SILAE special issue: Italo-latin american ethnoknowledge and research on medicinal plants

Ethnomedicine (SILAE, www.silae.it) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. The fundamental objective of SILAE is to promote research and development into the use of medicinal and food plants in different countries of the World. SILAE welcomes and actively seeks opportunities to work cooperatively, activating and intensifying scientific relations between countries and between SILAE members. Since SILAE was founded (1990) its objective has been set to contribute to the close examination of the themes of great interest and actuality in the context of the relationships between Latin America and the European Union. In addition to this, SILAE aimed to individualize new ways of collaboration between its member countries and other European as well as Asiatic countries to sign accords with intergovernmental organizations. SILAE proposes to establish contacts with Scientific Communities, Universities, and Research Centres for the pursuit of medicinal and food plants knowledge. Moreover SILAE_live, the one-to-one live Chat and Messenger on our website (www.silae.it), is the first scientific chat on the web and is a developed tool to engage the interest and imagination of the public and for helping nonscientists to understand and enjoy scientific discoveries and the scientific processes. In addition to organizing membership activities, SILAE publishes the SILAE Special Issues, as well as many scientifi c newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy is publishing a special issue that contains a selection of papers that were presented at the XIX SILAE Congress (Cagliari, Italy, September, 6-10, 2010). For the Conference, 292 SILAE Special Issue: Italo-Latin American Ethnoknowledge and Research on Medicinal Plant

MiRNA deregulation targets specific pathways in leiomyosarcoma development: An in silico analysis

BackgroundMicroRNA (miRNA) mediate post-transcriptional gene repression and are involved in a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies with a variety of histological subtypes which may occur virtually anywhere in the human body. Leiomyosarcoma is one of the most common subtypes, shows a smooth muscle phenotype and its cancerogenesis is still unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential role of miRNA differential expression in leiomyosarcoma development.MethodsWe first employed the Sarcoma microRNA Expression Database, a repository that describes the patterns of over 1000 miRNA expression in various human sarcoma types, to identify differentially expressed miRNA comparing leiomyosarcoma and smooth muscle samples. Subsequently, we identified putative target genes of those miRNAs with the TargetScan prediction tool. Finally, we evaluated whether the retrieved pool of putative targets was enriched in genes belonging to specific molecular pathways by means of the Enrichr analysis tool. Protein-protein network analysis was analyzed by means of the STRING web tool.ResultsOut of 1120 miRNAs tested, the expression of 301 miRNAs was statistically significantly different between leiomyosarcoma and smooth muscle samples. The hypothetical targets could be predicted for 172 miRNAs. 438 genes were predicted to be the targets with high confidence (cumulative weighted context score cut-off level less than -1.0) and analyzed for belonging to specific molecular pathways. Pathway analysis suggested that RNA Polymerase III, tRNA functions and synaptic neurotransmission (with special regard to dopamine mediated signaling) could be involved in leiomyosarcoma development.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that data mining of publicly available repositories can be useful to suggest molecular pathways underlying the pathogenesis of rare tumors such as leiomyosarcoma

Chromatin Protamination and Catsper Expression in Spermatozoa Predict Clinical Outcomes after Assisted Reproduction Programs

Abstract Identification of parameters predicting assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) success is a major goal of research in reproduction. Quality of gametes is essential to achieve good quality embryos and increase the success of ARTs. We evaluated two sperm parameters, chromatin maturity and expression of the sperm specific calcium channel CATSPER, in relation to ART outcomes in 206 couples undergoing ARTs. Chromatin maturity was evaluated by Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) for protamination and Aniline Blue (AB) for histone persistence and CATSPER expression by a flow cytometric method. CMA3 positivity and CATSPER expression significantly predicted the attainment of good quality embryos with an OR of 6.6 and 14.3 respectively, whereas AB staining was correlated with fertilization rate. In the subgroup of couples with women ≤35 years, CATSPER also predicted achievement of clinical pregnancy (OR = 4.4). Including CMA3, CATSPER and other parameters affecting ART outcomes (female age, female factor and number of MII oocytes), a model that resulted able to predict good embryo quality with high accuracy was developed. CMA3 staining and CATSPER expression may be considered two applicable tools to predict ART success and useful for couple counseling. This is the first study demonstrating a role of CATSPER expression in embryo development after ARTs programs

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of lipomatous soft-tissue tumors

