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Introduction: recent studies in the field of infertility have showed the implications of immunologic substances in infertility and prenatal problems. These substances, including antisperm antibody (ASA), are the result of immune system reactions of male or his partner against sperms. Studies mentioned different mechanisms for production of these antibodies such as destruction of sperm-blood barrier in male or female body. It seems to be that these antibodies block sperms and decrease their motility and fertility potency. Dorr et al showed these antibodies are specific for each person. This paper aims to review current treatments in this field. If antisperm antibodies are causes of infertilities the costs of current infertility treatments can be hugely reduced. Materials and Methods: This study was written using relevant articles published during the period 2004-2013 in PubMed. Keywords including anti-sperm antibody abd infertility were used to find articles. Results: Studies indicated controversies regarding the implication of these antibodies. Zini et al in 2011 evaluated the effect of ASA on sperms in IVF and ICSI in vitro environment in Mc. Hill University. They reported no significant correlation between ASA level and spermatic motility factors, morphology and their fertility potency. Another study shows the same result in 2007. In 2010, Check examined the ASA effects on human body and reported decreasing fertility rate in sperms covered with ASA to one third. In 2008, Wlilliams found murine FA-1 antigen and YLP(12) in infertile women who were the cause of infertility. He suggested to produce a vaccine against these agents. Conclusion: Given the probable role of ASA in infertility, we could use simpler, cheaper methods to control this antibody in infertile couples instead of costly methods like IVF or IICSI. This method can even be used as a reliable contraceptive. Still, the results are shrouded in controversy and larger sample sizes are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The growth and development of germ cells is a process which starts in fetus and will be completed in puberty. Spermatogonial stem cells in mammals, will maintain the capability of spermatogenesis during life time. These undifferentiated stem cells have the ability (potency) to be self-renewed and differentiate into mature sperms. These abilities are regulated by a series of mechanisms, including gene expression and also extrinsic gene signals. Various therapeutic factors or toxic agents (which come from the environment) can harm human testis because of its susceptibility to different damages. Materials and Methods: This study was performed based on recent related articles published in PubMed database. Keywords including stem cell, spermatogonial stem cells and infertility were used to obtain articles. Results and Conclusion: There is a possibility for the transplantation and transfer of spermatogonial stem cell in order to preserve fertility in patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. According to the studies, the development and preservation of human fertility with germ cell transplantation is not certainly proved, but it has been argued that it could be appropriate (suitable) for young patients suffering from cancer with no other way of preserving fertility. Today, this method accounts as an important research tool in animal laboratory and its clinical applications in experimental works are considerable; however, many different features of this method should be determined and optimized before it is clinically used for men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medial gastrocnemius strain (MGS), is the most common cause of mid-calf pain in athletes due to the stretch of the gastrocnemius muscle when the knee is in extension and the ankle is in dorsiflexion. Chronological age and previous calf injury are the most substantial risk factors for MGS, including high body mass index, previous lower limb injuries, L5 radiculopathy, and inadequate warm-up. The dominant presentation of MGS is a pain that can be diverse from acute to latent, which is felt in the posteromedial aspect of the calf and is often preceded by a feeling of a pop. The signs of MGS include antalgic gait, ecchymosis, swelling, local tenderness, and sometimes a palpable gap felt along the muscle. Passive dorsiflexion of the ankle or resistive ankle plantarflexion with knee extension can indicate a more severe injury, while functional tests can illicit milder injuries of calf muscles-including gastrocnemius. The diagnosis of MGS is usually made by clinical evaluation. However, imaging modalities-including magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound-can be helpful in case of suspicion. In most cases of MGS, the cornerstone of treatment is nonoperative rehabilitation, which can be performed as a 4-phase program and should be tailored individually. Some instances of MGS are referred for early or later surgical treatment if indicated. In this article, we review the literature about various aspects of MGS, from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, and propose a structured approach to this injury., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Iran University of Medical Sciences.)

Introduction: Nowadays, a lot of body contouring devices and methods are introduced all over the world. The object of the present narrative review was to update and classify existing evidence on these methods and devices., Methods: We searched databases including PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar for 11 essential keywords, including cryolipolysis, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), shock wave, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), radiofrequency (RF), capacitive resistive electrical transfer (TECAR), high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM), electromyostimulation (EMS), carboxytherapy, mesotherapy, and acupuncture and their abbreviations, in addition to obesity, overweight, cellulite, subcutaneous fat, and body contouring., Results: Totally 193 references were used in 11 main topics., Conclusion: In order to help physicians with finding the best evidence in different methods, the data were summarised in 11 topics. Furthermore, FDA-approved devices, side effects and common protocols were described in each section., Level of Evidence I: This journal requires that authors 39 assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full 40 description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, 41 please refer to the Table of Contents or the online 42 Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.)

