In vitro effects of pentoxifylline and coenzyme Q10 on the sperm of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients.

The effect of in-vitro sperm incubation with Pentoxifylline (PTX) and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) patients was evaluated. Semen samples were obtained from men with Normozoospermia and men with OAT. Motile sperm from the two groups were subdivided into four subgroups: (i) without incubation with PTX + CoQ10; (ii) incubation with PTX; (iii) Incubation with CoQ10; and (iv) incubation with a combination of PTX + CoQ10. Then, sperm parameters, chromatin, DNA and membrane integrity, protamine deficiency, apoptosis, mitochondrial activity, sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD), hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS), chromomycin A3 (CMA3), Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL), and diaminobenzidine (DAB) assays were evaluated, respectively. Sperm incubated with CoQ10 and a combination of CoQ10 and PTX resulted in a significant increase in the sperm parameters. Also, a significant decrease was noted with a combination of PTX and CoQ10 in normal men. There was a significant difference between CoQ10 treated and CoQ10 + PTX treated groups in comparison with the OAT group in the percentage of the DNA fragmentation, sperm apoptosis, AB+, HOS test + and sperm mitochondrial activity. Incubated sperm with CoQ10, PTX, and in combination with each other can improve sperm parameters in OAT patients.

Effect of sperm selection methods on ICSI outcomes in patients with oligoteratzoospermia.

OBJECTIVE: Sperm selection without - or with a low level of - protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation is a remarkable indicator to increase the success rate of ICSI outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare sperm selection methods in the elimination of sperm with protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation and their effects on ICSI Outcomes in oligoteratzoospermia patients. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from oligoteratozoospermia patients undergoing ICSI. Sperm selection was conducted using Zona Pellucida (ZP) binding, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) binding, and conventional PVP methods. SCD assay and CMA3 staining were used for the detection of sperm protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation. Good quality of the embryo, blastocyst formation, chemical, and clinical pregnancy rates among studied groups was evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Our results indicated the percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency were lower significantly in the HA- and ZP-bound sperm. Although no significant differences were observed in the fertilization rate among studied methods, good quality of cleavage embryo rates were increased using ZP and HA methods versus the conventional PVP method. However, there were no significant differences in cleavage and embryo quality between the HA compared to the ZP method. Blastocyst formation, chemical and clinical pregnancy rates increased in the HA method. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the HA method for sperm selection due to high sensitivity in selecting sperm with a low level of DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency is a very useful method to increase the success rate of ICSI outcomes in oligoteratozoospermia patients.

The role of Chlamydia trachomatis in preterm delivery: a case-control study in Besat Hospital, Sanandaj, Iran (2018-2019).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Preterm delivery is an important subject in gynecology, obstetrics and pediatrics. It is defined as regular uterine contractions every five to eight minutes or less, lasting for 30 seconds. It is associated with progressive changes in the cervix, resulting in delivery after 22 weeks and before 37 weeks of gestation. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women with preterm delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 75 women with preterm delivery (case group) and 75 women with term delivery (control group). The research tools included a questionnaire, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of cervical swab samples and ELISA assay of umbilical cord blood samples. Fisher's exact test and t test were also performed to compare qualitative variables between the two groups. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of subjects was 26.55 ± 0.53 years in the control group and 26.76 ± 0.56 years in the case group. The prevalence of C. trachomatis in the cervical swab samples was 7 (9.33%) in the control group and 2 (2.67%) in the case group. There was no C. trachomatis IgM antibody in either of the groups, while there was 1 (1.33%) C. trachomatis IgG antibody in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that there was no significant relationship between C. trachomatis infection and preterm delivery.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on the achievement of pregnancy during frozen embryo transfer in women with a history of failed implantation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the rate of implantation and pregnancy in women with repeated failed implantation during frozen embryo transfer. METHODS: This study was conducted on 50 infertile women candidates (who were referred to the Infertility Treatment Center of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj) with a history of failed implantation for the purpose of frozen embryo transfer. The participants were randomly divided into two groups (n = 25). In the first group (control), the intrauterine infusion of 0.5 ml of Ringer serum was done 48 h before embryo transfer. In the second group (treatment), the intrauterine infusion of 0.5 ml of PRP was performed 48 h before embryo transfer. RESULTS: In this study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the rate of chemical and clinical pregnancy. The rate of chemical pregnancy was 28% in the treatment group and 36% in the control group, while the rate of clinical pregnancy was 28% in the treatment group and 24% in the control group. CONCLUSION: The intrauterine infusion of PRP before frozen embryo transfer in infertile women with a history of failed implantation will not make any significant effect on the result of pregnancy.

The effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the severity of labor pain among nulliparous women: A clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on labor pain among nulliparous women referred to a hospital in an urban area of Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples were consisted of 90 nulliparous women. They were randomly assigned into three groups with equal number in each groups: experiment group, placebo group and control. Pain was measured using the visual pain severity scale. FINDINGS: The mean of the severity of labor pain indicated a statistically significant difference after the intervention. The severity of pain indicated a statistically significant difference in the second stage of labor, and 4 h after the labor in the groups. The duration of the first stage of labor was significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: The application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation affected pain relief in the first and second stages of labor and 4 h after labor.

Kurdish women's preference for mode of birth: a qualitative study.

Choosing between a normal delivery and Caesarean section is a matter of critical importance for a pregnant woman. The third trimester is the time for her to think about methods of delivery. The study aims to gain insight into Kurdish pregnant women's birth preference and their perception of factors influencing this choice. In this qualitative study, 22 pregnant Kurdish women were interviewed during the third trimester of their pregnancies. The setting for the study included three public health-care centres of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Sanandaj, a centre of the Kurdistan province at the western part of Iran. Study participants were recruited from maternity units of health-care centres. A purposive sample was used initially and then theoretical sampling was used towards the end of the data analysis. Sample size was not predetermined but was determined when interviewing reached saturation, that is, when no new data emerged about categories. The sample size was restricted to 22, as no new data were generated after the 20th interview. The criteria required for inclusion in the study were being Kurdish women, being in the third trimester of pregnancy, no physical disability, no history of Caesarean section and interest in the study. A qualitative design was chosen, as it is particularly suited to studying complex phenomena or processes that are less understood. This study revealed that of the 22 participants, 18 preferred vaginal delivery and only four preferred Caesarean section. The reasons for choosing the vaginal delivery method were grouped into four categories: safety of baby, fear, previous experience and social support. This finding does not support the rate of Caesarean section among Kurdish women in Sanandaj. It might reflect the effect of other factors such as social, institutional, professional and quality of care on women's choice for delivery method.