International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Year:2019 | Volume:17 | Issue:5|Papers Count:8

Background: Biochemical markers including interleukins (ILs) has been proposed for early diagnosis of asphyxia. Objective: This study has aimed to systematically review the significance of IL measurements in the diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases before 2017 were searched for the following keywords: asphyxia, neonatal, interleukin, and diagnosis. A total of 13 out of 300 searched papers were finally selected for evaluation. Interleukins under study were IL6 and interleukin 1𝛽 (IL-1𝛽 ). Interleukins had been measured in 10 studies by serum samples, 2 studies by samples of Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF), and 1 study by sample of umbilical cord blood. The inclusion criteria were: studies on neonates, with adequate information from the test results and studies using markers other than ILs to detect asphyxia; however, studies with only abstracts available were excluded. Results: Research on the issue suggests that IL6 > 41 Pg/dl has the sensitivity of 84. 88% and the specificity of 85. 43%, whereas IL-1𝛽 > 4. 7 Pg/dl has the sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 83% in the diagnosis of neonatal asphyxia. Among diagnostic ILs for neonatal asphyxia, combination of IL6 and IL-1𝛽 had the highest sensitivity, that is, 92. 9%. Conclusion: IL6 and IL-1𝛽 of serum samples were used in the early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia and are useful predictors for the outcomes of perinatal asphyxia and its intensity. In addition, simultaneous evaluation of IL-1𝛽 and IL6 can improve the sensitivity of the early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia.

Background: There are controversial views on accepting a reproductive donation in the world. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the sociocultural beliefs and infertile couples’ attitude toward reproductive donation in Mashhad, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted out on 115 infertile couples visiting Milad Infertility Center in Mashhad, Iran with using convenience sampling. The research instruments were valid and reliable sociocultural beliefs and attitude questionnaires, which were completed by the respondents on a self-report basis. Results: The mean score of attitude toward reproductive donation in infertile women and men was 58. 3 ± 12. 6 and 57. 8 ± 12. 0, and the mean score of sociocultural beliefs in infertile women and men was 67. 7 ± 11. 5 and 67. 6 ± 12. 4, respectively. There was a direct correlation between sociocultural beliefs and attitude toward reproductive donation in infertile women (p < 0. 001) and men (p < 0. 001), that is, women and men with a higher score of sociocultural beliefs had a higher score of attitude as well. A direct correlation was also seen between sociocultural beliefs and infertile women and men’ s public attitude, their attitude towards genetic bound between parents and children, their attitude regarding the issue of confidentiality of the donation process, as well as attitude in relation to oocyte donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy (p < 0. 001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that sociocultural beliefs that surround reproductive donation could influence infertile couple’ s attitude toward accepting these therapeutic alternatives in infertile couples. It is therefore recommended to take steps to incorporate sociocultural beliefs into the routine care of infertile couples with the help of social media to give them ability for making more pragmatic decision in relation to their chosen options.

Background: Diabetes mellitus affects male reproductive system that is known to cause male infertility. Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on sperm parameters, apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and testis histopathology in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic Rats. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 36 male Wistar adult rats (220 ± 30 gr) randomly divided into six groups (n = 6/each). 1 (Control); 2 (LC 100 mg/kg); 3 (Diabetic); 4, 5, and 6 (Diabetic + LC 50 or 100 or 200 mg/kg, respectively). Daily injections were administered intraperitoneally for 48 days. Then, rats were sacrificed, left testis and epididymis were harvested for sperm analysis and histopathology, morphometric and spermatogenesis assessments, and Tunnel assay. Results: L-carnitine in group 6 significantly decreased blood glucose level (p < 0. 01) in comparison with group 3. L-carnitine in groups 5 and 6 significantly (p < 0. 001) and dose-dependently increased the count, motility, viability, maturity, and chromatin quality of sperm and decreased the abnormal morphology of sperm in comparison with group 3. In groups 4, 5, and particularly 6, in comparison with group 3, there has been a significant difference in the increase of seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height (p < 0. 001), maturity quality of the seminiferous tubules (p < 0. 001), decrease apoptosis of spermatogenic cells (p < 0. 001), and testis tissue histopathological complications. Conclusion: The data obtained from the present study suggest that in the diabetic rats, LC decreases serum glucose level, improves the diameter and thickness of the epithelium of spermatogenic cells, reduces germ cells’ apoptosis, and improves epididymal sperm parameters. Therefore, it seems that LC plays an effective role in diabetes-induced infertility.

Background: Deltamethrin (DM) is one of the environmental factors that can have destructive effects on the male fertility. Green tea (GT) as a medicinal herb, has antioxidant property. Objective: The present study investigated the protective role of GT extract in improving the harmful effects of DM on the testis. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 35 adult male mice (25– 30 gr) were divided in to five groups (n = 7/each). The control group received only normal saline. Sham received 0. 2 ml corn oil. Green tea group received only GT of 150 mg/kg. bw; deltamethrin group received the DM at a dose of 0. 6 mg/kg. bw; GT + DM received both GT and DM. The effect of GT was assessed by measuring oxidative stress markers, sperm parameters, histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The results showed that the count and motility of spermatozoa, testosterone, and Malondialdehyde significantly decreased (p < 0. 001) and the abnormal spermatozoa increased (p < 0. 001) in DM group compared to control group. Moreover, enhanced caspase-3expression and apoptosis were observed in DM-treated mice compared to control group. Histologically, DM with a degenerative effect on testicular tissue reduced the spermatogenesis progenitor cells. The epithelial height and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules were also reduced in the DM group. Treatment with GT in the DM-treated mice significantly improved these changes. Conclusion: With these findings, it was concluded that the GT treatment with antioxidant activity and anti-apoptotic property could protect the testicular injury induced by DM.

