[Effect of methadone and valproate combination on morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in male mice]

Anxiety and depression are experienced following addicted patients durg withdrawal. This study was done to determine the effect of methadone and valproate combination on morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in male mice. In this experimental study, ninety-eight male mice were allocated into acute and chronic categories. Animals in acute chronic categories allocated into seven groups including: saline, morphine, methadone [10 mg/kg/bw], valproate [150 mg/kg/bw], three groups of valproate+methadone, in of ratio 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2. Animals were received escalating dose of morphine for 8 consecutive days except saline group. In chronic group, drugs were injected for 30 minutes before morphine administration, while in acute group; the drugs were used only at day 8. Anxiety and depression due to naloxone injection [5 mg/kg/bw]was investigated by elevated plus-maze, tail-suspension and open field tests. In the chronic group, valproate + methadone [2:1] combination therapy showed a significant increase in the percentage of open arm entries [53.86 +/- 1.9] and percentage of time spent in the open arm [58.58 +/- 4.15] compared to the morphine group, with a percentage of entering [28.12 +/- 2.03] and percentage of time [17.88 +/- 1.77] [P<0.05]. In open field test, the ratio of the number to the duration of time spent in the central square, in the combination therapy groups of methadone+valproate[27 +/- 2], valproate+methadone [1:2] and valproate+methadone [2:1] were significantly increased in compare to the morphine group [P<0.05]. In tail-suspension test, duration of immobility as an indicator of depression, in the treatment group of valproate+methadone [2:1] was significantly reduced [P<0.05]. Valproate and methadone combination therapy particularly in ratio of 2:1 can reduce morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in animal model

epidemiology of primary infertility in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2004-5

Infertility is a common problem around the world followed by psycho-social conesquences. Determining the prevalence of infertility in society can assist health system decision-makers to plan the provision of health and medical services more precisely. This study was conducted in response to the question of the Iranian Scientific Association of Fertility-Infertility with the aim of determining the prevalence of life-time primary and current primary infertilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This study was conducted by using a cross-sectional method on 12000 Iranian women aged 19-49 as the couples' representatives in 28 provinces of the country in 2004-2005. The sampling method was based on the systematic random selection of 400 thirty-household clusters with a proportionate probability to the size of the population of urban and rural areas of each province. The lifetime primary infertility was defined based on one of the two scenarios that follow: The first scenario: 1] A safe contraceptive method has been used after marriage, 2] but the use of contraceptive has been discontinued after a while, 3] 12 months or more past the first discontinuation of the contraceptive method at the time of the study and 4] The case has not become pregnant within 12 months after discontinuation of the contraception method. The second scenario: 1] A safe contraception methods has not been used after marriage, 2] No conception was achieved within 12 months after marriage. The term current primary infertility was applied to a woman who had never been conceived up to the study, as well as being defined by one of the above definitions. Data analysis was conducted by using STATA 8.0 software while considering the concepts of descriptive statistics and computing the 95% confidence intervals. Lowess smoothing method was also used to smooth the scatter plot of the relationship between infertility and age at the time of the first marriage. In this study, 7350 urban and 4650 rural Iranian women, aged 19-49 in 28 provinces were interviewed. Among the 12000 interviewed subjects 630, [5.3%], cases were not eligible for the study and were left out of the study and the denominator of the primary infertility computation fraction. A history of life-time primary infertility was observed in 24.9% of the couples, [95% CI: 23.6-26.2%], as was the prevalence of current primary infertility in 3.4% of them, [95% CI: 3.0-3.8%]. The trend of lifetime primary infertility showed that the highest estimate was related to the lowest marriage age and the lowest prevalence was observed at the marriage age of 22 in 19% of the cases. This trend remained stable up to the age of 28 but it increased afterwards. The mean age of the subjects at the first marriage was 18.1 +/- 3.8 and a median of 18 years. About one fourth of Iranian couples experience primary infertility in their lives and 3.4% of them have this problem at any time in their life. In interpreting the prevalence of life-time primary infertility and provision of its related health and medical services, paying attention to age at the time of marriage and couples state of fertility is of importance

[ effect of pentoxifylline on motility and morphology of spermatozoa from epididymal and testicular samples of infertile men]

There are generally three factors involved in male infertility: low count, weak motility, and abnormal morphology of spermatozoa. Currently, it is impossible to improve the quality of sperm count and morphology in vitro. However, it may become possible to improve the sperm motility with the application of motility enhancer medicine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline[PX] on sperm motility and morphology of asthenozoospermic epididymal and testicular samples. The specimens were retrieved with percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration [PESA] and testicular sperm extraction [TESE] from men with obstructive azoospermia. A total of 40 PESA and 40 TESE samples were allocated to this prospective study. Following preliminary evaluation, each sample was processed with swim up procedure and then divided into two aliquots of control [non -PX] and PX [3.5 mMPX]. Following 45 min of incubation at 37°C, the percentages of motility and normal morphology of spermatozoa were evaluated using Mackler chamber and papaniclau staining techinque, respectively. The mean sperm counts in the PESA and TESE groups were 7.4 +/- 7.3x10[6] and 2.43 +/- 1.3x10[6], respectively. The percentages of normal morphology in the above groups were 22.67 +/- 11.6 and 14.9 +/- 9.2 which were respectively changed to 23.2 +/- 15.7 and 9.5 +/- 1.9 with PX incubation. In addition, the percentage of control progressive motility in the PESA and TESE samples were 13.9 +/- 4.2% and 0.26 +/- 0.6% which were increased to 20.1 +/- 9.7% [p<0.001] and 0.95 +/- 0.03% [p<0.05]. These results strongly suggest that PX was successful in enhancing sperm motility particularly in the PESA group. It also did not have any significant side effect on sperm morphology. PX is considered to be safe and cheap, with easy application which may be used for improving the male infertility treatment program. With its dual role as motility enhancer and vitality detector of spermatozoa, it can be used safely for the ICSI treatment of severe cases of asthenozoospermia

[ Effect of repeated percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration on sperm parameters of azoospermic patients]

There are a limited number of infertile males with obstructive azoospermia, At present, spermatozoa can be aspirated with a simple technique called, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration [PESA]. It is also possible to repeat PESA to aspirate spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] cycles. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether of not repeated PESA would cause any obstruction, scars, or defects on sperm parameters. Eighty-nine azoospermic cases were admitted to the university infertility center. A total of 235 PESA who underwent 199 ICSI cycles were selected for this retrospective study. Sperm concentration, motility, and normal morphology, as well as the fertilization rates were statistically evaluated for each time. Sperm concentration [x10[6]/ml] in first to forth PESA was 37.68, 45.58, 35.62, and 19.13, respectively. Sperm motility in the above groups was 24.95%, 23.10%, 23.24%, and 25.71%, respectively. Also, fertilization rate [FR] was 66.36, 68.35, 71.89, and 74.70 percent, respectively, for the same groups. There was not any significant difference in sperm parameters and FR in patients undergoing 1 to 4 PESA. In addition, neither obstruction nor scars were reported in PESA cases. We conclude that repeated PESA is safe and reliable, and does not cause any significant defects in sperm parameters. Also, this technique can be repeated in individuals with obstructive azoospermia to aspirate sperm for a treatments regimen