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Male infertility is an important factor accounting for 40-50% of infertility cases that may be due to disturbance in one of the parameters as concentration, motility and morphology observed in one or two semen analysis with an interval of 1 and 4 weeks. COVID-19 may affect male fertility through virus division, cytotoxic effects on testicular tissue and immunopathological effect. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) improved sperm concentration and acrosome reaction while reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidation of sperm DNA. This interventional study was conducted on 200 men who were referred to private infertility clinics for female factor (their previous semen analysis was normal) and got COVID-19 infection in the last 3 months showing an impairment of the latest semen analysis due to COVID. Men were placed in two groups of control (n = 100) and intervention (NAC consumption). Subjects who got COVID-19 infection had a significant impairment of sperm quality (sperm concentration, sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology) compared to their semen analysis evaluated before the COVID-19 infection. NAC consumption significantly improved sperm total motility, sperm morphology and sperm concentration. COVID-19 infection has a negative effect on sperm parameters. NAC supplementation may have positive effect on sperm parameters.

In this study, the stereo-pathological effect of metformin and N-acetyl cysteine is evaluated on the uterus and ovary of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mice. 96 mature females (8-weekold, weight of 20–30 gr) BALB/c mice were classified into 6 groups including the control group (n= 16), letrozole-induced PCOS group (n=16), PCOS + metformin (n=16), PCOS+NAC (n=16) and a separate control group for NAC (n=16). Another PCOS group was maintained for a month to make sure that features remain till the end of the study. Testosterone level, vaginal cytology and stereological evaluations were assessed. Vaginal cytology in letrozole-receiving mice showed a diestrus phase continuity. Testosterone level, body weight, uterine weight, endometrial volume, myometrial volume, gland volume, stromal volume, epithelial volume, vessel volume, daughter and conglomerate glands, endometrial thickness, and myometrial thickness exhibited an increasing trend in the uterus of PCOS mice. While normal gland and vessel length decreased in the PCOS group. Ovarian volume, corticomedullary volume, primary follicles, secondary follicles, and ovarian cysts were increased in PCOS ovaries. While corpus luteum, primordial, graafian, and atretic follicles showed a decline in the PCOS group. NAC and metformin, however, managed to restore the condition to normal. Given the prevalence of PCOS and its impact on fertility, the use of noninvasive methods is of crucial significance. NAC can control and treat pathological parameters and help as a harmless drug in the treatment of women with PCOS.

Introduction: Asparagus officinalis L. is a medicinal plant, which contains various natural bioactive phytochemicals with potential different pharmacological activities. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and antinociceptive activities of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from asparagus roots. Methods: The plant material was extracted using ethanol 70% and preliminary phytochemical analyses were carried out. The in vitro antioxidant effects of the plant extract were evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and total reducing ability compared to the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a standard control. The antinociceptive effects were also assessed using formalin and tail-flick test in male Wistar rats. Results: The plant extract was relatively rich in flavonoids. The IC50 value for DPPH scavenging activity of the extract (1117.65±14.26 μg/ml) was significantly higher than that of BHT (64.35±4.09 μg/ml). The plant extract exerted a significantly lower total reducing ability compared to that of BHT. The extract exhibited a significant antinociceptive effect at the early stage of formalin test in the dose of 500mg/kg intraperitoneally. The results of tail-flick test also demonstrated antinociceptive effects compared to control in a dose-dependent manner. However, these antinociceptive activities were not comparable with morphine as a reference agent. Conclusion: A. officinalis roots extract demonstrated considerable antioxidant and antinociceptive activities and it might be attributed to its flavonoids content.

