| 1. |
- Inzunza, Jose, et al.
(författare)
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Selective insulin-like growth factor-I antagonist inhibits mouse embryo development in a dose-dependent manner
- 2010
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Ingår i: Fertility and Sterility. - : Elsevier BV. - 0015-0282 .- 1556-5653. ; 93:8, s. 2621-2626
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To study the role of a synthetic insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) antagonist, picropodophyllin, for mouse preimplantation embryo development in vivo and in vitro. DESIGN: In vitro and in vivo study. SETTING: Hospital-based research unit. ANIMALS: FVB/N mice and mouse embryos. INTERVENTION(S): The effect of picropodophyllin in mouse embryo development in vivo and in vitro, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, polymerase chain reaction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Embryo development, presence of IGF-IR, messenger RNA expression, IGF-I synthesis. RESULT(S): The effect of picropodophyllin on embryo development in vitro and in vivo was not reversible. Mice treated with picropodophyllin 1 to 3 days after mating had a reduced number of blastocysts, 40.5% versus 78.8%, and a higher number of embryos with delayed development, 48.6% versus 11.5%. Insulin-like growth factor-IR protein is present in both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated form at all stages of embryo development. The relative IGF-IR messenger RNA expression was highest in the oocyte and reduced during development to blastocyst stage. Insulin-like growth factor-I in culture media was reduced after picropodophyllin treatment. CONCLUSION(S): We conclude that IGF-I has an important role in normal mouse embryo development and that its receptor plays an essential role in the embryonic genome activation process.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Johanna K., et al.
(författare)
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Inter-Rater Agreement for Diagnosing Adenomyosis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Transvaginal Ultrasonography
- 2023
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Ingår i: Diagnostics. - 2075-4418. ; 13:13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Our aim was to compare the inter-rater agreement about transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with regard to diagnosing adenomyosis and for assessing various predefined imaging features of adenomyosis, in the same set of women. The study cohort included 51 women, prospectively, consecutively recruited based on a clinical suspicion of adenomyosis. MRIs and TVS videoclips and 3D volumes were retrospectively assessed by four experienced radiologists and five experienced sonographers, respectively. Each rater subjectively evaluated the presence or absence of adenomyosis, as well as imaging features suggestive of adenomyosis. Fleiss kappa (κ) was used to reflect inter-rater agreement for categorical data, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to reflect the reliability of quantitative data. Agreement between raters for diagnosing adenomyosis was higher for TVS than for MRI (κ = 0.42 vs. 0.28). MRI had a higher inter-rater agreement in assessing wall asymmetry, irregular junctional zone (JZ), and the presence of myometrial cysts, while TVU had a better agreement for assessing globular shape. MRI showed a moderate to good reliability for measuring the JZ (ICC = 0.57–0.82). For TVS, the JZ was unmeasurable in >50% of cases, and the remaining cases had low reliability (ICC = −0.31–0.08). We found that inter-rater agreement for diagnosing adenomyosis was higher for TVS than for MRI, despite the fact that MRI showed a higher inter-rater agreement in most specific features. Measurements of JZ in the coronal plane with 3D TVS were unreliable and thus unlikely to be useful for diagnosing adenomyosis.
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| 4. |
- Aneblom, Gunilla
(författare)
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The Emergency Contraceptive Pill – a Second Chance : Knowledge, Attitudes and Experiences Among Users and Providers
- 2003
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to study knowledge, attitudes and experience of emergency contraceptive pills among women and providers. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Focus-group interviews were conducted with teenage-girls (I) and with women who had purchased ECP without prescription (IV). Self-administered waiting-room questionnaires were administered to women presenting for induced abortion in three large hospitals (II, III), and after the deregulation of ECP, a postal questionnaire was sent to pharmacy staff and nurse-midwives in three counties in mid-Sweden (V). Overall, women showed high basic awareness of ECP although specific knowledge such as the level of effectiveness, time-frames and how the method works was lacking. Approval of the method was high and most women were positive to use the method if they needed. Contradictory views as to whether ECP undermines contraceptive behavior were expressed. As many as 43% of women requesting induced abortion had a history of one or more previous abortions. Among the abortion applicants, one out of five, 22%, had previously used ECP and 3% had used it to prevent the current pregnancy. Media and friends were the two most common sources of information on ECP. Half of the women, 52%, were positive to having ECP prescription-free. Those women who had purchased ECP in a pharmacy without prescription, appreciated this possibility, and the major benefits expressed were time saving aspects. No severe side-effects were reported. The women's experiences of interaction with pharmacy staff were both positive and negative. The importance of up-to-date information about ECP and the OTC-availability from the health care providers was emphasized. Both pharmacy staff and nurse-midwives had positive attitudes towards ECP and the OTC availability. Of pharmacy staff, 38% reported that they referred women to nurse-midwives/gynecologists for further counseling and follow-ups. The need for increased communication and collaboration between pharmacies and local family planning clinics was reported by both study groups with suggestions of regular meetings for information and discussions. The results suggest that ECP is still underused and that more factual information is needed before the method is becoming a known, accepted and integrated back-up method to the existing family planning repertoire. Longitudinal research to assess the long-term effects of ECP is needed.
