid in 230 patients evaluated with color Doppler ultrasound and the relationship of subchorionic bleeding to clinical bleeding, precipitating factors, pregnancy outcome, and the karyotypes of abortuses. In single gestational sac pregnancies, subchorionic fluid was found equally often in women scanned with vaginal or color Doppler ultrasound, and less often with abdominal ultrasound (P less than .0001). Embryonic death was increased only in patients with large amounts of subchorionic fluid observed on abdominal ultrasound. Color Doppler ultrasound revealed subchorionic bleeding in 87 of 235 ultrasound scans (37%) and in 48 of 102 patients (47%) when subchorionic fluid was present. Subchorionic bleeding was associated with moderate or large amounts of subchorionic fluid (P = .041), with precipitating events (P less than .0001), and with clinical bleeding (P = .001). It was occult in ten of 48 patients (21%). Embryonic death occurred equally often in women with no fluid and in those with subchorionic fluid, with and without subchorionic bleeding. Abortuses were karyotypically abnormal in an equal proportion of cases with subchorionic bleeding, subchorionic fluid, and no fluid. These findings indicate that subchorionic fluid and subchorionic bleeding are common findings in early pregnancy and are not associated with embryonic death unless they are accompanied by clinical bleeding.

Female↗

Relationship of small gestational sac-crown-rump length differences to abortion and abortus karyotypes.

We retrospectively reviewed ultrasound findings in 539 infertility patients to evaluate the incidence of small gestational sac syndrome and its association with abortion, karyotype of the abortus, and known abortion factors. Small gestational sac syndrome (gestational sac diameter minus crown-rump length less than 5 mm) occurred in 1.9% of pregnancies scanned with vaginal ultrasound 37-65 days after the first day of the last menstrual period. The rate of fetal death was 80.0% when the gestational sac diameter-crown-rump length difference was less than 5 mm, 26.5% when the difference was 5-7.9 mm (P less than .002 compared with less than 5 mm), and 10.6% when the difference was 8 mm or more (P less than .0001 compared with less than 5 mm). Karyotypes were normal in all eight fetuses when the gestational sac diameter-crown-rump length difference was less than 5 mm (P less than .03). Small gestational sac syndrome was present before fetal death in 10.7% of all cases, and in 24% in which the karyotype was normal. Of the factors analyzed--maternal age, previous abortions, low hCG or progesterone levels, and use of ovulation induction medications--only maternal age was significantly different (P = .011) in patients with small sac syndrome. We conclude that small gestational sac syndrome is an infrequent but important complication of early pregnancy, which occurs more often in karyotypically normal than in abnormal fetuses.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Relationship of follicle number and other factors to fecundability and multiple pregnancy in clomiphene citrate-induced intrauterine insemination cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics associated with pregnancy and multiple gestation after clomiphene citrate (CC)-intrauterine insemination (IUI). DESIGN: Prospective study of all patients undergoing CC-IUI between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1989. SETTING: Private fertility clinic. PATIENTS: Eight hundred forty-nine patients undergoing 1,974 cycles of CC-IUI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relationship between number and size of preovulatory follicles, age, additional infertility diagnosis, medication, and initial semen quality to fecundity, birth, and multiple gestation. RESULTS: Uncorrected, per cycle fecundity was 7.2%. The number of follicles greater than or equal to 12 mm (r = 0.055, P less than 0.05) was and the number greater than or equal to 15, 18, and 21 mm was not correlated with fecundity. Endometriosis with (P = 0.013) or without (P less than 0.0005) tubal adhesions and tubal adhesions alone (P = 0.005), decreased fecundability by 50%. Initial semen quality did not affect fecundity, unless semen concentration was less than 5 x 10(6)/mL or motility was less than 20%. Multiple pregnancy was not associated with the dose of CC, use of human chorionic gonadotropin, or number of follicles. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple pregnancy was unrelated to follicle numbers or to CC dose. The highest birth rates after CC-IUI occurred when initial sperm concentration was greater than or equal to 5 x 10(6)/mL, motility was greater than or equal to 20%, and no endometriosis or adhesions were present.

