Objective: To investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on anxiety and depression in infertile women. Methods: This study was performed in 2019 by searching Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed/ MEDLINE, Cochrane library, EMBASE, Proquest, ISI Web of Science, MagIran, SID and IranMedex. Eligible studies were selected by two reviewers and outcomes of interest were extracted. The meta-analysis was performed using the random effect models. I - square statistic test was used for heterogeneity analysis. Presence of publication bias was also checked. Results: Eleven studies were included in this review. Between-group differences (cognitive behavioral therapy and control groups) in risk ratio for infertile women's depression was d=-1.36; 95% CI=-1.81, -0.90; P<0.001. For infertile women's anxiety, between-group differences in risk ratio was d= -0.83; 95% CI= -1.18, -0.47; P<0.001. Conclusions: Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the reduction of depression and anxiety in patients with or without in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. However, the lack of high-quality studies makes it challenging to make a solid and precise conclusion. Well-designed studies should be undertaken in the future to confirm these results

Objective: To evaluate the impact of prolonged post-thaw embryos culture on pregnancy outcome during frozen embryo transfer cycles. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated 324 thaw transfer cycles with 819 embryos from 269 patients at the Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility of Hue University Hospital in Vietnam. These frozen embryo transfer cycles were divided into two groups at the time of thawing: the short culture group (2-hour post-thaw culture) and the overnight culture group (overnight culture for 18 h) before the embryo was transferred into the uterus. The rates of embryo intact, grade A embryo at frozen and transfer time and continuing cleavage were recorded. The clinical outcomes including serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, clinical pregnancy and implantation rate were evaluated after 14 days, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, respectively, after embryo transfer. Results: Human chorionic gonadotropin positive occurred in 39.5% of patients in the short culture group compared to 25.9% in the overnight culture group with risk difference (RD)=13.6%, relative risk (RR)=1.343, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.085-1.663, P<0.01. Clinical pregnancy rate of the short culture group and overnight culture group was 33.3% and 24.1%, respectively (RD=9.2%, RR=1.242, 95% CI 0.996-1.549, P =0.06) and the implantation rate in the short culture group and overnight culture group was 16.5% and 11.0%, respectively (RD=5.5%, RR=1.244, 95% CI 1.046-1.479, P =0.01). In women of advanced age (>35 years) and women who received 3 embryos, pregnancy outcomes were found to be significantly (P <0.05) higher in the short culture than in the overnight culture group. Conclusions: The prolonged post-thaw culture period does not increase pregnancy outcome in comparison with the short culture.

Objective: To study the protective effect of Citrus reticulata peel extract against potassium dichromate-induced reproductive impairment in male Wistar rats. Methods: A total of 35 male Wistar rats were equally divided into 5 groups. The control group orally received an equivalent volume of saline (1 mL); group 2 was given potassium dichromate at 10 mg/kg/body weight (b.w.) orally for eight weeks; group 3 and 4 orally received Citrus reticulata peel extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg/b.w. respectively, followed by treatment with potassium dichromate. Group 5 was administered with 400 mg/kg/b.w. Citrus reticulata peel extract only. The parameters including oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes), sex hormones (testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone) and inflammation indexes (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, inter leukin 6) were measured. Sperm characteristics (sperm morphology, motility and count) were also determined. Results: The decrease of male sex hormones concentration in plasma (testosterone, luteinizing hormone), testicular antioxidant parameters (reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, carnitine), sperm motility and sperm count induced by potassium dichromate was mitigated by Citrus reticulata peel extract. Moreover, the peel extract alleviated the increase of sperm abnormalities, follicle-stimulating hormone, testicular malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide levels caused by potassium dichromate. The sections of rats treated with the potassium dichromate were characterized by some histopathological changes as disorganization of spermatogonial cell layers and deformation of Leydig cells. A positive immune-reaction for p53 was observed in testicular cells of the rats treated with potassium dichromate. The extract of Citrus reticulata peel improved the testicular histology and decreased p53 positive immune-reaction in potassium dichromate administered rats. Conclusions: Citrus reticulata peel extract can alleviate the reproductive toxicity triggered by potassium dichromate via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Citrus reticulata peel extract may act as a new natural prophylactically agent for the treatment of potassium dichromate-induced testicular damage.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Crassocephalum (C.) bauchiense (Hutch) leaf aqueous extract on the biochemical markers of toxicity, oxidative stress indicators and reproductive parameters in rabbit does (Oryctolagus cuniculus) exposed to potassium dichromate. Methods: A total of 36 nulliparous and sexually mature female rabbit does, aged 8 months and weighing 2.8-3.0 kg, were divided into 6 groups of 6 animals. After mating, group T0 received distilled water (1 mL/kg body weight), while groups T0-, VC100, AE100, AE200 and AE400 were treated with 40 mg/mL/kg body weight of potassium dichromate. In addition, group VC100 received 100 mg/mL/kg body weight of vitamin C, while groups AE100, AE200 and AE400 received aqueous extract of C. bauchiense leaves at 100, 200 and 400 mg/mL/kg body weight, by oral gavage for 27 days, respectively. On the 28th day post-coïtum, animals were sacrificed. Biochemical indicators such as creatinine, urea, alanine amino tranferase, aspartate amino transferase, total protein and total cholesterol were measured by using a spectrophotometer. Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and progesterone were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay. Oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase and total peroxidase in ovary homogenates were measured by spectrophotometer. Results: Serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total cholesterol were significantly higher (P<0.05), and total protein level was significantly lower in T0- group (receiving potassium dichromate only) compared to other groups. Administration of ethanolic extract of C. bauchiense significantly decreased serum concentrations of urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total cholesterol, and significantly increased total protein level. However, ethanolic extract of C. bauchiense had no significant effect on the foetotoxic characteristics. The serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were significantly (P<0.05) lower in T0- group as compared to the control group while progesterone were comparable (P>0.05) among all groups; C. bauchiense leaf extracts significantly (P<0.05) increased the level of follicle stimulating hormone, but the increase in luteinizing hormone was not significant (P>0.05). Catalase and total peroxidase activities significantly decreased (P<0.05), and malondialdehyde significantly increased in T0- group compared to other groups. The administration of C. bauchiense leaf extracts significantly (P<0.05) increased the activities of catalase and peroxidase. Received 27 January 2019 Revision 6 April 2019 Accepted 20 July 2019 Available online 7 November 2019 Crassocephalum bauchiense Foetotoxicity Potassium dichromate Rabbit doe Reproduction Conclusions: Potassium dichromate-induced oxidative stress involves in hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and reprotoxicity. The aqueous extract of C. bauchiense leaves could mitigate these adverse effects via antioxidant properties.

