Downward trend in male reproductive health and fertility in Eastern Iran.

This study aimed to assess the ten-year trend in semen quality among couples referred to the Infertility Center in Kerman between 2008 and 2017. The study included 2952 semen samples from men 18 to 60 years old referred to the infertility center as infertile couples living in Kerman province, Iran, whether they had normal or abnormal semen analysis. A total of 2952 sperm samples were included. Statistically significant changes were observed in semen parameters. Particularly, significant changes were observed for volume (-0.08 mL/year), sperm concentration (-2.34 (mio/mL)/year), total sperm count (-13.17 (mio/ejaculate)/year), progressive motility (-2.62%/year), non-progressive motility (-0.59%/year), immotile sperm (2.49%/year), and normal morphology (-0.134%/year). In bivariate analysis, the prevalence of oligozoospermia in this study showed a statistically significant association with age (OR = 1.019; 95% CI = 1.007-1.032; p = 0.003). Likewise, there was a statistically significant association with the year (OR = 1.087; 95% CI = 1.050-1.125; p = 0.000). Semen quality parameters showed a downtrend during the last 10 years in this study, emphasizing the importance of male reproductive health monitoring and warning public health coordinators to pay more attention to this important issue.

Impact of Season Variation on Semen Quality: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis of Data From Patients at an Eastern Iranian Tertiary Care Fertility Center Over a Decade.

Seasonal changes are assumed to affect various sperm characteristics based on photoperiods, temperature, and air pollution. According to the literature, most studies were performed on populations of Western countries, and there are limited studies performed in the Middle East with variable results. This study evaluated the seasonality of sperm characteristics among men of reproductive age in an andrology center in Kerman, Iran, where the seasonal temperature varies significantly, with average temperatures ranging from 50 °F (10 °C) to 75.2 °F (24 °C). We retrospectively evaluated the sperm analysis test record. Sperm samples were obtained from 2,948 men during 10 years, excluding those with azoospermia. Samples were assessed for volume, concentration, motility, and morphology according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We performed a comprehensive comparative literature review of the studies investigating the association between seasonal variation and sperm quality. The mean semen volume was higher in the summer compared with other seasons (p = .04). The mean percentage of sperm motility was higher in the spring and less in winter (p = .03). Sperm morphology-related parameters, measured by the percent of normal morphology, were significantly better in winter (p = .03). Our findings suggest seasonality of sperm characteristics among men of fertility age. Semen volume, motility, and morphology were affected by the photoperiod of reproductive seasons. Results might support the influential role of seasonal variations in the possibility of fertility, especially among those using assisted reproductive technologies and those with oligospermia.

