11 research outputs found
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
A family of integrated circuits in submicron technology for in vivo and in vitro high density MEA experiments
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
Significance of BRCA1 expression in breast and ovarian cancer patients with brain metastasis - A multicentre study
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