Objective: To monitor serum inflammatory cytokines during induction of benign prostate hyperplasia in dogs. Methods: This research was designed as a case-control study. There were 20 adult mixed-breed intact male dogs, which were divided into the normal group (n=10) and the benign prostate hyperplasia group (n=10). In the benign prostate hyperplasia group, benign prostate hyperplasia was induced by injection of testosterone (75.00 mg/dog, i.m.) and estrogen (0.75 mg/dog, i.m.) on day 0 (day of the first injection), day 21, day 42, and day 63. The doses of testosterone were doubled on days 21, 42, and 63. The normal group did not receive any injection. Blood sampling was performed from the jugular vein at days 0, 21, 42, and 63. The concentrations of interleukin-8, interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The levels of interleukin-8, interleukin-10 and TNF-α were not significantly different between the normal group and the benign prostate hyperplasia group. Also, concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cutokines were not significantly different between the normal group and the BPH group in each day of sampling. Conclusions: In spite of the induction of benign prostate hyperplasia, changes in the concentration of blood serum inflammatory cytokines were not significantly different with that of the normal group and between the days of induction of benign prostate hyperplasia during two months. It reveals that there is a stable state of serum inflammatory cytokines during induction of benign prostate hyperplasia in dogs.

Objective: To assess the effect of L-carnitine supplementation during in vitro oocyte maturation and in vitro culture process of bovine oocytes. Methods: L-carnitine (3.8 mM) was added to maturation medium and the effect was assessed in the quality (Experiment 1) and in the cleavage and 4-cells stage (Experiment 2). Besides, the effect of L-carnitine addition on maturation medium (3.8 mM) and culture medium (1.5 mM) on embryo rate production was assessed. In Experiment 1, bovine oocytes from abattoir were randomly separated into two groups (the control group and L-carnitine group) for in vitro maturation. Matured oocytes were examined for cumulus cells expansion as an indicator of maturation, and the content of the mitochondrial activity, the presence of lipid droplets, the reduced glutathione, and the reactive oxygen species were measured by using specific fluorochromes. In Experiment 2, oocytes were matured as performed in Experiment 1, afterward fertilized and cultured until day 3, and cleavage rate and 4-cells stage rate were determinated. In Experiment 3, in vitro maturation and fertilization were done as performed in Experiment 2, but at day 3 of culture, each group of embryos was separated into two new groups, and L-carnitine (1.5 mM) was added in culture media until day 8. The cleavage and embryo development rate were determined on the basis with the oocytes put on maturation. Hatching rate was calculated from cleaved embryos. Results: The cumulus expansion rate at grade III and mitochondrial activity were significantly higher in the L-carnitine group in comparison with the control group (P <0.05). However, the content from the other variables tested did not significantly differ from the control group. Furthermore, the cleavage rate and 4-cells stage rate were similar in both groups (P >0.05). In addition, cleavage and the proportion of embryo development and hatching rate were similar for all groups (P >0.05). Received 30 March 2019 Revision 10 May 2019 Accepted 18 July 2019 Available online 7 November 2019 Antioxidants Culture supplement Embryo development Lipid droplets Maturation Mitochondria Conclusions: L-carnitine as a supplement in culture media improves the cumulus expansion and increases the mitochondrial activity during in vitro maturation process but has no apparent effect on the cleavage and development of bovine embryos. Further investigations of L-carnitine addition on in vitro culture are needed to test their effect on embryo quality.