In-vitro application of pentoxifylline preserved ultrastructure of spermatozoa after vitrification in asthenozoospermic patients

Abstract PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of in vitro application of pentoxifylline (PX) on sperm parameters and ultrastructure after vitrification in asthenozoospermic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 asthenozoospermic semen samples (aged 25-45 years) were divided into four groups before vitrification, after vitrification, control (without PX) and experimental (with PX). In experimental group, each sample was exposed for 30 min to 3.6mmol/l PX and the control group without any treatment apposing in 370C for 30 min. After incubation, the samples were washed and analyzed again. Vitrification was done according to straw method. Eosin-nigrosin and Papanicolaou staining were applied for assessment of sperm viability and morphology, respectively. The samples without PX and post treatment with PX were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: A significant decrease in sperm motility (P ≤ .001), morphology (11.47 ± 2.9 versus 6.73 ± 2.01) and viability (73.37 ± 6.26 versus 54.67 ± 6.73) was observed post vitrification, but sperm motility (19.85 ± 4.75 versus 32.07 ± 5.58, P ≤ .001) was increased significantly following application of PX. This drug had no significant (P >.05) detrimental neither negative effect on ultrastructure acrosome, plasma membrane and coiled tail statues of spermatozoa. CONCLUSION: Vitrification had detrimental effects on sperm parameters, but PX reversed detrimental effects on sperm motility. However, PX had no alteration on ultrastructure morphology of human spermatozoa after vitrification

Study on the short-term effects of increased alcohol and cigarette consumption in healthy young men's seminal quality

Many studies have reported a negative impact of lifestyle factors on testicular function, spermatozoa parameters and pituitary-gonadal axis. However, conclusions are difficult to draw, since studies in the general population are rare. In this study we intended to address the early and late short-term impact of acute lifestyle alterations on young men's reproductive function. Thirty-six healthy male students, who attended the Portuguese academic festivities, provided semen samples and answered questionnaires at three time-points. The consumption of alcohol and cigarette increased more than 8 and 2 times, respectively, during the academic festivities and resulted in deleterious effects on semen quality: one week after the festivities, a decrease on semen volume, spermatozoa motility and normal morphology was observed, in parallel with an increase on immotile spermatozoa, head and midpiece defects and spermatozoa oxidative stress. Additionally, three months after the academic festivities, besides the detrimental effect on volume, motility and morphology, a negative impact on spermatozoa concentration was observed, along with a decrease on epididymal, seminal vesicles and prostate function. This study contributed to understanding the pathophysiology underlying semen quality degradation induced by acute lifestyle alterations, suggesting that high alcohol and cigarette consumption are associated with decreased semen quality in healthy young men.publishe

Effect of Glycyrrhiza Glabra and Vitamin C on Acrylamide-Induced Motor Dysfunction

Introduction: Acrylamide is a chemical compound which can be produced while frying carbohydrates in high- temperatures. Since the neurotoxicity of acrylamide was reported in the previous studies, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of co-administration of Glycyrrhiza Glabra and Vitamin C on acrylamide-induced weight loss and motor deficits in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 Wistar male rats aged 28 days were divided in to five groups of 8 rats including Control, Acrylamide, Acrylamide + Vitamin C, Acrylamide + Glycyrrhiza Glabra and Acrylamide +Vitamin C + Glycyrrhiza Glabra. All treatments were administered for 6 weeks. Thereafter, locomotor activity indices were measured using open field apparatus. In order to analyze the study data, One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test was used. Results: The results showed that motor activity was significantly increased in vitamin C + Glycyrrhiza Glabra group compared with Acryl amide group. While treatment with vitamin C or Glycyrrhiza Glabra alone did not cause any significant changes in locomotor activity indices. In addition, rats treated with the combination of vitamin C and Glycyrrhiza Glabra significantly improved weight gain deficiency induced by Acrylamide . Conclusion: The study findings revealed that the co-administration of vitamin C and Glycyrrhiza Glabra can retard the locomotor dysfunction and improve the weight gain in acrylamide-treated rats

Vergleich zwischen Phänotypisierung und PCR für den Nachweis von OXA-23 Metallo-beta-Lactamase produzierenden Acinetobacter spp.

