Diversity of Rickettsia species in collected ticks from Southeast Iran.

Rickettsia occurs worldwide and rickettsiosis is recognized as an emerging infection in several parts of the world. Ticks are reservoir hosts for pathogenic Rickettsia species in humans and domestic animals. Most pathogenic Rickettsia species belong to the spotted Fever Group (SFG). This study aimed to identify and diagnose tick fauna and investigate the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from domestic animals and dogs in the rural regions of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran. In this study, tick species (fauna) were identified and 2100 ticks (350 pooled samples) from two genera and species including Rhipicephalus linnaei (1128) and Hyalomma deteritum (972) were tested to detect Rickettsia genus using Real-time PCR. The presence of the Rickettsia genus was observed in 24.9% (95%CI 20.28-29.52) of the pooled samples. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii (48.98%), Rickettsia conorii israelensis (28.57%), Rickettsia sibirica (20.41%), and Rickettsia helvetica (2.04%) in the positive samples. The results showed a significant association between county variables and the following variables: tick spp. (p < 0.001), Rickettsia genus infection in ticks (p < 0.001) and Rickettsia spp. (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant association between tick species and host animals (dogs and domestic animals) (p < 0.001), Rickettsia spp infection in ticks (p < 0.001), and Rickettsia spp. (p < 0.001). This study indicates a high prevalence of Rickettsia spp. (SFG) in ticks of domestic animals and dogs in rural areas of Kerman Province. The health system should be informed of the possibility of rickettsiosis and the circulating species of Rickettsia in these areas.

Detrimental effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phone on embryo morphokinetics and blastocyst viability in mice.

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has deleterious effects on sperm motility and viability, as well as oocyte membrane and organelle structure. The aim was to assess the effects of cell phone radiation on preimplantation embryo morphokinetics and blastocyst viability in mice. For superovulation, 20 female mice were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 10 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (Folligon® PMSG), followed by 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after 48 h. The zygotes (n = 150) from the control group were incubated for 4 days. The experimental zygotes (n = 150) were exposed to a cell phone emitting EMR with a frequency range 900-1800 MHz for 30 min on day 1. Then, all embryos were cultured in the time-lapse system and annotated based on time points from the 2-cell stage (t2) to hatched blastocyst (tHDyz), as well as abnormal cleavage patterns. Blastocyst viability was assessed using Hoechst and propidium iodide staining. Significant increases (P < 0.05) were observed in the cleavage division time points of t2, t8, t10, and t12 of the experimental group compared with the controls. In terms of blastocyst formation parameters, a delay in embryo development was observed in the experimental group compared with the controls. Data analysis of the time intervals between the two groups showed a significant difference in the s3 time interval (P < 0.05). Also, the rates of fragmentation, reverse cleavage, vacuole formation, and embryo arrest were significantly higher in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the cell survival rate in the experimental group was lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Exposure to EMR has detrimental consequences for preimplantation embryo development in mice. These effects can manifest as defects in the cleavage stage and impaired blastocyst formation, leading to lower cell viability.

Efficacy of tailor-made notched music training (TMNMT) in the treatment of tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous treatment modalities have been suggested for managing tinnitus. Tailor-Made Notched Music Training (TMNMT) is a viable strategy in music therapy for tinnitus management. Many research studies have examined the effectiveness and potential benefits of this intervention. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of TMNMT in treating chronic tinnitus. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis study used a research methodology that covered up until February 2023. The search was conducted across academic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 234 papers were evaluated, and seven relevant clinical trials were included. RESULTS: The meta-analysis, which included five studies using the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), showed no statistically significant effect of TMNMT on tinnitus handicap after 3 and 6 months of intervention (dppc2: - 0.99, 95%CI - 2.94 to 0.96; I2 = 79.96%, p = 0.00), (dppc2 - 1.81, 95%CI - 5.63 to 2.01; I2 = 79.96%, p = 0.00). However, four out of five studies using the total Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or its subscale showed positive effects of TMNMT on chronic tinnitus. Unfortunately, there were not enough articles to conduct a meta-analysis on this outcome. CONCLUSION: Although the meta-analysis did not show a statistically significant effect of TMNMT on tinnitus handicap, the large effect size observed after at least 3 months of intervention suggests that this method may potentially decrease tinnitus handicap if more studies are conducted. Due to the limited number of studies, subgroup analysis could not be performed to analyze potential causes of heterogeneity. Therefore, further high-quality clinical trials are necessary to draw a definitive conclusion and evaluate the impact of different variables, techniques, and outcomes.

