The Impact of Individual Factors on Health Information-Seeking Behavior of Infertile Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Longo Model.

Background: This study investigated the impact of individual factors on the Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) of infertile couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART).

Materials And Methods: This applied study was done using the descriptive-analytical method. The population of the study remains to be infertile couples undergoing ART referred to a public Infertility Center and a private one in Bandar Abbas (capital of Hormozgan province, Southern Iran) in the summer of 2020.

Health Information Needs of Couples Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques.

Background: Couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) come across various information needs. This study aimed to identify the health information needs of couples undergoing ART.

Materials And Methods: The methodology of the present applied study was qualitative and the research method was conventional qualitative content analysis performed with the participation of 25 infertile couples under ART.

High levels of follicular fluid testosterone could impair oocyte developmental competency via affecting aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway in PCOS patients.

Background: Although hormonal and metabolic dysfunction have been recognized as a possible cause of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the associations between hyperandrogenism and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) signaling pathway remains controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of hyperandrogenism on oocyte developmental competency via regarding Ahr signaling downstream pathway in granulosa cells.

Materials And Methods: Granulosa cells were collected from 45 PCOS patients under assisted reproductive technique (ART).

Comparison of the efficacy of bone morphogenetic protein-4 on differentiation of murine adipose and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into primordial germ cells.

Background And Purpose: development of functional gametes from pluripotent stem cells is a promising prospect to treat infertility. Mesenchymal stem cells with a high degree of plasticity and less tumorigenicity are a reliable source of stem cells for the generation of gametes. The present study aimed to compare the differentiation potential in the mesenchymal stem cells that are derived from bone marrow (BMDMSCs) and adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) into germ cells in a culture medium containing bone morphogenic protein-4 (BMP-4).

Normal seminal plasma could preserve human spermatozoa against cryopreservation damages in Oligozoospermic patients.

Background: Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa has been identified as an efficient procedure to preserve fertility in men before any cancer therapy or surgical infertility treatment. Despite the benefits of the procedure, the deleterious effects of cryopreservation have been proven on sperm structure and function. This study aimed to evaluate seminal plasma effects on human sperm characteristics after cryopreservation, and compare the addition of normozoospermic and oligozoospermic seminal plasma in the prepared oligozoospermic samples.

Effect of bacterial infection on sperm quality and DNA fragmentation in subfertile men with Leukocytospermia.

Background: Although bacterial infections have been recognized as a possible cause of male infertility, the effect of bacterial infections on sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation remains controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of bacterial infection in subfertile men and its effect on semen quality. Seminal fluid was collected from 172 male members of infertile couples attending the andrology infertility center and a group of 35 fertile subjects as a control.

Assessment of Mitochondrial Function and Developmental Potential of Mouse Oocytes after Mitoquinone Supplementation during Vitrification.

Vitrification negatively affects the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in oocytes while also leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP depletion and induction of apoptosis in oocytes. Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is an antioxidant that protects mitochondrial membrane integrity from ROS. This study examined the effect of adding MitoQ to vitrification medium on mitochondrial function and embryo development in vitrified oocytes.

Construction of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in the pathogenesis of recurrent implantation failure using integrated bioinformatics study.

This research attempted to elucidate the molecular components are involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent implantation failure (RIF). We initially identified that 386 mRNAs, 144 miRNAs and 2548 circRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in RIF and then investigated the genetic cause of the observed abnormal expression by constructing a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network considering the competing endogenous RNA theory. We further analysed the upstream transcription factors and related kinases of DEmRNAs (DEMs) and demonstrated that SUZ12, AR, TP63, NANOG, and TCF3 were the top five TFs binding to these DEMs.

The effect of Myo-inositol on fertility rates in poor ovarian responder in women undergoing assisted reproductive technique: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Poor ovarian response to gonadotropin is a significant challenge in assisted reproductive technique (ART) and affect 9-24% of ART cycles. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Myo-inositol on fertility rates in poor ovarian responder women undergoing assisted reproductive technique.

Methods: This study is a double-blinded randomized controlled study that involved 60 poor ovarian responders included in an ICSI program and divided into two groups; intervention group: 30 patients who have been assuming Inofolic (4 g myo-inositol + 400 μg folic acid) for the before the enrollment day; control group: 30 patients assuming folic acid (400 μg) for the same period.

Exposing Mouse Oocytes to MitoQ During Maturation Improves Maturation and Developmental Competence.

Background And Purpose: Mitochondrion is the main indicator of oocyte quality and one of the components of oocyte, which is sensitive to oxidative damage during the maturation process. Mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ) is a strong antioxidant targeting mitochondria as well as anti-apoptotic agent. However, the effect of MitoQ on the quality of oocytes during maturation (IVM) is still unknown.

Comparison of TGF-β3 and avocado/soybean unsaponifiable on chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells on poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid/ hyaluronic acid hybrid scaffold.

Objectives: Avocado/soybean unsaponifible (ASU) possesses properties including chondroprotective, anticatabolic, and anabolic. The goal behind this research was to detect the effect of ASU and TGF-β3 on the chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) on poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)/ hyaluronic acid (PLGA/HA) hybrid scaffold.

Materials And Methods: First hADSCs were seeded in PLGA/Hyaluronic acid scaffold and cultured in chondrogenic media.

Improvement in the epigenetic modification and development competence in PCOS mice oocytes by hydro-alcoholic extract of during in-vitro maturation: An experimental study.

Background: Nigella Sativa (NS) and its active component, thymoquinone, have beneficial protective effects on experimental animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and different human diseases.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of NS hydro-alcoholic extract (NSE) on the oocyte quality of PCOS mice during in vitro maturation.

Materials And Methods: For induction of PCOS, 40 prepubertal 21-days old female B6D2F1 mice (18-22 g body weight) received subcutaneous dehydroepiandrosterone daily.

The antioxidant curcumin postpones ovarian aging in young and middle-aged mice.

Reproductive senescence is accompanied by a reduced number and quality of ovarian follicles in response to the accumulation of free radicals and the process of apoptosis. Having selected mice as models, we examined the hypothesis that curcumin as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent might prevent or retard ovarian aging. Female NMRI 21-day-old mice were divided into control, vehicle and curcumin groups.

Thymoquinone reduces intracytoplasmic oxidative stress and improves epigenetic modification in polycystic ovary syndrome mice oocytes, during in-vitro maturation.

Although in-vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes has been presented as an alternative treatment to traditional stimulated in-vitro fertilization, the culture condition can be improved by natural antioxidants. Thus, we investigated the protective effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) during IVM in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mice model. The induction of PCOS was made by dehydroepiandrosterone via subcutaneous injection, in prepubertal female B6D2F1-mice.

Improvement of oocyte in vitro maturation from mice with polycystic ovary syndrome by human mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned media.

The outcome of in vitro maturation (IVM) in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is poor. Abnormal intraovarian paracrine interplay alters microenvironment for oocyte development through folliculogenesis and decreases developmental competence of oocytes in patients with PCOS. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) secrete a variety of cytokines and growth factors that could promote oocyte maturation in vitro.

Intracytoplasmic oxidative stress reverses epigenetic modifications in polycystic ovary syndrome.

In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), substantial genetic and environmental alterations, along with hyperandrogenism, affect the quality of oocytes and decrease ovulation rates. To determine the mechanisms underlying these alterations caused specifically by an increase in plasma androgens, the present study was performed in experimentally-induced PCOS mice. As the study model, female B6D2F1 mice were treated with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, 6mg per 100g bodyweight).