The effects of hormonal changes on sperm DNA integrity in oligoasthenoteratospermia individuals: A case-control study

Background: Hormonal imbalance is one of the important etiological factors for Oligoasthenoteratospermias (OAT). Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hormonal changes including prolactin, TSH, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and anti-Mullerian hormone on sperm DNA fragmentation in normal men compared with OAT to design a clinical algorithm for the comprehensive study of male factor infertilities. Materials and Methods: We consecutively selected 60 candidates referred to the infertility clinic to collect the semen and blood samples. Then, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling test was performed to evaluate the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). After semen analysis and DFI checking, they were classified into 4 groups consisting of normospermia and OAT men each with or without increased DFI. Hormone parameters were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels showed positive correlations with DFI in a significant way (p ≤ 0.01), while testosterone and thyroidstimulating hormone were associated with sperm concentration. Prolactin and anti- Mullerian hormone levels significantly correlated (p ≤ 0.01) with sperm concentration and DFI value simultaneously. Conclusion: Decreased and increased levels of serum hormones could adversely affect semen profile and sperm DNA integrity which lead to severe male infertility. Although we investigated the effects of the main hormones related to male infertility on DNA damage, the role of these hormones on the fertilization rate and embryo quality needs to be evaluated in further studies. Key words: DNA fragmentation, Oligospermia, Asthenospermia, Teratospermia, Hormones

Exposure rate of cardiovascular risk factors among clients of health-care clinics in Kashan, Autumn 2010

زمینه و هدف: بیماری های قلبی وعروقی، بیماری های غیر واگیر هستند که توسط عوامل متعدد ایجاد می شوند. یکی از مهمترین آنها، سبک زندگی ناسالم است. در ایران این بیماری از مشکلات دهه اخیر بوده و از سویی در مقایسه با 10 علت اول مرگ و میر در سال 1387، با 8./44 بیش ترین عامل مرگ و میر در شهر کاشان بوده است. لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی میزان مواجهه با عوامل خطر بیماری های قلبی عروقی در شهر کاشان می باشد. روش بررسی: این مطالعه توصیفی – تحلیلی بر روی 336 نفرمراجعه کنندگان به مراکز بهداشتی درمانی کاشان که به صورت خوشه ای انتخاب شده بودند انجام گرفت. اطلاعات بوسیله پرسشنامه سبک زندگی که از 5 قسمت اطلاعات دموگرافیک، سابقه بیماری، تغذیه، مصرف سیگار و فعالیت بدنی تشکیل شده بود جمع آوری و با کمک آزمون های آماری کای دو تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: میانگین شاخص توده بدنی (BMI) بین افراد 69/25 بود. شایع ترین ریسک فاکتورها در بین افراد به ترتیب عبارت بودند از: مصرف غذای سرخ کرده (9/97)، مصرف کم ماهی (8/90)، مصرف کم حبوبات (8/79)، مصرف کم تخم مرغ (3/75) مصرف زیاد گوشت قرمز (3/69)، مصرف زیاد شیرینی جات (9/67)، مصرف غذای چرب (7/66) و میزان کم فعالیت بدنی (4/66) می باشد. بین سبک زندگی با جنسیت (016/0=P) و تحصیلات (019/0=P) و فعالیت بدنی با شغل (013/0=P) رابطه ی معنی داری یافت شد. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج حاصل از این مطالعه سبک زندگی افراد در وضعیت مطلوبی قرار نداشته در نتیجه لزوم توجه و آموزش بیشتر در جهت کاهش مصرف غذای سرخ کرده، گوشت قرمز، غذای چرب و شیرینی جات و افزایش متعادل مصرف ماهی، حبوبات، تخم مرغ، میوه جات و سبزیجات، در رژیم غذایشان افزایش فعالیت بدنی و کاهش مصرف سیگار توصیه می شود.