Frequency of cytomegalovirus in fertile and infertile men, referring to Afzalipour Hospital IVF Research Center, Kerman, IRAN: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) virus can hide in urinary genital tract cells and affect male infertility disorders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate frequency of CMV in the semen samples of men with infertility problems referring to a in vitro fertilization (IVF) center in Kerman, Iran and its association with the parameters of semen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, Real time polymerase chain reaction test was performed for detection of human cytomegalovirus in 100 fertile men compared to 100 infertile men referred to the IVF center of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran. RESULTS: Out of 200 samples, 30 samples (15%) were positive for CMV DNA virus (23/100 men (23%) in case group and 7/100 men (7%) in the control group). Sperm counts and motility in the control group were more than the case group (p˂0.0001). There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of CMV infection and male infertility (p˂0.001). CONCLUSION: Our finding showed that, prevalence of CMV infection was higher in infertile men compared to fertile men and CMV infection can be considered as an important part of male infertility. So; antiviral treatment of positive cases can be effective in improving sperm quality and successful IVF. The relationship between CMV infection in semen and infertility was obtained in previous studies and was confirmed by our study.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium Modulates Apoptotic and Stress-Related Gene Expression, Ameliorates Maturation and Allows for the Development of Immature Human Oocytes after Artificial Activation.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) modulates apoptotic and stress-related gene expression, and ameliorates maturation and developmental potential of immature human oocytes after artificial activation. A total of 247 surplus immature germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes obtained from infertile women were allocated into two in vitro maturation (IVM) groups: 1: GV oocytes (n = 116) matured in vitro (fIVM), and 2: GV oocytes (n = 131) that were vitrified, then in vitro matured (vIVM). Also, two maturation media were used: Alpha-minimum essential medium (α-MEM) and human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUCM). After 36 h of incubation, the IVM oocytes were examined for nuclear maturation. In IVM-matured oocytes, cytoplasmic maturation was evaluated after artificial activation through Ionomycin. Moreover, the quantitative expressions of B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2), BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Heat shock proteins (HSP70) in matured oocytes were assessed by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and compared with fresh and vitrified in vivo matured oocytes, which were used as fIVM and vIVM controls, respectively. The highest maturation rate was found in hUCM in fIVM, and the lowest maturation rate was found using α-MEM in vIVM (85.18% and 71.42%, respectively). The cleavage rate in fIVM was higher than that in vIVM (83.4% vs. 72.0%). In addition, the cleavage rate in α-MEM was lower than that in the hUCM (66.0% vs. 89.4%). Furthermore, the difference between parthenote embryo arrested in 4-8 cells (p < 0.04) and the quality of embryo arrested in 8-cell (p < 0.007) were significant. The developmental stages of parthenote embryos in hUCM versus α-MEM were as follows: 2-4 cell (89.45% vs. 66.00%, respectively), 4-8 cell (44.31% vs. 29.11%, respectively), morula (12.27% vs. 2.63%, respectively), and blastocysts (2.5% vs. 0%, respectively). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of BCL2, BAX and SOD were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the matured IVM oocytes. Overall, hUCM showed potential efficacy in terms of ameliorating oocyte maturation and in promoting the development and mRNA expression of BAX, BCL2, and SOD.

Effect of opium dependency on secondary intention wound healing in a rat model: an experimental study.

Opium dependency is a social and health problem in some middle eastern countries like Iran. Many of these people may require surgery. This study investigates the effects of opium dependency on histological parameters of secondary intention wound healing in rat. A full-thickness wound (2 × 2 cm in diameters) was created on the dorsum of two groups of rats, a normal control group and a second group of rat depended to opium (Badawy's method). Several times during 14 days postwounding, the wound was excised with peripheral margins of normal skin and was evaluated for cellular population, reepithelialisation and revascularisation. Results are presented as the mean ± standard error. Data were compared by an unpaired t-test or analysis of variance. Histological examination of the wound tissue showed evidence of increased population of fibroblasts, decreased recruitment of neutrophile and plateau of macrophage cells in opium depended animals comparing with control group. In the depended animals, reepithelialisation was seen to be enhanced significantly, while prohibiting progression of revascularisation. This study shows that opium dependency enhances reepitheliazation as well as tissue recruitment of fibroblasts; thereby probable enhancement of secondary intention wound healing.

Impact of morphine dependency on secondary intention wound healing in rat.

Wound healing has always been among important and crucial subjects in medicine. Morphine dependency has also been a social and health problem in the Middle East. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of morphine dependency on pro-inflammatory and fibroblast cell recruitment, as well as re-epithelialization and the revascularization processes involved in secondary intention wound healing in rats. A full-thickness wound (2×2 cm in diameters) was created on the dorsum of two groups of rats, a control group and a second group consisted of morphine dependent rats. During the first 14 days of post wounding the wound was excised consecutively at priorly planned days with peripheral margins of normal skin. The specimens were evaluated by two pathologists, who were blind to the study design, and the cellular population, re-epithelialization and revascularization were reported by them. Histological examination of the wound tissue showed evidence of increased population of fibroblasts and a plateau or decreased recruitment of macrophage and neutrophile cells. In the dependent group re-epithelialization was observed to be enhanced significantly in comparison to the control group while having an inhibitory effect on revascularization. The present study demonstrates that morphine dependency enhances re-epithelialization as well as tissue recruitment of fibroblasts; thereby probably enhancing secondary intention wound healing.