Novel additive for sperm cryopreservation media: Holotheria parva coelomic cavity extract protects human spermatozoa against oxidative stress—A pilot study

Cryopreservation is the most effective method for preserving semen for a long period of time. However, during the freeze–thaw process, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to a steep reduction in sperm fertility indices. In this study, we tested the effects of the extract of the coelomic cavity of five Holotheria parva, a marine organism rich in antioxidants, for its ROS-scavenging activity and cryoprotective effects on oxidative stress. Using a total of 50 semen samples, our results demonstrated that doses of 250 and 500 µg/ml of H. parva coelomic cavity extract significantly increased sperm vitality as compared to the control (p <.05). The addition of 250 µg/ml of the extract exerted a significant positive effect on sperm motility. Moreover, sperm DNA damage and ROS production were significantly reduced at extract concentrations of 250 and 500 µg/ml (p <.05). To the best of our knowledge, the results of this study represent the first demonstration of the possibility of improving sperm parameters and reducing ROS production and DNA damage by supplementing sperm freezing media with H. parva coelomic extract. Our results suggested that H. parva coelomic extract could be useful for improving the fertilising ability of frozen-thawed human semen

Path analysis of the relationship between optimism, humor, affectivity, and marital satisfaction among infertile couples

Marital satisfaction is an important factor for establishing a family relationship, feeling satisfied, and living happily together. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between optimism, humor, positive and negative affect, and marital satisfaction among infertile couples. The sample comprised 80 infertile Iranian couples (n = 160) who visited infertility clinics. Participants completed a series of Persian versions of psychometric scales related to optimism (Attributional Style Questionnaire), humor (Humor Styles Questionnaire), marital satisfaction (Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire), positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). The obtained result of Smart PLS statistical analysis confirmed the significant positive correlation between optimism and humor with marital satisfaction and high PA and low NA. Moreover, the findings also provided an adequate fit of the model. The findings demonstrated that infertile couples high in optimism and humor have higher levels of marital satisfaction and high PA and low PA. Based on the study’s findings, interventions for facilitating optimism and humor among infertile couples are discussed

P‌R‌O‌B‌A‌B‌I‌L‌I‌S‌T‌I‌C C‌O‌N‌F‌I‌D‌E‌N‌C‌E L‌E‌V‌E‌L E‌V‌A‌L‌U‌A‌T‌I‌O‌N O‌F V‌E‌R‌T‌I‌C‌A‌L‌L‌Y I‌R‌R‌E‌G‌U‌L‌A‌R S‌T‌E‌E‌L B‌U‌I‌L‌D‌I‌N‌G‌S C‌O‌N‌S‌I‌D‌E‌R‌I‌N‌G S‌O‌I‌L-S‌T‌R‌U‌C‌T‌U‌R‌E I‌N‌T‌E‌R‌A‌C‌T‌I‌O‌N

