The correlation between total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide concentration in seminal plasma with sperm DNA damage

Sperm DNA quality is important in male fertility. Oxidative stress increases sperm DNA damages. Antioxidants decrease production of free radicals and scavenge them. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical which is produced by most cells and has a dual role on cells. Low concentrations of NO is essential in biology and physiology of systems but high level of NO has a detrimental effect on cells. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the nitric oxide concentration and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in seminal plasma with sperm DNA damage. Semen samples from 45 infertile men and 70 normozospermic men were examined for DNA damage, nitric oxide concentration and TAC. DNA damage was measured by comet assay and nitric oxide concentration was evaluated by Griess assay. TAC was measured in seminal plasma based on the generation of peroxyl radicals from 2,2-azinobis (2-amidino propane) dihydrochlorid (AAPH). Our results show that the means of DNA damage and nitric oxide concentration in infertile men was higher than fertile men. TAC level in infertile men was significantly lower than fertile men. DNA damage was significantly correlated with nitric oxide concentration in infertile men (p = 0.001, r = +0.598) and TAC (p = 0.04, r = - 0.3) in infertile men. In conclusion, sperm DNA damage in infertile men may be induced by nitric oxide-mediated oxidative stress and low levels of TAC.Keywords: Nitric oxide, male infertility, total antioxidant capacity, DNA damageAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(35), pp. 5739-5745, 30 August, 201

Estudio comparativo de las actividades in vitro de productos comerciales de polimixina B sobre Pseudomonas aeruginosa aislada de pacientes hospitalizados

Introducción: La polimixina B se ha aplicado como uno de los antibióticos de último recurso para el tratamiento de la multirresistencia entre las infecciones bacterianas Gram negativas. Debido a efectos secundarios como toxicidad renal, el uso de polimixina se asocia con limitaciones. El presente estudio evalúa la actividad antibacteriana in vitro de varios productos comerciales de polimixina B contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Métodos: Este estudio incluyó 63 aislados de P. aeruginosa no duplicados que se examinaron para la prueba de sus¬ceptibilidad in vitro a la polimixina B utilizando los siguientes discos de polvo: sulfato de polimixina B, otosporina, Poly-Mxb y Myxacort. También se han identificado las MIC50 y MIC90 para los antibióticos de polimixina B. Resultados: Myxacort tuvo una actividad funcional contra la mayoría de los aislados de P. aeruginosa, y sólo siete aislados tuvieron una CIM relativamente alta. Las actividades de Poly-MXb y Myxacort fueron las mismas que las de otosporina. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados revelaron que el producto genérico nacional de polimixina B (Myxacort), y dos productos externos (Otosporin, Poly-MXb) son similares en términos de actividad microbiológica.Introduction: Polymyxin B has been applied as one of the last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug resistance among Gram-negative bacterial infections. Due to side effects such as renal toxicity, the use of polymyxin is associated with limitations. The present study evaluates in vitro antibacterial activity of a number of polymyxin B commercial products against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: This study included 63 non-duplicated P. aeruginosa isolates examined for in vitro polymyxin B suscepti¬bility testing using the following powder disks: polymyxin B sulfate, otosporin, Poly-Mxb, and Myxacort. MIC50 and MIC90 have also been identified for polymyxin B antibiotics. Results: Myxacort had functional activity against most P. aeruginosa isolates, and only seven isolates had a relative¬ly high MIC. The activities of Poly-MXb and Myxacort were the same as otosporin. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the national generic polymyxin B product (Myxacort), and two external products (Otosporin, Poly-MXb) are similar in terms of microbiological activity

The effect of salusin-β on expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is one of the predominant causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several studies indicated the significant pathophysiological role of salusin-β in atherosclerosis. Cytokines are involved in all stages of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of salusin-β on interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 18 (IL-18) (as inflammatory cytokines) and interleukin 1Ra (IL-1Ra) (as anti-inflammatory cytokines) levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).METHODS: The HUVECs were cultured in HUVEC completed medium and treated with different doses of salusin-β for 6 and 12 hours. For the investigation of nuclear factor ƙβ (NF-ƙβ) signaling pathway involvement, cells were treated in the presence or absence of Bay 11-7082 (as NF-ƙβ inhibitor). The mRNA expression and protein level of cytokines were measured by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, respectively.RESULTS: Salusin-β increased mRNA expression and protein level of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18. This protein decreased mRNA and protein level of IL-1Ra in HUVECs. NF-ƙβ signaling pathway was involved in the up-regulatory effect of salusin-β on mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The down-regulatory effect of salusin-β on IL-1Ra expression could not be influenced by Bay 11-7082 pre-treatment.CONCLUSION: It seems that salusin-β may participate in a cascade pathway in vascular inflammation. Our findings suggested that salusin-β has potential use as a therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.</div