PCR diagnostics of Chlamydia trachomatis in asymptomatic infection by women

Objectives:  Chlamydial  infection  is  often  asymptomatic.  The  lack  of  symptoms  may  result  in  the  infection  developing  into  a  chronic.  Chlamydial  infections  of  the  genitourinary  system  in  women  can  lead  to  serious  complications  like  PID,  fallopian  tubes  infertility,  ectopic  pregnancy,  and  chronic  pelvic  pain.  An  infection  of  the  genitourinary  system  does  not  cause  any  lasting  immune  resistance  and  does  not  protect  against  re-infection.  The  aim  of  this  research  was  to  conduct  tests  for  Chlamydia  trachomatis  on  healthy  women  without  any  genital  system  symptoms  and  to  estimate  the  frequency  of  asymptomatic  infections.  Material  and  methods:  During  preventive  examinations  a  cervical  smear  was  obtained  from  the  patients  n  =  100.  The  aver­age  age  of  the  patients  was  24.86  ±  3.15.  The  swabs  were  sampled  by  gynecologists.  During  the  examinations  Geneproof  PathogenFree  DNA  isolation  Kit  and  GeneProof  Chlamydia  trachomatis  PCR  kit  which  detects  16S  rRNA  conservative  coding  sequence,  conservative  region  of  cryptic  plasmid  DNA,  including  deletion  mutation  in  cryptic  plasmid  (Swedish  variant).  Results:  Swabs  were  sampled  from  100  women  aged  18–32  who  had  no  symptoms  of  chlamydial  genitourinary  system  infection.  Within  the  study  group  4%  of  women  received  a  positive  result,  i.e.  4/100.  Conclusions:  The  study  confirmed  asymptotic  infection  in  4%  of  women.  In  own  research  it  was  not  possible  to  confirm  cor­relation  between  the  presence  of  Chlamydia  trachomatis  and  the  number  of  partners  or  the  number  of  sexual  intercourses

Evaluation of superoxide dismutase activity and its impact on semen quality parameters of infertile men.

The evaluation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as one of the most important antioxidative defence enzymes, in seminal plasma of patients consulting for male infertility was presented in the article. The study included also the determination of its influence on selected human semen quality parameters. The material represents semen samples obtained from 15 men, which were divided into two groups: Group I (n=10) including patients consulting for infertility and Group II (n=5) containing healthy sperm donors as a control. All of the semen samples were cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen. The frozen samples were thawed at the same time and then SOD activity was determined spectrophotometrically. The analysis of the investigations results indicates a significantly lower semen SOD activity detected in oligoasthenozoospermic patients, comparing to the activity found in normospermic men. The study showed a positive correlation between SOD activity in seminal plasma and semen quality parameters--sperm concentration and overall motility, which are regarded as the most important for normal fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa. Significantly lower SOD activity in seminal plasma of infertile patients, comparing to healthy sperm donors, as well as positive correlation and beneficial impact of SOD activity on human semen quality parameters seem to confirm the observations, that decreased seminal plasma scavenger antioxidant capacity, particularly in form of low SOD activity, can be responsible for male infertility. This trial shows that SOD activity survey in seminal plasma could be a useful tool for determining sperm fertilization potential and could improve the diagnosis of male infertility

Evaluation of superoxide dismutase activity and its impact on semen quality parameters of infertile men.

The evaluation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as one of the most important antioxidative defence enzymes, in seminal plasma of patients consulting for male infertility was presented in the article. The study included also the determination of its influence on selected human semen quality parameters. The material represents semen samples obtained from 15 men, which were divided into two groups: Group I (n=10) including patients consulting for infertility and Group II (n=5) containing healthy sperm donors as a control. All of the semen samples were cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen. The frozen samples were thawed at the same time and then SOD activity was determined spectrophotometrically. The analysis of the investigations results indicates a significantly lower semen SOD activity detected in oligoasthenozoospermic patients, comparing to the activity found in normospermic men. The study showed a positive correlation between SOD activity in seminal plasma and semen quality parameters--sperm concentration and overall motility, which are regarded as the most important for normal fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa. Significantly lower SOD activity in seminal plasma of infertile patients, comparing to healthy sperm donors, as well as positive correlation and beneficial impact of SOD activity on human semen quality parameters seem to confirm the observations, that decreased seminal plasma scavenger antioxidant capacity, particularly in form of low SOD activity, can be responsible for male infertility. This trial shows that SOD activity survey in seminal plasma could be a useful tool for determining sperm fertilization potential and could improve the diagnosis of male infertility

Does the KIR2DS5 gene protect from some human diseases?

