International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Volume:19 Issue: 4, Apr 2021

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance and elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Chronic inflammation has been observed in PCOS in several studies but there is also opposing evidence and a dearth of research in Indians.

To estimate chronic inflammation in PCOS and find its relationship with appropriate anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

Chronic inflammation was assessed in 30 women with PCOS (Group A) and 30 healthy controls (Group B) with highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and platelet microparticles (PMP). In group A, the relationship of chronic inflammation with insulin resistance, waist hip ratio (WHR) serum testosterone, and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were examined.

In group A, the hsCRP, TNFα, and PMP were significantly elevated compared to group B. However, IL-6 level was similar between the groups. In Group A, PMP showed a significant positive correlation with waist-hip ratio and serum testosterone. IL-6 showed a significant positive correlation with insulin sensitivity and significant negative correlation with insulin resistance and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase.

PCOS is associated with chronic inflammation and PMP correlates positively with central adiposity and biochemical hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS.

Biological scaffolds are derived by the decellularization of tissues or organs. Various biological scaffolds, such as scaffolds for the liver, lung, esophagus, dermis, and human testicles, have been produced. Their application in tissue engineering has created the need for cryopreservation processes to store these scaffolds.

The aim was to compare the two methods for prolong storage testicular scaffolds.

In this experimental study, 20 male NMRI mice (8 wk) were sacrificed and their testes were removed and treated with 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate followed by Triton X-100 0.5%. The efficiency of decellularization was determined by histology and DNA quantification. Testicular scaffolds were stored in phosphate-buffered saline solution at 4ºC or cryopreserved by programmed slow freezing followed by storage in liquid nitrogen. Massonchr('39')s trichrome staining, Alcian blue staining and immunohistochemistry, collagen assay, and glycosaminoglycan assay were done prior to and after six months of storage under each condition.

Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed no remnant cells after the completion of decellularization. DNA content analysis indicated that approximately 98% of the DNA was removed from the tissue (p = 0.02). Histological evaluation confirmed the preservation of extracellular matrix components in the fresh and frozen-thawed scaffolds. Extracellular matrix components were decreased by 4°C-stored scaffolds. Cytotoxicity tests with mouse embryonic fibroblast showed that the scaffolds were biocompatible and did not have a harmful effect on the proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells.

Our results demonstrated the superiority of the slow freezing method for prolong storage of testicular scaffolds.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and psychological stress are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of male infertility.

To assess the association of MMP-9 with IL-17 and psychological stress in infertile men.

In this cross-sectional study, 39 men with infertility diagnosed based on semen analysis and 39 subjects with normal semen analysis were included in the study. MMP-9 and IL-17 were estimated in both groups by ELISA. Perceived stress scale was used to assess psychological stress in controls and cases.

In infertile cases, MMP-9and IL-17 were significantly increased when compared with controls (p = 0.046, p = 0.041 respectively). A significant association of MMP-9 was observed with IL-17 (r = 0.335, p = 0.037) and perceived stress scale (r = 0.329, p = 0.041).

IL-17 and stress increase MMP- 9 levels in infertile men.

Adhesion due to intrauterine surgery such as septal resection associated with damaged endometrium can increase the risk of Ashermanchr('39')s syndrome. The main goal of treatment in this syndrome is to repair the damaged endometrium for creating a physiological pregnancy.

To investigate the effect of intrauterine injection of hyaluronic acid on the prevention of Ashermanchr('39')s syndrome in women undergoing uterine septum resection.

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 65 women undergoing the uterine septum resection were divided into two groups; the case group (n = 34) and the control group (n = 31). Immediately after the septal resection with a resectoscope, 1cc of hyaluronic acid gel in the case group and 1cc normal saline solution as a placebo in the control group was injected into the uterine cavity. After two months, existence of intrauterine adhesions in the both groups was examined by the hysteroscope and assessment of menstrual patterns, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine criteria.

Our results showed that after intervention, the incidence of Ashermanchr('39')s syndrome in the control group was higher than the case group (p = 0.012). In the case group, only four women had poor adhesion (Ashermanchr('39')s syndrome) at the end of the study, while the rest of them were free of any adhesions in the uterine cavity. In the control group, however, only 19 were free of intrauterine adhesions and 12 had mild symptoms.

The results of the study exhibited the hyaluronic acid capacity to reduce the risk of Ashermanchr('39')s syndrome in women with endometrial damage following a septal resection surgery.

Infertility has been recognized as a stressful clinical condition, significantly affecting couples’ emotional functioning.

To investigate the relationship between coping/attachment styles and infertility-specific distress (ISD) in infertile participants.

Atotal number of 240 infertile participants (120 women and 120 men) who attend the Outpatient Infertility Clinic in Sari, Iran between February and October 2017 were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire addressing sociodemographic variables. In addition, coping and attachment styles were evaluated via the Coping Strategies Questionnaire and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale by Collins and Read (1990); respectively. Ultimately, the Infertility Distress Scale was used to assess ISD.

The mean ISD score was 42.53 ± 9.63. Secure and insecure attachment styles were observed in 37.9% and 62.1% of the cases, respectively. There was a significant difference among ISD and different groups of attachment styles (p = 0.001) and emotion-focused coping style (p = 0.021). However, no significant relationship was found between problem-focused coping style and ISD (p = 0.985).

