Rationale - The male reproductive system is an organ sensitive to toxins, and nicotine exposure is recognized as a detrimental factor for male sexual function. Taraxasterol, a bioactive compound with antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties, has potential protective effects against cytotoxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of taraxasterol against nicotine toxicity in murine Leydig (TM3) and Sertoli (TM4) cell lines. Methods - Prior to the experiment, TM3/4 cells were treated with taraxasterol extract as a protective agent for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was then induced by exposure to nicotine for 24 h. Finally, cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), were quantified using commercial kits. The expression of steroidogenic and antioxidant enzyme genes was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR, while apoptosis was measured by assessing the DNA fragmentation rate. All experiments were performed in triplicate, and statistical data processing included analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Tukey's post-hoc test (p<0.05). Results - Although TM3/4 cytotoxicity was not detected up to a concentration of 32 & micro;M, a decrease in viability was detected at a concentration of 64 & micro;M (p<0.001). Nicotine caused a dose-dependent decrease in viability, with IC50 values of 81.67 +/- 5.34 & micro;M and 62.64 +/- 2.55 & micro;M for Leydig and Sertoli cells, respectively. Importantly, taraxasterol improved nicotine-impaired cell viability, accelerated the increase in GSH levels, decreased MDA levels, reduced ROS levels, suppressed apoptosis, and downregulated the expression of steroidogenic and antioxidant genes. Conclusion - Taraxasterol effectively protects Leydig and Sertoli cells from nicotine cytotoxicity by restoring cell viability and apoptotic gene expression, attenuating oxidative stress, and reducing apoptosis through steroidogenesis and antioxidant protection.
This study aimed to determine the role of emotional intimacy and sexual attitude in predicting sexual satisfaction, with the mediating role of hedonism and sensation seeking among childless married women in Kazeroon County. Material and Methods - This study was descriptive and correlational in nature. The statistical population consisted of women visiting family health centers in Kazeroon County in the fall of 2024. A total of 150 participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the following instruments: Sexual Satisfaction Scale by Hudson, Harrison and Crosscup, Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Scale by Besharat, Emotional Intimacy Scale by Walker and Thompson, Sensation-Seeking Scale by Zuckerman, and Snaith- Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Data were analyzed at both descriptive and inferential levels. Results - Emotional intimacy and sexual attitude statistically significantly correlated with hedonism, sensation seeking, and sexual satisfaction in women (P<0.050). The direct effect of emotional intimacy on sexual satisfaction was significant (P<0.050) as well. The direct effect of sexual attitude on hedonism and sensation seeking was also significant (P<0.050). Emotional intimacy had an indirect positive significant effect on sexual satisfaction through the mediating influence of hedonism, with a path coefficient of 0.64 (P<0.050). Sexual attitude had an indirect positive effect on sexual satisfaction in women through hedonism, with a path coefficient of 0.10 (P<0.050). Conclusion - This study identifies emotional intimacy, positive sexual attitudes, and hedonism as key predictors of sexual satisfaction among childless married women, highlighting their significant role in enhancing sexual well-being.
The objective of this study was to comparatively examine the effects of different cognitive load types on the development of mental fatigue, taking into account psychoemotional state and gender differences. Methods - The experiment enrolled 35 volunteers (57% women, 43% men). Mental fatigue was induced using 16 sets of cognitive tasks, each lasting 15 minutes. Two experimental series were employed: the first series involved solving an arithmetic subtraction problem, while the second one involved a short-term memory task. The psychoemotional state of the participants and psychological indicators were assessed before and after completing the cognitive load. Psychoemotional state was assessed using the Well-Being, Activity, Mood (WAM) questionnaire and A.B. Leonov's Acute Mental Fatigue Questionnaire. Cognitive functions were assessed using Anfimov's correction tables and the Kraepelin test. Statistical analysis included the Mann-Whitney test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results - The results demonstrated that arithmetic subtraction caused a more pronounced decrease in attentional performance (p <= 0.01) and an increase in the number of errors, while working memory load was more dependent on psychoemotional state. Substantial gender differences were identified: women had a chronic fatigue index twice as high as men, a greater increase in acute fatigue after the load, and a more pronounced decline in cognitive performance. Correlation analysis revealed a strong relationship between chronic fatigue, psychoemotional state, and cognitive performance, especially in women. The main results indicate that cognitive load causes significant changes in both the psychoemotional sphere and cognitive performance. Conclusion - Our findings highlight the need for a differentiated approach to preventive measures aimed at minimizing the negative consequences of cognitive load.
Objective - The aim of this study was to examine the dynamics of stress biomarkers and their association with psychological characteristics in healthcare workers during a pilot implementation of a program for reducing occupational burnout. Material and Methods - Physicians and nurses (n=20) from various clinics in Irkutsk, Russia, participated in the pilot program. Stress biomarkers included serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and salivary cortisol. Psychological indicators were measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Five Results - At follow-up, increased salivary cortisol levels were observed only in participants with low baseline burnout, while no significant changes in biomarkers were found in participants with high baseline burnout. In contrast, participants with high baseline burnout levels showed improvements in psychological measures, including reduced burnout symptoms and increased mindfulness. Conclusion - The results indicate heterogeneous psychological and physiological changes depending on baseline burnout levels. Psychological improvements were observed predominantly in participants with high burnout levels, while changes in salivary cortisol levels were observed solely in participants with low burnout levels. Given the pilot nature of the study, the results should be interpreted as preliminary.
Shared decision-making (SDM) is a collaborative approach to healthcare that integrates patient preferences with health care provider expertise to improve the quality of decisions. In family planning, SDM is critical to tailoring contraceptive methods to individual needs. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, examined factors influencing SDM implementation. A literature search in PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ScienceDirect databases identified ten eligible studies focused on reproductive age and health care providers. Results showed that influencing factors fell into three categories: related to health care providers (communication, empathy, decision aids), patient-related (preferences, lifestyle, insurance), and environmental (stigma, cultural norms, logistical barriers). Effective communication and trust were essential for the successful implementation of SDM, while stigma and systemic constraints were significant barriers, particularly in resource-limited settings. This review identifies multilevel factors influencing the implementation of a SDM model in family planning counseling and integrates them into a holistic framework, thereby providing a novel basis for developing and evaluating interventions to strengthen patient-centered decision-making regarding contraception.