Aim: To establish the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in distinguishing between benign and malignant lipomatous tumors; to evaluate the reproducibility of the MRI interpretation assessing the agreement between judgments of two radiologists with the same experience in soft-tissue sarcomas; to identify an association among MRI findings (size, depth, septa, nodules, signal homogeneity) and nature of the lesion. Materials and Methods: A total of 54 patients (28 men and 26 women), with a mean age of 56 (range=27-84) were included years. All subjects followed-up by the Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Group. The following MRI findings were judged in a blind study by two radiologists: Size, localization, septa, nodules and signal homogeneity. A diagnostic indication was then given from among lipoma, atypical lipomatous tumour (ALT) and liposarcoma. Accuracy in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions, and between lipoma and ALT (Fisher's exact test), inter-operator agreement (Cohen's kappa), association of MRI findings and malignancy of the lesion (Fisher's exact test and odds ratio) were evaluated. Results: The inter-operator agreement was complete (100%). The agreement between diagnostic hypothesis and histological diagnosis was statistically significant (p<0.05). Among the radiological findings taken into account, only septa and signal homogeneity were significantly associated with the malignancy of the lesion (p<0.05). Conclusion: MRI could be helpful in distinguishing lipomatous tumors, allowing biopsy to be avoided in some cases (negative predictive value=100%)

Cardiometabolic risk is unraveled by color Doppler ultrasound of the clitoral and uterine arteries in women consulting for sexual symptoms

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) may be a mirror of a poor cardiometabolic state. In a small pilot study enrolling 71 women with FSD, we previously demonstrated that clitoral Pulsatility Index (PI) evaluated by using color Doppler ultrasound (CDU), reflecting vascular resistance, was associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Data on uterine CDU in this context are lacking. First, to confirm previously reported data on the direct association between clitoral PI and cardiometabolic risk factors on a larger study population of women consulting for sexual symptoms; second, to investigate eventual similar correlations between cardiometabolic risk factors and CDU parameters of the uterine artery. We also ascertained whether uterine artery PI, similarly to what had previously been observed for clitoral artery PI, was directly related to body image uneasiness and psychopathological symptoms, assessed by validated questionnaires. N = 230 women consulting our clinic for sexual symptoms were examined with clitoral CDU and blood sampling and were asked to fill out the Female Sexual Function Index, the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) and the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT). In a subgroup of women (n = 164), we also performed transvaginal CDU with measurement of uterine artery parameters. At multivariate analysis, we found a direct association between clitoral PI and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.004), waist circumference (WC) (p = 0.004), triglycerides (p = 0.006), insulin (p = 0.029) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.009). Furthermore, a correlation between obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and a higher clitoral PI was observed (p = 0.003 and p = 0.012, respectively). Clitoral PI was also correlated with MHQ-S (p = 0.010), a scale exploring somatized anxiety symptoms, and BUT-B Positive Symptom Distress Index (p = 0.010), a measure of body image concerns. Similarly, when investigating the uterine artery, we were able to demonstrate an association between its PI and BMI (p < 0.0001), WC (p = 0.001), insulin (p = 0.006), glycated haemoglobin (p =  < 0.0001), and HOMA-IR (p = 0.009). Women diagnosed with obesity and MetS showed significantly higher uterine PI values vs. those without obesity or MetS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Finally, uterine PI was associated with BUT-A Global Severity Index (p < 0.0001) and with several other BUT-A subdomains. Vascular resistance of clitoral and uterine arteries is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and body image concerns in women consulting for sexual symptoms. If further confirmed in different populations, our data could suggest CDU, a common examination method, as a useful tool for an identification—and possible correction—of cardiometabolic risk factors

Male Sexual Dysfunctions in the Infertile Couple–Recommendations From the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM)

Introduction: Sexual dysfunctions (SDs) have been frequently reported among male partners of infertile couples due to psychogenic, relational and/or organic issues related with the inability to conceive. Likewise, male infertility (MI) could be a consequence of sexual dysfunctions. Aim: To review the evidence on the prevalence and treatment of male SDs in men of infertile couples and provide clinical recommendations on behalf of the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM). Methods: The MEDLINE database was searched in September 2019 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs), meta-analyses and open-label prospective or retrospective studies investigating the presence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and/or ejaculatory dysfunctions (EjDs) and/or low sexual desire (LSD) in conjunction with infertility. Main outcome measure: The panel provided statements on: (i) Prevalence and association between SDs and MI; (ii) Treatment of male SDs in men of infertile couples. Results: ED has been reported in 9% to 62% of male partners of infertile couples, with severe impairment observed in only 1% to 3% of ED cases. Moreover, worse semen parameters have been associated with greater ED severity. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) can be safely used to treat ED among patients seeking fatherhood. Male partners of infertile couples are at higher risk of premature ejaculation (PE). Retrograde ejaculation (RE) and anejaculation are a cause of MI and can be managed with electroejaculation (EEJ) or penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) or, alternatively, with oral treatments, however the latter with limited documented success. Low sexual desire has been reported by one third of men of infertile couples. Conclusion: ED could significantly affect male partners of infertile couple; PDE5is should be suggested to ensure an effective and satisfactory sexual relationship of the couple. Anejaculation and RE should be considered as a possible cause of MI and treated accordingly. Low sexual desire is frequently reported among men of infertile couple and could be a symptom of other systemic conditions or psychological distress. Capogrosso P, Jensen CFS, Rastrelli G, et al. Male Sexual Dysfunctions in the Infertile Couple-Recommendations From the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM). J Sex Med 2021;9:100377