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September 2017 -
Volume 15, Issue 7
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From the Editor

 
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In Memoriam
Professor Orhan Ekrem Müftüoglu
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Original Contribution / Clinical Investigation












 











































Cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy may lower the low density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma
DOI:
10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93010
[pdf version]
Mehmet Rami Helvaci, Mursel Davarci, Orhan Veli Ozkan, Ersan Semerci, Abdulrazak Abyad, Lesley Pocock


Serum and follicular fluid vitamin D and follicular response among infertile women undergoing ICSI
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93011
[pdf version]
Sedighe Esmaeilzadeh, Maryam Aliasgharpour, Parvaneh Mirabi, Azita Ghanbarpour
Maede Fasihian

Studying the relation of quality of work life with socio-economic status and general health among the employees working in Students Welfare Fund of Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2016
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93012
[pdf version]
Saeed Reza Azami, Nasrin Shaarbafchizadeh, Soheil Mokhtari, Ali Maher

On the Effect of Cognitive Behavioural Counseling on Sexual Satisfaction of Mothers with Autistic Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial
DOI:
[pdf version]
Leila Arbil, Mitra Kolivand, Farzaneh Golboni, Effat MerghatiKhoei, Mansour Rezaei

Pre-operative sublingual misoprostol and intra-operative blood loss during total abdominal hysterectomy: a randomized single-blinded controlled clinical trial
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93013
[pdf version]
Taravat Fakheri, Tayebe Noori

Investigating the Effect of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure on Sore Throat, Hoarseness and Cough in Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93014
[pdf version]
Ali Akbar Vaezi, Mohammad Hassan Mondegari Bamakan

Comparing the Self-Esteem and Resiliency between Blind and Sighted Children and Adolescents in Kermanshah City
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93015
[pdf version]
Saeedeh Bakhshi, Nafiseh Montazeri , Babak Nazari, Arash Ziapour, Hashem Barahooyi,
Fatemeh Dehghan

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Population and Community Studies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






 

 










Frequency of Uric Acid Levels, Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia among the Pakistani Population
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93016
[pdf version]
Waris Qidwai, Masood Jawaid

Determinants of Tooth Brushing among Primary School Students
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93017
[pdf version]
Mohammad Mahboubi, Mohammad Ismail Motlagh, Mehdi Mirzaei-Alavijeh, Farzad Jalilian, Hassan Gharibnavaz,
Mohammad Fattahi

Depression in patients suffering from gender dysphoria: The hospitalized patients of Legal Medicine Center in Southwest of Iran
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93018
[pdf version]
Zahra Gorjian, Mohammad Zarenezhad, Mohhamad Mahboubi, Saeid Gholamzadeh,
Nahid Mahmoodi

An epidemiological study of suicide attempts and to determine the correlation between attempted suicide causes and demographic characteristics of people in Kermanshah Province during a year
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93019
[pdf version]
Hamid Reza Shetabi, Samira Rostami, Mohsen Mohammadi, Mahsa Cheleii, Lida Saedi, Saba Amiri Nasab,
Shirin Zardui GolAnbari

The effectiveness of life skills training on happiness, mental health, and marital satisfaction in wives of Iran-Iraq war veterans
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93038
[pdf version]
Kamal Solati

The Role of Self-Compassion Factors in Predicting the Marital Satisfaction of Staff at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
DOI:10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93020
[pdf version]
Parisa Janjani, Lida Haghnazari, Farahnaz Keshavarzi, Alireza Rai

Mediating role of irrational beliefs in the relationship between the quality of family communication and marital satisfaction
DOI:10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93021
[pdf version]
Parisa Janjani, Khodamorad Momeni, Alireza Rai, Mohammad Reza Saidi

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Review Article



New Methods in Treatment of Renal failure in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Review with Immunological Approach
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93022
[pdf version]
Ali Saeedi-Boroujeni, Sara Iranparast, Majid Shirani

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International Health Affairs



Congenital anomalies: Overview and a brief report on promising new research
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93023
[pdf version]
Lesley Pocock, Mohsen Rezaeian, Majid Asadi-Samani, Alireza Seidavi, Mansour Nazari Chafjiri

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Education and Training































Investigating the Use of Smartphones for Learning Purposes by Iranian Dental Students
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93024
[pdf version]
Mohammad Shooriabi, Abdolreza Gilavand

The Effect of Educational Training on Nurses' Clinical Function of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93025
[pdf version]
Makieh Jokari, Zahra Gorjian

Comparison of the attitude toward stigma among the staff and students and faculty at Abadan School of Medical Sciences
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93026
[pdf version]
Mohammad Mahboobi, Saeid Gholamzadeh, Mohammad Zarenezhad, Zeynab Namadmaliani Zadeh, Nahid Mahmoodi

