Personality psychopathology in temporal lobe epilepsy: An Arabian study.

Objectives: Previous research has linked epilepsy of the temporal lobe (TLE) with comorbidities of psychiatric nature, yet few studies have investigated personality psychopathology in patients with TLE. This is the first study on the topic in the Arab world and the first study using the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief From (PID-5-BF). Thus, this study, which is cross-sectional by nature, aims to explore the potential relationship between TLE and personality psychopathology.

Preconceptional paternal obesity may increase the risk of congenital urogenital anomalies in offspring: A case-control study.

Background: Congenital urogenital anomalies affect 4-60 per 10,000 births. Maternal obesity, along with other risk factors, is well documented as a contributing factor. However, the impact of paternal obesity on risk is unclear.

Paternal peri-conceptional physical activity and the risk of congenital heart disease in offspring: A case-control study.

Background: Genetic and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to the development of congenital heart disease (CHD). To date, the focus of scientific articles has primarily centered on genetics and maternal environmental factors, with comparatively less attention given to paternal risk factors.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the potential association between paternal pre-conceptional physical activity levels (PA), along with paternal peri-conceptional smoking and alcohol consumption, and the risk of CHD in offspring.

Mature oocyte dysmorphisms may be associated with progesterone levels, mitochondrial DNA content, and vitality in luteal granulosa cells.

Purpose: To identify whether follicular environment parameters are associated with mature oocyte quality, embryological and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study examined 303 mature oocytes from 51 infertile women undergoing ICSI cycles between May 2018 and June 2021. Exclusion criteria consisted of advanced maternal age (> 36 years old), premature ovarian failure, obesity in women, or use of frozen gametes.

Identifying predictors of Day 5 blastocyst utilization rate using an artificial neural network.

Research Question: Can artificial intelligence identify predictors of an increased Day 5 blastocyst utilization rate (D5BUR), which is one of the most informative key performance indicators in an IVF laboratory?

Design: This retrospective, multicentre study evaluated six variables for predicting D5BUR using an artificial neural network (ANN): number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes injected (intracytoplasmic sperm injection); use of autologous/donated gametes; maternal age at oocyte retrieval; sperm concentration; progressive sperm motility rate; and fertilization rate. Cycles were divided into training and testing sets through stratified random sampling. D5BUR on Day 5 was grouped into <60% and ≥60% as per the Vienna consensus benchmark values.

Effect of human-animal interaction on the well-being and quality of life.

Background: COVID-19, the economic and the political crises happening in Lebanon, have enforced social distancing and isolation, causing severe psychological states. However, these psychological consequences have highlighted the aim behind the interactions between humans and animals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction between humans and animals and to compare the well-being and quality of life of the Lebanese pet owners in Lebanon in the face of stressors currently experienced and animals' companionship.

Low E-visibility of embryologists on fertility clinic websites: a web-based cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study assessed the visibility of embryologists on fertility clinic websites among Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) member clinics.

Methods: During a 1-month interval (March 2022), all Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) member fertility clinic websites were evaluated. The professional representation of the primary care team was examined including specialties, the presence of headshots, and biographies.

Exploring behavioral systems of the reinforcement sensitivity theory in people with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Although epilepsy has previously been associated with behavioral changes, no previous study has utilized the behavioral models of the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) to investigate the impact of epilepsy on behavior. Therefore, the objective of this cross-sectional study is to examine the potential relationship between epilepsy and the neurobehavioral systems of the RST.

Methods: Using the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory-Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ), this cross-sectional study assessed the behavioral systems of the RST in a sample of 27 epilepsy patients and 27 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals.

Lactobacillus plantarum secretions may exert a cryoprotective effect on human sperm motility: A prospective in vitro study.

Background: Semen cryopreservation is a widely used procedure for fertility preservation, despite some level of cryodamage that may occur in spermatozoa after thawing. However, there is some evidence that lactobacilli, one of the bacteria found in semen, might benefit sperm quality.

Objectives: This study aims to determine whether the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum secretions to sperm freezing medium has an impact on sperm motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation.

Effects of a multilayered crisis on psychiatric hospitalizations in a university hospital in Lebanon; a retrospective study.