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| 5. |
- Atuhairwe, Susan, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of treatment of incomplete second-trimester abortion using misoprostol provided by midwives compared with physicians : study protocol for a randomized controlled equivalence trial
- 2019
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Ingår i: Trials. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1745-6215. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A large proportion of abortion-related mortality and morbidity occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy. The Uganda Ministry of Health policy restricts management of second-trimester incomplete abortion to physicians who are few and unequally distributed, with most practicing in urban regions. Unsafe and outdated methods like sharp curettage are frequently used. Medical management of second-trimester post-abortion care by midwives offers an advantage given the difficulty in providing surgical management in low-income settings and current health worker shortages. The study aims to assess the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of treatment of incomplete second-trimester abortion using misoprostol provided by midwives compared with physicians.METHODS: A randomized controlled equivalence trial implemented at eight hospitals and health centers in Central Uganda will include 1192 eligible women with incomplete abortion of uterine size > 12 weeks up to 18 weeks. Each participant will be randomly assigned to undergo a clinical assessment and treatment by either a midwife (intervention arm) or a physician (control arm). Enrolled participants will receive 400 μg misoprostol administered sublingually every 3 h up to five doses within 24 h at the health facility until a complete abortion is confirmed. Women who do not achieve complete abortion within 24 h will undergo surgical uterine evacuation. Pre discharge, participants will receive contraceptive counseling and information on what to expect in terms of side effects and signs of complications, with follow-up 14 days later to assess secondary outcomes. Analyses will be by intention to treat. Background characteristics and outcomes will be presented using descriptive statistics. Differences between groups will be analyzed using risk difference (95% confidence interval) and equivalence established if this lies between the predefined range of - 5% and + 5%. Chi-square tests will be used for comparison of outcome and t tests used to compare mean values. P ≤ 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.DISCUSSION: Our study will provide evidence to inform national and international policies, standard care guidelines and training program curricula on treatment of second-trimester incomplete abortion for improved access.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03622073 . Registered on 9 August 2018.
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| 6. |
- Bakesiima, Ritah, et al.
(författare)
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Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda : prevalence and associated factors
- 2020
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Ingår i: Reproductive Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1742-4755. ; 17:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancies are persistently high among refugees. The pregnancies have been attributed to low contraceptive use in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda.METHODS: This was a cross sectional study using both descriptive and analytical techniques. The study was carried out in Palabek refugee settlement in Northern Uganda from May to July 2019. A total of 839 refugee adolescents who were sexually active or in-union were consecutively enrolled. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection.RESULTS: Modern contraceptive prevalence was 8.7% (95% CI: 7.0 to 10.8). The injectable was the most commonly used modern contraceptive method [42.5% (95% CI: 31.5 to 54.3)], and most of the participants had used the contraceptives for 6 months or less (59.7%). Reasons for not using modern contraceptives included fear of side effects (39.3%), partner prohibition (16.4%), and the desire to become pregnant (7.0%). Participants who were married (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.35, p < 0.001), cohabiting (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.93, p = 0.032) or having an older partner (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.99, p = 0.046) were less likely to use modern contraceptives.CONCLUSION: Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents was very low, and few reported a desire to become pregnant, leaving them vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies. Least likely to use modern contraceptives were participants who were married/cohabiting and those having older partners implying a gender power imbalance in fertility decision making. There is an urgent need for innovations to address the gender and power imbalances within relationships, which could shape fertility decision-making and increase modern contraceptive use among refugee adolescents.
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| 7. |
- Berger, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular characterization of PRM-associated endometrial changes, PAEC, following mifepristone treatment
- 2018
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Ingår i: Contraception. - : Elsevier. - 0010-7824 .- 1879-0518. ; 98:4, s. 317-322
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The progesterone receptor modulator (PRM) mifepristone holds the potential to be developed for regular contraception. However, long-term treatment can cause thickening of the endometrium and PRM-associated endometrial changes (PAEC). The objective of this study was to explore the molecular expression of endometrium displaying PAEC after mifepristone treatment in order to understand the future implications of PAEC and safety of long-term use. Study design: Endometrial biopsies were obtained from premenopausal women following 3 months of continuous mifepristone treatment. The biopsies were evaluated regarding occurrence of PAEC and followed up by a comparative analysis of gene expression in PAEC endometrium (n=7) with endometrium not displaying PAEC (n=4). Methods used included microarray analysis, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Three genes relevant within endometrial function were up-regulated with PAEC: THY1 (p=.02), ADAM12 (p=.04) and TN-C (p=.04). The proliferation marker MKi67 was not altered (p=.31). None of the differentially regulated genes were involved in the endometrial cancer-signaling pathway (based on IPA knowledge database). Conclusion: The genes altered in endometrium displaying PAEC after 3 months of mifepristone exposure are mainly involved in the structural architecture of tissue. Implications: PAEC features may be explained by the altered genes and their networks affecting tissue architecture although not involved in endometrial cancer signaling pathways, and thus, treatment with mifepristone at this dosage does not show any adverse effect at endometrial level.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Bizjak, Isabella, et al.
