Investigation of oxidative stress parameters and hormone levels in men with suspected infertility

Aim: It was suggested that oxidative stress (OS) is one of the major causes for male infertility. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the OS parameters and some hormone levels in men with suspected infertility. Methods: A total of 100 males was included in the study. Study groups were designed as 5 groups of normozoospermia (n=20), azoospermia (n: 20), oligozoospermia (n=20), oligo-asthenozoospermia (n=20), idiopatic infertility (n:20) according to sperm parameters and etiology. Sperm parameters and OS markers including plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), 8 Hydroxy 2 deoxy Guanosine (8-OHdG)  were evaluated in all groups. In addition, FSH, LH, total testosterone, TSH, prolactin, estradiol, folic acid, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D were analyzed. Results: TAC was the lowest in azoospermia group compared to other groups while the highest TAC was in normozoospermia group (p=0.002). Total FSH and LH levels were higher in azoospermia group compared to other groups. Conclusions:  As far as we know, this is the first study evaluating OS markers and hormones in men with suspected infertility. Our results show that the OS is increased in men with azoospermia compared to other groups

Bisphenol A levels in bowel endometrioma diagnosed serums: A case control study

Aim: To investigate the bisphenol A (BPA) levels, which may be a risk factor in the etiology of endometrioma, in patients diagnosed laparoscopically with endometrioma with and without bowel involvement. Method: In the prospective cross-sectional case control study, 47 cases were included in the study, which were admitted to the gynecology and infertility services with and without bowel involvement endometrioma who were operated and diagnosed histopathologically. 43 patients were included in the control group. For serum BPA value, blood samples taken immediately before the operation were studied in laboratory. Patients and controls were compared with controls in terms of serum BPA values. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35 ± 2 in the endometriosis group and 36 ± 2 in the control group which was and not statistically significant.  There was no statistical difference between the patient and control groups in terms of menstruation periods. Serum BPA levels were significantly higher in the bowel involvement group compared to the non-bowel involvement group, as the distribution width was higher due to excessive values, and only 5 patients with bowel involvement did not reach statistically significant levels. Serum BPA level was 1084±1132 ng/L in the endometriosis group and 269±99 ng/L in the control group which was statistically significant (p<0,001).  Conclusions: BPA levels were showing very wide range especially in the patient group. Serum BPA levels was statistically significantly higher in the endometrioma group compared to the control group. Therefore, in the etiology of endometriosis BPA may take a definite place. &nbsp

Effects of COVID-19 on sexual health in men with suspected infertility using semen analysis and serum hormone profile: A single-center experience

Aim: To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on sex hormone levels between men who have recovered from COVID-19 infection and men who have never been infected. Method: This study included 80 men who applied to the Infertility Clinic with a diagnosis of primary or secondary infertility. Semen analysis was performed twice, before COVID-19 and after the treatment of COVID-19 disease. In addition, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), and 17β- estradiol (E2) levels were compared between the men after COVID-19 disease and uninfected men. Results: There was a significant difference in progressive sperm motility and immobility before and after the COVID-19 disease. Progressive sperm motility was decreased after COVID-19 disease while immobility was increased after COVID-19. The serum T level was lower and the E2 level was higher in men after COVID-19 disease compared to uninfected men. Conclusions: COVID-19 may adversely affect gonadal functions by causing to more deterioration of the hormone levels and semen parameters in infertile males. Therefore, gonadal function evaluation, including semen and sex-related hormones examination, is required to follow up the male COVID-19 patients with a reproductive plan

Investigation of the Therapeutic Effects of Palbociclib Conjugated Magnetic Nanoparticles on Different Types of Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Introduction-Drug targeting and controlled drug release systems in cancer treatment have many advantages over conventional chemotherapy in terms of limiting systemic toxicity, side effects, and overcoming drug resistance.Methods and Results-In this paper, fabricating nanoscale delivery system composed of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) covered with poly-amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers and using its advantages were fully used to help the chemotherapeutic drug, Palbociclib, effectively reach tumors, specifically and stay stable in the circulation longer. In order to determine whether conjugate selectivity can be increased for the specific drug type, we have reported different strategies for loading and conjugation of Palbociclib to different generations of magnetic PAMAM dendrimers. The best method leading to the highest amount of Palbociclib conjugation was chosen, and the characterization of the Palbociclib conjugated dendrimeric magnetic nanoparticles (PALDcMNPs) were performed. In vitro pharmacological activity of the conjugation was demonstrated by measuring the cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LHD) release. Obtained results indicated that PAL-DcMNPs treatment of the breast cancer cell lines, leads to an increase in cell toxicity compared to free Palbociclib. The observed effects were more evident for MCF-7 cells than for MDA-MB231 and SKBR3 cells, considering that viability decreased to 30% at 2.5 lM treatment of PAL-DcMNPs at MCF-7 cells. Finally, in Palbociclib and PAL-DcMNPs treated breast cancer cells, the expression levels of some pro-apoptotic and drug resistance related genes were performed by RT-PCR analysis.Conclusion-Our knowledge indicates that the proposed approach is novel, and it can provide new insight into the development of Palbociclib targeting delivery system for cancer treatment