Bilateral Optic Neuropathy Associated with Acute Inhaled Marijuana Use: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States. Acute marijuana use is associated with several cardiovascular and neuropsychological adverse effects. Ocular complications of marijuana abuse are very rare. Herein, we present the first report of bilateral optic neuropathy following smoking marijuana. A 28-year-old man presented to the emergency room with sudden onset of bilateral blurring of the inferior visual field 8 h after smoking marijuana. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/30 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed blurring of the optic disc margins in both eyes and a splinter haemorrhage in the right eye. Bilateral inferior visual field defects were detected with greater severity on the right side. Optical coherence tomography confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral optic neuropathy. A urine drug screen test was positive for tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the primary active ingredient in cannabinoids. The rest of the neurological examination and imaging were normal. The patient was treated with intravenous corticosteroids and an anti-platelet drug. His vision recovered to 20/20 in both eyes, with complete resolution of the field defect over a follow-up of 6 months. Optic neuropathy following marijuana abuse is unusual. The results of our report emphasise the need for awareness of marijuana-associated optic neuropathy as part of ocular adverse effects of marijuana intoxication.

Recent advancements in nanomaterial-laden contact lenses for diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, review and update.

Despite the existence of numerous eye drops in the market, most of them are not sufficiently effective because of quick clearance and the barriers within the eye. To increase the delivery of the drugs to the eye, various new formulations have been explored in recent decades. These formulations aim to enhance drug retention and penetration, while enabling sustained drug release over extended periods. One such innovative approach is the utilization of contact lenses, which were originally designed for cosmetic purposes and vision correction. Contact lenses have appeared as a promising formulation for ocular drug delivery, as they can increase the bioavailability of drugs in the eye and diminish unwanted side effects. They are specifically appropriate for treating chronic eye conditions, making them an area of interest for researchers in the field of ophthalmology. This review outlines the promising potential of nanomaterial-laden contact lenses for diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. It classifies therapeutic approaches based on nanomaterial type, summarizes diagnostic advances, discusses improvement of contact lenses properties, covers marketing perspectives, and acknowledges the challenges of these innovative contact lenses for glaucoma management.

Ultrastructure of human ovarian tissues and risk of cancer cells re-implantation after transplantation to chick embryo chorioallantois membrane (CAM) following vitrification or slow freezing.

Ovarian follicle depletion and premature ovarian failure are significant challenges in cancer patients subjected to radio- or chemotherapy. Ovarian tissue (OT) cryopreservation would be an option when other fertility preservation methods are not accessible. This study aimed to analyze the structure and ultrastructure of human OTs transplanted onto chick embryo chorioallantois membrane (CAM) after cryopreservation by vitrification or slow freezing. OTs from 10 cancer patients underwent cryopreservation. CAM transplantation was done on fresh and cryopreserved OTs, to assign samples to nine study groups as follows: 1) FI-FIII = fresh, 5- and 10-days post-CAM transplantation groups; 2) VI-VIII = vitrified, 5- and 10-days post-transplantation vitrified groups; 3) SFI-SFIII: slow frozen, 5- and 10-days post-transplantation slow freezing groups. Proliferation ability, folliculogenesis, and structural and ultrastructure were analyzed. The density of primordial follicles did not change after both freezing methods, but reduced after 5 (P ≥ 0.05) and 10 days (P ≤ 0.05) post-CAM transplantation. The follicular grade significantly decreased in all transplanted tissues (P ≤ 0.0). The proliferation marker increased after cryopreservation, but reduced after transplantation (P ≤ 0.05). TEM evaluation showed better follicular ultrastructure in the fresh group, after transplantation. Stromal ultrastructure appeared more preserved after vitrification compared with slow freezing. There was no sign of malignant cell contamination after transplantation. Some follicular TEM abnormalities were found in both methods of freezing, with a better transplantation rate after vitrification. Also, enhanced follicular activation resulted in faster follicular depletion in this method. The information regarding post grafting events would improve our knowledge for longer OTs' lifespans.

A new cryotop vial device system provides an aseptic cryoprotectant-free and centrifuge-free cryopreservation of human spermatozoa (a closed system).

