Effects of autologous platelet-rich plasma on endometrial expansion in patients undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer: A double-blind RCT

Background: Adequate endometrial growth is principal for implantation and pregnancy. Thin endometrium is associated with lower pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive technology. Some frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles are cancelled due to inadequate endometrial growth. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intrauterine infusion for the treatment of thin endometrium. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 patients who had a history of cancelled frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle due to the thin endometrium (< 7mm) were assessed for the eligibility to enter the study between 2016 and 2017. Twelve patients were excluded for different reasons, and 60 included patients were randomly assigned to PRP or sham-catheter groups in a double-blind manner. Hormone replacement therapy was administered for endometrial preparation in all participants. PRP intrauterine infusion or sham-catheter was performed on day 11-12 due to the thin endometrium and it was repeated after 48 hr if necessary. Results: Endometrial thickness increased at 48 hr after the first intervention in both groups. All participants needed second intervention due to an inadequate endometrial expansion. After second intervention, endometrial thickness was 7.21 ± 0.18 and 5.76 ± 0.97 mm in the PRP group and sham-catheter group, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups. (p < 0.001). Embryo transfer was done for all patients in PRP group and just in six cases in the sham-catheter group. Chemical pregnancy was reported in twelve cases in the PRP group and two cases in the sham-catheter group. Conclusion: According to this trial, PRP was effective in endometrial expansion in patients with refractory thin endometrium

Epidemiological Study of Intestinal Parasites in Referred Individuals to the Medical Centers’ Laboratories of Haji-Abad City, Hormozgan Province, Iran, 2015

Background:intestinal parasitic infection is one of the most prevalent health problems in developing countries. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and its correlation with socio-demographic parameters in Haji-abad, 2015.MaterialsandMethods:This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 635 samples. After completing questionnaires, stool samples were assessed macroscopically, and microscopically using direct slide smear with saline and lugol, formalin-ether concentration, Ziehl-Neelsen staining to track Cryptosporidium species and Trichrome staining for the samples suspected to amoeba and other indeterminate cases. PCR using specific primers was conducted for Entamoebahistolytica/E. dispar suspected samples. The results were analyzed using SPSSver.16 software.Results:Of total 635 samples, 198 cases (31.2%) were infected by at least one intestinal parasite. The most common parasites in this area were: Blastocystis sp. (105, 16.5%), Endolimax nana (43, 6.8%), Entamoeba coli (32, 5.0%), Giardia lamblia (31, 4.9%), and Iodamoeba butschlii (11, 1.7%). Enterobius vermicularis (1, 0.2%) was the only detected helminthic infection. Regarding socio-demographic variables, age, residence, sampling month, and job showed a significant correlation with IPIs (p-value=0.031, 0.019, 0.014, 0.012; respectively). None of nine microscopically suspected E. histolytica/E. dispar cases were confirmed by molecular investigations (PCR method) and were considered as E. coli.Conclusion:In agreement with previous studies, helminthes infections show a dramatic decline compare to protozoa in this study. The relatively high incidence of intestinal protozoan infections in studies performed in Iran supports strategies for pre­venting the transmission and expansion of these parasites as a priority