Effects of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection on Fertility; A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, Chlamydia trachomatis is known as a causative agent of infertility. Because of, asymptomatic nature of infection, many may suffer from its lasting complications such as infertility. This study was performed in Tehran during April 2007 to April 2008 to compare the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in fertile and infertile women using ELISA and PCR methods. METHODS: Overall, 234 infertile and 223 pregnant women, as the fertile group, participated in this hospital-based case-control study. After completing an informed consent form and the questionnaire, first catch urine and blood sample were obtained for PCR and ELISA (IgG, IgM) tests, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to control possible confounding factors, and determine adjusted odds ratio of infertility due to the infection. RESULTS: PCR results revealed that 29 (12.4%) of the infertile and 19 (8.5%) of the fertile women were positive for C. trachomatis infection (p = 0.440). IgG was positive in 21 (9.0%) of the infertile and 11 (5.0%) in the fertile group (p = 0.093). IgM assays identified that 2 (0.9%) of the infertile and 4 (1.8%) of the fertile women were positive for the micro-organism (p = 0.375). CONCLUSION: We found no significant differences among fertile and infertile women for Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Nevertheless, molecular techniques which are more sensitive, more specific and non-invasive can be used to detect C. trachomatis infection

Effect of Metformin on Miscarriage in Pregnant Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

ABSTRACT Background: This study was performed with the aim of evaluating the effect of metformin in reducing miscarriage when continued until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and infertility. Subjects and Method: From January 2004 to December 2005, a total of 75 pregnant women with PCOS were studied in three different groups. In Group A, metformin administration (500 mg TDS) was stopped immediately after diagnosis of pregnancy (5–6 weeks gestation), in Group B, metformin was administered until the end of 8 weeks gestation and in Group C until the end of 12 weeks gestation. The results of this study were then assessed using chi-square (McNemar’s, ANOVA Kruskal Wallis and logistic regression tests). Results: There was a significant statistical difference between previous and current miscarriage in the current pregnancy with a decline in Group B from 40% to 8% and in group C from 32% to 4%. In spite of the reduced rate of miscarriage seen in Group A, from 20% to 4%, this difference was not statistically significant. Fetal anomalies were absent in all three groups. Conclusion: According to the current findings, it seems that continuing metformin during the first trimester of pregnancy has beneficial effects in patients with PCOS

Association of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Gene polymorphisms and expression with the risk of endometriosis: a case�control study

Endometriosis is a polygenic and multifactorial gynecology situation which might be associated with angiogenesis. In the current study we assess the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) � 2578 A/C, and + 936 C/T polymorphisms in susceptibility to endometriosis and checking the expression of VEGF mRNA in eutopic tissue of endometrium with and without endometriosis. The study was comprised of 300 patients who underwent laparascopic or laparotomy surgery with 100 cases who had confirmed histological diagnosis of endometriosis, and 200 controls with no histological diagnosis of disease. The genotyping of VEGF polymorphisms was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR�RFLP) technique and the gene expression in tissue was determined using Real-Time PCR assay. There was no important difference of allele distribution of the � 2578 A/C (P = 0.7) and + 936 C/T (P = 0.5) polymorphisms among endometriosis cases and controls. Study of VEGF expression during the menstrual cycle, showed that endometrial tissue in cases group expressed more VEGF mRNA at the secretory phase compared to the proliferative phase (P = 0.03). Our results suggest that � 2578 A/C and + 936 C/T polymorphisms of VEGF did not seem to have impact on endometriosis predisposition in our study population. Also we did not find any link between VEGF mRNA expression and risk of endometriosis. © 2019, Springer Nature B.V

Evaluation of some diet habit and physical activity in adolescents in Tehran (2011)

Background: Unhealthy lifestyle ends to some important health problems in adolescence, and also causes chronic non-communicable disease, hence increasing mortality and morbidity in adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the components of lifestyle in adolescence. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 346 male and 197 female of adolescents aged 9 to 16 years were selected randomly from the 5th district of Tehran city in 2011. Data were gathered from the lifestyle questionnaires which were designed and consistent with the findings of studies. Questionnaire has the dimensions of nutrition and energy drink consumption, exercise and sleep patterns. The data were analyzed by the chi-square and t-test. Findings: 142 (72%) of girls and 260 (77%) of boys consumed daily dairy. Daily and weekly fast food intakes in girls were 8 (4.1%) and 52 (26.4%), while in the boys were 36 (10.4%) and 110(31.8%) respectively. Totally, more than 149 (75%) of girls and 295 (86%) of boys consumed soda. 17 (8.6%) of girls and 59 (17.1%) of teenage boys consumed energetic drink at least once a week. Adolescent girls and boys had a physical activity on average 3.2 and 4.2 days respectively in gymnasium in a week. Conclusion: According to the results, correction of nutritional behaviors is a mandatory task. In addition due to the trends of adolescence toward doing exercise in public places, the policy for the equipping of public place and gyms should be reconsidered in our society