Aims:This study was conducted to compare the effects of attachment and relaxation instruction on the third trimester depression and post-partum blues.Methods: Randomized controlled trial in three arms (teaching relaxation, maternal-fetal attachment skills and control) of 42 women each among 126 nulliparous women in a selected educational center (Hafez) affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran from January 2012 to February 2012. The patients filled out the demographic data sheet, Cranley maternal-fetal attachment test questionnaire, Beck depression questionnaire, Spilberger anxiety and written consent Questionnaires. Results:The mean and standard deviation of the Beck depression test scores after the intervention were 20.5±3/10, 21.1±3.8, and 23.2±3.8 for the attachment, relaxation, and control group, respectively. The changes were statistically significant according to the one-way ANOVA test (P= 0.002). The post-hoc test was statistically significant for the decrease in the depression groups after delivery in the attachment (P = 0.01) and relaxation group (P = 0.01).The reduction in the depression scores before, and after the intervention in the attachment (P=0.001) and relaxation group (P = 0.002) was significant based on paired-t-test results. However, the control group showed an increase in the depression scores which were statistically significant (P= 0.04). Conclusions:Prenatal educational program based on attachment and relaxation training can improve maternal identity role and reduce maternal depression. This study showed that preventing post-partum depression by simple, available and cost beneficial training programs skills.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with anovulation, hyperandrogenism, ovarian and uterine histological changes, menstrual irregularities, etc. signs is an infertility type. It seems that melatonin and metformin can improve these abnormalities. Objective: To evaluate the effects of melatonin and metformin on the ovary and uterus in PCOS-induced mice using stereological methods. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two adult female BALB/c mice (8-wk-old, 20-30 gr) were randomly divided into control (distilled water, gavage), PCOS (90 μg/kg letrozole, gavage), PCOS+metformin (500 mg/kg, gavage), PCOS+melatonin (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection), and PCOS+melatonin control (0.5% ethanol saline) groups (n = 12/each). Another PCOS group was kept for a month to ensure that PCOS features remained. Finally, a stereological evaluation of the uterus and ovary was carried out, and vaginal cytology and serum testosterone levels were assessed. Results: PCOS mice treated with metformin and melatonin had lower testosterone levels, body weight, and more regular estrus cycles than the PCOS group (p ≤ 0.001). A significant decrease in conglomerate and daughter gland numbers, and primary, secondary, atretic, and cystic follicles numbers with a significant increase in primordial and Graafian follicles, and corpus luteum numbers (p ≤ 0.001) was seen in these treated mice. Also, endometrial vessels’ volume and length significantly increased, but ovarian, endometrial, myometrial, stromal, and glands volume, and endometrial and myometrial thickness dramatically declined (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: It appears that metformin and melatonin could restore the PCOS phenotype including estrus cycle irregularity, high testosterone level, and ovarian and uterine micromorphology to the control levels. However, the 2 treatments had similar effects on the examined parameters. Key words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome, Melatonin, Metformin, Ovary, Uterus, Mice, Stereology.

Background: An increase in maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy can cause overweight during pregnancy, and negatively affect both the mother and the fetus. Non-stress test (NST) is the most common way to evaluate the fetus during pregnancy. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between maternal BMI and NST parameters as well as the pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women. Materials and Methods: This case-control study, comprised 67 nulliparous women with the gestational age of 24-28 weeks, selected by simple random sampling, who were admitted to Shooshtari and Hafez hospitals from 2011 to 2012. The case group included 35 pregnant women with BMI greater than 26. The control group consisted of 32 pregnant women with BMI lower than 26. NST was applied to groups and evaluated reactive and non-reactive parameters, basal fetal heart rate, and number of accelerations. Chi-square test was used to examine the reactive and non-reactive parameters and type of delivery. Other variables were statistically analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Our results indicated that the frequency of NST reactive and non-reactive parameters was 41%, 59% in the case group, respectively and 55%, 45% in the control group, respectively. Besides, a significant difference was found between the case and the control group regarding reactive parameters (P = 0.02). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning the mean of basal fetal heart rate (P = 0.3). However, the number of accelerations in the case group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P = 0.001). Significant increases were found in the case group regarding the mean of post-delivery weight (P = 0.02), BMI after delivery (P = 0.005), neonatal birth weight (P = 0.001), gestational age (P = 0.001), and caesarian section (CS) delivery (P = 0.01). Conclusions: This study revealed that the increase in maternal BMI was accompanied by a decrease in non-reactive parameters of NST and the number of accelerations of the fetal heart rate which is the most important index for fetal health. Also, a significant increase was observed regarding maternal BMI one month after delivery, neonatal birth weight, gestational age, and CS delivery.