Considering the relationship between coping/attachment styles and ISD, it was recommended to implement stress prevention and coping education within the framework of coping/attachment theories for infertile individuals.

Several conflicting results have been reported on the survival and function of transplanted ovaries.

Evaluation of the follicular development and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Bcl-2-associated X protein )BAX (in ovaries transplanted into uni- and bilaterally ovariectomized mice.

In this experimental study, 40 female NMRI mice (21-days-old, 12-15 gr) were ovariectomized uni- and bilaterally (n = 20/ group), while the 8-wk-old mice were considered as intact control group (n = 6). 5 weeks after transplantation at the proestrus stage, the morphology of recovered transplanted ovaries and the proportion of follicles were studied at different developmental stages. The apoptosis cell death by pro-apoptotic protein BAX and the expression of VEGF were evaluated using immunohistochemistry.

In the bilaterally ovariectomized mice, among the 455 counted normal follicles, a lower rate of primordial and primary follicles and a higher rate of preantral and antral follicles were observed (p = 0.002). However, the percentages of preantral and antral follicles, and the corpus luteum were significantly lower in the intact control group (among the 508 counted normal follicles in this group) compared to other transplanted groups (p = 0.002). The number of BAX-positive cells in all groups was not significantly different. The VEGF expression was prominent in vessels of the corpus luteum, and also in the theca layer of large follicles of studied groups.

Early discharge of ovarian reserve was prominent in the bilaterally ovariectomized group but the incidence of apoptotic cells and VEGF expression as angiogenic factor did not differ in both ovariectomized mice. Thus, unilaterally ovariectomy has less side effects on the ovarian reserve compared to bilateral ovariectomy.

There is no sufficient information on the impact of bovine ampullary oviductal epithelial cells (BAOECs) on in vitro oocyte maturation competence and gene expression.

This study aimed to examine the oocyte developmental competence following co-culturing with a monolayer of fresh and frozen-thawed ampullary cells.

Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were distributed into three groups: control group; where in COCs were cultured in cell-free media for 24 hr and FML and FTML groups in which the COCs were cultured in maturation media for 18 hr and then transferred into a media containing fresh and frozen-thawed BAOECs monolayer, respectively (BAOECs were extracted from the oviducts of slaughtered cattle and were then cultured freshly or frozen-thawed) for a further 6 hr. After 24 hr, the expanded COCs were evaluated for nuclear maturation, fertilization rate, and gene expression (GDF9, StAR, CASP3, and FSHr).

Nuclear maturation rate in the FTML group was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.02). The fertilization rate of FTML group was significantly higher than the control and FML groups (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively). In terms of gene expression, GDF9 were upregulated in the presence of the BAOECs during the last 6 hr of the in vitro maturation (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the expression of the StAR gene in the FTML group was higher than the other groups (p = 0.02).

Ampullary cells co-culturing (especially frozen-thawed cells) for in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes yields encourages the results and demonstrates the beneficial effect of co-culture on gene expression and developmental competence.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) deserves proper prevention, diagnosis, and management due to healthcare implications from both maternal and fetal concerns.

To evaluate the rate and investigate the risk factors for developing GDM.

In this case-control, universal screening for GDM between 24 and 28 wk of gestation was performed in 613 pregnant women attending a prenatal clinic in Tehran who were followed-up until delivery between March 2017 to March 2018. Of the 613 women, 143 had GDM and 470 had normal glucose tolerance test as the primary diagnosis. Some GDM risk factors were compared in two groups.

Impaired glucose tolerance test was detected in 143 (23.3%) patients. Prevalence of GDM was higher in the first-trimester fasting blood sugar (FBS) > 90 qmg/dl group (p < 0.001). Comparison of the GDM and the normal glucose tolerance test groups demonstrated significant differences in maternal age, first-trimester FBS, third-trimester vitamin D level, maternal platelet count, maternal body mass index (BMI) (before 12 wk of gestation), weight gain during pregnancy, and the history of gestational complications in previous pregnancy (p < 0.01). In logistic regression, GDM was independently associated with older maternal  age, higher first-trimester FBS, the history of gestational complications in previous pregnancy, lower third-trimester vitamin D level, and higher maternal platelet count (p < 0.01).

Both patients with higher initial FBS and the history of gestational complications in previous pregnancy should be considered high risk for GDM and screened earlier.

The authors of the above article published in IJRM, formerly named as “Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine (Vol. 10, No. 2; pp: 131–136) have been informed of a misnomer that occurred on page 134 in which the word “randomized” should be replaced with “divided”. On behalf of the author, the publisher wishes to apologize for this error. The online version of article has been updated on April 16, 2021 and can be found at http: //journals.ssu.ac.ir/ijrmnew/article-1-265-en.html (doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.vol10i2.9056).

The publisher has been informed of an error that occurred on pages 113-120 (Vol. 18; No. 2) which the study type in the title must be changed to “non randomized clinical trial”. The publisher wishes to apologize for this error. The online version of the article has been updated on April 16, 2021 and can be found at http://journals.ssu.ac.ir/ijrmnew/ article-1-1422-en.html (doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v18i2.6423).