Single sperm cryopreservation is a new method to preserve small numbers of spermatozoa in small droplets. So far, several devices have been introduced for this technique, but more studies are needed for its optimization. The aim of this study was optimizing the previous device for low number of spermatozoa and low volume semen, which led to design of Cryotop Vial device. Normal semen samples from 25 patients were prepared by swim-up method and divided into four groups: Fresh (F), Rapid freezing (R) and ultra-rapid freezing with Cryotop Device (CD) and Cryotop Vial Device (CVD). In R group, the diluted sperm suspension with sperm freezing medium was cooled in the vapor phase and then immersed in liquid nitrogen. Ultra rapid freezing was performed with sucrose in small volume using the Cryotop Device (CD) or Cryotop Vial Device (CVD). Sperm viability, motility, fine morphology, mitochondrial activity and DNA fragmentation were assessed in all samples. All sperm parameters decreased significantly in all the cryo groups compared to the fresh group. The comparison between the cryo groups showed that progressive motility (69.28 ± 6.82 vs. 55.68 ± 9.04, and 54.76 ± 5.34, p < 0.001) and viability (77.36 ± 5.48 vs.68.84 ± 8.51, p < 0.001, and 70.04 ± 7.44, P = 0.002) were significantly higher in the CVD compared to the CD and R groups respectively. DNA fragmentation was also significantly lower in both ultra-rapid freezing groups (CD and CVD) compared to the R group. Fine morphology and mitochondrial activity were not different between the cryo groups. The CVD as a cryoprotectant and centrifuge-free technique preserved sperm motility, viability and DNA integrity after cryopreservation better than other groups.

Pentoxifylline treatment had no detrimental effect on sperm DNA integrity and clinical characteristics in cases with non-obstructive azoospermia.

The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of treatment with pentoxifylline (PTX), an inducer of sperm motility, on sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and clinical characteristics in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients. The pilot study included 15 NOA patients. Half of each sperm sample before and after rapid freezing, was treated with PTX (3.6 mM /l, 30 min) as the PTX group and the remaining samples were considered as the control. SDF and sperm motility were assessed in each group. The clinical study comprised 30 fresh testicular sperm extractions (TESE) and 22 post-thawed TESE intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Half of the mature oocytes from each patient were injected with PTX-treated spermatozoa and the remaining oocytes were injected with non-treated spermatozoa. Fertilization was assessed at 16 h post injection. Embryo transfer was carried out on day 2 after fertilization. Chemical pregnancy was assessed 2 weeks after transfer. PTX was found to significantly increase (P < 0.05) sperm motility. There was an insignificant difference in SDF rates between the groups (P > 0.05). In patient ovaries given fresh TESE, there was not any significant difference in clinical characteristics (P > 0.05). In patient ovaries given post-thawed TESE, there was a significant difference in the number of 2PN and in embryo formation (P < 0.05). Differences in the results of chemical pregnancy were insignificant (P > 0.05) between the groups. In addition, there was not any correlation between DNA fragmentation index and sperm motility and laboratory outcomes. Therefore, obtaining viable spermatozoa using PTX was more effective in post-thawed TESE regime patients in terms of 2PN and in embryo formation, deprived of damaging effects on sperm DNA integrity.

The effect of pentoxifylline and calcium ionophore treatment on sperm cell biology in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia samples.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) and Ca2+ ionophore (CI) A12387 treatment on some biological characteristics of sperm cells in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) patients. After processing, each sample was divided into four groups: 1, control; 2, exposed to 3.6 mM PTX; 3, exposed to 5 µm calcium ionophore (CI); and 4, exposed to both PTX and CI; 30 min at 37°C. Sperm motility was measured before and after preparation. Acrosome reaction (AR), status of sperm vacuoles, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and DNA fragmentation were assessed using PSA-FITC staining, motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME), JC-1 staining and sperm chromatin dispersion (CSD) test, respectively. Treatment with PTX and CI led to increased and decreased sperm motility, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, vacuole status and rates of sperm DNA fragmentation were not significantly different among groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, the data showed that the rates of AR and disrupted MMP were significantly different between groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in vitro application of PTX not only did not have any adverse effects on sperm cell biology characteristics, but also can rectify the harmful effect of CI.