I‌n t‌h‌i‌s p‌a‌p‌e‌r, t‌h‌e s‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c p‌e‌r‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌n‌c‌e o‌f v‌e‌r‌t‌i‌c‌a‌l‌l‌y i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌e‌e‌l b‌u‌i‌l‌d‌i‌n‌g‌s i‌s e‌v‌a‌l‌u‌a‌t‌e‌d. A t‌e‌n-s‌t‌o‌r‌y s‌t‌e‌e‌l b‌u‌i‌l‌d‌i‌n‌g w‌i‌t‌h s‌p‌e‌c‌i‌a‌l m‌o‌m‌e‌n‌t r‌e‌s‌i‌s‌t‌i‌n‌g f‌r‌a‌m‌e‌s i‌s c‌o‌n‌s‌i‌d‌e‌r‌e‌d a‌s t‌h‌e s‌u‌p‌e‌r‌s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e. T‌h‌e s‌u‌f‌f‌i‌c‌i‌e‌n‌c‌y o‌f s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌a‌l e‌l‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t‌s w‌a‌s e‌v‌a‌l‌u‌a‌t‌e‌d b‌y t‌h‌e e‌a‌r‌l‌i‌e‌r I‌r‌a‌n‌i‌a‌n S‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c C‌o‌d‌e‌s. T‌h‌e t‌h‌r‌e‌e-d‌i‌m‌e‌n‌s‌i‌o‌n‌a‌l f‌i‌n‌i‌t‌e e‌l‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t m‌o‌d‌e‌l o‌f s‌o‌i‌l w‌i‌t‌h n‌o‌n‌l‌i‌n‌e‌a‌r m‌a‌t‌e‌r‌i‌a‌l b‌e‌h‌a‌v‌i‌o‌r w‌a‌s a‌t‌t‌e‌n‌d‌e‌d b‌e‌l‌o‌w t‌h‌e s‌u‌p‌e‌r‌s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e t‌o i‌n‌c‌o‌r‌p‌o‌r‌a‌t‌e t‌h‌e f‌o‌u‌n‌d‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n f‌l‌e‌x‌i‌b‌i‌l‌i‌t‌y e‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t‌s i‌n‌t‌o t‌h‌e a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌t‌i‌c‌a‌l m‌o‌d‌e‌l‌s. T‌h‌e i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r‌i‌t‌i‌e‌s o‌f m‌a‌s‌s, s‌t‌i‌f‌f‌n‌e‌s‌s, s‌t‌r‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h, a‌n‌d c‌o‌n‌c‌u‌r‌r‌e‌n‌t‌l‌y s‌t‌i‌f‌f‌n‌e‌s‌s a‌n‌d s‌t‌r‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h w‌e‌r‌e a‌s‌s‌i‌g‌n‌e‌d t‌o d‌i‌f‌f‌e‌r‌e‌n‌t s‌t‌o‌r‌i‌e‌s. I‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r‌i‌t‌y p‌o‌s‌i‌t‌i‌o‌n w‌a‌s l‌i‌m‌i‌t‌e‌d t‌o t‌h‌e 1s‌t, t‌h‌e 5t‌h, a‌n‌d t‌h‌r‌o‌u‌g‌h t‌h‌e b‌o‌t‌t‌o‌m h‌a‌l‌f f‌l‌o‌o‌r‌s (s‌t‌o‌r‌i‌e‌s 1 t‌o 5). T‌h‌r‌o‌u‌g‌h a s‌e‌r‌i‌e‌s o‌f n‌o‌n‌l‌i‌n‌e‌a‌r i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t‌a‌l d‌y‌n‌a‌m‌i‌c a‌n‌a‌l‌y‌s‌e‌s, t‌h‌e f‌l‌e‌x‌i‌b‌l‌e-b‌a‌s‌e s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌a‌l p‌e‌r‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌n‌c‌e l‌e‌v‌e‌l‌s w‌e‌r‌e e‌v‌a‌l‌u‌a‌t‌e‌d i‌n t‌h‌e f‌r‌a‌m‌e‌w‌o‌r‌k o‌f p‌r‌o‌b‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌s‌t‌i‌c p‌e‌r‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌n‌c‌e-b‌a‌s‌e‌d e‌a‌r‌t‌h‌q‌u‌a‌k‌e e‌n‌g‌i‌n‌e‌e‌r‌i‌n‌g. T‌h‌e c‌o‌n‌f‌i‌d‌e‌n‌c‌e l‌e‌v‌e‌l c‌u‌r‌v‌e‌s o‌f b‌o‌t‌h r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r a‌n‌d i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌s w‌e‌r‌e d‌e‌v‌e‌l‌o‌p‌e‌d a‌t t‌w‌o p‌e‌r‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌n‌c‌e o‌b‌j‌e‌c‌t‌i‌v‌e‌s: c‌o‌l‌l‌a‌p‌s‌e p‌r‌e‌v‌e‌n‌t‌i‌o‌n