Heart defects and other anomalies in fetuses conceived by assisted reproduction techniques

Aim: The aim of the work was to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of structural, chromosome defects and developmental disorders in fetuses conceived with the help of different assisted reproduction techniques. Material and methods: The research group consisted of 30 patients, aged from 25 to 37, subjected to various techniques of assisted reproduction from 2003 to 2006, who reported for consultation in the referral centre. 13 (43%) of the patients underwent the IVF procedure, 12 (40%) the ICSI procedure, 5 patients underwent interuterine insemination. Ultrasonographic examination with the evaluation of the fetal heart was conducted on average in the 22nd week of gestation. Results: Multiple pregnancies constituted 14 (47%) of the examined pregnancies. In total, fetal anomalies were diagnosed in 3 fetuses (6%). Cardiovascular anomalies occurred in 2 fetuses (atrioventricular septal defect – AVSD and ventricular septal defect – VSD), each with diagnosed trisomy of chromosome pairs 21 and 18 respectively. In one case an anomaly within the urinary system was diagnosed. Conclusions: Multiple pregnancies constituted nearly half of the researched group. Structural defects were diagnosed in 3 (6%) fetuses, which slightly exceeds population risk. A higher anomaly percentage occurred in fetuses from twin pregnancies and in the group after ICSI. In the study the risk is related to the selected group of patient undergoing fetal echocardiography exam. To estimate the risk in the ART group precisely, all pregnancies conceived with implementation of ART should be examined. Multi-centre studies are our future goal

Investigation of the Changes in Concentrations of Vitamin D-Binding Protein and Lactoferin in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid of Patients with Endometriosis

An evaluation of the association between the concentrations of vitamin D-binding protein and lactoferrin in the plasma and peritoneal fluid may facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms in endometriosis. Vitamin D-binding protein and lactoferrin concentrations were measured by ELISA in plasma and peritoneal fluid samples from 95 women with suspected endometriosis as classified by laparoscopy into groups with (n = 59) and without endometriosis (n = 36). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of vitamin D-binding protein and lactoferrin between women with and without endometriosis. In women with endometriosis, there was a significant correlation between plasma and peritoneal fluid vitamin D-binding protein concentrations (r = 0.821; p = 0.000), but there was no correlation between lactoferrin concentrations in those compartments (r = 0.049; p > 0.05). Furthermore, in endometriosis, lactoferrin was found to correlate poorly with vitamin D-binding protein (r= −0.236; p > 0.05) in plasma, while in the peritoneal fluid, the correlation between those proteins was significant (r = 0.399; p = 0.002). The characteristic properties of vitamin D-binding protein and lactoferrin and the associations between their plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations found in women with endometriosis may provide a novel panel of markers to identify high-risk patients in need of further diagnostic measures

Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid Fibronectin and Collagen IV Levels as Potential Biomarkers of Endometriosis

Laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool for patients with suspected endometriosis is associated with several potentially life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is imperative to identify reliable, non-invasive biomarkers of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyse the concentrations of fibronectin and type IV collagen in peritoneal fluid and plasma to assess their role as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Fibronectin and collagen IV protein levels were assessed by surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) biosensors with the usage of monoclonal antibodies. All patients enrolled in the study were referred for laparoscopy for the diagnosis of infertility or chronic pelvic pain (n = 84). The study group included patients with endometriosis confirmed during surgery (n = 49). The concentration of fibronectin in the plasma (329.3 ± 98.5 mg/L) and peritoneal fluid (26.8 ± 11.1 μg/L) in women with endometriosis was significantly higher than in the control group (251.2 ± 84.0 mg/L, 7.0 ± 5.9 μg/L). Fibronectin levels were independent of endometriosis stage (p = 0.874, p = 0.469). No significant differences were observed in collagen IV levels (p = 0.385, p = 0.465). The presence of elevated levels of fibronectin may indicate abnormalities in cell–ECM signalling during the course of endometriosis, and may be a potential biomarker for early detection