Hearing handicaps, communication difficulties and depression in the older adults: a comparison of hearing aid users and non-users.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Age-related hearing loss has potential effects on communication, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of the older person's life. Evaluating the role of hearing aids in reducing these difficulties is important. This study aimed to evaluate communication difficulties, self-perceived handicaps, and depression in hearing-impaired older adults who are either hearing aid users or non-users. METHODS: A total of 114 older adults in the age range of 55-85 years with moderate to moderately severe hearing loss (two hearing-matched groups; hearing aid users: n = 57; hearing aid non-users: n = 57) took part in this study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-perceived hearing handicaps and communication were evaluated using the Hearing Handicap Inventory in the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) and Self-Assessment Communication (SAC) questionnaires. Depression was assessed using the geriatric depression scale (GDS). RESULTS: The average score of HHIE-S was significantly higher in the hearing aid users than the non-users (16.61 ± 10.39 vs. 12.49 ± 9.84; p = 0.01). Differences between groups were not significant for SAC or GDS scores (p ≥ 0.05). There were strong positive correlations between HHIE-S and SAC scores in both groups. Moderate correlations were found between SAC and GDS scores in the hearing aid users and between the duration of using hearing aid with SAC and HHIE-S scores. CONCLUSION: It seems that self-perceived handicaps, communication difficulties and depression are affected by many factors, and only receiving hearing aids without subsequent support such as auditory rehabilitation and programming services cannot bring the expected output. The effect of these factors was clearly observed due to reduced access to services in the COVID-19 era.

Superior divisional third nerve palsy due to breast cancer metastasis to the orbital apex.

PURPOSE: To report a case of breast cancer with metastasis to the orbital apex with manifestation of superior divisional third nerve palsy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 40-year-old female, a known case of breast cancer diagnosed 3 years ago, referred to our neuro-ophthalmology clinic with chief complaint of ptosis and diplopia. In ophthalmic examination, visual acuities of both eyes were 20/20 and there was no significant finding in the anterior and posterior segment ophthalmic examination. There was left eye ptosis with MRD1 of 2 mm. In ocular movement examination, there was limitation of motion in supraduction (-2 to -3) of the left eye. Orbital MRI with contrast was requested for the patient which demonstrated a lesion in the orbital apex of the left eye. At the end, the patient was diagnosed as having superior divisional third nerve palsy. Orbital radiotherapy was recommended for the patient. CONCLUSION: In a patient with breast cancer who presents with diplopia, metastasis to the orbital apex with manifestation of divisional third nerve palsy should be kept in mind, and appropriate orbital imaging should be considered.

Dietary patterns and risk of multiple sclerosis: Results of a double-center case-control study in Iran.

Background: It has been suggested that nutrition might contribute to multiple sclerosis etiology (MS). Aim: This case-control study aimed to determine the role of food habits and dietary patterns in preventing or developing MS in a multicenter study in Iran (Tehran and Shiraz). Methods: In this study, food intake of (106 patients with relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS) and 72 healthy controls in Tehran) and (75 patients with relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS) and 72 healthy controls in Shiraz) were collected using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were extracted using factor analysis. The association between dietary patterns and the risk of MS was analyzed by Logistic regression. Results: Two major dietary patterns were extracted: the "healthy" and the "unhealthy" patterns. After adjustment for potential confounders, in Tehran city, subjects in the highest tertile of the unhealthy dietary pattern score had greater odds of having MS, compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: [1.95-2.41]; p for trend = 0.01). In Shiraz city, subjects in the highest tertile of the unhealthy dietary pattern score had greater odds with MS than those in the lowest tertile (OR: 3.08; 95% CI: [1.27-7.38]; p for trend = 0.01). However, in both groups, no significant association was found between healthy dietary pattern and MS risk. Conclusions: Adherence to unhealthy dietary pattern may increase the risk of MS in Iran. The results can be used for developing interventions that aim to promote healthy eating for preventing MS.

Improvement of human sperm properties with platelet-rich plasma as a cryoprotectant supplement.

