3,630 research outputs found
Effect of metabolic and antioxidant supplementation on sperm parameters in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia, with and without varicocele: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
Since sperm require high energy levels to perform their specialised function, it is vital that essential nutrients are available for spermatozoa when they develop, capacitate and acquire motility. However, they are vulnerable to a lack of energy and excess amounts of reactive oxygen species, which can impair sperm function, lead to immotility, acrosomal reaction impairment, DNA fragmentation and cell death. This monocentric, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effect of 6 months of supplementation with l-carnitine, acetyl-l-carnitine and other micronutrients on sperm quality in 104 subjects with oligo- and/or astheno- and/or teratozoospermia with or without varicocele. In 94 patients who completed the study, sperm concentration was significantly increased in supplemented patients compared to the placebo (p =.0186). Total sperm count also increased significantly (p =.0117) in the supplemented group as compared to the placebo group. Both, progressive and total motility were higher in supplemented patients (p =.0088 and p =.0120, respectively). Although pregnancy rate was not an endpoint of the study, of the 12 pregnancies that occurred during the follow-up, 10 were reported in the supplementation group. In general, all these changes were more evident in varicocele patients. In conclusion, supplementation with metabolic and antioxidant compounds could be efficacious when included in strategies to improve fertility
Chronic bacterial prostatitis: efficacy of short-lasting antibiotic therapy with prulifloxacin (Unidrox®) in association with saw palmetto extract, lactobacillus sporogens and arbutin (Lactorepens®)
Bacterial prostatitis (BP) is a common condition accounting responsible for about 5-10% of all prostatitis cases; chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) classified as type II, are less common but is a condition that significantly hampers the quality of life, (QoL) because not only is it a physical condition but also a psychological distress. Commonly patients are treated with antibiotics alone, and in particular fluoroquinolones are suggested by the European Urology guidelines. This approach, although recommended, may not be enough. Thus, a multimodal approach to the prolonged antibiotic therapy may be helpful.210 patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitis were enrolled in the study. All patients were positive to Meares-Stamey test and symptoms duration was > 3 months. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a long lasting therapy with a fluoroquinolone in association with a nutraceutical supplement (prulifloxacin 600 mg for 21 days and an association of Serenoa repens 320 mg, Lactobacillus Sporogens 200 mg, Arbutin 100 mg for 30 days). Patients were randomized in two groups (A and B) receiving respectively antibiotic alone and an association of antibiotic plus supplement.Biological recurrence at 2 months in Group A was observed in 21 patients (27.6%) and in Group B in 6 patients (7.8%). Uropathogens found at the first follow-up were for the majority Gram - (E. coli and Enterobacter spp.). A statistically significant difference was found at the time of the follow-up between Group A and B in the NIH-CPSI questionnaire score, symptoms evidence and serum PSA.Broad band, short-lasting antibiotic therapy in association with a nutritional supplement (serenoa repens, lactobacillus sporogens and arbutin) show better control and recurrence rate on patients affected by chronic bacterial prostatitits in comparison with antibiotic treatment alone.NCT02130713Date of trial Registration: 30/04/2014
European Guidelines for Obesity Management in Adults with a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background: The very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) has been recently proposed as an appealing nutritional strategy for obesity management. The VLCKD is characterized by a low carbohydrate content (<50 g/day), 1-1.5 g of protein/kg of ideal body weight, 15-30 g of fat/day, and a daily intake of about 500-800 calories. Objectives: The aim of the current document is to suggest a common protocol for VLCKD and to summarize the existing literature on its efficacy in weight management and weight-related comorbidities, as well as the possible side effects. Methods: This document has been prepared in adherence with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Literature searches, study selection, methodology development, and quality appraisal were performed independently by 2 authors and the data were collated by means of a meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Results: Of the 645 articles retrieved, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed, revealing 4 main findings. First, the VLCKD was shown to result in a significant weight loss in the short, intermediate, and long terms and improvement in body composition parameters as well as glycemic and lipid profiles. Second, when compared with other weight loss interventions of the same duration, the VLCKD showed a major effect on reduction of body weight, fat mass, waist circumference, total cholesterol and triglyceridemia as well as improved insulin resistance. Third, although the VLCKD also resulted in a significant reduction of glycemia, HbA1c, and LDL cholesterol, these changes were similar to those obtained with other weight loss interventions. Finally, the VLCKD can be considered a safe nutritional approach under a health professional's supervision since the most common side effects are usually clinically mild and easily to manage and recovery is often spontaneous. Conclusions: The VLCKD can be recommended as an effective dietary treatment for individuals with obesity after considering potential contra-indications and keeping in mind that any dietary treatment has to be personalized. Prospero Registry: The assessment of the efficacy of VLCKD on body weight, body composition, glycemic and lipid parameters in overweight and obese subjects: a meta-analysis (CRD42020205189)
