Reduced Seminal Concentration of CD45pos Cells after Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Treatment in Selected Patients with Idiopathic Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

The present study evaluated the conventional sperm parameters and the seminal concentration of CD45pos cells (pan-leukocyte marker) of infertile patients with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). The patients were arbitrarily divided into three groups treated with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone FSH: α (Group A = 20 patients), recombinant FSH-β (Group B = 20 patients), and highly purified human FSH (Group C = 14 patients). All treated groups achieved a similar improvement of the main sperm parameters (density, progressive motility, and morphology), but only the increase in the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology was significant compared to the baseline in all three examined groups. Moreover, all groups had a significant reduction of the seminal concentration of CD45pos cells and of the percentage of immature germ cells. Before and after the treatment, the concentration of CD45pos cells showed a positive linear correlation with the percentage of immature germ cells and a negative correlation with the percentage of spermatozoa with regular morphology. These results demonstrate that treatment with FSH is effective in patients with idiopathic OAT and that there are no significant differences between the different preparations. The novelty of this study is in the significant reduction of the concentration of CD45pos cells observed after the treatment

Circulating acute phase proteins in relation to extent and composition of coronary atherosclerosis and cardiovascular outcome: Results from the ATHEROREMO-IVUS study

Introduction: We examined whether the acute phase proteins (APPs): Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, Alpha-2-Macroglobulin, Complement C3, ferritin, haptoglobin, and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) are associated with cardiovascular outcome, as well as with the extent and composition of coronary atherosclerosis as determined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) virtual histology (VH). Methods: In 2008-2011, IVUS(-VH) imaging of a non-culprit coronary artery was performed in 581 patients from the ATHEROREMO-IVUS study undergoing coronary angiography for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 318) or stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n = 263). Coronary atherosclerotic plaque volume, composition (fibrous, fibro-fatty, dense calcium and necrotic core) and vulnerability (VH-derived thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) lesions) were assessed. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE; all-cause mortality, ACS or unplanned coronary revascularization) were assessed during 1-year follow-up. We applied linear, logistic and Cox regression. Results: Mean age was 61.5 +/- 11.4 years and 75.4% were men. Higher ferritin was associated with higher coronary plaque volume (beta [95% CI]: 0.19 [0.07-0.31] percent atheroma volume), for the highest vs the lowest tertile of ferritin; p for linear association = 0.013. Higher PAI-1 was associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality or ACS (hazard ratio [95% CI]: 2.98 [1.10-8.06]), for the highest vs the lowest tertile of PAI-1. No clear-cut associations could be demonstrated between APPs and composition of atherosclerosis or plaque vulnerability. Conclusions: Higher circulating ferritin was associated with higher coronary plaque volume, and higher PAI-1 was associated with higher incidence of all-cause mortality or ACS. None of the APPs displayed consistent associations with composition of atherosclerosis or plaque vulnerability. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Low thyroid function is not associated with an accelerated deterioration in renal function

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is frequently accompanied by thyroid hormone dysfunction. It is currently unclear whether these alterations are the cause or consequence of CKD. This study aimed at studying the effect of thyroid hormone alterations on renal function in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in individuals from all adult age groups. Methods: Individual participant data (IPD) from 16 independent cohorts having measured thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine levels and creatinine levels were included. Thyroid hormone status was defined using clinical cut-off values. Estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) were calculated by means of the four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. For this IPD meta-analysis, eGFR at baseline and eGFR change during follow-up were computed by fitting linear regression models and linear mixed models in each cohort separately. Effect estimates were pooled using random effects models. Results: A total of 72 856 individuals from 16 different cohorts were included. At baseline, individuals with overt hypothyroidism (n = 704) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 3356) had a average (95% confidence interval) −4.07 (−6.37 to −1.78) and −2.40 (−3.78 to −1.02) mL/min/1.73 m2 lower eGFR as compared with euthyroid subjects (n = 66 542). In (subclinical) hyperthyroid subjects (n = 2254), average eGFR was 3.01 (1.50–4.52) mL/min/1.73 m2 higher. During 329 713 patient years of follow-up, eGFR did not decline more rapidly in individuals with low thyroid function compared with individuals with normal thyroid function. Conclusions: Low thyroid function is not associated with a deterioration of renal function. The cross-sectional association may be explained by renal dysfunction causing thyroid hormone alterations

Sugar-sweetened beverage intakes among adults between 1990 and 2018 in 185 countries

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are associated with cardiometabolic diseases and social inequities. For most nations, recent estimates and trends of intake are not available; nor variation by education or urbanicity. We investigated SSB intakes among adults between 1990 and 2018 in 185 countries, stratified subnationally by age, sex, education, and rural/urban residence, using data from the Global Dietary Database. In 2018, mean global SSB intake was 2.7 (8 oz = 248 grams) servings/week (95% UI 2.5-2.9) (range: 0.7 (0.5-1.1) in South Asia to 7.8 (7.1-8.6) in Latin America/Caribbean). Intakes were higher in male vs. female, younger vs. older, more vs. less educated, and urban vs. rural adults. Variations by education and urbanicity were largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Between 1990 and 2018, SSB intakes increased by +0.37 (+0.29, +0.47), with the largest increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. These findings inform intervention, surveillance, and policy actions worldwide, highlighting the growing problem of SSBs for public health in Sub-Saharan Africa.Peer reviewe