Caspian Journal of Reproductive Medicine
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2018

It is evident that catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are the first line defense antioxidant enzymes. This study was conducted to elucidate the relationships between the serum levels of these enzymes and the semen quality parameters in Bulls.

Semen samples were collected from eight healthy dual-purpose Simmental (Fleckvieh) Bulls by artificial vagina. The semen quality parameters such as volume, concentration, sperm motility, viability, and abnormal morphology were analyzed. One step dilution method was performed for semen freezing procedure. The progressive motility of frozen-thawed semen was considered as the main criterion for data classification, which is as follows: <40%, 40 – 50% and >50%. The Bulls’ blood samples were collected via coccygeal venipuncture. Serum CAT, SOD, and GPx were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

The serum Gpx activity was higher in the <40% group. Surprisingly, significant negative correlations were found between the gross and progressive motility of frozen-thawed semen with serum Gpx status. Moreover, positive correlations were found between Gpx and CAT in blood serum.

Our results illustrated some valuable information about the serum levels of antioxidant enzymes and their relationships with semen quality in Fleckvieh Bulls. It can also be concluded that measuring these enzymes only cannot be deemed as a sufficient reflection of reproductive performance, especially the semen quality of Bulls.

 This study aimed to identify patterns of physical activity in pregnancy contributions to the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

 In a prospective study, physical activity of 374 pregnant women was measured using Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) during the first half and the second half of pregnancy. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded as birth weight, preterm delivery, hypertension without proteinuria, preeclampsia, mode of delivery, and gestational diabetes.

 There was a significant decrease in values of self-reported physical activity from the first half of pregnancy to the second half of pregnancy in light (P <0.001), moderate (P <0.001), vigorous (P= 0.029), total (P <0.001) intensity. The women with the highest tertile of total physical activity in the first half of pregnancy had significantly lower adjusted odds (OR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.32) of having a macrosomia newborn and higher adjusted odds (OR: 6.44, 95% CI: 1.38-30.14) of having a low birth weight infant. The risks of cesarean section for women in the highest category of total physical activity in the second half of pregnancy was higher those in the lower and lowest category (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 0.29-3.36).

 It is necessary to emphasis on physical activity guideline for reduction of pregnancy complications.

Medical management of miscarriage in the first trimester is performed with multiple-medication regimens. We aimed to compare the efficacy and complications of combined regimen of letrozole and misoprostol with misoprostol alone for first trimester medical abortion.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Babol University of Medical Sciences for medical abortion at gestational age less than 12 weeks. All pregnant women in the first trimester with indications for abortion between 2014 and 2015 and treated by the combined regimen of letrozole and misoprostol or misoprostol alone were included in this study. The successful complete abortion, the frequency need for curettage, the induction-abortion interval, drug complications, hemoglobin, and hematocrit ratio were all retrieved from the patients’ documents.

During the study period, 110 pregnant women were admitted to our hospital for medical abortion at the first trimester and were considered for medical management. Of these, 40 women received letrozole 7.5 mg for two days, followed by misoprostol 800 mcg vaginally. Seventy women received only misoprostol 800 mcg vaginally. Follow-up for abortion was usually done 24 hours after the medical management. The successful complete abortion rate in the combined regimen of letrozole and misoprostol was more than that of the misoprostol alone group (75.0% vs. 31.4%; P= 0.001). The frequency need for curettage (P=0.001) and the mean induction-abortion interval (P= 0.021) were lower in combined regimen of letrozole than misoprostol alone group. The drug complications, hemoglobin ratio and hematocrit ratio were similar between the groups.

Our study suggested that letrozole enhances the misoprostol effect in the first trimester of pregnancy termination and decreases some of its complications.