a‌n‌d g‌l‌o‌b‌a‌l i‌n‌s‌t‌a‌b‌i‌l‌i‌t‌y.I‌t i‌s o‌b‌s‌e‌r‌v‌e‌d t‌h‌a‌t t‌h‌e m‌e‌n‌t‌i‌o‌n‌e‌d n‌o‌n-g‌e‌o‌m‌e‌t‌r‌i‌c‌a‌l i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r‌i‌t‌i‌e‌s r‌e‌d‌u‌c‌e t‌h‌e c‌o‌n‌f‌i‌d‌e‌n‌c‌e l‌e‌v‌e‌l‌s o‌f i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e a‌s t‌h‌e i‌n‌t‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y o‌f t‌h‌e g‌r‌o‌u‌n‌d m‌o‌t‌i‌o‌n a‌n‌d r‌e‌l‌a‌t‌e‌d d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t d‌e‌m‌a‌n‌d‌s i‌n‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e. I‌n c‌o‌m‌p‌a‌r‌i‌s‌o‌n t‌o t‌h‌e r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e, d‌e‌p‌e‌n‌d‌i‌n‌g o‌n t‌h‌e p‌o‌s‌i‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌o‌r‌i‌e‌s t‌h‌r‌o‌u‌g‌h t‌h‌e s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e h‌e‌i‌g‌h‌t, t‌h‌e s‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c i‌n‌t‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y a‌n‌d c‌o‌r‌r‌e‌s‌p‌o‌n‌d‌i‌n‌g d‌e‌m‌a‌n‌d‌s t‌o a s‌p‌e‌c‌i‌f‌i‌c c‌o‌n‌f‌i‌d‌e‌n‌c‌e l‌e‌v‌e‌l, c‌h‌a‌n‌g‌e. A‌s t‌h‌e s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌s p‌a‌s‌s t‌h‌r‌o‌u‌g‌h t‌h‌e c‌o‌l‌l‌a‌p‌s‌e p‌r‌e‌v‌e‌n‌t‌i‌o‌n p‌e‌r‌f‌o‌r‌m‌a‌n‌c‌e l‌e‌v‌e‌l 40\% t‌o 60\% v‌a‌r‌i‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n i‌s o‌b‌s‌e‌r‌v‌e‌d i‌n t‌h‌e s‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c c‌a‌p‌a‌c‌i‌t‌y o‌f n‌o u‌n‌i‌f‌o‌r‌m d‌i‌s‌t‌r‌i‌b‌u‌t‌i‌o‌n o‌f s‌t‌r‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h a‌l‌o‌n‌g t‌h‌e s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e h‌e‌i‌g‌h‌t. M‌e‌a‌n‌w‌h‌i‌l‌e, m‌a‌s‌s i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r‌i‌t‌y o‌f t‌h‌e b‌o‌t‌t‌o‌m f‌l‌o‌o‌r h‌a‌s l‌o‌w v‌a‌r‌i‌a‌t‌i‌o‌n‌s i‌n b‌o‌t‌h d‌e‌m‌a‌n‌d‌s a‌n‌d s‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c i‌n‌t‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌y c‌o‌m‌p‌a‌r‌e‌d t‌o t‌h‌e r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r m‌o‌d‌e‌l. G‌e‌n‌e‌r‌a‌l‌l‌y, a‌t r‌i‌g‌o‌r‌o‌u‌s n‌o‌n‌l‌i‌n‌e‌a‌r p‌h‌a‌s‌e o‌f s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌a‌l b‌e‌h‌a‌v‌i‌o‌r, t‌h‌e i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r‌i‌t‌y e‌f‌f‌e‌c‌t‌s a‌r‌e h‌i‌g‌h‌l‌i‌g‌h‌t‌e‌d. A‌m‌o‌n‌g a‌l‌l t‌h‌e i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e‌s, a‌n a‌p‌p‌r‌o‌p‌r‌i‌a‌t‌e c‌o‌n‌f‌i‌d‌e‌n‌c‌e l‌e‌v‌e‌l o‌f s‌t‌r‌e‌n‌g‌t‌h i‌r‌r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r‌i‌t‌y m‌o‌d‌e‌l‌s i‌s o‌b‌t‌a‌i‌n‌e‌d a‌t l‌o‌w s‌e‌i‌s‌m‌i‌c i‌n‌t‌e‌n‌s‌i‌t‌i‌e‌s. T‌h‌e d‌i‌s‌p‌l‌a‌c‌e‌m‌e‌n‌t d‌e‌m‌a‌n‌d‌s a‌r‌e a‌l‌s‌o d‌e‌c‌r‌e‌a‌s‌e‌d s‌o t‌h‌a‌t i‌n c‌o‌m‌p‌a‌r‌i‌s‌o‌n t‌o t‌h‌e r‌e‌g‌u‌l‌a‌r s‌t‌r‌u‌c‌t‌u‌r‌e, 85\% d‌i‌f‌f‌e‌r‌e‌n‌c‌e‌s a‌r‌e o‌b‌s‌e‌r‌v‌e‌d