Background: Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is currently used for liver transplantation (LT) allocation, however, it is not a sufficient criterion., Objective: This current study aims to perform a hybrid neural network analysis of different data, make a decision tree and finally design a decision support system for improving LT prioritization., Material and Methods: In this cohort follow-up-based study, baseline characteristics of 1947 adult patients, who were candidates for LT in Shiraz Organ Transplant Center, Iran, were assessed and followed for two years and those who died before LT due to the end-stage liver disease were considered as dead cases, while others considered as alive cases. A well-organized checklist was filled for each patient. Analysis of the data was performed using artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machines (SVM). Finally, a decision tree was illustrated and a user friendly decision support system was designed to assist physicians in LT prioritization., Results: Between all MELD types, MELD-Na was a stronger determinant of LT candidates' survival. Both ANN and SVM showed that besides MELD-Na, age and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) are the most important factors, resulting in death in LT candidates. It was cleared that MELD-Na <23, age <53 and ALP <257 IU/L were the best predictors of survival in LT candidates. An applicable decision support system was designed in this study using the above three factors., Conclusion: Therefore, Meld-Na, age and ALP should be used for LT allocation. The presented decision support system in this study will be helpful in LT prioritization by LT allocators., Competing Interests: None, (Copyright: © Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering.)

Cutaneous injury can ignite excessive fibroproliferative growth that results in keloid formation. Keloids are associated with significant morbidity related to disfigurement and/or symptoms (e.g., pain and pruritus). First-line treatment of formed keloids involves topical or intralesional steroids. Recurrent or resistant keloids are managed by surgical excision or cryotherapy, followed by steroidal application or adjuvant irradiation. Although adjuvant irradiation appears to be most efficacious, alternative therapeutic options are needed for patients without access to radiation centers. Botulinum Toxin A (BTA) appears to have similar inhibitory effects to irradiation on the cell cycle via downregulation of pathogenic cytokines. Herein, we conducted a study to compare the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone used alone, or in combination with BTA, in the treatment of formed keloid scars. Twenty patients with a cumulative of 40 keloids completed the study. There was no significant difference between treatment arms with respect to height vascularization, pliability, and pigmentation scores. The addition of BTA resulted in significant symptomatic improvement of pain and pruritus as compared to intralesional triamcinolone alone (p < 0.001). Irradiation is only effective when administered in the adjuvant setting where inhibitory effects on cell cycle and migration are optimized. Future studies with intralesional triamcinolone and BTA should be performed adjuvantly., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Fractional CO2 laser and autologous hair transplantation are independently effective in the treatment of refractory and stable vitiligo., Objective: The authors' purpose was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of fractional CO2 laser pretreatment compared with autologous hair transplantation and phototherapy alone for refractory and stable vitiligo., Methods: A total of 20 patients with refractory and stable vitiligo were enrolled from our clinic. Resistant lesions randomly divided into 2 regions as follows: (1) Part A: fractional CO2 laser pretreatment followed by autologous transplantation and phototherapy, and (2) Part B: autologous transplantation and phototherapy alone. Five days after fractional CO2 laser application to Part A, both treatment regions received a transplant of scalp grafts. On Day 11, the entire lesion was exposed to narrow-band UVB phototherapy, twice a week for 12 weeks. The diameter of perifollicular repigmentation was measured monthly with a caliper., Results: Perifollicular repigmentation was detectable surrounding 74% of grafted hair follicles by Month 3. Furthermore, Part A demonstrated a significantly greater diameter of repigmentation with 6.6 ± 5.8 mm in Part A compared with 4.3 ± 1.8 mm in Part B (p = <.001)., Conclusion: In this study, our results demonstrate improved efficacy of autologous hair transplantation and narrow-band UVB with fractional CO2 laser pretreatment in refractory and stable vitiligo.

Introduction: The aim of this study was aim to evaluate cardiac function by means of echocardiography in patients with sickle cell anemia., Methods: This was a case control study that evaluated a total of 44 patients with sickle cell anemia, who were on regular follow up, and 44 age/sex-matched normal healthy control subjects. M-mode, two-dimensional, Doppler and pulse tissue-Doppler echocardiographic measurements were performed in both groups., Results: The mean age was 14.06 ± 6.4 years (55% female, 45% male). The mean hemoglobin, hemoglobin F, and serum ferritin levels were 9.4 ± 1.20 g/dL, 22.7 ± 12.9 g/dL, and 391 ± 590 ng/dL respectively. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography showed that the early diastolic trans-tricuspid peak flow velocity was greater in the patients than in the control subjects. Assessment of the lateral mitral and tricuspid annulus peak velocities by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging showed that the patients had significantly greater systolic, and early and late diastolic velocities than the controls. The left ventricular diameter, interventricular septum diameter, and posterior wall diameter were statistically significantly greater in the patients compared with the control group, whereas there was no difference in ejection fraction., Conclusion: Sickle cell anemia in children results in a volume-overloaded heart with a significant increase in left ventricular dimensions. However, left ventricular systolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension were not frequent findings in our patients.