[Comparing anxiety, depression and sexual life satisfaction in two groups of fertile and infertile women in Tehran]

Infertility is a major painful emotional distress that is manifested in the form of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression and reduction of normal sexual function in affected couples. The purpose of this study was to compare anxiety, depression and life satisfaction between fertile and infertile women admitted to Vali-e-Asr Infertility Clinic in Tehran in 2009. This descriptive study included 60 participants, being composed of 30 infertile and 30 fertile women. The demographic data including marital status, infertility duration, age and occupation were recorded. Zung's self-rating Anxiety Scale and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] were used for evaluating anxiety and depression, respectively. The Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness [ENRICH] questionnaire was also used for evaluating the participants' life satisfaction. Anxiety and depression were significantly higher in infertile compared to fertile women [p < 0.05] but life satisfaction was not much different in the two groups. In both groups, anxiety and depression did not relate with age or infertility duration but life satisfaction grew more in infertile women than fertile women by age and marriage duration. In the two groups, anxiety, depression and sex satisfaction did not relate with education but infertility duration was affected by sexual satisfaction despite having no significant relationship with anxiety or depression. Moreover, depression and sexual dissatisfaction in infertile housekeeper women was more prevalent than infertile employed women but anxiety had no relationship with their occupational status. Infertile women need psychiatric care. Considering the results of this study, suggestions addressing the improvement of psychological health of infertile women through supportive measures seem to be of value

Comparison of spermatozoa quality in male smokers and nonsmokers of Iranian infertile couples

Smoking has a negative effect on fertility and sperm quality. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of smoking on sperm quality and the related parameters such as sperm concentration, morphology and motility. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 infertile men with at least one year history of idiopathic infertility, who admitted to the Avicenna Infertility Center, Tehran, Iran. A complete history including smoking habits and other diseases was obtained and semen analysis was performed for all participants. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16 and t test and Mann-whitney tests with a significance level of alpha = 0.05. Comparison of sperm parameters in the two groups of smoker and nonsmoker subjects showed that active smoking [p=0.04] and cigarette consumption even in small amounts [p=0.03] decreased sperm concentration, However, no significant correlation was detected between smoking status and morphology or motility of sperms. This study failed to find a significant correlation between sperm analysis and smoking status except for sperm concentration, which was significantly decreased in the active smokers ,even in those consuming small amounts of tobacco. This finding propounds that tobacco consumption may negatively affect fertility

Comparison of the photobleaching and photostability traits of alexa fluor 568- and fluorescein isothiocyanate- conjugated antibody

Synthetic fluorescent dyes that are conjugated to antibodies are useful tools to probe molecules. Based on dye chemical structures, their photobleaching and photostability indices are quite diverse. It is generally believed that among different fluorescent dyes, Alexa Fluor family has greater photostability than traditional dyes like fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC] and Cy5. Alexa Fluor 568 is a member of Alexa Fluor family presumed to have superior photostability and photobleahing profiles than FITC. In this experimental study, we conjugated Alexa Fluor 568 and FITC dyes to a mouse anti-human nestin monoclonal antibody [ANM] to acquire their photobleaching profiles and photostability indices. Then, the fluorophore/antibody ratios were calculated using a spectrophotometer. The photobleaching profiles and photostability indices of conjugated antibodies were subsequently studied by immunocytochemistry [ICC]. Samples were continuously illuminated and digital images acquired under a fluorescent microscope. Data were processed by ImageJ software. Alexa Fluor 568 has a brighter fluorescence and higher photostability than FITC. Alexa Fluor 568 is a capable dye to use in photostaining techniques and it has a longer photostability when compared to FITC

Production of monoclonal antibody against human nestin

We have employed a peptid-based antibody generation protocol for producing antibody against human nestin. Using a 12-mer synthetic peptide from repetitive region of human nestin protein devoid of any N-or O-glycosylation sequences, we generated a mouse monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing human, mouse, bovine, and rat nestin. A wide variety of nestin proteins ranging from 140-250 kDa was detected by this antibody. This antibody is highly specific and functional in applications such as ELISA, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot assays

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS: do Iranian pregnant mothers know about it?