The effectiveness of sexual skills training with a cognitive-behavioral approach on sexual dysfunction among infertile women
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93038
[pdf version]
Nasrin Jalilian, Zahra Mokari

How to prepare a poster for a scientific presentation
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93027
[pdf version]
Maryam Rezaeian, Mahsa Rezaeian, Mohsen Rezaeian

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Clinical Research and Methods









































Adaptive LASSO Logistic Regression applied on gene expression of prostate cancer
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93028
[pdf version]
Amir Hossein Hashemian, Maryam Ghobadi Asl, Soodeh Shahsavari, Mansour Rezaei,
Hadi Raeisi Shahraki

The prevalence of brain and neck injuries in patients with maxillofacial fractures in teaching hospitals of Rasht in 2016
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93029
[pdf version]
Seyed Mohammad Talebzadeh, Ali Khalighi Sigaroudi, Babak Alijani, Safa Motevasseli,
Saied Dashtyari, Mahsa Shariati, Zeinab Davoudmanesh

Cultural competency: a concept analysis in TUMS (Tehran University of Medical Science) DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93030
[pdf version]
Foruzan Khatamidoost, Mandana Shirazy, Hamid Khankeh, Nemat Allah Musapour
Majid Sadeghi, Kamran Soltani Arabshahi

The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) on Activities of Daily Living of client with Cerebrovascular accident
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93031
[pdf version]
Najafi Doulatabad Shahla, Afrasiabifar Ardashir, Parandvar Yaghoub

Evaluation of the ratio of T helper 17 and T regulatory cells in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93032
[pdf version]
Hossein Shahriari, Farahzad Jabbari, Seyyed Abdolrahim Rezaee, Houshang Rafatpanah
Majid Jafari, Reza Farid Hosseini, Majid Asadi-Samani

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Model and System of Primary Care




The Effect of Health System Development Plan on Reduction of First Cesarean in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad in 2016
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93033
[pdf version]
Hajar Shokoohi Asl, Parviz Aghaei Barzabad, Abbas Yazdanpanah

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Case Series and Case Reports








<<Iran>>
Carbamazepine-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and amniotic membrane: A case report
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93035
[pdf version]
Mohammadreza Mobayen, Abbas Darjani, Roghayeh Aghebati , Ramyar Farzan

<<Iran>>
Right Thoracotomy Beating Heart Technique in Emergency Re-Do Mitral Valve Surgery: Is it Still Justified?
DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2017.93034
[pdf version]
Hassan Mir Mohammad Sadeghi


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September 2017 - Volume 15, Issue 7

Serum and follicular fluid vitamin D and follicular response among infertile women undergoing ICSI

Sedighe Esmaeilzadeh
Maryam Aliasgharpour
Parvaneh Mirabi
Azita Ghanbarpour
Maede Fasihian


Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center,
Health Research Institute,
Babol University of Medical Sciences,
Babol, Iran

Correspondence:
Azita Ghanbarpour
Babol- Torkmahale- Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center
Babol University of Medical Sciences,
Babol, Iran
Mobile: 09113110416
Email: dr_ghanbarpour@yahoo.com

Abstract

Background: Some studies have shown the relation between vitamin D levels and the success rate of fertility in couples treated with Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). The aim of this study is to determine Association of vitamin D level in serum and follicular fluid with follicular response in infertile women in an ART program.

Method: In this cross sectional study 81 infertile women were placed under treatment for induction ovulation according to a long protocol. Follicular fluids were extracted from follicles over 14 mm and blood samples collected on the same day. Follicular fluid and blood samples were centrifuged and stored at -80 C. Then level of 25-OH-vit D was measured by immunoassay method.

Result: The mean age of the subjects was 32.91 ± 4.83. The average BMI of patients was 27.63 ± 3.97. There was no significant correlation between the follicular concentrations of vitamin D and the number of oocytes as well as serum concentration of vitamin D and the number of oocytes (Respectively, P = 0.95 and P = 057). There was also no relation between the numbers of ovarian follicles and follicular concentrations of vitamin D as well as the number of ovarian follicles and serum concentration of vitamin D (P=0.07).

Correlation analysis revealed a high relationship between serum and follicular fluid vitamin D (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Different concentrations of vitamin D in serum or follicles have no significant correlation with the number of ovarian follicles and mature oocytes.

Key words: Vitamin D, infertility, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, Oocyte, follicular fluid


INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 10-25% of couples have infertility problems. Infertility has affected about 80 million people worldwide [1, 2]. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone and induces its effects on the nucleus by connecting its receptors to this part of the cell. This hormone is effective on almost all body cells and has a positive relation with the body’s health from cancer to heart disease [3, 4]. Vitamin D can play an important role in growth and differentiation of various tissues, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular disease [5-11]. Studies have shown that Vitamin D receptors exist in most tissues and cells in the body which in itself shows the role of vitamin D [5]. Among the various physiological functions of vitamin D, some seem an important role in reproductive physiology [12] in a way that Vitamin D receptors are also found in reproductive tissues such as ovary and uterus [13, 14].

