Retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles improves spermatogenesis in scrotal hyperthermia in mice.

OBJECTIVE: High temperatures can trigger cellular oxidative stress and disrupt spermatogenesis, potentially leading to male infertility. We investigated the effects of retinoic acid (RA), chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs), and retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (RACHNPs) on spermatogenesis in mice induced by scrotal hyperthermia (Hyp). METHODS: Thirty mice (weighing 25 to 30 g) were divided into five experimental groups of six mice each. The groups were as follows: control, Hyp induced by a water bath (43 °C for 30 minutes/day for 5 weeks), Hyp+RA (2 mg/kg/day), Hyp+CHNPs (2 mg/kg/72 hours), and Hyp+RACHNPs (4 mg/kg/72 hours). The mice were treated for 35 days. After the experimental treatments, the animals were euthanized. Sperm samples were collected for analysis of sperm parameters, and blood serum was isolated for testosterone measurement. Testis samples were also collected for histopathology assessment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluation, and RNA extraction, which was done to compare the expression levels of the bax, bcl2, p53, Fas, and FasL genes among groups. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was performed. RESULTS: Treatment with RACHNPs significantly increased stereological parameters such as testicular volume, seminiferous tubule length, and testicular cell count. Additionally, it increased testosterone concentration and improved sperm parameters. We observed significant decreases in ROS production and caspase-3 immunostaining in the RACHNP group. Moreover, the expression levels of bax, p53, Fas, and FasL significantly decreased in the groups treated with RACHNPs and RA. CONCLUSION: RACHNPs can be considered a potent antioxidative and antiapoptotic agent for therapeutic strategies in reproductive and regenerative medicine.

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy upon distress, emotion regulation, and self-compassion in patients with cardiovascular disease: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular patients experience various psychological problems due to the conditions caused by their disease, which make it worse if left untreated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of acceptance and commitment therapy on distress, emotion regulation, and self-compassion in patients with cardiovascular disease. METHODS: This study was a randomized clinical trial with pre-test, post-test and two-month and four-month follow-up periods accompanying a control group. At four stages, patients filled out questionnaires on depression, anxiety, stress (DASS-21), emotion regulation (ERQ), and self-compassion (SCS). The experimental group underwent a treatment protocol based on acceptance and commitment therapy. Data were then analyzed using SPSS-25 with repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Act significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress, enhanced self-compassion, and improved emotion regulation in cardiac patients. Between-subjects (Group) partial etas for depression, anxiety, stress, reappraisal, suppression, and self-compassion were 0.61, 0.64, 0.66, 0.62, 0.66, and 0.65, respectively. Treatment efficacy was maintained during the 2- and 6-month follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that treating cardiac patients' psychological problems in a way focused on acceptance and commitment therapy may have an impact on how well they respond to their treatment.

Impaired spermatogenesis associated with changes in spatial arrangement of Sertoli and spermatogonial cells following induced diabetes.

The current study was conducted to assess the relationship between testicular cells in spermatogenesis, through which the production of healthy and mature sperm is essential. However, it seems necessary to obtain more information about the three-dimensional pattern of the testis cells arrangement, which is directly related to the function of the testis after induction of diabetes. Twelve adult mice (28-30 g) were assigned into two experimental groups: (1) control and (2) diabetic (40 mg/kg STZ). The epididymal sperm collected from the tail of the epididymis and testes samples were taken for stereology, immunocytochemistry and RNA extraction. Our data showed that diabetes could notably decrease the number of testicular cells, together with a reduction of total sperm count. In addition, the results from the second-order stereology indicated the significant changes in the spatial arrangement of Sertoli cells and spermatogonial cells in the diabetic groups, in comparison with the control (P < .05). Moreover, the immunohistochemistry results showed a significant reduction in Sex-determining Region Y (SRY) box 9 gene (SOX9), vimentin, occludin, and connexin-43 positive cells in the diabetic groups compared with the control (P < .05). Furthermore, our data showed that the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) was significantly reduced in the diabetic groups, in comparison with the control (P < .05). These findings suggest that structural and functional changes of testis cells after induction of diabetes cause the alterations in the spatial arrangement of Sertoli and spermatogonial cells, ultimately influencing the normal spermatogenesis in mice.