(författare)
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Contraceptive uptake and compliance after structured contraceptive counseling - secondary outcomes of the LOWE trial
- 2024
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Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 103:5, s. 873-883
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods reduce unintended pregnancy rates; however, these methods are underutilized. The LOWE trial intervention provided structured contraceptive counseling resulting in increased uptake of LARC. This longitudinal follow up of the LOWE study assessed the long-term impact of the intervention by investigating the contraceptive use at 12 months with a focus on continued use of LARC.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the cluster randomized LOWE trial, abortion, youth, and maternal health clinics were randomized to provide either structured contraceptive counseling (intervention) or standard contraceptive counseling (control). The intervention consisted of an educational video on contraceptive methods, key questions asked by the health care provider, a tiered effectiveness chart and a box of contraceptive models. Women ≥ age 18, who were sexually active or planned to be in the upcoming 6 months, could participate in the study. We assessed self-reported contraceptive use at three, six and 12 months. Contraceptive choice and switches were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Contraceptive use at 12 months and continued use of LARC were analyzed using mixed logistic regressions, with clinic included as a random effect. Analysis with imputed values were performed for missing data to test the robustness of results.RESULTS: Overall, at 12 months, women in the intervention group were more likely to be using a LARC method (aOR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.31-2.76) and less likely to be using a short-acting reversible contraceptive (SARC) method (aOR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46-0.93) compared to the control group. Women counseled at abortion (aOR 2.97, 95% CI: 1.36-6.75) and youth clinics (aOR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.08-3.03) were more likely to be using a LARC method, while no significant difference was seen in maternal health clinics (aOR 1.84, 95% CI: 0.96-3.66). Among women initiating LARC, continuation rates at 12 months did not differ between study groups (63.9% vs. 63.7%). The most common reasons for contraceptive discontinuation were wish for pregnancy, followed by irregular bleeding, and mood changes.CONCLUSIONS: The LOWE trial intervention resulted in increased LARC use also at 12 months. Strategies on how to sustain LARC use needs to be further investigated.
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| 10. |
- Björvang, Richelle D., et al.
(författare)
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Persistent organic pollutants and the size of ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged women
- 2021
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Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 155
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Industrial chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with reduced fertility in women, including longer time-to-pregnancy (TTP), higher odds for infertility, and earlier reproductive senescence. Fertility is highly dependent on the ovarian reserve, which is composed of a prenatally determined stock of non-growing follicles. The quantity and quality of the follicles decline with age, thereby eventually leading to menopause. In the clinical setting, assessing ovarian reserve directly through the histological analysis of follicular density in ovaries is not practical. Therefore, surrogate markers of ovarian reserve, such as serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are typically used. Here, we studied associations between chemical exposure and ovarian reserve in a cohort of pregnant women undergoing elective caesarean section (n = 145) in Stockholm, Sweden. Full data (histological, clinical, serum) were available for 50 women. We estimated the size of the reserve both directly by determining the density of follicles in ovarian cortical tissue samples, and indirectly by measuring AMH in associated serum samples. Concentrations of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and 9 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were determined in serum, and clinical data were retrieved from electronic medical records. Healthy follicle densities (median 0, range 0–193 follicles/mm3) and AMH levels (median 2.33 ng/mL, range 0.1–14.8 ng/mL) varied substantially. AMH correlated with the density of growing follicles. Twenty-three chemicals detected in more than half of the samples were included in the analyses. None of the chemicals, alone or as a mixture, correlated with AMH, growing or atretic follicles. However, HCB, transnonachlor, PCBs 74 and 99 were associated with decreased non-growing follicle densities. HCB and transnonachlor were also negatively associated with healthy follicle density. Further, mixture of lipophilic POPs (PBDE 99, p,p’-DDE, and PCB 187) was associated with lower non-growing follicle densities. In addition, exposure to HCB, p,p’-DDE, and mixture of OCPs were significantly associated with higher odds of infertility. The results suggest that exposure to chemicals may reduce the size of ovarian reserve in humans, and strongly encourage to study mechanisms behind POP-associated infertility in women in more detail.
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