Background: Resistance to carbapenems is developing around the world and can cause many problems for treatment of patients. Production of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) is one of the main mechanism for this type of resistance. So, detection of MBL-producer microorganisms can prevent the spread of this type of resistance.Materials and methods: In this study 94 Acinetobacter spp. were investigated. Resistance to imipenem was conducted after purification and identification. Combination disc (CD) and Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) were performed for phenotypic detection of MBL and the molecular PCR method was done for vim-1, vim-2, imp-1 and OXA-23 genes.Results: According to TSI, SIM and oxidation-fermentation (OF) test and PCR assay 93 Acinetobacter baumannii and one strain Acinetobacter lwoffii were identified. 85% of them were resistant to imipenem. 34% of them have a positive combination disc test (CD) while Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) was negative for all of them. The vim-1, vim-2 and imp-1 genes were not detected in PCR molecular method, however in 74% of strains with positive results in combination disc, were positive for the OXA-23 gene after PCR test. This study shows that the blaOXA-23 resistance determinant may become an emerging therapeutic problem.Discussion: According to the results, it seems that combination disc does not have enough specificity for detection of MBL-producer Acinetobacter and using Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) can be more convenient.Hintergrund: Die Resistenz gegen Carbapeneme nimmt weltweit zu und verursacht viele Probleme bei der Behandlung von Patienten. Die Produktion von Metallo-beta-Lactamasen (MBL) ist einer der Hauptmechanismen dieser Resistenz. Daher kann die Erkennung vom MBL-bildenden Mikroorganismen die Ausbreitung dieses Resistenztyps verhindern.Materialien und Methoden: In der Studie wurden 94 Acinetobacter spp. untersucht. Nach Reinigung und Identifizierung der Isolate wurde die Imipenem-Resistenz bestimmt. Der Combination Disc Test (CD) und der Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) wurden zum phänotypischen Nachweis der MBL durchgeführt. Zum Nachweis der Gene vim-1, vim-2, imp-1 und OXA23 wurde die molekularbiologische PCR eingesetzt.Ergebnisse: Es wurden mittels TSI-Medium, SIM, Oxidations-Fermentations-Test und PCR-Untersuchung 93 Acinetobacter baumannii und ein Acinetobacter lwoffii identifiziert. 85% waren resistent gegenüber Imipenem. 34% von diesen zeigten einen positiven Combination Disc Test (CD), wohingegen der Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) in allen Fällen negativ ausfiel. Die vim-1, vim-2 und imp-1 Gene wurden in der PCR-Methode nicht nachgewiesen, allerdings zeigten in der PCR 74% der Stämme, die im Combination disc Test positiv waren, das OXA-23 Gen. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass die blaOXA-23 Resistenzdeterminante zu einem neuen therapeutischen Problem werden kann.Diskussion: Aufgrund der Ergebnisse scheint der Combination Disc Test (CD) nicht genügend spezifisch für den Nachweis von MBL-bildenden Acinetobacter zu sein, wohingegen der Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) geeigneter ist

Evaluation of Proliferation and Development of Mesenchymal Stem Cell on Nanoporous PLLA Membrane Scaffold

Introduction: Scaffold has therole of the extracellular matrix in regulating cell survival and it is an important component in tissue engineering techniques. One of the scaffolds that was used in this field, was PLLA (poly L-lactic acid) which was usually prepared by electro spinning method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of nano-porous PLLA membrane on proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. Method: PLLA nano-porous membranes were prepared by phase separation process. To identify the type of polymer used in its construction, FTIR analysis was performed. Then, dental pulp mesenchymal cells were cultured on a nano-membrane and nano-membrane-free environments ,simultaneously. After attachment of the cells on the bottom of the plate, the biocompatibility and cell proliferation was assessed in a two-week period using MTT test on the fifth, seventh and ninth days of cell culture. The ultra-structure and adhesion of mesenchymal cells on the membrane were evaluated using scaning electron microscopy(SEM). Result: Nano Membrane potential had good biocompatibility and the cells had penetrated into the surface membranes properly. The viability of mesenchymal cells cultured on nano-membranes were significantly higher than the control group. The highest effect of nano-membrane on cell viability was seen on the ninth day and the lowest effect was seen on the fifth day. Conclusion: Due to the biodegradable and non-toxic properties of nano PLLA membrane, it could increase the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells and these effects will exacerbated over time