International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Volume:17 Issue: 11, Nov 2019

Abstract
Color Doppler of perifollicular vascularity is a useful assessment tool to predict the growth potential and maturity of Graafian follicles. Power Angio is independent of the angle of insonation and morphometry and provides reliable clues to predict the implantation window of the endometrium. Color Doppler can be used for the prediction of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. It can also be used to identify the hyper responder and gonadotropin-resistant type of polycystic ovaries. The secretory scan of corpus luteum can accurately predict its vascularity and functional status. A corpus luteum with decreased blood flow is a very sensitive and specific indicator of threatened and missed abortions. Color Doppler and Power Angio need to be standardized and identical settings should be maintained if different patients, or if changes over time within the same patient are to be compared.

Aging is accompanied by decreasing general function in the cells and tissues. D-galactose (D-gal) induces aging and plays a role in the pathogenesis of it. Myricitrin is a plant-derived antioxidant.

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of myricitrin on antioxidant defense, sex hormone levels, uterus, and ovarian histology in D-gal-induced aging female mouse model.

In this experimental study, 72 female adult NMRI mice, weighing 30-35 gr, 3-4 months old, were randomly divided into six groups (n = 12/each): (I) Control (vehicle; normal saline), (II) D-gal at 500 mg/kg/d for 45 days, (III-V) D-gal + myricitrin-treated groups (these groups received myricitrin at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/d, and (VI) D-gal + 100 mg/kg/d vitamin E orally for the last 28 days. The antioxidant indices were done on the basis of colorimetric method, and sex hormone levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Histological assessment of the uterus and ovaries were also evaluated.

D-gal impaired the estrous cycle, also degenerative changes occur in the ovarian follicles and damage to the uterus and ovarian tissue occurs. In D-gal group, the level of sex hormones (p =0.03) and the total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.002) decreased, while the level of malondialdehyde and gonadotropins increased (p = 0.03). Myricitrin at lower doses and vitamin E ameliorated the D-gal effects.

These findings suggest that myricitrin at low doses can effectively prevent D-gal-induced oxidation and aging in mice. The effect of myricitrin was equivalent and sometimes better than vitamin E.

Ischemic acute kidney injury is associated with an inflammatory reaction.

In the current study, berberine was assessed for its effect on the functional disorders and histological damages of testis induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

Twenty-eight adult male Wistar rats (260-300 gr) were equally divided into four groups (n= 7/each): sham and I/R groups which received distilled water as well as berberine (BBR) and BBR + I/R groups which received berberine (15 mg/kg/day) orally seven days before the surgery. In both groups of sham and BBR, renal arteries were not clamped. Renal I/R was induced by occluding right and left renal artery for 45 min followed by a 24 hr reperfusion period. Blood samples were taken for determining the plasma levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), and testosterone. Then the rats were killed under deep anesthesia and the left testis was immediately isolated and preserved.

The renal I/R injury led to testicular histological damages accompanied with increased plasma levels of creatinine, urea nitrogen, LH, and FSH, as well decrease of plasma testosterone concentration at the end of 24 hr reperfusion (All p< 0.001, except for FSH p< 0.01). Berberine diminished histological damage to the testis and attenuated the increase in plasma creatinine, urea nitrogen, LH, FSH, and decrease in plasma testosterone concentration in the BBR + I/R group (All p< 0.001).

These results suggest that ischemic acute renal failure induces functional disorders and tissue damages in testis of rat, which was improved through the administration of berberine.

Paraquat (PQ), as a pyridine compound, is widely used worldwide to control annual weeds. The oxidative stress caused by PQ can cause deleterious changes in the testicular tissue.

An investigation on the protective effects of Crocin (CCN) against PQ-induced oxidative damages and apoptotic indices in testicular tissue. 

Twenty-eight adult male albino mice (20-25 gr) were divided into four groups (n = 7/each). The control group received 0.1 ml/day of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection (IP); sham-control group received PQ 5 mg/kg/day, IP, and the experimental groups received PQ (CCN+PQ) and CCN-sole (200 mg/kg/day, IP), respectively, for 35 continuous days. At the end of the treatment period, the testes were dissected out and used for biochemical, molecular, and histological analyses. The expressions of tumor suppressor p53, B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2), and caspase-3 were considered as hallmark factors of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, the testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated as key biomarkers for oxidative stress.

The PQ significantly (p< 0.02, p< 0.01) diminished the spermatogenesis indices and SOD, increased MDA levels, and enhanced the apoptosis-related gene expression. However, the co-administration of CCN and PQ significantly (p< 0.01, p< 0.01, p< 0.02) ameliorated the spermatogenesis ratio, upregulated the SOD level as well as bcl-2 expression, and reduced the MDA content and apoptosis vs the PQ-sole group.

This study showed that the antioxidant properties of CCN enable to ameliorate the PQ-induced destructive effects by upregulating the testicular structure, antioxidant and apoptotic status.