A comparison between a combination of letrozole and clomiphene citrate versus gonadotropins for ovulation induction in infertile patients with clomiphene citrateresistant polycystic ovary syndrome — a retrospective study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare a combination treatment with CC plus letrozole versus gonadotropinsin CC-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with regard to ovulation and clinical pregnancy rate.Material and methods: One hundred sixteen CC-resistant infertile PCOS patients were evaluated retrospectively. The patientswere divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 73) received CC plus letrozole, and Group 2 (n = 43) received gonadotropins.Results: The ovulation rate in Group 1 was 65/73 (89%), the pregnancy rate was 13/73 (18%), the twin foetuses rate was1/73 (1.3%) and the miscarriage rate was 2/73 (2.7%). In Group 2, the ovulation rate was 41/43 (95%), and the pregnancyrate was 8/43 (19%) the rate of the twin foetuses was 1/43 (2.3%) and the miscarriage rate was 1/43 (2.3%). There was nostatistically significant difference in the ovulation (p = 0.25), pregnancy (p = 0.91), twin foetuses (p = 0.89) and miscarriagep = 0.89) rates between two groups.Conclusions: This new drug combination suggests that it may be a lower cost, lower risk alternative treatment that increasesthe rate of ovulation. Larger randomized clinical trials are needed to provide information on live birth rates of thiscombination

High rate of colistin and fosfomycin resistance among carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Turkey

When the problem with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) increases, the older antimicrobial agents such as colistin and fosfomycin are used for the treatment of these infections. In this study, the broth microdilution method for colistin and the agar dilution method for fosfomycin were used for a total of 147 multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of CRE. The study included Klebsiella pneumoniae (91.16%), Escherichia coli (7.48%), Enterobacter cloacae (0.68%), and Serratia marcescens (0.68%). All these strains produce various types of carbapenemase, including OXA-48, NDM, and KPC. Some of these strains also have three different carbapenemase mechanisms, including OXA-48 (78.23%), NDM (2.04%), and KPC (0.68%) or OXA-48 and NDM (10.88%), or OXA-48 and KPC (0.68%). About 76.19% of the strains and 67.35% of the strains were resistant for colistin and fosfomycin, respectively. A total of 21 out of 35 colistin-susceptible strains were found to be susceptible to fosfomycin. This study showed that the resistance rates of colistin and fosfomycin are high. The MDR and XDR strains of CRE are spreading in our region and thus a monitoring system for CRE should be followed. Moreover, the applicability of antimicrobial stewardship programs should be increased in all inpatient and outpatient settings

Skin manifestations following anti-COVID-19 vaccination: A multicentricstudy from Turkey

Purpose: After the emergence of the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, vaccination with various vaccines has started to be implemented across the world. To identify dermatological reactions developing after the COVID-19 vaccines administered in Turkey and determine their clinical features and risk factors that may play a role in their development. Materials and Methods: The study included patients aged ≥18 years, who presented to 13 different dermatology clinics in Turkey between July 2021 and September 2021 after developing dermatological reactions following the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. After providing written consent, the patients were asked to complete a standard survey including questions related to age, gender, occupation, comorbidities, the regular medication used, the onset of cutaneous reactions after vaccination, and localization of reactions. Dermatological reactions were categorized according to whether they developed after the first or second dose of the vaccine or whether they occurred after the inactivated or messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. The relationship between dermatological reactions and some variables such as gender and comorbidities was also evaluated. Results: A total of 269 patients [116 women (43.1%), 153 men (56.9%)] were included in the study. It was observed that the dermatological diseases and reactions that most frequently developed after vaccination were urticaria (25.7%), herpes zoster (24.9%), maculopapular eruption (12.3%), and pityriasis rosea (4.5%). The rate of dermatological reactions was 60.6% after the administration of the mRNA vaccine and 39.4% after that of the inactivated vaccine. There was a statistically significantly higher number of reactions among the patients that received the mRNA vaccine (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The most common reactions in our sample were urticaria, herpes zoster, and maculopapular eruption. Physicians should know the dermatological side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and their clinical features

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries