Description of Prionchulus Girchi Sp. Nov. (Nematoda: Mononchina) with Additional Data on Two Known Species of the Genus Prionchulus from Lorestan Province, Iran.

Three species of mononchids belonging to the Prionchulus Cobb, 1916 genus, one new and two previously known species collected from natural ecosystem of Khorramabad county, Lorestan province, south west of Iran, are described. Prionchulus girchi sp. nov. is morphologically characterized by its 2.1 - 2.2 mm body length, numerous cuticular pores, slightly offset lip region, prominent labial and cephalic papillae, cephalic papillae larger than labial ones, barrel-shaped and spacious (40 - 43 × 22.5 - 24 µm) buccal cavity, weakly rounded tail tip and weakly expressed tail tip´s hyaline. In this study, P. fagi and P. muscorum were also collected and some additional data of these two species are also given.

Three Species of Xiphinema Americanum-group Complex (Nematoda: Longidoridae), from Lorestan Province, Iran.

The dagger nematodes of the longidorids can cause diseases of various agronomic and horticultural crops, and are consisted of more than 260 valid species. In a forest survey of ecotypes of longidorid nematodes, from the root zone soil of Brant's oak, (Quercus brantii Lindl.) and hawthorn (Crataegus aronia L.) trees, three species of Xiphinema americanum group namely Xiphinema pachtaicum, X. oxycaudatum and X. plesiopachtaicum were collected and studied based on their morphological and morphometric characters. X. pachtaicum is prevalent Xiphinema species in Iran. In this paper additional data for X. oxycaudatum and X. plesiopachtaicum species are presented. X. plesiopachtaicum is a new record for nematode fauna of Iran.

Double mild stimulation and egg collection in the same cycle for management of poor ovarian responders.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of double stimulations during the follicular and luteal phases in women with poor ovarian response (POR) in in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles. BASIC PROCEDURES: This prospective clinical study was performed in Royan Institute from October 2014 to January 2016. 121 patients were diagnosed as POR on the basis of Bologna criteria were included. Double stimulations were performed during the follicular and luteal phases by Letrozole, Clomid, hMG and GnRH-agonist. The patients' present cycle outcomes were compared with those of the previous cycle results using appropriate statistical tests. MAIN FINDING: The total of 104 (85.9%) patients completed the stimulation stages. The analysis revealed the number of retrieved oocytes after the first and second stimulations did not differ (P = 0.2); however, the fertilization rate and the number of frozen embryos after the first stimulation were significantly higher than those of in the second stimulation (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03), indicating the better quality of retrieved oocytes after the first stimulation. The mean number of MII oocytes and the fertilization rate after Shanghai protocol were higher than those of the previous antagonist protocol with a substantial trend toward significance (P = 0.06), which can be clinically important. The cancellation rate (33%) due to no ovarian response and no embryo formation was still high in these patients. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSION: Since the intensity of stimulation in both stages was mild, this protocol can be considered a time-efficient and patient friendly regime; however, more studies are required with emphasis on its cost-effectiveness.

Motivational interviewing-based training vs traditional training on the uptake of cervical screening: a quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer, a major health issue affecting women, is preventable and can be successfully treated. It is essential that measures are taken to improve the uptake of screening for this cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of motivational interviewing (MI)-based training and traditional training on the frequency of cervical cancer screening tests in a group of working female teachers. STUDY DESIGN: This is a quasi-experimental study. METHODS: This research was conducted in 2017 among 134 teachers (aged 30-60 years) working in southeastern Iran. The participants were selected from among the eligible individuals and subsequently divided into MI-based training and traditional training groups (n = 67 for each group). Each group received a three-session training program, and 20 weeks after the end of the last training session, the information obtained from cervical cancer screening tests was documented. To analyze the data, independent t-test and Chi-squared test were run in SPSS, version 21. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics such as age, age at the first pregnancy, age of marriage, the number of parities, and educational level. Twenty weeks after intervention, 20.9% of the MI-based training group underwent Pap smear screening test, while 9% of the women in the traditional training group took the test, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.0.5). CONCLUSION: MI-based training has a significant positive effect on women's compliance with cervical cancer screening tests. Therefore, it is recommended that this technique be adopted in women's health centers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT2017100729954N4.

Association of vitamin D status with semen quality and reproductive hormones in Iranian subfertile men.

Although vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common health problems throughout the world, including Iran, conflicting information exists on the potential association between serum vitamin D levels and semen quality. This study intended to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D [25(OH) D3] with semen quality and hormones in Iranian subfertile men. We also compared mean vitamin D and hormone levels in normospermic men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) men. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 278 men who were referred to Royan Infertility Clinic (Tehran, Iran) from March to September 2014. The participants were categorized into two groups; of 186 normospermic and 92 OAT patients according to World Health Organization 2010 criteria. Each participant provided informed consent prior to launching research. Participants completed two general questionnaires of nutritional status. Blood and semen samples were obtained for assessment, and all data were adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and season. Vitamin D levels were classified according to Institute of Medicine guidelines. Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and normal levels were observed in 8.6%, 43.6%, 47.8% of participants, respectively. No association was found between daily dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium with sperm parameters. Serum vitamin D was inversely correlated with PTH (p < 0.045). In normospermic men, serum vitamin D levels categorized were not correlated with semen parameters and reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, testosterone(T), and FT), whereas sperm motility showed a positive correlation with vitamin D categorized in OAT men (rs = 0.131, p = 0.028). In conclusion, there was a high incidence of deficiency and insufficiency 25(OH) D Levels (<20ng/ml) observed in Iranian men (52.2%). Moreover, our findings showed a correlation between vitamin D levels and sperm motility in OAT men, which requires further studies.