Clomiphene↗

Relationship of follicle number, serum estradiol, and other factors to birth rate and multiparity in human menopausal gonadotropin-induced intrauterine insemination cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics associated with pregnancy and multiple gestation after human menopausal gonadotropin intrauterine insemination (hMG-IUI). DESIGN: Prospective study of all patients undergoing hMG-IUI between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1989. SETTING: University affiliated private clinic. PATIENTS: Four hundred twenty-four infertility patients undergoing 779 cycles of hMG-IUI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between estradiol (E2), number and size of follicles, age, and initial semen quality on pregnancy and multiple gestations in hMG-IUI cycles. RESULTS: The number of follicles greater than or equal to 12 mm was correlated with births and predicted all multiple births (r = 0.140, P less than 0.001). The corrected birth rate was 25.8% for age less than 35 and 14.0% for age greater than or equal to 35 when four or more follicles were greater than or equal to 12 mm. The uncorrected clinical pregnancy rate (PR) and birth rate were 12.8% and 10.5%, respectively. Decreased births were associated with tubal adhesions alone (P less than 0.03) or with endometriosis (P less than 0.002), more than four cycles of treatment (P = 0.01), initial sperm count less than 5 x 10(6) per mL (P less than 0.01), initial sperm motility less than 30% (P less than 0.002), and age greater than or equal to 35 (P less than 0.01). Estradiol was correlated with birth rate (r = 0.160, P less than 0.001), which increased from 3.6% when E2 was less than 500 pg/mL to 19.6% when E2 was greater than or equal to 2,500 pg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of hMG-IUI is related to the number of follicles greater than or equal to 12 mm, to E2, and to age. Optimal PRs from hMG-IUI require mild ovarian hyperstimulation.

Adult↗

Fertilization of human oocytes by microinjection of human sperm aspirated from the caput epididymidis of an individual with obstructive azoospermia.

Aspiration of spermatozoa from the caput region of the epididymis was performed, due to obstructive azoospermia. When all inseminated oocytes failed to fertilize in vitro, immotile spermatozoa were microinjected into the perivitelline space to achieve fertilization. Of six oocytes microinjected, one exhibited two normal pronuclei and two polar bodies and was subsequently transferred to a fallopian tube of the wife. One oocyte arrested at syngamy, while two additional oocytes cleaved to four cells each. The remaining two were damaged during microinjection. Although the patient did not conceive, this report provides evidence that (1) spermatozoal motility is not required for successful pronuclear formation when microinjection is performed, and such immotile sperm are not necessarily "dead," and (2) this further corroborates that caput epididymal spermatozoa can participate in the subzonal events of fertilization and that, in the human, exposure of spermatozoa to the distal epididymal milieu may not be a requisite to achieve fertilizing capacity.

Adult↗

The probability of multiple births when multiple gestational sacs or viable embryos are diagnosed at first trimester ultrasound.

The live birth outcome when multiple gestational sacs were diagnosed at first trimester ultrasound was reviewed in 227 twin, 43 triplet and five quadruplet pregnancies. When two gestational sacs were present, the probability of delivering twins was 63% for maternal age less than 30 and 52% for maternal age greater than or equal to 30. With three gestational sacs, the probability of a triplet birth was 45% for maternal age less than 30 and 18% for maternal age greater than or equal to 30. When two viable embryos were present, the probability of a twin birth was 90% for maternal age less than 30 and 84% for maternal age greater than or equal to 30. With three viable embryos, the probability of a triplet birth was 90% for maternal age less than 30 and 44% for maternal age greater than or equal to 30. Two gestations resulting from ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate were more likely to result in twin delivery at term, compared to spontaneous twin gestations (P = 0.012). These findings may be useful in the treatment and management of patients when multiple gestations are diagnosed early in pregnancy.

Adult↗

Pregnancies established by gamete intrafallopian transfer and pronuclear-stage transfer in patients with premature ovarian failure using donated oocytes and low-dose oral micronized estradiol and progesterone.

This report describes both gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and pronuclear-stage transfer (PROST) of donated oocytes to patients with premature ovarian failure (POF), using micronized oral progesterone (P4) and low-dose micronized estradiol (E2) for endometrial preparation and maintenance. Patient A, with POF of 15 years' duration, received four donated oocytes for GIFT and subsequently delivered a normal, term, female infant. Patient B was diagnosed as POF 3 years ago. She received four donated oocytes, which were subsequently fertilized in vitro with husband's sperm. The following day, four pronuclear-stage embryos were transferred to her fallopian tubes. She recently delivered twin, healthy female infants. These procedures, along with exogenous hormonal development of the endometrium, provide a simplified means to establish and maintain pregnancy in POF patients. Both patients were maintained on low-dose micronized E2 prior to their procedure, Patient A on 3 mg E2 per day cyclically and Patient B on 0.5 mg E2 continuously. Micronized oral P4 was used to maintain pregnancy.