Enzyme immobilization: an update

Compared to free enzymes in solution, immobilized enzymes are more robust and more resistant to environmental changes. More importantly, the heterogeneity of the immo-bilized enzyme systems allows an easy recovery of both enzymes and products, multiple re-use of enzymes, continuous operation of enzymatic processes, rapid termination of reactions, and greater variety of bioreactor designs. This paper is a review of the recent literatures on enzyme immobilization by various techniques, the need for immobilization and different applications in industry, covering the last two decades. The most recent papers, patents, and reviews on immobilization strategies and application are reviewed

Children's active school travel : the effect of a school-based intervention and an investigation of psychological predictors

Background: Studies are needed that rigorously evaluate active travel interventions using objective physical activity outcome measures. Additionally, little is known about the psychological predictors of children's school travel behaviour. Increased understanding in these two areas will aid in the promotion of active school travel. Purpose: This thesis reports the rationale, methods, and results for an evaluation of the Travelling Green intervention and identifies important psychological predictors of children's school travel behaviour. Method: Participants were 166 children (age 8-9 years, 60% male) from five Scottish primary schools and 143 parents (mean age 40, 13% male). Children's school travel behaviour was measured across 5 days pre- and post-intervention using accelerometers. Children and parents completed a travel questionnaire that gathered data on various aspects of and attitudes towards walking to school. The questionnaire also generated data on psychological factors (self-efficacy and outcome expectations) related to school travel. A quasi-experimental design with an intervention (n = 79) and comparison (n= 87) group was used to investigate the effects of Travelling Green on commuting behaviour. Baseline cross-sectional data were used to identify the psychological predictors of walking to school. Results: Commuting-related physical activity decreased from pre- to post-intervention in the intervention and comparison groups. Daily physical activity decreased less in the intervention group compared to the comparison group. Parental self-efficacy for their child's ability to carry out commuting-related tasks was the only psychological predictor of commuting behaviour. Parents were the primary decision makers regarding their child's travel mode. Conclusion: Travelling Green does not resuti in an increase in school travel-related physical activity, but may attenuate a seasonally related decrease in daily physical activity levels in 8-9 year old children. School travel interventions should be focused on parents of younger children as they are the gatekeepers of their child's behaviour at this age. Alternatively,interventions should be developed for older children who have the autonomy to change their travel behaviours.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Comparison of newborn outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus treated with metformin or insulin: A randomised blinded trial

Background: Few studies have been done on the use of metformin in pregnancy and their results were not similar, therefore this research is performed to compare neonatal outcomes of metformin and insulin in the treatment of gestational diabetes. Methods: In this prospective randomized trial, 200 pregnant women within their 24th to 34th weeks of gestation with gestational diabetes, single fetus pregnancy, and in need of hyperglycemia treatment were entered and grouped as either metformin or insulin. Data related to maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Results: Considering data recorded of HbA 1c at the beginning of pregnancy, pregnancy induced hypertension, preeclampsia, birth weight, dystocia, first and 5 th min APGAR, neonatal sepsis, rout of delivery, liver function tests of neonate, hypoglycemia, anomaly, and still birth, there were no significant statistical differences between groups. The end pregnancy HbA 1c, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, preterm labor, neonatal jaundice, respiratory distress and hospitalization of infants were higher in insulin group. Conclusions: Considering data from this study, metformin is efficient to control hyperglycemia in pregnancy. It is suggested performing more studies to evaluate long term side effects of metformin in pregnancy with higher sample size and longer follow-up of newborns

Correlation of HER2/neu Over Expression, p53 Protein Accumulation and Steroid Receptor Status with Tumor Characteristics: An Iranian Study of Breast Cancer Patients

&quot;nBackground: Molecular biomarkers are valuable in evaluation the course of malignancies. In this study, the relationship be&amp;shy;tween HER2/neu, p53, steroid receptors and clinicopathological features of patients with breast cancer has been assessed.&quot;nMethods: Three hundred thirty nine women with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer from 2001 to 2006 were included. They were evaluated for tumor features. The content of the steroid hormone receptors and expression of HER2/neu and p53 was also examined by immunohistochemistry assay.&quot;nResults: From patients arrived at this study, 52%, 36%, 46.5% and 44% were positive for HER2/neu, p53, ER and PR respec&amp;shy;tively. No association was found between most of pairs. HER2/neu expression significantly related with grade (P= 0.016). P53 had considerable reverse relation with axillary lymph node involvement and primary distant metastasis (P= 0.010 and P= 0.023, respectively). A significant association was found between PR and lymph node involvement (P= 0.038).&quot;nConclusion:&amp;nbsp; This study present the pattern of prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer for the first time in northeast of Iran and suggests to conduct larger studies regarding other effective variables include demographic ones

Pre-menopausal vulvar melanoma (Case Report)

Vulvar melanoma is a very rare tumor with the rate of 0.1-0.19/100000. It mostly occurs during post menopausal period. In this case report, our patient was a 43 years old woman, her symptom was a small pruritic lesion noticed two months earlier when she was referred to the clinic. This lesion was a 5mm diameter dark brown and flat on her left labialis minor. Malignant melanoma with 3-5mm thickness was diagnosted following biopsy. Wide local excision with more than 2cm free margin and inguino femoral lymphadenectomy at the site of the lesion was done. The recurrence of tumor was not abserved during four months follow-up