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Varicocele (VC) is widely recognized as a prevalent etiological factor contributing to male infertility. It has been established that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a significant role in the progression and development of VC. Antioxidants may regulate ROS levels in these patients. Astaxanthin (ASX) is a carotenoid compound with notable antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory characteristics. The current study postulated that the administration of ASX following varicocelectomy (VCT) could potentially enhance antioxidant status and semen quality in these patients. A total of 40 infertile males with clinical VC and abnormal semen analyses were randomly assigned to take part in the current trial. For 3 months following surgery, the intervention group took ASX (6 mg/day) while the control group received a placebo. After intervention, semen parameters, antioxidant status, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines were compared between the two groups. Regarding semen parameters, antioxidant treatment led to a significant improvement in total and progressive motility in the treatment group (p < 0.05). Additionally, ASX led to a considerable increase in the expression levels of NRF2, Keap1, SOD2, SOD3, and BCL2, though the enhancement in the expression level of SOD3 was not statistically significant (p >.05). However, ASX significantly decreased the BAX expression level (p <.05). Even though the level of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of seminal fluid (SF) increased significantly in the treatment group (p <.05), the level of total oxidative stress (TOS) in SF did not differ substantially between treatment and control groups (p >.05). Based on inflammatory factors in SF, ASX led to a considerable reduction in levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 (p <.05). Our findings demonstrated that ASX treatment provides an important contribution to VCT outcomes by modulating antioxidant status and pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Our results indicated that ASX may be beneficial as an adjuvant therapy for infertile men following VCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a natural carotenoid compound found in several of microorganisms and seafood. It may have numerous therapeutic benefits for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ASX on lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), blood pressure (BP), and oxidative stress (OS) levels in infertile PCOS patients. Overall, 58 infertile women with diagnosed PCOS participated in this triple‐blind randomized clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to two groups, taking either a placebo or ASX (2 × 6 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Blood serum samples were collected from patients before and after the intervention. Fasting Insulin (FI), fasting blood glucose (FBS), OS markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]), and lipid profiles were evaluated in serum. Moreover, based on the relevant formula, several indices associated with IR were calculated. BP was also assessed at the start and end of the study. After 8 weeks of ASX consumption, a significant reduction was observed in fasting blood sugar, HOMA‐IR, FI, MDA, low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, and TC/HDL‐C. Conversely, ASX significantly increased TAC, HDL‐C, and QUICKI. After adjusting the analysis for the baseline values of age, body mass index, and biochemical parameters, non‐significant values were obtained for QUICKI and FI, along with no changes in other findings. Overall, ASX appears to be an effective and safe supplement that alleviates insulin metabolism, lipid profile parameters, and OS in infertile PCOS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: To investigate potential oxalate‐degrading bacteria, including Oxalobacter formigenes, Lactobacillus (Lac) and Bifidobacterium (Bif) genera, and Oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase (oxc) encoding Lac (LX) and Bif (BX) species in participants with recurrent calcium kidney stones, and their correlation with 24‐h urine oxalate. Participants and Methods: Stool and 24‐h urine samples were collected from 58 patients with urolithiasis (29 cases with and 29 without hyperoxaluria) and 29 healthy controls. Absolute quantitation and relative abundance of the bacteria were measured by real‐time PCR. The relationship between the investigated bacteria and 24‐h urine oxalate were assessed statistically. Results: The count per gram of stool and relative abundance of O. formigenes, Lac, Bif,LX and BX and the number of participants carrying O. formigenes,LX and BX bacteria were not significantly different between the groups; however, the relative abundance of O. formigenes in the kidney stone group was lower than in healthy controls (P = 0.035). More healthy controls were O. formigenes‐positive compared with participants in the kidney stone group (P = 0.052). The results of the linear regression model, including all study participants, showed that the presence of O. formigenes could decrease 24‐h urine oxalate (β = −8.4, P = 0.047). Neither Lac and Bif genera nor LX and BX species were correlated with calcium stones or urine oxalate. Conclusion: These results emphasize the role of O. formigenes in kidney stone formation and its role in hyperoxaluria, which may be independent of kidney stone disease. Moreover, our results suggest that, although some Lac and Bif strains have oxalate‐degrading potential, they may not be among the major oxalate‐degrading bacteria of the gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies that affects women in reproductive age. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in normal function of female reproductive system and folliculogenesis. Deregulated expression of miRNAs in PCOS condition may be significantly implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS. We determined relative expression of miR-15a, miR-145, and miR-182 in granulosa-lutein cells (GLCs), follicular fluid (FF), and serum of PCOS patients.Methods: Human subjects were divided into PCOS (n = 20) and control (n = 21) groups. GLCs, FF, and serum were isolated and stored. RNA isolation was performed and cDNA was reversely transcribed using specific stem-loop RT primers. Relative expression of miRNAs was calculated after normalization against U6 expression. Correlation of miRNAs' expression level with basic clinical features and predictive value of miRNAs in FF and serum were appraised.Results: Relative expression of miR-145 and miR-182 in GLCs was significantly decreased in PCOS, but miR-182 in FF of PCOS patients revealed up-regulated levels. Significant correlations between level of miRNAs in FF and serum and hormonal profile of subjects were observed. MiR-182 in FF showed a significant predictive value with AUC of 0.73, 76.4% sensitivity, and 70.5% specificity which was improved after combination of miR-182 and miR-145.Conclusions: A significant dysregulation of miR-145 and miR-182 in GLCs of PCOS may indicate their involvement in pathogenesis of PCOS. Differential up-regulation of miR-182 in FF of PCOS patients with its promising predictive values for discrimination of PCOS reinforced the importance of studying miRNAs' profile in FF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D has multifaceted function in human reproductive physiology. It has been revealed that vitamin D is involved in spermatogenesis, and semen quality can be linked to vitamin D status in men. Objective: Evaluating the correlation of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels in serum with basic and advanced semen parameters and essential determinants of spermatozoa function. Materials and Methods: Participants were categorized, based on semen parameters, into normozoospermic (NS) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men. Serum level of 25-OHD was measured. Apoptotic status of spermatozoa, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species content of semen were assessed. Results: Difference of 25-OHD concentration in serum of NS men versus OAT ones did not meet significance threshold. DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species content of semen and mitochondrial membrane potential state revealed significant difference between NS and OAT subjects. There were no significant differences in basic and functional semen parameters when men were stratified based on serum 25-OHD level. Taking both 25-OHD and semen categories (NS and OAT) into consideration did not indicate any significant difference in studied parameters. Total motility of spermatozoa was positively correlated with serum concentration of 25-OHD in all studied subjects. In addition, normal morphology of spermatozoa in NS men revealed a positive and significant correlation with levels of 25-OHD in serum. Conclusion: Vitamin D may affect motility and morphology of spermatozoa. Lower content of serum vitamin D may affect fertility of men and should be considered in examination of men with abnormal spermogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Astaxanthin (ASX) is a lipid-soluble keto-carotenoid with several biological effects. These effects may benefit polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. Imbalanced apoptosis/anti-apoptosis signaling has been considered the major pathogenesis of PCOS. In a randomized clinical trial, we tested the impact of ASX on the apoptotic pathway in PCOS granulosa cells (GCs). The present study hypothesizes that ASX may improve apoptosis in PCOS patients., Materials and Methods: This trial recruited patients with confirmed PCOS. A total of 58 patients were randomly assigned to take ASX (12 mg) or placebo for 8 weeks. Aspirated follicular fluid (FF) and blood samples were taken from both groups to measure BAX and BCL2 protein expression. Following FF aspiration, GCs from both groups were obtained; Real-Time PCR and Western blotting were used to evaluate the apoptotic pathway's gene and protein expression levels in GCs. BAXBCL2 ., Results: In GCs analysis, ASX reduced DR5 gene and protein expression after 8 weeks compared to placebo(p<0.05). Also, Caspase8 (p>0.05) and BAX (p<0.05) gene expression declined, although the difference was not statistically significant for Caspase8 . Besides,ASX treatment contributed to an elevated BCL2 gene expression in GCs(p<0.05). In FF and serum analysis, a statistically significant increase was found in BCL2 concentration in the ASX group (p<0.05). Moreover, a reduction in BAX level was confirmed in both FF and serum of the ASX group; however, this change was not significant in the serum (p>0.05)., Conclusion: It seems that ASX consumption among women with PCOS improved serum and FF levels of apoptotic factors and modulated genes and protein expression of the apoptosis pathway in GCs. Nevertheless, further investigations are needed to reveal the potential role of this compound in PCOS treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that there is no conflict of interest.

Objective: To investigate whether there was a difference in pregnancy outcomes between modified natural cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer (NC-FET) cycles and artificial cycles (AC)-FET in women who all had regular menstrual cycles., Materials and Methods: One hundred seventy patients who met the inclusion criteria and had at least two cryopreserved embryos were included in a prospective randomized controlled trial. Eighty-five patients were randomized based on Bernoulli distribution into the following two groups: 1) Modified NC-FET using human chorionic gonadotropin for ovulation induction and 2) AC-FET, in which endometrial timing was programmed with estrogen and progesterone. The main studied outcome measure was the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle., Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups with regard to the chemical, clinical, and ongoing pregnancy rates (48.2% vs 45.9%, p>0.05; 38.9% vs 35.3%, p>0.05; and 37.6% vs 34.1%, p>0.05, respectively), as well as the live birth or miscarriage rates per cycle (35.3% vs 31.8%, p>0.05; and 1.2% vs 1.2%, p>0.05, respectively)., Conclusion: These findings suggest that although both FET protocols are equally effective in terms of pregnancy outcomes in women with regular menstrual cycles, NC-FET is more favorable because it requires no medication, has no adverse events, and has a significant cost reduction., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartially of the research reported.