Miscarriage Risk Factors for Pregnant Women: A Cohort Study in Eastern Algeria's Population.

Background: Miscarriage is defined as an adverse and unexpected termination of pregnancy; it is the most frequent pregnancy complication. Here, we aimed to identify the factors predisposing to miscarriage in pregnant women in Eastern Algeria and the effect of the combination of several factors, including maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), maternal age, concomitant pathologies, and nutrients, and to predict the occurrence of miscarriage. Methods: A total of 786 pregnant women from Eastern Algeria were interviewed between 2011 and 2015. Association between miscarriage exposure and identified risk factors was assessed using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM), ANOVA test, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA). Throughout this study, we sought to find answers, discuss this association, and predict the occurrence of miscarriage. Results: We developed a predictive model for miscarriage, and we found that miscarriage was significantly higher for pregnant women aged over 35 years (1.75; 95% CI: 0.75-4.37; p = 0.208), with a high BMI (> 25 kg/m2), (1.88; 95% CI:1.28-2.78; p = 0.001). We have highlighted that miscarriage is strongly associated with hypertension (1.67; 95% CI: 1.16-2.39; p = 0.006), diet rich in meat (0.60; 95% CI: 0.33-1.04; p = 0.075), and moderate in fish (2.32; 95% CI: 1.18-4.58; p = 0.015). Conclusion: Our study proved that knowing these risk factors helps to establish predictive models and strategies to prevent tragic pregnancy outcomes and highlights the link between miscarriage and several risk factors; and thus, will allow protecting mother and fetus health.

Study of the association between SOD3G362A polymorphism, seminal SOD activity and risk for idiopathic male infertility in Algeria.

PURPOSE: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that ensures detoxification against oxidative stress in extracellular components. We aimed to evaluate the impact of SOD3G362A polymorphism (rs 2536512) on the impairment of seminal SOD activity and its risk for idiopathic male infertility in Algeria, as well as to investigate the association between sperm DNA integrity, standard semen parameters, and seminal SOD activity. METHODS: In this case-control study, we included 111 infertile men with idiopathic infertility and 104 fertile controls from Algeria. Semen analyzing was done according to the World Health Organization manual. Seminal SOD activity was measured using a commercially colorimetric method (Randox Laboratories Ltd., UK). DNA fragmentation was evaluated using the Halosperm kit (Halotech DNA S.L, Spain) and SOD3G362A genotyping was assessed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction length fragment polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Seminal SOD activity was significantly lower in the infertile group than in the control group (85.87±40.11 vs 154.24±48.456U/mL, p<0.0001), it also decreased in all infertile subgroups. We detected positive correlations between SOD activity and semen parameters (concentration, mobility, vitality, and morphology) (p≤0.05). There was no association between the risk for male infertility and DNA integrity (p>0.05) and SOD3G362A (OR=0.826, 95%CI: 0.439-1.55, p=0.554). For GA vs GG and (OR=0.639, 95% CI: 0.305-1.340, p=0.235) for AA vs GG. CONCLUSIONS: Seminal SOD evaluation can be a beneficial indicator for sperm quality and risk for idiopathic male infertility in Algeria, while sperm DNA integrity, as well as SOD3G362A genotypes, are not.

Association of CAT-262C/T with the concentration of catalase in seminal plasma and the risk for male infertility in Algeria.

Catalase (CAT) plays a central role in the protection of different cell types against the deleterious effects of hydrogen peroxide. In human, CAT is implicated in many physiological and pathological conditions including idiopathic male infertility. In this study we examined the association between CAT levels in seminal plasma with different sperm parameters and with CAT-262 C/T polymorphism and their risk for idiopathic male infertility in Algeria. Semen and blood samples were obtained from 111 infertile males and 104 fertile controls from the region of Eastern Algeria following informed consent. Standard semen parameters, DNA integrity, and CAT concentration in seminal plasma were evaluated. CAT-262C/T genotypes were screened using allele specific PCR. Seminal CAT activity was significantly different (p<0.0001) between infertile males and controls, it was also markedly decreased in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (p<0.0001), azoospermia (p<0.0001), and normozoospermia (p=0.045) subgroups compared to controls. Positive correlations between CAT activity and semen parameters (volume, motility, concentration, and morphology) were detected, but not with sperm DNA integrity. There was no direct association between CAT-262C/T polymorphism and general male infertility. However, the results presented in this study showed that CAT activity is remarkably associated with the CAT-262T allele (p=0.001) and the different CAT-262C/T genotypes. This study highlighted the major differences in the seminal plasma CAT content between infertile and fertile males and the differences of CAT concentration between different CAT-262C/T genotypes carriers.