Stereochemistry of the insertion of disubstituted alkynes into the metal aminocarbyne bond in diiron complexes
Terminal alkynes (HCdropCR') (R'=COOMe, CH2OH) insert into the metal-carbyne bond of the diiron complexes [Fe-2{mu-CN(Me)(R)} (mu-CO)(CO)(NCMe)(Cp)(2)][SO3CF3] (R=Xyl, 1a; CH2Ph, 1b; Me, 1c; Xyl=2,6-Me2C6H3), affording the corresponding mu-vinyliminium complexes [Fe-2{mu-sigma:eta(3)-C(R')=CHC=N(Me)(R)}(mu-CO)(CO)(Cp)(2)][SO3CF3] (R=Xyl, R'=COOMe, 2; R=CH2Ph, R'=COOMe, 3; R=Me, R'=COOMe, 4; R=Xyl, R'=CH2OH, 5; R=Me, R'=CH2OH, 6). The insertion is regiospecific and C-C bond formation selectively occurs between the carbyne carbon and the CH moiety of the alkyne. Disubstituted alkynes (R'CdropCR') also insert into the metal-carbyne bond leading to the formation of [Fe-2{mu-sigma:eta(3)- C(R')=C(R')C=N(Me)(R)}(mu-CO)(CO)(Cp)(2)][SO3CF3] (R'=Me, R=Xyl, 8; R'=Et, R=Xyl, 9; R'=COOMe, R=Xyl, 10; R'=COOMe, R=CH2Ph, 11; R'= COOMe, R=Me, 12). Complexes 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11, in which the iminium nitrogen is unsymmetrically substituted, give rise to E and/or Z isomers. When iminium substituents are Me and Xyl, the NMR and structural investigations (X-ray structure analysis of 2 and 8) indicate that complexes obtained from terminal alkynes preferentially adopt the E configuration, whereas those derived from internal alkynes are exclusively Z. In complexes 8 and 9, trans and cis isomers have been observed, by NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of trans-8 and cis-8 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Trans to cis isomerization occurs upon heating in THF at reflux temperature. In contrast to the case of HCdropCR', the insertion of 2-hexyne is not regiospecific: both [Fe-2{mu-sigma:eta(3)-C(CH2CH2CH3)=C(Me)C=N(Me)(R)} (mu-CO)(CO)(Cp)(2)][SO3CF3] (R=Xyl, 13; R=Me, 15) and [Fe-2{mu-sigma:eta(3)-C(Me)=C(CH2CH2CH3)C=N(Me)(R)}(mu-CO)(CO)(Cp)(2)][SO3CF3] (R=Xyl, 14, R=Me, 16) are obtained and these compounds are present in solution as a mixture of cis and trans isomers, with predominance of the former
Hydride addition at m-vinyliminium ligand obtained from disubstituted alkynes
New μ-vinylalkylidene complexes cis-[Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(R′)Cβ(R″)CαHN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] (R = Me, R′ = R″ = Me, 3a; R = Me, R′ = R″ = Et, 3b; R = Me, R′ = R″ = Ph, 3c; R = CH2Ph, R′ = R″ = Me, 3d; R = CH2Ph, R′ = R″ = COOMe, 3e; R = CH2 Ph, R′ = SiMe3, R″ = Me, 3f) have been obtained b yreacting the corresponding vinyliminium complexes [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(R′)Cβ(R″)CαN(Me)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (2a–f) with NaBH4. The formation of 3a–f occurs via selective hydride addition at the iminium carbon (Cα) of the precursors 2a–f. By contrast, the vinyliminiumcis-[Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ (R′) = Cβ(R″)Cα = N(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (R′ = R″ = COOMe, 4a; R′ = R″ = Me, 4b; R′ = Prn, R″ = Me, 4c; Prn = CH2CH2CH3, Xyl = 2,6-Me2C6H3) undergo H− addition at the adjacent Cβ, affording the bis-alkylidene complexes cis-[Fe2{μ-η1:η2-C(R′)C(H)(R″)CN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2], (5a–c). The cis and trans isomers of [Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(Et)Cβ(Et)CαN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (4d) react differently with NaBH4: the former reacts at Cα yielding cis-[Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(Et)Cβ(Et)CαHN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2], 6a, whereas the hydride attack occurs at Cβ of the latter, leading to the formation of the bis alkylidene trans-[Fe2{μ-η1:η2-C(Et)C(H)(Et)CN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2] (5d). The structure of 5d has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study. Other μ-vinylalkylidene complexes cis-[Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(R′)Cβ(R″)CαHN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2], (R′ = R″ = Ph, 6b; R′ = R″ = Me, 6c) have been prepared, and the structure of 6c has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Compound 6b results from treatment of cis-[Fe2{μ-η1:η3-Cγ(Ph)Cβ(Ph)CαN(Me)(Xyl)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)2][SO3CF3] (4e) with NaBH4, whereas 6c has been obtained by reacting 4b with LiHBEt3. Both cis-4d and trans-4d react with LiHBEt3 affording cis-6a
Effect of metabolic and antioxidant supplementation on sperm parameters in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia, with and without varicocele: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
Since sperm require high energy levels to perform their specialised function, it is vital
that essential nutrients are available for spermatozoa when they develop, capacitate
and acquire motility. However, they are vulnerable to a lack of energy and excess
amounts of reactive oxygen species, which can impair sperm function, lead to immotility,
acrosomal reaction impairment, DNA fragmentation and cell death. This monocentric,
randomised, double-blind,
placebo-controlled
trial investigated the effect of
6 months of supplementation with l-carnitine,
acetyl-l-
carnitine
and other micronutrients
on sperm quality in 104 subjects with oligo-and/
or astheno-and/
or teratozoospermia
with or without varicocele. In 94 patients who completed the study, sperm
concentration was significantly increased in supplemented patients compared to the
placebo (p = .0186). Total sperm count also increased significantly (p = .0117) in the
supplemented group as compared to the placebo group. Both, progressive and total
motility were higher in supplemented patients (p = .0088 and p = .0120, respectively).
