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A total of 110 consecutive women was studied prospectively at the time of transcervical embryo transfer following conventional in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures. Microbiological cultures were performed on endocervical swabs and embryo transfer catheter tips. Positive microbial growths were observed from endocervical swabs in 78 (70.9%) women and from catheter tips in 54 (49.1%) women. The clinical pregnancy rates were 57.1% in the group of patients without growth and 29.6% in the group with positive microbial growth from catheter tips. As microbial contamination at embryo transfer may influence implantation rates, prospective studies are justified to determine whether eradication of endocervical micro-organisms is possible and whether their eradication will improve implantation rates.

Our study has demonstrated that there was no alteration in nitric oxide production in preeclampsia, thus contributing to the existing unresolved role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Further research is called for.

Background: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a T helper 2 cytokine with a variety of properties including pro-inflammatory characteristics. It has, therefore, been implicated in the pathophysiology of abnormal pregnancies. Objective: To investigate the association between IL-6 and pre-eclampsia by estimating the differential levels of IL-6 in maternal and cord serum and supernatant of homogenized placental tissue. Methods: 50 primigravidae with pre-eclampsia and 50 matched normotensive primigravidae served as controls. At delivery, maternal and cord blood were collected and the serum extracted. Placental blocks were homogenized and sonicated in RPMI solution and the supernatant collected. The total protein concentration was determined and IL-6 levels assayed with an ELISA technique. Results: Placental IL-6 (170 and 186 pg/mg protein) was threefold that in the maternal (64 and 58 pg/mg protein) and cord serum (63 and 72 pg/mg protein; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the mean IL-6 levels in maternal and cord serum or placenta in both pre-eclamptic women and normotensive controls nor in pre-eclamptic patients with babies with intra-uterine growth restriction or in pre-eclamptic patients with babies with an appropriate birth weight and in normotensive controls. Conclusion: There are no differences in the maternal and cord sera and placental levels of IL-6 in pre-eclamptic and normotensive women, indicating that IL-6 may not have a role in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.

The aims of this study were to determine the aetiological factors and the pattern of recurrent pregnancy loss in Kuwait. Ninety consecutive patients attending the special recurrent miscarriage clinic were studied prospectively. A comprehensive history of all previous miscarriages and pregnancies, past medical and gynaecological events were established. A physical examination was performed. Extensive investigations were performed. Pregnancies which occurred during the study were monitored carefully. The mean age of the patients was 30.46+/-6.04 years. The patients were subdivided into the groups of secondary (57%) and primary (43%) recurrent miscarriages. Eighty-five per cent of all previous miscarriages occurred in the first trimester. The main aetiological factors were uterine anomaly 2.2%, chromosome anomaly (parental) 2.2%, PCOS, infections and other miscellaneous factors 21.1%, positive antiphospholipid antibodies 33.3% and unexplained in 35.6%. The overall live birth rate was 82% and maternal morbidity was low. Positive antiphospholipid antibodies are the most frequently associated cause of recurrent pregnancy loss in Kuwait.