Effect of group positive psychotherapy on improvement of life satisfaction and the quality of life in infertile woman

Background: Positive psychotherapy is one of the new approaches in psychology which is innovated for treating psychological disorders and enhancing positive emotions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the group positive psychotherapy on elevation of life satisfaction and quality of life in infertile women

Materials and Methods: In a randomized trial study, Beck Depression Inventory II [BDI-II] and clinical interview were used in a pre-test post-test control group design. After analyzing the result of the questionnaire, 36 infertile women who showed signs of mild to moderate depression were randomly placed into two following groups: control [n=18] and intervention [n=18]. Before the treatment, the members of both groups answered BDI-II, Satisfaction With Life Scale [SWLS] and 12 item Short Form Health Survey [SF-12]. The intervention group received six sessions of group positive psychotherapy, but the treatment of the control group began six weeks after the intervention group

Results: The results showed that the life satisfaction scores of the intervention group were significantly elevated from 22.66 in pre-test to 26.13 in post-test [P<0.001], while this improvement was not significant in the control group [P=0.405]. The difference between life satisfaction scores of the intervention and the control groups was also significant [F=8.92, P=0.006]. However, no significant change in the quality of life level of the intervention and control groups was observed [P=0.136]

Conclusion: Thus it can be deduced from the findings that this treatment method could be introduced as solution to increase the life satisfaction in infertile women, but not as a treatment for elevating their quality of life [Registration Number: IRCT2013042810063N3]

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as H₂O₂. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of H₂O₂, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 120 µM concentrations of H2O2. After 1 hour incubation at 37℃, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. RESULTS: Incubation of sperms with 10 and 20 µM H₂O₂ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and 80 µM H₂O₂, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and 120 µM H₂O₂. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. CONCLUSION: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against H₂O₂ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

Comparison of lifestyle in fertile and infertile couples in Kermanshah during 2013

Infertility is a major reproductive health in gynecology. According to the world health organization, there are currently 50-80 million infertile couples in the world. Considering the critical effects of lifestyle on reproductive health, this study aimed to compare the lifestyle of fertile and infertile couples in Kermanshah during 2013. This research is a descriptive cross sectional study that was done on 216 fertile and infertile couples attending Infertility Center and six medical centers that were selected through the convenience sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire containing demographic and fertility-related information and also lifestyle items on nutrition, physical activity, perceived social support, responsibility for health, and inappropriate health behaviors. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression analysis, independent t, chi-square and Generalized Estimating equation were performed to analyze the data. Fertile and infertile women [86.1% and 73. 1% respectively, p= 0. 03] as well as fertile and infertile men were significantly different in terms of physical activity [87% and 96.3% p<0.001, respectively] and perceived social support [p<0.001]. Moreover, there was a significant difference between fertile and infertile women in nutrition [p<0.001]. Similar differences were observed in responsibility for health and inappropriate health behaviors between fertile and infertile men. However, all of the dimensions of lifestyle, except nutrition, were significantly different between fertile and infertile couples. As lifestyle plays a crucial role in reproductive health, the inappropriate lifestyle of infertile couples has to be modified through effective measures such as awareness promotion, behavioral changes, and development of a healthy environment

The relationship between progesterone and biochemical constituents of amniotic fluid with placenta traits in Iranian crossbred ewes (Arkhar-Merino×Ghezel)

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the values of amniotic fluid (AF) progesterone and biochemical constituents and its associated placenta traits in Iranian crossbred ewes (Arkhar-Merino×Ghezel).@*METHODS@#Sixty ewes (2-5 years old, weighing 40-50 kg) were treated with controlled internal drug release induced 30 mg progesterone for 14 d and were injected with 400 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin at the time of CIDR withdrawal. After the detection of estrus, ewes were hand-mated. After expelling of each fetus accompanied by fetal membranes, 10 mL AF was taken from fetal sac for spectrophotometer methods (glucose, urea, creatinine, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium and phosphorus) and radioimmunoassay (progesterone) analysis.@*RESULTS@#Results indicated that there were highly positive correlations between placental efficiency and cotyledon density (r=0.764, P0.01), except for PW (r=0.665).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In conclusion, the significant correlation between the AF biochemical and progesterone with placental traits for the above-mentioned metabolites suggests that metabolic changes in AF levels will reflect the condition in the AF.

The relationship between progesterone and biochemical constituents of amniotic fluid with placenta traits in Iranian crossbred ewes (Arkhar-Merino×Ghezel)

bjective: To determine the values of amniotic fluid (AF) progesterone and biochemical constituents and its associated placenta traits in Iranian crossbred ewes (Arkhar-Merino×Ghezel). Methods: Sixty ewes (2-5 years old, weighing 40-50 kg) were treated with controlled internal drug release induced 30 mg progesterone for 14 d and were injected with 400 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin at the time of CIDR withdrawal. After the detection of estrus, ewes were hand-mated. After expelling of each fetus accompanied by fetal membranes, 10 mL AF was taken from fetal sac for spectrophotometer methods (glucose, urea, creatinine, total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium and phosphorus) and radioimmunoassay (progesterone) analysis. Results: Results indicated that there were highly positive correlations between placental efficiency and cotyledon density (r=0.764, P0.01), except for PW (r=0.665). Conclusions: In conclusion, the significant correlation between the AF biochemical and progesterone with placental traits for the above-mentioned metabolites suggests that metabolic changes in AF levels will reflect the condition in the AF.