Comparison of sexual dysfunction in women with infertility and without infertility referred to Al-Zahra hospital in 2013-2014

Background: One of the affected aspects in infertile women that have not been given sufficient attention is sexual function. Sexual function is a key factor in physical and marital health, and sexual dysfunction could significantly lower the quality of life. Aim of this study was to assess the comparison sexual dysfunction in women with infertility and without infertility, admitted to Al- Zahra Hospital

Objective:We decided to assess the prevalence of women sexual disorders in fertile and infertile subjects, admitted to Al-Zahra Hospital

Materials and Methods:149 fertile and 147 infertile women who referred to infertility clinic of Al-Zahra Hospital during 2013-2014 were entered this crosssectional study and Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire [FSFI] had been filled by all the cases. Most of women were married for 6-10 years [35.5%] and mean marriage time in participants was 9.55 +/- 6.07 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS software Ver. 18 and Chi[2] P test and logistic regression model has been used for analysis

Results: Results showed significant differences between desire [p=0.004], arousal [p=0.001], satisfaction [p=0.022] and total sexual dysfunction [p=0.011] in both groups but in lubrication [p=0.266], orgasm [p=0.61] and pain [p=0.793] difference were not significant

Conclusion:Some of sexual dysfunction indices are high in all infertile women. Our findings suggest that infertility impacts on women's sexual function in desire, arousal, satisfaction and total sexual dysfunction. Health care professional should be sensitive to impact that diagnosis of infertility can have on women's sexuality

Comparison between unilateral and bilateral ovarian drilling in clomiphene citrate resistance polycystic ovary syndrome patients: a randomized clinical trial of efficacy

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling [LOD] is an alternative method to induce ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] patients with clomiphene citrate [CC] resistant instead of gonadotropins. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of unilateral LOD [ULOD] versus bilateral LOD [BLOD] in CC resistance PCOS patients in terms of ovulation and pregnancy rates. In a prospective randomized clinical trial study, we included 100 PCOS patients with CC resistance attending to Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht, Guilan Province, Iran, from June 2011 to July 2012. Patients were randomly divided into two ULOD and BLOD groups with equal numbers. The clinical and biochemical responses on ovulation and pregnancy rates were assessed over a 6-month follow-up period. Differences in baseline characteristics of patients between two groups prior to laparoscopy were not significant [p>0.05]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical and biochemical responses, spontaneous menstruation [66.1 vs. 71.1%], spontaneous ovulation rate [60 vs. 64.4%], and pregnancy rate [33.1 vs. 40%] [p>0.05]. Following drilling, there was a significant decrease in mean serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone [LH] [p=0.001] and testosterone [p=0.001] in both the groups. Mean decrease in serum LH [p=0.322] and testosterone concentrations [p=0.079] were not statistically significant between two groups. Mean serum level of follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] did not change significantly in two groups after LOD [p>0.05]. Based on results of this study, ULOD seems to be equally efficacious as BLOD in terms of ovulation and pregnancy rates

Predictive value of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels in vaginal fluid for the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes

Preterm premature rupture of membranes [PPROM] occurs in 3% of pregnancies and 30-40% of preterm labors are related to this problem. Early diagnosis of PPROM is very important due to its impact on pregnancy outcomes. To determine the diagnostic value of aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT] levels in vaginal fluid for the diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes as a non-invasive and available test. A total of 148 pregnant women between the 26th-36th gestational weeks were enrolled in the study. 74 patients were in PROM group and 74 in control group. AST and ALT levels in vaginal fluid were measured in each group. Mann Whitney U-test was used to compare AST and ALT levels in each group. The mean of AST level in vaginal fluid was 12.77 +/- 10.06 in PROM group vs. 6.91 +/- 10.92 in control group [p<0.001], while there were no significant difference between ALT levels in PROM group 1.51 +/- 3.17 and control group 0.89 +/- 1.15 [p=0.49]. Optimal cut point of AST for the diagnosis of PROM was 4.5 IU/L in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 82.4%, 63.5%, 69.32% and 78.33% respectively. According to the findings of this study, measurement of AST level in vaginal fluid can be used as a reliable test for diagnosis of PROM, but there is no good cut point for ALT level that can be practically used

Quality of publication ethics in the instructions to the authors of Iranian journals of medical sciences

