Glutathione-dependent enzymes in the follicular fluid of the first-retrieved oocyte and their impact on oocyte and embryos in polycystic ovary syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Background: Oxidative stress and GSH-dependent antioxidant system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Objective: We compared glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in serum and follicular fluid (FF) of the first-retrieved follicle and their impact on quality of oocyte and embryo in PCOS women undergoing IVF. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 pairs of blood samples and FF of the first-retrieved follicle from PCOS women, at the Infertility center of Ghadir Mother and Child Hospital. The mean activity of GPx and GR, also GSH levels in the serum and FF were compared to the quality of the first follicle and resultant embryo. Results: Retrieved oocytes included 53 (66.25%) MII, 17 (21.25%) MI, and 10 (12.5%) germinal vesicles; after IVF 42 (52.50%) embryos with grade I and 11 (13.75%) with grade II were produced. The mean values for all three antioxidants were higher in the FF compared to serum (p < 0.001). Also all of the mean measured levels were significantly higher in the FF of the MII oocytes compared to that of oocytes with lower grades (p = 0.012, 0.006 and 0.012, respectively). The mean GPX activity and GSH levels were significantly higher in the serum (p = 0.016 and 0.012, respectively) and FF (p = 0.001 for both) of the high-quality grade I embryos. Conclusion: GSH-dependent antioxidant system functions more efficiently in the FF of oocytes and embryos with higher quality. Key words: In vitro fertilization, Glutathione, Antioxidant, Oocyte, Embryo.&nbsp

The contribution of transdiagnostic vulnerability factors in patients with chronic insomnia

IntroductionVarious transdiagnostic factors have been associated with insomnia severity. The current study aimed to predict insomnia severity based on a group of transdiagnostic factors including neuroticism, emotion regulation, perfectionism, psychological inflexibility, anxiety sensitivity, and repetitive negative thinking after controlling for depression/anxiety symptoms and demographic characteristics.MethodsTwo hundred patients with chronic insomnia disorder were recruited from a sleep disorder clinic. Participants completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire (RTQ-10), Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).ResultsAfter controlling for the confounding variables (depression/anxiety symptoms and demographic characteristics), hierarchical multiple linear regression suggested the significant association of neuroticism (BFI), cognitive reappraisal (ERQ), personal standards (CPQ), evaluative concerns (CPQ), physical concerns (ASI), cognitive concerns (ASI), and repetitive negative thinking (RTQ) with insomnia severity.DiscussionThe findings support the role of transdiagnostic factors, especially physical concerns, repetitive negative thinking, and neuroticism in chronic insomnia. Future research using longitudinal designs is required to verify the causal status of transdiagnostic variables

Effects of Moderate Treadmill Exercise on Anxiety and Serum Corticosterone and IGF-1 Levels in A Rat Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Background and purpose: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD (is a psychotic illness caused by different types of stressors and is associated with high economic and psychological burdens on health systems. Physiological studies of the brain have shown that serum corticosterone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels have important roles during brain damage and trauma to the nervous system. In this project, we studied the effect of exercise as an effective factor on improving anxiety and serum levels of corticosterone and IGF-1in male PTSD rats. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, single prolonged stress (SPS) was used to induce PTSD in male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups: Sham (Non-SPS [NSPS]) and SPS. The two groups were then divided into two subgroups and one of the subgroups in each group did the exercise after two weeks which continued for four weeks according to the following program: moderate treadmill exercise, 5 days a week; the first two weeks 10m/min and the second two weeks 15m/min). Then, anxiety test was performed by open field test and serum levels of IGF-1 and corticosterone were measured using Eliza. Results: The rats in SPS group exhibited increased anxiety levels in open field test, decreased serum IGF-1 levels, and increased serum corticosterone levels compared with the controls. Moderate treadmill exercise alleviated SPS-induced alterations, anxiety, and IGF-1 and corticosterone levels. Conclusion: Moderate exercise could be used as a useful complementary treatment in behavioral and molecular injuries in PTSD patients

Microwave-accelerated pretreatment technique in green extraction of oil and bioactive compounds from camelina seeds: Effectiveness and characterization

The effect of microwave pretreatment and moisture levels of Camelina sativa seeds on the quality of extracted oil by cold press was investigated. The seed moistures were adjusted to 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% and pretreated with microwaves for 0, 1, 2, and 3 min. Microwave pretreatment (3 min) of the seeds with 2.5% moisture increased the oil extraction yield by ∼11% compared to the control sample. The highest amount of acidity (0.564 g FFA·g−1 oil), peroxide value (2.4 meq O2·kg−1 oil), carotenoid (5.26 mg·kg−1 oil), and browning index (0.710) were found in the oil extracted from seeds with 10% moisture and 3 min microwave pretreatment. The total phenolic compound was increased by microwave pretreatment but was mitigated by the seed moisture content, and the highest amount (208.24 mg caffeic acid·100 g−1 oil) was observed at 3 min microwave pretreatment of the seeds with 2.5% moisture. Chlorophyll content decreased by both microwave pretreatment and seed moisture content in camelina oil. Generally, the fatty acid composition of the extracted oils was not affected by the seed pretreatments. In conclusion, pretreatment of the camelina seeds before oil extraction is suggested to obtain a high oil extraction yield with a good quality oil

Glutathione-dependent Enzymes in the Follicular Fluid of the First-retrieved Oocyte and Their Impact on Oocyte and Embryos in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Oxidative stress and GSH-dependent antioxidant system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Objective: We compared glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in serum and follicular fluid (FF) of the first-retrieved follicle and their impact on quality of oocyte and embryo in PCOS women undergoing IVF. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 pairs of blood samples and FF of the first-retrieved follicle from PCOS women, at the Infertility center of Ghadir Mother and Child Hospital. The mean activity of GPx and GR, also GSH levels in the serum and FF were compared to the quality of the first follicle and resultant embryo. Results: Retrieved oocytes included 53 (66.25%) MII, 17 (21.25%) MI, and 10 (12.5%) germinal vesicles; after IVF 42 (52.50%) embryos with grade I and 11 (13.75%) with grade II were produced. The mean values for all three antioxidants were higher in the FF compared to serum (p < 0.001). Also all of the mean measured levels were significantly higher in the FF of the MII oocytes compared to that of oocytes with lower grades (p = 0.012, 0.006 and 0.012, respectively). The mean GPX activity and GSH levels were significantly higher in the serum (p = 0.016 and 0.012, respectively) and FF (p = 0.001 for both) of the high-quality grade I embryos. Conclusion: GSH-dependent antioxidant system functions more efficiently in the FF of oocytes and embryos with higher quality. Key words: In vitro fertilization, Glutathione, Antioxidant, Oocyte, Embryo.&nbsp

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundEstimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period.Methods22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution.FindingsGlobal all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations.InterpretationGlobal adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic