RESUMEN
Different pharmacological effects of Achillea millefolium including its relaxant effect on smooth muscle have been shown previously. In the present study the stimulatory effect of the plant extract on ß-adrenoceptor of tracheal muscle was examined in order to investigate one possible mechanism for its observed relaxant effect. Effect of three concentrations of hydroethanol extract, 10 nM propranolol, and saline on ß-adrenoceptor was tested in two experimental groups including; nonincubated tracheal smooth muscles (group 1) and incubated tracheal smooth muscle with chlorpheniramine (group 2). Concentration response curves to isoprenaline were performed in precontracted tracheal smooth muscle in the presence of the extract, propranolol and saline. Values of EC50 and CR-1 were measured. Leftward shifts in isoprenaline curves were observed in the presence of medium and high concentrations of the extract compared with saline in both groups. The values of EC50 obtained in the presence of medium and high concentrations of the extract only in group 1 were nonsignificantly lower than that of saline. The values of CR-1 obtained in the presence of all concentrations of the extract in both groups were negative and significantly different with that of propranolol. The results indicated a small stimulatory effect of the extract on ß2-adrenoceptors.
RESUMEN
AIM: This study compares the cycle characteristics of clomiphene (CC) with CC+HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotropin or Menotropins) in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS infertile patients. METHODS: Patients were treated by CC + minimal HMg protocol. The cancellation rate, the mean number of different follicle sizes and endometrial thickness and pattern were compared. RESULTS: The cancelled cycles due to non-responsiveness were significantly higher in CC compared to CC+ minimal HMg protocol. PCOS patients are significantly nonresponsive in CC cycle and hyperresponsive in CC+ minimal HMg cycles. The mean number of different sizes of follicles and the endometrial thickness were significantly higher in CC+ minimal HMg. PCOS patients were significantly different from non-PCOS regarding the number of mature follicle and endometrial thickness. The pregnancy rate was 11% (10.2% in non-PCOS and 12.2% in PCOS). CONCLUSION: CC+ minimal HMg is a viable alternative to HMg /FSH only protocol in CC failure or resistant patients, and its efficacy can be mostly attributed to improvement of endometrial quality and increase in follicle number. Moreover, due to high cancellation of PCOS patients treated by this protocol, seemingly other alternatives should be found; perhaps sequential letrozole+HMg/FSH that have been shown to improve the ovarian response in this group of patients.