A review of luteinizing hormone and its role in ovarian reserve testing

Background: Ovarian physiology illustrates the synergistic interaction between luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in the process of folliculogenesis. While follicle stimulating hormone has been well established as a marker of ovarian reserve, the role of luteinizing hormone has remained somewhat controversial and it seems to have become the ‘forgotten gonadotropin’. The following review aims to investigate the available evidence surrounding luteinizing hormone as an ovarian reserve test and examine the issues which need to be addressed in order to establish it as an ovarian reserve test. It then further attempts to propose a model to direct effective research to ascertain if it does have a role to play in ovarian reserve testing.Findings: The evidence is equivocal in the use of luteinizing hormone as an independent predictor of ovarian reserve. However, there is much stronger evidence to suggest that the follicle stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone ratio is a useful marker of ovarian reserve- in particular when it is ≥2 and approaching 3. The evidence base for this ratio at present however is sparse. In addition, ovarian reserve tests are fraught with issues over reliability, accuracy, definition and the implications of testing itself. In order to overcome these issues, more quality research needs to be carried out to test this relationship between luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone

Prevention of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: A Review

The following review aims to examine the available evidence to guide best practice in preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). As it stands, there is no single method to completely prevent OHSS. There seems to be a benefit, however, in categorizing women based on their risk of OHSS and individualizing treatments to curtail their chances of developing the syndrome. At present, both Anti-Müllerian Hormone and the antral follicle count seem to be promising in this regard. Both available and upcoming therapies are also reviewed to give a broad perspective to clinicians with regard to management options. At present, we recommend the use of a “step-up” regimen for ovulation induction, adjunct metformin utilization, utilizing a GnRH agonist as an ovulation trigger, and cabergoline usage. A summary of recommendations is also made available for ease of clinical application. In addition, areas for potential research are also identified where relevant

A genome-wide function of THSC/TREX-2 at active genes prevents transcription–replication collisions

The THSC/TREX-2 complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mediates the anchoring of transcribed genes to the nuclear pore, linking transcription elongation with mRNA export and genome stability, as shown for specific reporters. However, it is still unknown whether the function of TREX-2 is global and the reason for its relevant role in genome integrity. Here, by studying two TREX-2 representative subunits, Thp1 and Sac3, we show that TREX-2 has a genome-wide role in gene expression. Both proteins show similar distributions along the genome, with a gradient disposition at active genes that increases towards the 3 end. Thp1 and Sac3 have a relevant impact on the expression of long, G+C-rich and highly transcribed genes. Interestingly, replication impairment detected by the genome-wide accumulation of the replicative Rrm3 helicase is increased preferentially at highly expressed genes in the thp1Δ and sac3Δ mutants analyzed. Therefore, our work provides evidence of a function of TREX-2 at the genome-wide level and suggests a role for TREX-2 in preventing transcription– replication conflicts, as a source of genome instability derived from a defective messenger ribonucleoprotein particle (mRNP) biogenesis.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [BFU2010-16372]; Junta de Andalucía [CVI4567 and P12/BIO-1238]; European Union (FEDER); and a JAE predoctoral training grant from the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) [to J.M.S-P.]. Funding for open access charge: Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [BFU2010-16372].Peer reviewe