Infertility and physical activity: A cross-sectional study of women living in Yazd aged 20-49 yr, 2014-2015

Background: Changes in the state of energy balance owing to changes in physical activity (PA) may affect the reproductive system. Objectives: the aim of this study was to assess the association between PA and infertility of women living in Yazd 2014 - 2015. Materials and Methods: The study method was analytical cross-sectional on the Yazd Health Study (YaHS) data which was conducted on 10,000 people. We studied 2,611 women (20 and 49 yrs old), living in Greater Yazd area. PA information was collected using a physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) short form. The standardized instruments were used for anthropometrics measurement. Results: Totally 135 cases of infertility were documented. The overall prevalence of infertility was 4.73% (95% CI: 3.94-5.59%). The median of PA scores (METs) in women was 746.66 and 25-75% interquartile range was 361.25-1277.25. The relationship according to the Chi-square test between infertility and PA, as categorized variables, was significant (p = 0.015). It showed over 90% of those who suffered from infertility had a low or moderate PA. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that there is a significant relationship between infertility and PA level in women living in Greater Yazd area. Also, women with infertility had lower activity levels, consistent with most previous studies. Key words: Women, Infertility, Physical activity, Yazd, Iran

Maternal thyroid function test level during the first trimester of pregnancy at a center Yazd, Iran: A cross-sectional study

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. There is a lack of reliable information on thyroid hormones in Iranian pregnant women, especially in Yazd. Objective: To determine the safe thyroid hormone levels in women of Yazd and also the first trimester-specific reference ranges for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the serum of 1,148 women in the first trimester of pregnancy was analyzed. Thyroid function tests (TSH, T4, T3) were measured through radioimmunoassay (RIA) [immunoradiometric (IRMA) for TSH]. The study was conducted in Yazd, from September 2018 to November 2019. Reference intervals were defined as the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.78 (± 5.86 yr) (range: 15-45 yr). The thyroid hormones reference intervals in the first trimester were TSH (0.2-3.8 mIU/l), T4 (7.45-12.75, μg/dl), and T3 (100-217 ng/dl). Conclusion: The results of the present study determined a local thyroid function measurement in the first trimester of pregnancy at a center of Yazd, Iran. This could facilitate the decision-making of maternal TSH level during the first trimester of pregnancy. Key words: First pregnancy trimester, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine

Evaluation of the metformin effects on Anti-Müllerian Hormone in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

This is a Letter to the Editor and does not have an abstract

The prevalence of infertility in 20-49 years women in Yazd, 2014-2015: A cross-sectional study

Background: Infertility is a serious health problem that affects the individual, her/his family, and the community. Infertility is defined as failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after at least 12 months of unprotected coitus. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of primary and secondary infertility and the associated factors in Yazd Greater Area during 2014-2015. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytic study using Yazd Health Study data which was conducted on 10,000 people. We studied 2611 women between 20-49 yr old who lived in Yazd Greater Area. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire. Anthropometrics were collected using standardized instruments. Results: Among women participating in the study, 135 cases of infertility were documented and the overall prevalence of infertility was 4.73% (95% CI: 3.94%-5.59%), among them 2.6% (95% CI: 2.4-3.8%) had primary and 2.1% (95% CI: 1.8-3.4%) had secondary infertility. In this study, infertility was significantly correlated with age (r=0.051, p=0.032), educational level (r=-0.41, p=0.001), body mass index (r=-0.012, p=0.018), waist circumference (r=0.027, p=0.022), history of abortion (r=0.099, p=0.026), and family history of infertility (r=0.121, p=0.001). Conclusion: The results of our study showed that the prevalence of infertility among women living in Yazd was lower compared to the other regions in Iran. Female factors were the main cause of infertility in central part of Iran

Maternal Thyroid Function Test Level During the First Trimester of Pregnancy at A CENTER Yazd, Iran: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. There is a lack of reliable information on thyroid hormones in Iranian pregnant women, especially in Yazd. Objective: To determine the safe thyroid hormone levels in women of Yazd and also the first trimester-specific reference ranges for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3). Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the serum of 1,148 women in the first trimester of pregnancy was analyzed. Thyroid function tests (TSH, T4, T3) were measured through radioimmunoassay (RIA) [immunoradiometric (IRMA) for TSH]. The study was conducted in Yazd, from September 2018 to November 2019. Reference intervals were defined as the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.78 (± 5.86 yr) (range: 15-45 yr). The thyroid hormones reference intervals in the first trimester were TSH (0.2-3.8 mIU/l), T4 (7.45-12.75, μg/dl), and T3 (100-217 ng/dl). Conclusion: The results of the present study determined a local thyroid function measurement in the first trimester of pregnancy at a center of Yazd, Iran. This could facilitate the decision-making of maternal TSH level during the first trimester of pregnancy. Key words: First pregnancy trimester, Thyrotropin, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine

Antiparasitic Effects of Heracleum persicum and Foeniculum vulgare (Fruit) Essential Oils on Experimental Toxoplasmosis (In Vitro and In Vivo)

Background and purpose: There are few treatment options available for treatment of toxoplasmosis and effective drugs have serious toxic effects. In this study, the in vivo and in vitro anti-toxoplasma activities of Heracleum persicum and Foeniculum vulgare fruits essential oils were investigated. Materials and methods: In vitro, Vero cells were incubated with different concentrations of essential oils or pyrimethamine (positive control) and the cellular viability was determined. Next, Vero cells were infected with T. gondii (RH strain) and treated with agents. Then, the CC50, IC50, and selectivity index (SI) were calculated. Moreover, in vivo, the effect of oils on survival times of Balb/c mice infected with T. gondii were determined. Results: In vitro results showed that the oils exhibited less cell toxicity than pyrimethamine. The selective index was 2.94, 6.96, and 3.06 for Heracleum persicum, Foeniculum vulgare, and pyrimethamine, respectively. Also, the infected mice treated with F. vulgare-pyrimethamine showed a better survival rate than others (P<0.05). Conclusion: The H. persicum and F. vulgare essential oils showed anti-toxoplasmic activity in vitro and in vivo, but, combination therapy with F. vulgare and pyrimethamine showed a better survival time in mice infected with T. gondii. Therefore, F. vulgare may be a useful candidate in treatment of Toxoplasmosis. However, further studies are needed to investigate the fractions of this plant against T. gondii