ABSTRACT
Objective: globozoospermia is a rare type of teratozoospermia with incidence of 0.1% among infertile individuals. Phospholipase C zeta [PLC[zeta]] and postacrosomal sheath WW domain binding protein [PAWP] are the main candidates in sperm taking responsibility for oocyte activation during fertilization. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the expression of these two genes at RNA and protein levels in globozoospermic individuals and compare the results with fertile individuals
Materials and Methods: in this experimental study, semen samples of 21 infertile men with globozoospermia and 25 fertile men were collected. Expression of PLC[zeta] and PAWP at RNA and protein levels were assessed and compared between two groups by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction [qPCR] and Western blot, respectively
Results: expression of both PLC[zeta] and PAWP were significantly reduced at RNA and protein levels in infertile men with globozoospermia compared to fertile men
Conclusion: this is the first study that simultaneously assessing the respective factors in a large population of globozoospermia, suggested that intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] along with artificial oocyte activation may rescue failed fertilization in routine ICSI
ABSTRACT
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is implicated in a wide range of pathological situations including cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25[OH]D] and risk factors of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 169 adults [88 males, 81 females] aged 19-52 years living in Shiraz, Iran. Anthropometric characteristics and blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Blood samples were collected in fasting state for determination of blood glucose, lipids, and 25[OH]D. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and linear regression using SPSS software
Results: Serum 25[OH]D concentrations were considerably higher in males. One third of females had vitamin D deficiency [25[OH]D <10 ng/ml] while one third of males exhibited 25[OH]D levels >50 ng/ml. In males, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome score increased and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol decreased across tertiles of serum 25[OH]D. On the contrary, in females body mass index [BMI] and metabolic syndrome score decreased and HDL cholesterol increased across tertiles of 25[OH]D. Linear regression, after controlling for confounding factors, showed that diastolic blood pressure [B=0.07; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11; P=0.006], triglycerides [B=0.54; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.85; P=0.001], and metabolic syndrome score [B=0.01; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.01; P=0.02] positively and HDL cholesterol [B=-0.05; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.01; P=0.02] inversely associated with tertiles of 25[OH] D concentrations in males. In contrast, BMI [B=-0.06; 95% CI: -0.11, -0.02; P=0.01], waist circumference [B= -0.12; 95% CI:- 0.23, -0.01; p=0.04], and metabolic syndrome score [B=-0.02; 95% CI:-0.03, -0.01; P=0.01] were inversely and HDL-C [B=0.16; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.31; P=0.02] positively associated with 25[OH] D tertiles in females
Conclusion: The results suggest that both low and upper normal levels of 25[OH]D are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome
ABSTRACT
Background: Dietary pattern is an effective way of studying the effect of diet on diseases. We investigated the association between dietary patterns and blood pressure [BP] in adults aged 20-50 years
Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 418 individuals were selected through stratified multistage random sampling from households living in different regions of Shiraz. Information on demographic characteristics, anthropometric features, dietary intakes, and systolic [SBP] and diastolic [DBP] blood pressure was gathered. Dietary patterns were determined using a validated food frequency questionnaire
Results: Three dietary patterns were specified: vegetable [high in vegetables and legumes], Western-like [high in meat, sugar sweetened beverages, salty and sweet snacks, refined grains, high-fat dairy], and Mediterranean-like [rich in low-fat dairy, fruit, vegetables, nuts, olive, fish, and low in hydrogenated fats]. After adjustment for confounders, Mediterranean-like dietary pattern had an inverse association with SBP [beta =-0.24; 95% CI: -5.25, -1.27] and DBP [beta =-0.17; 95% CI: -3.65, -0.20] in males but not females. Vegetable and Western-like dietary patterns were not associated with BP in either sex after adjusting for confounders. Positive relationships were observed between BP and body mass index [r=0.28 and 0.33 for SBP and DBP, P<0.001], waist circumference [r=0.51 and 0.45 for SBP and DBP, P<0.001], and waist-to-hip ratio [r=0.54 and 0.44 for SBP and DBP, P<0.001]. Dietary energy and carbohydrates were positively and fats inversely associated with BP. Among micronutrients, vitamin E had a significant inverse association with BP
Conclusion: Mediterranean-like dietary pattern may lower the risk of hypertension in Shiraz males