The Impact of Traditional Medicine-Based Lifestyle and Diet on Infertility Treatment in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The problem of infertility is growing rapidly in the world. Traditional medicine with thousands of years of history has claimed that it can treat some kinds of infertility using nutritional and lifestyle modifications and interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a traditional medicine-oriented diet and lifestyle on infertility treatment. Based on a clinical trial study, 180 infertile women who were 20–40 years old and candidates for in vitro fertilization (IVF) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group used diet and lifestyle recommendations based on Iranian traditional medicine for at least 3 months. The number of ova, mature ovum number, embryo number, embryo quality, and fertilization rate were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (for all items; p < 0.05). Overall pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the intervention group (35.2 vs. 12.4%; odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% CI, 1.8–8.3). The intervention group had a higher rate of getting spontaneous pregnancy than the control group (20.9 vs. 2.2%; OR, 11.5; 95% CI, 2.6–50.9). Chemical pregnancy was significantly higher in the intervention group (64 vs. 27.5%; OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.9–11.6). Diet and lifestyle modifications based on traditional medicine can contribute greatly to the infertility treatment. Thus, many infertility cases can be treated without the need to use advanced methods. In case of using assisted reproductive techniques, traditional medicine can enhance the efficiency of these methods.

Correction of Anovulation one of the major cause of Vandhyatva - A Case Study

Anovulation is the failure to produce a mature ovum by ovary. Anovulatory factor is an important subset in infertility among women accounting about 40% of cases. In such patients ovulation induction is a rescuer. Infertility brings marital disharmony, social rejection which results in anxiety and disappointment. In Ayurveda, Vandhyatva is a Vata Dosha Pradhana Vyadi and Ovulation is under the control of Vata especially Apana Vata. Here Phalaghrita and Pushpadhanwa Rasa has been used to correct the anovulation. In this present article patient’s anovulation treated successfully

Mating and aggressive behaviour of Brachyrhaphis olomina (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae)

Despite the increasing interest in the use of intromittent male genitalia and coercive mating behaviour in poeciliids, detailed studies of the mating behaviour of most species in this family are lacking. We describe here the mating and aggressive behaviours of Brachyrhaphis olomina, and correlate them with the condition of the female’s ovum and embryos (immature, mature and pregnant). B. olomina performed a wide range of aggressive (sidle spread, tail beating, coordinate) and mating behaviours (approximation, touch, lateral display, touch-lateral display). Some behaviours (e.g. tail beating) are shared with other poeciliids, but two sexual behaviours (touch and lateral display) and one aggressive (coordinate) behaviour may be unique to B. olomina and were not reported in a previous study. Differences in male behaviour when paired with a female with mature ovum (more mating displays, no agonistic movements) suggest that males detect the female’s reproductive condition from some distance. The distinctive nature of mating behaviour in B. olomina highlights the importance of studying different species to have a better understanding of the evolution of mating and aggressive behaviours in poeciliids. Digital video images related to the article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo170720bo01a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo170720bo02a and http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo170720bo03a.

The mammalian zona pellucida: its biochemistry, immunochemistry, molecular biology, and developmental expression

Many studies of the molecular and biochemical aspects of mammalian fertilization have focused on the interaction of the spermatozoa with the zona pellucida (ZP). The zona pellucida, a unique extracellular matrix surrounding the mammalian oocyte, is formed during ovarian follicular development. Following ovulation of the mature ovum, the spermatozoa must bind to and penetrate this matrix before the fertilization process is completed and the male and female genetic information combine. Although numerous models for this interaction have been proposed, the complete process has yet to be elucidated. The precise mechanisms by which these interactions occur also vary markedly among different mammalian species, making it more difficult to establish a unified model. To a great extent, the study of the molecules involved in these interactions have been limited because small numbers of female gametes are available for these studies. The recent development of techniques to isolate large numbers of zonae pellucidae as well as advances in immunological and molecular biology techniques have permitted the detailed characterization of ZP proteins. Although there is a paucity of information on the post-translational modification and extracellular processing of these molecules which result in matrix formation, a number of properties have been elucidated allowing better correlation between the structure and function of different ZP proteins among species. This review reflects these studies in relation to protein nomenclature and the molecular complexity of ZP antigens.

The Origin and Fate of Annulate Lamellae in Maturing Sand Dollar Eggs

Electron micrograph evidence is presented that the nuclear envelope of the mature ovum of Dendraster excentricus is implicated in a proliferation of what appear as nuclear envelope replicas in the cytoplasm. The proliferation is associated with intranuclear vesicles which apparently coalesce to form comparatively simple replicas of the nuclear envelope closely applied to the inside of the nuclear envelope. The envelope itself may become disorganized at the time when fully formed annulate lamellae appear on the cytoplasmic side and parallel with it. The concept of interconvertibility of general cytoplasmic vesicles with most of the membrane systems of the cytoplasm is presented. The structure of the annuli in the annulate lamellae is shown to include small spheres or vesicles of variable size embedded in a dense matrix. Dense particles which are about 150 A in diameter are often found closely associated with annulate lamellae in the cytoplasm. Similar structures in other echinoderm eggs are basophilic. In this species, unlike other published examples, the association apparently takes place in the cytoplasm only after the lamellae have separated from the nucleus. If 150 A particles are synthesized by annulate lamellae, as their close physical relationship suggests, then in this species at least the necessary synthetic mechanisms and specificity must reside in the structure of annulate lamellae.

Memoirs: Observation on the Breeding and Development of the viviparous fish, Heterandria formosa

1. A short account is given of the breeding habits of Heterandria formosa in an aquarium. 2. The ovary and the mature ovum are briefly described, the noteworthy feature of the ripe ovum being the small quantity of yolk. 3. Degeneration of ova is found to be a common occurrence in unfertilized females, and to a less extent in those full of developing embryos. 4. The method for ensuring the fertilization of the egg within the follicle is portrayed. Over the area where the spermatozoa have entered the cells of the ovarian epithelium and those of the follicle form a solid plug which eventually disrupts to enable the fully developed embryo to escape into the cavity of the ovary. 5. It is characteristic of early development that the egg is encircled by a unilaminar ectoderm before there is any visible differentiation into endoderm and mesoderm. 6. Owing to the scarcity of yolk only a few periblast cells arise and no syncytial layer is formed. 7. The primitive-germ cells are visible at an early stage within the apparently undifferentiated mesendoderm cells. 8. A striking feature is the large size of the pericardium and its growth upwards as a pericardium hood which completely surrounds the head region of the embryo. Over the walls runs a network of blood-vessels from which the maternal capillaries become eventually separated by only an attenuated layer of protoplasm. Both respiration and nutrition are effected through the follicle. 9. A remarkable specialization is the development of a urinary bladder which expands into a thin-walled vesicle of enormous dimensions, finally occupying almost the entire area formerly filled by the pericardium and the yolk-granules. 10. The development of Heterandria is compared with that of other viviparous fishes. 11. The significance of the unusual features in early and late development is discussed and some comparisons are made with the conditions in higher vertebrates.

IV.—The Eggs and Larvæ of Teleosteans

The purpose of this memoir is (1) to make known a number of drawings and descriptions of the eggs, embryos, and larvæ of the species of Teleosteans which I have been able to study at the Scottish Marine Station; (2) to review as comprehensively as possible what is known at the present time concerning the structure of the embryos and larvæ of the species of Teleosteans, and to discover what features are common to each family or each order; (3) to discuss the changes which take place in the protoplasm and nucleus of the mature ovum immediately after it is shed, both when fertilised and when unfertilised. The ova of the following species were taken directly from the parent fish, and artificially fertilised. The necessary operations were carried out, in some cases by myself, on board fishing boats—usually steam trawlers from Granton. In many instances I did not myself go out in the boats, but the ova were obtained and brought to me at the laboratory by Alexander Turbyne, keeper of the station. But in every case there is no uncertainty as to the species of the fish from which the ova were taken; if there was any doubt, specimens of the parent fish were brought with the ova.