Paclitaxel (PTX), a chemotherapeutic agent, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) have oxidative effects on testicular tissue.

In this study, the effects of MSG administration on the exacerbation of testicular tissue alterations related to PTX treatment were evaluated.

MSG (30 & 60 mg/kg i.p.) was administrated to six groups (n = 8/each) of adult mice before or after PTX treatment: control, PTX-treated, MSG30 + PTX, MSG60 + PTX, PTX + MSG30, and PTX + MSG60. Following the euthanizing, the body weight measurement, pituitary–testicular axis hormonal analysis and serum lipid peroxidation index assessment was prepared, testicular histomorphometry (tubular diameter and germinal epithelium height), immunohistochemistry of p53 was completed. Microscopic indices of spermatogenesis (tubular differentiation, spermiogenesis and repopulation indices) were studied.

Body weight was not changed significantly. The levels of testosterone (p = 0.0001), follicle stimulating hormone (p = 0.019), and luteinizing hormone (p = 0.08) were decreased while the level of lipid peroxidation index was increased (p = 0.208) in the treated groups. The histomorphometry indices (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.001, respectively), germ cells population (p < 0.05) and microscopic indices of spermatogenesis (p = 0.001, p = 0.005, p < 0.0001, respectively) were significantly reduced in all treated groups. The administration of MSG before PTX treatment induces more changes. The most positive reaction to p53 was observed in MSG30 or 60 + PTX groups compared to other groups.

The administration of MSG could intensify testicular tissue alterations related to PTX chemotherapy.

Preeclampsia is considered as a serious life-threatening condition that could affect both maternal and fetal outcome. Many studies have examined the association of nutritional factors with the incidence of preeclampsia. However, little is known about the possible role of vitamin D in the development of preeclampsia among the Iranian population.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between vitamin D status and preeclampsia.

A total of 120 pregnant women who were referred to Kamali and Alborz General Hospital located in the Karaj City were enrolled in this study and categorized into preeclamptic and control groups (n = 60/each). The clinical details of patients such as demographic characteristics and laboratory findings were obtained from the patients. The serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and parathormone were also measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess for independent predictors of preeclampsia.

The mean age among pregnant women with preeclampsia and control group were 31.48 ± 5.25 and 29.01 ± 5.28, respectively. The mean body mass index among the preeclamptic group was 27.92 ± 4.98, which was significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in women with preeclampsia compared to the control subjects (p = 0.007). Moreover, no correlation between vitamin D deficiency and predisposing factors of preeclampsia was observed after adjusting for confounding factors.

Our study revealed that serum vitamin D level is significantly lower in among the pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia compared to the healthy subjects. However, no correlation was observed between the vitamin D status and the risk of preeclampsia development.

Cardiovascular diseases could be preventable; as a result, understanding the risk factors was regarded as the major priority for healthcare providers.

The main objective of this research was to achieve a deeper insight into the effect of long-term use of low-dose oral contraceptive pills (OCP) on the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases.

This research was a retrospective cohort conducted (historical and prospectively) conducted on 100 women with normal menstrual cycles aged 15 to 35 yr, who were referred to the healthcare centers in Yazd, Iran. The participants were categorized into two groups: The OCP group was consuming the pills for 0-3, 4-23, and 24-36 months, and the non-OCP group. Participants were followed up for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of six months

The highest level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), homocysteine, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and systolic blood pressure was observed in the OCP group in the duration of 24 to 36 months. The Tukey’s test demonstrated that there were comprehensible differences in the LDL (p = 0.01), cholesterol (p = 0.01), triglyceride (p < 0.001), and homocysteine levels (p < 0.001), also systolic blood pressure (p = 0.04).

It was realized that the long-term consumption of low-dose OCP can augment the incidence of some risk factors (systolic blood pressure, homocysteine levels, cholesterol, LDL-c, and triglyceride) and lead to developing cardiovascular diseases amongst the healthy women.

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich (HWW) syndrome is a rare congenital urogenital defect. It is detected by unilateral low vaginal obstruction, uterus didelphys, and ipsilateral kidney agenesis. It usually becomes apparent with pain, dysmenorrhea, and presence of a vaginal or pelvic mass. Purulent vaginal discharge may also happen rarely because of infective complications of the obstructed hemivagina. In this report, we describe a post-pubertal case with acute abdominal pain.

 The patient was a 13-yr-old girl who was referred to us with acute abdominal pain one year after the onset of her menarche. In the pelvic examination, we detected hematocolpos. Abdominopelvic-computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of mullerian duct anomalies with uterus didelphys. This case of HWW syndrome along with pyocolpus was managed by vaginal septum resection, drainage of pus, and salpingectomy.

The symptoms of HWW syndrome should be monitored in early puberty to prevent more complications.