Objective: To give a brief overview of the field of epigenetics and the potential predictive power that small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) may hold in relation to improving the treatment and diagnosis of male infertility.

Methods: PRISMA-ScR was used as the scoping review guideline for this investigation. All article data here have been accessed from MEDLINE-PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, Sage Journals, and Google Scholar. The terms "small non coding RNA, male, infertility, miRNA, sperm" were used in the search between 2015 and 2023.

Results: The study comprised 35 publications in total. Several sncRNAs, miR-155, miR-16, miR-196, miR-525-3p, miR-891 were found to be effective in regulating the mechanism of spermatozoa processing in the infertility of men. sncRNA can be used as a biomarker of male infertility.

Conclusions: sncRNAs can act as biomarkers for the diagnosis of reproductive diseases. Actually, by recognizing sncRNAs and their mechanisms, a new way to treat infertile men would be paved. The functional annotation of sncRNAs in spermatogenesis is still in its infancy but has enormous potential. This is despite the fact that many potential sncRNAs have been found to date with the use of cutting-edge technology and publicly accessible sncRNA annotation tools.

Objective: To present an overview of the adverse effects of water pipe smoking on various aspects of reproduction and perinatal complications, covering all the most relevant studies, from descriptive findings to clinical trials.

Methods: We reviewed the literature and included full publications in English provided by international biomedical databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library over the last 38 years (May 1985 to June 2023). Search terms (Water pipe, Narghile, Shisha, Dokha, etc., and Reproduction, Fertility, etc.) were adopted from Medical Subheading (MeSH) and Boolean operators were utilized to improve sensitivity.

Results: 133 Papers were identified in the initial search, of which 29 were excluded due to duplication. Eliminating search overlap and irrelevant records by reviewing titles and abstracts reduced 42 papers. 62 Full-publication articles met the inclusion criteria. We summarized the effects of waterpipe smoke exposure on reproductive health based on three main categories: male and female fertility, fetal and neonatal outcomes, and pregnancy complications.

Conclusions: Water pipe smoking has potential adverse effects on different aspects of human reproductive health, including semen parameters, male and female fertility, and fetal and neonatal health, and contributes to many maternal complications and morbidities.

Objective: To analyze the sociological support system available for left-behind wives of male outmigrants and develop a model that predicts the antenatal care (ANC) services utilization.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural regions of the Patna district, India. The sample size (n=328) was estimated using Cochran's formula. Five parameters of the social support system were identified (autonomy, spousal support, family support, social circle support, and government support). The score for each was calculated as a composite score using multiple variables; these served as independent variables. The respondents were categorized as efficient and non-efficient users of ANC service based on established criteria.

Results: The regression results showed that four out of five social parameters had a significant effect on ANC behavior. Spousal support was the strongest predictor (standardized regression coefficient β=0.57, OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08-1.79, P=0.007). Government support was found to be the second strongest predictor (β=0.40, OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.04-2.14, P=0.027), followed by family support (β=0.31, OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.23-2.57, P=0.034) and autonomy (β=0.11, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11-2.26, P=0.030). The social circle support was found to be non-significant in predicting ANC behavior (P>0.05).

Conclusions: The policymakers could focus on the identified predictors to strengthen and modify the existing policies for left-behind wives of male outmigrants. The need of the hour is a strategic intervention for behavioral modification of not only the left-behind wives but also their family members along with reinforcement of the existing social-security net. One strategy we suggest is to launch an awareness campaign focusing on husbands (male outmigrants) and family members.

Objective: To select the appropriate concentrations of methanolic pomegranate extract supplemented in rams' semen extender for obtaining the best-cryopreserved semen quality.

Methods: Tris-based semen extender was supplemented with 0.0, 0.40, 0.48, and 0.56 mg/mL pomegranate peel methanolic extract to extend semen collected from five native rams twice weekly for two months (n=80). Pooled (n=16) post-thaw semen characteristics were determined. Thawed seminal plasma of all supplemented and control groups were used to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbic acid, zinc, copper, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

Results: The supplementation of Tris-based semen extender with 0.48 mg/mL semen extender resulted in the highest post-thaw sperm total motility (P<0.001), sperm progressive motility (P<0.001), live sperm (P<0.001), sperm plasma membrane integrity (P<0.001), acrosome integrity (P<0.001), SOD (P<0.05), zinc (P<0.001), total cholesterol (P<0.001), and LDL (P<0.001) with the lowest percentage of abnormal sperm morphology (P<0.001), the lowest lipid peroxidation (MDA, P<0.01), ascorbic acid (P>0.05), and LDH (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Pomegranate peel methanolic extract 0.48 mg/mL supplemented to Tris-based semen extender of rams is the best enrichment in preserving the sperm post-thaw characteristics via improving biochemical profiles and antioxidant capacity.

Objective: To investigate the effect of taxifolin added to rabbit semen on freezing-induced cold-shock damages in spermatozoa.

Methods: Semen was collected from six adult New Zealand rabbits once a week by artificial vagina. The collected semen was pooled at 38 °C and divided into four equal volumes. They were diluted with 0, 50, 100 and 200 μM taxifolin-containing Tris + egg yolk extender at 38 °C and their temperatures were lowered to 4 °C. Following equilibration, semen drawn into 0.25 mL straws were frozen in an automatic semen freezing device and stored in liquid nitrogen container at -196 °C. Samples were thawed in 38 °C water for 25 s and the analyses of motility, kinematic parameters, morphological deformities, changes in membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, dead-live ratio, acrosomal damages and as well as oxidative stress analyses were performed in semen.

Results: Addition of 50 μM taxifolin significantly improved motility (total, progressive, rapid and static), high mitochondrial membrane potential and the ratios of spermatozoa with acrosomal damage compared to the control group. Compared to the control group, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the 50 and 100 μM taxifolin groups were significantly lower, while the MDA level was high and viable spermatozoa ratio was low in the 200 μM taxifolin group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of kinematic parameters, morphological deformities, membrane integrity and antioxidant levels.

Conclusions: The low dose of taxifolin (50 μM) has a positive effect and the high dose (200 μM) has a negative effect. Therefore, it is concluded that the addition of low-dose (50 μM) taxifolin to the extenders would be a useful additive in reducing cold-shock damage that occurs during freezing of rabbit semen.