BACKGROUND: KIR2DS5 gene encodes an activating natural killer cell receptor whose ligand is not known. It was recently reported to affect the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In our studies on KIR2DS5 gene associations with human diseases, we compared the frequencies of this gene in patients and relevant controls. Typing for KIR2DS5 gene was performed by either individual or multiplex polymerase chain reactions which, when compared in the same samples, gave concordant results. We noted an apparently protective effect of KIR2DS5 gene presence in several clinical conditions, but not in others. Namely, this effect was observed in ankylosing spondylitis (p=0.003, odds ratio [OR]=0.47, confidence interval [CI]=0.28-0.79), endometriosis (p=0.03, OR=0.25, CI = 0.07-0.82) and acute rejection of kidney graft (p=0.0056, OR=0.44, CI=0.24-0.80), but not in non-small-cell lung carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis, spontaneous abortion, or leukemia (all p>0.05). In addition, the simultaneous presence of KIR2DS5 gene and HLA-C C1 allotype exhibited an even stronger protective effect on ankylosing spondylitis (p=0.0003, OR=0.35, CI=0.19-0.65), whereas a lack of KIR2DS5 and the presence of the HLA-C C2 allotype was associated with ankylosing spondylitis (p=0.0017, OR=1.92, CI=1.28-2.89), whereas a lack of KIR2DS5 and presence of C1 allotype was associated with rheumatoid arthritis (p=0.005, OR=1.47, CI=1.13-1.92). The presence of both KIR2DS5 and C1 seemed to protect from acute kidney graft rejection (p=0.017, OR=0.47, CI=0.25-0.89), whereas lack of KIR2DS5 and presence of C2 seemed to favor rejection (p=0.0015, OR=2.13, CI=1.34-3.37). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that KIR2DS5 may protect from endometriosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and acute rejection of kidney graft

Statistical analysis of the data from Table 3 (KIR2DS5, C1 and C2 frequencies).

<p>AS, ankylosing spondylitis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; E, endometriosis; KGR, kidney graft rejectors; KGRN, kidney graft non-rejectors; Control I, healthy volunteers; Control II, healthy fertile women; ↑, susceptibility; ↓, protection; <i>p</i>, probanility; <i>OR</i>, odds ratio; 95% <i>CI</i>, 95% confidence interval.</p

Frequencies of <i>HLA-C</i> C1 and C2 gene groups in different diseases.

<p>AS, ankylosing spondylitis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; E, endometriosis; KGR, kidney graft rejectors; KGRN, kidney graft non-rejectors; ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; CML, chronic myeloid leukemia; NSCLC, non-small cell lung carcinoma; Control I, healthy volunteers; Control II, healthy fertile women; *compared to Control I; **compared to Control II.</p>a<p><i>p</i> = 0.02 <i>OR</i> = 0.55 <i>95%CI</i> 0.35–0.88.</p>b<p><i>p</i> = 0.02 <i>OR</i> = 1.81 <i>95%CI</i> 1.14–2.89.</p>c<p><i>p</i> = 0.006 <i>OR</i> = 0.67 <i>95%CI</i> 0.50–0.89.</p

Frequencies of <i>KIR2DS5</i> gene and C1 and C2 groups of <i>HLA-C</i> in several human diseases and healthy control individuals.

<p>AS, ankylosing spondylitis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; E, endometriosis; KGR, kidney graft rejectors; KGRN, kidney graft non-rejectors; NSCLC, non-small cell lung carcinoma; Control I, healthy volunteers; Control II, healthy fertile women.</p