Testicular Nitric Oxide and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Levels in Obstructive Azoospermia: A Possible Role in Pathophysiology of Infertility

Objective. The aim of the study is to evaluate the levels of nitrite/nitrate and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and their relationship with seminal parameters in experimental obstructive azoospermic rats to explain the possible mechanism of impaired sperm quality in obstructive azoospermia. Methods. A total of 10 male Spraque-Dawley rats underwent bilateral vas resection and ligation (Group-1 = vasectomy group). The findings were compared with control group (Group-2 = sham group, n = 10). Animals were sacrificed 8 weeks after surgery. Testes were removed and used for the evaluation of nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels and for histology. Epididymal-aspirated seminal plasma was used for semen count and morphological analysis according to the Kruger criteria. Results. Testicular tissue nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels were 35.7 ± 3.1 μmol/g protein and 3.7 ± 0.1 nmol/g protein in Group-1, and 19.3 ± 0.7 μmol/g protein and 3.1 ± 0.1 nmol/g protein in Group-2, respectively. Both parameters showed statistical differences between the two groups. Testicular tissue nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels showed negative and statistically significant correlations with sperm motility and morphology. Conclusions. The present study showed that testicular nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels were increased in obstructive azoospermia. For that reason, we concluded that antioxidant treatment can be recommended to patients before sperm extraction for artificial reproduction due to obstructive infertility after vasectomy reversal

The effect of synbiotic tablet usage on the clinical and biochemical parameters in smokers and nonsmokers with gingivitis: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Introduction The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of oral administration of synbiotic tablets on the clinical parameters and the levels of selected inflammatory mediators in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in smokers and non-smokers with gingivitis. Methods Eighty patients with gingivitis (40 smoker (+), 40 non-smoker (-)), randomly assigned to test (T) or control (C) groups. Each subject was instructed to chew one tablet per day, during 30 days. Clinical parameters including plaque and gingival indices and GCF samples obtained from all subjects on baseline, 1st month, and 2nd month. The GCF levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were determined. Results All clinical and biochemical parameters for all groups were significantly reduced compared to baseline (p<0.05). GCF volume didn’t show a significant intergroup difference at any time whereas Plaque Index (PI) was significantly higher in both smoker groups compared with the T(-) group in the 2nd month follow-up (p<0.05). GCF levels of IL-8 in C(-) group, IL-6 in both control groups were significantly higher compared to T(+) group and IL-10 in both control groups were significantly higher compared to T(-) group at the 2nd month follow up (p<0.05). Conclusions Adjunctive synbiotic tablets enhance subclinic therapeutic outcomes regardless of smoking compared with placebo according to the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 variables