The Influence of Lactoferrin in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid on Iron Metabolism in Women with Endometriosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lactoferrin and iron and its binding proteins in women with endometriosis by simultaneously measuring these parameters in plasma and peritoneal fluid. Ninety women were evaluated, of whom 57 were confirmed as having endometriosis. Lactoferrin was measured by ELISA, transferrin, ferritin and iron on a Cobas 8000 analyser. Lactoferrin and transferrin in peritoneal fluid were lower compared to plasma, in contrast to ferritin and iron. In plasma, lactoferrin showeds associations with iron and transferrin in endometriosis and with ferritin in the group without endometriosis. Lactoferrin in peritoneal fluid correlated with lactoferrin, iron and transferrin of plasma in patients without endometriosis. The ratio of lactoferrin concentration in peritoneal fluid to plasma differentiated stage I versus IV of endometriosis and was negatively correlated with the iron ratio in patients without endometriosis. The ferritin ratio differentiated women with and without endometriosis. The very high ferritin ratios, especially in advanced stages of endometriosis, suggest the protective involvement of this protein in peritoneal fluid and the loss of this role by lactoferrin. The results demonstrate the validity of assessing iron metabolism in women with endometriosis, which may be useful as a marker of the disease and its progression

Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid ZEB Levels in Patients with Endometriosis and Infertility

Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) are transcription factors that regulate epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT). The aim of this study was to compare levels of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in the peritoneal fluid and plasma between patients with and without endometriosis in order to assess their utility in the diagnostic process. Plasma and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from 50 patients with and 48 without endometriosis during planned surgical procedures in eight clinical centers. Quantitative ZEB1 and ZEB2 levels analyses were performed using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No significant differences were observed in ZEB1 levels in any of the subanalyses nor any differences regarding ZEB2 levels between patients with and without endometriosis. Plasma ZEB2 levels were significantly higher among patients with infertility compared to fertile women (16.07 ± 12.70 ng/L vs. 12.07 ± 11.92 ng/L; p < 0.04). Both ZEB1 and ZEB2 do not seem to have a significant value in the initial diagnosis of endometriosis as a single marker. The differences in ZEB2 plasma levels between patients with and without infertility indicate the possibility of EMT dysregulation in the pathogenesis of adverse fertility outcomes

Evaluation of Proteasome and Immunoproteasome Levels in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid in Patients with Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which the endometrium cells are located outside the uterine cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate circulating 20S proteasome and 20S immunoproteasome levels in plasma and peritoneal fluid in women with and without endometriosis in order to assess their usefulness as biomarkers of disease. Concentrations were measured using surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensors. Patients with suspected endometriosis were included in the study—plasma was collected in 112 cases and peritoneal fluid in 75. Based on the presence of endometriosis lesions detected during laparoscopy, patients were divided into a study group (confirmed endometriosis) and a control group (patients without endometriosis). Proteasome and immunoproteasome levels in both the plasma (p = 0.174; p = 0.696, respectively) and the peritoneal fluid (p = 0.909; p = 0.284, respectively) did not differ between those groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the plasma proteasome levels between patients in the control group and those with mild (Stage I and II) endometriosis (p = 0.047) and in the plasma immunoproteasome levels in patients with ovarian cysts compared to those without (p = 0.017). The results of our study do not support the relevance of proteasome and immunoproteasome determination as biomarkers of the disease but suggest a potentially active role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis

Plasma and Peritoneal Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Levels in Patients with Endometriosis

The evidence of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) association with the immune response could be coherent with the immunological theory of endometriosis and suggests the possibility of a new research direction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of PARP in plasma and peritoneal fluid of patients with and without endometriosis. It was a multicenter, cross-sectional study. Plasma and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from patients with and without endometriosis during planned laparoscopic procedures in eight clinical centers. In total, 84 samples of plasma and 84 samples of the peritoneal fluid were included in the final analyses. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed in order to assess levels of PARP in collected samples. No statistically significant differences regarding the detected levels of PARP in plasma and peritoneal fluid comparing patients with and without endometriosis were observed. Patients with a history of infertility had significantly higher plasma PARP concentrations (p = 0.04). We have not observed the potential role of PARP concentration levels in plasma nor peritoneal fluid as an endometriosis biomarker. We have determined an association between a higher plasma PARP concentration and a history of infertility