Knowledge and beliefs about oocyte cryopreservation for medical and social reasons in female students: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: With the increasing number of young women surviving cancer and a growing trend among highly educated women to postpone childbearing for educational or professional pursuits, there is a rising demand for egg freezing services to ensure a successful pregnancy. This study aims to assess the knowledge and beliefs surrounding oocyte cryopreservation, both for medical and social reasons, among female students in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was carried out from March to August of 2022, involving a total of 1279 childless students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees at universities in Tehran.

Commitment Theory as the Theoretical Framework in Third-Party Reproduction.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) and third-party reproduction provide the opportunity for infertile couples to have children through different genetic links. This type of treatment has created many challenges for infertile couples. With this treatment, the infertile couple will have a child who is biologically related to the gamete/embryo donor.

The Impact of Third Party Reproduction on Family and Kinship.

The development of fertilization (IVF) in the UK, in 1978, proved a major breakthrough in the process of human reproduction, which had remained constant in human history. The impact of IVF and the ensuing assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) has not been limited in revolutionizing the "natural" practice of biological reproduction, but has reached out to and affected almost every institution in society. Family and kinship, as the social expression of reproduction and the institutions which are the most transparently structured realm of human life are those most profoundly affected by ARTs.

Step-by-step decision-making process in third party assisted reproduction: a qualitative study.

This study explores the experience of decision-making about the third party assisted reproduction in Iranian infertile patients using a qualitative approach. Data were collected in 2017-2019 through in-depth interviews of 20 infertile participants (3 couples and 14 individuals) who became pregnant or had children through third-party reproduction and 12 specialists. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, the data were managed using the MAXQDA 10 and analysed using a conventional content analysis approach.

Comparing four laboratory three-parent techniques to construct human aged non-surrounded nucleolus germinal vesicle oocytes: A case-control study.

Background: The three-parent assisted reproductive technique may increase oocyte competence.

Objective: In this case-control study, the suitability of germinal vesicle transfer (GVT), synchronous ooplasmic transfer (sOT), asynchronous ooplasmic transfer using cryopreserved MII oocyte (caOT), and asynchronous ooplasmic transfer using waste MII oocyte (waOT) for maturation of the human-aged non-surrounded nucleolus germinal vesicle-stage (NSN-GV) oocyte were investigated.

Materials And Methods: NSN-GV oocytes were subjected to four methods: group A (GVT), B (sOT), C (caOT) D (waOT), and E (Control).

Sortilin as a Novel Diagnostic and Therapeutic Biomarker in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background: The overexpression of sortilin/neurotensin receptor 3 has previously been reported in various human solid tumors but not in hematological malignancies. Here, we report the overexpression of sortilin in leukemic cells from patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

Methods: Flow cytometry was used to compare the expression of sortilin in CLL patients (n=52) and healthy individuals (n=26).

Testis biopsy in absolute head teratospermia: Is it a logical option?

Introduction: Absolute head teratospermia (100% abnormal head morphology) is associated with poor fertility and assisted reproductive techniques results. We aimed to find if it is possible to bypass this disorder using sperm retrieved by testis biopsy.

Methods: Multiple testis biopsies were performed in patients with infertility and absolute head teratospermia who were not able to provide semen on the injection day from 2006 to 2018.

Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Specific to Human Fibromodulin.

Background: The unique expression of fibromodulin (FMOD) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been previously reported. Detecting FMOD in CLL patients using specific anti-FMOD mAbs might provide a promising method in detection, monitoring, and prognosis of CLL.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed for producing specific antibodies against FMOD to facilitate further cohort study of CLL, thus addressing FMOD as a potential target of detection.

Anchored Fibromodulin as a Novel Target in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications.

Background: We have previously reported the aberrant expression of Fibromodulin (FMOD) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Although FMOD has been considered as a cytoplasmic or secretory protein, we discovered the cell surface expression of FMOD in leukemic B cells via anchoring with glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI).

Objective: To evaluate FMOD as a new biomarker in CLL patients in comparison with healthy individuals.

Correction to: "Comparative repair capacity of knee osteochondral defects using regenerated silk fiber scaffolds and fibrin glue with/without autologous chondrocyes during 36 weeks in rabbit model.

The published online of the original version contains mistakes.

Practical Difficulties in Estimating The Prevalence of Primary Infertility in Iran.

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO)'s clinical, epidemiological and demographic definitions, infertility is an inability to become pregnant within one, two or five years of exposure to pregnancy, respectively. Inconsistent infertility-related definitions and various methodological approaches make it difficult to compare quantitative data in this regard and consequently, have negatively influenced estimating the prevalence of infertility. The present study reviewed the results of a large population-based survey on how the clinical, epidemiological and demographic definitions of infertility produce different results in terms of infertility prevalence in Iran and subsequently, compared the findings in order to find the right time of treatment-seeking by couples.

Fibronectin as a new biomarker for human sperm selection in assisted reproductive technology.

Objective: Fibronectin (FN) is a multifunctional diametric glycoprotein on the surface of the sperm that plays an important role in the sperm-oocyte interaction and fertilization process. The aim of the present study was to assess the FN levels as a sperm surface biomarker for sperm selection in assisted reproductive technology.

Material And Methods: Polyclonal antibody against human FN was produced in rabbit.