The effects of Valerian on sleep spindles in a model of neuropathic pain

Introduction: Valeriana officinalis is known to be one of the most famous herbal supplements for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Despite its widespread use in most countries all around the world, there is little scientific information and research on how this medication affects sleep patterns, and there are almost no studies on its effects on the characteristics of sleep spindles. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Valerian extract (VAL) on sleep spindles and induced anxiety in chronic neuropathic pain model in rats. 24 male rats were divided into three groups: neuropathic group (n=9) in which the rats underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI), sham group (n=7) in which the sciatic nerves of the animals were exposed without any constriction and also fed with the vehicle, and the third group was under CCI condition and treated with Valerian (n=8). All the rats underwent electrode implant surgery so that we could record electroencephalogram and electromyography waves. In all the three groups, EEG and EMG recordings were recorded three times (150min each time). The initial recording was just prior to the CCI surgery and the rest were 3 and 6 days following CCI surgery. Moreover, cold allodynia and elevated plus maze tests were performed 3 and 6 days following the CCI surgery. Results: Valerian treatment could repair the allodynia induced by neuropathy. On the other hand, by Valerian treatment (400mg/kg) during neuropathy, the REM sleep, decreased and the non-REM sleep increased. Moreover, there was an increment in sleep spindle density and spindle frequency even in neuropathic condition. Discussion: This herbal supplement improves the quality of sleep in neuropathy conditions

An Investigation of the Risk Factors of Osteoporosis and the Correlation between Opium Consumption and Osteoporosis in Adults

Background: Osteoporosis and osteopenia are the most common metabolic bone diseases making the patients vulnerable to bone fragility and fracture. In this study, the association of opium consumption and osteoporosis adjusted for other risk factors was studied.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 619 cases including 73 men and 546 women referred to densitometry center in Kerman, Iran, were studied. Demographic information, history of opium consumption, medications, and other risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire.Findings: In a univariate analysis, opium consumption, aging, and having a body mass index (BMI) lower than 24 accompanied an increased chance of osteoporosis, while taking physical exercises on a daily basis reduces the chance of osteoporosis. Through multivariable analysis, the two variables of age group and BMI group turned out to be of significance; that is, the chance of osteoporosis or osteopenia in the age group of higher than 60 years and 45-60 years being placed in one of the levels of osteoporosis or osteopenia was 4.9 and 3.1 times higher than the age groups lower than 45 years, respectively, after being adjusted to the other variables.Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, though the risk of bone density reduction in the individuals consuming opium was higher, due to the disparity between opium consumption in the two sexes, the difference was not significant between the two groups, and it is proposed that studies on larger samples and in the both sexes be conducted to determine the impacts of opium on the bone density

Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: In an era of shifting global agendas and expanded emphasis on non-communicable diseases and injuries along with communicable diseases, sound evidence on trends by cause at the national level is essential. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides a systematic scientific assessment of published, publicly available, and contributed data on incidence, prevalence, and mortality for a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive list of diseases and injuries. Methods: GBD estimates incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to 369 diseases and injuries, for two sexes, and for 204 countries and territories. Input data were extracted from censuses, household surveys, civil registration and vital statistics, disease registries, health service use, air pollution monitors, satellite imaging, disease notifications, and other sources. Cause-specific death rates and cause fractions were calculated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model and spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression. Cause-specific deaths were adjusted to match the total all-cause deaths calculated as part of the GBD population, fertility, and mortality estimates. Deaths were multiplied by standard life expectancy at each age to calculate YLLs. A Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, was used to ensure consistency between incidence, prevalence, remission, excess mortality, and cause-specific mortality for most causes. Prevalence estimates were multiplied by disability weights for mutually exclusive sequelae of diseases and injuries to calculate YLDs. We considered results in the context of the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and fertility rate in females younger than 25 years. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered 1000 draw values of the posterior distribution. Findings: Global health has steadily improved over the past 30 years as measured by age-standardised DALY rates. After taking into account population growth and ageing, the absolute number of DALYs has remained stable. Since 2010, the pace of decline in global age-standardised DALY rates has accelerated in age groups younger than 50 years compared with the 1990–2010 time period, with the greatest annualised rate of decline occurring in the 0–9-year age group. Six infectious diseases were among the top ten causes of DALYs in children younger than 10 years in 2019: lower respiratory infections (ranked second), diarrhoeal diseases (third), malaria (fifth), meningitis (sixth), whooping cough (ninth), and sexually transmitted infections (which, in this age group, is fully accounted for by congenital syphilis; ranked tenth). In adolescents aged 10–24 years, three injury causes were among the top causes of DALYs: road injuries (ranked first), self-harm (third), and interpersonal violence (fifth). Five of the causes that were in the top ten for ages 10–24 years were also in the top ten in the 25–49-year age group: road injuries (ranked first), HIV/AIDS (second), low back pain (fourth), headache disorders (fifth), and depressive disorders (sixth). In 2019, ischaemic heart disease and stroke were the top-ranked causes of DALYs in both the 50–74-year and 75-years-and-older age groups. Since 1990, there has been a marked shift towards a greater proportion of burden due to YLDs from non-communicable diseases and injuries. In 2019, there were 11 countries where non-communicable disease and injury YLDs constituted more than half of all disease burden. Decreases in age-standardised DALY rates have accelerated over the past decade in countries at the lower end of the SDI range, while improvements have started to stagnate or even reverse in countries with higher SDI. Interpretation: As disability becomes an increasingly large component of disease burden and a larger component of health expenditure, greater research and developm nt investment is needed to identify new, more effective intervention strategies. With a rapidly ageing global population, the demands on health services to deal with disabling outcomes, which increase with age, will require policy makers to anticipate these changes. The mix of universal and more geographically specific influences on health reinforces the need for regular reporting on population health in detail and by underlying cause to help decision makers to identify success stories of disease control to emulate, as well as opportunities to improve. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Self-compassion and cognitive flexibility in people with body dysmorphic disorder syndrome

