The Relationship between Level of Vitamin C in Follicular Fluid and ‎Maturation of Oocytes and Embryo Quality in Patients Undergoing In-vitro ‎Fertilization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress and its adverse effects in vitro or on the body can reduce the number of reproductive cells and embryo quality. Given the fact that vitamin C is a natural antioxidant with a protective role, in this study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the level of vitamin C in follicular fluid (FF) and maturation of oocytes and embryo quality of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on the eggs and embryos of 50 patients admitted to IVF unit of Al Zahra Hospital, Rasht, Iran. Patients underwent the same mediations used to induce ovulation, and then they were injected 10000 units of human chorionic gonadotropin. Finally, they underwent 36 hours of follicle suction. Vitamin C level in FF was measured by biochemical methods. Maturation of oocytes and embryo quality were examined with inverted light microscope. FINDINGS: After examining 583 eggs and 275 embryos the following results were obtained: the percentage of metaphase II oocytes in vitamin C level of less than one was 81.3% (412), but when compared to vitamin C level of one or more, it was 71.1% (54), which were significantly different (p=0.038). In the sub-classification, vitamin C level (0.5-1 mg/dl), MII oocyte frequency and the two pronuclei embryos were higher but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the quality of oocyte maturation and embryos in lower levels of vitamin C levels had improved, as compared to higher levels

Association of body composition in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: Body composition as dynamic indices constantly changes in pregnancy. The use of body composition indices in the early stages of pregnancy has recently been considered. Therefore, the current meta-analysis study was conducted to investigate the relationship between body composition in the early stages of pregnancy and gestational diabetes. METHOD: Valid databases searched for papers published from 2010 to December 2021 were based on PRISMA guideline. Newcastle Ottawa was used to assess the quality of the studies. For all analyses, STATA 14.0 was used. Mean difference (MD) of anthropometric indices was calculated between the GDM and Non-GDM groups. Pooled MD was estimated by "Metan" command, and heterogeneity was defined using Cochran's Q test of heterogeneity, and I 2 index was used to quantify heterogeneity. RESULTS: Finally, 29 studies with a sample size of 56438 met the criteria for entering the meta-analysis. Pooled MD of neck circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, and visceral adipose tissue depth were, respectively, 1.00 cm (95 CI: 0.79 to 1.20) N = 5; I^2: 0%; p: 0.709, 7.79 cm (95% CI: 2.27 to 13.31) N = 5; I2: 84.3%; P<0.001, 0.03 (95% CI: 0.02 to 0.04) N = 9; I2: 89.2%; P<0.001, and 7.74 cm (95% CI: 0.11 to 1.36) N = 4; I^2: 95.8%; P<0.001. CONCLUSION: Increased neck circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, arm circumference, waist to hip ratio, visceral fat depth, subcutaneous fat depth, and short stature increased the possibility of developing gestational diabetes. These indices can accurately, cost-effectively, and affordably assess the occurrence of gestational diabetes, thus preventing many consequences with early detection of gestational diabetes