PURPOSE: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a remarkable substance, which involves the growth and proliferation of all cell types. As a source of growth factors, we evaluated whether sperm cryopreservation supplemented with PRP improves the rates of sperm motility, viability, and DNA integrity after vitrification compared with conventional cryo-medium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 normal semen specimens were collected from healthy men. After swim-up preparation, each sample was divided into four aliquots. One, as control, received no treatment, and the other three experimental samples were treated with three different concentrations of PRP as cryoprotectant. Sperm parameters were examined before and after freezing procedure. RESULTS: PRP had no significant effect on sperm count. Meanwhile, the percentage of sperm progressive motility and viability in the PRP treated samples with 1×105 /µL concentration was significantly higher than control group. Besides, the rate of immotile sperms in these samples was significantly lower than the control. Sperm viability was significantly higher in the PRP samples at 1×105/µL concentration. In the case of DNA integrity, CMA3 staining showed that the lower PRP concentration was correlated with the higher rate of abnormal spermatozoa. SCD showed that the rate of abnormal sperms in the PRP samples with 1×105 /µL concentration was significantly lower than control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a protective effect of PRP on human sperm quality at an optimized concentration after vitrification. Besides, the effects of PRP supplementation of sperms on successful fertility following sperm preservation will be of interest.

Determination of efficacy of repeated CXL and probable risk factors in patients with progressive keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of Repeated CXL (Re-CXL) and determine probable risk factors that lead to Re-CXL in patients with progressive keratoconus. METHOD: In this retrospective study, the medical records of patients who had been re-operated in our center between 2014 to 2020 due to progressive keratoconus were evaluated; seven eyes of seven patients had undergone Re-CXL procedure. Pre- and post-treatment variables were recorded and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics software. RESULTS: The mean interval between the 1st and 2nd CXL was 49.71 months (range 12-72 months). Out of 7 patients for whom Re-CXL was considered necessary, eye rubbing was detected in 6 patients. Six patients were very young with a mean age of 13 years at primary CXL and 16.83 years at Re-CXL. Visual acuity and astigmatism did not change significantly after the Re-CXL procedure (p-values = 0.18, 0.91, respectively). When measurements of these indices prior to Re-CXL and post Re-CXL were compared, K1 (p-value = 0.01), K2 (p-value = 0.01), Kmean (p-value = 0.01), and Kmax (p-value = 0.008) changed significantly. As to pachymetry (p-value = 0.46), it did not change significantly. Kmax value regressed in all eyes after Re-CXL. CONCLUSION: Re-CXL procedure was effective in halting the progression of disease. As to the risk factors, eye rubbed-related mechanism like eye rubbing and VKC, lower age, and pre-operative Kmax value > 58 D are the risk factors of Re-CXL procedure.

Fatal Case of Mediterranean Spotted Fever Associated with Septic Shock, Iran.

A fatal case of Mediterranean spotted fever associated with septic shock was reported in a 61-year-old man living in a village in southeastern Iran. The patient had a history of tick bite a few days before symptom onset. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed infection by Rickettsia conorii subspecies israelensis.

Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis infection: a case report from southeast Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is a zoonotic and vector-borne disease caused by Rickettsia conorii. We report a case (36 year-old-woman) of MSF caused by Rickettsia conorii from Iran. CASE PRESENTATION: In September 2019, the patient was admitted to the hospital in Kerman province with flu-like symptoms and maculopapular lesions. According to the laboratory results, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, and cardiac enzymes were observed. Skin biopsy was examined for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and MSF using the Real-Time-PCR and ELISA method. Finally, the sample was positive for Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis and treated with doxycycline and completely recovered. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that MSF could be present in Iran. Therefore, identifying endemic areas in Iran for this disease should be on the agenda.

Target gene repression mediated by miR-144 and miR-224 in cumulus cells is related to the success of oocyte in vitro maturation and fertilisation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

CONTEXT: In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is an alternative approach for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) predisposing to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Transcriptomic analysis of cumulus cells (CC) may help make IVM more efficient. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of miR-144 and miR-224 and their candidate target genes (COX-2 and PTX-3 , respectively) expression on oocyte development in PCOS patients. METHODS: Immature oocytes were retrieved from 20 PCOS patients. After IVM, samples were divided into two groups: matured (M) and immatured (I) oocytes. ICSI was performed and the embryo quality was evaluated. qPCR was used to analyse miR-144, miR-224, COX-2 and PTX-3 expression levels in CCs of each group. KEY RESULTS: We found that the expression levels of miR-144 and miR-224 were lower and the COX-2 and PTX-3 mRNA levels were higher in CCs of M group than in CCs of I group. The expression level of miR-144 and miR-224 in unfertilised oocytes were higher than fertilised oocytes. The contrary results were observed for COX-2 and PTX-3 . A reduction pattern in the expression level of miR-144 and miR-224 and increasing pattern in the level of COX-2 and PTX-3 expression were observed in high quality compared to low quality embryos. CONCLUSIONS: The selected miRNAs were related to oocyte maturation, fertilisation and embryo development. These results support their critical involvement in oocyte development. IMPLICATIONS: Our findings may help reveal the mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation by miR-144 and miR-224 during IVM procedure.