Providing a perfect instruction to authors can prevent most potential publication ethics errors. This study was conducted to determine the quality of ethical considerations in the instructions to the authors of Iranian research scientific journals of medical sciences [accredited by the Commission for Accreditation and Improvement of Iranian Medical Journals] in October 2011. Checklist items [n=15] were extracted from the national manual of ethics in medical research publications, and the validity of the manual of ethics was assessed. All the accredited Iranian journals of medical sciences [n=198] were entered into the study. The instructions to the authors of 160 accredited Iranian journals were available online and were reviewed. The ANOVA and Kendall Correlation coefficient were performed to analyze the results. A total of 76 [47.5%] of the 160 journals were in English and 84 [52.5%] were in Farsi. The most frequently mentioned items related to publication ethics comprised "commitment not to send manuscripts to other journals and re-publish manuscripts" [85%, 83.8%], "aim and scope" of the journal [81.9%], "principles of medical ethics in the use of human samples" [74.4%], and "review process" [74.4%]. On the other hand, the items of "principles of advertising" [1.2%], "authorship criteria" [15%], and "integrity in publication of clinical trial results" [30.6%] were the least frequently mentioned ones. Based on the study findings, the quality of publication ethics, as instructed to the authors, can improve the quality of the journals

Perinatal outcomes of pregnancies with borderline versus normal amniotic fluid index

Amniotic fluid is an indicator of placental function on the fetal development. The amniotic fluid index is the most commonly used method of measuring amniotic fluid. The purpose of this study was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of a borderline versus normal AFI. This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 235 pregnant women referred to Alzahra Medical Center between 2009-2011. Women with a singleton pregnancy in third trimester were enrolled into this study; of these subjects, 141 cases were in normal AFI group and 94 cases in borderline AFI group. Adequate information was obtained from the patients' medical record and the groups were compared on maternal and fetal complications. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS. The mean maternal age in borderline AFI group was 25.96 +/- 5.92 years and in normal AFI group was 27.88 +/- 6.5 years [p=0.023]. Maternal outcomes such as preterm delivery and labor induction in women with borderline AFI were considerably higher than those in normal group [p=0.01 and p=0.001]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of high blood pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes and neonatal respiratory distress. The borderline AFI group had higher rate of neonatal complications such as Apgar score of less than 7 [p=0.004], IUGR [0.0001], LBW [0.001], and crucial need to NICU [0.003]. Findings indicated that there are statistical differences between adverse outcomes in borderline AFI group and normal group

Comparison of high-resolution and standard zoom imaging modes in cone beam computed tomography for detection of longitudinal root fracture: An in vitro study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of two imaging modes in a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) system in detecting root fracture in endodontically-treated teeth with fiber posts or screw posts by selecting two fields of view. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 78 endodontically-treated single canal premolars were included. A post space was created in all of them. Then the teeth were randomly set in one of 6 artificial dental arches. In 39 of the 78 teeth set in the 6 dental arches, a root fracture was intentionally created. Next, a fiber post and a screw post were cemented into 26 teeth having equal the root fractures. High resolution (HiRes) and standard zoom images were provided by a CBCT device. Upon considering the reconstructed images, two observers in agreement with each other confirmed the presence or absence of root fracture. A McNemar test was used for comparing the results of the two modes. RESULTS: The frequency of making a correct diagnosis using the HiRes zoom imaging mode was 71.8% and in standard zoom was 59%. The overall sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing root fracture in the HiRes mode were 71.79% and 46.15% and in the standard zoom modes were 58.97% and 33.33%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences between the diagnostic values of the two imaging modes used in the diagnosis of root fracture or in the presence of root canal restorations. In both modes, the most true-positive results were reported in the post space group.

Diagnostic value of two modes of cone-beam computed tomography in evaluation of simulated external root resorption: an in vitro study

PURPOSE: Field of view and voxel resolution of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) might affect the diagnostic capability. This study was performed to compare between the standard and HiRes zoom modes in the diagnosis of external root resorption (ERR) using CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty three small cavities (0.25 mm depth and 0.5 mm diameter) were simulated on the buccal, lingual, and proximal surfaces at three different levels of 16 roots of teeth. After covering the root with nail varnish, the roots were inserted in the sockets and the model was placed in a water-containing lacuna. CBCT scans were taken in both standard and HiRes zoom modes using NewTom VG (QR srl Company, Verona, Italy). Then, an observer assessed the images to determine the presence or absence of the cavities. This process was repeated by increasing the size and depth of cavities to 0.5 mm depth and 1 mm diameter. Data were analyzed by McNemar test. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio in evaluation of the simulated cavities were calculated. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the two imaging modes in diagnosing the shallow cavities (p=0.02).The sensitivity of the standard zoom in detecting the shallow cavities was lower than that of the HiRes zoom. The likelihood ratio of the HiRes zoom was higher in the diagnosis of both cavity types. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that a smaller voxel size in the HiRes zoom mode of CBCT is preferred for diagnosis of ERR.