Although pregnancy rate was not an endpoint of the study, of the 12 pregnancies that
occurred during the follow-up, 10 were reported in the supplementation group. In
general, all these changes were more evident in varicocele patients. In conclusion,
supplementation
with metabolic and antioxidant compounds could be efficacious
when included in strategies to improve fertility
Simulating the High Energy Gamma-ray sky seen by the GLAST Large Area Telescope
This paper presents the simulation of the GLAST high energy gamma-ray
telescope. The simulation package, written in C++, is based on the Geant4
toolkit, and it is integrated into a general framework used to process events.
A detailed simulation of the electronic signals inside Silicon detectors has
been provided and it is used for the particle tracking, which is handled by a
dedicated software. A unique repository for the geometrical description of the
detector has been realized using the XML language and a C++ library to access
this information has been designed and implemented. A new event display based
on the HepRep protocol was implemented. The full simulation was used to
simulate a full week of GLAST high energy gamma-ray observations. This paper
outlines the contribution developed by the Italian GLAST software group.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the 6th
International Symposium ''Frontiers of Fundamental and Computational
Physics'' (FFP6), Udine (Italy), Sep. 26-29, 200
Liquid biopsy in bladder cancer: State of the art and future perspectives
Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract. Cystoscopy represents the gold standard in the diagnosis of suspicious bladder lesions. However, the procedure is invasive and burdened by pain, discomfort and infective complications. Cytology, which represents an alternative diagnostic possibility is limited by poor sensitivity. Considering the limitations of both procedures, and the necessity to perform multiple evaluations in patients who are in follow-up for bladder cancer, an improved non-invasive methodology is required in the clinical management of this disease. Liquid biopsy, e.g. the detection of clinical biomarkers in urine, represent a promising novel and non-invasive approach that could overcome those limitations and be integrated into the current clinical practice. The aim of this review is to summarize the state of the art of this approach and the latest novelties regarding detection, prognosis and surveillance of bladder cancer
INFN Camera demonstrator for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
The Cherenkov Telescope Array is a world-wide project for a new generation of
ground-based Cherenkov telescopes of the Imaging class with the aim of
exploring the highest energy region of the electromagnetic spectrum. With two
planned arrays, one for each hemisphere, it will guarantee a good sky coverage
in the energy range from a few tens of GeV to hundreds of TeV, with improved
angular resolution and a sensitivity in the TeV energy region better by one
order of magnitude than the currently operating arrays. In order to cover this
wide energy range, three different telescope types are envisaged, with
different mirror sizes and focal plane features. In particular, for the highest
energies a possible design is a dual-mirror Schwarzschild-Couder optical
scheme, with a compact focal plane. A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) based
camera is being proposed as a solution to match the dimensions of the pixel
(angular size of ~ 0.17 degrees). INFN is developing a camera demonstrator made
by 9 Photo Sensor Modules (PSMs, 64 pixels each, with total coverage 1/4 of the
focal plane) equipped with FBK (Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Italy) Near
UltraViolet High Fill factor SiPMs and Front-End Electronics (FEE) based on a
Target 7 ASIC, a 16 channels fast sampler (up to 2GS/s) with deep buffer,
self-trigger and on-demand digitization capabilities specifically developed for
this purpose. The pixel dimensions of mm lead to a very compact
design with challenging problems of thermal dissipation. A modular structure,
made by copper frames hosting one PSM and the corresponding FEE, has been
conceived, with a water cooling system to keep the required working
temperature. The actual design, the adopted technical solutions and the
achieved results for this demonstrator are presented and discussed.Comment: In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions at
arXiv:1508.0589
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