Serum Selenium Levels in Patients With Graves Disease With or Without Thyroid Ophthalmopathy.

BACKGROUND: Graves disease is one of the most common autoimmune thyroid diseases. Thyroid has the highest concentration of selenium (Se) in the body. Se plays a crucial role in the functioning of some thyroid enzymes; however, there are controversial results regarding the administration of serum Se levels in patients with Graves disease. METHODS: In this study, patients with Graves disease with orbitopathy (GO group) or without orbitopathy (GD group) were recruited. Healthy individuals without a history of any disease were enrolled as the control group. Serum Se and thyroid hormone levels, including T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), were measured using atomic absorption and radioimmunoassay techniques, respectively. RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study, 60 and 56 patients and 58 healthy subjects were included in the GO, GD, and control groups. Serum Se levels in the GO, GD, and control groups were 94.53 ± 25.36 µg/dL, 96.82 ± 30.3 µg/dL, and 102.55 ± 16.53 µg/dL, respectively (P = .193). There was a reverse association between the serum Se level and thyroid hormones, including T3, T4, and TSH, in the GO group. However, serum Se levels exhibited a significant reverse association with T4 and TSH hormones but not with T3 in the GD group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed no significant differences in the serum Se levels in the GO and GD groups compared with that in the control group. In addition, we did not detect any significant difference in the serum Se levels between the GO and GD groups.

Single sperm vitrification with permeable cryoprotectant-free medium is more effective in patients with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia.

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is an invasive surgery for achieving the spermatozoa in cases with azoospermia. In these patients, the number of retrieved spermatozoa is limited and the optimal cryo-storage is very critical for their fertility preservation. Therefore, single sperm vitrification has been introduced for preservation of low number of spermatozoa. The goal was to assess the efficacy of sperm freezing medium (SFM) and sucrose medium as cryoprotectants for single sperm vitrification in cases with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia. A total of 20 ejaculates from severe oligozoospermia and 20 testicular samples from azoospermia were processed. Twenty-five sperm cells were collected using ICSI injection pipette and transferred to a cryoprotectant droplet placed on the Cryotech, then vitrified by plunging in liquid nitrogen. Sperm motility, viability, fine-morphology, mitochondrial activity and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were assessed before and after vitrification. Sperm motility, viability and the percentage of cells with mitochondrial activity were significantly decreased after vitrification in both severe oligozoospermic and testicular samples in either cryoprotectants. However, the rates of post-warm sperm motility and the cells with mitochondrial activity increased significantly in sucrose medium in both severe oligozoospermic and testicular samples compared to SFM. In testicular samples, the DFI of spermatozoa vitrified in SFM was significantly higher than those vitrified with sucrose medium. Sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial activity, and DNA integrity were better preserved in sucrose medium than SFM after single cell vitrification. The presented method may be a useful candidate for successful freezing of individual sperm cells in clinical setting.

Comparing the IVM laboratory outcomes between stimulated IVF with unstimulated natural cycles.

Recently, more attention has been raised towards fertility preservation in women with cancer. One option is in vitro maturation (IVM) of the immature oocytes as there is not enough time for induction of an ovarian stimulation protocol. The aim was to compare the IVM laboratory outcomes between stimulated and unstimulated (natural) in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. In total, 234 immature oocytes collected from 15 cancer patients who underwent an IVM programme (natural IVM) and 23 IVF cycles with a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol (stimulated IVM) were analyzed. The oocyte morphology, zona pellucida (ZP), and meiotic spindle presence were measured using PolScope technology. Also, the rates of oocyte maturation and fertilization were assessed in both groups. The IVM rate was higher in the stimulated cycle (P < 0.05), but the fertilization rate was insignificant in comparison with unstimulated cycles. There were no significant differences in the spindle visualization and ZP birefringence scoring between the groups (P > 0.05). The oocyte normal morphology was better in the stimulated cycle compared with the natural cycle (P < 0.05). In conclusion, IVM can be recommended for cancer patients as an alternative treatment when there is insufficient time for conventional IVF before chemotherapy initiation.