Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Irahara

Publications and source records attributed to M Irahara.

92 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The scheduled ovarian hyperstimulation method makes it easy to perform ICSI with fresh testicular sperm (ICSI/TESE).

The authors evaluated whether scheduled ovarian stimulation makes it easy to perform ICSI with fresh testicular sperm. Scheduled ovarian hyperstimulation was applied for testicular sperm extraction and ICSI with fresh testicular spermatozoa. Fifteen cycles in 10 couples were included in the present study; all couples were azoospermic, 5 were obstructive, and the remaining 5 were nonobstructive. No cycles were canceled, and all oocyte retrievals were performed on the scheduled day. Testicular sperm were obtained in 14 treatment cycles (93%). The mean numbers of retrieved and injected oocytes were 9.4 and 6.4, respectively. The fertilization and cleavage rates were 47 and 91%, respectively. Embryo transfers were performed in 12 cycles except 2 cycles that had no embryos. The number of transferred embryos was 2.3. Two clinical pregnancies were obtained. This scheduled ovarian hyperstimulation was applicable for ICSI with fresh testicular sperm.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postmenopausal changes in production of type 1 and type 2 cytokines and the effects of hormone replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: An appropriate defense against infective agents or malignant cells is attributed to the exquisitely balanced T helper 1 type (cellular) and T helper 2 type (humoral) immune reactions. We investigated the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on postmenopausal changes in the production of interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-10, a type 1 and a type 2 cytokine, respectively. DESIGN: Both cytokines were measured by ELISA in the supernatant of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated whole blood cells from 72 untreated and 44 HRT-treated women. Thirteen women were examined before and during HRT. RESULTS: The production of IFN-gamma in women in their 40s and in postmenopausal women was significantly higher compared with that of younger women. However, IFN-gamma fell to the lowest level in the late postmenopausal stage, whereas the production of IL-10 increased gradually with age and in parallel with the postmenopausal period. Thus, in women in the mid-and late postmenopausal period, excessive production of type 2 cytokine (IL-10) compared with type 1 cytokine (IFN-gamma) occurred. The IFN-gamma levels of women on HRT were significantly lower than those of untreated women in the early and mid-postmenopausal stages, and IL-10 levels of women on HRT were significantly lower than those of untreated women in the mid-and late postmenopausal stages. HRT induced a significant decrease in the production of IL-10 and tended to lower the level of IFN-gamma. CONCLUSIONS: Production of IL-10 is augmented in postmenopausal women. HRT probably prevents postmenopausal women from an aberration of the immune system by improving the balance of type 1 and type 2 immune reactions.

Adult↗