Adult↗

The occurrence of ectopic pregnancy with and without clomiphene citrate use in assisted and nonassisted reproductive technology.

An eleven-year review of treatment records of patients who became pregnant as a result of infertility treatment (n = 3692) was conducted. All records were examined to determine whether clomiphene citrate (CC) was used in the cycle of conception and whether or not an ectopic pregnancy occurred. Data were additionally analyzed for the incidence of ectopic pregnancy with and without assisted reproductive technology (ART). The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was similar between CC (3.4%) and non-CC (3.4%) treatment groups receiving non-ART treatment. For non-ART treatments, tubal disease and severe endometriosis resulted in an increase in ectopic pregnancies independent of CC use. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy in patients receiving CC + human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) for in vitro fertilization (5.4%) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (3.1%) was similar compared to ART treatments with hMG alone. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy was more closely associated with infertility diagnosis rather than CC use.

Adult↗

Comparison of fecundability with fresh and frozen semen in therapeutic donor insemination.

A series of 401 therapeutic donor insemination (TDI) cycles was analyzed for determining the effect on fecundability of fresh versus cryopreserved semen, the number of inseminations per cycle, recipient age, and the reproductive health of the TDI recipient. We followed a protocol in which inseminations were performed during the periovulatory period determined by urinary luteinizing hormone surge or ultrasound-timed human chorionic gonadotropin injection. The minimum standard for insemination with fresh or cryopreserved semen was a total of 40 X 10(6) grade 3 sperm. We found no decreased fecundability when using frozen semen, rather than freshly ejaculated specimens. The number of inseminations per cycle did not affect the pregnancy outcome after TDI. The reproductive health of the recipient had a significant effect on the pregnancy rate. Fecundability was 15.6% for healthy women, as compared with 6.7% for women with a diagnosis of moderate, severe, or extensive endometriosis, pelvic adhesions, tubal disease, or ovulatory dysfunction. To avoid transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type III from sperm donor to TDI recipient, we have recently utilized an exclusively frozen TDI program. With well-timed inseminations of 40 X 10(6) grade 3 motile sperm, we have been able to attain pregnancy rates similar to those previously obtained with fresh samples.

Female↗

Serum estradiol and danazol. I. Endometriosis response, side effects, administration interval, concurrent spironolactone and dexamethasone.

Serum estradiol (E2) levels and resolution of endometriosis were evaluated in 42 women after 75 days of danazol treatment. Complete or almost complete remission occurred when radioimmunoassay E2 levels were less than 15 pg/ml in extensive, less than 22 pg/ml in severe, and less than 41 pg/ml in moderate endometriosis. E2 less than or equal to 20 pg/ml occurred in 23% of 104 patients given 400 mg every 12 hours but in none weighing over 150 pounds (68 kg). E2 greater than 100 pg/ml occurred in 7%. The mean E2 levels were identical with 400 mg every 12 hours and 200 mg every 8 hours. The E2 level was 40% lower with 200 mg every 6 hours than with 400 mg every 12 hours (P less than 0.001). Dexamethasone further decreased E2 levels by 61% (P less than 0.001). Spironolactone decreased androgen symptoms but increased E2 levels by 49% (P less than 0.01).

Adult↗

Screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant patients: three office screening systems versus quantitative culture.

We screened 691 asymptomatic prenatal patients by quantitative culture of clean voided urine specimens and one of three office screening devices to detect bacteriuria. The ability of each screening system to detect a single pathogenic organism in concentration equal to or greater than 100,000/ml was analyzed. Microstix-3 reagent strips had 87.5% accuracy, with the smallest number of false-positive results (6.7%). The Bacturcult system was correct in 75% of cases, but yielded 30% false-positive results. The Testuria system was least accurate (62.5%) and had the highest incidence of false-positive tests (71%).

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Cryptococcal meningitis in pregnancy.

Two cases of crytococcal meningitis occurred in pregnancy. Amphotericin B was administered in the first trimester in one case, and amphotericin B and flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine) were administered in the second trimester in the second. Both cases had good fetal and maternal outcome. Combined therapy for cryptococcal infections in pregnancy is discussed.

Adolescent↗