Background: The Co-word analysis has the ability to identify the intellectual structure of knowledge in a research domain and reveal its subsurface research aspects. Objective: This study examines the intellectual structure of knowledge in the field of Andrology during the period 2008-2017 using Co-word analysis. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study with a scientometric approach, the WoS database was searched for papers indexed under “ Andrology” over the period 2008– 2017. The data were analyzed using Co-word, clustering methods, and strategic diagram with the help of SPSS, UcInet, RavarPreMap and VOSviewer software. Results: The highest publication rate in the area of Andrology was seen in countries like the USA, China, Italy, and Iran. The top three journals that published papers on the field were Fertility and Sterility, Andrologia, Human reproduction. The results showed that the keyword “ Spermatozoa” and two pairs of frequently used keywords, namely “ Azoospermia * Oligospermia” were the most frequent in the field of Andrology. The results of hierarchical clustering led to 13 clusters. The clusters “ Reproductive Techniques” and “ Spermatogenesis” are the core clusters and play an effective role. The ” Post-Testicular causes” and “ Neoplasm” clusters are in marginal. Conclusion: This study represented that Co-word analysis can well illustrate the intellectual structure of an area. Considering the frequency of keywords along with the clusters obtained, it seems that the majority of research approach was seen on infertility treatments, especially through assisted reproductive technology. Despite the importance of psychological aspects as well as education of reproductive health, these subjects have not been sufficiently considered.

Background: Manganese Dioxide (MnO2) has long been used in industry, and its application has recently been increasing in the form of nanoparticle. Objective: The present study was an attempt to assess the effects of MnO2 nanoparticles on spermatogenesis in male rats. Materials and Methods: Micro-and nanoparticles of MnO2 were injected (100 mg/kg) subcutaneously to male Wistar rats (150 ± 20 gr) once a week for a period of 4 weeks, and the vehicle group received only normal saline (each group included 8 rats). The effect of these particles on the bodyweight, number of sperms, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, diameter of seminiferous tubes, testosterone, estrogen, follicle stimulating factor, and the motility of sperms were evaluated and then compared among the control and vehicle groups as the criteria for spermatogenesis. Results: The results showed that a chronic injection of MnO2 nanoparticles caused a significant decrease in the number of sperms, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, diameter of seminiferous tubes (p < 0. 001) and in the motility of sperms. However, no significant difference was observed in the weight of prostate, epididymis, left testicle, estradiol (p = 0. 8) and testosterone hormone (p = 0. 2). Conclusion: It seems that the high oxidative power of both particles was the main reason for the disturbances in the function of the testis. It is also concluded that these particles may have a potential reproductive toxicity in adult male rats. Further studies are thus needed to determine its mechanism of action upon spermatogenesis.

Background: Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) is a liver-specific enzyme with the lowest enzymatic rate, which determines the overall rate of the other reactions in the pathway that converts ammonia to carbamoyl phosphate in the first step of the urea cycle. Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency (CPS1D), which usually presents as lethal hyperammonemia, is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disease. Case: We report a case of a two-day-old female neonate with lethal hyperammonemia. The newborn infant was presented with hyperammonemia (34. 7 𝜇 g/ml; reference range 1. 1– 1. 9). In Plasma amino acid analysis, there was a significant elevated levels of alanine (3, 004 𝜇 mol/L; reference range, 236– 410 𝜇 mol/L), glutamine (2, 256 𝜇 mol/L; reference range, 20– 107 𝜇 mol/L), asparagine (126 𝜇 mol/L; reference range, 30– 69 𝜇 mol/L), glutamic acid (356 𝜇 mol/L; reference range, 14– 192 𝜇 mol/L), aspartic acid (123 𝜇 mol/L; reference range, 0– 24 𝜇 mol/L), and lysine (342 𝜇 mol/L; reference range, 114– 269 𝜇 mol/L). We cannot diagnose the urea cycle disorder (UCD) CPS1D properly only based on the quantity of biochemical intermediary metabolites to exclude other UCDs with similar symptoms. Following next generation sequencing determined one homozygous mutation in CPS1 gene and also this mutation was determined in her parents. The identified mutation was c. 2758G > C; p. Asp920His, in the 23 exon of CPS1. This novel homozygous mutation had not been reported previously. Conclusion: We applied whole exome sequencing successfully to diagnose the patient with CPS1D in a clinical setting. This result supports the clinical applicability of whole exome sequencing for cost-effective molecular diagnosis of UCDs.

Dear Editor, As defined by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, recurrent miscarriage or recurrent pregnancy loss is defined as two or more failed pregnancies. (1). There are various causes for RPL and yet, in about 40% of cases, no cause can be identified after extensive investigation. It is believed that inherited and acquired thrombophilia like Protein C/S deficiency and genetic mutations in the Factor V and the Prothrombin gene maybe a cause of RPL (2). There is a significant association between the Prothrombin G2021M mutation (PTG) with RPL which has been shown by numerous other studies (3). The data with respect to PTG G20210A mutations and its association with RPL is scant in Indian population. In this study, we evaluated a total of 56 women in this point prevalence cross-sectional study. The sample size was determined on the basis of the number of women attending the antenatal OPD (n-10000), the RPL prevalence in the general population (1%), and the Confidence Interval (5%). The sample size was calculated by the EPI Info software. The sample size was calculated as 38.