BACKGROUND: To date, there is no study regarding women with unexplained infertility in the province of Basrah, Iraq. This study was conducted to compare the level of leptin, oxidant/antioxidant status, and some trace element levels in women of healthy control and unexplained infertility.METHODS: From total 96 women subjects, 32 subjects had primary unexplained infertility, 31 had secondary unexplained infertility, while 33 fertile women were taken as controls. The body mass index (BMI) of subjects was calculated with standard procedures. The level of fasting serum leptin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) were measured by flame, copper (Cu) by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, while Selenium (Se) in whole blood was determined using hydride generation method.RESULTS: Non-significant changes (p>0.05) were seen in the level of BMI, leptin, TSH, FSH, LH and LH/FSH ratio. Level of 4-HNE, LOOH and Cu were significantly increased (p<0.01), while level of GSH, SOD, CAT, TAC, Se, Zn and Mg were significantly decreased (p<0.01) in primary and secondary type of unexplained infertility, compared to control.CONCLUSION: Serum leptin hormone is significantly associated with BMI and physical activity in both groups. The significant difference in oxidant/antioxidants status between unexplained infertile and fertile women may suggests a possible additional role of oxidative stress mechanisms in pathophysiology of unexplained infertility.KEYWORDS: unexplained infertility, leptin, oxidative stress, antioxidants, trace elements

Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the effect of insulin resistance (IR) on serum In telectin1 and endocrinological hormones levels in obese and nonobese women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Basrah, Iraq. Methods: From 124 women volunteers, 60 patients with primary and 64 patients with secondary, while 56 normal ovulatory women were taken as controls. Their fasting in sulin hormone, intelectin1, antiMullerian hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2) and testosterones (T) were determined by ELISA methods. BMI, glucose and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index as well as IR was determined by the homeostasis model assessment. Results: A significant changes (P<0.05) were seen in the level of homeostasis model assessmentIR, E2 and T. Levels of antiMullerian hormone, LH, LH/FSH ratio and pro lactin were significantly (P<0.01) increased and level of intelectin1 and E2/T ratio were significantly (P<0.01) decreased, while quantitative insulin sensitivity check index level was not significantly different (P>0.05) between the patients (1 o PCOS and 2 o PCOS) and control groups. On the other hand, our data reported that FSH level was significantly (P<0.05) lower in obese and higher in nonobese patients with PCOS as compared to control group. Conclusion: Levels of intelectin1 and endocrinological hormones have significantly associated with body mass index, IR and physical activity in patients and normal groups and the strategies that can modulate levels of these parameters would improve metabolic disarrangements in women with PCOS.

INTRODUCTION : Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading reason of all excess death-rate over type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria or end-stage renal disease. This work was aimed to estimate insulin resistance (IR) effect on some markers and trace elements (Selenium, Zinc, Magnesium) levels for early predicting of DN in T2DM patients. METHODS : We conducted a cross-sectional clinical study. Blood and urine samples were collected from 63 subjects with T2DM and 33 healthy controls to assess glucose, insulin, IR, urea, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), creatinine clearance (CrCl), homocysteine (Hcy), fructosamine (FA), cystatin C (CysC), albumin (Alb), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), 8-hydroxy-2`-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and trace elements levels. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was filled out by specialized doctors. RESULTS : Compared with controls, the results revealed that T2DM patients with or without DN had significant increases in glucose, insulin, IR, urea, creatinine, Hcy, FA, CysC, Alb, NGAL and 8-OHdG and significant decreases in GFR, CrCl and trace elements levels. Body mass index (BMI) had no changes. CONCLUSION : Uncontrolled T2DM was associated with BMI, IR and physical activity in which elevated Hcy, FA, CysC, Alb, NGAL and 8-OHdG levels and decreased trace elements levels may be used as early clinical markers of DN.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, trace elements play an important role in PCOS, selenium performs various biological functions such as defense against oxidative stress, immune function and thyroid function, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in premenopausal women, trace Elements have important role in PCOS, selenium is involved in many biological functions, such as, protection against oxidative stress, immune function and thyroid function, Copper, zinc and manganese are essential micronutrients that have been integrated into various proteins and metalloenzymes and are active in the metabolic process of cells and in oxidative stress pathways that can lead to oxidative stress. One hundred and twenty-four of patients' women with poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients and 56 normal ovulatory women participated in the study. Seleniumand serum Copper, zinc and manganese were measured by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a master cause of all surplus death-rate among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with microalbuminuria. This study aimed to find effective biomarkers for early predicting of DN. Present study included 63 patients with T2DM (31 patients with DN, 32 patients without DN) and 33 healthy controls. These three groups were matched for their glucose, urea, creatinine, insulin, L-Carnitine (LC), osteoprotegerin (OPG), sialic acid (SA), trace elements (Selenium, Zinc, Magnesium), albumin (Alb), and fibronectin (FN). Glucose, urea, and creatinine were determined by spectrophotometer. Insulin, LC, OPG, SA, Alb, and FN were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Insulin resistance (IR) was calculated by the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) equation. Selenium was measured by hydride generation while Zinc and Magnesium were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Compared with controls, the results indicated that T2DM patients with or without DN had a significant increase in glucose, urea, creatinine, insulin, IR, OPG, SA, Alb, FN and a significant decrease in LC and trace elements levels. It was concluded that IR is strongly associated with obesity and had an important role in the pathogenesis and increased complication of diabetes which could be used as excellent indicators for early-stage DN in T2DM patients and thus decreasing mortality and morbidity.