Lebanon is struggling with a multilayered crisis following the COVID-19 breakout, the economic crisis, and the Beirut port explosion. The aim of this article is to assess the effect of these crisis on the characteristics of patients hospitalized in psychiatry. This is a retrospective study conducted at the psychiatric ward of Hotel Dieu de France in Beirut between January 2017 and march 2022.

Do follicle-stimulating hormone receptor polymorphisms in infertile men influence intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes? A prospective cohort study.

The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and its receptor regulate the quantity and quality of spermatozoa production. Several studies have analyzed the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon 10 of the () on basic semen parameters without yet reaching a firm consensus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of p.

Eosinophils to Lymphocytes Ratio (ELR) as a Potential Inflammatory Biomarker in Patients with Dual Diagnosis of Bipolar and Alcohol Use Disorders: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

It is well-established that Bipolar Disorder (BD) has comorbidity with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and could present the same symptoms of an underlying diagnosis of BD, therefore delaying the proper relevant treatment. Recent studies show the occurrence of alterations in the circulating levels of inflammatory mediators in patients dealing with AUD as well as those with BD. The objective of this study is to get an assessment of whether patients with AUD and BD comorbidity [BD(+)] would present different ratios of the Complete Blood Count (CBC) in comparison with patients with AUD but without a BD comorbidity [BD(-)].

Functional histology of human scrotal wall layers and their overlooked relation with infertility: a narrative review.

Male infertility currently contributes to nearly half of the reported infertility cases. Scrotal wall layers play a cardinal role in regulating testicular physiology. However, few studies have focused on the functional histology of these layers and their relations with infertility in humans.

Differential impact of four sperm preparation techniques on sperm motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation, acrosome status, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial activity: A prospective study.

Background: Suboptimal human semen handling in vitro may induce sperm damage. However, the effects of semen swim-up, pellet swim-up, density gradient, and density gradient followed by SU on sperm motility, morphology, DNA fragmentation, acrosome reaction, intracellular reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial activity were not fully understood.

Objectives: To study the impact of four sperm preparation techniques on sperm functional parameters.

Stress Management during the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycle May Slow Down First Embryo Cleavage and Accelerate Embryo Compaction: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: A firm consensus on the effectiveness of psychological interventions during infertility treatment has not been reached yet in terms of mental health and pregnancy rates. Moreover, the influence of these interventions on embryo cleavage kinetics has not been investigated.

Objective: The aim of this work was to study whether stress management in couples undergoing an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle influences stress levels, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels in granulosa cells, and cleavage-stage embryos.

Neurophysiology of cognitive behavioural therapy, deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation used in conjunction with ART treatments: a narrative review.

Background: Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. It could be due to male or female factors, each requiring different treatment options. ART treatment exposes couples to numerous psychological stressors.

Optimization of The Cell Aggregates Method for Isolation and Purification of Human Granulosa Cells from Follicular Fluid.

Background: Aspirated ovarian follicular fluids (FF) contain luteal granulosa cells (LGCs) and other contaminating cell types. Several strategies, such as the antibody binding methods, the flask method, the cell strainer and positive selection of granulosa aggregates after density gradient (DG) centrifugation, were tested as LGC purification methods. Each of these strategies has its own advantages and disadvantages.

What are the effects of vitamin C on sperm functional properties during direct swim-up procedure?

SummaryDirect swim-up procedure is widely used to separate the motile competent spermatozoa from the antioxidant-rich semen. Subsequently, spermatozoa become more vulnerable to reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to their cytological characteristics. The effect of vitamin C, a highly concentrated antioxidant in the semen, on direct swim-up-enriched sperm population is not fully investigated.

Adverse effects of paternal obesity on the motile spermatozoa quality.

Growing evidence suggests that paternal obesity may decrease male fertility potential. During infertility treatment with intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a morphologically normal motile spermatozoon is injected into a mature egg, when possible. However, sperm motility and morphology per se do not reflect the sperm molecular composition.

Paternal obesity: how bad is it for sperm quality and progeny health?

There is substantial evidence that paternal obesity is associated not only with an increased incidence of infertility, but also with an increased risk of metabolic disturbance in adult offspring. Apparently, several mechanisms may contribute to the sperm quality alterations associated with paternal obesity, such as physiological/hormonal alterations, oxidative stress, and epigenetic alterations. Along these lines, modifications of hormonal profiles namely reduced androgen levels and elevated estrogen levels, were found associated with lower sperm concentration and seminal volume.