Relationship between C-reactive protein and carotid artery intima media thickness in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients

Objective: To determine relationship between CRP (C-reactive protein) concentration and CIMT (carotid artery intima media thickness) in young PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) females. Design: Cross-sectional Setting: Infertility outpatient clinic Patients: 70 PCOS patients (20-39 years old) and 70 healthy subjects as control. Interventions: CIMT was measured by Doppler ultrasound. Main outcome measure: Relationship between increased CRP level and CIMT. Results: Mean (±SD) serum CRP level was higher in PCOS patents (5.2 ± 2.8 mg/dL) in comparison to controls (4.9 ± 1.7 mg/dL), but the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.482). However, mean (±SD) CIMT was significantly higher in PCOS group (0.65 ± 0.11 mm) compared to controls (0.59 ± 0.21 mm); P= 0.016. Although with increased CRP level, CIMT increased in PCOS patients, the relationship was not statistically significant (P= 0.065, r= 0.886). Also there was a relationship between age and CIMT but it was not statistically significant (P= 0.07, r= 0.215). However, relationships between CIMT and BMI (P= 0.04, r= 0.571) and between CIMT and waist circumference (P= 0.028, r= 0.36) were statistically significant. Based on regression analysis serum CRP level (P= 0.055, 95 CI= 1.589-73.713) and BMI (P= 0.051, 95 CI= 1.379-2.412) were independent variables which affected CIMT. Conclusion: CRP was elevated in PCOS patients compared to controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Therefore, measuring CRP in PCOS patients should be interpreted with keeping in mind other CVD risk factors in these patients such as fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and most importantly BMI

Value of physical examination in the diagnosis of developmental hip dislocation in preterm infants

Background: Developmental dislocation of the hip joint is among joint abnormalities and lack of its early diagnosis leads to irreversible complications and disabilities. Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted on 210 eighteen - month - old premature infants. Premature infants at term gestational age were examined by a neonatologist and underwent a sonographic scanning by a skilled radiologist. The results of the physical examination and ultrasound reports were collected and analyzed. Results: In the clinical assessment, hip joint examination was diagnosed abnormal in 22 cases (10.4) and joint dislocation was diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination in 17 patients (8.1). In one high - risk case, despite normal clinical examination (0.48), the dislocation was diagnosed by ultrasonographic evaluation. There was a significant relationship between hip dislocation rate, and reduced mean gestational age and birth weight (P 0.05). In diagnosis of joint dislocation, clinical examination (the results of the Ortolani and the Barlow tests) had sensitivity of 94 and specificity of 97 compared with sonography; the positive and negative predictive values were 73 and 99, respectively. Conclusions: Clinical examination has high sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of developmental hip dislocation. If there are risk factors, ultrasonographic scanning is recommended despite normal physical examination, and ultrasound is not necessary in case of normal physical examination and the absence of risk factors. © 2018, Journal of Comprehensive Pediatrics

Evaluating endometrial thickness and vascular ultrasound pattern and pregnancy outcomes in intrauterine insemination cycle

The current study aims to investigate whether endometrial thickness and pattern, and blood flow in color Doppler of sonography on the day of administration is a predictor of intrauterine insemination (IUI) success. The study was designed as a cross-sectional prospective clinical study with one-hundred women undergoing an IUI cycle. Interventions of the study include endometrial thickness and pattern and color Doppler flow on the day of administration and cycle parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant patients. Main outcome measures are endometrial thickness and patterns and blood flow in color Doppler. The results showed that the overall pregnancy rate was 38, which mean that endometrial blood flow on the day of administration was significantly greater in cycles, pregnancy achieved, but endometrial thickness and pattern of sonography were found to have no predictive value on endometrial receptivity. In multi-variant analysis, the following variable affected the pregnancy rate: the women�s age, duration of infertility, type, number of IUI cycle, the number of ampules to stimulate dominant follicle, sperm count. In our study, this variability was found to have no predictive value on the outcome of IUI but endometrial flow in color Doppler was positively associated pregnancy outcome. © 2016 Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Health Care. All rights reserved