Preliminary report on plasma homocysteine and hormonal variations in infertile women in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: The relationship between infertility and hormonal variations has been variously documented, but little has been reported on the interactions between hormonal factors, homocysteine (Hcy), and female infertility. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between plasma Hcy levels and hormonal variations in infertile women. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among eligible infertile and fertile women seeking care at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. The subjects were 100 women referred for management of infertility, and the controls were 50 fertile women who had given birth within the past year. Fasting plasma levels of Hcy were estimated using enzyme immunoassay. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, prolactin, and progesterone were measured using  Access 2 (Immunoassay systems-beckman coulter, inc.250S.Kraemer blvd.Brea, ca 92821. U.S.A). Results: Mean plasma Hcy levels for subjects and controls were 9.50 ± 1.88 μmol/L and 9.44 ± 1.85 μmol/L, respectively, with no significant variation (P = 0.952). Plasma Hcy was not significantly associated with infertility and hormone levels. The mean serum levels of LH, FSH, and prolactin were significantly higher among subjects compared to controls. Conclusion: Hormonal variations observed in infertile women did not appear to significantly alter plasma Hcy levels, and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) may not have significantly contributed to female infertility in our environment

Characterization of human embryonic stem cell lines by the International Stem Cell Initiative

The International Stem Cell Initiative characterized 59 human embryonic stem cell lines from 17 laboratories worldwide. Despite diverse genotypes and different techniques used for derivation and maintenance, all lines exhibited similar expression patterns for several markers of human embryonic stem cells. They expressed the glycolipid antigens SSEA3 and SSEA4, the keratan sulfate antigens TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, GCTM2 and GCT343, and the protein antigens CD9, Thy1 (also known as CD90), tissue- nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and class 1 HLA, as well as the strongly developmentally regulated genes NANOG, POU5F1 (formerly known as OCT4), TDGF1, DNMT3B, GABRB3 and GDF3. Nevertheless, the lines were not identical: differences in expression of several lineage markers were evident, and several imprinted genes showed generally similar allele-specific expression patterns, but some gene-dependent variation was observed. Also, some female lines expressed readily detectable levels of XIST whereas others did not. No significant contamination of the lines with mycoplasma, bacteria or cytopathic viruses was detected