scholarly journals Clomiphene Citrate Priming Increases Sensitivity During Ovarian Stimulation in Poor Ovarian Responders Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Author(s):  
Shan Liu ◽  
Xinyu Liu ◽  
Huanhuan Li ◽  
Minghui Liu ◽  
Yasu Lv ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Since ovarian stimulation was introduced as an assisted reproductive technology, poor ovarian response (POR) management has challenged clinicians. Guidance on optimally managing patients with poor response and/or low sensitivity to ovarian stimulation is still lacking. We aimed to investigate whether a clomiphene citrate (CC) priming protocol could increase ovarian sensitivity in poor ovarian responders. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 294 patients (374 ovarian stimulation cycles). Of these, 193 cycles were treated by a CC priming antagonist protocol (study group) and 181 by the classical flexible gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol (control group). Stimulation data and laboratory and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: Total gonadotropin dosage and dosage per follicle were considerably lower, the follicle-to-oocyte index was significantly higher, and the gonadotropin duration was shorter in the study group. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariate regression analysis showed that cumulative ongoing pregnancy remained comparable between the groups (adjusted odds ratio: 0.761, 95% confidence interval: 0.300-1.933, P = 0.566). Age, body mass index, gonadotropin dosage per follicle, and the follicle-to-oocyte index were directly associated with the reproductive outcomes. The result of the sensitivity analysis showed that patients stimulated by the CC priming antagonist protocol were administered less gonadotropin (1,739.09 ± 719.39 vs. 3,114.77 ± 1,171.23, P < 0.001) at a lower gonadotropin dosage per follicle (637.36 ± 373.05 vs. 1286.26 ± 976.66, P < 0.001) and for a shorter duration (6.58 ± 2.23 vs. 9.80 ± 1.90, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The CC priming antagonist protocol offered a convenient and patient-friendly way to increase ovarian sensitivity during ovarian stimulation in poor ovarian responders.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao-Ang Chu ◽  
Te-Yuan Chen ◽  
Po-Yuan Chen ◽  
Wei-Jie Tzeng ◽  
Cheng-Loong Liang ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Stroke has been recognized as one of the major causes of adult disability worldwide, and post-stroke dementia may affect up to one-third of stroke survivors. This condition could be prevented if we could recognize and treat it earlier. Acupuncture as a complementary treatment for stroke has been shown to be beneficial for subsequent post-stroke rehabilitation. Our study investigated if acupuncture served additional advantages to decreasing the incidence of post-stroke dementia. METHODS We provide a retrospective cohort study from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. This study compared the incidence of post-stroke dementia between cohorts with and without acupuncture treatment by calculating adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of acupuncture associated with post-stroke dementia using Cox proportional hazard regressions. The study group was composed of 9,547 patients who received first hospitalization for the treatment of stroke between 2002 and 2004; of which, 47,735 comparison patients were defined as the control group. The two groups were followed-up until the diagnosis of dementia presented or until the end of 2007. RESULTS The adjusted HRs of developing dementia among patients with stroke was 4.705 times the average (range, 4.353–5.085), and the incidence of dementia was higher in males. The study group tended to have less incidence of all kinds of dementia after acupuncture treatment, and patients without stroke receiving acupuncture had a lower probability of dementia than those untreated during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS This study presents evidence that acupuncture serves as an effective and alternative procedure to lower the risk of post-stroke dementia and the overall incidence of dementia in Taiwanese population.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e033817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirik Østvoll ◽  
Ola Sunnergren ◽  
Joacim Stalfors

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy in reducing medical care visits for pharyngitis or tonsillitis in children and adults with chronic/recurrent tonsillitis.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingData were retrieved from the VEGA register, a comprehensive regional cohort in Sweden.Participants1044 children (<15 years) and 2244 adults.InterventionTonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy compared with no surgical treatment.Main outcome measuresChanges in yearly mean rates of medical care visits due to pharyngitis/tonsillitis.ResultsIn children, there was a significant decrease in the yearly mean medical care visits rate from 1.93 (1.82 to 2.04) before surgery to 0.129 (0.099 to 0.165) after surgery, with a mean change of −1.80 (−1.90 to −1.69), p<0.0001. In patients who did not undergo surgery, the corresponding mean change was −1.51 (−1.61 to −1.41), resulting in a mean difference in the change in visit rates between the intervention and control groups of −0.283 (−0.436 to −0.135), p=0.0002. In adults, a significant decrease in the yearly mean medical care visit rate was observed from 1.45 (1.39 to 1.51) before surgery to 0.152 (0.132 to 0.173) after surgery, with a mean change of −1.30 (−1.36 to −1.24), p<0.0001, compared with −1.18 (−1.24 to −1.13) in the control group. The difference in the change in yearly mean visit rate between the surgical and non-surgical groups was −0.111 (−0.195 to −0.028), p=0.0097. The subgroup analysis showed a greater effect of surgery in children, in patients with a higher number of medical care visits before surgery and in the first year of follow-up.ConclusionIn this cohort of patients moderately or less affected with chronic/recurrent tonsillitis, the effectiveness of tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy in reducing medical care visits for pharyngitis and tonsillitis compared with no surgical treatment was low and of questionable clinical value.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Athar Rasekhjahromi ◽  
Masoumeh Hosseinpoor ◽  
Farzaneh Alipour ◽  
Mehrnoosh Maalhagh ◽  
Saeed Sobhanian

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the association between herbal medication and OHSS.Methods. This retrospective cohort study was conducted with 101 polycystic ovary syndrome patients. 66 patients took conventional pharmacological medications and 35 took herbal medications. Data were analyzed by statistical test including Fisher’s Exact and binominal logistic regression.P<0.05was considered significant.Results. Of the 101 females, 53 were married and 48 were single. There was no significant association between the groups in marriage. No significant association was found in mean age between the two groups (23.9 ± 5.8 years in the control group versus 26.3 ± 6.7 years in the case group). There was a significant difference between the two groups .After adding the dependent (OHSS prevalence) and independent (marriage and group) variables into the model, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed suitability. Variances analyzed with this model ranged between 29.4% and 40.7%.Conclusion. The indiscriminate use of herbs is correlated with OHSS. Because patients increasingly consume herbs, they should be aware of potential side effects. However, appropriate dosages of herbs could be obtained for use instead of conventional treatments, which often have side effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ohoud Aljuhani ◽  
Khalid Al Sulaiman ◽  
Adel Alshabasy ◽  
Khalid Eljaaly ◽  
Abdulrahman I. Al Shaya ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tocilizumab is an IgG1 class recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that directly inhibits the IL-6 receptor. Several randomized clinical trials have evaluated its safety and efficacy in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and these studies demonstrate conflicting results. Our study aimed to determine the association between tocilizumab treatment and microbial isolation and emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary government hospitals in Saudi Arabia. All critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units with a positive COVID-19 PCR test between March 1 and December 31, 2020, who met study criteria were included. Patients who received tocilizumab were compared to those who did not receive it. Results A total of 738 patients who met our inclusion criteria were included in the analysis. Of these, 262 (35.5%) received tocilizumab, and 476 (64.5%) were included in the control group. Patients who received tocilizumab had higher odds for microbial isolation (OR 1.34; 95% CI 0.91–1.94, p = 0.13); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Development of resistant organisms (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.51–1.98, p = 0.99) or detection of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.29–1.54, p = 0.34) was not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusions Tocilizumab use in critically ill patients with COVID-19 is not associated with higher microbial isolation, the emergence of resistant organisms, or the detection of CRE organisms.


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