Our study shows that premature ovarian failure has significantly lower levels of bone mineral density than the control group of normal women. We suggest that hormone replacement therapy should be substituted early and consistently in affected patients. Our data also raise questions about whether preservation of bone mass in these patients will require replacement of additional gonadal steroids.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> To evaluate biochemically and histopathologically the effects of <i>Nigella sativa</i> (NS) in experimental ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Thirty-six female rats were divided into 6 groups: group I = sham operation; group II = 500 mg/kg NS + sham operation; group III = bilateral ovarian ischemia; group IV = 500 mg/kg NS + ischemia; group V = 3-hour period of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion, and group VI: 3-hour period of ischemia + 500 mg/kg NS 2.5 h after the induction of ischemia + 3-hour reperfusion. At the end of ischemia, the bilateral vascular clips were removed, and 3-hour reperfusion was continued. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokine levels in serum, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. <b><i>Results:</i></b> I/R increased the MDA level and MPO activity while significantly decreasing the SOD activity and GSH level when compared to the sham. The 500-mg/kg dose of NS before I/R reversed the trend in MDA levels, MPO activity, SOD activity, and GSH levels. Ischemia and I/R increased the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while the administration of NS decreased the serum levels of these cytokines. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The administration of NS is effective in reversing tissue damage induced by ischemia and/or I/R in ovaries.

No abstract

This study showed a remarkable high rate of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women during the winter season and we have found high levels of vitamin D in patients supplemented with multivitamins and in ones with good SES.

The stair-step protocol was determined to have a significantly shorter treatment period without any detrimental effect on the ovulation and pregnancy rates.