Nowadays, HIV is mostly spreading in Asian countries. One of the important routes for HIV transmission in these countries is the vertical route which infects 35% to 45% of newborns. Mother's education, drug prophylaxis and Cesarean section, accompanied by banning breastfeeding will decrease this rate to 2%. Therefore, mothers' knowledge about Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission [PMTCT] has a great role in HIV/AIDS prevention. This study was designed to evaluate knowledge of pregnant women about HIV, its vertical transmission and prevention in Tehran, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1577 pregnant women aged 15-46 years who were attending prenatal care clinics in Tehran, Iran. The research material was a questionnaire which was completed daily by trained midwives. The data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA, independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation and linear regression with a significance level of p = 0.05. About 16.5% of the participants had good knowledge about HIV/AIDS and 54.1% about its transmission routes but awareness about its prevention was only 5.7%. Fifty-seven percent of the participant had not been tested for HIV earlier and 20.2% were not willing to undergo such tests. About 86.2% of the participants had no idea about the availability of drug prophylaxis in Iran for PMTCT. The fact that 28.2% of the participants were not willing to undergo HIV testing reflects negative attitude about HIV infection. Although the overall awareness about the infection and its transmission was good but knowledge about its prevention especially by PMTCT and its availability in Iran was low. Educational programs through mass media or prenatal care programs by focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention maybe useful

relation between exhaled carbon monoxide level and smoking cessation outcome

Smoking is the first preventable cause of mortality in the world. Smoking cessation is affected by various factors like nicotine dependence rate, individual issues and social factors. Measuring the level of exhaled carbon monoxide is a simple noninvasive diagnostic method for determination of smoking status and nicotine dependence; and this study evaluated its correlation with the outcome of smoking cessation. In this cross-sectional study, all individuals who had attended the smoking cessation programs in Tehran smoking cessation clinic for 6-sessions during a one- year period were questioned using a questionnaire designed according to the WHO and NRITLD questionnaires. At first, level of exhaled carbon monoxide was measured in all cases and those who quit smoking [no smoking even one puff] after the third treatment session were followed by phone in 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 month intervals respectively. Three hundred forty- seven cases were questioned in this study out of which, 292 [84.1%] cases were males. At the end of the treatment course, 237 cases [68.3%] successfully quit smoking, 27 cases [7.8%] cut down smoking and 83 cases [23.9%] were excluded from the study due to the exceeded absence from the course. After disregarding the excluded group, the success rate of smoking cessation was calculated to be 89.8%. Measurement of the level of expired carbon monoxide [CO] showed that the exhaled CO level was < 10 parts per million [ppm] in 98 cases [28.2%], between11-20 ppm in 149 cases [42.9%] and > 20 ppm in 100 [28.8%] cases. The highest rate of success in quitting smoking was observed among those with expired CO level < 11-20 ppm and cigarette consumption less than 30 cigarettes per day [p=0.00]. Since cases with high concentration of exhaled carbon monoxide showed lower success rates in quitting smoking, more specific treatment courses along with more precise consultation and follow up are recommended for such cases

Ectopic expression of sortilin 1 [NTR-3] in patients with ovarian carcinoma

Gene expression profiling of ovarian carcinoma tissues has shown an increase of four-fold expression of SORTl gene. Sortilin 1 [NTR-3] is a 95-100 kDa protein normally expressed in heart, brain, placenta, skeletal muscle, spinal cord, thyroid, and testis. However, its expression has never been reported in normal ovary. Here, we report expression of sortilin 1 in ovarian carcinoma tissues both at gene and protein levels. Sortilin 1 was expressed in all ovarian carcinoma patients [n=15] as well as ovarian carcinoma cell lines [n=5] regardless of their phenotypic characteristics. Non-malignant ovaries [n=6] did not express sortilin 1. The molecular basis for this ectopic expression is not yet clear. Our results showed a major cell surface expression of sortilin 1 rather than ER-Golgi compartment where it is mainly expressed. This finding may introduce sortilin 1 as a novel tumor marker for diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma and may signify its therapeutic value in targeted therapy