More information confirming the association between vitamin D and reproduction arise from studies carried out on receptors. Vitamin D receptors can be observed in reproductive organs like the uterus and ovaries [15]. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D plays an important role in female fertility by promoting the synthesis of two important hormones in reproduction which are estrogen and progesterone. The correct balance of these two hormones is essential for reproductive health and menstrual cycles [16]. Vitamin D may also be associated with endometriosis and the possibility of pregnancy after IVF operation [17]. Lack of vitamin D shows up to 85% companionship, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The deficiency of this vitamin is also associated with PCOS symptoms such as menstrual irregularities and infertility [17]. Patients with PCOS have hypervitaminosis D and average levels of vitamin D are lower in these patients compared to non-PCOS people [18]. It has been shown that vitamin D supplementation can improve insulin resistance as well as the sequence of menstrual cycles [19, 20] which in itself can increase the chances of pregnancy. Adequate levels of vitamin D are also important for fetal development during pregnancy [21]. Vitamin D deficiency is especially common in the Middle East. Factors such as avoiding exposure to the sun, using sunscreen, type of dressing of women and the high number of skin pigments in Asian people can be among the main reasons for this deficiency [22]. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Australia is between 70 to 80 percent among children and pregnant women while this percentage falls to 23 in young adults [23]. According to studies of the Endocrinology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, the prevalence of this problem is in oscillation from 40 to 80 percent in different parts of Iran [24]. Some of the studies have shown the relation between the level of vitamin D and the success rate of fertility in couples treated with ART, in a way that women with vitamin D deficiency have shown a lower fertility rate compared to women who had higher vitamin D levels [25, 26]. It has been shown in some studies that women with higher levels of vitamin D in serum and follicular fluid will have significantly higher clinical pregnancy after IVF and ET and high levels of vitamin D are significantly associated with better parameters of controlled ovarian stimulation [12]. But other studies have mentioned the lack of significant effect of vitamin D in the follicular fluid and blood in predicting outcomes related to reproductive techniques [27]. Thus, the objective of our study is to evaluate the companionship of vitamin D level in serum and follicular fluid with follicular response in infertile women undergoing ART treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Sampling has been carried out using census method and includes all women with infertility undergoing IVF or ICSI who referred to infertility center of Fatemeh Zahra of Babolin 2015 during the period of 8 months (October to March). Inclusion criteria included age between 18 and 40, normal Hormone, thyroid and prolactin tests and exclusion criteria included Cancellation of treatment cycles, performing ART for genetic identifications, underlying medical condition such as heart, liver and kidney diseases and the use of drugs that interfere with the metabolism of vitamin D.

Written consent is initially signed by infertile women after explaining the method for women eligible for study inclusion and demographic data are collected by questionnaire. Then, infertile women will be placed under treatment for ovulation induction according to the protocol of infertility center of Fatemeh Zahra (Long Protocol) which is in from of prescribed Buserelin acetate (Cinnagen, Iran) with the initial dose of 0.5mg / d in mid luteal phase which is reduced to 0.25mg / d after occurrence of menses and completion of pituitary suppression and will continue until the day of oocyte retrieval. Gonal F (Cinnagen, Iran) starts from the second day of menses based on age and the number of antral follicles and their dose is regulated by monitoring Estradiol and TVS. HCG (Daroupakhsh, Iran) is administered at a dose of IU10000 when the size of follicle reaches to 16-18 mm and TVS guide of ovaries are removed 34 to 36 hours later. Follicular fluid is taken from follicles over 14 mm and heparinized blood sample of these women is taken on the same day to measure the level of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Blood samples and follicular fluid sample are placed at -80 ° centigrade after centrifugation and sent to the laboratory on a weekly basis. Vitamin D measurement is done by immunoassay method using the bioactiva kit. It should be noted that Serum vitamin D levels less than 20ng / dl are considered as deficient levels of vitamin D and levels between 20-30ng / dl are considered as inadequate levels and levels higher than 30ng / dl are considered as adequate levels of vitamin D according to the Endocrine Society [27]. Analysis of the data was done using the SPSS19 application and descriptive statistical indexes including frequency and average and chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables between the two groups.

RESULTS

82 patients entered the study from whom 1 subject was excluded (due to corruption of test and unwillingness of the patient for re-testing). Finally, 81 infertile patients were evaluated. The average weight and BMI and type of infertility and cause of infertility and average FSH LH hormone did not have significant difference in groups with inadequate levels of vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency and adequate levels of vitamin D (Table 1).