The effect of paternal age on semen quality and fertilization outcome in men with normal sperm DNA compaction, reactive oxygen species, and total antioxidant capacity levels.

Objective: Studies showed a decrease of the semen analysis parameters and an increase in the average age of first-time fathers over the past several decades. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of paternal age on semen quality and fertilization outcomes in men with normal sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin maturation index (DFI and CMI), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels.

Material And Methods: The study was performed on 70 men with their wife's age ≤38 years and normal sperm DFI, CMI, ROS, and TAC levels.

Evaluating the Potential of Three Sperm Surface Antigens as Egg-adhesion Biomarkers for Human Sperm Selection.

Background: The selection of sperm with good genomic integrity and surface antigens is suggested for improving assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome. The aim of this study was evaluating the heat shock protein (HSPA2), Dj-1 and serum amyloid P compound (SAP) three sperm surface proteomes as biomarkers for this purpose.

Methods: In this study, semen samples were obtained from 114 men who presented at Avicenna Fertility Clinic for their treatment.

Upstream or swim up processing technique: which one is more effective to select human sperm with high chromatin integrity.

Background: Sperm processing methods separate motile sperms with good morphology from dead and abnormal forms of sperms, immature germ cells, and non-sperm cells.

Objective: The propose of this study was to compare the efficacy of upstream and swim-up processing techniques to separate sperms with the high quality especially in relation to sperm chromatin integrity.

Materials And Methods: This experimental study used semen samples from 60 normozoospermic men.

Reconstruction of mammalian oocytes by germinal vesicle transfer: A systematic review.

Nuclear transfer procedures have been recently applied for clinical and research targets as a novel assisted reproductive technique and were used for increasing the oocyte activity during its growth and maturation. In this review, we summarized the nuclear transfer technique for germinal vesicle stage oocytes to reconstruct the maturation of them. Our study covered publications between 1966 and August 2017.

Transplantation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells Suspension into Rete Testis of Azoospermia Mouse Model.

Purpose: The loss of spermatogonia following chemo-or radiotherapy leading to temporary or permanent infertility of the patient is a well known and unwanted side effect of many oncological therapies.

Materials And Methods: In this study, germ cells were isolated from 4 days old mouse testis cells. Busulfan treatment was used to the eliminate proliferating cells in the testis of recipient mice.

Efficacy of Intrauterine Injection of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) on Treatment of Unexplained Recurrent Miscarriage: A Pilot RCT Study.

Background: Endometrium undergoes several changes in structure and cellular composition during pregnancy. Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor (GCS-F) is an important cytokine with critical role in embryo implantation and pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of intrauterine injection of G-CSF in patients who suffer from unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM).

Role of vitamin E and D supplementation in Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection outcomes of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A double blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Ovulation induction has been proven to impose oxidative stress during ICSI treatment cycle. Also, data indicates that PCOS women show higher oxidative markers. Available data are not convincing about which antioxidant supplements have the potential to overcome oxidative stress in PCOS subjects.

Ooplasmic transfer in human oocytes: efficacy and concerns in assisted reproduction.

Background: Ooplasmic transfer (OT) technique or cytoplasmic transfer is an emerging technique with relative success, having a significant status in assisted reproduction. This technique had effectively paved the way to about 30 healthy births worldwide. Though OT has long been invented, proper evaluation of the efficacy and risks associated with this critical technique has not been explored properly until today.

Platelet-rich plasma promotes the development of isolated human primordial and primary follicles to the preantral stage.

This study aimed to assess the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on growth and survival of isolated early human follicles in a three-dimensional culture system. After fresh and vitrified-warmed ovarian tissue was digested, isolated early preantral follicles and ovarian cells were separately encapsulated in 1% alginate (w/v). The encapsulated follicles and ovarian cells were cultured together in a medium supplemented with foetal bovine serum (FBS), PRP, PRP + FBS, or human serum albumin (HSA) for 10 days.

Exogenous Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein-4 Modulates Steroidogenesis of Rat Granulosa Cells through Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways.

Background: It has been reported that secreted frizzled-related protein-4 known as an antagonist of Wnt signaling pathway plays a role in luteinization process of rodent granulosa cells. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine whether recombinant human secreted frizzled-related protein-4 (rhSFRP-4) could directly induce terminal differentiation of rat Granulosa Cells (GCs) and 2) to understand how the modulation of β-catenin and Protein Kinase B (PKB)/AKT activity by exogenous SFRP-4 could be involved in steroidogenesis.

Methods: GCs were firstly stimulated with Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) named as FSH-primed cells then were treated with luteinizing hormone (LH).

The effect of ovine oocyte vitrification on expression of subset of genes involved in epigenetic modifications during oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

Apart from ultrastructural damages in oocytes subjected to cryopreservation procedures, little is known about the status of epigenetic modification and chromatin remodeling in vitrified oocytes. In present study, the expression patterns of eight genes involved in epigenetic modification (HAT1, HDAC1, SUV39H1, DNMT1, and DNMT3b), chromatin remodeling (HMGN3a and SMARCAL1), and transcription (STAT3), were investigated in fresh and vitrified germinal vesicle and metaphase II oocytes and their resulting embryos at 2 to 7 cells, 8 to 16 cells, morula, and blastocyst stages. The mRNA relative abundance was quantified by reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction, as fold change relative to the value obtained for fresh germinal vesicle oocytes.