Introduction: Negative body image and its adverse behavioral consequences are important public health concerns, and studying effective psychological factors in its formation is very important. Aim: The present research aimed to compare Self-compassion and Cognitive flexibility in people with and without body dysmorphic disorder syndrome. Method: The present study had a descriptive and causal-comparative design. The research population consisted of all women and men aged 18 to 40 of Tehran in 2022, from which a sample of 62 people was selected by available and purposeful sampling method (31 people as a sample group with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder and 31 people as a sample group without symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder). Participants answered the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder: BDD-YBOCS (1997), Self-compassion Scale-Short Form (2011), and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (2010). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance, by SPSS-25 software. Results: The results showed that the mean scores of self-compassion (F=31.16, P=0.001, Eta=0.34) and cognitive flexibility (F=31.24, P=0.001, Eta=0.18) were significantly lower in the group with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder than the group without symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: The present study highlighted the importance of psychological mechanisms in the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. These findings indicated that psychotherapists should pay essential attention to the special psychological attributes of people with symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder at the time of prevention and treatment

Predictors of sexual assertiveness in a sample of Iranian married women of reproductive age

Sexual assertiveness and explicit conversations about sex between couples are influenced by variety of individual, cultural, and social factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of sexual assertiveness in a sample of Iranian married women of reproductive age. In this cross-sectional study, 276 married women of reproductive age participated from October 2018 to March 2019. Sampling was done in two stages. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, Hulbert sexual assertiveness scale, and Spanier dyadic adjustment scale. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models via ENTER method through SPSS (version 25) software were performed. The mean age of participants was 31.44years old with the mean marriage duration of 119.59months. The mean score of participants’ sexual assertiveness was 57.31. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that marital adjustment (B¼0.46, SE¼0.06, b¼0.5, 95% CI ¼ 0.35, 0.57) was the only significant predictors of sexual assertiveness explaining 30% of the variance, in married women of reproductive age. Due to important predictive role of marital adjustment, more attention should be given to couples adjustment to improve sexual assertiveness. In addition, this model explained only 30% of the variance in the concept of sexual assertiveness, so it is necessary to identify other factors affecting women’s sexual assertiveness

Predictors of sexual assertiveness in a sample of Iranian married women of reproductive age

Sexual assertiveness and explicit conversations about sex between couples are influenced by variety of individual, cultural, and social factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of sexual assertiveness in a sample of Iranian married women of reproductive age. In this cross-sectional study, 276 married women of reproductive age participated from October 2018 to March 2019. Sampling was done in two stages. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, Hulbert sexual assertiveness scale, and Spanier dyadic adjustment scale. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models via ENTER method through SPSS (version 25) software were performed. The mean age of participants was 31.44years old with the mean marriage duration of 119.59months. The mean score of participants’ sexual assertiveness was 57.31. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that marital adjustment (B¼0.46, SE¼0.06, b¼0.5, 95% CI ¼ 0.35, 0.57) was the only significant predictors of sexual assertiveness explaining 30% of the variance, in married women of reproductive age. Due to important predictive role of marital adjustment, more attention should be given to couples adjustment to improve sexual assertiveness. In addition, this model explained only 30% of the variance in the concept of sexual assertiveness, so it is necessary to identify other factors affecting women’s sexual assertiveness