Click here for Table 1: Demographic and hormonal characteristics of sampled patients

40 patients had number of follicles less than 5 (49.4%), 32 patients had between 5 to 10 (39.5%) and 9 patients had more than 10 (11.1%). The average number of oocytes was 6.62 ± 4.98. The average serum levels of vitamin D was 15.12 ± 13.14 and the average vitamin D follicular fluid was 23.32 ± 13.54.

Pearson correlation test showed a significant positive relation between serum and follicular levels of vitamin D (rp=0.67, p<0.001) (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Correlation of serum and follicular fluid vitamin D

Correlation obtained between the number of oocytes and levels of vitamin D in the serum was not statistically significant (rp=-0.028, p=0.8) (Figure 2). Pearson correlation between the number of oocytes and levels of vitamin D in follicular fluid did not show a significant relation (rp=0.029, p=0.79) (Figure 3). Kendall and Spearman correlations between the number of follicles and serum vitamin D levels were not statistically significant (rc=0.078, p=0.36)(rs=-0.098, p=0.38) (Figure 4). Kendall and Spearman correlations between the number of follicles and follicular fluid vitamin D levels were not statistically significant (rc=0.014, p=0.88)(rs=-0.014, p=0.88) (Figure 5).

Figure 2: Correlation of oocytes numbers and serum vitamin D

Figure 3: Correlation of oocytes numbers and follicular fluid vitamin D


Figure 4: Correlation of follicle number and serum vitamin D


Figure 5: Correlation of follicle number and follicular fluid vitamin D

DISCUSSION

The present study has been carried out in order to determine the possible role of serum and follicular fluid vitamin D levels on follicular response in 81 infertile women referred to infertility center of Fatemeh Zahra in Babol during 8 months (from August to March of2015). The results of our study showed a 72 percent prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in infertile women and only 8% of patients had adequate levels of vitamin D. It was determined in a study carried out by Garabedian and colleagues on 173 infertile women that 55% of them had vitamin D deficiency [15]. Rudick and colleagues examined the effects of vitamin D on the clinical outcome of IVF in another study, out of 188 infertile women, 109 patients (58%) suffered from a lack of vitamin D (with levels less than 30ng / ml) [28]. Vitamin D status is different among various communities which can be due to different factors affecting the level of vitamin D. Seasons, geographic location, dressing, using sunscreen and skin pigmentation in people are among these factors [29].

Some of the hormones and metabolites are effective on the number and maturation of oocytes which are supplied by follicular fluid. Follicular fluid is also an important environment for oocyte development. Increased or decreased compositions of this fluid affect the number and quality of oocytes and embryo. A part of the composition of follicular fluid originates from serum and metabolic changes in serum may affect the biochemical compounds of follicular fluid. Thus, growth and maturation of follicle are affected by metabolite concentrations of blood [30, 31]. Our study also showed a significant positive correlation between serum vitamin D levels and follicular fluid vitamin D levels which was similar to the results obtained from the study of Firouzabadi and Anifandis [32, 33].

The results of our study showed that different concentrations of vitamin D in serum and follicular fluid do not have significant relation with the number of ovarian follicles and oocytes. A few studies have examined the serum and follicular fluid vitamin D levels at the same time and most of the studies have only evaluated the serum level of vitamin D or follicular fluid level of vitamin. In the study of Farzadi and his colleagues, no significant relation was observed between the follicular fluid vitamin D levels and number and quality of oocytes but follicular fluid levels of vitamin D had a significant positive correlation with the level of implantation and IVF results [34]. In the study of Polyzos and colleagues, no significant relation was observed between vitamin D levels and fertility and there was also no relation between serum vitamin D deficient and ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovulation induction [25]. Anifandis and colleagues also did not find any relation between the follicular fluid levels of vitamin D and the number of oocytes in their study which examined the effect of vitamin D level and glucose level follicular fluid [33]. Only in a study which compared the serum vitamin D level with follicular fluid similar to our study, Ozkan and his colleagues found out by evaluating the infertile women undergoing IVF that higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum and follicular fluid are associated with higher rates of clinical pregnancy after IVF and high levels of of vitamin D in serum and follicular fluid are significantly associated with better parameters of controlled ovarian stimulation [35]. Rudick and colleagues confirmed that vitamin D status is associated with the success of IVF in non-Hispanic white women in populations with high ethnic diversity but no beneficial effects of adequate levels were observed among the Asian population and in fact, vitamin D is inversely related to IVF success [28]. This matter probably could explain the results of our study.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that there is a significant correlation between serum vitamin D levels and follicular vitamin D levels but there is no relation between serum and follicular vitamin D levels and the number of oocytes and ovarian follicles in infertile women.

Acknowledgments
This research is derived from the PhD thesis in obstetrics and gynecology by Research Council Session in Babol University of medical sciences. We appreciate the cooperation of the honorable research deputy of university and the head of Health Research Institute, and all participants in this study.

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